No crying in Baseball, but what about Football?

GoldenTruman · 12-12-2012, 19:42

Has anyone read this story?

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/...rterbacks.html

I can say that I am not sure how I would have reacted in this situation, but the article infuriated me. To berate a young who was just a part of a fumble that cost Army the win, as well as being the last play of his college career, infuriates me. To mock him for showing emotion because he is military while apparently having never served yourself is a travesty.

The last lines of the article are "The cameras were focused on a college football player, but the problem is the only thing some people saw was a future Army officer." Tim Tebow is glorified, almost to a point of idolatry, for his emotion, but just because Trent Steelman is a future Army officer, he must stay steeled even in the face of defeat.

I agree that in combat or times of extreme stress when your team is looking at you for strength, maybe breaking down is not the best avenue of approach. But after your last college football game ever, a devasting loss at that, to me shows that he gave his all and wanted more than anything to bring the win home for Army. That he was that invested in the outcome. He left all he had on the field and probably felt like he let the entire branch of service down not just his teammates. I, personally, would have been more questioning had he not shown a bit of emotion.

And to be an article from the Columbus, Georgia newspaper is even more flabbergasting. Without Ft. Benning, Columbus would be an even smaller blip on the map. This article, to me, is just not a good showing.

This seems to be more like it:

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2...army-navy-game

twistedsquid · 12-12-2012, 20:23

A soldier is subject to a different scrutiny. He was wearing the patch of the 28th Infantry (Black Lions), my fathers' unit in Vietnam. We talked after the game. "Did you see that? Wouldn't want him in my unit!" Done and dusted.

GoldenTruman · 12-13-2012, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistedsquid

A soldier is subject to a different scrutiny. He was wearing the patch of the 28th Infantry (Black Lions), my fathers' unit in Vietnam.We talked after the game. "Did you see that? Wouldn't want him in my unit!" Done and dusted.

Roger that. I definitely agree that this was probably not the best memory to leave in the wake of his upcoming commission. And, to me, yours and your father's opinion is warranted due to said credentials. As would be his team, superiors, or the countless others who have/are sacrificing so others may be free.

This arm chair quarterback, on the other hand, in my opinion does not garner the power to do so. I am not a snake and cannot testify as to how a snake will react. I can study a snake, put on a snake costume, and act like a snake, but, in the end, I will probably just end up getting bit.

cant hardly · 12-13-2012, 20:02

.

**Roguish Lawyer** · 12-13-2012, 20:46

As a USC fan, I have been crying for several weeks.

/endtangent

Sigaba · 12-13-2012, 21:40

The way I read Mr. Williams's piece, he merely asked a question--"Should [Steelman] be showing that kind of raw emotion in front of the nation?"--and then turned to a retired GO and a retired CSM, both combat veterans, for answers.

IMO, he did not berate Steelman. He simply framed different POVs among warriors towards emotional displays and concluded that "some people" may not appreciate the nuances of these POVs.

FWIW, I find controversial the notion that only those who defend freedom can question the conduct of their brethren in the public eye. Mr. Steelman's display occurred during a sporting event, not during combat.

My $0.02.

Jersey Dirtbag · 12-13-2012, 23:06

I agree with Sig. One of the principles this nation was founded on is civilian control of the military; therefore, it is implied that civilians may direct and evaluate the performance of the military.

More directly, I continuously criticize many people who hold offices I'm not remotely qualified for; for example, the President of the United States. Just because I'm not a career politician does not mean that my opinion of him is invalid.

Moreover, if civilians are not in a position to criticize the military (due to lack of familiarity with our duties and the conditions under which we work), then they are in no more of a position to commend or praise the military. I don't think I've ever heard that argued, because it seems absurd.

Furthermore, consider the following (partially rhetorical) question. To what extent is the average contemporary American civilian justified in condemning the actions of William Calley on 16 March 1968?

GoldenTruman · 12-14-2012, 11:01

I admit that berate was a bit strong. I guess the last lines of the article is was really got me. And everyone is entitled to an opinion. I just feel that the validity of your opinion should dictate the basis of its following. Civilians can criticize the military all they want but that does not qualify them to decide what makes a good military leader.

An example would be the POTUS. We can state our opinion as to what we would have done in his position on any given issue, but we cannot express our disdain for his Oval Office decor because we have not had the option to decorate it ourselves. I can interview former Presidents and ask their opinion about his choice of style, but it does not make mine any more or less revered.

And you are right Sigaba. This was merely a football game and certainly not combat. So how can Williams correlate Steelman's actions on a football field with what kind of officer he will be?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersey Dirtbag

Furthermore, consider the following (partially rhetorical) question. To what extent is the average contemporary American civilian justified in condemning the actions of William Calley on 16 March 1968?

People do condemn Calley and My Lai. Just as most soldiers in the Vietnam War returned to less than welcoming homecomings due to the perceived notions of the war. They were fighting and dying just the same as the current conflict with vastly different public opinion. I believe that civilians who praise or commend these days are praising or commending the uniform and what it means to them. How many have been thanked for their service by an uninformed stranger outside of uniform?