PETA Castigates Eagles Over Vick

MoonHowler

 

 

“The Ed Block Courage Award is a yearly honor given to those NFL players who “exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.””

Each of the 32 NFL teams gets to select a recipient.

The Philadelphia Eagles chose Michael Vick who joined the team in August as their recipient.  Vick had spent the last 18 months in federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring on his property.  

Vick’s award received mixed review both in the sports world and was soundly rejected by the animal rights world.  Many in the sports world simply feel that Vick was awarded too soon.  He needs more time.

 

Vick was quoted in thespec.com:

It means a great deal to me,” Vick said Wednesday. “I was voted unanimously by my teammates. They know what I’ve been through. I’ve been through a lot. It’s been great to come back and have an opportunity to play and be with a great group of guys. I’m just ecstatic about that and I enjoy every day.”
A three-time Pro Bowl pick in six seasons with Atlanta, Vick has played sparingly with the Eagles. He has two touchdowns rushing and one passing in 12 games.

Vick’s peers have acknowledged his courage and his journey back to the NFL. PETA, the animal rights group doesn’t quite have the same warm fuzzy feeling about Vick receiving this award as the Philadelphia Eagles. They issued a statement reprimanding the Eagles:

“The Philadelphia Eagles fumbled when they gave Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award, which was named after a man who advocated in behalf of abused children,” the PETA statement read. “Michael Vick should not be the person anyone points to as a model of sportsmanship, even though he has now exchanged dogs for touchdowns after serving time for extreme cruelty to animals. We wish him well in educating others, but this is not appropriate and does not mark a joyous moment in NFL history.”

Has the dude served his time? Has he shown remorse? Can leopards or NFL players change their spots?

Can the Eagles select their own recipient of the Ed Block Award without slack jaw from PETA?  They already took some from PETA for signing Vick.  When has a person served their time?  Vick has done countless hours of community service working with the Humane Society, and speaking to schools and community groups about his involvement in dogfighting and publicly admitting his wrong-doing.

Does Vick need more time before he is allowed back into the fold?  Vick is a gifted and talented athlete who wasn’t content with all he had.  The endorsements, NFL salary, and the accolades weren’t enough.  He had to have more.  And his life came crashing down upon him.  Has he had enough time to rehabilitate?  Is it time for second chances?

Painted as an Ideologue? Say It Isn’t True!

MoonHowler

Republican Steve Hunt  is complaining that he is being painted as an ideologue.  Well, I just wonder why that is.  It seems that he is a former president of one of the  church affliliated “crisis pregnancy centers’ in Fairfax.  According to the Washington Post:

Hunt served as president of the center’s board of directors from 2001 to 2006. In the volunteer position, Hunt said, he provided guidance on issues including fiscal oversight and outreach. The center is a 20-year-old, faith-based nonprofit group that provides free parenting classes and childbirth counseling to women, one of dozens in Virginia that abortion rights groups accuse of giving wrong information about the potential dangers of abortion.

The problem is, some of these ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ have their own agenda and have been known to give out inaccurate  information to women at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives,  Such is the case with the establishment Hunt was connected with.  The Post cites the following evidence:

One brochure boldly states that condoms fail one-third of the time — by flaws, breaking or deterioration. A nearby diagram of a broken condom shows a small “HIV Virus” particle looming near the spot where the latex ripped. Another flier claims that the “most preventable cause of breast cancer” is abortions.

 

Most people would like to see fewer abortions. Removing ethical and moral questions, abortion is frightning, sad, invasive, and expensive. However, most Americans would like to see the need for them removed, rather than anti-abortion groups handing out junk science as a reason not to have an abortion. Accurate information that helps women avoid unwanted pregancy seems to be the best way to eliminate abortion, not handing out literature that is bogus science at best.  Both pro-choice and pro-life groups can agree that removing the need for abortion is the best prevention.

Abortion rights and antiabortion groups agree that the information in the fliers is misleading and outdated. Jane P. Fuller, executive director of the Assist Pregnancy Center on Backlick Road, said the pamphlets have been removed

A special election will be held on January 12 for those living in the 37 th state senate district.    Del. David W. Marsden, D-Fairfax will run as the Democrate while  Steve Hunt will run as the Republican.  Meanwhile this information leaves Steve Hunt in his upcoming bid for Ken Cuccinelli’s old state senate seat somewhat vulnerable. If he lied to Virginians about condoms and causes of breast cancer, how can he be trusted as an elected official?  It seems Mr. Hunt is not only an ideologue, he is also an extremist. Virginia doesn’t need another Luv Canal Mini-Marshall. 

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