A Teaching Moment
Lost….2 me, ‘U’, and
The Miracle……
Mr. Martin and the Dolphin
“At its CORE the VALUE is OUR place
in Relationships
No Family…No
Soap!!!!”….. “Yalla,” S.U.A.D. pub.2013
In a time where we have so dissected
and categorized our every sensibilities that we have forgotten our
simplicities. In a time where we can
literally, with a key-stroke, reach-out and touch the world. Is it compelling as a society we have become
depraved? “Ideology separates us and
evil, as well as, death brings us together.”
Go figure?
There is a book written by William
Golding which in my view is an element at the heart of this dilemma. A dilemma that, “We the People,” society, and
all of humanity face. Simply stated,
“Without Authority Is man depraved?
IF: You categorically and ethnically approach the
vitality of Life with Lust.
IF: You view indulging in self-fulfilling,
selfish, and self-gratification as the norm.
:. Therefore
Paradoxically
You ‘R’
Hue-man.
In other
words, the true test of a man: “What
Does He do with His Blessings?”
As we journey through life one of
the blessings is, “Out of the mouth of Babes,” i.e. through their innocence and
naiveté, sometimes they utter, the hilarious, to the thoughtfulness, to the
profound. We are amazed and taken-aback by their contributions to
dialogue. However, on the scale of
acceptance, these pronouncements may vary from joy and impressive to shameful
revelations of language, associations, behavior, and/or interpretations. “Children
copy and/or mimic the behavior and bearing of the family, adults, authority,
and education involved in their socialization process.”
In Miami Florida, specifically the
NFL franchise Dolphins, the rubber hit-the-road with a BANG. The world was exposed to the underbelly of
the BEAST. The vile pursuit of man for
dominion simply because HE can. A
management structure in place whose plea from the onset was, “nolo contendre.” While simultaneously fostering, encouraging,
and empowering the adoption of a, “Machismo,” character and personality. Thus disseminating the following: Family,
Values, Belief-system, Honor-system, ethics code, and chain of hierarchy. In other words a True Warrior System. Mind you this in-and-of-itself bears no evil
given the profession of NFL professional football. However, when reason is thrown to the wind in
the quest of ultimate success, i.e. “Take no prisoners at all costs mentality,”
a disease can blossom. Remember for
every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. John Steinbeck once said, “A Sad soul can
kill you quicker…Quicker than a Germ.”
Should a perceived difference of environment, social-economic status,
family origin and structure, ethnicity, belief-system, cognitive ability, and
conflict-resolution-system be openly ridiculed and ostracized? Especially among college educated men and a
successful businessman.
This Bravado jumped to the forefront
with the birthday wish of the brothers “P,” support of a New England player
arrested for murder. It should be noted
that the brother in the Pittsburg family recanted.
This Bravado jumped to the forefront
with the interview conducted by an ESPN commentator in Miami in which veteran
perks, namely, “Jet-Skies,” are acquired.
This Bravado jumped to the forefront
when in the interview of prospective NFL prospects the Dolphin GM queried, “If
his mother was a prostitute?” But what
is even more puzzling is, this is the same individual, i.e. Dolphin GM, clearly
stated the resolution of the Martin dilemma be settled by big-boy Mano a Mano
confrontation…..Bully……Bully!!!
In the book, “Lord of the Flies,”
written by William Golding tells a story of young-men from a private-school on
an outing. Due to unforeseen
circumstances these young-men end up marooned without guidance and authority on
an island to fend for themselves. Given
the dire dilemma these young-men faced, and despite the obvious character and
personality differences which existed before this event; leadership was
established. We see the interplay of the
greater-good vs. personal self-gratification alpha-male leadership. Choices we all make during our lifetime. Choices which have consequence. Through their eyes we are drawn into the
conflict of life itself. Consider……What,
if any, are the elements that separate us from our animal, “Only the
strong-survive mentality?”
For millenniums, in most cultures,
young-men at age twelve transition from boyhood to manhood. Since Adam & Eve the role of the male has
been etched in stone. To prepare
young-men for this journey fathers gave to sons the lessons of pride, duty,
honor, and responsibility. Connecting
the dots of animal behavior and thought process to life.
The book shows us character and
personality differences of at least two of the boys existed before this
event. Finally this personal and public
conflict comes to a head. There comes a
split in the group of boys. The
alpha-male was eaten-up with rage and jealously. So much so that he directs and leads his
group to hunt the other group of boys.
The crescendo occurs when the alpha-male captures one of the boys from
the splinter group and begins the death-stroke.
It is at this time the search and rescue party arrives. The boys become boys again. The boys bow to authority without
loss-of-life. I query…..? Is mans existence intrinsic i.e. animal,
seven-deadly-sins, depraved, pleasure, vs. cognitive ability, reason,
law-of-ten, and empowerment?
In both cases we see man. One view
is from the beginning of the journey to manhood with its influences at the
point of conflict. The other view,
namely, the Miami view from adulthood real world reality. The true test of a man: What does he do with
his blessings? Is there something to be
said about us? “For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.” Consider….How do we learn? What is a modicum of respect? Do we versus and conflict consequence,
discipline, conflict-resolution, and maturity?
A successful businessman with professional men administrating, coaching,
guiding, and encouraging college educated men in very questionable behavior and
social structure simply, “Chaps-my-Hide.” Are the inmates running the
asylum? Is there a difference maker
between the story in the book and the Dolphins experience? Is the Dolphin experience normal discourse
emblematic of the new society standards, morals, and socialization? Or is this experience an enigma of special
circumstance?
Mans blessing is free-will. Man can accentuate to elevate and/or
emasculate himself. Wherein does the
balance lay? Where will balance be
identified, nurtured and reinforced? We
see in the book the young boys, yearning to become men, make choices. We also see in Miami educated men make
choices. The link and flaws are for all
to see. So big picture, “Who has claim
to manhood and mans development? Have we
so separated, dissected and categorized our lives and institutions viable for
the very fabric of life itself? Is
demagoguery of every and all standards we once held to be sacred and sacrosanct
the new direction for man? For one thing
I can hold true, fear and ignorance double-up on knowledge all the time.
There exists in man a relationship
between anatomy and physiology. The structure
and function of animal man. Is it then
logical that there also exists a relationship between immaturity an
maturity? We as animals, at birth are
blank-slates. Thus begins the transfer
of knowledge, identity, feelings, and nurture.
A teaching moment lost to me, you, and the miracle. In the book the boys given the experience
they have lived will aide in their pursuit to manhood. There is room for growth, understanding, and
insight due to this event in-and-of-itself.
However, Miami thrusts forth the view a professional and successful
businessman who hires administrative staff to include coaches, doctors and
medical staff, i.e. college educated men abdicate authority to produce the
Martin dilemma at all. The totality of
fear, ignorance, and immaturity among highly educated men takes my breath
away. I query…..How do we learn? Common place or enigma? Just a simple story or emblematic of society
today? “Children copy and/or
mimic the behavior and bearing of the family, adults, authority, and education
involved in their socialization process.” “A Kingdom of
Conscience,” …….provided We acknowledge, accept, and reinforce its Value.
Frank S.
O’Neal
