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Have you noticed, everybody wants to be treated right. Even those who don’t treat others right, want people to treat them right. Everyone wants life to be fair. Treating other people right and being treated right is often termed fair play.
Before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed, the Canadian Olympic team decided to withdraw from the games because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker said, quote “Victory isn’t always about the real, relentless pursuit of a gold medal. It includes fair play and sportsmanship and now ideals about the health and safety of your community.”* Although the decision was made for health and safety concerns, note the concept that victory is more than pursuing a win. It includes how you pursue the win. It includes fair play.
Being fair extends beyond athletic competition. It also includes what we say. Have you heard the phrase “That’s a fair statement”? Or perhaps the words “You’re right.” They recognize that a statement conforms to the standard of truthfulness. Other standards for conversation also exist. Treating someone right is more than speaking the truth. It includes treating them with respect.
As we look for whatever is right in this world, it is good to know that treating people right — whether in an athletic contest or in conversation — is still a value many hold.
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*Lori Ewing and Donna Spencer, “For Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic teams, 2020 has been a year of conviction and frustration,” The Canadian Press, December 29, 2020, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/article-for-canadas-olympic-and-paralympic-teams-2020-has-been-a-year-of/
Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.