It's A Right and Wrong Thing, Not A Black and White Thing
August 29th 2007 15:43
What part of right versus wrong don't people understand? Why is it that when a black celebrity, athlete or public figure is so obviously guilty of a deplorable crime, the race-baiters and apologists come out of the woodwork to place everything in the proper "context," even in the face of irrefutable evidence?
In case you've been living on another planet for the last several weeks, Atlanta Falcons' star Quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting charge on August 27. So let's talk about "context," shall we?
Charges brought against Vick included his participation in the execution of at least eight under-performing dogs by such abhorrent means as drowning, hanging and electrocution. Back on April 25, investigators conducting a drug search at Vick's home in Surry County, Virginia found 66 dogs, some of whom had been injured, and equipment used in dogfighting. The items included a "rape stand," that holds aggressive dogs in place for mating and a "breadstick," used to pry open a dog's mouth.
In spite of this damning evidence, Vick continued to lie to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Coach Bobby Petrino and his teammates, claiming that he had no idea what was taking place on his own property. But when three of his co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him if the case went to court, it became increasingly difficult for Vick to maintain his innocence.
And yet, his apologists took to the airwaves, networks and cable news outlets to express the injustice of his "trial in the court of public opinion" and openly queried whether a white quarterback facing the same charges would be treated in the same manner. Rather than blame Vick for his own actions, they played the victim/race card.
"It's a cultural thing, I think" said Academy Award- winner Jamie Foxx told Access Hollywood. "Most brothers didn't know that, you know. I used to see dogs fighting in the neighborhood all the time. I didn't know that was Fed time. So Mike probably just didn't read his handbook on what not to do as a black star."
Damn those Atlanta Falcons, displaying their racism by omitting the torture, hanging and electrocution of dogs as grounds for suspension in their Players Code of Conduct! Clearly they're trying to set the "brothers" up for failure, multi-million dollar contracts notwithstanding. And so what if Vick drew standing room only crowds and the color-blind adoration of legions of fans in the Atlanta-metro area, who didn't let blackness of Vick's skin cloud their judgment of his remarkable athletic prowess. One can only assume that in a population of over five million people, many of Vick's supporters were indeed Caucasian males (and females).
But don't tell Vick's water carriers that this case is about dog killing. In their minds, it's clearly about the white man's persistent, automatic impulse to hold the black man down.
“I think it’s tough,” New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury explained to Albany TV station Capital News 9. “I think, you know, we don’t say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dog fighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors.”
Most people who shoot deer (according to established hunting rules) end up eating them for dinner. Since when did pit bulls become a dining table entree?
Then there's Temple University professor Marc Lamont. For reasons I'll never understand, Lamont frequently makes appearances on Fox News' shows including Your World with Neil Cavuto and The O'Reilly Factor, where he justifies pretty much every current argument or topic on the grounds of victimhood, race and -- oh yes -- a "broader context."
Asked if hip-hop plays a role in Vick's case, Lamont responded:
Of course. But hip-hop is a small microcosm and a reflection of broader American culture. You know, it’s not just in hip hop that you can see the abuse of animals. If you watch a movie like “There’s Something about Mary,” which is a mainstream movie with white actors, you see Ben Stiller, you know, putting wrestling moves on Cameron Diaz’s pet. So, this is not a hip hop thing, I think it’s an American thing.
Earth to Lamont: There's a huge difference between a fictional film and real life. While a scene involving a dog was included in Mary for comedic purposes, no animals were harmed during filming. In the real-world federal case of United States of America vs. Michael Vick, actual dogs suffered indefensibly inhumane treatment, resulting in severe damage and/or death.
If I were one of Lamont's students, I'd demand my money back. Even a first-grader is capable of demonstrating more advanced logical skills than this agenda-motivated professor.
After pleading guilty, Vick held a press conference on August 28, where he first apologized for lying to the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons:
"I was not honest and forthright in our discussions," the star quarterback said. Then he expressed contrition "to all the young kids out there for my immature acts" and admitted "I need to grow up."
