I guess I can only end up stating two issues in conclusion regarding this issue.
Firstly its easy to demonise people from afar when we read material, often designed to titillate and entertain the bread and circuses masses. Its easy for example to be horrified by the Lindt Coffee shop issue or even the 7:11 tragedy because they are much closer to home. But I wonder as to how many of us know or re as concerned that between 150,000 to 460,000 Iraqis died in the attacks in 2003. And then we complain if they want to get out and come and live here. I wonder how many of us feel the same about the million or more losing their lives in the Rwanda tragedy. The closer to home it gets the more it feels personal and the more we come to see the consequences and identify with what's happening...empathy.
De Belin is just such a case. He is a distant footballer, not known to us, being assumed guilty (and lets not pretend that he isn't being seen that way) and a thug who deserves what he gets. Its easy from a distance to pass judgement, to demonise. Sue identifies the Stewart matter as an unfortunate aberration. Well there are a lot of aberrations occurring that I have seen in my life. What happened to Stewart is not unusual if you look closely at cases and even those where people are convicted. Its often not the clear cut nasty sexual violent or financial predator. I have dealt with in my career nearly 10,000 offenders and written close to 8,000 court and parole reports. The vast majority of those people are normal people like you and me, who act in a dysfunctional manner in some aspect of their lives. Not evil, just poor judgement. There were perhaps of that number about 5% who I would consider truly bad.
But getting back to when things become more personal, we look at things in a far more intense manner, when we know more about the elements involved. We may be emotionally biased, but we know more than those outside.
So the question is if you were someone like De Belin and you knew you were innocent (not saying he is, its just an example), how would you feel about the NRL and the court decision. You know this potentially could stall your career seriously. No new contracts, no sponsor deals, no enhancing and increasing your income through rep play, the potential that your team may offload you remembering his contract ends in 2020. Hard enough that you face a serious court matter costing a fortune and receiving the ridicule of supporters and the general public.
The court case is alone costing you a fortune paying solicitors exorbitant charges. You're being paid, but you cant play the game you have worked so hard throughout your life to reach a standard to be near top tier. And remember De Belin seems to have no prior criminal convictions. You're a young football star on the rise. The World is at your feet. Groupies are flocking and the temptations especially after a few drinks is strong especially if your mates do it (and what sport or person in a high profile position doesn't have this situation). Sure you've got a wife at home, but the temptations are great especially for an inexperienced 24 year old. I have also done things at that age I regret, some deeply.
I wonder how many of you have dark skeletons in your past, both men and women. In this scenario suddenly you are accused by someone out for financial gain (and this happens also a great deal) and bingo the NRL and the court ban you. How would you feel? And in this scenario I am assuming innocence. If De Belin is guilty, throw the book at him. But this is the problem about prejudging. If he's innocent, his career has been severely damaged, his finances wiped out, his self confidence shot, treated like a pariah. This is what happened to Brett Stewart.
The second issue is that when business profits and image take precedence over an individual's aspirations, career and income, its a pretty sad world. Corporate images and profits can always be recovered. An individual's lost opportunities often cant be.
That's all I'll say on the matter
