Tom Osborne Excelled at More than Just X’s and O’s
Tom Osborne Excelled at More than Just X’s and O’s
By Shane Clapper
Everybody likes to speak of the “Good Old Days,” when life was simpler. Maybe it was drive-in movies, your first kiss, or watching football with family and friends. For many of us Nebraskans, the “Good Old Days” weren’t that long ago.
It was a stretch from 1993 to 1997 when Tom Osborne and the Cornhuskers ruled college football with an iron fist. Three national championships with every season ending with more than 11 victories. He was the first coach to retire after winning a national championship and still holds the record for the most consecutive bowl trips with 25. Yet Osborne excelled at more than just X’s and O’s.
As most know, Osborne was a Congressman before becoming Nebraska’s Athletic Director. Still what many Nebraskans do not realize was the commitment to excellence Osborne provided while not only on the playing field at Memorial Stadium, but also in the halls of Congress.
Osborne truly looked out for Nebraska’s third district. He spoke with thousands of farmers and ranchers. While many fault him for voting on trade that hurt the Nebraska farmer, he still worked more times than not for his fellow ‘Cornhuskers,’ pardon the pun.
He also attempted to eliminate collegiate gambling, stood for moral virtues in a corrupt environment, and stood firm in the war on terror, including Iraq. Not only did Osborne support the Iraq war, but he also co-chaired the Congressional Iraqi Women’s Caucus. The Women’s Caucus provides opportunities for Iraqi women through professional and educational advancements. The caucus helped fund various projects in Iraq such as the Center for Women in Mosul. The center provides counseling and assists in health, social services, family services, business, employment, and politics. Such centers are going up everywhere in Iraq, yet more are needed.
Under Saddam 50% of women were illiterate. Many could not attend college due to quotas. Many of Saddam’s Iraqi Baathist’s would rape girls in state run orphanages. In various parts of Iraq honor killing was acceptable. The act involved killing a woman for losing her innocence. If a girl, or widow was raped, she could be killed with the act being perfectly legal. Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse was common place during Saddam’s reign of terror.
Today much has changed. Women can not only vote, but made up 60% of the vote in the January 2005 elections. Women make up 31% of the parliamentary seats, and many head up ministries within the executive branch.
Want more? How about the 50 nongovernmental women’s organizations that have sprung up. Also 1.5 million Iraqi women have received employment training from 45 employment centers . Iraqi women have also broke down the barriers in obtaining jobs that solely belonged to men before the war. Take the 300 women who now serve on the Baghdad police force as an example.
As one looks at comparing the past to the present in Iraq, the facts are clear. First such a transition would of never taken place without people like Tom Osborne. Yet it bears to ask the coach one question, is the situation improving for women in Iraq? Osborne once answered the question by quoting an Iraqi women. She simply told Osborne, “Things are better now.” Indeed they are!
Shane Clapper is a Nebraska author of the book, Shooting Straight, How the American Led Coalition is Winning the War in Iraq. Visit shaneclapper.com or obtain it online at Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.
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