A Second Hand Conjecture

Potential interpretations…

Synova on Apr 09 2008 at 3:44 pm | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Race, Sports, Synova's Page

5 Responses to “Potential interpretations…”

1. on 09 Apr 2008 at 4:11 pm 1Ymarsakar

   Tiger Woods is a far better person than Obama ever could be.

2. on 09 Apr 2008 at 10:12 pm 2MichaelW

   Good post, Synova. I wanted to mention something about this but didn’t have time. I’m glad you’ve drawn attention to it and it fits in very nicely with your earlier contribution.

   The whole (truncated) incident is rather like a political Rorschach test in that partisans see what they want to see in the comments (pace “macacca”). From what I’ve read, it’s indisputable that Bellavia was referring to the actual Tiger Woods and not attempting to make some facile comparison to Obama. But people will see what they see.

   Tiger Woods is a far better person than Obama ever could be.

   To be fair to Obama, he’s no worse a person compared to Tiger than any other politician (and much better than many). Unfortunately for him, there’s just no way to excel at his craft, the way that Tiger has, without being disingenuous.

3. on 10 Apr 2008 at 4:13 pm 3PogueMahone

   From what I’ve read, it’s indisputable that Bellavia was referring to the actual Tiger Woods and not attempting to make some facile comparison to Obama. But people will see what they see.

   What have you read? Got any links?
   Because I watched the entire introductory speech that Bellavia made, and I cannot determine from that that it was “indisputable that Bellavia was referring to the actual Tiger Woods…”

   “Indisputable”!?! Bellavia gave little context for us if he were just merely referring to the typical emulation of any given sports heroes. He never mentioned sports at all. Or sports heroes. The Tiger Woods comment seemed to have come out of nowhere. But I do remember Bellavia’s comment, “this is the real audacity of hope.” Surely it’s indisputable that the “audacity of hope” comment was a reference to Obama, no?

   But people will see what they see.

   Yes they will. Personally, I don’t see it. After all, Tiger Woods is a young, professional, talented, brown skinned man of mixed race background excelling in a traditionally white man’s game. And Obama is… Oh wait… now I see it.

   And come to think of it, the comparison of Woods and Obama is rather accurate. And I see little reason to think that Bellavia’s comparison, regardless (and as “indisputable”) if that’s what he meant to do, could be seen as offensive racism. I see no hatred or derogatory meaning in it. After all, who wouldn’t want to be compared to Tiger Woods?

   McCain and his supporters better hope that the comparison doesn’t bear out, as Tiger Woods seems to kick his opponents collective asses up and down the fairway.

   I’m terribly interested in MichaelW’s “indisputable” though.
   If there is one thing to be certain when reading ASHC, is that Michael is always so sure of himself.

   Kinda’ reminds me of … well… me.

   Cheers.

4. on 10 Apr 2008 at 4:42 pm 4MichaelW

   Happy to oblige, Pogue:

   Having attended the Vets For Freedom event in Kansas City, heard Bellavia’s speech about real heroes vs. the paper heroes America puts on pedestals, read his book honoring the men he fought with (of all ethnicities and races) and listened to many other speeches by these men and women, the idea that Bellavia was making a racist remark or could be construed to do so is preposterous beyond belief.

   Bellavia’s speech was slightly abbreviated in order to move the event along and introduce McCain. In this event, he mentioned that Tiger Woods would not be the “hero” that he taught his children to look up to. He would teach them to look up to men like McCain. He introduced McCain as “the real ‘Audacity of Hope’”.

   Bellavia has given a similar speech all along the Vets for Freedom tour. In Kansas City, his speech regarding the same theme, included noting various athletes and Hollywood stars from Tiger Woods to Tom Cruise, among several, that people call “heroes” when, in fact, he served with real heroes and was on tour with some real heroes. It is a theme that has been repeated many times among those who have served, their families and those who support them as on this blog: America has lost its way when choosing its “heroes” and it shows in our continued selfishness, our unwillingness to sacrifice in a greater cause and our total absorption with all things “me”.

   [...]

   Those attending, those of the many races, ethnicities and genders, knew exactly what Bellavia was speaking of when he compared a “hero” for children like Tiger Woods to a real hero who had sacrificed much for his nation like McCain and the many who had served in the past and present. Tiger, Bellavia has previously noted, is a fine man who has made much of his talents and often gives much back to communities like free golf clinics for the young and underprivileged, charitable events and various foundations. He is an excellent example of how to be a self made man who knows how to give back in recognition of the advantages he had been given.

   But, if you are going to tell your children about “heroes”, “sacrifice” and “love of country” who are you going to tell them about?

   There’s a lot more at the link, and this excerpt really doesn’t do it justice, so RTWT.

   And I see little reason to think that Bellavia’s comparison, regardless (and as “indisputable”) if that’s what he meant to do, could be seen as offensive racism. I see no hatred or derogatory meaning in it. After all, who wouldn’t want to be compared to Tiger Woods?

   The racism claim rang a little hollow in my ears as well.

   BTW Pogue, you should check this out to see who else has been using your name.

5. on 10 Apr 2008 at 6:13 pm 5PogueMahone

   Fair enough.
   As I stated, the speech (and it did appear to be a bit fumbled or rushed), gave little context to the typical emulation of sports heroes. I remember thinking that if only Bellavia had mentioned the typical emulation of sports heroes, then the context would have framed the Woods remark perfectly. Although there would still be unwarranted calls of racism from the frenzied I’m sure. But if the speech was rushed, then one can hardly lay fault.

   Again, as I stated, I saw no racism in the remark even without the context. However, I also wouldn’t be so quick to damn those who did. I would merely accuse them of just being over-sensitive. I would also advise Obama supporters to take the Tiger Woods comparison and run with it. As Woods is one of the most well liked, respected, and successful men in his profession.

   There’s a lot more at the link, and this excerpt really doesn’t do it justice, so RTWT.

   And I did. Thanks.

   “Kat” over at argghhh, isn’t nearly as forgiving as I would be to persons who are unaware of Bellavia’s frequent use of the typical emulation of sports heroes contrast.
   Because in their defense, Bellavia and his words aren’t well known to most people and at first take, might be construed as questionable – unjustly maybe, but such are the sandtraps of publicity (come on… high five for that one, right? Come on… up top… don’t leave me hangin’).
   Kat basically comes to Bellavia’s defense by pointing to his book House to House. Bellavia’s book is listed on Amazon.com’s Sales Rank at 2,830. Which is respectable but hardly flying off the shelves. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not demeaning Bellavia or his accomplishments. I think it’s cool that he wrote a book and that it is making its way to people’s libraries.

   If after being made aware of Bellavia’s frequent use of the typical emulation of sports heroes contrast, some folks are still quick to damn him a racist, then I leave Kat and others to rightly tear them a new one.

   Cheers.

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