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Fear and Loathing in Augusta......
This weekend, the attention of the golf world is once again focused on the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia -- the home of green jackets and The Masters golf tournament.
This country club is no stranger to controversy. A few years ago, their exclusive membership policy came under scrutiny because they didn't admit men of color, and the leading player at the time was Tiger Woods. As a result, the club softened their membership policy and started admitting men of color.
Now, their membership policy is back under the microscope, thanks to Martha Burk. Burk is leading a protest against the country club because it admits only men, which is, in her eyes, "sex discrimination".
The head of the golf club, as well as its members, are happy with the membership policy as it stands. So it's not likely that it will change.
I'm watching this case with some interest. I have been a member of three all-male organizations in my life -- the Boy Scouts, a college fraternity, and the Mankind Project. If Burk is successful in her challenge, what would become of other single-sex organizations in the US? Would these and other such organizations be forced to change their membership policies to become more gender-neutral, and thus, "politically correct"? To me, that's a forced-fit that serves no one.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for gender equality, but not for gender equivalence. Sometimes, I just need to be with "the guys", just like women need to spend some time with "the girls" (or whatever term women use to refer to each other in the plural). There are just some things that can't be discussed with members of the opposite sex.
Let's flip the gender on this. Let's say there was an all-women's organization out there, and a man was trying to join it. Examples; The Girl Scouts, a college sorority, Woman Within, or a women-only health club. Would Martha Burk fight this as stridently as she is fighting the Augusta National Golf Club? And whose side would she be fighting on? Why, the womens' side, of course. And therein lies the flaw. Opening single-sex groups up to both sexes is a two-way street -- what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Oh yeah -- I don't belong to country clubs because they're well out of my price range. If I want to play golf, I'll stick to the public courses. Or better yet, the driving range and the miniature golf courses.
NCAA Division I Basketball update: This year's big winners are Syracuse (men) and Connecticut (women).
This country club is no stranger to controversy. A few years ago, their exclusive membership policy came under scrutiny because they didn't admit men of color, and the leading player at the time was Tiger Woods. As a result, the club softened their membership policy and started admitting men of color.
Now, their membership policy is back under the microscope, thanks to Martha Burk. Burk is leading a protest against the country club because it admits only men, which is, in her eyes, "sex discrimination".
The head of the golf club, as well as its members, are happy with the membership policy as it stands. So it's not likely that it will change.
I'm watching this case with some interest. I have been a member of three all-male organizations in my life -- the Boy Scouts, a college fraternity, and the Mankind Project. If Burk is successful in her challenge, what would become of other single-sex organizations in the US? Would these and other such organizations be forced to change their membership policies to become more gender-neutral, and thus, "politically correct"? To me, that's a forced-fit that serves no one.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for gender equality, but not for gender equivalence. Sometimes, I just need to be with "the guys", just like women need to spend some time with "the girls" (or whatever term women use to refer to each other in the plural). There are just some things that can't be discussed with members of the opposite sex.
Let's flip the gender on this. Let's say there was an all-women's organization out there, and a man was trying to join it. Examples; The Girl Scouts, a college sorority, Woman Within, or a women-only health club. Would Martha Burk fight this as stridently as she is fighting the Augusta National Golf Club? And whose side would she be fighting on? Why, the womens' side, of course. And therein lies the flaw. Opening single-sex groups up to both sexes is a two-way street -- what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Oh yeah -- I don't belong to country clubs because they're well out of my price range. If I want to play golf, I'll stick to the public courses. Or better yet, the driving range and the miniature golf courses.
NCAA Division I Basketball update: This year's big winners are Syracuse (men) and Connecticut (women).
hmmm
Last night I played poker with 7 warrior bro's. It was a lot of fun, no heavy/serious shit, just good clean fun and some nasty stinky cigars. I guess you could tell i wasn't smoking.
I also made staff for Philly in June.... its about time, I lucked my way on. Since they only had 5 applicants we all got on.
No country clubs here either, i am dangerous on the chip and putt course you don't want me on a big boy course.