…intellectually mature that is. Click on today's title and you'll see what I mean.
Okay, today is a Vent Day! I have two things in particular on my mind. I want to take the more recent issue first.
CNN reported this afternoon (February 17) that a male Iowa high school athlete, Joel Northrup, had elected to forfeit a wrestling match against a female wrestling opponent. Joel chose to do this rather than compromise his Christian principles and beliefs. I am sure any numbers of people are ready to tear Joel down for what they assume is a sexist stand-WELL I DISAGREE - I STAND RIGHT BESIDE HIM AND I AM PROUD TO DO SO.
Don’t take me wrong here. I am all for gender equality in the workplace and society in general. However, there are just some situations where the concept does not translate at all. When was the last time one of us men conceived and delivered a baby? And there is only one time in history where a woman conceived and gave birth without a man’s participation.
Joel put it succinctly when he wrote
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. ... It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most of the high school sports in Iowa."
Joel is right wrestling is a form of combat as are most contact sports. Besides that, the degree of physical contact wrestling puts competitors into is not appropriate for coed teens, or single adults for that matter. It is no coincidence that a common reference made to American teens’ sexual activity is “wrestling in the backseat of the family sedan.”
Even our wrestling and sexual vocabularies have too much in common for comfort. Terms like “a take-down”, “getting the advantage”, and “penetration” abound. The degree of commonality defies simple chance and probability.
This level of bodily contact is not found in the majority of competitive athletics. I have no compunction about men and women, even teens and younger, competing under those less intimate circumstances. The ego shock would probably do wonders for and set many males straight on the real issues of gender equality.
It is sad that young men and women with strength of character, like Joel, are penalized because we as a society have grown too self indulgent to stand up for what is right. This young man deserves a Medal for the stand he has taken and the choice he had to make.
From where I stand, Joel Northup, and young people like him, are the mature audience here.
Hmmm ok nice comments and I understand...but as a father of two very athletic daughters ...the boy was really afraid to be beaten by a girl . But please don't tell my niece , or her commander ,who did two tours in Iraq as a combatant and won a medal for saving some men in her unit. She also lost her two best friends.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin