Poster Boy

(photo courtesy of AP)

*What's up everyone, this is a Good Doctor exclusive ... straight had to speak my mind on the Michael Vick case. Also, this note is LONG, people, LONG. Make a sandwich, get something to drink, or in the immortal words of Terrell Owens, "get ya popcorn ready". You already know what it is...*

Honestly, I didn’t want to say anything about the Michael Vick dogfighting case.
When he was indicted on conspiracy charges for his role in a dogfighting venture on the eve of my 24th birthday, I just wanted to see how the story would unfold, and after he plead guilty Monday, the only important thing to me was how long the former Virginia Tech standout’s sentence was going to be.
Then I came across the young fella you see in the picture adjacent to this column.
This young man is 9-year-old Jerron Lofton of Richmond, Va., and it wasn’t just the fact that he’s the same age as my kid brother that caught my attention.
It was the fact that this picture was the featured photo Monday afternoon on espn.com, a photo that depicted the scene outside of a federal courtroom in Richmond where Vick formally entered his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge.
My focus, though, wasn’t on the scene and the dynamics in play — well, not initially — so much as it was on this young man.
The young man seems like a revolutionary of sorts, and if nothing else, is willing to share his message — his faith — in the midst of those who might not agree with his views.
Then I thought of the nature of a child, well, my brother specifically. Kids are happy-go-lucky, kids would rather go outside and play — make friends — as opposed to carrying picket signs on a hot August day.
Which makes me wonder — who put this young man up to this?

When Vick was first indicted, the first thing that came to my mind was Pavlov — and then, conditioning.
Like Pavlov taught the fated dogs, I believe people — you, me, this young man — can be taught in a similar fashion.
The most famous example of classical, or Pavlovian conditioning, involved salivary conditioning of the fated dogs.
During research, Pavlov found that at a point, the dogs wouldn’t salivate in the presence of food, but rather, would salivate in the presence of the person serving the food.
With that, friends, I give you the media.
I believe it’s the presence of the media that has blown this case out of proportion — heck, we live in a sensationalist society that will unnecessarily run images of dogfighting, or images of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, or people suffering, or sex, or whatever images with negative or immoral content because the media knows those images will sell.
It is the media now that works as the server we salivate over, the server that we are so dependent on to get our fix of the Bad Newz Kennelz, or just bad news.
So why do I work in the media, then, knowing full well how the system operates?
Because I don’t believe that’s how it has to operate.
I believe that general news — with exception to my opinion in columns, obviously — can be offered to the masses without putting my personal spin on it, by simply reporting what’s going on and allowing folks to make a decision based on what they see and how they feel.
If that’s not what’s happening, then how can we say someone’s being fairly treated, or that justice is fairly served.
You can’t.
I could stop there, but I don’t think we should look at this case from one perspective. In fact, I dare say there are more forms of conditioning playing their part in the Mike Vick case...

The race card. It’s a wild card, yes, but one that folks are just as willing to shield themselves from as much as they are willing to wield.
A conversation I had with an African-American friend recently:

Me: We are human beings.
Me: Well, that's what you and I want to be.
Friend: Right.
Me: And we live ideally and as if there is no race ... to please God, things of that nature...
Me: ...but then race comes up.
Friend: Yes, it does.
Me: And, invariably, we see it as a factor.
Friend: Yes.
Me: Now, someone of a different race, presumably white, does the same...
Friend: Right...
Me: ...but doesn't see race. Why?
Friend: Because they are privileged ... because they are white.
Me: But aren't you and I privileged?
Me: That is the problem of race.
Friend: Yep.
Me: Race makes one group feel inferior, and the other feel superior.
Me: That's why one group acknowledges it — specifically, acknowledging their (presumed) inferiority, and the other group does not, which acknowledges their (presumed) superiority.

Having brought up this conversation, I believe folks that say the Mike Vick case isn’t a ‘race issue’ didn’t see/hear about the scene outside of the courtroom Monday afternoon, haven’t kept up with the history of sports — check the stories of MLB Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson and former UNC basketball standout Charlie Scott — or maybe those folks didn’t read the Associated Press story I read about the letters to Surry County (Va.) officials dripping with racism.

“Blacks — no matter how much money and education will always be of a jungle race!” read the handwritten, unsigned letter, postmarked Richmond and addressed to courthouse

That’s not to say that the race card hasn’t been misused by African-Americans likewise.
Race and religion are two things that should never meet, but often do — how integrated is the church you attend? — but those were the underlying, no, PERMEATING themes of the support rally that outnumbered animal rights activists Monday afternoon.
I have no problem with religion; in fact, I enjoy sharing my faith and beliefs, but I believe that there are bigger battles to be waged, more important wars to be fought than one over a man willing to plead his guilt.
Which brings me to another problem — priorities.

The problem with living in a sensationalist society is that when media outlets tell us to be WORRIED ABOUT PARIS HILTON! LOOK, IT’S LINDSAY LOHAN — SHE’S A DRUNK! MICHAEL VICK — DOGKILLER!, we tend to trivialize important matters like — new orleans is still struggling after the effects of hurricane katrina — in louisiana, the jena six continues to be a racially-charged issue — mother earth continues to suffer because of our gluttony and disregard for the environment.
But wait ... from the sky, look! PETA’s come to save us! Not far behind ... the NAACP swoops in to preserve our common interest!
Yet again ... wait. Dogs aren’t my common interest ... Al Sharpton’s desire to be in front of the camera isn’t my common interest ... in fact, I dare say that these figures, these leaders are here for their own agenda.
Agendas that are willing to make an example out of Michael Vick — for better, meaning that young athletes should take heed at the rise and fall of celebrity, or for worse — meaning we should crucify this inhumane dog-killer who’s never done a good thing in his life, that grew up in Newport News, Va. and for all intents and purposes, is nothing more to (you) than a thug.
Yes, that’s it. Let’s make an example out of him ... where we don’t agree with the verdict in the O.J. Simpson case, where we believe the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant should’ve gone to jail, where we’re tired of athletes getting away with murder and smoking weed and fornication, let’s bring this Vick to the forefront.
Yes, that’s it. Let’s make an example out of him...

