{"id":1496,"date":"2013-02-19T05:22:06","date_gmt":"2013-02-19T10:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1496"},"modified":"2013-02-19T05:30:00","modified_gmt":"2013-02-19T10:30:00","slug":"she","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1496","title":{"rendered":"she"},"content":{"rendered":"

She did it.\u00a0 She finally <\/em>did<\/em> it!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next Sunday, the 55th running of NASCAR\u2019s signature event takes place. \u00a0It’s the Daytona 500 \u2014 the first race of the year \u2014 and it’s also considered NASCAR\u2019s most prestigious event.\u00a0 It’s where Richard Petty became a household name, where everyone from Pres. George H.W. Bush to Whoopi Goldberg has been an honorary starter, and where Dale Earnhardt tragically saw his life come to an end.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And so next Sunday when the green flag once again waves at \u201cThe Great American Race,\u201d it commences with a historic, new aspect.\u00a0 Starting in the pole position \u2014 for the first time ever<\/em> \u2014 will be a woman driver.\u00a0 This past weekend, Danica Patrick became the race\u2019s fastest qualifier.\u00a0 She did it.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While Daytona typically garners more attention than any other racing event, there will be even more attention now on Patrick because of her historic accomplishment.\u00a0 As ESPN wrote in the initial hours after her qualification, \u201cThe spotlight is nothing new.\u00a0 But never has it been this bright before.\u201d<\/em> \u00a0 The attention is big; the spotlight is brighter.\u00a0 My question today is what that spotlight should be on…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We are a funny people…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On one hand, we say the world should be colorblind.\u00a0 In other words, when we look at others, we shouldn\u2019t define any of them by the color of their skin, their ethnic background, gender, nor any demographic description.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But on the other hand, we also enjoy celebrating the unique success of the individual…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

… the first African-American president…<\/p>\n

… the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice…<\/p>\n

… the first female astronaut…<\/p>\n

… the first (potential)<\/em> American pope…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let me unambiguously opine:\u00a0 those accomplishments deserve<\/em> to be celebrated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The inherent contradiction, however, is that in our celebration, we often employ the exact practice we say we wish to prevent; we often identify color; we often promote ethnic background; we often focus more on the demographic than on the greatness of the actual accomplishment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Danica Patrick is well aware of the historic significance of her success.\u00a0 But something else is more important to her, as visible via her post-qualifying interview:\u00a0 “I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl.\u00a0 That was instilled in me from very young, from the beginning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She then received the ultimate compliments from her fiercest competitors, as racers Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, for example, talked about what an excellent racer Patrick is and how she accomplished this in only her 2nd year at the 500.\u00a0 Interestingly, the focus on her femininity only seemed obvious when prodded by the media.\u00a0 (… makes one wonder how altruistic and helpful the role of media is in society… hmmm…)<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So on Sunday, February 24th, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Danica Patrick will start on the pole.\u00a0 The Daytona 500.\u00a0 As their 2013 motto reflects, \u201cThe Race of a Lifetime.\u00a0 Every Time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She did it, friends.\u00a0 She finally <\/em>did<\/em> it!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The world will be a wiser place when the focus is no longer on the \u201cshe\u201d… when there truly exists no focus on the race, gender, or demographic category…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Respectfully,<\/p>\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

She did it.\u00a0 She finally did it!   Next Sunday, the 55th running of NASCAR\u2019s signature event takes place. \u00a0It’s the Daytona 500 \u2014 the first race of the year \u2014 and it’s also considered NASCAR\u2019s most prestigious event.\u00a0 It’s where Richard Petty became a household name, where everyone from Pres. George H.W. Bush to … <\/p>\n

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