19 year old college basketball player Lauren Hill died this year from terminal brain cancer. The Indiana woman's story became known around the world last year when she was able to realize her dream of playing college basketball. Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati successfully petitioned the NCAA to move up the opening game of its schedule to accommodate her desire to play. She did not curl up into a ball and succumb to her disease, she went out swingng She wanted to call attention to her illness, to inspire funding for research so that others could be spared her fate,a nd she was an inspiration to thise with terminal illnesses to face mortality with dignity and class. Instead ESPN decided a trans-gender pseudo celebrity deserved the Arthur Ashe Courage Award...one Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner. I have nothing against Caitlyn Jenner, I was long-time admirier of Bruce Jenner and as a youth, was inspired by his Gold medal performance in the decathlon in Montreal - 1976. It does require courage, I'm certain to embrace one's inner struggle with gender confusion. However... Lauren Hill would have been a better choice. She didn't have a TV show on the E! channel...she didn't have an entourage consisting of famous people. She was just a face i the crowd, a college athlete who faced a tremendous burden, a tragic disease...with courage and grace. ESPN....shame on you. You have taken the low road in my estimation.
I tend to agree that Caitlyn Jenner does no deserve this award. Not that the potential to receive it was not there. Bruce Jenner was an American hero in many regards, personifying what we thought Americans should be like back in the day. I think for a known figure such as Bruce Jenner to transgender into Caitlyn shows a remarkable amount of balls, if you would pardon the pun. My objection is the manner in which it is being carried out. For profit, on reality TV. To me it reeks of a shameless need to seek public attention, and in my opinion, diminishes any example of courage that may be displayed otherwise.
Yeah I'm not sure what's so courage about making millions by debasing yourself for the media. Particularly since he's been doing that for years.
Now we're glorifying people who mutilate their bodies because of a mental illness? Yeah that ought to have a positive effect on mankind.
If only Josh Duggar had fondled his brothers instead, Bruce could have had some competition for his courage.
While it does take guts to come out and declare a change of one's gender Jenner's "heroic" actions have been lauded by the media and have landed him plum prime time interviews, awards, cover photos and a brand new reality show. All in all, facing brain cancer with courage and dignity merits far more note and Jenner is the last person I would give an award to for anything.
