Sunday, August 16, 2009

Michael Vick A Changed Man

Former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick will have a chance to get back in the "game" with his new team, Philadelphia Eagles. I had the chance to watch the "60 MINUTE" interview with JB that aired on CBS tonight. First of all, I have to say that JB did a great job interviewing Michael Vick. JB definitely didn't "leave any stone unturned" and Michael Vick handled the questioning that was hurled at him. I learned a lot more about Michael Vick, the person and the athlete. For the past several months we have all heard comments made such as he should never play football again and other attacks made against him. I will be the first to say that cruelty to animals shouldn't be tolerated and a person that does those types of atrocious acts should be punished. But the year 2007 wasn't the first time that professional dog fighting has been going on and Michael Vick wasn't and isn't the first person to be involved in this type of activity. According to Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society there are 40,000 reported professional dog fighters and 100,000 street fighters in the United States. This type of activity runs across all racial lines and economic status. Michael Vick just happened to be the "poster bad boy". As I listened to the interview, one thing that struck me was that he first came in contact with dog fighting when he was a "young child" in Virginia. It appeared to be a neighborhood activity that included some of his childhood friends. Some of the same friends that followed him throughout his career. The same so called friends that he tried to help by bankrolling this illegal and inhumane business. If they were any type of friends they wouldn't have been part of this and they wouldn't have jeopardized their friend , Michael Vick's career. If Michael Vick was any kind of friend then he should have been the better man and said, "Look, man this is wrong ". Which brings me to another activity that the Humane Society should talk about and that is "Cock Fighting". Will it take a celebrity before attention is brought to that issue. Cock Fighting has been around for many years and it has been televised as it relates to the horrors of that inhumane business. Everyday people who go to work everyday are involved in dog fighting and cock fighting, but have any of them lost their jobs or been made a public nationwide spectacle like Michael Vick? I think Michael Vick was truly sincere with JB on "60 MINUTES" tonight. Only time will tell and hopefully he will continue his life learning experience. As Michael Vick basically stated, we all know the difference between what is right and what is wrong, that he has learned from his mistakes and that he is very sorry. He also spoke about his priorities in life. If Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society, Tony Dungy, former NFL coach and mentor along with the Philadelphia Eagles among others willing to give him a chance, why can't we. For all of us that are religious remember the bible verse that states, "He without sin, cast the first stone". But remember the greatest fear that we all should have when we do wrong is the judgement from our creator and not from man!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Warning! Read The Label On Your Prescription Medications

Sad to say, Michael Jackson's death has prompted a lot of questions about the type of medications that we are taking on a daily basis. How many times have you heard someone say to you that they know someone that is taking at least 10 different "prescribed" medications per day? Before my uncle passed away last year, I remember him telling me that he was taking at least 40 pills per day. I couldn't believe it! Could someone tell me how in the world can someone take so much medication and expect to get better. Anyone taking that much medication is a " walking pharmacy". Okay, you have the pharmaceutical companies that produce thousands of different medications that are supposedly be able to treat the problem , who in turn market these medications to the physicians and also to the pharmacists. First of all, I am not saying that the pharmaceutical companies are doing anything wrong. I am just saying that your physician is the one that prescribes the medications that he or she feel may be of benefit to you. Let me give you a brief scenario.....Have you ever been to a physician and was told that you had one ailment and then you decided to get a second opinion only to find out that it was something totally different. What if you didn't get a second opinion and you were taking the "prescribed " medications for an ailment that didn't exist. I wonder how many people are taking medications that they may not need. I am not a physician of course, nor am I a pharmacist or a representative for a pharmaceutical company. But I do believe that all parties involved including ourselves have a responsibility in making sure that we all do what is right for our well being. Of course it is believed that Michael Jackson died from prescription medication. But what health care provider in his or her right mind, would practice unethical procedures to put someone to sleep. There are many alternatives to treat sleep deprivation. Suggestion to everyone that take any form of prescription medication...talk to your physician....call your pharmacists...tell them about all of the medications that has been prescribed for you to take...find about any side effects of the medications...or do some research yourself via the internet. Take responsibility for your health..... read the label and ask questions. An ounce of prevention could save your life!