Dead Puppies Aren't Much Fun, Especially If You Are The NFL

'They don't come when you call,

They don't chase squirrels at all.

Dead puppies aren't much fun.' --Ogden Edsl, from the Dr. Demento Show

I have recently become a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. This might dismay those who have heard me sing ‘Hail To The Redskins,’ but there’s a reason for the big change.

It has to do with the signing of Michael Vick. I am not a huge fan of Mr. Vick, though I remember he didn’t do too badly back before the ‘dog days.’ He got himself in trouble, served his time, and is a free man now.

My issue isn’t really with him, since he admittedly made some poor choices and has paid for them. My issue is with what seems to be the prevailing attitude of society regarding that which he did.

Before you start charging me with supporting cruelty to animals, let me get this straight: I believe training dogs to attack other dogs in the name of sport is cruel. Nuff said on that count. But people are going crazy about the possibility that he might actually WORK after serving his sentence! Especially since HE KILLED ANIMALS!!!

I find this attitude so despicable. Why, you ask? How many athletes have you read of who have beaten their wives/girlfriends/baby mamas into a pulp, and after a short mention on SportsCenter, continue playing without a whimper from the animal groups? I remember a certain baseball player who had numerous ‘lifetime suspensions’ for substance abuse, but received nary a wink and a nudge when he violated his ex-girlfriend. Oh, that’s right….people aren’t as valuable as animals! How silly of me.

So what’s the difference between people and animals? As the song goes, ‘We ain’t nothin’ but mammals,’ right? Well, not exactly. Check out these passages. (Hey, if we call them ‘Ancient Mystical Truths, will that prompt people to read them?)

Genesis 1:24-27 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.

God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

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Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Did you catch that? God spoke into existence all the animals (and the fish and plants, if you read further back). The power of His Word caused them to exist out of nothing. Cool, ain’t it?

But did you catch the difference?

God spoke the animals into being. But He took an active role in the creation of humans. ‘Let us make man in our image,’ He said. People are created in the image of God, hand-made by God. And, if you read on, given life directly by God. That’s what makes us different. Not merely opposable thumbs, but nothing less than THE BREATH OF GOD! This is what incenses me so about the whole Vick thing: that people, MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE, would place a greater value on the lives of animals than on human life. It isn’t surprising that a national discussion is commencing regarding end-of-life care and euthanasia and abortion while at the same time animal ‘rights’ are being pushed to the forefront.

Something that bothers me almost as much as the animal vs. humans thing is the statement that Mr. Vick’s crime was ‘unforgivable.’ Unforgivable by whom? Society’s laws have been more than satisfied. Apparently the NFL is cool with it, though the ‘playing it up for the press’ attitude by the commissioner is revolting. The other teams who refused to sign him have, of course, that privilege. But don’t couch it in that hypocritical ‘ We don’t want someone like HIM on OUR team.’ Fools! You were OK with Ray Lewis and Ricky Williams, weren’t you? Where was the outrage? What nonsense. Anyway, God is a big enough God that He can forgive even Mr. Vick. This is not unforgivable, regardless what PETA might say.

So this football season, as the ‘Skins lose (some things never change), I will be watching the Eagles and wishing the best of luck for Mr. Vick. Something tells me the road to the Super Bowl still runs through Baltimore, but I hope Michael and the Iggles make it….and shut a lot of people up along the way.