Last weekend the sporting world witnessed a fairy tale ending to a fabulous story when Phil Mickelson won his third green jacket at the Masters Golf Tournament held in Augusta, Georgia. During an emotional victory speech, Mickelson spoke to the challenges his family has had to overcome for the last year. His wife Amy has had to endure chemotherapy as she continues to battle the big C, along with his mother.
On the flipside Tiger Woods had hoped to win his fifth green jacket after returning from a five month self-imposed exile. Lest we forget Tiger ran away from the game after his adulterous exploits were laid bare for the world to stare. In one week which the world will never forget the pristine image of the once revered Tiger Woods vanished in the twinkling of an eye. When the final golf stroke was struck at Augusta on Sunday afternoon many would have breathed a sigh of relief; Michelson at the top of the leaderboard, and Tiger in the unaccustomed position of fourth. Given all that Michelson has had to handle compared to the disgraced Tiger Woods, it seemed fitting the moral of this story should be the “family man” who triumphed over the “#1 player.”Whether we want to admit it, prominent people influence the way others think.
Some are saying the Government’s recent intervention to stop the Movada Kartel peace concert, followed by the announcement of a zero tolerance policy to filter smutty lyrics for the 2010 Crop Over season will lead to a nanny state. The idea that individual freedoms will be violated, some fear may lead our Government to not know where to draw the line. Every year we have Vic ‘the Parrot’ Fernandes and his sidekick Ronnie Clarke adopting a Pontius Pilate position when asked to explain Starcom’s contribution to the deteriorating moral base in Barbados. We have former Chairman of the National Cultural Foundation Al Gilkes whose remit along with his sidekicks is to flood Barbados with all the smutty Jamaican Dancehall artistes who are in need of money. The fact that a cloud of tampie smoke has seasonally descended on Farley Hill during Reggae Songfest appears to be of little concern to the organisers or the authorities. If our Fourth Estate and leaders in society have surrendered all for the sake of greed where will it end?
While the debate continues, BU’s position remains unwavering. As a country we can no longer procrastinate while the house is burning. It is clear the level of parental delinquency in Barbados means that we are raising sub-moral beings at an unacceptable rate. Many of the organizations which complemented parent in instilling values in our young people are no longer highly regarded. At the primary level it use to be mandatory for our girls to be Blossoms and graduate to the Girl Guides; for the boys, it was the Cubs and the Scouts. At the secondary level there was the Cadets and Scouts with its multiplicity of activities which was sure to make a man and woman out of any girl or boy passing through the ranks. There were several other organizations and some religious bases which all added to the job of moulding the moral being.
Against this background, who do we have to step up to the plate to stop the rot? Should we side with the view that things will work itself out by allowing individuals to find their way?
What transpired last Sunday at Augusta portrayed Mickelson as a man driven by love and devotion to family which motivated him beyond all limits to excel. The fact he was able to share the joy of winning with his family must have been the greatest feeling of all. On the flipside there was Tiger Woods feeling empty and sad not only for losing but feeling the weight of shame. We did not notice his family around to console and comfort him.
It is time to promote the values which show the value of family to building a better society. If we don’t our society will continue to disintegrate.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.