Letter: Lance Armstrong a disappointment, but judge him carefully

I felt great pride in watching Lance Armstrong compete, and win.

Now, I feel disappointment with the same intensity, not just in Lance, but for all of those who put so much faith in him. We humans have such a great capacity to fail.

Public opinion, and punishment, will have it's way, probably with a vengeance, but after reading the Appeal-Democrat article and watching the Oprah interview, I realized something quite profound.

If we were truly honest with ourselves, we would all have to admit to being a "Lance Armstrong" to some degree. His life story is like thousands of others.

We all have events that form us, and drive us, none of which should be used as excuses for bad behavior.

I don't dismiss what he has done, but I do support his admission. Is he doing it to gain something down the road? Maybe.

But I prefer to extend the same grace to him as I would want extended to me. We are all, at some time, tempted to cheat or lie or slander or attack, to get what we want or get through the moment. I just want to challenge each of us to take a good, hard, honest look at our own lives, and motives, before being too harsh on Lance Armstrong, or anyone else trying to set the record straight. It is the same challenge that Jesus made to those seeking to punish: "You who is without sin, cast the first stone."

Mary Mays

Loma Rica