Michael Vick.

[cherokeeprogressive]

Seriously...?











While we're arguing over a convicted felon who plays football, our Sons, Daughters, Moms, Dads, Nieces, and Nephews are fighting and dying a world away, for nothing at all... Absolutely fucking NOTHING at all. I can't excuse the fact that our treasure is fighing and dying in someone else's back yard, nor even look the other way just because Barack Obama is our President and thinks it's the best course. Our national treasure is fighing and dying a world away, for nothing, and we're worried about Michael Vick?

Seriously my DU friends, and even those who aren't... Is this the most important thing we have on our plates?

Hey; if worrying about a convicted felon is what is important to you, then by all means... discuss.

As for me, I got what I wanted in the context of DADT and said so LOUDLY and those who have read posts from me in the past know I'm just as concerned about meaningless war as I am equality for my gay teenage daughter.

Focus, people. Our treasure is dying for no reason at all, a world away. It's costing us taxpayers dollar amounts that to most are inconcievable. I love dogs too, and have two who bring me much pleasure and get treated like Queens, but I love humans more.

What's more important: The lives of however many dogs Vick had a hand in killing... or the TRILLION DOLLARS we've spent and CONTINUE to spend on meaningless war and the number of our dead? Look at the threads since Vick started having an MVP caliber year on the field. I think that'll show you what DU's opinion is, and I fucking TOTALLY disagree with it.

But you go ahead my DU friends, and act as if the most important thing going on in this country is a convicted felon who's done his time and is now working in the only profession he knows. I say that's not what is important today AT ALL. It's not even in the TOP FIVE for me.

Fuck a buncha Michael Vick. I wouldn't cry if he walked in front of a bus on a foggy night. I wouldn't shed a tear if he slipped in the bathtub, or cut himself shaving and bled out. I wouldn't lose sleep if the Universe saw to it that he got hit by a meteorite while driving his expensive car. But hey; let's talk about something that actually IMPACTS OUR LIVES. Michael Vick doesn't.

/rant

[Drale]

1. I really don't care what happens to Vick at this point

I want the Eagles to lose for two reasons. 1) They are from Phily, and I just don't like any of those Phily teams and 2) if they lose the Bears get a first round bye.

[TexasObserver]

2. Because dogs are more important than humans!

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tammywammy]

9. I think you're reading that post too...literally. n/t

[hlthe2b]

11. ..

No, I say that because of the repeated accusations towards those who have decried the animal cruelty aspects, met repeatedly by this poster with accusations of "wanting only vengeance" or that we "only care about animals."

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. To some.

I have two family members, three children of friends, and one neighbor (that I know of) whose treasure is in either Afghanistan or Iraq.

I hate to say this, but I'd trade the lives of a hundred canines for their safe return if that would make it happen tomorrow.

I say this as a dog owner, a dog lover, and a dog rescuer.

[hlthe2b]

13. I think that is understandable...

However, you are not accusing those who have been particularly impacted by the stories of Vick's cruelty--given their own efforts with similar victims of dog fighting-- of being only out for "vengeance" and "caring only for animals" over people. That is what has been put forth by some here. That is not only wrong, but frankly as cruel and insensitive a stance as I have seen from some DUers. It is incredibly offensive.

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. I will never be a Vick supporter. I will never be an apologist for him.

I will, however, use his name for the purpose of drawing attention to something I've been noticing has been absent from these boards lately, namely outrage over wasting our country's treasure on meaningless war.

You knew that though, which is one of the many things I like about you.

I'm a dog lover. I have an AKC Golden whose life is dominated by a Chihuaha we brought home from a local shelter. They bring me so much joy, you can't imagine.

[hlthe2b]

17. This trend shall pass

and we can get back to these critical issues soon, I hope. :toast: back at you.

[TexasObserver]

20. I agree. Dogs are fine, but humans are humans.

Every day in the Mideast, as a country we do worse to humans and animals than all the dog fighters in America.

With the exception of a handful of crimes, we send far too many people to prison.

If they serve an appropriate amount of their sentence and do so on good behavior, they get out. When they're out, they have to do right or go back.

[rhett o rick]

19. What an asinine thing to say. nm

[hlthe2b]

26. No, they are not...but deserving of our care, compassion & protection.

and yes, we should be judged by how we treat the least of us--whether they be animals or humans.

[TexasObserver]

29. Yes, dogs are deserving of our care, compassion & protection.

So are humans, even badly flawed ones.

Prisons destroy families. They create the next generation of prisoners, as fathers and mothers are kept from playing a role in their children's lives. The subcultures that grows dog fighters are ones that are full of major problems, not the least of which is incarceration for many of its adherents.

