CNN: “Phelps apologizes for ‘regrettable’ behavior”
Of course, the US and A has now had three presidents in a row who have admitted that they took illegal drugs (one “didn’t inhale”), but not one of them has had the decency to propose ending the unjust, counter-productive laws under which they would have been prosecuted, had they been unlucky enough to have been caught, and under which, had they been convicted, they would have been ineligible to run for office and might even still be in prison. That very fact suggests one way in which the “war on drugs” undermines the rule of law. But let’s be sure to crucify a professional swimmer for … being photographed doing what a lot of people do.
Leave the man alone.
Radley gets it right: http://www.theagitator.com/2009/02/01/a-letter-id-like-to-see-but-wont/
I am ambivalent about the whole Michael Phelps incident. On the one hand, he’s not exactly a menace to society, and neither is pot. But, on the other hand, I’m not crazy about his carelessness here. Right or wrong, a lot of young kids look up to and aspire to be like Phelps. When they see him sucking on a bong, they could easily start linking that to his success and personal empowerment. Do I think kids should be busted for smoking pot? No way. Do I want my kid getting into the stuff because the world’s most famous athlete made it look perfectly acceptable? No way. I’d feel exactly the same way if Phelps had been shown doing shooters.
Michael Phelps may be the most fit human being walking the earth today. If he feels that it’s not dangerous to smoke dope now and then maybe marijuana use should not be considered a crime punishable by jail time and a criminal record. Another great example is Ricky Williams, another unbelievably successful athlete.