As you know, Indiana is about to pass the Religious Freedom bill, a law that is designed to allow business owners the right to deny service to someone based on their religious beliefs.
The bill, as you also know, has caused quite a stir amongst the masses, with most people falling along three main reactions:
1) Totally agree with it. It's about time.
2) Totally disagree with it. Christians are a bunch of bigots and haters and phobes.
3) Agree with it in principal, but think it's bad press for Christians. Aren't we supposed to just love and accept everybody?
That's about it. You might find you fall somewhere in between those lines, but in general, that has been the response.
So, I'd like to weigh in.
Problem #1 is this: It is sad, in my opinion, that the need for this law even exists. One would think religious freedom would be covered under the 1st Amendment, and that would be enough. Sadly, in today's world, and certainly in the eyes of our government and judicial systems, it is not.
Religious freedoms -- particularly those of Christians -- are being trampled daily. Take a stand for Jesus in public, and the ridicule comes from all sides. Take a stand for Jesus in your business, and you face a lawsuit.
Problem #2 is this: This bill -- in the eyes of the non-believing public -- does indeed make Christians look bad. It makes us look like hate-mongers who want shun everybody who doesn't think like we do. It's not true, of course, but the media is never going to tell you that.
A good friend of mine wrote these comments on my FB wall: "Do you think the PR created by this kerfuffle is reflecting well or poorly on Christians and Christianity? How's our light shining right now? How are outside businesses regarding Indiana and the passing of this bill? Does the passing of the bill and it's "protections" that is claims to offer make it all worth it?"
Those are good questions to ask, and valid concerns for the Christian community. And I'll admit, I don't have great answers for them, except to say that the reality is that Christians rarely get good PR for anything in the media, even when they do something good, which is far more often than not. In the end, we have to take a stand for what we believe is right, and hope we get it right.
Problem #3 is this: This bill does indeed open the door to some potentially damaging behavior. There are some fringe nuts out there who will abuse this law. But there are a few things to remember... There are ALWAYS people who abuse certain laws, no matter what they are. Laws that are already in place are being abused by those who simply choose not to conform to civilized society. Non-discrimination laws get abused everyday.
Also, we must remember that this law doesn't just affect Christians. It affects ALL religions. So why people have chosen to single out Christianity as it relates to this law is beyond me. Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Christians all alike are protected under this bill.
Problem #4 is this: Please explain to me how this bill is any different from "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service."? What if a poor, black, gay man who can't afford shirts and shoes wants a hamburger?
Problem #5 is this: None of the opponents of this bill are shedding a tear for the bakery owner that lost their business and has had their lives ruined because they refused to make a cake for a gay couple. In a town where there's probably 20 bakeries, that couple singled out this Christian owner, and ruined their lives. Nobody is crying for the countless other Christian owners in this country who are right now facing the same perils, not because they are discriminating, but because they took a stand for Jesus. There's a term -- it's called "reverse-discrimination" -- and it happens daily to Christians in this country. This bill doesn't condone discrimination, but it does indeed provide protection to those owners who have a valid religious concern from being unduly and unfairly prosecuted for taking a religious stance. Was it wrong for that Christian baker to refuse that cake? Perhaps. Should they be punished? Perhaps? Do they deserve to lose their business, face millions in fines, and have their livelihood taken away? Absolutely not!
Problem #6 is this: The perceived discrimination many claim this bill will cause is just that: Perceived! Made-Up, Potential, Possible, etc. It's not real, at least not in the terms in which it has been portrayed the media and the bill's opponents. It's not happening, and to any great degree, it's not going to happen. 99.9% of the people who opposed this bill will NEVER suffer any ill effects from this bill. Why I know this is Problem #7.
Problem #7 is this: The media and the bill's opponents are totally ignoring the massive good and humanitarian help that is initiated, operated and supported by Christians in this world on a daily basis! It is estimated by studies I've seen that the vast majority of the civic charities in this country are either run by, or at least have their roots in, some sort of Christian outreach.
Name me one food bank you know of that isn't run by some sort of Christian organization. Name me one suicide prevention organization that isn't Christian backed. Virtually every civic organization, outreach program and needy supply charity out there are Christian-based, Christian-run, or their membership is chocked full of Christians!
Worldwide missions programs are run by Christians! Islam isn't reaching out the the hungry and deprived of the world. They're not building free hospitals in Zimbabwe, or even in the ghetto suburbs of Chicago! Only Christians are doing that. Indeed, most hospitals in this country have some sort of Christian base behind them.
Muslims aren't running suicide-prevention hotlines. Buddhists aren't helping young women with unplanned pregnancies. Pagans aren't out there on the streets trying to feed the homeless!
The Red-Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, Boys & Girls Clubs, Kiwanis, and thousands of other charities across the globe -- all started and/or run by Christians!
