What About Michael Phelps?
So what about Michael Phelps? Caught with a bong which presumably meant there was pot in it, which presumably meant he smoked and yes, it is illegal.
But everyone does it, right? That's the predominant line of thought, isn't it?
I clicked through one of the links on AOL to read about "pending charges" to be filed and the outrage that generated on behalf of the individual writing the article.
OK. So that officially brings us to "slipper slope"land, right?
I am admittedly a much more "shade of gray" person than I am black and white. But pot use is illegal, is the drug of amotivation and has landed plenty of people in a legal mess. I know, my son was one of those people. So it has become much more of a black and white issue for me personally.
But just because Michael Phelps is doing what "every other" twenty something his age is doing (which is not the case) does that make it OK?
Here is why I don't think so:
But everyone does it, right? That's the predominant line of thought, isn't it?
I clicked through one of the links on AOL to read about "pending charges" to be filed and the outrage that generated on behalf of the individual writing the article.
OK. So that officially brings us to "slipper slope"land, right?I am admittedly a much more "shade of gray" person than I am black and white. But pot use is illegal, is the drug of amotivation and has landed plenty of people in a legal mess. I know, my son was one of those people. So it has become much more of a black and white issue for me personally.
But just because Michael Phelps is doing what "every other" twenty something his age is doing (which is not the case) does that make it OK?
Here is why I don't think so:
- He is supposed to be a role model, and role models don't engage in illegal behavior (yes, I know all kinds of pro athletes do all kinds of damaging and illegal things; I don't think those are right either).
- He has the bucks to pay for legal help to dig him out of this debacle. Not everyone does. Why is OK that the rich guys get off?
- Pot and the discipline that it take to be a great swimmer just don't go together. Let's stick to swimming and hard work.
- Saying it is a no big deal (in the scheme of things) issue, hey at least he didn't drink and drive drunk and kill someone...is just following the wrong line of reasoning. Those things are wrong too and there need to be consequences.
- He should face the same consequences any other dude would. Marijuana smoking got our son court ordered out of our home. Is that no big deal?
What do you think?
Labels: Pot and Michael Phelps, what's the big deal about pot, winning the drug war at home.
posted by www.kathypride.com at
8:53 AM
4 Comments:
MY OPINION IS: Like it or not, if you are in a leadership position (sports hero, music star, tv star, president, church elder, Sunday school teacher...parent, older sibling, adult, etc.), you have to live up to a higher standard. The bigger the profile, the higher the standard because the greater the impact.
And, no, NOT every 20-something smokes pot. I didn't, my daughter doesn't, her husband doesn't, my husband didn't--I would be hard-pressed to name anyone who DOES. I have one family of friends who has a son who always has, and yep, he still lives at home and has never worked (he's almost 30). I have another friend who does under "medical" status, but that's just a rouse and everyone, including HIM, knows it.
We had a drunk driver run a stop sign here recently and hit a van carrying two women and 3 children (9-11) and killed both women, two children, and left one child with permanent brain damage. (He just plead not guilty today, after blowing a whopping .21!! --legally drunk is .08).
Marijuana might not make you THAT impaired, but it does affect you and it IS illegal for good reason. So much so that even those here who can get it legally by state law for "medical" reasons, still cannot have it legally by federal law and both they and their suppliers are still subject to federal prosecution for possession and sale and harvest...all that.
I think the problem is too many people use relativism as their argument of justification. But then the line keeps moving...that's why it is such a slippery slope. I am going to write a blog post for the empowering parents web site blog I write for on this topic. Stir up a little controversy, since there seem to be so many people on the gray side (or should I say gray slide) of this topic).
YOu only have to grow up with an alcoholic in your life at some point to decide that alcohol would be better made illegal.
For me, it was a stepfather. He was mean and scary and if my mom nadn't packed us up and left him, I would probably be dead.
right after they got married we moved thousands of miles away from our friends and family. He had a drunken rage before we had even gotten our things unpacked (like 2 weeks after we had moved there) and Mom and I left him then, under police protection; just down the street, but he found us and so Mom "took him back"--planning our real escape behind the scenes, only I did not know this. I finaly ran away from home, after about a month with him, and went to our former neighbor's house (the only other people I really knew) but that neighbor molested me...Out of the frying pan, into the fire. I realized no place was safe, and went home--but I would have left again if we hadn't skipped town--and who knows WHAT would have become of me.
People who use drugs and say they aren't hurting anyone but themselves are so completley decieved....After my mom dies, I'm planning to write a book about it all...
I think it is unfair to hold Michael Phelps to a "higher standard." He can certainly be a role model in the area of athletics. He trains like a maniac and strives for new personal bests regularly. If you want to pontificate, how bout "he who is without sin, cast the first stone." Maybe you don't or never took illegal drugs, but have you truly never done something your readers would disapprove of? Does that make you devoid of all worth? NO!
Should the rich guy get off. Of course, not. But, he has been blessed with money and he is not the author of a flawed legal system.
If Phelps decided to devote as much energy to pot smoking as he does swimming, well then I would agree that the discipline would be lacking. I didn't hear that he missed a practice however. He still seems to be a dedicated athlete.
There are worse things than smoking pot. Please don't tell me your are making all crimes the same. He is suffering the consequences, by the way in a loss of endorsement income.
Your last point, just shows you are angry about past hurts. I feel for you, but you are certainly biased. Lee
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