Giordano: Why are people so squeamish about Tim Tebow?

WHAT WOULD YOU say about a guy on a plane who comes to the aid of a family whose member is experiencing a heart attack and comforts them, stays with them when they get off the plane, gets their luggage and goes with them to the hospital?

The guy who did all this is Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. Many on Twitter and social media went wild when photos of Tebow leaked out of him praying with the stricken family aboard the plane.

How dare Tebow pray with the family. Richard V. Gotti, who was aboard the plane, tweeted: "Tebow met with the family as they cried on his shoulder! I watched Tim pray with the entire section of the plane for this man."

He was thrilled with how inspired he and others were by Tebow's generosity. Many others were offended, because they believe the people on the plane were forced to pray.

The people attacking Tebow in this situation have Tebow Derangement Syndrome. They can't stand that Tebow is a generous, caring man who is very religious and actually lives the life. Does he set too high a bar to live up to?

David Whitley, writing in the Orlando Sentinel, looked at a significant number of people posting about Tebow and said they could be summarized by the poster who wrote, "I think I'm going to throw up." Whitley also wrote that another posted "Tebow is the male equivalent of a Kardashian. Maybe he ought to change his name to Kim." Finally, he cited another who said, "Prayed? Give me a break. Get out of the way and let modern medicine take care of the sick. Idiot."

These idiots posting this garbage are one thing, but I think many people in sports media harbor negative feelings toward Tebow. They seem to be much more comfortable covering borderline criminal athletes and making excuses for them than they do covering Tebow. I was an invited guest to hear Tebow speak at a local Christian church and he was thoughtful and fun, not like, for example, the Duck Dynasty people. I also was invited to sit next to his mom at a local dinner, and I found her to be normal and fun to dine with.

This latest scrum over Tebow and public expression of prayer and religion connected with the experience my wife Roe and I had at our favorite shore restaurant. The Cape May restaurant has some inspirational biblical quotes on the walls and books on the tables in which people write about their experience at the place. My wife Roe has done this faithfully for 15 years.

This year, the bottom of the remembrance book was emblazoned with the phrase, "With God all things are possible." This phrase set off an atheist woman who had visited the restaurant over the years, knew of the restaurant's slant and was outraged by the book. Among other things she wrote, "We don't need mythologies like the legend below."

Should Roe respond to this? My answer was a resounding yes. The tenor of the woman's note was that the restaurant had gone too far. This was book was an in-your-face affront to atheists and agnostics. Roe was sensitive and responded about the sadness of the woman's remarks.

I am sensitive to the beliefs of those who oppose Tebow and think things such as the "blessings" book in the restaurant are examples of shoving religion down their throats. Realize that there has to be a space for religion in our public square. My advice would be simple: Don't go to a restaurant that is overtly religious.

In the big picture, realize that atheists and agnostics are winning the support of Americans to be treated with respect. Tebow helping a family on a plane and good religious people preparing great food under a biblical quote or two are not your enemy.

Teacher-turned-talk show host Dom Giordano is heard 9 a.m. to noon weekdays on WPHT (1210-AM). Contact him at www.domgiordano.com

@DomShow1210