So it pains me to hear so many people rise up and claim that the first thing Christians are going to do under this law is start discriminating against others. It pains me to hear that Christians are not "loving" and "accepting" of others. It pains me to hear that people think this bill will cause Christians to turn their backs on people in need. Because history has shown, and continues to show, that for real Christians, the exact opposite is true.
No, it isn't happening, it isn't going to happen, and I believe the attempts to block this bill have little to do with protecting people's rights, and more to do with attempts to force others to further capitulate to a liberal agenda. I've said it before: Disagreement is not only disallowed, but outright support and accommodation is demanded. And if those demands aren't met, you face judicial punishment in the form of any number of lawsuits.
Just as I believe that my right to own a gun trumps any attempts to outlaw that right under the perception that I might one day choose to act unlawfully with it, I also believe religious freedom, and the rights of business owners to run their businesses as they please, trumps any "perceived" persecution or discrimination.
We have a moral obligation, I believe, as citizens to help protect the rights of others. And that includes the basic instinct to make sure others are not discriminated against unduly, for unjust reasons. But we also cannot trample on the basic rights of others because of the "possibility" that someone might act unlawfully.
Moreover, while it is incumbent upon us Christians to show God's love and the redemptive grace of Jesus to everyone we can, we must also do so while taking a stand for the convictions on which we base our faith. If we violate those convictions, and the truth of the Bible, just to accommodate someone's feelings or whims (or their money!), then how can we ever expect anyone to take our faith in Jesus seriously? Is our faith only valid as long as it doesn't offend the next guy?
The bill, of course, may die a financial death. Money, unfortunately, usually trumps everything else, and if the people and representatives of Indiana see that this will cost them money, that may do it in. And you can bet on this: the bill, if implemented properly, will most assuredly hurt those who abuse it. It won't take long for word to get around about those who are snubbing customers out of pure bigotry. Those who DO abuse the law will pay a steep price for doing so.
In the end, this law will meet the fate of the voters, because that is how it was birthed. There is a reason our Generally Assembly in Indiana is vastly majority Republican. That's because they were voted in that way by the people of Indiana. And there was no chicanery here regarding this bill. This is a bill that their constituents wanted and supported, and was passed legally. If what I've heard on the news is true -- that the vast majority of Indiana residents oppose this -- then I suppose they will vote differently for their representatives next time, and eventually this law will see its demise.
As for me, I will protect and stand for my religious beliefs -- and my religious freedom -- at all costs.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Dr. Foster: Goodbye to a Friend.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of once again serving as the emcee for the Mooresville Spotlighter Show Choir Invitational. It was my 23rd year serving in that capacity.
In the interest of full disclosure, I don't mind telling you that it's a pretty good payday for me, and worth the almost 15 hour day I put into it each year.
But that's only one of the reasons I keep going back. The other reason is because it's fun. It's fun because the kids make it fun. If you're not familiar with high school show choir, you should take the time to go see a show sometime. It's 20 minutes of high school kids giving all they've got to sing and dance and put on a good show. At an invitational, you might get to see anywhere from 15 or 20 shows like that throughout the day.
In the downtime between the choir performances, its my job to keep the crowd entertained, and for the most part, this just involves me having fun with a bunch of teenagers; teenagers, in this setting, who aren't interested in getting in trouble or bothering anybody, but rather, just looking to have a good time. Their unbridled teenage joy is intoxicating in a way. I enjoy it very much, and apparently, they enjoy me, because they keep asking me to come back year after year.
But yesterday took a sad turn for me, as I learned early in the morning about the passing of a dear friend of my family, Dr. Julia Foster.
Most of you didn't know Dr. Foster, and yet what you also probably didn't know is that she has impacted your lives almost as much as she impacted ours. That's because she helped save my son's life.
If you've ever met my son Cody, then you know what a cool, vibrant, handsome and talented young man he is, and I can tell you that were it not for Dr. Foster, and her love, her devotion, her knowledge, and her compassion, you might never have had the pleasure of knowing my son.
You see, Cody was born 11 weeks premature. Some of you know that, but others might not. My wife's water broke when she was 26 weeks into her pregnancy, and Cody was born via C-Section at 29 weeks. He was immediately placed into the Pediatric ICU at IU Hospital, where he would remain for the next eight weeks.
Again, in the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that Cody, at such a young age, was relatively healthy, at least in contrast to the complications he could have faced with such a premature birth. But he was little and his tiny lungs were frighteningly fragile. At 2.7 ounces, his little body fit into the palm of our hands, and we would give him baths in a cereal bowl. The tiny bear his older brother bought for him from the hospital gift shop was bigger than he was and dwarfed him in his incubator.
Dr. Foster was the head pediatric doctor in charge of the ICU. We obviously were introduced to her right away, and she immediately provided a calmness to us that would remain constant throughout the next several weeks.
