There is a recurring back story to the Lindy Vivas trial, and that is whether sports should be an educational privilege only for men or if women deserve an equal chance to learn these lessons, too. I know, I know, this should be settled by now. It's been the law for decades, but some people are still having to be dragged clawing and slobbering into the modern world.
I remember getting into a discussion awhile back with a perfect stranger. We were both using the courtesy car at the auto dealership while our cars were being serviced. He sat in the front seat with the driver. It was during the controversy over the demise of the Fresno State wrestling team and this guy's dismissive position was that this was all the fault of the women. No, I suggested from the back seat, this was just another example of a colossal screwup and massive mismanagement over many years by Fresno State's athletic department. He looked shocked that someone would not buy the "greedy women" explanation. There are those folks in the univeristy who will not admit their own failures but instead would just love to deflect the responsibility off themselves and onto the women. It's amazing how many people have swallowed this rookie distraction maneuver.
Kathryn Forbes of the women's studies department at Fresno State recently wrote a Valley Voices commentary on Title IX and this Saturday Ed Chynoweth, a retired lawyer from Sanger, disagrees with her points in a rebuttal piece.
One of The Bee's very popular columnists on the Business pages -- and one of my personal favorites -- Harvey Mackay, makes the case for the value of sports nicely in a recent column, where he describes the lessons he learned from playing sports. He quotes the soccer phenom, Mia Hamm, who "told one of her coaches that she wanted to be the best player. The coach told her, "It's a decision -- to be the best means being the best every single day." Hamm learned to push herself as hard as possible in and out of the spotlight. Some of her teammates were even intimidated by her intensity."
Mackay cites a new book on the topic and, in his column, tells how his own character was strengthened from his involvement in sports:
Brian Kilmeade, co-host of "Fox & Friends" on Fox News Channel, recently interviewed me for his new book, "It's How You Play the Game: The Powerful Sports Moments That Taught Lasting Values to America's Finest" (HarperCollins, 2007). Kilmeade also spoke with athletes, CEOs, politicians and studied historical figures, detailing how a defining sports moment changed each of their lives. Many spoke about how the discipline they learned on the field prepared them to overcome adversity with dignity.We can learn a lot from sports, which dominated my young life. I was captain of my grade-school baseball and basketball teams. In my teens, I was the St. Paul, Minn., city high-school golf champion. In Kilmeade's book, I recall when I was 15 years old, playing in the St. Paul Open Golf Tournament (one of the top professional tourneys in the country at the time).
I was playing well when I reached the 18th hole. I looked up and saw several thousand people surrounding the green. I had a 2-iron in my hand, and I rimmed the cup for what would have been a double eagle (three under par). I heard the crowd's roar, and I knew that something special had happened: The ball was just 10 inches from the cup. I didn't want to seem like I had to think through what would have been an automatic "gimme" in a social game, so I just went for the tap-in, and I missed it. I should have gone into my stance and sunk the putt for a 74. Instead, I shot a 75 and missed the cut.
That event taught me two lifelong lessons: Never take anything for granted; and don't worry about how other people think I look.
You can read the whole column here:
I am looking forward to the ever articulate, persuasive and prolific writer Ed Chynoweth's take on Title IX issues. Ed approaches his subject matter from angles that I would probably never, ever consider; whatever his perspective, we will be entertained and instructed; we are all in for a rolicking good time! Enjoy! I know I will! And if you really want to have fun .... google Ed's many writings and letters!
Ed Chynoweth writing about gender equity?
Isn't that a bit like having David Duke writing about racial harmony?
Please do me a favor and re-read Ed Chynoweths' article inserting Asian American or African American or other racial/ethnic group for "women" and see if the article then makes you as nauseous as it should have in the first place!
I don't think W. Ed intended it as a commentary on Asian or black Americans. That's a spurious argument. A red-herring! I did sense his profound respect for true femininity and womanhood, "needed to sustain the healthy interaction of wise, manly men and wise, womanly women."
I have a prediction: Intolerant feminists, will call for the suppression of his 1st Amendment rights. Letters to the Editor by unwomanly women will call for his head on a silver platter.
"Have you ever noticed that those who talk the most about tolerance and pluralism, the free and open exchange of ideas and free expression are often the first people to advocate the suppression of thoughts and ideas? ..... that those invoking the 'intolerance' label frequently turn out to be the least tolerant people of all. .... They don't seek tolerance. They don't seek acceptance. They don't seek a free and open exchange of ideas. They don't seek academic freedom. Instead, they seek coercion. They seek indoctrination. They seek to bully and intimidate. These are people who just don't want any opinions with which they disagree expressed. It's their way or the highway." Joseph Farah 4/06.
Or as columnist Debra Saunders says, "You want tolerance? Exercise it."