I don't always comment on hot button topics.

Many of them are better to let go. Sometimes, that's because the flame of stupidity, scandal or salaciousness doesn't need my fan. Sometimes it's because bad news goes away faster when we don't give it energy.

Other times, though, it hits close to home, and I have to say something. When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Michael Vick to a contract, I posted this video.

My Facebook page lit up.

Here's what people had to say.

Tiffany shared it, along with this message.

From a fellow '93 plum graduate - An interesting and insightful way of looking at this situation. Doesn't mean I'm a bad person, doesn't mean I don't LOVE dogs (I have 3), doesn't mean I'm excited about it, and it doesn't mean I'll root for him - it just means there's only one judge, and this isn't the end of my support for all the other Steelers players. Hoping we never need him, and hoping that this year goes quickly Thanks, Paul Wozniak for the insight.

Suzanne was very active in the discussion.

Not sure it makes much sense. Would you hire a cold blooded killer to Work for you? We know God is the ONLY judge, but the reality of it all is in society, we have moral standards. God gave us morals for a reason.

Brian chimed in with this. I really like this one, because my whole 'Only God must judge' might be a cop out, an easy way to avoid staking my flag in beliefs or morals. I admit it. I stake very few flags.

Attaboy taking the high road. 260 arrests in the NFL last 5 years. The league has more than it's share of criminals. Is running a dog-fighting ring worse than beating your wife? I wouldn't say that. Worse than driving under the influence? Much worse..until that vehicle kills somebody. Worse than letting air outta some footballs? Very definitely so. I think the point behind the main point is that the Steelers have the reputation to never sign or keep these types of people, and now they have. And Vick happens to have committed one of the worst crimes you can think of. This changes the way the sports world perceives the Rooneys and the franchise. The Steelers used to be on a squeaky-clean pedestal, and most fans are more upset that reputation is spoiling, rather than being upset about the actual crime, which is a shame. Ray Rice beat his wife to a pulp, knocked her out cold. Just as bad. He, too, has to end up somewhere. That city will also have polarized opinions. At the end of the day, it's about the fan base forgiving based on genuine repentence. Vick has entered this humbly and has paid for what he did in the eyes of the law. True justice may never come until he is Judged, yet he continues to show and say he is sorry. I for one, forgive him. That's my duty as a Christian. He has been in deep trouble since his high school days and throughout his stay at VA Tech. His brother is in jail. He was raised so much differently than you and I, and he says he is working hard to learn what is right and wrong. You see, he actually needed taught why fighting dogs to the death is wrong. Think about that for a minute..
Should he get in a game (God forbid) I will root for him. Football isn't about values, and no longer should a city's team be equated with the city's values. Times have changed severely. There are too many bad apples. He was signed for his tight spiral, unbelievable arm, and running shoes. There is no character consideration when the only focus is making millions running, catching, throwing, kicking, blocking, tackling.

Pittsburghers against Michael Vick, a Facebook page has been started. I was invited to join. I declined. A lot of people didn't decline, because that page has 19,874 friends (at last count).

Danielle, a friend who I know is involved with animal rescue efforts and a dog lover to the fullest extent said this.

I really like and appreciate your take on this. Gives me something to think about. I'm going to share this.

Brian  T. said this, and a few others shared his sentiment.

 Very well said Paul, ALL of Pittsburgh should watch this.

This was an interesting post for me, because even though I am on the radio, I don't want to be a blowhard, or inflammatory, or judgmental, or poke fun at misfortunes. Those are just a few avenues I would prefer to avoid while still being genuine and entertaining.

I learned a lot as I published this and read the responses. Mostly, it does make me wonder, is taking the high road kind of a cop out?

What do you think?

 

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