Monday, May 07, 2012
Appropriate end for Lou Montgomery's story
Based on the media coverage, I assume I am one of many BC outlets who were pitched by supporters of Lou Montgomery. They initially reached out to me in April. I avoided the issue and story altogether because they wanted my support in renaming Alumni Stadium after Montgomery. While Montgomery certainly blazed trails, I didn't think BC should or needed to rename Alumni. In fact I've always liked the idea of "Alumni" being the name of our largest gathering place and high-profile building. Now I am in agreement with BCI in that retiring Montgomery's number is a nice conclusion to this recent attention. It's something BC has reserved for only a few football players and it ensures that Montgomery's legacy will never be overlooked. Hopefully the BC fans and students will give the Montgomery family an appreciative standing ovation when Lou is honored this fall.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
6 comments:
I believe that honoring an individual just because he is "black" is an insult to everyone concerned. What else did he do? My dead Irish grandmother with a third grade education would add to the argument. Blacks are 12.6% of the American population. The Irish are 12.2%. Boston was built by the irish. The great D. Flutie is an Arab-American and no one makes the point. Wasn't Ruth an American Indian? Mathias Kiwanuka is African and his grandfather was executed by Idi Amin. There are seven jerseys up there without numbers. Put Montgomery's jersey up there without a number or give the other seven numbers. This affirmative action issue is becoming ridiculous. Why not put a woman up there because she was discriminated against from playing football. Such is the logic of the modern age. Semper Fi.
Jbq how is it that you don't see the distinction? Montgomery was a great player who was not allowed to play in many games solely because of his race. He had to stay home from a bowl game because he was black The easy excuse is that was the way it was back then, but still, not a bright moment for our alma mater. All the stories told say that Montgomery took the horrific treatment n stride, without complaint. All of the other people you mention were allowed to play, and suffered no outright discrimination, as far as I know. This is a fair and long overdue honor.
I agree with Mod. Montgomery had to break barriers. Also, JBQ, why are you getting so worked up over this? They are just retiring his number. There are a lot more pressing issues with which to be concerned.
Hindsight is easy, but it's too bad the captains didn't say "we're not playing either."
Montgomery himself knew it wasn't right, and later wished he or someone else should have taken a stance. Especially coaches and administrators of a Jesuit University.
Discrimination certainly was practiced with great delight against the Irish.
But JBQ this does not means BC can't or should not celebrate the accomplishment of another person who was the victim of systemic discrimination. Can we even imagine how difficult it was for this young black man in the 1940s to be a BC football player? To go to extremely hostile southern cities where discrimination was the law? A lessser man than Lou Montgomery would have packed his bags and went home. Lou Montgomery stood up, faced the ignorant and persevered. He had courage. And, JBQ, he is not being celebrated for the color of his skin, he is being celebrated for the content of his heart.
So I say Lou Montgomery is yet another example of what BC stands for: pushing for what is right. Cheers to Lou
@JBQ - You will never know nor understand what my Grandfather did or meant to people that looked like him. Neither Doug Flutie nor your dead Irish granmother, or anyone else you mentioned suffered under segregation and racism in the same manner as my grandfather did, so stop comparing apples to oranges. And you need to learn what affirmative action is really about before you just throw the phrase out in the wind. People like you will never get it because you have never faced what my grandfather and every other American of African descent faces to this day.
Post a Comment