On Morning Joe, the MSNBC news program this Christmas morning, Mika Brzezinski was predicting that Tiger Woods was finished and that his sponsors would drop him. The guys were disagreeing saying that ‘though they didn’t approve of his behavior, that business is business and as long as Nike made money with Tiger, they’d stick with him. I tend to agree with their view.

I’ve come through the gender wars and when someone I am with betrays me, I am as hurt and insulted and devastated as any woman. And my best "punishment" is to leave and forget. I don't get even and I don't wish him harm or to lose his job, nor do I blacken his name to others.

I pull myself together and go on. “Just desserts” are within the make-up of the betrayer and have nothing to do with me. He will either get his or not. Making it my issue is not productive.

I believe that what people do sexually is their own business and the distress they suffer within their families is punishment enough. When women think men (or women) should be punished for their private choices, they are confusing the issue and are perhaps looking for global revenge for their own historical reasons. I agree that Nike will continue to flourish with Woods. And I don’t care. And if I want a Nike shoe, I will buy it. I don’t think all men are necessarily saying, “Way to go Tiger” just because they may continue to follow his golfing triumphs.

The outrage in some quarters over Tiger Woods being chosen for the Time Magazine award also annoys me. It was a sports honor. The award didn’t say it was for “Husband of the Year.” Those who condemn public figures for immoral behavior are internalizing to their own experience and it isn’t about them. But they make it so. Investing others with your emotional triggers is a no-win. I am reminded of those urging Hillary to divorce Bill – “Let’s you and him separate”. I think THAT is immoral advice.

There is one episode from the past I will cite to show that I can be on the “get ‘em” bandwagon and that is when Anita Bryant spoke out against gay rights and the orange juice company dropped her. That’s when I said WAY TO GO. Her actions, however, were in favor of discrimination and affected more lives than her own and Tiger’s just show him to be a victim of celebrity excess.

xx, Teal