My daughter, a senior in high school, competes in tennis tournaments throughout the entire year. The vast majority of all tennis matches rely on players to determine if shots land in or out, and thereby determine who wins the point. Technically, one player can call close shots "out" and the other player must accept the call—whether or not it's correct, even if the sketchy call happens on the match-winning point.

(Although that other player does have the option to tell her dad about it, who might then publish a column highlighting such egregious, unsportsmanlike, nearly cowardice acts.)

We live in a world filled with "technicalities," situations in which one person can do something, or do nothing, and remain within the scope of his or her privilege—even though someone else feels the impact.

Focus for a moment on the most recent season. To clarify, I'm referencing Christmas and not tennis season.

Even more specifically, I am talking about the giving/receiving ...