I'm forgetful anyway

One week from today, Lil Wayne will begin his one-year sentence for weapons charges. About three weeks later, T.I. will be released from prison after doing time on similar charges. Has anybody noticed he's gone? It's not like he's had much of a media presence while incarcerated. All he's done is put out two singles and win a Grammy. Lil Wayne is probably sleeping in the studio, laying down guest tracks all day, assuring he won't be forgotten during his stay at Riker's Island. When he's released, it will be like he never left us.

I'm not trying to pass judgment on Lil Wayne, T.I. or any other person, celebrity or otherwise, who lands hirself in jail. Nor am I attempting to marginalize the harrowing experience that a prison term must be. I don't doubt that Michael Vick is a changed man after everything he went through. The question is, do we care?

Religious roots aside, the old adage of "forgive and forget" suggests that people are willing to leave the past behind and allow others to once again prove themselves. But do we forgive and forget or simply forget these days? With so much information at hand, it's not hard to forget why Michael Vick plays for the Eagles. What he did was horrible. But so much has happened since the truth about his dog fighting ring became public. Perhaps I should concentrate more, but there is a seemingly endless selection of ways to educate and entertain myself every minute of every day that it almost seems unreasonable to ask me to remember something that happened three whole years ago. There's so much to do, so much to prioritize. Too many things matter in our daily lives to make us really truly care about whether or not Michael Vick is a reformed man. He's playing football again, so we can forget about his past.

T.I is already working on his next album. With any luck, Lil Wayne will reemerge next year with a prison book and some new ink (if he has any room left on his body). It won't be the last time a celebrity bounces back from a public fallout. That's alright, we probably won't remember this the next time it happens.