Web Letters | The Nation

Michael Vick, Racial History and Animal Rights

Animal cruelty

Dogs simply work to gain approval from the person they pack to. It is unfortunate that dogs are used in hunting in a myriad of ways—to hunt out hidden prey of all kinds. They were also used as bait in hunting. Female bear scent was rubbed on them so and the other dogs would chase the dog to ferret out male bears for the hunter. Many dogs were brutally killed this way, by bears and other dogs in the pack.

Dogs are not able to reason about actions. They simply work to fit in the pack and make the alpha happy. Your conversation that leads to a conclusion that it is expected that black people hate dogs because of the way they were used in history seems to say that black people do not reason but act on some internal instinct.

The murders that Vick and his associates committed are hienous and vicious. To be allowed to be a role model to men, women, boys and girls is unacceptable. Homosexual athletes remain in the closet, afraid to loose a career because of whom they love. I'm not convinced Vick should have a second chance. I'm sure the Philly Eagles are financially driven.

I think there are many arguments to be made how off-base you are.

Michael Vick, Racial History and Animals Rights

Understanding helps

Dear Professor Harris-Perry, thank you so much for your verbal as well as written commentary on this subject. Commenting on this issue from the prospective of an educator, historian as well as a social scientist is invaluable. We have got to get all the knee-jerk emotionalism out of the narrative, in order to be receptive to being educated about human behaviors. It's not that one agrees or disagrees with the behavior; but if we understand where that behavior comes from, an environment is then created for corrective action in terms mindset and permanent behavioral changes. As it is said, no better advocate than one who has exprienced a true conversion. Thank you.

Michael Vick, Racial History and Animal Rights

Tucker Carlson and race-baiting

I am not going to get into all of the ins and outs of what happened. I agree that Tucker Carlson went overboard when he said that Vick should be executed. I am dog lover and abhor what Vick and his cronies did to them, but a person shouldn't be executed for that. Now, the only person that mentioned Michael Vick's race is you. Do you think that Mr. Carlson would have had abstained from this topic if Mr. Vick were white? Of course you do. Who is doing the race-baiting?

Michael Vick, Racial History and Animal Rights

Animal abuse

I am a liberal, a progressive, and have literally supported civil rights since the sixth grade. At one point, I joined the NAACP! I am also nuts about dogs. My dog is the only one in the house who eats meat. Regardless of race, I regard anybody who abuses dogs or animals as the lowest form of life. They are in the same category as the money markets and multinational corporations