You All Are Still Mad At Michael Vick?

There is an online petition circulating the internet that wants to prevent Michael Vick from being a team captain in the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl in late January.  Over 350,000 people have signed the petition as of me writing this.  The general consensus is that Vick doesn't deserve that honor because of a crime he committed before way back Barack Obama was even elected president.

Over a decade ago, Michael Vick served almost two years in prison for his involement in a dog fighting ring.  Since then, he's done a lot to make amends for the torturing and killing of dogs in which he helped facilitate.  Here's a quote from him from several years ago:

“I just try to make it right after going through what I went through, after what transpired.  The best thing to do was make amends for what I did. I can’t take it back. The only thing I can do is influence the masses of kids from going down the same road I went down. That’s why I work with the Humane Society and affecting a lot of kids’ lives and saving a lot of animals. We’ve had lot of a progress. We’ve been able to change some laws and do some great things that I’m very proud of.  I never thought I’d be doing that.”

The purpose of jail is to punish and rehabilitate.  This man has served his time and has since become an animal rights activist.  Why are people forever hating on his right to live his life?  They should be applauding his efforts to change his life's story.

I'm not saying that people can't be somewhat bitter of such a horrible crime.  We all have things that leave a bad taste in our mouths.  But to put forth an effort to prevent someone (who has not been in trouble for over a decade) from working seems a bit much in my opinion.  Especially considering the more heinous acts of murder we've seen against humans that don't warrant nearly the attention given to animals.

All I'm saying is, "be consistent."  If you think that Vick should be forever trolled for what he did, then do the same for Dylann Roof, Casey Anthony or (insert name of cop who has unjustly shot an unarmed black/latino here).

We're so desensitized to humans killing humans, but we totally flip out when an animal is killed.  I recognize that animals are considered family, but if you can sign a petition to keep Vick from working more than a decade after an incident, but won't do the same for an unarmed black man getting shot unjustly then you are a hypocrite.  Or you lack priorities.  Take your pick.

The nation applauded Brandt Jean as he hugged and forgave Amber Guyger for killing his brother in cold blood.  When she gets out, I seriously doubt that there will be petitions going around trying to prevent her from working again.  Thank goodness she didn't shoot a dog.

Let it go, people.  Michael Vick did his time and he's doing more for dogs now than most of you ever have.

Does Boycotting Huge Companies Really Work?

I read an article today about how a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the UK will be shutting down after its 6 months lease is up.  It's their very first location there and I'm unsure of if there will be others any time soon.

The restaurant opened in early October 2019 and has faced heat from an LGBTQ rights group calling out CFA for its previous financial support of anti-LGBTQ groups like The Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Paul Anderson Youth Home.  The pressure was great enough to get the Oracle Shopping Center to not renew its lease with CFA.

CFA faces scrutiny on a regular basis from LGBTQ groups for their previous actions yet they are still the 3rd largest U.S. restaurant when it comes to sales.  They're just behind Starbucks and McDonald's.

Will it hurt a company that has earned billions or will it hurt those who lose their jobs when the company closes?

CFA gets over 20,000 inquires per year from franchise candidates.  They open 70-80 new restaurants annually.  Those restaurants bring jobs and tax money to the communities they service.

How people handle discrimination is completely their prerogative as long as it's legal.  I'm just playing devil's advocate here and I have two questions because I want to know how people feel about this:

Who does the boycott really hurt?  The huge company or its employees?

Are you anti-LGBTQ if you patronize or work at Chick-fil-A?

It's Been A Long Time... I Shouldn't Have Left You...

What's going on, people?  Long time, no blog, huh?  Well, I'm still around.  I won't lie and say that I've been busy because I haven't.  I've just been doing my thing and enjoying life.  There has been so much to blog about over the past few months, but I just haven't felt the need to put the fingers to the keyboard.  Part of it is due to the way society reacts to things now.

An opinion is no longer something people appreciate.  To some, it's a slap in the face and I don't get that.  Why is it that people just can't agree to disagree any more?  Why is it that folks are expected to be sworn enemies for life simply because of differences in their mindset?

Just recently, people were going off on Ellen Degeneres for being cool with President George W. Bush.  Just because Bush's ideologies don't align with hers she can't enjoy his company per society.  That's absolutely ridiculous!  That's the equivalent of not being someone's friend because they root for a different sports team than you do.

So, after some soul searching, I've decided to continue doing my thing here at Thank, Q.  And if someone I'm cool with disapproves of something that hits home, then so be it.  Nino Brown once said, "It's always business.  Never personal."

I don't write these things with anyone in mind (normally).  I just try to continue my role as a "life referee" and calls things like I see 'em!