If you've ever had a premature baby, especially one as small as Cody, then you know that the first several weeks in the life of a baby that tiny is a daily physical roller coaster ride for the baby, and an equally emotional one for the parents. The well-being of the baby can change literally from hour to hour, day to day. We could leave him one night doing so well, only to arrive the next morning to new complications. Hurdles you thought you'd jumped and left behind can be met with new ones only hours later.
Each day was an emotional battle doing all you can do help, and yet ultimately feeling absolutely helpless as you watch the physical battle the baby goes through everyday.
At that time, almost 18 years ago, Dr. Foster was a very young (although she would coyly dismiss my questions about her age) and very pretty single woman, but she carried herself with a professionalism that instantly set you at ease. And she immediately was able to help you understand that she knew what she was doing, and that she wanted our baby to be healthy every bit as much as we did.
Every day should she would hold our hands -- often literally -- and explain what Cody was going through at that moment, and what the plan was going to be to get him through that day. Every day was different from the next, and so each day's plan was usually specific to that day. And each time there were options available, she would ask us what we wanted to do, to which we almost always replied, "Whatever you think we should do."
I remember one day, early on, she was explaining a couple of different options for treatment that day. I finally broke down, and I said simply, "Dr., we have no choice but to trust you and your judgment, and to put his life into your hands. I am just a guitar player. I have no option but to trust that you can help save our baby's life."
I remember she teared up a bit at that. Not because it scared her, but because she honestly cared for and loved Cody as much as we did, and she understood in a way very few others could our fear and our feelings of hopelessness. Together, she led Ginger and I through one of the toughest stretches of our lives.
Through it all she was calm, and compassionate, and loving, and her skill was unmatched. With her holding our hands throughout, it was as though we simply willed Cody to grow, and breathe on his own and eventually gain enough health and strength to come home with us where he belonged.
Later, even for a couple of years after, we would invite her, and she would come, to Cody's birthday parties, and our older son's, Cory's, too. During Cody's time in the NiCu unit, she got to know older brother Cory too, and would even take the time to help Cory get to see and spend time with his little brother. She became much more than a doctor to us. She became a member of our family.
As life would have it, as Cody grew older, we drifted apart from Dr. Foster. When Cody was 12 or 13, we had occasion to go to IU Hospital, and we stopped by her office to see her. She recognized me immediately, and was astonished at how Cody had grown. She hadn't aged a day, still as pretty and caring as always. We found out she'd married, the lucky bloke! But she'd decided to continue to stay with the Dr. Foster name, simply because that's how we all knew her. We also found out her and her husband had moved to a house just a few doors away from where my Mom now lives. We promised to visit sometime.
We never did.
Isn't that always the way? Thinking you've got another day somewhere down the road to do something you really ought to do today?
Yesterday, while I was at the Show Choir Invitational, I found out she'd passed away from a very sudden brain tumor. She was 50 years old. Her memorial service was being held that very day at a nearby church. I immediately informed Ginger, and she told Cody, and they paid a visit. They met her Mom and Dad and siblings, told them Cody's story, and thanked them for the role their daughter played in Cody's life. And ours. I cried a few tears, I must admit. Because she is so dear to me, and because I couldn't go say goodbye.
To this day, I can't imagine anyone who could have helped us more through those scary days than Dr. Julia Foster. And in the past 24 hours, I've been thinking about her a lot.
And you know, something kinda crossed my mind today. Back in those days, I did the best I could to keep things light. You know, cracking jokes every now and then, being silly, sharing my goofy idiosyncrasies. There were times, I think, when Dr. Foster thought me a little odd, which, quite frankly, has happened with a lot of people who know me. Heck, my own Mom still thinks I'm a little odd. Every now and then, even when she didn't quite know how to take me, she would still get a little smile on her face when we'd interact. And I think she loved my family as much we loved her.
And yesterday, while I was sad I couldn't go to her service, I think perhaps I was where I should have been. Where she probably would rather me have been. Not mourning her, but enjoying myself, having a good time with a bunch of kids. For someone who spent her life saving kid's lives, maybe me helping brighten some teenagers' day honors her more proper.
Yeah, I think she would have liked that.
In the interest of full disclosure, I don't mind telling you that it's a pretty good payday for me, and worth the almost 15 hour day I put into it each year.
But that's only one of the reasons I keep going back. The other reason is because it's fun. It's fun because the kids make it fun. If you're not familiar with high school show choir, you should take the time to go see a show sometime. It's 20 minutes of high school kids giving all they've got to sing and dance and put on a good show. At an invitational, you might get to see anywhere from 15 or 20 shows like that throughout the day.
In the downtime between the choir performances, its my job to keep the crowd entertained, and for the most part, this just involves me having fun with a bunch of teenagers; teenagers, in this setting, who aren't interested in getting in trouble or bothering anybody, but rather, just looking to have a good time. Their unbridled teenage joy is intoxicating in a way. I enjoy it very much, and apparently, they enjoy me, because they keep asking me to come back year after year.
