Phelps shouldn't apologize for pot

By JM Cummings

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps recently admitted to smoking marijuana after photos of him smoking at a University of South Carolina house party surfaced in a British tabloid.

Many commentators see Phelps as a role model and fear that other young Americans will follow his lead. Yet, was Phelps crime so great? Is his value as a role model diminished? Or is this indignant condemnation misplaced?

First of all, Phelps has a right to privacy -- he is not running for political office. He's just a remarkably talented 23-year-old kid trying to enjoy his life. The editorial board of the University of Florida's Independent Florida Alligator denies his right to privacy, writing, "Simply put, there is no separation of lifestyles.

Phelps, the world--class athlete who achieved Olympic immortality in Beijing, cannot coexist with his alter ego -- the bong--hitting frat--boy wannabe."

The Gators' take on the situation makes me think that Spiderman should release a formal apology through Marvel Comics for the time Peter Parker hit Mary Jane in Spiderman 3. Clearly, we have no tradition of separating our public and private lives in this country or of forgiving our role models for their imperfections.

Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have all smoked pot. Surely our heads of state are more significant role models and representatives of America abroad.

Moreover, most Americans come across marijuana during their lifetimes and 40 percent of them have at least tried it. Marijuana is becoming more and more socially acceptable, with many states decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the drug. Its low addiction rate and the complete absence of recorded fatalities make the cost of enforcement seem disproportionately high.

Perhaps the recent steroid controversies in the MLB have made us suspicious of any association between athletes and drugs. But Phelps's infraction isn't even in the same ball park. Phelps decided to smoke pot during one of his few short periods away from competitive swimming and its strict schedule of drug tests (which, incidentally, he has always passed). Marijuana is not considered performance enhancing or banned for out of competition periods. He has done nothing to endanger the legitimacy of his Olympic medals, world records, or his future career.

The only real damage was to the public's perception of Mr. Phelps as a role model. Nevertheless, that most American youths will have to face marijuana during their lifetimes is undeniable.

These young people do not need a role model who ignores the issue or stakes out an unreasonable position, but someone who demonstrates how to deal with drugs responsibly. Michael Phelps is a paragon of moderation and hard work. If every American who smoked pot did so in such moderation and with such little effect on their ambitions, it would certainly not need to be illegal.

Personally I'm glad Michael Phelps smokes pot; it proves he's not Aquaman the superhero and is, after all, a human being.

JM Cummings is a senior history major.