Many, many years ago in Madison, Wisconsin there was a peaceful protest that happened for FIVE years on the Mifflin Street Green. This was done because of the stigma attached to smoking weed and how those that participated would rob, pillage and create mayhem when stoned.
Growers would walk around with Hefty Trash bags FILLED and handed out leaf to all that were there to change the laws.
It took five years but the breakthrough came when the law changed to a $15 fine. You could walk down the streets, tip your hat to an officer, and walk on by without fear.
What has recently occurred was unfortunate. But it was also a violation done while under the umbrella of the International Olympic Committee. Rules and regulations meant to keep all athletes on the same, level playing field. Each and every Olympic contender knows what is allowable and what is not.
How the incident occurred, whose lapse of judgment was at fault, why no one brought up the issue is all at suspect.
But the fact is, without rules and regulations AT ANY LEVEL, creates chaos. Your friendships have them, your jobs have them, the games you participate in have them. And when you choose to not follow the rules and regulations in any of those possibilities, you have a penalty to serve. You may be kicked out of your clique, suspended or fired from your job, admission to the game put on hold.
The incident in question was not done in protest against the standing rules and regulations. If it was, I could appreciate the effort. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t done to change anything other than her own consciousness. Which, again, I have no problem with. Her choice, her responsibility.
She made a choice, she needs to accept the responsibility that is attached to it.
Being the greatest is also a responsibility. You’re in the spotlight. To blatantly flaunt the law and then attempt to get away scott free, tells those young fans, who idolize her, that they should be able to do what they want, regardless because if the laws don’t pertain to their idol, then laws don’t pertain to them.
I know the politics of sports. How the top athletes can be excused for their behavior. First hand. It should never happen at any level. To any player. Fines are made so you don’t repeat the same offensive action again. Learn from them. Stop trying to get around them.
Change that which needs to be changed. But do it correctly. Accept the fact that whatever society you chose to participate in has rules you MUST follow. And admit when you’ve made a mistake. It makes you human. And stronger in the eyes of those that follow you.
Everybody falls. Everybody fails. The strongest get up, brush themselves off, remembers that mistake and does everything in their power to not let it happen again.
