It always interests me what we fasten on to as a culture in terms of news. There are certain things that polarize folks such as health care, war, and abortion. Then there are things that people almost universally agree on. It is this type of stuff that I think is a fascinating commentary on American culture.
One such issue is the Michael Vick dog fighting case. I have yet to hear anyone come out and say that the brutal business of dog fighting is anything but objectionable. The most sympathetic statements that are heard relate to giving Vick a second chance after he has ‘paid his debt to society.’
Furthermore, people really seem to be comfortable talking about how horrible a guy he is. After all he killed dogs! He capitalized on the violent treatment of dogs through his side business.
Now I am not out of step with everyone else on this. I think what he did was wrong. From what I have read there is little doubt that he was vicious and unfeeling.
What I am after, instead, is the social observation that people are so comfortable talking about this issue and condemning his actions while living in a country that sanctions the free choice to kill human life.
We live in a country that reports over a million abortions in annually. With a total of nearly 50 million since Roe v. Wade was legalized in 1973.
While boasting in our progressive health care and treatment of women most people don’t want to talk about the facts and ramifications of this issue. People don’t talk about it unless they are a passionate spokesmen for either side of this polemical issue.
If the topic is talked about it is most often hushed by either uncomfortable silence or the irritating and thoughtless spew of relativism, “It is a choice that is up to each individual.”
But killing dogs? Oh, yeah, we can talk about that! And we can condemn it. And we are very comfortable pronouncing a social anathema on Vick for his ‘inhumane’ treatment of dogs.
Someone might say, “Vick was just barbaric. He brutally and recklessly killed these dogs after mistreating them.” This is true. However, if you were to ask this same person about the procedures surrounding late-term abortions I wonder if you would get the same vitriol. (if you want more info on late term abortions see this helpful & non graphic video)
Why is it that abortion is relegated to a controversial taboo and Vick’s dog fighting is not? Why are we united in condemning Vick and not condemning abortion? Why is our flame of righteousness burn so bright in the face of Vick but is flickering in the face of 50 million abortions? What is wrong with the American conscience?
There are lots of things in common between the two issues. In both cases you have the willful disregard for life, the deaths are both accomplished by humans, there is plenty of merciless brutality toward the victim, and there is a self-sovereign decision to end the life.
However, there is one significant difference: you get time in a federal prison for killing dogs but you get federal funding for killing babies.
Maybe us righteous and progressive Americans are more like Mike Vick than we think. We are definitely acting more like animals than the animals.
God help us.