Blue Collar Muse

As a general rule,  Conservatives and those folks who tend to fall in the “Right of Center” category aren’t known for participation in or endorsement of pornography.  Just the opposite, in fact.  Much of the beating the Right takes, sometimes even from within its own ranks, is from those who see no harm in a little skin or engaging in a bit of “adult” behavior.  It’s a shame all those uptight Christians are messing up the good thing the Right has going on, don’t ya’ know …

So why the fascination with the Tiger Woods?  I get it that Fox News has to have something for Nancy Grace and Geraldo to blather on about endlessly.  But Sean Hannity?  Rush Limbaugh?  Here in Nashville it’s Phil Valentine and Michael DelGiorno.  Who knows how many other hosts, columnists and pundits are hanging on the story as if it were relevant to the lives of Americans.  It’s not.

The only people impacted by what Tiger Woods has done are his wife, family, sponsors and fans. Moral failings on the part of political and social leaders are relevant to the day-to-day existence of Americans.  If a politician cannot be trusted to keep his promise in the most important of personal relationships, how can he be trusted with the personal relationship that exists between politician and constituent?  If a social leader such as a preacher or a teacher cannot be trusted to honor vows made to remain faithful to their spouse, what of the vows, overt and implied, to those they promised to serve?

I expect the response will sound something like, “Well, it’s news!” Really? Says who? The MSM? Don’t we routinely criticize the MSM for failing to follow up on important stories like ClimateGate, the crisis that H1N1 isn’t, the true grassroots nature of the Tea Parties, ACORN and so many more? If the MSM is so out of step with us why appeal to the ones driving this story, agreeing it is worthy of our time? Are we now adopting the standards of CBS, ABC and NBC? The longer we roll around in bed (almost literally in this case) with the MSM using the premise of newsworthiness to do so, the more cover we give them when they ignore stories they should cover. The more we perpetuate the conversation and validate it, the more credibility we bestow on the MSM for being able to pick the right stories to report on.  Instead, we should be voicing our displeasure with the MSM that, once again, they distract us from what is really important by focusing on fluff.

Tiger Woods cannot do a single thing that impacts my life.  He does not vote on legislation that limits my individual or economic Liberty.  I do not look to him for advice or guidance on how to live my life or conduct my affairs (no pun intended). I’d listen to him about backswings but there are others I can listen to if he’s not available.  My favorite golf gear will have a celebrity endorser tomorrow if a sponsor drops Tiger today.  I’m out nothing and my life is neither better or worse because of his behavior.

Unless I’m free to use Tiger’s misfortune to engage in endless talk about things I’d never talk about on the radio, around the water cooler or at home.  Things like: male conquests of multiple partners; what these women were doing that lured him from his home; these women were attractive with large breasts; there must be pictures online! This is what radio hosts, writers and pundits who focus on politics are talking to their audiences about.

Why? Are there not enough excesses going on in Copenhagen that may destroy the world’s Economy? Have the Senators in DC taken a break from their efforts to destroy the US Economy?  As I mentioned, I expect breathless, interminable discussion of Tiger and his affairs from Nancy Grace and Geraldo.  But why from political commentators? Why indulge in discussing, dissecting and deriding an athlete’s sex life?. And with all the attention being showered on these women, how long before one of them sells salacious secrets to a tabloid? How long before one gets a reality series? How long before one or more of them actually poses for Hustler or Playboy? Are we not responsible for prolonging the discussion and creating new stories and opportunities?

And it’s not just Tiger Woods. Kobe Bryant, Dennis Rodman, Madonna, Brad Pitt, Michael Jackson … on and on.  We can’t get enough of the dirty details.  While not pornographic in the traditional sense of the word you can see it from there. So much so that I wonder if we’ve not forgotten sound advice like “Whatever is pure, lovely and of good reputation – think on these things!” Instead, those of us traditionally seen as supporting good and decent behavior have immersed ourselves in gossip, speculation and as close as many of us are going to get to involvement with porn.  Of course, when you factor in that famous rabbi’s teaching that it’s what’s in the heart that drives our behavior, perhaps we’re not so immune to pornography after all.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 4:23 pm and is filed under All I Can Say Is, Breaking News, Common Sense, Family, Individual Responsibility, Leadership, MSM, Pornography, Religion, Sunday Service, Unintended Consequences. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.