NOTE TO BARBARA

I rarely do this but I must speak up. On a recent episode of The View, Barbara Walters voiced her opinion about a male politician showing his emotions on an episode of 60 Minutes. It was not the first time for this particular gentleman and apparently Barbara felt the need to opine that such displays of emotion by a man were signs of weakness and indicative of instability. Barbara, Barbara, Barbara.

Since that show I have watched a soldier haltingly talking about the brave acts he had witnessed of a Medal of Honor recipient. I watched an interview Larry King did with Barbara and George H. W. Bush where the senior Bush became emotional during a video of his son Neil thanking him for being the father he was.

Over the years I can remember watching many, many men face to face as well as through the up close and personal lens of a television camera show emotion ranging from misty eyes, to having to pause, to being unable to continue. Not all were grieving. Some were retiring from distinguished careers, some were being recognized for extraordinary achievements and some were particularly thankful for twists of good fortune bestowed upon loved ones.

One of the more recent displays of emotion I particularly remember occurred during the press conference at the conclusion of the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is a competition between the best men golfers of the United States and those of Europe and is the very pinnacle of golf. In a down-to-the-wire finish the US lost. Under enormous pressure a critical shot was missed by American Hunter Mahan that, at the end of 3 days of competition, was the shot that gave the victory to the Europeans. At the conclusion, each team was seated at a long table facing reporters from around the world, answering questions while a worldwide television audience watched. Most reporters avoided the question but finally someone asked Hunter about the shot. He got out a few words, paused, a few more words and then could not continue. His eyes were filled with tears. It was almost as painful for those watching as it was for Hunter.

Phil Mickelson, sitting to his left, seeing his teammate in distress, took the microphone and gave a gracious answer in a manner you would expect from Phil. Was Hunter Mahan weak or unstable? Were President Bush, the soldier or any of the other men?

You don’t know me Barbara but believe me when I say some of the bravest, most courageous, toughest men I know can get misty eyed at a baptism or the playing of the national anthem, my Dad among them. It would be most un-just to consider them un-stable.