MICHAEL VICK

IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE RE-INSTATEMENT OF MICHAEL VICK BY NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL WAS AN ACT THAT PROVED TO BE "A KICK IN THE TEETH" TO THE MANY YOUNG AND OUTSTANDING ATHLETES WHO COULD HAVE EQUALED VICK'S ATHLETIC PROWESS, AS WELL AS SERVED AS A HEALTHY ROLE MODELS TO YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT IMPLIED IN GOODELL'S SEEMINGLY IMPULSIVE AND IRRATIONAL DECISION MAY BE THE VERY LOGICAL AND REALISTIC FEAR OF BEING LABELED AS RACIST BY THE PAPARAZZI PRESS, THE N.F.L., THE COUNTRY AT LARGE. ESPECIALLY IF HE WERE TO DENY VICK
RE-INSTATEMENT IN THE N.F.L.

YET, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT DESPITE VICK'S HISTORY OF MALEVOLENCE AND CRUELTY TOWARDS ANIMALS, MR. GOODELL STILL CHOSE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE FOR BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND LEAGUE REASONS. IT IS MY FEELING THAT THIS DECISION LOOMS AS JUST ONE MORE CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THE LEINENCY WE AFFORD CELEBRITY IN THIS COUNRTY. CLEARLY, I DO NOT FEEL THAT MR. GOODELL IS RACIST. IN FACT, I DO NOT FEEL THAT HE HAS EVER DISPLAYED THAT KIND PUTRID SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. FRANKLY, I FEEL THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT MR. GOODELL REACTED TOO QUICKLY AND IN HIS HASTE MADE AN IMPULSIVE DECISION THAT WILL COME BACK TO DISCREDIT HIS OVERALL ABILITY, THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, THE LEAGUE IN GENERAL.

MANY YOUNG PEOPLE- NO MATTER THEIR COLOR, CREED, OR ETHNICITY VIEW PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AS ROLE MODELS OF THE FIRST ORDER. MR. GOODELL FAILED BY VIOLATING THOSE SOCIAL PHENOMENA WHEN HE SO QUICKLY AND WANTONLY RE-INSTATED MR. VICK. THE EFFECTS OF THAT DECISION ARE YET TO BE FULLY REALIZED. IF I WERE A BETTING MAN, BUT I AM NOT, I WOULD SPECULATE THAT MICHAEL VICK HAS LITTLE TO OFFER IN A POSITVE SENSE TO ANYONE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF HIS TURBULENT AND MALEVOLENT BEHAVIOR. FINALLY, WHAT IS MOST TRUE IS THAT VICK DOES NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WHO FIND HIS ACTIONS SO DEPLORABLE AND REPREHENSIBLE INDEED. IN MY OWN MIND, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE GUIDING LIGHT THAT GOODELL, THE LEAGUE AND THE FANS OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS SHOULD DEMAND AS BASIC ACCEPTABLE ACTIONS BOTH ON AND OFF THE PLAYING
FIELD.

----RIKK JOHNSEN
August 24, 2009

A place for pigs

Well, my story is that I have a pot belly pig (PBP). He's smarter then any animal I've ever had. He learns tricks in 30 minutes and I potty-trained him in three days. He has his own bedroom and puts himself to bed when he's tired. (He even closes the door.)
I've had him for almost two years and just found out that Moreno Valley's not zoned for PBPs. No one has turned me in but he's like one of our kids. I would like to be zoned for PBPs, but a lot of people don't understand about them and think they are like eating pigs and are dirty and smelly. They are not smelly or dirty or noisy at all, in fact no one would know that you had one because they are so clean and quiet.
This is my sad story and I need help to keep my baby and others in M.V. also Can you or someone you know help?

---- Tonia
TONIA97@AOL.COM

As a person who has always rented and probably always will, I think the attitude of landlords towards having pets needs to be changed. I am currently renting a duplex apartment where I can have pets, but I pay a high price and it isn’t all that nice. However, I stay there because I don’t want to give up my dog. When I go to look for a new place to rent it is always the same, "NO PETS!" I don’t get it. Do they really think we want our animals to run around destroying things? That we allow our animals to go to the bathroom in the house? What is sadder is I have had human neighbors that were dirtier and more destructive than any animal I’ve ever owned. If more landlords would open their minds and hearts to animals, more people could either KEEP the animals they have or would be able to adopt. We just can’t wait for everybody in the world to own a home.

If anyone has any ideas or opinions, I would be interested.

Marie Boyce

Mboyce@us.oracle.com

April 6, 1996

Dear Fellow Human Beans,

Local and National News media focused on the recent heroic act of a mother cat saving her five kittens from certain death in a burning garage in the Bronx, New York.

The day before the (blessing-in-disguise) fire this wonderful cat's life was overshadowed with things like abandonment, scavenging for food for herself and her five kittens, and the everyday life-threatening dangers that befall all the homeless cats of this nation.

I understand 700 to 1000 people responded with offers to adopt these otherwise orphaned creatures of our planet. I say, to them and everyone else whose eyes meet this letter, anyone who sincerely wants a dog or cat for real ---- RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALL --- go to your local Humane Society, SPCA, or animal control shelter and see firsthand all their HEROICS. SADNESS. PAIN. Then adopt a companion or two for life.

We must help these creatures and ourselves by taking care of this overpopulation tragedy we have knowingly created.

We argue repeatedly about abortion and the death penalty. Both these tragedies and countless more happen to our pets everyday!!!!! Euthanasia is a death sentence. It means PUT TO DEATH. Sometimes humanely. Most times NOT. The sickening fact is that my county of Clark has euthanized 17,000 animals last year alone. The tragedy rises to 15,000,000 (15million) plus when looked at this nation as a whole.

This is from everyone --- religious or not. I thought life is life? No matter how small! Disagree? This shameful statistic does not reflect that.

If we don't change our ways in everyway,the rulers of this planet will be the cockroaches. OR IS IT ALREADY?!? Judge Yourself.

Don't forget to spay & neuter!

Sincerely,

Staci Bravender-Street

Paws for Thought

MICHAEL VICK

A place for pigs