Dear Michael Vick,
It’s been a while since the dogfighting thing, and the public is still mixed on their feelings toward you with your recent success. I’ve been a fan since you were at Virginia Tech, and I still am. Obviously, the dogfighting was horrendous, but I have rationalized over time that your actions against animals are no worse than that of most other Americans, and your punishment was excessive within that context.
In a society where torturing and killing animals was considered morally reprehensible, your punishment would have been far greater, but in our society, only a select few animals are granted respect. Hypocritical Americans will continue to demean you as a vile individual, while they participate in animal cruelty on a daily basis. Your football success won’t change that.
By the way, you aren’t reformed. Your lifestyle still causes the deaths of hundreds of animals, even if your participation is no longer quite so direct. True reform would be giving up animal products and all other activities that harm animals. You’ve only stopped engaging in one form of cruelty. So, go vegan. It’s the only way to truly clear your conscience and be a moral person.
Also, it would make everyone shut up. Think about it.
Sincerely,
Stephen Bollich