But yesterday took a sad turn for me, as I learned early in the morning about the passing of a dear friend of my family, Dr. Julia Foster.
Most of you didn't know Dr. Foster, and yet what you also probably didn't know is that she has impacted your lives almost as much as she impacted ours. That's because she helped save my son's life.
If you've ever met my son Cody, then you know what a cool, vibrant, handsome and talented young man he is, and I can tell you that were it not for Dr. Foster, and her love, her devotion, her knowledge, and her compassion, you might never have had the pleasure of knowing my son.
You see, Cody was born 11 weeks premature. Some of you know that, but others might not. My wife's water broke when she was 26 weeks into her pregnancy, and Cody was born via C-Section at 29 weeks. He was immediately placed into the Pediatric ICU at IU Hospital, where he would remain for the next eight weeks.
Again, in the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that Cody, at such a young age, was relatively healthy, at least in contrast to the complications he could have faced with such a premature birth. But he was little and his tiny lungs were frighteningly fragile. At 2.7 ounces, his little body fit into the palm of our hands, and we would give him baths in a cereal bowl. The tiny bear his older brother bought for him from the hospital gift shop was bigger than he was and dwarfed him in his incubator.
Dr. Foster was the head pediatric doctor in charge of the ICU. We obviously were introduced to her right away, and she immediately provided a calmness to us that would remain constant throughout the next several weeks.
If you've ever had a premature baby, especially one as small as Cody, then you know that the first several weeks in the life of a baby that tiny is a daily physical roller coaster ride for the baby, and an equally emotional one for the parents. The well-being of the baby can change literally from hour to hour, day to day. We could leave him one night doing so well, only to arrive the next morning to new complications. Hurdles you thought you'd jumped and left behind can be met with new ones only hours later.
Each day was an emotional battle doing all you can do help, and yet ultimately feeling absolutely helpless as you watch the physical battle the baby goes through everyday.
At that time, almost 18 years ago, Dr. Foster was a very young (although she would coyly dismiss my questions about her age) and very pretty single woman, but she carried herself with a professionalism that instantly set you at ease. And she immediately was able to help you understand that she knew what she was doing, and that she wanted our baby to be healthy every bit as much as we did.
Every day should she would hold our hands -- often literally -- and explain what Cody was going through at that moment, and what the plan was going to be to get him through that day. Every day was different from the next, and so each day's plan was usually specific to that day. And each time there were options available, she would ask us what we wanted to do, to which we almost always replied, "Whatever you think we should do."
I remember one day, early on, she was explaining a couple of different options for treatment that day. I finally broke down, and I said simply, "Dr., we have no choice but to trust you and your judgment, and to put his life into your hands. I am just a guitar player. I have no option but to trust that you can help save our baby's life."
I remember she teared up a bit at that. Not because it scared her, but because she honestly cared for and loved Cody as much as we did, and she understood in a way very few others could our fear and our feelings of hopelessness. Together, she led Ginger and I through one of the toughest stretches of our lives.
Through it all she was calm, and compassionate, and loving, and her skill was unmatched. With her holding our hands throughout, it was as though we simply willed Cody to grow, and breathe on his own and eventually gain enough health and strength to come home with us where he belonged.
Later, even for a couple of years after, we would invite her, and she would come, to Cody's birthday parties, and our older son's, Cory's, too. During Cody's time in the NiCu unit, she got to know older brother Cory too, and would even take the time to help Cory get to see and spend time with his little brother. She became much more than a doctor to us. She became a member of our family.
As life would have it, as Cody grew older, we drifted apart from Dr. Foster. When Cody was 12 or 13, we had occasion to go to IU Hospital, and we stopped by her office to see her. She recognized me immediately, and was astonished at how Cody had grown. She hadn't aged a day, still as pretty and caring as always. We found out she'd married, the lucky bloke! But she'd decided to continue to stay with the Dr. Foster name, simply because that's how we all knew her. We also found out her and her husband had moved to a house just a few doors away from where my Mom now lives. We promised to visit sometime.
We never did.
Isn't that always the way? Thinking you've got another day somewhere down the road to do something you really ought to do today?
Yesterday, while I was at the Show Choir Invitational, I found out she'd passed away from a very sudden brain tumor. She was 50 years old. Her memorial service was being held that very day at a nearby church. I immediately informed Ginger, and she told Cody, and they paid a visit. They met her Mom and Dad and siblings, told them Cody's story, and thanked them for the role their daughter played in Cody's life. And ours. I cried a few tears, I must admit. Because she is so dear to me, and because I couldn't go say goodbye.
To this day, I can't imagine anyone who could have helped us more through those scary days than Dr. Julia Foster. And in the past 24 hours, I've been thinking about her a lot.
