Honor

I didn't go to BYU. In fact, in my younger years, as an employee of the University of Utah, I used to cheer for anyone other than BYU. Not anymore. I changed that years ago. Yes, Jacob attended BYU and loved it, but that isn't what swayed me. I came to the conclusion that I liked cheering for a team that was made up of athletes who had made a commitment to live by an honor code. I wanted to support that. I wanted to show my respect for young men and women who would make that choice. And so for many, many years, my cheers have been for BYU.

This morning I read this article. I was very impressed with the gentleman who wrote it and I am in agreement with him. Like he said, it isn't about whether you agree with the actual honor code, it is about someone making a commitment and then making the choice to not abide by it. And the school doing the right thing, no matter the month, the upcoming tournament or the ramifications.

I'm one who feels heartbroken for Brandon Davies. I can't imagine how hard this is for him and respect anyone who is honest and upfront about what they have done, even though it had to be terribly difficult. But BYU has just moved up another fourteen spaces on my respect ladder. In this day and age it is so easy to look the other way or to justify changing consequences to lessen the blow, I'm impressed. Incredibly impressed.

If more of us did the right thing (and I'm talking about BYU's actions here, not judging the actions of Brandon Davies), no matter the time, the day, the number of people looking on, the lack of people looking on or what it cost us, this world would feel different. It would be different.

(And please keep in mind, the lady who wrote this is March Madness crazy
and wanted BYU to take the tournament by storm. But right is right. Even if
my March Madness wish appears headed down the drain.)

**Update: apparently the above author isn't alone in his opinions. Refreshing.