Slowman wrote:
i must agree with what others have written. friends of mine have done some pretty unpalatable things. cheated on their spouses. were dopers. even cut courses. and other equally unpalatable stuff, or worse. they're all still my friends, and i will stick up for them when they are accused of being entirely bad because they have one particular failing, weakness, or when a bad angel sits on one shoulder.
it is easy to hold more than one idea in your head about the same person. you just have to open yourself up to the realization that people can be very good, very honorable, very giving, yet have one or more dark, weak failings. in fact, ask yourself if that's you. because it's me.
I agree people can make bad choices, make mistakes, hurt others, lie, steal, cheat etc. And we still love and support our friends. However, we do not condone, turn our backs and ignore the indiscretion, pretend it did not happen, and even REWARD them.
I am sure people, even ST posters are willing to forgive. But she has to admit that she cheated. She lied. She stole from her fellow athletes. She took trips that she didn't deserve. Took awards she didn't deserve and took them from others. Deceived her supporters. Shall I go on?