Usable Insight – Michael Vick mea culpa?
To err is human, to not forgive is inhumane
It seems clear that Michael Vick wants a second chance.
Michael Vick may be out of prison, but clearly there are many who are not ready to forgive and forget what he did.
Michael Vick will need to realize that he triggered in his fans and certainly all animal lovers the 3 H’s of Hurt, Hate and Hesitation to Trust. To reverse each of those he will need to respond with the 3 R’s of Remorse, Restitution and Rehabilitation before those people will give him a second chance.
The 3 H’s: Hurt, Hate, Hesitation to Trust
1. Hurt - When he did what he did, he was not only cruel to dogs, but he hurt anyone who loves and is protective of dogs or animals.
2. Hate - People who love animals hate him for having done what he did, especially in such a cold unfeeling way.
3. Hesitation to Trust - Given what he did and the cruelty he demonstrated those people are going to be hesitant to give him a second chance to do it again.
The 3 R’s: Remorse, Restitution, Rehabilitation1. Remorse - Whoever felt hurt by his actions will need to see him demonstrating true remorse rather than mere regret for his actions.
2. Restitution - He injured something in people who love animals and in his fans who had seen him as a hero and then he took that ways. They will need a payback. Maybe his prison time and time away from his career will do. Maybe they need something more, such as being able to vent their anger, boo him at games, shame him verbally until they get it out of their system. And maybe he’ll need to spend time being a vigorous proponent of the humane treatment of animals.
3. Rehabilitation - He’ll need to show that he has developed a new set of values where perhaps he not only never resorts to cruelty to animals, but he goes on a campaign against it that he sincerely believes in.
After six months of his practicing and living the 3 R’s, if people still do not forgive him, he is no longer unforgivable. They are unforgiving.
Usable Insight: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone; let he who is with sin follow the steps to earn back forgiveness
Read more at: Forgiving Michael Vick
Also please join me for my August 26, 9-10 AM PST, 12-1 PM EST, free American Management Association webcast, “The Simple Way to Get Through to Difficult People.” There are now 2900 people registered for it and you can help me set a record.
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Tags: cruelty, forgiveness, mark goulston, michael vick
August 19th, 2009 at 8:50 am
In truth, immediately i didn’t understand the essence. But after re-reading all at once became clear.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Great article…. Thanks Mark.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Mark – I greatly appreciate that you are activel creating an environment in which Michael Vick can continue the process of working his way back in society. I matters little that he play football – but that is his access. I t will be difficult, even brutal to deal with what is in his immediate future, but this is his opportunity to on-goingly demonstrate character. Let his previously held belief structure fall away in the face of the reality that he created for himself. Michael Vick, an athletically gifted human being can transform to Michael Vick, a spiritually gifted human being
August 20th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
So glad I happened upon your blog here. I have learned so much already.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I really like your blog and i respect your work. I’ll be a frequent visitor.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I don’t get very well the concept here, so I believe people may disagree with it.
August 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often!
August 25th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Thank you! You often write very interesting articles. You improved my mood.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:02 am
This may seem strange but I couldn’t see the image above, I am using FireFox 2. anyways, what I read was very good and I enjoyed it. I was thinking about print it out, do I have permission to do that?
September 10th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I am willing to forgive Vick, but disagree with the NFL decision to put him on the field. This is a man who was ingaged in torture and conspiricy and lied right up the the last minute. He wasn’t Leanord Little, who got drunk and killed someone in a DUI. This wasn’t an accident. This was cruel and intentional and shows the lowest character imaginable.
Now he is being put in front of millions of people. No penalty, No shame. No real accountability.
Had they hired him as a coach, a waterboy, a trainer, I would have no objection. Had he found a job outside of the NFL, I would have no objection. But the NFL values his talent over his character.
Pete Rose was banned from the hall of fame for gambling. Is that worse than the torture of animals and lying?
Where does the NFL draw the line? Should convicted Rapists, Murderers, and Child Molesters who can throw a football line up for tryouts? How much are we, the fans (or in my case, former fan) overlook?
This isn’t about Vick to me. This is about accountability and character. We forgive our athletes for there sins – and often indulge the sins – far to easily.
Vick sets an example that I don’t want my son to see. I don’t hold Vick accountable – of course he wants the job. I hold the NFL accountable. It is thier lack of character that create a haven for talented athletes to commit acts that we should not tolerate and then not hold them accountable.
The NFL has sold itself out, and cheaply at that. And in doing so, it does not deserve the respect of the fans.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
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