One of the long-term scandals in the National Football League is the problem of concussions in players that has led to a rash of suicides among former football players and prolonged losses in mental functions like memory. Football players, with decades of experience in having to deal with hits for the adoration of the masses, have found that they face retirement with diminished mental capacity (not because they were stupid to begin with, but because the game took such a heavy toll on their brains) as well as aches and pains from the injuries that they endured because of their beloved sports. Despite my own lack of athletic glory during my life, I have a great deal of sympathy for people in such a position.

There are some people who tend to view courage as depending primarily on one’s occupation. Apparently, in the eyes of some, it takes someone being a soldier or a policeman or fireman to be courageous. Even with regards to physical courage, it may take a great deal of physical courage to be a student, a teacher, a customer service representative, even if one is only looking at physical violence. If one considers aspects of moral courage, standing up for what is right despite the pressures of the world around, then there is no occupation or human endeavor that is remote from courage or where courage cannot be found. We simply have to know where to look for it and be generous enough in spirit to recognize it in others.

It pains me to think that my own entertainment could lead to people being injured, having their minds harmed and their bodies broken so that I may be amused for a few hours a week. I am not such a savage or uncaring person that I feel calm or pleasant about such a matter. It is hard to avoid feeling some sense of responsibility for the suffering of others, and that is not something I would wish upon anyone. I do not necessarily think that people who play sports are often courageous, given how little courage it takes to engage in activities that make one popular and well-respected or to be so absent of fear to not recognize the risks and dangers of sports to health until it is already too late. Fortunately, many players are more aware of the risks now, which means that their actions are more courageous because of that awareness, rather than simply being reckless.

Being a person who has lived my entire life among the walking wounded, I do not wish at all for others to be broken simply so that I maybe amused by a little bit of simulated and ritual combat. Perhaps other people can feel comfortable with such a matter, but as someone for whom even basic aspects of life have required a great deal of courage that is not necessarily obvious, including the courage to seek to avoid causing or taking delight in the suffering of others given my own lifetime of endurance. Even if it is not brave to play sports, it can be an aspect of bravery to stand up for the dignity of those who sacrifice their health so that we may be amused any given Sunday.