PUC Chronicle

Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: Sports

Brandon Thomas

Tim Hardaway expressed his rather ignorant homophobia to the media and was met with great controversy for his words. Politicians like President George W. Bush, seem to be faced with much less conviction from the media when speaking similar words. These words are watered down from Hardaway's apparent hatred of homosexuals but this comes from both of them being prejudice.
"Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society," said Bush in an address calling for a ban on gay-marriage.
Bush is scolded by liberals and other citizens intelligent enough to realize his overwhelming ignorance but is not faced with the general scrutiny received by athletes with the same view. Hardaway has been repeatedly abused over many sports and news shows across the nation.
The cause is public interest. A basketball player talking about gay-rights is talking about something he isn't supposed to know anything about. Politicians should give an informed decision to the public.
When a politician speaks of gay-marriage, he has his popularity in mind. Many people who follow politics already know the republican stance. The basketball player has no reason to discuss these opinions and is completely out of his ballpark when speaking of national issues.
Now there are two people who feel the same way. The one who plays professional sports is getting all of the bad attention because more people care about sports then politics in the United States. And the athlete is expected to shut up and play ball.
Politicians are not even held accountable for their words. Athletes receive fines when the speak inappropriately to the media. There are no fines for politicians who give ill-informed decisions in front of the whole country.

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