“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” — Heyward Broun.
With the football season ending, I wonder how many fans have considered the danger of the game. Did they give any thought to the gratuitous violence and the great possibility of serious and often permanent brain damage caused by concussion? Did they think about all of those football players (from youngsters on up through pro) who, as a result, have problems with dementia, etc. as a result of the repeated head trauma? Is it because so many parents are still allowing (if not pressuring) their young sons to play the game and to hope for eventual fame and fortune in the pros? As Coby McDonald wrote in a related article in “California Magazine,” winter, 2018: “Head impacts that show few if any symptoms may be inflicting undetectable damage to the players’ brains — damage that will only manifest years later as neurological disease.”
More questions come to mind. What does all of that obsession (whether on the field or in the stands) with power, strength, violence and winning say about much of humanity? Why are warriors and such extremely violent athletics so revered? Is it a good idea to teach our children that “real” men engage in such violent activities and risk serious injury and even death? Even Bob Costas, NBC sports commentator on “Meet the Press,” once said that the way football is played now “even legal hits are frightening and illegal hits are worse.” Can there be any hope for us to live in peace and harmony when extreme violence and aggression are such an integral part of our athletic and entertainment culture?
Seems George Orwell caught on long ago. He said: “Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard for all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war without the shooting.”
About those rules, recall Lance Armstrong — that “All-American Bike Racer.” This married man with children lied and cheated about his drug “enhancement” for years in his obsession with winning and staying in the limelight. Is there no conscience, no decency, no shame, no punishment for such dishonesty besides taking away some of his awards? Is this the kind of role model we want our children to emulate?
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When it comes to role models, consider all of those preying priests who have been molesting young boys for so many years while the Catholic church hierarchy has covered for them. And they profess to be Christians! It makes you wonder what kind of males go into the priesthood. What are they escaping by cloistering themselves in the sanctuary of the church? After all, they come from parochial schools where children look up to such pious men in their ecclesiastical robes.
And who do our children have to look up to? Not our pathologically narcissistic president who freely lies, acts only for his own interests, revels in attention, has absolutely no shame or remorse and completely lacks integrity.
We are in dire need of providing heroes who demonstrate good morals, good values and good deeds, and that’s where parents come in. Not only is it essential for them to be good role models, they have to try to counteract all of the cultural garbage that bombards their children on an ongoing basis. That’s why it’s important that they spend time with their kids and talk to them about why so many things that are considered desirable these days are not conducive to a good life and which things contribute. It’s not always easy, but parents need to be there for their kids — physically, mentally and psychologically — after having worked on developing some sustaining values of their own. Unfortunately, too many of today’s children do not have responsible, caring and involved parents in their lives.
It is essential that children experience good examples — not self-obsessed sports figures, not inebriated and/or hysterical sports fans, not bike racers with absolutely no ethical standards, not seriously dysfunctional “men of God,” not today’s president. They need to experience and observe men who contribute to the support — materially and psychologically — of their families, concentrate on setting a good example for their children and take part in the community. They need to experience decent, responsible and compassionate men who face life with courage, integrity and determination to do their part to make this world a better place for their children and grandchildren — men who don’t get their thrills from violence and mayhem, exploiting others, cheating the establishment, but from living an honest and decent life.
“The nature of man is always the same. It is their habits that separate them.” — Confucius.
Since 1984, Dorothy Dimitre has written more than 950 columns for various local newspapers. Her email address is gramsd@aceweb.com.
My young four year old son loves Trump. Whenever he comes on TV, he jumps up and down saying that is our patriot president. Remember, don't let old ladies tell you how to be a man or raise your children, they have no clue on how to be either.
Dorothy is spot on! My wife and I raised our son and daughter pretty much in line with what she advocates in her column, with two very sporty, healthy and successful adults that anyone would dream about as offspring. I don’t think it is fair, Chris, to hold up as a role model for your 4-year old an untrustworthy liar, cheater, sexual assaulter, childish name caller, an unsporty laughingstock around the world and an embarrassment here at home. It may take years before your son realizes how you have fooled him, if ever. I feel sorry for him!
Jorg- you raise your children how you want them to be raised and I will raise my children how I think they should be raised. Isn't America great, freedom to raise our own children without interference from others.
Unfortunately, Chris, - freedom to raise one’s children without interference, doesn’t always work very well. There are some parents so incompetent or screwed up, that they should never have had kids. Often the least competent parents have the most offspring, with poor role models to follow. There are exceptions, of course, but often you can trace young delinquents to poor parenting and bad role models. So, where do you suggest that child protection services come in, if at all?
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(5) comments
My young four year old son loves Trump. Whenever he comes on TV, he jumps up and down saying that is our patriot president. Remember, don't let old ladies tell you how to be a man or raise your children, they have no clue on how to be either.
Dorothy is spot on! My wife and I raised our son and daughter pretty much in line with what she advocates in her column, with two very sporty, healthy and successful adults that anyone would dream about as offspring. I don’t think it is fair, Chris, to hold up as a role model for your 4-year old an untrustworthy liar, cheater, sexual assaulter, childish name caller, an unsporty laughingstock around the world and an embarrassment here at home. It may take years before your son realizes how you have fooled him, if ever. I feel sorry for him!
Jorg- you raise your children how you want them to be raised and I will raise my children how I think they should be raised. Isn't America great, freedom to raise our own children without interference from others.
Well that explains everything, is he also laughing ?
Unfortunately, Chris, - freedom to raise one’s children without interference, doesn’t always work very well. There are some parents so incompetent or screwed up, that they should never have had kids. Often the least competent parents have the most offspring, with poor role models to follow. There are exceptions, of course, but often you can trace young delinquents to poor parenting and bad role models. So, where do you suggest that child protection services come in, if at all?
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