...about Michael Vick...

...and don't you just know that as soon as he was caught doing something reprehensible, miraculously, Jesus just happened to come into his life and forgive him. What I want to know is why his heart wasn't changed while he was involved in dog-fighting? Hey, I'm not blaming Jesus for coming on the scene a little late, I'm sure he has his hands full. I find is disgusting that (1) as soon as people...especially celebrities, get caught doing something bad, they suddenly "get religion"...; and (2)(and please don't think I'm knocking Christians)...and as soon as the offender says that Jesus forgives him (or her) otherwise intelligent people feel, "well, if Jesus forgives him, then I do too, and the slate is wiped clean." Where do you draw the line about believability, forgiveness, and punishment? I ask the question that I see on people's bumper stickers down here in Virginia Beach..."what would Jesus do...?" For real. Does society collectively say that the guilty person will be punished after death, and so we don't need to punish here on Earth? Or because Jesus forgave this person (in his or her own mind), are we obligated to forgive and forget whatever was done, regardless of how reprehensible it was? Vick was a little thug when he was in high school down here. His friends and family will stick by him, regardless of how bad his behavior. He has shamed himself, and brought shame onto them, whether they see it or not. In addition to jail time for violating the law, I sure would like to see him being given hundreds of hours of community service, working with animal control officers who investigate cases of animal abuse. Let him go into situations with them so he can see the horrible things they see every day. Let him spend many, many hours in a city pound, seeing what happens to animals who are beyond help. Let him spend many more hours, watching veterinarians try to piece together animals that have been injured by abuse and neglect. Let him spend many hours at the local SPCA, helping volunteers care for and clean up behind animals that have been abandoned there. When someone has millions of dollars to pay a few thousand dollars fine, and when the jail time will be served in a dorm- or country-club-like setting, there is no punishment.

And for the time being, this is all I have to say about that.