Who’s More Interesting: Michael Vick or Ron Paul?
It’s been a long, hot summer but autumn is coming, the season of my blogging muse when students fill my hallways and debate is always around the next corner. Welcome back to the halls of EduClaytion.
Today’s debate had me pondering which newsworthy figure to chronicle, Michael Vick or Ron Paul. I’ve decided to go with both in a new segment we’ll call “Who’s More Interesting.” This semi-regular feature is sure to be a huge hit by which I mean probably not. Nevertheless, let’s check out what’s gotten these two fellows on the page.
MICHAEL VICK
The Michael Vick thing was so beat to death that most of us barely budged when news broke that the Philadelphia Eagles had signed the ex-con and current target of the most fake, self-righteous, overblown hatred in America. Yes, what the former Falcon’s quarterback did with dogs in an illegal gambling ring was despicable. Yes, he got in trouble and paid heavily including a long stint in jail. No, he is not to be executed anytime soon nor is he the anti-christ as far as I can tell. (Although don’t be surprised if the AC emerges from Philly. Or Baltimore.)
So what’s got Vick back in the news today? Something he had nothing to do with.
Apparently you can buy officially NFL licensed jerseys on the league’s website. These pooch shirts can be personalized with the name of a football star. You see where this is going right? So God forbid the NFL allow such a thing. Didn’t they get the memo that only murderers and drug dealers are supposed to get second chances with few or no questions asked? Michael Vick shouldn’t get a second chance, and his name certainly shouldn’t be on an animal jersey.
Hmm… Am I missing something?
First of all, if you oppose violence against dogs then why would you put a shirt on them? That’s the quickest way to get them jumped by canine thugs at the dog park. Secondly, are these same people condemning the other criminals of the NFL. Hey, Ray Lewis helped kill a human and I see people putting those jerseys on
their kids all the time. Where’s the outcry? Moving on.
I doubt Mike Vick has ever met Ron Paul, but if he did he would probably say that RP is one hip dude. Here’s a big Happy Birthday Ron Paul! The wonderful libertarian with no chance of ever winning the American presidency turns 74 today but doesn’t look a day over 71.
Paul is most often known as the most senior revolutionary in America or just as the guy that wasn’t allowed to debate the big party politicians. His rejection was mostly due to the fact that both parties are afraid of him on account of how he wants to strip all their illegitimately attained power. Heck, even Chuck Norris respects Ron Paul so what more can you say.
Paul distrusts government and despises the Federal Reserve Board. In other words, he thinks like a Founding Father that didn’t die over two centuries ago.
THE VERDICT
So who is more interesting, a football star attempting a comeback while his jerseys are put on the same species some folks apparently think he still wants to annihilate or an aging revolutionary who grumbles like a lot of other senior citizens only tens of thousands of young people enjoy it and millions of dollars have been given to him? 
Tough call so I went to the Google machine for answers. I found a surprising hit from 2007. Headline: Ron Paul Falls Behind Michael Vick. Gasp! Could it be that Dr. Paul supported the evil schemes of the ex-conVick? With a little investigation I had my answer. It turns out that the article was referring to the popularity of items on eBay, and we’ve come full circle in the controversy of Michael Vick stuff on the internet.
So if you’re shopping on the internet, maybe Ron Paul isn’t the most interesting choice. But when it comes to politics we’ve got enough manipulative creeps on both sides of the isle. I’ll take the old guy ranting from the balcony every time.
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Life. Culture. Education.
Life as Pop Culture Professor Clay Morgan
In The Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo he can take the blue pill and go on believing whatever he wants to believe. Or he can take the red pill to stay in Wonderland and find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.
This is a red pill type site that provides information in an entertaining way. It’s about clear thinking and good writing. It’s about finding meaning amidst the absurd. It’s about humor and truth.
I’m a writer / speaker who teaches history and political courses at a couple of local colleges. Where is local, you say? Well, that would be Wonderland of course.
On topics ranging from pop culture to the meaning of life, my brain’s always poppin’. Take the red pill and unplug.
This is a great article. But Mike Vick does deserve a second chance, whoever thinks that he doesn’t is a hypocrite. No matter how disgusting or how minor we have all made mistakes. It is through forgiveness that we redeem ourselves and become better people, only time will tell with Vick……..on a sidebar, how long before phenom sprinter usain bolt signs with an nfl team?
Funny you should mention Bolt. I thought about working him into this discussion. If he stops making all that money from running track, I’d imagine he would entertain offers. But can he catch? The Raiders always sign weird cases like that and Jamarcus Russell can throw the ball 70 yards so who knows?
As a contrast my other comments, let me just say I agree. Vick did some truly messed up things, and I probably wouldn’t forgive him if he were my neighbor, but he paid for it, so it’s time to move on. And it IS a little strange how many people forgive brutality to humans before they forgive someone who hurt animals.
Oh, Ron Paul… Silly man should have picked up the libertarian nomination, what with all the attention (and alarm) he had going. But no, we had to go with the even more straight-laced Bob Barr, who may have turned to the side of good, but used to be an amazingly horrible Republican. Of course, you can’t exactly doubt Barr’s sincerity, because there aren’t a lot of sweet, free perks for those who jump major party ship and swim over to libertarian land.