Michael Vick: Worldly Redemption or Temporary Reprieve
“Michael Vick is one of the great stories in life ...He got a second chance...”. Mike Ditka, ESPN NFL Analyst, guest on Mike & Mike, ESPN, Monday, November 8, 2010
It's good to see Michael Vick succeeding in a trade that he loves. Not to long ago he was awash in legal issues due to his affinity to dog fighting which was against the law and simultaneously being taunted by animal rights groups, primarily PETA, that found his alleged dog fighting addiction horrendous. In the end, Michael had to go to jail.
It was double jeopardy by indictment for breaking a law and finding himself on the wrong side of animal rights groups, primarily PETA. Now some are finding his story redemptive.
But wait, as a serious thinker and investigator of the human spirit, I'm wondering whether it's correct to say whether Michael was redeemed or he simply given a reprieve, to live for another day? It's dangerous thinking when a black man think that he has finally arrived—proved to the world that he is worthy.
Well, for several reasons.
In the finite and imperfect world, there's really no power that man has to redeem anyone. Even when the President, Governors and the Court Systems are given unprecented powers to arbitrarily commute sentences and to forgive crimes, it really can't be defined as redemptive especially if the person being redeemed has been mortally wounded, scarred, and is a perennial second class citizen. In this finite and imperfect world redemption for the black man must first come from within. He must stop relying on the white man to liberate him. Even when he feels liberated in moments defined as success or world happiness, he must be man enough to know that in this finite and imperfect world that theree's difference between true redemption and temporary reprieve. Unfortunately, as lowly black men are bumping their heads against each other in the dark abyss of capitalistic imagination not expecting little parasitical critters to snatch away their moments of bliss are often caught in cycles of delusional pondering--normally selling their soul by selling off each other.
Just ask Jimmy (fictional name but true story), he was off to prison for several years for not being able to pay child support. He would often call and write sharing with love ones (who were kind enough to accept collect calls at exorbirant rates) about his dreaming about the day of his freedom. That day finally came. The family met him at the prison gate and escorted him back to the neighborhood. The family rejoiced along with Jimmy, everyone was glad to see their love one finally free. One brother who had managed to acquire some investment property had this apartment and gave Jimmy the key stating that whenever he could he can start to pay some rent. The family made sure that Jimmy food pantry was full and that he ha sufficient personal stuff for cleanin and staying. They gave him a few dollars to help tide him over.
Jimmy was a bliss, feeling that he had received world redemption (in which he had). In reality, Jimmy had receive a reprieve. He had this little time to taste freedom and was able to ride the great wave of temporary support coming from family and friends.
To say the least and about three months later, the same charges landed him back in prison. During his reprieve he was unable to gird himself with any redemptive armor from on high. The little reprieve he had was buried, he was afriad of losing it. He needed to escape from those little critters in the dark—critters that are always lurking and prepared to put black men like Jimmy back in physical shackles. But even as we share this story, Jimmy's mind is doomed, unredeemed and prime to repeat a hopeless, powerless and unhappy cycle.
And, “who can know the heart...”. Collectively in America and the world, whole groups are forgiven for the acts committed against other human beings. But, this doesn't mean that they have been supposedly redeemed from darkness. A good example is when you talk about a redeemed post-racial society and find Internet blogs filled with words of venom and hate coming from those who have been redeemed by defauly by an official law or a proclamation. Surely Abraham Lincoln gave us the Emancipation Declaration in his attempt to help redeem a nation in darkness, but was it real redemption or a nation let off the hook. Now, they may not be breaking any worldly laws but their souls are still draped in darkness because of their hate and clandestine propensities to hate.
In a critical historically perspective, there are men who kill, steal and hurt others but still go down in worldly history books as great, or they are even listed as the 'most admired' in some worldly media poll. In a sociology class I was taught that we have a lot of 'selective perception' in the world where biases and prejudices are often paraded as just and righteous evaluations when they are no more than imperfect humans selectively deciding who is good and who is bad based on their imperfect indoctrinations that they live by.
There are countries today that are allowed to oppress others and are never indicted. When there are countries who fight the oppressor and are deemed bad. Rich people in this country are allowed to controlled over 80% of the wealth and normally get away with it when the poor and disenfranchised are often thrown in prison and destined to suffer. In this real and imperfect world, redemption is perceived as overcoming impossible odds. Yet it is really escaping different situations and living for another day. No matter who says no or who says yes in this finite and imperfect world of ours, it's really up to the Michael Vick's and Jimmy's of the world to claim their eternal redemption whatever the situation.
Has Michael Vick found real redemption or has he gained a reprieve (breathing room) and to survive to live another day. He lives in a world where multitudes seek that same escape even for one football season. For if being redeemed, however, is not Christ doing it we are completely delusional in a finite and imperfect world. His eternal redemption is what matters. And, when we are truly able to find reprieve for even a moment in a turbulent world we should make haste and seek His face and know the truth that it is never worldly success or the yes and no of man that matters in the end. Be happy Michael, enjoy your reprieve, but don't get too preoccupied with success--never forget, to "watch and pray"!
Michael paid his dues by spending time in prison, working to renew his status in the professional football ranks and by saying that he was sorry to the powerful animal rights people. For the time being, it that his worldly redemption is complete. Hallelujah!
Michelle Alexander, "The Birth of Mass Incarceration," The New Jim Crow. (New York, London, The New Press, 2010). 40-57.
Holy Bible, King James Version.
Robert Jensen, "The Emotions of White Supremacy: Fear, Guilt, and Anger," The Heart of Whiteness. (San Francisco, City Lights, 2005).
It's good to see Michael Vick succeeding in a trade that he loves. Not to long ago he was awash in legal issues due to his affinity to dog fighting which was against the law and simultaneously being taunted by animal rights groups, primarily PETA, that found his alleged dog fighting addiction horrendous. In the end, Michael had to go to jail.
