Dislocated idolization.

Creep from Matthijs_Vlot on Vimeo.

I`ve had numerous arguments about the Lance Armstrong doping scandal in the past few weeks. It infuriates me, the amount of news coverage that this story has received and the amount of people that feel personally hurt and betrayed.

Yes, he is a cheat. Yes, he is a fraud. Yes, the cycling community has the right to be outraged and yes, suing people to protect his pride was wrong. But seriously, how has this impacted your life, well-being and lively hood in any possible way?  

It is so easy for us to pass judgement, call into radio station and publicly berate his actions. It is interesting that people (especially those wearing the Livestrong bracelets) are so quick to forget that some good has actually come from him. Since 1997, when the Livestrong organisation was founded, they have raised $470 million, with 81% of those proceeds going to the organisation, which focuses on cancer support and research. 

I understand that he has disgraced the sport and himself (although you wouldn`t say so if you watch the Oprah interview) but how does that change peoples impression of him as an inspiration - he beat cancer didn`t he? He continued living and doing what he loved (albeit he had some substance support) but he didn`t give up and he tried to help others.

The road to hell might be paved with good intentions and if those good intentions finance advances in cancer research or inspire people not to give up, why not?

This is just one of the dozens examples of how society places sportsmen and women, celebrities and political figures on a pedestal, and are then so disappointed when they learn that in fact, they are actually human beings, capable of mistakes. 

Maybe if we stop looking up and start looking around, we will find that inspiration and idols can be found anywhere. How about a single mother, working day and night to support her children? The founders of not-for profit organisation(that don`t pocket the money)? The students that stand up and protest for their future? The Big Issue seller who lost everything and is slowly getting his life back on track? The list goes on and on.

I`m tired of hearing about, reading about this Armstrong story, surely there are more important things going on in the world, that we can kick up a fuss about?