Let's Move On
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Laramie Boyd
The Spectator
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Lately the media has quoted sports figures hollering "Let's move on", subsequent to it being made public
that they had committed various wrongdoings, ranging from accepting money while participating in sporting events while pretending
to be an amateur, to setting up inhumane dogfights that result in the deaths of the animals, to taking illegal steroids to enhance
one's athletic capacity, and some even worse behavior. The list of infractions is not a short one.
I wonder what "Let's move on" means in the minds of the ones screaming the words, and in the minds of the ones who hear the words and think "moving on" is a good idea.
I would suggest that the first group, the screamers, believe it's time for them to be able to go on with their high salary, substantial perks and public exposure careers without being criticized and maligned about their past behavior, no matter how bad it was. They don't want to hear anymore about how wrong it was or how they disgraced their profession or family or, as sometimes is the case, how their role as a model has been stained. They want it to be business as usual, with no recrimination or acceptance of any responsibility for their behavior or answering for their actions. They want to be treated as if "it" never happened.
On the other hand, the supporters, I believe, just want the game to go on. They want to see the touchdowns, the home runs, the strike outs and the three pointers. They aren't interested in the character of the player, just their performance.
Sadly, if we took this path we would have to move on over the "Beat the Jew" game players at a local high school; over the killing of animals in a betting venue and being welcomed back to the NFL in front of cheering fans; over Tiger's insult to his family and children and being chosen to represent America in the Ryder Cup; over Nixon and Clinton lying on national TV and being treated by some as true statesmen; over 9/11 and a slap in the face with the "coincidental" acquisition of land designed to have a Muslim edifice built on the site where reported Muslims rocked the world; over GW's needless WMD war resulting in the misguided deaths of so many of our young men; over Reggie Bush's free ride that upset the chance for other legitimate young athletes to make a name for themselves. Even in the courts, admitted criminals can strike a deal that prevents them from having to answer for the crimes they committed, just by admitting that they "did it," allowing them to "move on." The list of those allowed to "move on" is just as long.
I believe that now, not later, not just if there is a change in the makeup of the Congress, or of the Supreme Court, or of the presidency, but right now is the time for accountability. Let's "move on" with that agenda!
I wonder what "Let's move on" means in the minds of the ones screaming the words, and in the minds of the ones who hear the words and think "moving on" is a good idea.
I would suggest that the first group, the screamers, believe it's time for them to be able to go on with their high salary, substantial perks and public exposure careers without being criticized and maligned about their past behavior, no matter how bad it was. They don't want to hear anymore about how wrong it was or how they disgraced their profession or family or, as sometimes is the case, how their role as a model has been stained. They want it to be business as usual, with no recrimination or acceptance of any responsibility for their behavior or answering for their actions. They want to be treated as if "it" never happened.
On the other hand, the supporters, I believe, just want the game to go on. They want to see the touchdowns, the home runs, the strike outs and the three pointers. They aren't interested in the character of the player, just their performance.
Sadly, if we took this path we would have to move on over the "Beat the Jew" game players at a local high school; over the killing of animals in a betting venue and being welcomed back to the NFL in front of cheering fans; over Tiger's insult to his family and children and being chosen to represent America in the Ryder Cup; over Nixon and Clinton lying on national TV and being treated by some as true statesmen; over 9/11 and a slap in the face with the "coincidental" acquisition of land designed to have a Muslim edifice built on the site where reported Muslims rocked the world; over GW's needless WMD war resulting in the misguided deaths of so many of our young men; over Reggie Bush's free ride that upset the chance for other legitimate young athletes to make a name for themselves. Even in the courts, admitted criminals can strike a deal that prevents them from having to answer for the crimes they committed, just by admitting that they "did it," allowing them to "move on." The list of those allowed to "move on" is just as long.
I believe that now, not later, not just if there is a change in the makeup of the Congress, or of the Supreme Court, or of the presidency, but right now is the time for accountability. Let's "move on" with that agenda!