Dr. Ada M. Fisher
- The hoopla regarding the unfortunate lack of judgment shown by Tiger Woods in his extramarital indiscretions is intriguing at best. As Jay Leno said to Hugh Grant when he was caught with a “hooker”, “What in the hell was he thinking?”
In the black barbershops there is a quiet calm noting that other figures from John F. Kennedy to Martin Luther King to Bill Clinton to Michael Jordan were guilty no less much of the same thing and yet they have not been vilified to the same extent that we are killing Woods. Given the chance, status and position of Woods many of these men would probably do the same thing.
If the women involved were of color–other than white or had hair that was other than blond, would the outrage be as deep? If these had been black women would it have been reported to this extent? Many black women express outrage that Woods and several other black celebrities and men of prominence never seem to give black women a second look. White women on the tube are expressing much moral indignation; yet Gov. Sanford of South Carolina, Senator Ted Kennedy and politics’ bad boys are notorious for sexual indiscretions so why are we surprised?
Charles Barkley got it right when he said he and sports stars are not your role models. Yet we spend money on shoes, numbered athletic jersey replicas, etc. trying to be like our celebrity au jour. Nike isn’t likely pulling their endorsement because without Tiger Woods, who do you think would buy their golf stuff? The bottom line is and always has been that money talks and unfortunately morality, standards, vows and much that we espouse as fundamental to a civilized culture too often walk.
For those who have multiple sexual partners, the realities of AIDS seem to escape them. Could Woods’ wife be at risk for sexually transmitted diseases? Would women take a golf club after him or as Madea advised, learn to cook hot grits thinking of such? Do you think for a minute Michelle Obama would tolerate such without a scene.
For those fathers of daughters who themselves are promiscuous in their behavior, what do their extramarital affairs say to these women in their lives they purportedly love? Does this tell young women that anything goes and you’ll stand for such from your daughters? What about Tiger’s daughter “Sam”? Is this the behavior for his son to emulate?
For those women trying to make their way on their backs rather than using their brains, what’s the message to your sisters?
For those women of color who want to be the queen on some man of prominence’s arm, do we have to be light, bright, blond and damn near white to get there? Why has there seldom been mention of Woods’ two black sisters from his father’s first marriage? Who was there to tell Woods or a Michael Jackson no?
The opportunities for discussion about personal behavior are endless, so let’s put a hold on Tiger, forget about him.
Can we talk about this objectively? Have a deeper discussion about ethics, morality, marital vows and what it means to be a role model whether we want to be one or not.
Dr. Ada M. Fisher is the NC Republican national Committee Woman, a Retired School teacher, physician and community activitist. Contact her at P. O. Box 777; Salisbury, NC 28145; telephone (704) 223-2321; DrFisher@Fishernchousedistrict77.com.
