Ed Block was considered a hero. He served in World War II, was awarded a Purple Heart, earned a master%u2019s degree and worked to help neglected children and end the cycle of abuse.
The Ed Block Courage Award is now given to NFL players who show %u201Ccommitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.%u201D
The recipient of this award symbolizes professionalism, great strength and dedication. He is also a community role model. With this honor, he enters into an association which contrasts his fierce profession by becoming a major component of the Courage House National Support Network for Kids. He becomes an Ambassador of Courage for victims of abuse, violence and neglect.
In December members of the Eagles voted unanimously for Michael Vick to be the recipient of this prestigious award.
Huh?
This award of especially insulting considering recent evidence that was released by the USDA to wsbtv.com under the Freedom of Information Act in regards to Vick%u2019s investigation.
Informants told investigators that Vick and two others strangled low performing dogs by hanging them from trees, drowning them in buckets of water -- one person holding the hind legs, another person holding the dog's head. They said Vick and two others also killed dogs with a shovel, shot them and in at least one case slammed a dog to the ground until it was dead.Vick and co-defendants Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips "seemed to get an adrenaline high when killing the dogs," an informant said.
An award of this caliber is intended to put the recipient in a place where he can give a voice to the voiceless. It's intended to acknowledge a quality in human beings that we can all reach to attain. It was never intended to stroke the egos of hypocrites. Vick did exactly the type of thing Block took a stand against: abusing the weak and the innocent.
Congratulations to all of the other recipients who have overcome real obstacles and have become role models, like the Jacksonville Jaguars%u2019 Richard Collier who was paralyzed as the result of a spinal cord injury, lost a leg and has since dedicated himself to being a speaker and role model for his area%u2019s youth about personal responsibility and hopes to inspire positive changes.
Now that%u2019s courage.
posted by: alicia graef on Care2.com
http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/the-courage-award-goes-to-michael-vick/
