Dubya has a new gig. He's been named Honorary Chairman of The First Tee, following in daddy's footsteps, again. George Herbert Walker Bush was the first Honorary Chair of this eleemosynary organization since its founding in 1997.
The elevation of Dubya was announced on the occasion of his participation in the 10th Anniversary celebration of The First Tee of Central Arkansas in Little Rock.
LITTLE ROCK — Golf is about certain values that “are timeless and true,” and The First Tee program is a proven way to instill those life lessons in young people, former President George W. Bush said today.
The game, Bush said, demands honesty and personal responsibility. Other speakers also made reference to various life lessons learned by participants in the First Tee program.
"Instill ... life lessons." Some would call that education; others indoctrination. But, let's let the proponents explain in their own words.
The First Tee Nine Core Values
The First Tee has established Nine Core Values that represent some of the many inherently positive values connected with the game of golf. These Nine Core Values have been incorporated into The First Tee Experience and have been used to name golf holes at several of The First Tee facilities.
1. Honesty
- the quality or state of being truthful; not deceptive
Golf is unique from other sports in that players regularly call penalties on themselves and report their own score.
2. Integrity - strict adherence to a standard of value or conduct; personal honesty and independence
Golf is a game of etiquette and composure. Players are responsible for their actions and personal conduct on the golf course even at times when others may not be looking.
3. Sportsmanship - observing the rules of play and winning or losing with grace
Players must know and abide by the rules of golf and be able to conduct themselves in a kind and respectful manner towards others even in a competitive game.
4. Respect - to feel or show deferential regard for; esteem
In golf it is important to show respect for oneself, playing partners, fellow competitors, the golf course, and for the honor and traditions of the game.
5. Confidence - reliance or trust. A feeling of self-assurance
Confidence plays a key role in the level of play that one achieves. Players can increase confidence in their abilities by being positive and focusing on something they are doing well regardless of the outcome.
6. Responsibility - accounting for one’s actions; dependable
Players are responsible for their actions on the golf course. It is up to them to keep score, repair divots, rake bunkers, repair ball marks on the green, and keep up with the pace of play.
7. Perseverance - to persist in an idea, purpose or task despite obstacles
To succeed in golf, players must continue through bad breaks and their own mistakes, while learning from past experiences.
8. Courtesy - considerate behavior toward others;a polite remark or gesture
A round of golf should begin and end with a handshake between fellow competitors. Players also should be still and quiet while others are preparing and performing a shot.
9. Judgment - the ability to make a decision or form an opinion; a decision reached after consideration
Using good judgment is very important in golf. It comes into play when deciding on strategy, club selection, when to play safe and when to take a chance, the type of shot players consider executing, as well as making healthy choices on and off the golf course.
Really. George W. Bush ("now watch this drive") is an excellent choice to demonstrate the "core values" that have been "established" by this tax-exempt organization, bankrolled with a mere five million from Jackson T. Stephens, whose son Warren has now built himself one of the most exclusive golf courses in the nation, the Alotian, and invites some few underprivileged children to come play from time to time. Perhaps that will be an avenue for women to be allowed to join the Augusta National Golf Club, a privilege not achieved during the tenure of Jackson as Chairman from 1991 to 1998, nor until now.
What's most revealing to me is the connection of honesty to not being judged by others. Self-reporting seems like a natural value for self-centered people. It accounts for why so much goes wrong. Self-reporting by people who have little or no sense of self is a prescription for disaster.
If it's true, as his son reports, that Jack Stephens said,
“The same skills needed to master this game are the same skills needed to master life, a life full of unseen obstacles and excitement,”
idealism doesn't just run in the Walker/Bush family. "To master life." What an ambition! Bound to fail.
"Faith based," but at least it's not religion.
http://www.thefirsttee.org/...
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in schools and on military installations.
...
As Founding Corporate Partner of The First Tee, Shell Oil Company has provided resources and leadership to support the development of this youth service organization. Shell’s involvement and support of The First Tee’s mission has led the way for other individuals, corporations and organizations to provide ongoing financial support to The First Tee and its chapters.
The First Tee is not to be confused with the Tea Party, a Johnny come lately, although there seems to be some resemblance in the membership.
http://www.flickr.com/...
And Warren Stephens, the Lord of Little Rock seems not without political ambitions, if his recent contribution via Wall Street Journal videos are any indication. After all, he's even got a prescription for our ailing economy, "unleash the job creators."
While that might make him sound like another authoritarian, it just may be that authoritarianism grows out of an effort to overcome disabilities, to turn underprivilege or disadvantage into privilege through sheer act of will. And, with no-one to judge, who's to tell when one fails?
It seems strange to think that any group of people would abrogate their authority as the Congress did, for example, in delegating the power of the purse to the Federal Reserve. But, when one considers that managing the currency is actually an obligation, it's not so strange.
Conservatives routinely reject even the most basic obligations--like taking care of themselves and their relatives. One suspects it's because they have few natural talents, other than giving orders, and it's actually this state of disability or dishability which leads them to present as conservative, i.e. not wanting to see any change or be responsible for anything at all. If one is "all thumbs" one does not want to be doing stuff.