“Because of the Michael Vick case, from now on, whenever an athlete does something wrong, he’s going to be (unfairly) posterized.”
I wish I could say that paraphrased quote came from a Bulldog — University of Georgia, South Carolina State or of the Silver Bluff High School variety — but the truth is, that quote came from a local assistant coach.
It’s bad enough that a young man, preferably a defensive back, misses an assignment and is the one caught in a bad spot when he’s the one left to chase an open receiver sure to score a touchdown ... and has to watch it on the news and hear about it from his friends.
It’s another thing entirely when we encourage and, at times, overhype young athletes, only to vilify and discourage them when they make mistakes, as if the mistakes we’ve made have ever been so amplified and so placed under a microscope as the mistakes of a young athlete.
Until we heed this young man’s message, until we get off our high horses, our pedestals, until we stop placing celebrities on high horses and pedestals just to summarily tear them down...
Until we change our priorities, then this young man will share the same fate as Michael Vick.
He’ll just be another poster boy.

Bible Study Lesson for Aug. 15, 2007

Hey guys ... I'm doing this primarily for my bible study students that read the B.L.O.G. That being said, I haven't forgotten about you guys ... I'm working on a blizzle right now called 'The Realization'.

Lord willin', this is going to be an every week thing, and I'm truly making adjustments in my life to clear my mind and to be better than I've ever been.

Yesterday (Thursday, August 16), I started a 40-day period where I'm not going to eat meat. Inspired by famous vegans, a good friend of mine, and a desire to want to adjust my focus, I decided to see how long I could maintain such a diet.

I'm also reading my bible more, and in light of a recent trip I made, realized the things that I need to do to become better, which the upcoming blog will describe.

So, pray for me as I pray for you. I know the blogs have been sporadic, but I thank those of you who take the time every once in a while to stop by the blizzle.

I hope you all are prospering (or more importantly, are content) as well. Take care.

-------------------------

- I’m Hungry -

Last week’s lesson: Phases – A lesson dealing with growing up in Christ. Different sets of verses were designated for middle school students, high school students and college students with the pretense of adding more to your spiritual knowledge base as you get older.

This week’s precursor: The inspiration for the Aug. 16 lesson came from a recent road trip from the Upstate of South Carolina. I was riding home, and was listening to a Jazzy Jeff (Return of the Magnificent) CD when I became hungry … both physically and spiritually. To quench the latter, I put in a CD of my pastor’s sermon on Jonah, and to fill my belly, I stopped in a gas station. Upon leaving the gas station, about half a mile down the road I picked up a flat tire, and headed back to the station.

Mind you, it was HOT. I could barely put my hands on the ground to get a closer look at things, and long story short, I had to change the tire.

That inspired me to ask the question of “Why Am I Here?”, a question that Christians tend to ask from time to time because of adversity, or in my case, situations where he/she is forced to backtrack.

Not soon after I ask this question, a man came up to me with a bottle of water that he’d just purchased, and gave it to me.

I didn’t even figure out the significance of the water until the day of the actual lesson, where I came across a study bible and read the seventh chapter of John, which talks about ‘living water’, and from there, decided to share my experience(s) with the class.

---------------------- Scripture Says ----------------------

The lesson will deal with three primary dynamics – adversity as a Christian, self-evaluation, and being rewarded (or not) for doing right.

First, allow me to present John 6:27-35.

27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." 28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" 29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 30So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." 35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

This passage talks primarily about not worrying so much about physical hunger as we should about spiritual hunger. Matthew 6:25 offers a similar concept:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

When I first looked back at the man giving me the water, my mind immediately went to the fact that humans can go for weeks without eating, but will die after 3-4 days without water. That was before I looked at John 7:37-39:

37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

That’s when I realized that my asking “Why Am I Here?” at the gas station was a self-effacing question, meaning I didn’t want an answer for myself so much as I wanted to understand what God’s purpose was for me at that time.

The man who gave me the water represented my thirst for the knowledge of God being satisfied. Matthew 6:33 also promises prosperity for those who seek God first:

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It’s not just enough to hear God’s word, though, but to do it as well. See James 1:21-24:

21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

The lesson will commence with verses dealing with each of the ‘primary dynamics’, which seems funny now considering that they weren’t addressed until the end. Oh well.

Adversity as a Christian - II Timothy 2:3-4, 11-12
3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 11Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us.

Contrary to popular opinion, being a Christian isn’t easy. At the same time, we know that while things might not always go as we’d like them to, through Christ Jesus, we are guaranteed a ‘happy ending’, or spending the rest of eternity with Him.

Self-Evaluation (Why Am I Here?) - Deuteronomy 4:29
29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Again, when we face situations, we should focus on God more than ever to seek the answers we want to know.

Reward (or not) for doing right - Jonah 2:8-10
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." 10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

In Jonah 2, Jonah is in the belly of a fish. Instead of just begging to get out of the fish (you know when you get in trouble, you ask God to get you out of –the situation-; truth is, God has a bigger plan and a broader vision for your life), Jonah said that he would praise God, and do what God told him to do (whether he got out of the fish or not). God recognized Jonah’s sincerity, and as a result, Jonah was forgiven.

-May God continue to bless us all.-