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Butch Furse
Election focus is starting to steam up for present politicians and new candidate hopefuls who are establishing platforms to woe voters.
Whatever positions those platforms air, voters will still eventually determine the election’s winners and losers. Meanwhile some voters have a negative meaning for the term, “will to win” and also the term, “loser”.
We came across the subject of winning by the late Knute Rockne, famous football coach of Notre Dame. Talking on “Athletics and Leadership, he gave an excellent example of the use of a series of terse comments. He said:
“Some of you may say, this ‘will to win’ is a bad thing. In what way is it a bad thing? Education is supposed to prepare a young person for life. Life is competition. Success in life goes only to the person who competes successfully.
“A successful lawyer is the person who goes out and wins – law cases. A successful physician is a person who goes out and wins – saves lives and restores people to good health. A successful sales manager is a person who goes out and wins – sells the goods. The successful executive is the man who can make money and stay out of bankruptcy court. There is no reward for the loser. There is nothing wrong with the will to win. The only penalty should be that the person who wins unfairly should be set down.”
Knute Rockne is gone. Unfortunately in year 2022 the term “loser” can still carry a negative meaning when it comes to election time. Let us remember anyone running for election and comes in second is not a “loser.” The losing candidate demonstrated he/she was and still is committed to better government, and the freedoms of the democracy that we all are able enjoy.
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The vicar awarding prizes at a local dog show was scandalized at the costumes worn by some members of the younger fair sex.
“Look at that youngster,” said he; “The one with cropped hair, the cigarette and breeches, holding two pups. Is it a boy or a girl?”
“A girl,” said his companion. “She’s my daughter.”
“My dear sir!” The vicar was flustered. “Do forgive me. I would never have been so outspoken had I known you were her father.”
“I’m not,” said the other. “I’m her mother.”
RL Furse is publisher emeritus of the News-Register
