| | Hi, all.
Sorry in advance to be a spoilsport here, since so many of you seemed to get so much out of this video. I just wasn't feeling it, and I'll try to explain why.
First of all, Ed wanted to know if anyone thought the video was quasi-altruistic. It isn't. There isn't anything in the actual video clip to suggest anything like that.
But in the description of the video (which has information about this family's story in much greater detail) on Youtube, you will find that the goal of Team Hoyt is not just father and son bonding, but
to integrate the physically challenged into everyday life. One way to accomplish this is to educate the able-bodied, making them more aware of the issues that the disabled face every day. Another is by actively helping the disabled to participate in activities that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Team Hoyt targets both of these areas. (Youtube description)
I suppose someone could consider that fact altruistic; devoting your life to educating the able-bodied in order to help the disabled. (Of course if they're getting paid for their time and effort, then it's not.) In either case, these people are free to do whatever makes them happy. I don't find this offensive or anything. But I don't weep in admiration, either.
Mr. Rockwell said,
The video suggests that the boy would be unable to compete without the help of his father. Yet this isn't true. The boy has the ability to think, which means he has the ability to compete as a writer, philosopher, scientist, novelist, or poet. With all the possibilities open to him, the least inspiring is this false idea that he is competing athletically. It's a lie. The father may be competing, the boy is just being pushed along.
Amen! Perfectly sums up my point of view, which I am all to happy to admit is a totally subjective one. It's just my personal taste, and that's all. If this father were helping his son become the next Stephen Hawking, I'd be falling all over myself with admiration. Marathoners, and triathletes don't really impress me. (I mean, of course their achievement is outstanding, because it pushes the limits of human physical endurance.) I'm just more into people who choose to push the limits of human mental and intellectual endurance instead, and as Mr. Rockwell pointed out, that is something the kid actually could do on his own, and it would be just as amazing, and even more inspiring. (Well, to me, anyway. But again, that's just me.)
Then again, if the purpose of the Team Hoyt's existence at this point is to make lives better for other physically disabled people, then it would be terribly selfish of them to focus only nurturing and honing their son's intellectual talents. They need to do these public races, to send the message, in order to benefit handicapped people around the world. Right?
The video suggests that the father is the body and the son is the heart. (Eric Rockwell)
This may offend Objectivists, but I seriously doubt it offends the Hoyts. They probably thought of that slogan themselves; and NO, I'm NOT being cynical...it's catchy, heartwarming (unless you're an O'ist) and it helps their cause.
On the other hand, the following was a line I would have thought would definitely offend Objectivists, but for some reason, in this thread, it doesn't:
"Never Run Alone."
Never run alone? Why not? (Eric Rockwell)
Indeed!
Teresa, sorry, but what did you mean by this statement?
Lone wolves run "alone." No one cheers them on, either.
Hey, I don't mind not having a cheering section...(Peter Keating minds not having a cheering section... :-) And I'm certainly not going to earn one in this crowd with this post, that's for sure.
And on that note, let me say, before the stones start pelting me:
I do believe that the father loves his son very much and that they both derive joy from this. And for that reason, so they should continue to do so for the rest of their lives. Obviously, their labor of love athletic venture has mushroomed into something else besides a bonding time for father and son, it has now become a way to help enrich the lives of other disabled people. If that is what they want to spend their time doing, that's great for them, and any they may assist. I'm happy for them, and wish them well.
But the story just didn't inspire me the way it did others, and it certainly didn't reduce me to a ball of tears. (Not even close. In fact, I rolled my eyes whenever the line "Because of TOGETHER..." came on the screen. "Because of TOGETHER?" What?)
I know, I know...I'm a terrible person.
Bury me up to my neck and let the stones fly.
Erica
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