A Slice of Bacon

On Tuesday night, Tucker Carlson, made famous when Jon Stewart called him out for just about everything that is wrong with today’s media, was guest hosting a show on Fox News, bow-tie free.

The news came up that Barack Obama had called the Philadelphia Eagles and congratulated them on giving Micheal Vick, someone who was made famous for killing dogs and spending 21 months in prison for his actions, a second chance.

Of course the people at Fox News aren’t going to like this. Their viewing audience is obviously right wing, and they have an obligation to give them exactly what they want. The people on these shows aren’t idiots, and they know exactly what they need to say (or what the producers tell them to say) to fit the bill. Just like Stewart does with his liberal-heavy audience on Comedy Central, the Fox guys are molded into something and are forced to be that. It’s entertainment.

Carlson was talking about the call, and ended his point about Vick with something equally ignorant and disturbing; he said, “Now I’m a Christian, I’ve made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances, but Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did in a heartless and cruel way, and I think personally he should have been executed for that.”

Now you can dive into this a few ways, but I figured I’d try to be as straightforward and honest as it comes. I like dogs and I hate the Eagles. Vick is exactly the type of person I shouldn’t like, because he has done things in the past that were unimaginable in my brain. He was an idiot on a level most of us will never comprehend.

But, that said, Vick has put his time in to making this thing as good as it can be. Sometimes husbands cheat on their wives, and the relationship ends. Sometimes they cheat, and while the consequences are excruciating, things can work out. Counseling, meetings, talks with the wife, and sometimes, sometimes, a relationship can be salvaged. 

That’s Vick. He did some horrible stuff, but he did what we asked. He went to jail for nearly two years. He lost millions of dollars in the process. He was the most hated person (not just athlete) in our country for a period of time.

But, as Carlson tried to say, people deserve second chances. That is life. You give someone another shot at something because if you don’t, you are living in an oblivious society.

Honestly, count how many of your friends let you down on a monthly basis? On some level, they’re doing something to disturb you. It’s human nature. We screw up. But if you never gave people more than one or two chances, you’d have zero relationships. Obama, no matter what you think of his politics or reign as president, was doing a duty he felt was right, and that I completely agree with. He, the most powerful man in the world, was calling a guy that has been pummeled for years because of his actions to tell him good job. You’re back, and you’re doing great work after you served your appropriate time. Will we ever agree, or understand, what the hell you were thinking with all the dogfighting? Of course not. It’s INSANE! But do we understand that life goes on, people grow up, and, gulp, a man could actually change? Obviously Tucker doesn’t.

The other part that disturbed me here is his little introduction. “I’m a Christian.” What the hell does that even mean? Since you’re a God fearing American you have the right to say we should have EXECUTED someone? Death? Since when do Christians have the right to make these calls?

It is just one of those softening expressions that is supposed to make us shake our heads in agreement as he blabbers on about nonsense. “Oh, he’s a Christian, he’s a good guy, let’s hear what he has to say about this!”

No. No no no no no no. This is actually the complete OPPOSITE of what you should be thinking if you’re a Christian. The Christian faith HINGES on forgiving people. That’s what Christians ask for on a nightly basis, as they bow their heads and hope someone is listening. The crux of Christian beliefs is summed up in something recited at every church on every Sunday in the world, and has those words right in the middle. “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” 

If you’re a Christian, your views on Vick should be this; “I don’t agree with him, I might not like him, and I might even HATE him, but I do think that he still has a chance to make society better, and I hope he can continue to do that as he grows up and becomes another national voice.” That is it.

Tucker misses the point. I’m just hoping Stewart has a stance on this tonight.