Lance Armstrong is a liar! I am watching Oprah's interview with Lance Armstrong as I type this blog post. I don't follow cycling or watch the Tour de France. I have no interest in the sport of cycling whatsoever. But as an American, I have the right to be disgusted by him. He represented our country and he cheated while doing it. He claimed to be a role model for our children.
Below is an excerpt from his website. The red remarks are mine.
Lance's Story
If scripted by Hollywood, the story would be dismissed as trite melodrama: A deadly disease strikes a promising athlete. Despite desperately thin odds, he manages not only to beat the affliction but also to return to the sport and win its top prize, not once but a record seven times. Unbelievable, except it's true. (Really? He has the audacity to keep this on his website)
But the story doesn't end on the finish line at the Tour de France. His experience made him a part of a cancer community, and motivated him to unleash the same passion and drive he does in bike races to the fight against cancer. (I can speak as a cancer survivor that I do not want him as the role model or representative of the community)
Since he made history in 1999, he has won the tour six more times, and has become one of the most recognizable and admired people of this era. (Now he is one of the most arrogant and shameful people of this era)What is his punishment for lying, committing perjury, cheating and doing drugs? Will he serve jail time? Will he have to repay all of the companies that endorsed him and paid him to represent them? Will he need to return the millions in prize money that he "won"?
What happens to the people that came in second to him? They were the true winners. Do they get to sue him for cheating them out of the titles?
He is a coward and a bully. Why should anyone believe anything that comes out of his mouth? His "apology" comes across as arrogant and insincere. What is the right punishment? I know that whatever it will be- it will not be enough.
It's interesting to me that you're calling for punishment... aren't Christians given grace when we confess our sins, and don't we pray "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us..."
ReplyDeleteThe Bible does hold people accountable for their sins especially when they have sinned against others. There are countless examples of repaying someone that you have sinned against. Like all crimes in our society there are punishments that fit. LA claimed to be a leader and a role model and a representative for the cancer community. He hurt many people and his cause. You are correct that we need to have an attitude of forgiveness. It is harder to forgive someone who does not seem repentant for their actions but regardless the judgement is the Lord's not ours.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how he has harmed others... its only sports.
ReplyDeleteI forgot that you aren't a sports fan :)
ReplyDeleteI guess... I had to google him to figure out who he is.
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