Graduating from Michael Vick

Michael Vick will speak at the graduation ceremonies of an alternative high school in Philadelphia. The students, all classified as ‘at risk,’ chose Michael Vick from a short list of Philadelphia ‘celebrities.’ The date of the graduation ceremony was not disclosed out of a desire to discourage protesters. This move is admirable, but it won’t keep these folks away. They certainly should stay away, though. The use of logic and reason should keep them away. Their inability to come up with convincing answers to the following questions should keep them away.

First of all, Michael Vick did something wrong and was punished for it. He went to prison and served his time. He’s been released. What gives these people the right to try to add on their own punishment? Why isn’t it enough for them to boo him in their living room … or simply not watch the Philadelphia Eagles?

Second, even if some protesting was understandable … how long does it continue? For two seasons? For the rest of his playing career? For the rest of his life?

Third, why haven’t people had this reaction when professional athletes kill people? Why is that apparently a more forgivable crime? Why do some people have to take their love of animals to ridiculous extremes?

Fourth, is it appropriate to make your point at the expense of someone’s graduation memories?

Fifth why picket this particular graduation? Most of the young people that are going to be graduating have made a few mistakes of their own. What is the message that picketing sends to them? That they will be punished for the mistakes they have made forever? That there is no real opportunity to leave their mistakes behind them?

Sixth, and perhaps most important, isn’t there something more constructive they could be doing with their time … something more likely to really help animals? This is the problem many people have when they become fixated on a particular issue. Abortion advocates lose sight of what happens to the lives they save after they save them. They lose sight of all that they could be doing with the time spent trying to render abortions illegal to discourage abortions and help solve the underlying roblems that cause women to seek abortions in the first place. The same is true here. The goal becomes to harras Michael Vick, and not stop cruelty to animals.

The bottom line is that it is time to move on. Hopefully, I am wrong and everyone will realize that this is the case.