California: do we care about Vick’s future?

Hippies, animal lovers, tree-huggers…California has got them all! And there is nothing wrong with loving animals, with loving the environment, with loving sports, with loving freedom. I mean, California’s got tree-dwellers who refuse to let their Oaks be replaced by a new training center. And to the many fans of Cal football, these tree-dwellers are not only annoying, but they’re preventing the team from maximizing on their potential. Look at it however you like, but I kinda like seeing people devote their time and resources to their causes, even if it bites…



I ask though, in wake of all this sports chaos, how should we, the many different people of CA, react to the sentence given to Michael Vick for dog-fighting? As a matter of fact, how would these tree-dwellers react?

I’m proactive, so I went to the stadium with my set of questions, convinced them I wouldn’t throw anything and that I would not attempt to cut off the ropes that transport the supplies they need in order to survive in the trees.

Here goes:

Me: Hey tree-dweller, hugger..I’m sorry, I don’t know…uh, what would you like for me to address you as?
Tree dweller: You may call me, Squatting Oak.
I think to myself, what the hell is wrong with this guy? And then all of a sudden, I caught myself in the middle of some healing ritual. What the hell was going on?
(five minutes later)
Me: So can we talk now, or is there going to be some other ritual I won’t be warned of?
Squatting Oak: You may speak.
Me: So, I’m not sure if you are aware, but Michael Vick, the (former) Atlanta Falcons quarterback, has been sentenced to 23 months in prison for his gambling ring of dog-fighting. What do you think of this?
Squatting Oak: Vick and his friends are beasts and should be treated like beasts. They should be put in the ring with dogs equal their size, then work out their differences, that’s how this should all be handled!
Me: Isn’t that extreme, inhumane? He’s already going to prison, can’t you sympathize just a bit? I mean, you of all people, staying here to protect and preserve these Oak trees, should understand that history and geography play a huge part in the culture of a city and its people. Shouldn’t we consider factors that the public has overlooked, things we don’t quite understand about where he was raised, in Newport News?
Squatting Oak: Perhaps..
Me: Let me read a bit of the letter that he wrote to his judge. Can I do that?
Squatting Oak: You may…
Me: As stated in his letter to Judge Hudson, “…the past six months have been the most difficult of my life. I’ve lost everything including my freedom. Throughout my life, I’ve never been convicted of a crime other than a traffic violation, so this experience was very overwhelming. Growing up in Newport News, I was exposed to numerous illegal activities and dogfighting was one of them. I never understood why people [were] arrested for guns and drugs, but never for dogfighting. No one really cared or called the police so I grew up not knowing the severity of the crime. Your Honor, I grew up loving animals and still to this day. I have horses, parrots, fish tanks, and lizards [too]. I take full responsibility for my actions and am ashamed that my actions hurt animals and allowed animals to be hurt and killed.

He continues, “I PROMISE that I will never again use a single dollar that I have earned for anything but to help people. This situation has shaped my life in more ways than one…I pray for a second chance to be back with my family, and show the world the real Michael Vick (not the person the media has made me out to be). I plan to be involved in the community and will continue to assist P.E.T.A. in being an advocate against dogfighting and animal cruelty….”

Me: His vision doesn’t seem too blurry anymore. Doesn’t this sound like a man who’s changed?
Squatting Oak: The man makes millions. Someone drafted that letter for him.
Me: Well, obviously, but don’t you think he deserves a second chance? He has the potential to be a strong voice in the animal rights movement.
Squatting Oak: Don’t the trees deserve a second chance? Don’t they deserve to live? People don’t seem to think so, they want to take down these trees for the sake of football. Why is it that football excuses the killing of trees and of dogs?
Me: Uhh…

So then many thoughts came to my head…whose side was I on? Freakin CA, it makes you think about these things…

In the end, I figure, as crazy as Squatting Oak and his friends were, I couldn’t hate them. We’ll just have to wait…the fences didn’t work, suing didn’t work, who knows what will….

With this Vick thing, for many, the idea of him executing dogs in such an unconscionable manner deserves a harsh sentence. I’m sure PETA members would love to put up mistletoes in his jail cell, hell, they’d probably set up some circus surrounding him and use all the proceeds to rescue dogs he otherwise would have bought himself. And they wouldn’t be wrong in doing so. I won’t post pictures of victimized dogs, but I ensure you that it’s not soo pretty.

On the other hand, Vicky’s letter was mighty convincing to me. Minus some grammatical errors and misspellings, I’m a firm believer in his redemption. Give the man a second chance! For those who have a heart, you’d shed a tear when he makes references to the affects this ordeal has had on his children. If you don’t shed a tear, that’s probably why your heartless self reads this blog. Anyhow, on top of the potential 2 years he has to serve, he’s supposedly getting punished by the NFL and not allowed to play for another year.

Ouch.

Daddy Vick can’t protect his kids from the jail cell, so all he can do is flick them off like he does the reporters.



But here’s a lesson from Carlton from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Me: How do you deal with bullies?
Carlton: Well that’s easy, all you have to do is pay them off!