The Right Questions...Proper Fines...Rehabilitation...

     I confess that I am not a huge sports fan.  I listen for human profiles--human insights--within sports.
     This week, National Basketball Association [NBA] player, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for uttering a racial slur at a referee.  NBA President David Stern imposed the fine to convey that the NBA was a family-friendly form of entertainment that would not endorse such behavior--such attitudes.  Criticism has been made regarding the amount of  the fine in proportion to the player's annual salary.
     I pose a different question regarding the offense, and its corresponding fine.  What impact would the imposition of fines have if they required community service relevant to the offense?  Adjustments to the ratio of the fine to the offender's income should be implicit in sentencing standards, or fines assignments standards.
     Community service seems like an easy way out--a soft sentence to impose.  Yet, it does not need to be, if properly imposed--properly administered.
     In the justice system, sentencing is supposed to be commensurate with the proven crime.  Unanimous agreement does not exist regarding the definition of commensurate.  However, that is no excuse for pursuing a definition.
     What might commensurate community service be?  First, it must be based on positive actions to lessen the occurrence of relevant offenses, in this case, hate speech.  Second, three groups must be identified.
     First, to what group, or organization is the offender accountable.  Is it a sports team?  Is it a professional association?  Is it some other institution?
     Second, who were the people incriminated?  Children?  Colleagues?  Adults?  Others?
    Third, to whom is the offender a role model?  Children? Parents?  Pet owners?  Teachers?  Religious leaders?  Others?
     Fourth, what might some commensurate community service be for an athlete?
     Speaking to fans at games at a pre-determined time within the game, and for a specified time period--once in each city played during the season?  Speaking to recruits during the training season for the sport involved?
     These are just two ideas.  I am not beholden to them.  My intent is to spur thought.
     In the U.S. judicial system, there are federal sentencing guidelines, which have been established to ensure consistency, and definitions of commensurate.  It seems that other organizations might take a cue from the U.S. judicial system.
     Kobe Bryant is not the first, nor the last athlete to engage in hate speech.  His offense can be a teaching moment for everyone--the news spotlight is on, and it is up to us to use it.

Heroes

A different perspective--a societal perspective--regarding heroes presented itself to me this morning listening to television coverage of the crisis in Egypt.  On a personal level, prior to the coverage of this story, I was averse to the notion of heroes.  Yet, I acknowledge that heroes exist in public opinion.
     The leader of Egypt--Hosni Mubarak--was described as a "war hero" of the war between Egypt, and Israel in October, 1967. Immediately following that description, the anchor said that it is likely that the Egyptian protesters did not care about that fact.
     Am I being optimistic to think that we might be moving away from heroes--from the undue deference to heroes?
     I watched coverage of President Obama awarding a soldier publicly for saving the lives of some of his comrades.  The details of the situation are lost to my memory for the most part.  Yet, what does stand out was the soldier's response to the award.  When dubbed a "hero," the soldier ascribed his actions as being what anyone would do in a similar situation.  He lived up to the oath of service he took--acted upon the military instruction he was given.
     Yet, as I move condemning hero in whole, I am reminded of what true value hero may have, and the good hero may do, is in how it is used.  At Thanksgiving, CNN airs a program, which is entitled CNN's Heroes.  Viewers are asked to submit candidates, who are doing work that benefits others globally.  At Thanksgiving, the work of--the causes championed by--ten individuals is profiled.  The program does more to focus on the work--the causes--than it does to trumpet individuals.
    So, I pray we may move away from worshiping the heroes individually.  Rather, may we worship--honor--the work of the heroes by means of our own actions.    It requires more work. Yet, I think it enables us to live  lives with greater integrity.

Courage. Bravery. Heroes.

     The words "courage," "bravery," and "heroes," re-present themselves through the stories in the Tuscon Shootings tapestry.
     Never have I been comfortable with any of these three words.  Yet, others gravitate toward them--blare them proudly from a megaphone.  Why do I shun the words?  Why do others claim them worthy of admiration?
    Courage.  
    Twelfth century Old French defined courage as, "heart, innermost feelings; temper." 
    In my humble opinion, to laud any human being as a hero serves only one purpose.  "A hero" is an excuse not to aspire to living beyond ourselves--beyond what we imagine we of ourselves.
    Bravery.
    In the 1540s, the French braverie was defined as "daring, defiance, boasting." I doubt that bravery is used today intent on conveying boasting.
    In the 14th century, hero was defined as "man of superhuman strength or courage."  By virtue of the 14th century definition, it seems impossible for any human being to be a hero.  How is it possible to be super-human?  
    To laud any human a hero serves nothing but a selfish purpose.  A hero prevents any of us from striving for--aspiring--more than what we imagine we might be capable of being.
     Bravery.  Courage.  Hero.
     We have yet to embrace a word that nurtures a curious spirit committed to learning, and exceeding what any one of us has accomplished yet today.
     I have resisted admiration for precisely the same reason.  Yet, my view has change.  I feel deep admiration--a quality that in no way is encapsulated in deep respect, or deep regard.  I have been given deep admiration for my family, my friends, and my life.  Deep respect, nor deep regard do not go deep enough to embrace the fullness admiration offers.
    So, I continue to search.  Deep respect is the pathway to deep admiration.
    May deep admiration be the journey toward a companion more worthy than a brave, courageous hero.  May we admire deeply--may we be admired deeply--for the companions we may be on this journey.