Comments on: Roethlisberger and the Rules http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/04/roethlisberger-and-the-rules/ A First Things Blog Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:35:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: rabbi malachi http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/04/roethlisberger-and-the-rules/#comment-9515 rabbi malachi Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:25:55 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/04/roethlisberger-and-the-rules/#comment-9515 The one aspect of this event that no one denies is that Ben was in the wrong bathroom. If I were his coach, I would make him wear a little pink skirt during practice until the other players got tired of making fun of him. Harsh? Maybe. But consider it a call to mindfulness. There are some places you should not go, which surely includes boys chasing women into the women's room. And let's hope that the greater call to mindfulness regarding sexual boundaries will also take place. People care about celebrities more than they should, but the reason that they do is that these people belong to all of us. Maybe it would help us all if we thought through our next words, choices, and relationships with that in mind. The one aspect of this event that no one denies is that Ben was in the wrong bathroom. If I were his coach, I would make him wear a little pink skirt during practice until the other players got tired of making fun of him. Harsh? Maybe. But consider it a call to mindfulness. There are some places you should not go, which surely includes boys chasing women into the women’s room. And let’s hope that the greater call to mindfulness regarding sexual boundaries will also take place.
People care about celebrities more than they should, but the reason that they do is that these people belong to all of us. Maybe it would help us all if we thought through our next words, choices, and relationships with that in mind.

]]> By: orthodoxdj http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/04/roethlisberger-and-the-rules/#comment-9468 orthodoxdj Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:11:49 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/04/roethlisberger-and-the-rules/#comment-9468 The NFL does have a personal conduct policy. I agree that it's a slippery slope to censoring religious and political speech, but it makes sense that personal conduct can have consequences related to one's employment by the NFL. The NFL does have a personal conduct policy. I agree that it’s a slippery slope to censoring religious and political speech, but it makes sense that personal conduct can have consequences related to one’s employment by the NFL.

]]> By: David C. Miller http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/04/roethlisberger-and-the-rules/#comment-9461 David C. Miller Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:24:22 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/04/roethlisberger-and-the-rules/#comment-9461 I'm concerned about this for a few reasons: 1. People disagree in good faith about what is right and wrong. If Ben Roethlisberger is suspended or fined on the grounds that he did something morally wrong, I think many people would find that just, but there would be disagreement. But let's look at a different hypothetical example where Judge Roger Goodell instead rules against us. While giving an interview, a very religious player is asked whether he thinks homosexuality is a sin, and he says he does. What an uproar! Millions of people of all sexual orientations support the team and the league- how can he be so small-minded and throw them under the bus? He should be suspended/fined/be-given-a-stern-talking-to! Giving the NFL (or other employers) the ability to judge and sanction moral activities we agree are bad also gives them the ability to judge and sanction moral activities we think are ok. 2. This moral enforcement is arbitrarily limited to things that tarnish the reputation of the league. You can be a very mean person, cruel, unloving, but you won't be targeted by the league if you do it in private. But if you do something equally as wrong in public, out come the torches and pitchforks. I don't think that's just. 3. The facts of all of the cases are hard to determine. Without any oversight, it is easier to make a mistake and falsely accuse and punish people who did nothing wrong. You cannot face your accusers or be tried by a dispassionate jury of your peers when you are in the Court of Public Opinion (or the Court of Bud Selig's Opinion). I think it's perfectly coherent to say that (if true) what Ben Roethlisberger did was ethically wrong, but should not be punished by the NFL. He'll explain it to a judge one day who makes decisions that are far more righteous than those made by Roger Goodell. I’m concerned about this for a few reasons:

1. People disagree in good faith about what is right and wrong. If Ben Roethlisberger is suspended or fined on the grounds that he did something morally wrong, I think many people would find that just, but there would be disagreement.

But let’s look at a different hypothetical example where Judge Roger Goodell instead rules against us. While giving an interview, a very religious player is asked whether he thinks homosexuality is a sin, and he says he does. What an uproar! Millions of people of all sexual orientations support the team and the league- how can he be so small-minded and throw them under the bus? He should be suspended/fined/be-given-a-stern-talking-to!

Giving the NFL (or other employers) the ability to judge and sanction moral activities we agree are bad also gives them the ability to judge and sanction moral activities we think are ok.

2. This moral enforcement is arbitrarily limited to things that tarnish the reputation of the league. You can be a very mean person, cruel, unloving, but you won’t be targeted by the league if you do it in private. But if you do something equally as wrong in public, out come the torches and pitchforks. I don’t think that’s just.

3. The facts of all of the cases are hard to determine. Without any oversight, it is easier to make a mistake and falsely accuse and punish people who did nothing wrong. You cannot face your accusers or be tried by a dispassionate jury of your peers when you are in the Court of Public Opinion (or the Court of Bud Selig’s Opinion).

I think it’s perfectly coherent to say that (if true) what Ben Roethlisberger did was ethically wrong, but should not be punished by the NFL. He’ll explain it to a judge one day who makes decisions that are far more righteous than those made by Roger Goodell.

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