The Visor

Enough is enough

March 16, 2010

Marie Hofer

The attack on Tiger Woods for his indiscretions has been going on since Nov. 30 of last year. Friday, Feb. 19, he formally apologized for cheating on his wife and hurting his family. This apology was broadcast on national television and stopped regular programming.

The next day his apology was the discussion of sports talk shows. Hosts debated whether or not he would compete in upcoming tournaments.

It has been four months since Woods’ indiscretions were exposed and the fact that it still has the power to stop regular programming is ridiculously sad. Do we not have anything better to do than tear apart an athlete for his personal life?

I am by no means condoning what he did. It was wrong and incredibly offensive, but not to the public. The situation is between himself and his wife. It should not affect his career or national television. It is a private situation that if it had been kept out of the media might have been easier to forgive.

His wife Elin and his children do not need to be shoved into the public eye because the man they loved made a horrible mistake.

The sad truth is countless people cheat on their spouses and just because numerous people do, does not mean it is acceptable. The point I am trying to make though is why punish one man endlessly for something that happens in various careers.

There is no reason for his job to be at stake when countless public officials have been in similar situations. He is receiving help and trying to make amends for his transgressions but he should be less worried about the public and turn his focus completely to his family.

I feel if we as a community cannot back off and mind our own business, we really have become two very depressing stereotypes.

The first assumes that if he was “smart” and managed to keep his affairs a secret he would not be in this situation. The fact that he cheated is not the problem it was that he was found out, which is disheartening.

The second is that Americans are so enthralled with gossip and the downfall of others that we just do not care who is hurt in the process.

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