Two Tales of Redemption: Kennedy and Vick

Driving to work this morning, I heard a news story on the return of Michael Vick to the NFL after his release from federal prison on dogfighting charges. The broadcast included an audio clip of a man challenging protesters outside the Eagles' stadium, arguing that Vick had done his time, had lost millions of dollars, and should be given a second chance.

For the record, I'm not a fan of Michael Vick. If asked whether he should have been allowed back into the NFL, I probably would have answered no. Do I think he deserves to make $1.625 million this year? Definitely not. Still, I recognize that he can make this make this money because the public is willing to pay to attend his games, to watch them on TV, and to buy the merchandise that allows owners to pay these salaries.

Listening to a man arguing for Michael Vick to have a second chance caused me to reflect on one of the main stories of this past week, the death of Senator Edward Kennedy. Many of the tributes I have heard over the past few days alluded to the fact that Kennedy, like all of us, had made mistakes. I think most would agree that one of his most significant mistakes was the Chappaquiddick incident, which resulted in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne.

As reprehensible as I find dogfighting, I would argue that causing the death of another person is a more egregious offense. Granted, unlike Michael Vick, Kennedy's offense wasn't premeditated; like Vick, he plead guilty (to leaving the scene of an accident); but unlike Vick, he did not serve time (his sentence was suspended). In spite of Chappaquiddick, the people of Massachusetts opted to give Kennedy another chance. He continued a lifetime of public service, and served in the Senate for 30 more years.

Will Michael Vick prove himself worthy of redemption? I don't know. If sincere, his work with the Humane Society holds promise. Time, and Vick's actions, will tell. The larger questions for me are, what, if anything, makes one man more deserving of a second chance than another? And, what does it say about us if we are unwilling to give a man that chance?