by Mike Skaggs

Created on: October 21, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

The Villification of Michael Vick and our own Cultural Ignorance

Preface - First and foremost I am against any cruelty to any animal and would never condone or take part in anything that involves animal cruelty. That said:

Michael Vick might as well have shot the Pope, Mickey Mouse and admitted involvement in 9-11 for the way he has been portrayed in the media and public opinion.

I am honestly dumbfounded at the rage from the masses at Mr. Vick for his crimes.

I also feel for him. I try to educate myself on someone's culture, education and environment before passing judgment for anything. As a white male raised in a rural town, my cultural ignorance was total and the education continues.

We Americans, as a whole, are categorically ignorant of any culture other than our own, including those that exist in our own country. Many can't distinguish between most foreign cultures, confuse religions and their doctrine and are for the most part completely ignorant concerning all global cultures. We are just as ignorant of many cultures that exist in our own country. Cultural ignorance knows no boundaries. It is impervious to economics, race, gender, geography and any other factor that defines a culture. We are all culturally ignorant to a degree, and there must be a continual educational process to limit ignorance.

We must all remember that everyone is a product of their environment. If someone is born in Iran, they will most likely practice Islam. If that same person were born in any other environment, they are almost assured to adopt that culture. The great majority of us do not have the intelligence, knowledge or courage to develop our own beliefs, religion, morals or culture. We are sheep.

Now, to address Michael Vick and his situation. Very few Americans understand or even care to acknowledge the poor, extremely rural African and Caucasian cultures that exist in this country. This is a culture very different from any other culture in America. I do not claim to understand it and I acknowledge my ignorance. Some claim that dog fighting knows no racial, economic or geographical boundaries but it is certainly glorified by the hip-hop culture more than any other source which is an indicator of prevalence in that culture, not to mention the effects of glorification and increased acceptance as a result.

I had never really heard or thought about dog fighting. Before I passed personal judgment on Vick, I researched the prevalence of dog fighting in that culture. According to the

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