And you know, something kinda crossed my mind today. Back in those days, I did the best I could to keep things light. You know, cracking jokes every now and then, being silly, sharing my goofy idiosyncrasies. There were times, I think, when Dr. Foster thought me a little odd, which, quite frankly, has happened with a lot of people who know me. Heck, my own Mom still thinks I'm a little odd. Every now and then, even when she didn't quite know how to take me, she would still get a little smile on her face when we'd interact. And I think she loved my family as much we loved her.
And yesterday, while I was sad I couldn't go to her service, I think perhaps I was where I should have been. Where she probably would rather me have been. Not mourning her, but enjoying myself, having a good time with a bunch of kids. For someone who spent her life saving kid's lives, maybe me helping brighten some teenagers' day honors her more proper.
Yeah, I think she would have liked that.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
...More things that bother me! Final Chapter.
OK... so some friends said they can't wait for the next twenty, so I felt I would oblige.
Before I do, let me say that my next blog will be the top 20 things that make me happy. Only seems fair.
So here we go... and remember, they're in no particular order.
21) I am white. I'm not German-American. Most black people I know are OK with just being black. They're not African-Americans. In fact, they don't even know anyone who's African-American. The only African's I've ever met are just African. They're still black, but they're African. Can we all just get over it?
22) Stop blaming your problems on everyone else. If you're a jerk, it's not because you were neglected, or abused, or you have some chemical imbalance. It's because you're a jerk.
23) Spank your kids every now and then... when they need it, and properly. First, they'll live. Second, you'll live. Third, they will grow up to be nice and respectful, rather than buttfaces. Fourth, stop worrying about what your neighbors will think when you spank your kids. Fifth, stop butting your nose into your neighbors family when they spank their children.
24) Yes, give me a spoon in a restaurant. I can't eat mashed potatoes and gravy with a fork.
25) Legal advice from the movie, Liar Liar. "Stop breaking the law, #@%#hole!"
26) All NBA players were top notch college players just a few years ago. So stop pretending you hate pro basketball and only like college. All those Kentucky players you love so much this year will be in the NBA in the next year or so. (And as another aside, stop saying you dislike pro sports because of free agency. College rosters turn over every year!)
27) Stop griping about the money pro athletes make. They generate billions of dollars in revenue for lots of people every year, and provide entertainment to millions. Besides, they wouldn't make so much money if you didn't buy their tickets and jerseys and $9 beers. It's your fault. Not theirs.
28) There is only ONE way to fix education today. Hire more teachers and pay them more money. NOTHING else will work. All the testing, football fields, technology, core curriculums and breakfasts aren't even band-aids. They're makeup. Take the time to tell your congressman that.
29) Why can't I just watch a TV show? I don't need some numbskull hashtag flashed on the screen every two minutes. (Who has the time to keep coming up with this crap?)
30) Imagine the good you could do in this world if you focused your energy on something other than saving chickens, bats and whales. Please...
31) Cats.
32) You CAN have a good time without drinking alcohol. My wife and I enjoy our lives every day. If you think you can't get together with your friends without drinking something, the problem is you. Maybe you're just dull.
33) Alcohol is an intensifier. If you're a jerk when you drink, it's because you're a jerk.
34) If you die at a young age doing what you love, you're still dead. There's no glory in dying while mountain climbing. You're only legacy is leaving behind a family who loved you very much.
35) If your son attacks a police officer and he gets shot for doing it, it's your son's fault.
36) Stop hiding because you're afraid of offending someone. Speak up and take a stand every now and then. You may tick off someone along the way, but you will also gain some respect. Read Joshua 24:15.
37) Not every kid deserves a trophy. Teach your kids to work hard and earn something. You're not helping them. You're crippling them.
38) If a woman decides to stay home and take care of her family, she's not less of a woman. In fact, a case could be made that she's more of a woman. Sometimes women can think for themselves, and make intelligent adult decisions about their own lives. It doesn't mean she's being held down, held back, or abused.
39) Every time someone criticizes your stupid behavior, it doesn't mean they're "judging" you. It means you did something stupid.
40) Cubs fans.
And one more to grow on) People who complain all the time... [Wink, wink!]
Before I do, let me say that my next blog will be the top 20 things that make me happy. Only seems fair.
So here we go... and remember, they're in no particular order.
21) I am white. I'm not German-American. Most black people I know are OK with just being black. They're not African-Americans. In fact, they don't even know anyone who's African-American. The only African's I've ever met are just African. They're still black, but they're African. Can we all just get over it?
22) Stop blaming your problems on everyone else. If you're a jerk, it's not because you were neglected, or abused, or you have some chemical imbalance. It's because you're a jerk.
23) Spank your kids every now and then... when they need it, and properly. First, they'll live. Second, you'll live. Third, they will grow up to be nice and respectful, rather than buttfaces. Fourth, stop worrying about what your neighbors will think when you spank your kids. Fifth, stop butting your nose into your neighbors family when they spank their children.
24) Yes, give me a spoon in a restaurant. I can't eat mashed potatoes and gravy with a fork.
25) Legal advice from the movie, Liar Liar. "Stop breaking the law, #@%#hole!"
