I did not expect to have to write another "thoughtful times" entry in such a short sequence of time. Thoughtful times is the column I wish to avoid most of all - the topic this time is another one - closely related to our eventing adventures, though.
It relates to the topic fairplay in sports which is or should be among the most respected ones. At least if you compete. There is a life without competitions, in riding, you can never avoid competition (in life) as it is part of our society. But if you compete, you MUST be fair. And being fair includes pointing out injustice, be it as painful as can be. One of my best friends relates to such actions as "Arsch in der Hose haben", meaning acting correctly and saying a word or two even if you know that fewer friends than before could be the result.
Now, finally coming to the point. In my eventing club, the IGV Hessen (which stands for Interessengemeinschaft Vielseitigkeit which promises a family of people who are living for a common passion) there is an annual trophy for regional level eventers. Of course, there are certain restrictions on who is applicable for this prize. In 2007, as we found out just a couple of days ago, a winner was proclaimed and highly promoted in the media, who was by entry level NOT applicable for this trophy. Worse, the "winner" was member of the board of our club.-- A couple of months ago, when the runner-up for this trophy somehow figured they may be something wrong, she directly approached the "winner" and asked for the level - the answer was a lie, to set her checkmate. The prize ceremony being set for last night, I tried to ensure that a correction be made and the real winner announced - but here was the surprise: no winner, no correction.
-- Can you imagine that people like I dream the whole year about entering such a trophy, and if (the chance is small enough) we are winning it by points, how big must be the disappointment to have to learn that we will not be named, not receiving the trophy?
My loss in this unfair game: I lost my peers in the club, I decided to quit. I can only be consequent. Life goes on.
I want to wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror and not feel I have not had the courage to tackle issues that mean something for someone. Its not life or death in this case, but its the more disappointing.