It was double jeopardy by indictment for breaking a law and finding himself on the wrong side of animal rights groups, primarily PETA. Now some are finding his story redemptive.
A REPRIEVE IN TURKEY
Iverson, who agreed to a $4 million, two-year contract with Besiktas, is the Turkish league's biggest signing. He has called his move to the Istanbul club "a chance to get back on track with my basketball career" after no NBA team was willing to offer him a contract this season.
But wait, as a serious thinker and investigator of the human spirit, I'm wondering whether it's correct to say whether Michael was redeemed or he simply given a reprieve, to live for another day? It's dangerous thinking when a black man think that he has finally arrived—proved to the world that he is worthy.
NO REPRIEVE AT THIS TIME?
After being arrested in September on drug charges, just five months after finishing a prison sentence on federal weapons charges, rapper T.I. has now been sentenced to serve 11 months in prison. According to an Atlanta-Journal Constitution report, on October 15, 2010 a judge issued the sentence because T.I. violated his parole.
Well, for several reasons.
In the finite and imperfect world, there's really no power that man has to redeem anyone. Even when the President, Governors and the Court Systems are given unprecented powers to arbitrarily commute sentences and to forgive crimes, it really can't be defined as redemptive especially if the person being redeemed has been mortally wounded, scarred, and is a perennial second class citizen. In this finite and imperfect world redemption for the black man must first come from within. He must stop relying on the white man to liberate him. Even when he feels liberated in moments defined as success or world happiness, he must be man enough to know that in this finite and imperfect world that theree's difference between true redemption and temporary reprieve. Unfortunately, as lowly black men are bumping their heads against each other in the dark abyss of capitalistic imagination not expecting little parasitical critters to snatch away their moments of bliss are often caught in cycles of delusional pondering--normally selling their soul by selling off each other.
Just ask Jimmy (fictional name but true story), he was off to prison for several years for not being able to pay child support. He would often call and write sharing with love ones (who were kind enough to accept collect calls at exorbirant rates) about his dreaming about the day of his freedom. That day finally came. The family met him at the prison gate and escorted him back to the neighborhood. The family rejoiced along with Jimmy, everyone was glad to see their love one finally free. One brother who had managed to acquire some investment property had this apartment and gave Jimmy the key stating that whenever he could he can start to pay some rent. The family made sure that Jimmy food pantry was full and that he ha sufficient personal stuff for cleanin and staying. They gave him a few dollars to help tide him over.
Jimmy was a bliss, feeling that he had received world redemption (in which he had). In reality, Jimmy had receive a reprieve. He had this little time to taste freedom and was able to ride the great wave of temporary support coming from family and friends.
To say the least and about three months later, the same charges landed him back in prison. During his reprieve he was unable to gird himself with any redemptive armor from on high. The little reprieve he had was buried, he was afriad of losing it. He needed to escape from those little critters in the dark—critters that are always lurking and prepared to put black men like Jimmy back in physical shackles. But even as we share this story, Jimmy's mind is doomed, unredeemed and prime to repeat a hopeless, powerless and unhappy cycle.
And, “who can know the heart...”. Collectively in America and the world, whole groups are forgiven for the acts committed against other human beings. But, this doesn't mean that they have been supposedly redeemed from darkness. A good example is when you talk about a redeemed post-racial society and find Internet blogs filled with words of venom and hate coming from those who have been redeemed by defauly by an official law or a proclamation. Surely Abraham Lincoln gave us the Emancipation Declaration in his attempt to help redeem a nation in darkness, but was it real redemption or a nation let off the hook. Now, they may not be breaking any worldly laws but their souls are still draped in darkness because of their hate and clandestine propensities to hate.
In a critical historically perspective, there are men who kill, steal and hurt others but still go down in worldly history books as great, or they are even listed as the 'most admired' in some worldly media poll. In a sociology class I was taught that we have a lot of 'selective perception' in the world where biases and prejudices are often paraded as just and righteous evaluations when they are no more than imperfect humans selectively deciding who is good and who is bad based on their imperfect indoctrinations that they live by.
There are countries today that are allowed to oppress others and are never indicted. When there are countries who fight the oppressor and are deemed bad. Rich people in this country are allowed to controlled over 80% of the wealth and normally get away with it when the poor and disenfranchised are often thrown in prison and destined to suffer. In this real and imperfect world, redemption is perceived as overcoming impossible odds. Yet it is really escaping different situations and living for another day. No matter who says no or who says yes in this finite and imperfect world of ours, it's really up to the Michael Vick's and Jimmy's of the world to claim their eternal redemption whatever the situation.
Has Michael Vick found real redemption or has he gained a reprieve (breathing room) and to survive to live another day. He lives in a world where multitudes seek that same escape even for one football season. For if being redeemed, however, is not Christ doing it we are completely delusional in a finite and imperfect world. His eternal redemption is what matters. And, when we are truly able to find reprieve for even a moment in a turbulent world we should make haste and seek His face and know the truth that it is never worldly success or the yes and no of man that matters in the end. Be happy Michael, enjoy your reprieve, but don't get too preoccupied with success--never forget, to "watch and pray"!
Michael paid his dues by spending time in prison, working to renew his status in the professional football ranks and by saying that he was sorry to the powerful animal rights people. For the time being, it that his worldly redemption is complete. Hallelujah!
Notes
Michelle Alexander, "The Birth of Mass Incarceration," The New Jim Crow. (New York, London, The New Press, 2010). 40-57.
Holy Bible, King James Version.
Robert Jensen, "The Emotions of White Supremacy: Fear, Guilt, and Anger," The Heart of Whiteness. (San Francisco, City Lights, 2005).
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