Help me with this
August 10, 2009
I recently read that Hank Aaron was interested in having Pete Rose reinstated in baseball in order for him to be elected to the Hall of Fame. While I respect Mr. Aaron’s talent I question this opinion.
In other words, does talent trump ethics. Anyone else who exhibited the same lack of personal and professional ethics would be a cipher in the history of sports. Does talent excuse moral bankruptcy.
In a different arena, should an accused and convicted murderer profit from her sales of murder mysteries. Do time and talent delete the deed.
In a different arena, should a “witness” to a drowning death, continue to enjoy the accolades attendant on a U.S. Senator. Was Monica Lewinsky lucky to have chosen Bill Clinton who fooled around in the Oval Office as her paramour, instead of going to a ride with Teddy Kennedy.
I am having trouble coming to grips with these situations. “Life is not fair” does not go far enough to explain them.
Gunsmoke and Knitting 
I don’t know what the point of “banned for life” is if the edict doesn’t actually result in being locked out of the clubhouse forever. I’m certain that the people committing steroid infractions [aside from the invincibility haze induced by the extra chemicals] were relying on the idea that if they were really, really fabulously successful in their home-run derbies, no one would ever really, really lock them out of the clubhouse forever.
Or maybe the Hall of Infamy and Short-term Gains seemed more appealing than the Hall of Fame….?
As far as I can tell, EVERYTHING trumps ethics these days. This is the kind of realization that makes me feel very old, and extremely crabby.
Amen, Cranky.
And Thoryke, you bring up a good point that our society celebrates celebrity – many of the famous are in reality infamous. The media, where the these stories play out, does not make the distinction. People who should be busy making amends are busy being photographed and sought after for … whatever.
Sorry, must go (beat down my cynicism.)
The crankylitprof is correct. I’m convinced that the thumbing of the nose we’ve seen at integrity is so wounding to us all. It breeds cynicism and narcissism.