Michael Vick delivering the Commencement Address at Camelot Academy in Philadelphia
If there was a story this weekend that should not have flown under the radar, it is the news that current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback (and former Atlanta Falcons QB) Michael Vick was invited to give the commencement address to graduating students at Camelot Academy in Philadelphia. The academy offers an alternative educational environment for students with disciplinary, academic, or behavioral issues, according to ESPN. Vick was tapped to give the address due to his presumed ability to overcome "challenges", namely putting his life back together after being convicted of involvement in dog fighting activities and serving 18 months in prison related to the charges. Protests were held the day of Vick's commencement address as numerous individuals and groups expressed concern about Vick's suitability to speak with students of any kind, let alone young people with the background of the students at Camelot Academy. Many voices can be heard expressing doubt about Vick's remorse regarding his activities; some believe that choosing him to be a commencement speaker sets a bad precedent, although Vick has been penalized suitably for his crimes in the eyes of the law.
To many, Vick epitomizes the heartless, heedless, testosterone-fueled athlete and he is used as the representative of everything that is wrong with modern-day American sports culture. That the severity of Vick's treatment by the media, as well as some of his peers in sports, has strong overtones of racism goes without saying. It's no surprise that someone like Tucker Carlson would be among the loudest voices to say "Michael Vick Should Die" although the radio commentator (infamous for referring to the young women of the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team as "nappy-headed hoes") was not alone; several professional athletes were quoted saying something similar. It is very easy for the mainstream American, living comfortably in their suburb, to envision Vick, and others like him, as the dark-faced criminal that they were raised to fear, merely in a football jersey and black eyes staring from behind a helmet rather than behind prison bars. Fueling the flames is the latent indignation that someone of a poor and uneducated background should be earning more, much more, than "hardworking Americans"... like... cough... Donald Trump... and... cough... Rupert Murdoch both of whom take baths in golden bathtubs and inherited millions from their fathers (and of whom one, Murdoch, is not even American by birth).
What fascinates me, and continues to fascinate even years later, is that people are furious when something like this happens to animals, but are not concerned about child slavery, sexual trafficking, rampant homelessness and unemployment, murder, etc. I get that pets are cute, but shouldn't we be more concerned about people? Does the average American realize how many children die yearly from cholera, measles, mumps, etc. due solely to poverty and inadequate healthcare? This is the cynic speaking, but it boggles the mind that people would say that a man deserves to die because he runs a pit bull fighting ring, but do not think that someone involved in sexual trafficking of fourteen year-old girls or modern slavery deserves anything nearly as harsh. But I digress. Do I believe that Vick merits redemption and should have been allowed to speak at the Camelot Academy? Yes, but only if he truly regrets his actions, and I am not sure that he does. Only Mr. Vick knows for sure. Rant over.
