True Nobility Stands Tall

You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims.- Harriet Woods

Following in the vein of my post on Friday, I found this quote to ring true for progressive discussions and life in general. It made me think of the recent Miss Universe Pageant held in Mexico City. I have read how these pageants have guards to prevent any sabotage of the contestants costumes, food, etc. On camera, you will only see beautiful smiles, but behind the scenes there are some who are willing to stand on top of a competitor to gain a better position. When Miss USA made her evening gown entrance, she slipped and fell. The crowd clapped wildly and when Miss USA was later announced, the audience resonated with boo's and chanted "Mexico." (By the way, Miss America was 4th runner-up and Miss Japan was the winner. The pic is of Miss America and Oprah Winfrey.) U.S. athletes have sparked a similar response. In 2005, when the U.S. played Mexico during a World Cup soccer qualifier, the crowd booed the U.S. national anthem and a smattering of fans chanted "Osama! Osama!" during the game. What a rude audience! It is their perogative to hate America, but they should at least be respectful and give courtesy to humankind. What is it about people who are willing to degrade themselves with such disgusting behavior to try and get ahead? A real winner doesn't want to "cheat" to win because they hurt their personal goals. Here is a quote my Dad often said, "True nobility lies not in being superior to some other being, but true nobility lies in being superior to your former self." The above quotes, apply to much more than sports and beauty pageants. I'm sure you know people who are willing to risk anything and "play dirty" to "climb the ladder" of success. Guess that's why some say it's a dog eat dog world. I choose true nobility.