Gary Player, Donald Trump and the politics of kindness

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

I recently had the privilege of sitting with the South African icon Gary Player. For those who are not sports fans, or who have been on another planet for the past 60 years, Player is one of the greatest golfers of all time, an integral part of the legendary Big Three along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. I have met him before and he is not only charming and gregarious but also an ardent admirer and student of the United States.

Fifteen years ago or so, Player found himself in competition with then Citizen Donald Trump to purchase a golf club in South Florida. Trump ultimately won the battle, but he and Player remained friends, which speaks volumes about Player’s character. The two men still play golf regularly and discuss everything from backswings to world politics. Although Player is far too discreet to reveal the details of any private exchanges with the former President, he did share the basic substance of one recent topic worth hearing about.

The Politics of Kindness.

Coming from South Africa, where apartheid is still a recent memory, one might wonder if Player should preach about the healing power of compassion, but he deserves to be heard. He worries about the divisions in America, the inability of opposing sides to engage in productive civil discourse, and the difficulties we face in coming together to solve real problems rather than engaging in damaging and specious debates.

2024 is a couple of years off, with many roads to be traveled before the next presidential election, but Player has some advice for whoever runs for the office:

“Speak of love and not hate,” he urges. “Admit mistakes and discuss the things people can do to come together. Stay away from divisive language and find a way to heal. There has been far too much negativity, now is the time to search for the positives in each other.”

Player should know, he has one of the most positive attitudes of any athlete in history. Whether he gave this advice to President Trump cannot be said, but it is valuable guidance for anyone who wants to lead this country. Whether President Trump will run again, or President Biden for that matter, is beside the point. Player’s simple recommendations apply to any candidate—stop feeding off our differences and do whatever you can to bring this country back together. It can be done. It is done in times of war, or catastrophe, or in response to terrorist attacks. Why not do it in the name of healing America?

Incidentally, Player is 86, in phenomenal physical condition, and was an advocate of fitness for golfers long before Tiger Woods burst on the scene. He still works out almost every day and promised to sit down again in ten years to discuss his plans for the following decade. Perhaps he’s someone we should be listening to?

 

Jeffrey S. Stephens, is a political analyst, columnist and author of the new book, The Handler

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