A couple of days ago, as i was browsing my favorite Youtube channels for some clever comic relief, i came upon one of Dan Brown’s videos from his trip to China. In that clip he was commenting, rather surprised, how the Chinese, unlike Americans, never mean what they say or use puerile excuses to hide their ulterior motives. Now I’m not sure in what USA Dan resides, but the one that’s usually broadcast out to the world by the media looks a lot like The People’s Republic that got him so dumbfounded. While US citizens might be more sophisticated in that respect, the truth of the matter is hypocrisy is alive and well in the Western world with no foreseeable changes in sight.
Of all the aspects of life you could practice it on, love, and subsequently marriage, seem like odd choices due at least to their nature when viewed as theoretical concepts. Yet, renting your feelings out of material interest has been with us as a specie for the longest time. Despite triumphantly proclaiming our progress throughout the centuries, we haven’t really managed to grow out of our ladder principle approach to relationships. The only thing that has changed is the fact that we’re no longer limiting ourselves to the male provider, female trophy scenario: we’re actually witnessing all four possible combinations.
At this point, i doubt there are people still buying into the “it was all for love” line when facing uneasy stereotypical pairings such as those between rich geriatric men and barely legal ladies or young male superstars and plastic perfect supermodel girlfriends. As much as we’d like to believe in the “happily ever after” ending, the high amount of breakups where Wall Street type of tradings are involved, makes it all look like a carefully planned scheme where both parties agree to certain risks in exchange of long term rendered services.
In that respect, Tiger Woods’ divorce settlement is one of the most disturbing such thing that I’ve read lately. So let’s do a quick recap. You take one Scandinavian blond (super?)model whose only talent revolves around her ass and boobs and involves occasional shaking, have her marry one of the most gifted sportsmen of all time (for love of course) and then conveniently have her calve a couple of babies to secure the investment. As expected, the high stressed husband cheats (understandably multiple times) and so she moves forward to cash in her prize and regain the freedom to slut herself around.
Now let’s try and digest the little bits of information we have about this situation and the highly hypocritical response it has been met with. Having an indecently high number of divorces, Americans should really think again before deciding to stone every cheating celebrity out there. When you’re a conservative freak as in the case of Rush Limbaugh and celebrate your fourth marriage, you can’t really preach about the sanctity of this institution and still expect people to take you seriously. I’m sure the same is true with most of the CEOs who have expressed their disappointment with Mr. Woods’ behavior and rushed to cancel their advertising contracts, although their personal lives aren’t really spotless either.
It was all a matter of saving face and reinforcing some moral values nobody really respects anymore just to prevent drastic profit decreases during tough economic times. Then there’s the loving wife that’s been hurt beyond repair by her husband’s perpetual treachery. Give me a break, will ya! Had there been true love, this could have also involved some form of forgiveness or at least a less financially involved breakup. Still, when ego prevails and your first asking price rivals the funding of many notorious Internet start-ups, you’re turning from a “wife and mother” into a successful businesswoman.
While, USA has long pushed the boundaries of common sense when it comes to healing the soul wounds of betrayed wives with cold hard cash, $750 millions is really pushing the envelope not far, but “out of this galaxy” far. To be honest i couldn’t care less about Woods’ estate troubles but I just can’t process how being cheated accounts for such a large part of your better (working) half fortune. It feels downright obscene that a judge who claims to have legal training and experience in reaching fair outcomes can endorse a way of life that promotes slackness, shallowness and disrespect towards morals.
What’s there to be said about the values of a society which violently taxes any indiscretion sprung from natural impulses, yet at the same time glorifies deceit, revenge and quick undeserved earnings? Should the people accepting such standards have the right to complain about other similar issues affecting their daily lives such as treachery and lies from their president and ruling elite as well as the gradual loss of their freedoms? I’d love to hear your take on this, so go ahead and share your comments with us.
