Bigger, Stronger, Faster
I had a chance to see a documentary film -- "Bigger, Stronger, Faster -- the Side Effects of Being American" earlier this week; and, I urge you to see it if for no other reason it makes you think.
The Houston Chronicle's Jerome Solomon wrote a commentary about the documentary; and, Solomon discusses a few points in his commentary which are interesting:
Why does the Air Force openly give amphetamines to fighter pilots to help them stay alert, while Major League Baseball suspends players for use of same?
How can Tiger Woods have Lasik surgery to give him better than perfect vision and be celebrated, while the NFL suspends Patriots safety Rodney Harrison for taking human growth hormone to aid his recovery from career-threatening surgery?
Why is disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis labeled a cheater for having unusually high testosterone levels, yet his sleeping in an altitude chamber to produce a high count of red blood cells is not considered cheating?
The movie begins in a unique way; and, honestly, at the time, I had no idea which direction the movie was heading to discuss steroids.
In the movie, director Chris Bell, shows how steroids impact his two brothers; their wives and kids; as well as their parents. Bell shows how American society uses different types of medications; supplements; vitamins; etc. to make them feel better; perform better on tests; however, those same people will vilify anyone for using steroids for similar reasons.
Before I saw "Bigger, Stronger, Faster", I was one of the people who thought steroids were bad because they are termed "illegal performance enhancements"; however, a basic question the movie made me ask is "what makes one thing legal and okay to use and another thing illegal to use"?
See "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" and form your own conclusions.
The Houston Chronicle's Jerome Solomon wrote a commentary about the documentary; and, Solomon discusses a few points in his commentary which are interesting:
Why does the Air Force openly give amphetamines to fighter pilots to help them stay alert, while Major League Baseball suspends players for use of same?
How can Tiger Woods have Lasik surgery to give him better than perfect vision and be celebrated, while the NFL suspends Patriots safety Rodney Harrison for taking human growth hormone to aid his recovery from career-threatening surgery?
Why is disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis labeled a cheater for having unusually high testosterone levels, yet his sleeping in an altitude chamber to produce a high count of red blood cells is not considered cheating?
The movie begins in a unique way; and, honestly, at the time, I had no idea which direction the movie was heading to discuss steroids.
In the movie, director Chris Bell, shows how steroids impact his two brothers; their wives and kids; as well as their parents. Bell shows how American society uses different types of medications; supplements; vitamins; etc. to make them feel better; perform better on tests; however, those same people will vilify anyone for using steroids for similar reasons.
Before I saw "Bigger, Stronger, Faster", I was one of the people who thought steroids were bad because they are termed "illegal performance enhancements"; however, a basic question the movie made me ask is "what makes one thing legal and okay to use and another thing illegal to use"?
See "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" and form your own conclusions.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 9:18 AM
1 Comments:
At July 10, 2008 3:09 PM,
SORF said…
Recently, I used a steroid as part of a healing process...to make me well. After ending it 10 days ago, I can now breathe easier and surprisingly my skin is softer than usual. I think sometimes we think steroids are bad, but they also can be helpful to heal or make well.
It is like everything else...abusing it is not good. Taking too much or taking it for longer periods than recommended is abusing it.
Nasonex taken for allegeries and Asthma medicines are steroids.
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