“By The Disappointed, for The Disappointed;” Out of Control Feminism, and the Word, Belief, and Fashion Police

On January 7, during the BCS National Championship college football game between Alabama and Notre Dame, ESPN play by play announcer Brent Musburger, responding to a camera focused on Crimson Tide Quarterback A.J. McCarron's girlfriend, Katherine Webb, commented that Webb, a former Miss Alabama USA, is a “lovely lady” and “beautiful.”  He also said to his broadcast partner, Kirk Herbstreit, a former quarterback at Ohio State, “You quarterbacks get all the good-looking women…” Musburger added, “If you're a youngster in Alabama, start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard with pop.”

Some feminists and assorted “word police” jumped all over Musburger, one of the most respected play by play broadcasters in the business, for his comments about Webb.

Succumbing to hyper sensitivity and perceived political correctness, ESPN issued an apology, tweeting, “We always try to capture interesting storylines and the relationship between an Auburn grad who is Miss Alabama and the current Alabama quarterback certainly met that test. However, we apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far and Brent understands that.”

Musburger, for his part, is not apologizing for his thoughts or words. TMZ asked if he believed his comments relating to Webb during the BCS championship were inappropriate. Musburger answered, “No.”

No apology necessary, Brent.

If anything, ESPN should apologize for apologizing and giving in to misguided political correctness by a small, but vocal group of radical feminists and other mal contents who thrive on negativity and a contempt for men, not to mention women who do not fall into line with their perception of the world.

Here is the bad news for the radical feminists; their assault on Brent Musburger did not take.

I have not spoken to one woman, liberal or conservative who believes what Musburger said is offensive or out of line.  Nor have I seen one female commentator on any of the cable networks who believe what Musburger said was creepy, derogatory or marginalized women in any way in his remarks about Webb.   

Fox News Contributor Kirsten Powers, a liberal commentator (I am paraphrasing Ms. Power’s comments) said every woman she knows would be thrilled to be called lovely or beautiful. As Powers sees it, this is nothing more than out of control feminism. Indeed, Katherine Webb herself, in a Today Show interview made it clear she was not offended by Musburger’s comments at all.

The exposure helped Webb land a job with Inside Edition covering the Super Bowl.  She was immediately attacked with comments suggesting she only got the job because she is attractive, conveniently ignoring the fact that Web also has a degree in business administration from Auburn University, is a Training Manager for a large corporation and a successful model. The old adage that you make your own luck is true. The exposure helped, but Webb siezed the moment, showing herself to be humble, articulate, charming and gracious in subsequent interviews. Inside Edition knew they hired more than a pretty face.

Not two weeks later, the popular and likable PGA golfer Phil Mickelson, who ranks as one the best golfers in the game, dared to publically express his opinion on high taxes. Mickelson said this; “There are going to be some drastic changes for me because I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state, and it doesn't work for me right now. So I'm going to have to make some changes.” Mickelson, a resident of California, added, “If you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and the state, my tax rate is 62, 63 percent.”

Almost immediately, Mickelson was the object of scorn and contempt from what can only be called the “Belief Police.”

Mickelson apologized, not for his views, but for anyone who may have been offended by his opinion. In a statement to Fox News, Mickelson apologized to anyone he may have “upset or insulted,” adding “Finances and taxes are a personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public.”

Mickelson should not have felt the need to apologize.  Like Musburger, Mickelson did nothing more than express his opinion. As a result, the Belief Police felt the need to personally attack and mock him because his opinion differed from theirs.

Then, the other night, I was watching “The Late Late Show with Craig Furgeson” who happened to have a young actress as a guest who upset about being the victim of the Hollywood Fashion Police, ridiculing an outfit she wore to some event. The plight of this young actress reminded me of Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas who had to endure cruel comments about how she wore her hair of all things after the Olympics in London.  Furgeson’s response to his young guest was brilliant. 

Furgeson told the actress to not worry, things like that were produced “By the Disappointed, for the Disappointed.”

Exactly!

Whether it’s the radical feminists attacking Brent Musburger for his benign comments about Katherine Webb, the Belief Police mocking Phil Mickelson for his opinion on high taxes, or the Fashion Police cruelly attacking Olympian Gabby Douglas for her hair or a young actress for wearing the wrong outfit, the people promulgating these attacks and those that find glee in soaking it up are truly, “The Disappointed.” 

In Don’t Seek Success – Be Happi, I write about what I call this the disease of “Negativitis.” I define the symptoms of  Negativitis as incessant whining, complaining, bitterness, and anger about people or circumstances from their past. “The Disappointed” suffer from Negativitis in spades.

These “disappointed” people are negative, bitter, angry and jealous. In my view, the disappointed somehow believe they are entitled to treat those who offend them for what they say, what they believe, or what they wear with contempt and scorn as a result of negative circumstances and perceptions in their lives.

Personal attacks because of what other people say, believe, or wear should not be acceptable or tolerated. It is okay to respectfully disagree, but negative personal attacks, contempt and scorn for those who not share the views of “The Disappointed” crosses the line and does nothing to contribute to a productive dialogue.

What do you think?

Be Great!

MB