Anyway, what perhaps started in Congress with the creation of the Federal Reserve has become a pattern. Congress is now full of delegators, ridding themselves of powers and then threatening to take them back and exercise them. It's this pattern which accounts for so much abandoned and failed legislation.
The "all hat, no cattle" president, it seems, was an unmistakable leader, the public face, of a cohort of ineffectual, disabled but vociferous, authoritarians.
Which suggests that authoritarians are to authority as librarians are to people who write books. And golf is an occupation for people who can't work.
Perhaps, on some level, we recognize authoritarians as ineffectual and "cut them some (a lot) slack." The result is that they're "spoiled" and prone to behave like willful children, which all the bromides about courtesy, responsibility and respect seem totally incapable of effecting. Would it have made a difference if Addison Graves Wilson and John Boehner had been inculcated by The First Tee when they were coming up?
And the Trustees of this eleemosynary enterprise are?
Ms. Ellen Alemany
Chief Executive, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Americas
Mr. W. Bradley Bennett
Chief Executive Officer, Maxim Healthcare Services
Mr. Stephen T. Butler
Chairman, W.C. Bradley Company
Mr. A. James Clark
Chairman & CEO, Clark Enterprises, Inc.
Dr. William H. Crouch, Jr.
President, Georgetown College.
Mr. Pete Davis
Managing Principal, Peachtree Investment Solutions, LLC
Mr. Robert E. Diamond, Jr.
Chief Executive, Barclays PLC
Mr. Alexander M. “Sandy” Douglas
President, Coca-Cola Company North America
Mr. William B. Dunavant, Jr.
Chairman & CEO, Dunavant Enterprises, Inc.
Mr. David Epstein (deceased)
Chairman & President, Mellon Corporation
Mr. Ed Evans
Founder, Chairman & CEO, Stelera Wireless
Mr. Richard J. Ferris
Principal, Pebble Beach Company
Mr. Timothy W. Finchem
Commissioner, PGA TOUR, Inc.
Mr. Dan Fireman
Founder & Managing Partner, Fireman Capital Partners
Mr. Victor F. Ganzi
Former Chief Executive Officer, Hearst Corporation
Mr. David Goode
Chairman (retired), Norfolk Southern Corporation
Mr. William H. Goodwin, Jr.
Chairman, CCA Industries Inc.
Mr. H. Wayne Huizenga
Chairman, Huizenga Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Mark King
Chief Executive Officer & President, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
Mr. Charles F. Knight
Chairman Emeritus, Emerson Electric Co.
Mr. Herbert V. Kohler
Chairman & President, The Kohler Company
Mr. Karl Krapek
Managing Director, The Keystone Companies, LLC
Mr. Howard Lester (deceased)
Chairman Emeritus, Williams Sonoma, Inc
Mr. Rush H. Limbaugh, III
Radio and Television Journalist, EIB Network
Mr. John F. Lundgren
President & CEO, Stanley Black & Decker
Mr. James W. McGlothlin
Chairman & CEO, The United Company
Mr. Chris A. McWilton
President of US Markets, MasterCard International
Mr. Robert E. Moritz
Chairman & Senior Partner (U.S.), PwC
Mr. Jack Nicklaus
Golf Professional, Golden Bear International
Mr. Jonathon J. Nudi
Vice President; President, Snacks Unlimited, Nature Valley
Mr. George R. Roberts
Co-Founder, Co-Chairman & Co-CEO, Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts
Mr. William C. Rudin
Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Rudin Management Company
Mr. Kevin Ryan
The Ryan Family Trust
Mr. Jin Roy Ryu
Chairman & CEO, Poongsan America Corp.
Mr. Jesse Saldivar
Sr. Advisor, U.S. Business Affairs, Shell Oil Company
Mr. Charles Schwab
Founder & Chairman, Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.
Mr. Mayo A. Shattuck, III
Chairman, President & CEO, Constellation Energy
Mr. T. Scott Smith
President, WRS Real Estate Investments
Mr. Warren Stephens
Chairman, President & CEO, Stephens, Inc.
Mr. Jerry Tarde
Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, The Golf Digest Companies
Mr. Fred T. Tattersall
Founder (retired), Tattersall Advisory Group
1607 Capital Partners LLC
Mr. John D. Tickle
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Strongwell
Mr. Robert S. Ukrop
President & CEO (retired), Ukrop's Super Markets
Mr. Brent Wadsworth
Founder, Wadsworth Golf Construction Co
Walmart Stores, Inc
Bentonville, AR
Mr. Tom Ward
Chairman, CEO & President, SandRidge Energy
Mr. Leonard A. Wilf
Chairman, The L.A.W. Foundation, Inc.
Mr. Weldon Wyatt
Founder, Wyatt Development Company
Sage Valley Golf Club
Mr. Jerry Yang
Co-founder & Chief Yahoo!, Yahoo!, Inc.
So many ways to steal a child! Our children are their "most precious resource" and resources, of course, exist to be exploited. Gotta get 'em young, those fungible troops. One is reminded of Abraham taking Isaac on a hike. Told not to slay his own son, he stuck it to the son of a dam.