Viewpoint
Vick's influence could deter dogfighting
by Gary Smith

Here's my take on Michael Vick. And before I get started let me say to all the outraged PETA members and fellow travelers out there that my wife, Rusty, drags home every stray puppy, cat and gerbil she can find and, thereafter, they get more attention and, certainly, better medical and dental than I do. I like animals, too. And, to tell you the truth, I haven't followed pro football since Dandy Don Meredith lived across the street from my first ex-wife. BUT, the hub-bub over Vick is gotten out of hand.

If Vick were a regular schmoe from Nubbin Ridge, he would get a few months probated on a misdemeanor beef. He is being pilloried because of his fame which is just wrong as the other way around.

Dog fighting is older than dirt in the South and, let's face it, part of the black culture due, no doubt, to the wretchedness of slavery. Yes, it is illegal (and should be) and, yes, it is barbaric. But, like cock fights in Mexico or bull fighting in Spain, it is firmly ensconced in the fabric of our culture.

And before we white folks get too smug, remember that it is a time honored middle class white tradition to go into the woods in November and blow away Bambi with a scoped, high-powered rifle from the comfort of a heated deer stand. I'll confess that I used to do it myself until I came to the reasonable conclusion that killing or injuring living things for fun is just not civilized. And, I'm not that wild about dog racing or rodeos, either. But I digress.

Vick need not be demonized and his career ruined for life because he and his friends were engaged in a "sport" that is cruel to dogs. If we banned all of the criminals and miscreants from the NFL, we'd be watching eight man football and Roger Staubach could come out of retirement and play another 10 years. At the end of the day, crucifying Vick would not really further the worthy end of eradicating dog fighting from American society.

If I could suggest an outcome that would be a "win-win" for everyone, why not let Vick (assuming he is guilty of something under the laws of Georgia) plead to a serious misdemeanor and, as part of his punishment, have him spend a couple of hundred hours giving speeches to black middle school kids on the evils of dog fighting. This would be a serious blow to the dog fighting underworld and would help Vick rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the public. Then we could all get back to following real news like Brittany's white trash behavior and the last hours of Tammy Faye.

Gary E. Smith is a Pensacola Beach author who frequently writes under the nom de plume Jericho Ring.