I've done my best to stay out of this whole Michael Vick saga.  But, this got my attention today.  During a press conference, Vick said he needed to change his ways and that he "found Jesus".

First of all, what does that mean, really? 

Second, is he real about it?  The phrase "I've found Jesus" is thrown out there an awful lot, usually by famous people like Vick who've messed up a good thing.  Is it true that people really do "find Jesus" when they mess up their lives beyond all recognition?  Or is that just a cop-out, aimed at getting themselves "off the hook"?  Do people really think that's all it takes to be forgiven for some of the more outrageous things they do?  Are they right, is that really all it takes?  Do they become good people, all of a sudden?

Third, how does that change anything?  Is he expecting to be let off the hook because he says he "found Jesus"?  Is that good enough?  Is he expecting something from saying this, or is it just the customary thing to say when you royally screw up?

Fourth, boy he picked a bad time to "find Jesus".  Had he found Jesus about a year ago, he probably never would've been in this mess in the first place.  Some people really pick an odd time to "find Jesus".  Where was he all this time?

This whole "I've found Jesus" phenomenon really interests me.  Where does this come from?  Am I supposed to believe that since someone has "found Jesus", all of a sudden, that means they'll be "walking the straight and narrow" from now on?  Is it really that simple?  I've never sunk to those depths, where I've needed to "find Jesus".  So, I don't really know how it works.  What's the point of saying something like that?  Does it really need to be made public?  Don't people really just say that publicly because they're looking for a little sympathy?  Do they deserve that sympathy?

Personally, I don't buy it.  I think it's just something people say because they think it'll get them off easy.  I think it's just something that's been said so many times that it's almost part of a template for what to say when you screw up.  "Let's see, say I'm sorry, talk about how I found Jesus, tell them I'm going to change my ways, this has been an eye-opening experience.  Yeah, that sounds good." 

You never hear them talk about how they deserve the punishment they've got coming to them, though.  I think I would've been more impressed if Vick had said, "You know, I feel terrible about what I did.  I deserve to go to jail for what I did.  I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY ACTIONS."  What a novel concept.  That only exists in a fantasy dream-world, though.

I'm well past tired of all the spin.  From celebrities to politicians to even the common folk now, you just can't get a straight word out of anybody anymore.  What happened to "straight talk"?  What happened to responsibility?  For all intents and  purposes, the man is busted.  He's pleading guilty, yet he's not willing to really accept responsibility for his actions.  Just one man's opinion.