Modern Day Drifter

In an otherwise uninteresting ESPN article about the reaction among Atlantans to Michael Vick's intention to plead guilty to dogfighting charges way back in August (I'm slow; I know), the non-casual reader can find the following statement, posted on a discussion board on the Atlanta Journal Constitution's website: 'This is about race no matter how we put it. White folks can shoot ducks all day, but when you fight pit bull against pit bull it is a crime.'

Is it fair that hunting, a sport that the commenter correctly argues is largely enjoyed by whites, remains legal in this country while dogfighting, a sport that is probably largely supported by blacks (I want data before I will contribute any certainty to the second part, however; I suspect that more whites have gone to jail for dogfighting than blacks), has become a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison?  I don't know.  But every judge, lawyer, and prosecutor–and indeed every citizen who finds meaning in the words 'under the rule of law'–must negotiate compromises between what they think the law should be and what the law actually is.  

But the assertion that Vick's prosecution is ultimately about race qualifies as the textbook definition of a red herring.  In no way does this criticism of the legal system, regardless of its merits, change the fact that dogfighting is illegal, not because of discrimination against blacks, but because an overwhelming majority of the American populace considers this particular blood sport to be barbaric and inhumane and have therefore pushed for its criminalization.

And so the law is of course subject to political pressures.  Anyone who argues that the law is, and should remain, above politics has the cart before the horse.  The law is and must be a political process since our politicians are explicitly charged with crafting a fair number of the laws of this country.  Crafting the law will always be a political process. 

So is Michael Vick a victim?  Of course he is.  He is a victim of every other pressure that is placed upon celebrities in this country, regardless of whether or not they want them.  He is a victim of a culture that finds illicit activities to often be highly lucrative and tempting.  Of course, such an assertion is ludicrous, given that the amount of money he gained through dogfighting would have been dwarfed by his former salary and endorsement deals.  But ultimately, Vick is a victim of a human psyche that cannot let go of the past, that cannot say no to those with whom it has a history, and that ultimately finds it very difficult to sever social ties, even when they lead us back down paths we know we should not travel.

However, that of course does not exonerate him.  Not if we, as a society, want to live 'under the rule of law' at least.  I have every reason to believe that Vick knew what he was doing was illegal, in much the same way that I know I am breaking the law every time I drive too fast.

Having said all of that, however, I'd still like to see my favorite NFL team take a chance on Vick when he is finally released from prison.  Everyone deserves a second chance.  And man is he exciting to watch.