Cosby Should Not Lose Previous Honors [Opinion]

Comedian Bill Cosby, regardless how many may feel about recent revelations about his behavior, should not lose the honors that have been bestowed on him. He has a previous court case that he settled in 2006, the deposition from which is now being revealed through various media outlets, and there are countless women who are coming forward and accusing him of sexual misconduct. However, it should be noted that those misdeeds should not lead to Cosby losing honors such as the Medal of Freedom that was bestowed upon him in 2002.

Cosby has been the recipient of several honors, including the Kennedy Center Honors and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. People across North America have clamored for these honors to be revoked from the comedian, with President Barack Obama stating that there was no legal precedent to revoke Cosby’s Medal of Freedom.

The thing of it is, Cosby has earned these honors. There is no disputing that he was a great comedian, that he has supported the arts community, and that he has been active with his charitable works. The fact that these accusations have surfaced against Cosby does not diminish his legacy. As a society, we cannot revoke the honors the man has rightfully earned, regardless of how heinous the alleged crimes might be.

I know that people are eager to see Cosby pay for what he is alleged to have done. I am reminded of an honored former colonel, Russell Williams, who was an esteemed colonel in the Canadian Forces. When he was arrested and later pleaded guilty to murder and sexual assault, the Canadian military community was stunned and immediately clamored for him to lose the pension he had rightfully earned. However, there was no way — no precedent — to revoke what Williams had rightfully earned, though the Canadian Forces had stripped him of the right to be referred to as a colonel.

The bottom line is that Cosby has a legacy in the world of comedy and the arts community as a whole that cannot and should not be ignored. Definitely, his reputation as an affable, lovable husband figure is irretrievably tainted. He seems to lack the honor to still hold the title of “America’s Dad” as he had done for years. But to attempt to revoke the honors that Cosby has rightfully earned in the past would be the same as ignoring the good work he has indeed accomplished over the years. And while it is important that Cosby answer for what has happened to the victims in this case, it is also important to leave what little of his legacy that he can look at and still be proud of intact.

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