Selling papers, not sincerity

– By Dom Luca
I don’t care about Lance Armstrong. I am neither a supporter, nor a non-supporter.
For the months after it was proven Armstrong was a drug cheat, the world waited for the man to speak out. Yet, after his interview with Oprah, the biggest sporting confession ever seen and possibly the largest event ever streamed online, the world watched with a general disdain, not believing a word of his for one second.
Obviously the years spent proclaiming his innocence have now come back to haunt him, breaking the trust between Armstrong and the public. Yet despite all of his, I don’t think we should be treating him as harshly as we are.
Armstrong is the founder of the LIVESTRONG foundation, which gives hope to cancer sufferers all over the world. Since its inception the foundation has raised more than $470 million dollars for the fight against cancer. Their iconic yellow bracelet is an instantly recognisable symbol of hope, strength and unity around the globe. So although for many Armstrong’s reputation may be fractured beyond repair, his foundation has offered many with another chance at life. It would be a disaster if all the negative media destroyed all the great work the foundation has done.
Armstrong’s story (although now just a work of fiction) was a spectacular and inspiring one for all those that looked up to him. To give these people hope in their own circumstances may have been the greatest gift of all. Is it too farfetched to say that most fairytales are based on fiction, yet we still feel comfort in those stories?
Meanwhile, Mick Gatto is in our entertainment features in the newspapers and we are giving Chopper Read a working with children’s permit. Both killers.
Has anyone ever wondered what Armstrong’s motives were to do what his done? What type of a person must feel desperate enough to put so many other people down for his own benefit? How fickle he must be? And how much help he must need?
Sorry, that’s not going to sell as many papers.
Though (and touch wood this doesn’t happen), if he commits suicide after weeks, months, or years of a constant media barrage, we will then reflect on whether it was worth throwing the stone.
That will sell papers though, won’t it.

Write a comment