26) All NBA players were top notch college players just a few years ago. So stop pretending you hate pro basketball and only like college. All those Kentucky players you love so much this year will be in the NBA in the next year or so. (And as another aside, stop saying you dislike pro sports because of free agency. College rosters turn over every year!)
27) Stop griping about the money pro athletes make. They generate billions of dollars in revenue for lots of people every year, and provide entertainment to millions. Besides, they wouldn't make so much money if you didn't buy their tickets and jerseys and $9 beers. It's your fault. Not theirs.
28) There is only ONE way to fix education today. Hire more teachers and pay them more money. NOTHING else will work. All the testing, football fields, technology, core curriculums and breakfasts aren't even band-aids. They're makeup. Take the time to tell your congressman that.
29) Why can't I just watch a TV show? I don't need some numbskull hashtag flashed on the screen every two minutes. (Who has the time to keep coming up with this crap?)
30) Imagine the good you could do in this world if you focused your energy on something other than saving chickens, bats and whales. Please...
31) Cats.
32) You CAN have a good time without drinking alcohol. My wife and I enjoy our lives every day. If you think you can't get together with your friends without drinking something, the problem is you. Maybe you're just dull.
33) Alcohol is an intensifier. If you're a jerk when you drink, it's because you're a jerk.
34) If you die at a young age doing what you love, you're still dead. There's no glory in dying while mountain climbing. You're only legacy is leaving behind a family who loved you very much.
35) If your son attacks a police officer and he gets shot for doing it, it's your son's fault.
36) Stop hiding because you're afraid of offending someone. Speak up and take a stand every now and then. You may tick off someone along the way, but you will also gain some respect. Read Joshua 24:15.
37) Not every kid deserves a trophy. Teach your kids to work hard and earn something. You're not helping them. You're crippling them.
38) If a woman decides to stay home and take care of her family, she's not less of a woman. In fact, a case could be made that she's more of a woman. Sometimes women can think for themselves, and make intelligent adult decisions about their own lives. It doesn't mean she's being held down, held back, or abused.
39) Every time someone criticizes your stupid behavior, it doesn't mean they're "judging" you. It means you did something stupid.
40) Cubs fans.
And one more to grow on) People who complain all the time... [Wink, wink!]
Monday, February 2, 2015
Random Things that Bother Me: A lot!
As you know, I can have strong opinions on things. But usually, I don't write something down until it is a subject that I feel requires quite a bit of discussion, and then I weigh in.
But there's lots of little things that bug me that really don't warrant whole articles, or even marginal rants. So I've decided to compile a simple list of things that bother me. They bother me a lot, actually, but probably only need a sentence or two to explain. Maybe they're more like pet peeves. And maybe you'll agree with some or all. Maybe you won't.
I will say, as a matter of preface, that many of these revolve around the news. Specifically, TV news. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
There's more than 20, to be sure. But 20 is enough. So here we go.
1) Much in the same way we don't need to see a weatherman standing out in the snow to tell us it's snowing, I hate it when a reporter goes "live at the scene" when there's nothing at the scene going on. For example, when someone is going to be arraigned at the court house later in the day, I don't need the reporter telling the story to be standing in front of a closed court house at 6 in the morning. They could tell me the story from the studio and it would still make sense. Go to the court house when the criminal is there and something is happening, not before.
2) I don't care about some kid in elementary school in Iowa. Doesn't affect me here in Indiana. If that's all the news you have, lop off one of the 6 hours you're on the air.
3) Since when did tweets and Facebook posts from random viewers become relevant to the story? You've seen them. "Jim Irsay was busted for DUI today. Here's what some of our viewers had to say." I don't give a crap about what Joe Smith thinks about Jim Irsay. For that matter, I don't care what LeBron James thinks about it either.
4) Why can't they make windshield wipers that work in the Wintertime? Didn't we have the technology to send some guy to the moon nearly 50 years ago? Surely, some of that technology can be transferred to a usable, functional wintertime windshield wiper.
5) What right to any of us have to care about what kind of commercial a particular company airs? In light of the Super Bowl, you didn't like Nationwide's downer ad? Who cares? You think Mt. Dew's drink ad was funny? Great. You didn't like McDonald's ads with all the different signs? So what? Turn the channel, buy they drink, don't go to McDonalds. NO ONE Cares!
6) You don't like what I post on MY Facebook page, post your opinion if you want to or don't read it. I'm not bothered by it one way or another. If I post something on your Facebook page disagreeing with your views, and you don't like it? Then don't post stupid stuff you don't want people's opinions on.
7) Norm Macdonald said it best when he said, "Back in the old days, they only had 30 minutes of news every night.... Turns out, they had it about right!" I don't need to see the same stuff over again every half hour for 4 hours. 30 minutes once will just about cover it.
8) It snows in the wintertime here in Indiana, and it gets hot in the Summer. Stop pretending it's newsworthy.
