I am the son of a retired member of the United States Air Force, and the brother of a current member. I'm not going to say that growing up in a military family was the best thing for a child, but I will say without hesitation that I am proud of my father and my brother. They have given significant portions of their lives over to the service of their country, and although, thankfully, neither has faced front-line combat, they were nonetheless willing, had it come to that, and their service is no less valuable and no less worthy of honor. 

Perhaps it would be appropriate for those of you who know veterans or active duty servicemen and women to make a point to tell them that you appreciate them, especially friends and neighbors who might not have family to do so. You don't have to agree with every aspect of foreign policy or every instance where military force was used. These are, however, the men and women who have been willing to place themselves in harm's way to protect us, and that is something to be thankful for, no matter what your political viewpoint. 

Brad Pardee 
Editor

There have been a couple of things I've noticed, though, that are troubling to me. 

The first is the number of people who are defending Coach Knight by saying that, even if the charges are true, it's no big deal because it's just "discipline" and "tough love". 

This, to me, reflects a real lack of understanding what discipline and love are. Discipline isn't simply being tough or getting in someone's face. It's about hard work, self sacrifice, and a commitment to meeting standards that aren't always easy or comfortable. Someone who is disciplined is first and foremost self-disciplined. They are under control, and if the allegations are true, Bobby Knight has clearly shown that, on many instances, he has been many things but self-controlled is not one of them. 

Similarly, "tough love" isn't simply being tough, either. The operative word is "love", which involves doing that which strengthens and builds up for the good of the individual. Any coach who compares his players with soiled toilet paper is not building up but demeaning. He is saying that their value is dependent on their success, when in fact they have inherent value as human beings. 

If the charges are not true, then people are right to defend him, but if the charges are true, they cannot be defended. 

The other thing that troubles me, though, is the response of so many who are watching the scenario play out, particularly those who are in opposition to Coach Knight. 

Whether you think the sanctions were too light or not, the fact remains that they are the sanctions handed down. It was the university administration's prerogative to establish the sanctions that they felt were appropriate, and Coach Knight has been given the opportunity to change his behavior. 

It seems, however, that there are too many people who do not want to see Coach Knight succeed. They are rooting for his failure. It's much like those who seem to look forward to the relapses of athletes who struggle with addictions or with violent behavior. I saw it with Lawrence Phillips, the troubled running back from Nebraska, when it seemed like people didn't want to see him get his life together and make something productive out of it. 

Where Coach Knight is concerned, we should wish for him to succeeed, as we ought to for all people who face similar challenges. Regardless of whether you think he should remain a basketball coach, he is still a human being, and his life has value that goes well beyond the basketball court. 

Perhaps we need to be reminded that we all have the capacity of great good and great evil. We all have within us the ability to be the next Mother Theresa or the next Charles Manson. When we look at a Coach Knight, like him or hate him, we should remind ourselves that, for better of worse, "There but for the grace of God go I."