Something happened yesterday -
I don't mean to vague-post, but I would rather not go into specifics.
Someone made a comment during an online event that was...not nice.
Happens frequently these days, unfortunately.
Today this person sincerely apologized and took responsibility for their actions.
So, my question is, should this one moment of thoughtlessness, frustration, bad temper, whatever was going on, define that person?
Will the person be remembered for that one moment of poor judgement, communicated without forethought?
Two examples:
Will Smith
One minute he's a wildly popular actor, rapper, comedian.
Then he slaps another actor onstage at the Oscars in front of millions of people, and in that instant, he becomes persona non grata.
He is banned from the Oscars.
He loses job opportunities.
The public turns against him.
He is almost arrested.
Travis Kelse
One minute he's a successful, respected football player
He's also Taylor Swift's hunky boyfriend.
Then he shoves his coach during a heated moment in the Super Bowl, and suddenly he's not only a man capable of violence, he's also suddenly an abuser.
Many people go online, urging Taylor to leave him before she gets physically assaulted.
If she hasn't already been.
From America's best boyfriend to "run away, run fast".
Is this right?
Is it fair?
Should who you are be defined by one moment in your life?
In my two examples, should Will and Travis have been able to control their temper?
Of course.
But are we holier than thou to insist that WE would have been able to?
We are all capable of good and bad.
Some mistakes are bigger and more public than others.
But we are all capable of screwing up.
That is part of what makes us human.
I think how we handle the aftermath of our mistakes should define our character more than the mistake itself.
And as humans, we should also be capable of understanding, grace, and forgiveness.
librarianintx
