It’s getting worse before it is getting better.
Tight lips when explanations are expected tend to create the effect. If you appear as if you have something to hide, meaning that you don’t really talk about it or appear to want to talk, then, it clearly appears you have something to hide. It’s the sense you might get when you ask someone a question and you don’t get a direct answer. Politicians, cheaters, adulterers, auto salespeople, managers about to lay off employees, and now, Tiger Woods might be considered part of the “I don’t want to sound like I have something to hide, so I will not say anything” club. These folks will sometimes operate as if all they have to do is issue a written statement, recite the latest company line, or read the teleprompter for the carefully crafted speech and everything will be alright.
Wrong!
Human beings are an interesting species. I believe we have an internal mechanism that enables us to sense when people are being less than truthful. I can’t explain it, but anyone who is married knows what I am referencing. Sixth sense, “Mother Wit”, intuition, radar, or whatever you want to call it, if you are close to someone, you know when they are not being totally honest with you. We listen to politicians tell us they will not raise taxes and of course we don’t believe it. We listen to the managers talk about belt tightening and smaller profits and we know they periodically need to just fire some folks using layoffs as a cover up. We listen to the auto salesperson make claims of this price being the “best” deal he or she can offer while knowing if we wait long enough the price will come down some more. We listened to Tiger Woods. Oops, actually we did not. He has not come out in public and made a statement. Yet, I believe Tiger Woods’ wife had her radar instrumentation in full operational mode. Whatever he said to her, it could not have been completely forthright. Then again, maybe it was. This might explain some of the more recent details that have been exposed.
Tiger Woods was in trouble prior to the media firestorm. His wife clearly knew something, which explains her use of the golf club to “rescue” him from his SUV after the accident. This picture is not looking good at this point. I would refer to it as an episode of “Cheaters” gone out of control, but I don’t want to upset or insult the production team of “Cheaters”. This is probably better than “Cheaters” and just as sad, if not worse. I did not intend to discuss this too much today, but like the bad penny that keeps coming back, this story has gained traction and it will not die until Tiger makes a public appearance and provides an explanation, apology, or both.
Mr. Woods issued a written statement via his website that offered a hint that something was wrong and he was near contrition for being less than perfect. It did not sound like a full admission of guilt, but anytime someone goes to the “I am only human” card, you can bet a major transgression has preceded that acknowledgement of frailty. I am not judging Mr. Woods. God knows I am not a choir boy. But, each of us has to deal on a daily basis with choices of right and wrong. The question to do something or not do something is part of this life’s existence. Religious, moral, philosophical, ethical, and family value discourse aside – I can discuss those at another time, simple choices of right and wrong occur each day. It now appears Mr. Woods has had several alleged affairs during the course of his marriage to Elin. Should we be surprised? Probably not. Our country’s divorce rate is over 50%. Adultery has existed since man’s creation. Some of the greatest figures known in biblical history have been adulterers. It is not to be condoned, but it does happen. Anyone married or involved in a committed relationship may one day have to face the question to cheat or not to cheat. Hopefully, when the question is posed, your response is one that will maintain your privacy, the integrity of your commitment to your relationship, and a sense of right and wrong. Tiger does not have to face the public, but he does have to face his wife. What about you? To cheat or not to cheat?
Only you can decide…
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“It is calming to know that when the final trumpet sounds,
My life will not have ended in vain.
I will run out of time before I run out of words. God has given me the gift of my thoughts.
He has given me the gift of the pen.
I need to use them both to show His will does win….” 1
(1) Excerpt from the poem “ The Things That Matter” –
Included in Voices Inside My Head – Poetry Inspired By God To Heal Pain
Copyright © 2009 Milton A. Brown
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