At least he's finally taking responsibility for his actions. Now, if the race-card players and victim-status-hustlers would just shut up and allow him to take his just punishment, maybe we could finally achieve Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of a world where a man is judged on ""the content of his character and not the color of his skin."
In case you've been living on another planet for the last several weeks, Atlanta Falcons' star Quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting charge on August 27. So let's talk about "context," shall we?
Charges brought against Vick included his participation in the execution of at least eight under-performing dogs by such abhorrent means as drowning, hanging and electrocution. Back on April 25, investigators conducting a drug search at Vick's home in Surry County, Virginia found 66 dogs, some of whom had been injured, and equipment used in dogfighting. The items included a "rape stand," that holds aggressive dogs in place for mating and a "breadstick," used to pry open a dog's mouth.
In spite of this damning evidence, Vick continued to lie to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Coach Bobby Petrino and his teammates, claiming that he had no idea what was taking place on his own property. But when three of his co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him if the case went to court, it became increasingly difficult for Vick to maintain his innocence.
And yet, his apologists took to the airwaves, networks and cable news outlets to express the injustice of his "trial in the court of public opinion" and openly queried whether a white quarterback facing the same charges would be treated in the same manner. Rather than blame Vick for his own actions, they played the victim/race card.
"It's a cultural thing, I think" said Academy Award- winner Jamie Foxx told Access Hollywood. "Most brothers didn't know that, you know. I used to see dogs fighting in the neighborhood all the time. I didn't know that was Fed time. So Mike probably just didn't read his handbook on what not to do as a black star."
Damn those Atlanta Falcons, displaying their racism by omitting the torture, hanging and electrocution of dogs as grounds for suspension in their Players Code of Conduct! Clearly they're trying to set the "brothers" up for failure, multi-million dollar contracts notwithstanding. And so what if Vick drew standing room only crowds and the color-blind adoration of legions of fans in the Atlanta-metro area, who didn't let blackness of Vick's skin cloud their judgment of his remarkable athletic prowess. One can only assume that in a population of over five million people, many of Vick's supporters were indeed Caucasian males (and females).
But don't tell Vick's water carriers that this case is about dog killing. In their minds, it's clearly about the white man's persistent, automatic impulse to hold the black man down.
“I think it’s tough,” New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury explained to Albany TV station Capital News 9. “I think, you know, we don’t say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dog fighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors.”
Most people who shoot deer (according to established hunting rules) end up eating them for dinner. Since when did pit bulls become a dining table entree?
Then there's Temple University professor Marc Lamont. For reasons I'll never understand, Lamont frequently makes appearances on Fox News' shows including Your World with Neil Cavuto and The O'Reilly Factor, where he justifies pretty much every current argument or topic on the grounds of victimhood, race and -- oh yes -- a "broader context."
Asked if hip-hop plays a role in Vick's case, Lamont responded:
Of course. But hip-hop is a small microcosm and a reflection of broader American culture. You know, it’s not just in hip hop that you can see the abuse of animals. If you watch a movie like “There’s Something about Mary,” which is a mainstream movie with white actors, you see Ben Stiller, you know, putting wrestling moves on Cameron Diaz’s pet. So, this is not a hip hop thing, I think it’s an American thing.
Earth to Lamont: There's a huge difference between a fictional film and real life. While a scene involving a dog was included in Mary for comedic purposes, no animals were harmed during filming. In the real-world federal case of United States of America vs. Michael Vick, actual dogs suffered indefensibly inhumane treatment, resulting in severe damage and/or death.
If I were one of Lamont's students, I'd demand my money back. Even a first-grader is capable of demonstrating more advanced logical skills than this agenda-motivated professor.
After pleading guilty, Vick held a press conference on August 28, where he first apologized for lying to the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons:
"I was not honest and forthright in our discussions," the star quarterback said. Then he expressed contrition "to all the young kids out there for my immature acts" and admitted "I need to grow up."
At least he's finally taking responsibility for his actions. Now, if the race-card players and victim-status-hustlers would just shut up and allow him to take his just punishment, maybe we could finally achieve Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of a world where a man is judged on ""the content of his character and not the color of his skin."
| 50 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Carole