Or perhaps, I should call her Caitlyn.
Normally, this is a subject I wouldn't touch. As an American, Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner is absolutely free to do what ever dumb ass thing they want as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. If that's how they feel comfortable, so be it.
It's none of my business.
What drew me into the story was the backlash.
There's been a lot of it.
On one level, I think a lot of people have trouble understanding why someone would go to such extremes to transform in this manner. The concept of not being comfortable in their own gender is alien to most. Which is as it should be, I suppose.
I think that it's good, though, for people to be confronted in this manner once in a while. It causes them to have to fire up a few extra synapses to navigate they're own feelings and affirm they're own self-concept. But, as we've seen, when people are confronted in this manner, if they do not agree, they have no trouble raising their voices to protest.
Now, this is also in-line with their rights. They are also free to say whatever dumb ass thing that is on their mind as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. The thing that I always find amusing in such circumstances is that all of their bellowing and righteous indignation only serves to bring more attention to the thing they are railing against. So, as with any new cause, or concept, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
That said, there are aspects of this story that I personally do not agree with. So, as is my right, here is my dumb ass two cents;
As this story goes along I have heard the word hero bandied about. This does not leave a savory taste in my mouth. A true hero, to me, is someone willing to risk life and limb to keep others safe. A soldier is a hero. A firefighter is a hero. Most police officers are heroes. Someone willing to have themselves chemically and surgically altered to inhabit a new gender can certainly be called brave, and I would also go as far as to call them role models for others faced with the same issues of gender identification, BUT, I find hero quite beyond the pale.
As far as the ESPY's go, I find the whole thing ridiculous. The only reason these awards carry any kind of weight is because we allow them to. I think the awards, especially with this year's decision to give the Arthur Ashe award to Jenner, are more about ESPN exploiting the opportunity to create controversy; 1) To increase their visibility (as indeed is Jenner by making his transformation into a media circus) and 2) As a way to create an influx of new revenue, (Jenner-in the same manner).
I know a lot of people feel as I do about this, but, as any hero worth their salt will tell you, it's not about laurels and awards. It's about doing what is right. So, if you feel strongly enough (and especially if you are one of the people raising three kinds of hell about it). I challenge you to make a donation in Lauren Hill's name to The Cure Starts Now Foundation or make a donation in Noah Galloway's name to The Wounded Warrior Project. I think that is a far better tribute to both of these heroes than any award could ever be.
No comments:
Post a Comment