Lance Armstrong apology: Everyone has an opinion
When it comes to Lance Armstrong’s confession and apology for doping, it seems that everyone has their own opinion on the subject. Here are a few takes on the issue.
Betsy Andreu, wife of Armstrong’s former teammate Frankie: Andreu criticized him for failing to admit that he had confessed to using performance enhancing drugs while being treated for cancer back in 1996. She says that she is really disappointed and that she doesn’t believe his apology at all.
Erin O’Hara O’Connor, scholar on conflict of laws: O’Conner said she believes that Armstrong’s apology falls short. She says that although he admitted to it, she does not believe he did quite as well offering to repair his name. O’Conner says that he fell far short on his expression of remorse as well. His body language may have expressed humility, but he never owned up to feeling shame. He never said that wished he could take back the cheating, either. He was quick to point out that his actions were not the worst. O’Conner said she believes that Armstrong should not be given a second chance in the professional cycling world
Frida Ghitis, a world affairs columnist for The Miami Herald and World Politics Review: Ghitis said she feels that Armstrong still has a chance to redeem himself. She says that while his lies made his inspirational story that much more disappointing, he could and should redeem himself, but in the arena where he has the greatest impact. Ghitis says that he made a career of speaking out and now he should make a new career of speaking about the cost of living a lie.
Randy Cohen, former author of The Ethicist column in the New York Times and former writer for “Late Night with David Letterman:” Cohen has a different opinion than the others on the subject. He said he believes that his confession should be the beginning, not the end of the story. He says that the fans are probably correct in thinking that most of the top cyclists dope, too. Cohen says he would love to see them come out one by one and admit that they have all doped at some point. He says it is a community problem that requires a community solution.
Roxanne Jones, founding editor of ESPN The Magazine and a former vice president at ESPN: Jones claims that Armstrong is no longer trustworthy after what he did. She says that it’s not even that he lied; it’s that he lied for over a decade. Jones said she feels that there are too many reasons to question the sincerity of his apology. She says that he had a whole decade to admit to it and have a second chance, but he didn’t and now he certainly doesn’t deserve one.
Kevin Powell, author of “Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and The Ghost of Dr. King: Blogs and Essays:” Powell said he believes that we all have flaws. He sees the Armstrong story as a tragedy as well as an opportunity. It’s a tragedy because he lied for so long but an opportunity to clean up doping in the cycling and sports world. Powell said he believes he needs to set an example.
Shawn Klein, teacher at the Department of Philosophy and Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship at Rockford College in Illinois: Klein said he believes that maybe the lifetime ban was a little extensive and could be reduced. He says that Armstrong cheated in a sport that is known for cheating and while that doesn’t excuse his actions, it does make it easier to forgive him. Klein said he believes that as long as he cooperates with the Anti-Doping Agency, his lifetime ban should be reduced.
