Success and Morality

In “At a Time When Nothing Succeeds Like Success” (Opinion, Oct. 31), Neal Gabler asserts that athletes at the top of their game are considered “poster boys for the new morality.” He suggests that their success at sport allows illicit behavior to be discounted or ignored. I disagree.

Gabler misuses the term “morality.” While there is a more effective or less effective way to, say, hit a baseball, that action has no moral weight. It is simply a human skill that is a product of native talent and lots of learning, practice and experience. How successful one becomes utilizing that skill--valuing success as money, power or fame--is also neither moral nor immoral.

Human conduct--the way we treat each other--can always be scrutinized through our biblical standard lenses and a judgment rendered on the rightness or wrongness of the action. To suggest a paradigm shift away from this standard because fans succumb to the mob mentality of screaming approbation for skillful individuals who have nonetheless demonstrated morally reprehensible behavior is absurd. There is no “new” morality, because morality is based upon a God-given standard that never changes.

Gabler should push himself away from his TV and take a walk around his neighborhood. Learn how folks are becoming better people--more successful people--by meeting the challenges of daily living by always asking themselves the question: “How can I behave in the most loving way in this situation?” These are my heroes and heroines.

GREGORY E. POLITO

Whittier

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Success seems to have become our highest moral value, according to Gabler. So why does this seem noteworthy? If one looks at the history of the Norman kings at the beginning of the first millennium, it was also success that counted the most. For example, when the Norman kings ruled in a cruel and mean manner, their subjects put up with it. Why? Because the kings were leading a crusade or winning battles for them. However, it was King John who didn’t appear to be a hero in the eyes of those he ruled. His subjects showed their disapproval of his actions and forced him to sign the Magna Carta in 1215.

ROBBIE FOX

Villa Park