9) Ellen is not a hero. She's a talk-show host. And a funny comedienne. Same with Oprah, except she's not funny. They both do nice things for people. Good for them.
10) Stop asking sports figures "How they feel?" The answer is always the same. If they won, they feel great, and if they lost, they feel like crap. A very good writer, Paul Daugherty, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, said it best. "Truth is, lots of players either have nothing enlightening to say, or choose not to say it. Fine. I'm a writer. I get paid for my words to be better than theirs. Quotes are highly overrated." He's right. Athletes are paid to play, not talk. Writers are paid to write, not play. Write the story, OK? We know how the player feels.
But there's lots of little things that bug me that really don't warrant whole articles, or even marginal rants. So I've decided to compile a simple list of things that bother me. They bother me a lot, actually, but probably only need a sentence or two to explain. Maybe they're more like pet peeves. And maybe you'll agree with some or all. Maybe you won't.
I will say, as a matter of preface, that many of these revolve around the news. Specifically, TV news. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
There's more than 20, to be sure. But 20 is enough. So here we go.
1) Much in the same way we don't need to see a weatherman standing out in the snow to tell us it's snowing, I hate it when a reporter goes "live at the scene" when there's nothing at the scene going on. For example, when someone is going to be arraigned at the court house later in the day, I don't need the reporter telling the story to be standing in front of a closed court house at 6 in the morning. They could tell me the story from the studio and it would still make sense. Go to the court house when the criminal is there and something is happening, not before.
2) I don't care about some kid in elementary school in Iowa. Doesn't affect me here in Indiana. If that's all the news you have, lop off one of the 6 hours you're on the air.
3) Since when did tweets and Facebook posts from random viewers become relevant to the story? You've seen them. "Jim Irsay was busted for DUI today. Here's what some of our viewers had to say." I don't give a crap about what Joe Smith thinks about Jim Irsay. For that matter, I don't care what LeBron James thinks about it either.
4) Why can't they make windshield wipers that work in the Wintertime? Didn't we have the technology to send some guy to the moon nearly 50 years ago? Surely, some of that technology can be transferred to a usable, functional wintertime windshield wiper.
5) What right to any of us have to care about what kind of commercial a particular company airs? In light of the Super Bowl, you didn't like Nationwide's downer ad? Who cares? You think Mt. Dew's drink ad was funny? Great. You didn't like McDonald's ads with all the different signs? So what? Turn the channel, buy they drink, don't go to McDonalds. NO ONE Cares!
6) You don't like what I post on MY Facebook page, post your opinion if you want to or don't read it. I'm not bothered by it one way or another. If I post something on your Facebook page disagreeing with your views, and you don't like it? Then don't post stupid stuff you don't want people's opinions on.
7) Norm Macdonald said it best when he said, "Back in the old days, they only had 30 minutes of news every night.... Turns out, they had it about right!" I don't need to see the same stuff over again every half hour for 4 hours. 30 minutes once will just about cover it.
8) It snows in the wintertime here in Indiana, and it gets hot in the Summer. Stop pretending it's newsworthy.
9) Ellen is not a hero. She's a talk-show host. And a funny comedienne. Same with Oprah, except she's not funny. They both do nice things for people. Good for them.
10) Stop asking sports figures "How they feel?" The answer is always the same. If they won, they feel great, and if they lost, they feel like crap. A very good writer, Paul Daugherty, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, said it best. "Truth is, lots of players either have nothing enlightening to say, or choose not to say it. Fine. I'm a writer. I get paid for my words to be better than theirs. Quotes are highly overrated." He's right. Athletes are paid to play, not talk. Writers are paid to write, not play. Write the story, OK? We know how the player feels.
11) Stop asking the criminal as he's escorted by in handcuffs by authorities, "Did you kill that little girl?" or "Did you intentionally blow up that house?" They're not going to answer that question. Has anyone ever said, "Yeah I killed her, so what?" They NEVER have, and they're never going to. It's stupid and makes you look silly.
12) Reality television is not real, in any sense of the word. It's a TELEVISION show. Period, and only designed and scripted to attract advertisers viewers. There is nothing about American Idol or Honey Boo Boo that isn't fixed. Oh sure, they might be interesting people, but the show is scripted, as is most usually the outcome. It's like pro wrestling... they're really flying off the top ring, but the winner is pre-determined.
13) Yield signs mean yield. That's why they're different from Stop signs. (On a side note, Roundabouts are NOT dangerous. They're wonderful. What's dangerous is dopey drivers who don't know what a Yield sign means.)
14) Why does our legislature care if one guy in Angola owns a Bengal tiger when kids get their faces ripped off by Pitbulls and Rottweilers every day?
15) If you own a Pitbull, stop trying to convince everyone they're not dangerous. They are. Get over it. There are no stories on the news about Poodles killing little kids.