Many can understand how dogs and their propensities often reflect the environment in which they are kept, but don't see that badly behaving humans are created the same way.

[hlthe2b]

30. There is no argument... I do not argue for the value of one over another

I never have argued otherwise. What I can not tolerate is those who force a choice. We either care for animals OR we care for humans. It does not work that way for most people. But, if you want a hierarchy, defenseless children, helpless elderly, and animals deserve our attention FIRST. That is my mission on earth and I will not apologize for it. Given a chance, the Michael Vicks of the world are fully able to help themselves. I do not and would not deny him that chance.

[virgogal]

3. And you are perpetuating the discussion of Vick.

[wtmusic]

4. IMO appropriately, as a symbol of a larger evil. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. At this moment, his last name seems to be the word of the day. I used him to vent about unnecessary

war.

Got your attention though, and strangely enough, you didn't seem to notice in the least, or comment on, the treasure we're WASTING on the other side of the world for no reason at all.

You've kind of proven my point. I had to use Vick to draw attention to something I think is being neglected at the moment, and you didn't even notice or comment on that.

[HEyHEY]

6. So why keep the GD stuffed with threads like this that bring attention to it?

[CreekDog]

7. yes, and we are only capable of thinking and discussing the major societal issues

we can't do that and also occupy our minds with things like television, sports, art, gadgets, new apps, etc.

right. :rofl:

[NJGeek]

10. he's having a tough night

[alp227]

14. yeah the Eagles are getting trounced 24-14

by a team bogged down by that aging dinosaur of a quarterback, Brett Favre. Favre is injured and didn't play today. Now I wonder if Eagles fans on DU (or Fox News) will blame Obama for the loss?

[hlthe2b]

28. Fitting...

Karma has a way.....

[emilyg]

23. Thank God.

[roody]

15. It's all part of the war and violence paradigm.

I am glad animal abuse is in the limelight.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. Has it ever occured to you that people talk about *many* things.

You're reacting to the recent spate of Vick threads in light of Obama's recent call to the team owner.

Go take a break. We can handle the discussions for a while. When you get back, it will be a new outrage for us. Fact is, we don't much care about the subject.

Its always something.

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. "It's always something" Too bad it's about an individual rather than the THOUSANDS of lives lost

to unnecessary war due to greed.

Please don't patronize me. It's not like you.

I'm not going anywhere. If my posts make you wish I didn't post for a while, put me on ignore. You'll be happier.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. I couldn't care less what you do or don't post

Talking about Vick and the wars are not mutually exclusive.

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. I'm crushed, Stink. I'm absolutely crushed.

I live and die by your posts... honest I do.

[Aleric]

22. Well, yeah that's the point isn't it?

What the hell is Obama doing wasting his time on this guy?

Would he do it if his new employer wasn't a major democratic donor?
Would he have done it if Vick were a bankrupt nobody instead of a millionaire sports star?
Would he have done it if Vick we a scientist or teacher or truck driver?
Would he have done it if Vick's crimes involved humans instead of dogs?

No. No. No. and No.

This is not about Vick. This is about our president wasting his time on bullshit.

[emilyg]

24. Correct.

[flvegan]

25. At what point did multitasking pass you by?

Yeah, DU trends toward the shiny object of the day, but it's pretty one dimensional. Matter of fact, if I saunter over to the Greatest page...hmmmmm, where is this Michael Vick of which you speak?

[azul]

27. Righteous rant!

I hear you, the endless vile war is the dead whale in the room, but is rather unpleasant to sniff.

I learned some interesting things about the human brain and how it is constructed to react differently from what you would expect if it were completely reasonable.

Read the chapter about the telescopic vision in the book The Hidden Brain by Vedantam, about how much more attention is paid to a story with fewer characters. And the most compelling story has just one. It is the way of the brain's function to focus attention. And it is what editors have learned is thus news. Too many victims or actors and the brain just is less interested, like it is too much to imagine or relate to individually.

http://vedantam.com/

[snagglepuss]

34. Thanks for the heads up about the book. It is something I want to read but

haven't heard of it till now.

[Lucian]

31. Blame the Vick apologists.

I'm not the one starting a thread about him.

[TBF]

35. If only Mr. Obama realized that and would call folks who actually are doing good. His choice. nt

[Bonobo]

36. Blah, blah, multitasking, blah, blah...

One issue blah blah time? Blah blah!

[Bunny]

37. Thanks so much for telling me about this war you speak of.

I had NO idea! And to think I've wasted the last two days worrying about poor Michael Vick.

[GeorgeGist]

38. As you say ...

Obama's is not an ex-war criminal.