Because I Can… the random thoughts of Marc Scott

Scotty Lago is an athlete.  A young man, I suspect, not unlike many others.  He snowboards.  He also happens to do it as a representative of his country – the United States Of America.

Many, by now, are familiar with the Olympic tale of this 22 year old man from Seabrook, New Hampshire.  After winning a bronze medal during the Vancouver Games, he allowed himself to get into a bit of a predicament.  Photographs were taken of him in somewhat compromising positions with his medal.  Once those photographs found their  way to the internet, as most photographs usually do, what could very well have been a lapse in judgement turned into an international incident.

For his “punishment” he was, shall we say, “encouraged”, to leave Vancouver early and return to his hometown.  The Olympic dream of a young athlete abruptly cut short, and for what?  For a team to save face?  For a nation to save face?  I’m not sure that I understand.  I’m not sure that I ever will.  But it has presented an interesting insight into our own hypocrisy.

Boys will be boys.  That’s what they say, right?  Now, before I go any further, let me preface this by saying I am not condoning or encouraging his behaviour.  I’m simply pointing out an inconsistency that I see.

If the pictures in question had not found their way to the internet, then one can only assume that this incident would have passed without any mention.  The team would have cast it off as an excited young man having a momentary lapse in judgement amidst the excitement of winning a bronze medal at the Olympics.  Life would go on and Scotty would still be with his team in Vancouver.

However, because the pictures did make it to the world wide web, suddenly that changes everything.  Now, instead of forgetting the whole thing, the team feels the need to publicly reprimand the young man and send him home early.

One sports writer explained it by saying that these days athletes live under intense scrutiny.  I don’t disagree with that.  But that doesn’t explain the hypocrisy.  Why, if athletes are so heavily scrutinized, do their actions only become important when they get caught?  Why do we, as people, and as a society, tolerate a seemingly endless supply of unacceptable behaviour, as long as it remains behind closed doors?  Is it ignorance?  It’s is denial?  Would we rather just be oblivious?

I’m not saying I agree or disagree with how the Scotty Lago situation was handled.  I am more interested in understanding why we only hold people to a higher standard after the fact.  How long was Tiger Woods leading his double life?  Why did sponsors, colleagues, and fans the world ‘round abandon the guy the minute word got out?  Why do we accept our own sins and then turn around so quick to judge those of others?  Is it just because they’re in the spotlight?  Or is it because focusing on the flaws of others allows us to ignore the flaws in ourselves?

The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.

Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”

“No one, Master.”

“Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”
John 8:3-11

There are skeletons in all of our closets.  Some of them are from days long since passed.  Others are from recent memory.  Still some are ones we fight with daily.  As long as we keep them hidden in our closet, we are too often to content to just keep going.  It’s not until we are exposed that try to justify, correct, or save face.

Scotty returned to his hometown a hero.  To me, it’s a perfect picture of forgiveness.  Despite the mistake he made.  Regardless of the fact that his team encouraged him to leave so as to not draw any negative attention or publicity, his family, friends, and neighbours welcomed him home with open arms.  It’s unfortunate that that is not the story that will be told or remembered though.  And I can’t help but think that the reason for that, is because we’re all too busy casting stones.