16) Christians aren't blowing up airplanes. Or subways. Or embassies. Or chopping off innocent people's heads. Ain't happening. We all know who is.
17) Why is it the weatherman can tell me two weeks in advance that its going to snow, but when the storm actually arrives, they have no clue on how much snow we'll get?
18) Learn how to use the internet, and specifically, email. It's not that hard.
19) More people like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese than do sprouts and vegetables. It's not my fault, it's the way it is. And they like chocolate chip cookies better than oatmeal raisin. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. Keep this in mind the next time you're planning a big party.
20) Twitter is stupid. There, I said it.
And one to grow on) When we were little kids, we were taught that sticks and stones may break our bones, but words could never harm us. It's true. It's time we all grow up.
And one to grow on) When we were little kids, we were taught that sticks and stones may break our bones, but words could never harm us. It's true. It's time we all grow up.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Confessions of a High School Basketball Announcer
I've been a high school basketball game announcer now for over 14 years. I'm not what you would consider -- and what most people who only "hear" me, and don't really know me, assume -- much of a basketball fan. It was just never my sport. I can't jump, and I can't dribble (at least not with my left hand) and I really don't shoot all that well either. And besides, I don't like to run much. So there's that.
I was always more of a baseball guy, and I'm a big football fan. But basketball? Not so much.
I don't get all giddy at March Madness time. In fact, I'm a little surprised I know what March Madness is. I don't watch the NBA draft, and couldn't begin to tell you who plays for what team, unless it's Lebron, Kobe or... well, I can't think of anyone else. I do know Bobby Knight used to coach at IU, and I know that someone who plays for Kentucky this year played with my son on his junior high team, one of only two seasons my son ever played in his life, so that's pretty cool.
My lack of interest in basketball is such that I rarely know the opponent our team is playing until I actually arrive at the game. You see, as the stadium announcer, I'm not a play-by-play guy, like the guy you hear on the radio listening to the game. My job is to make announcements, hype up the starting line-up, call out who made the shot, and who committed the foul, and do it all in a way that keeps the home crowd all hyped up. I'm good at that, and as long as I have a roster in front of me of the visiting team, who that visiting team actually is is actually pretty irrelevant.
I don't attend away games, because, again, I don't like basketball. It's not personal, you understand. I love the kids! I really do. I have a good relationship with the athletic administration, and the coaches, most of the players and I root for my hometown. I just don't like basketball.
Which is why I rarely know what our record is. Because I have no idea whether our team won in whatever away game they played last night. Every time I'm asked, "Who we playing tonight?" my response is, "I have no idea." And more than once have I been asked by someone, "What do you think of the team this year?" And I have to make up something about, well, we have some shooters, and they work hard, or they're going to struggle because they have no inside game this year.
Whatever all that means.
Which is why, prior to announcing my first high school basketball game, at nearly 31 years old, I had personally seen -- including my own high school days -- perhaps not more than five full high school games. Which is also why, when the high school athletic director asked me, "You announce basketball games?" my response was, "No, but I'll do it if you need me to."
That was prior to the 2001 boys basketball season, and I've been doing it ever since. A year or two after that, I began announcing the girls basketball games as well, and so, I suspect, that since that time, given an average of about 15 games a season or so, I've now seen a little over 200 high school basketball games.
Now I realize that may pale in comparison to those who actually like basketball, especially if they've played the game themselves and/or have children and/or grandchildren who play. Those of you who fall into that category have probably seen thousands of games or even more. But I think 200 games is enough to have learned a little about the game, so, I will get to the crux of this blog.
I would like to share what I've learned about basketball -- specifically high school basketball -- in my days as a high school announcer. As a preface, let me say this: As any of you who have seen a high school game know, the announcer's table, along with the scoring table and the players benches, are actually on the visiting team side of the gym. (At least they are at our home gym. Since I don't go to away games, I'm not sure if it's this way at every gym or not.) Now, why this is the case, I do not know. I can only assume that the IHSAA, in their infinite wisdom, has some logical reason for this, but I cannot say for sure. So you need to know that most of what I've learned, I've learned from the visiting team.
With that said, here are the things I've learned in my days as a high school basketball announcer:
1) Referees have no idea what they're doing. None of them, not one. I know this because the fans have informed us thusly at virtually every game I've called. Mostly, they're blind. They're never serious. (I know this too because after every call, someone asks them if they are serious, and even though they never answer back, I can only assume they are not serious.) They kid a lot too, although this too is unconfirmed. Many have never officiated a basketball game in their lives, and therefore they have failed to get in the game, whatever that means. What's worse is that at every game I've ever called, I've had the misfortune of seeing the worst official someone in the stands has ever seen, which is saying a lot, seeing as though that person has probably seen over 1000 games, and me a mere 200. It's probably just dumb luck on my part, but I pretend it is a badge of honor so as to not get so depressed. And even with so little officiating experience, they somehow have earned the honor of being hired by the home team so often, they've developed an unhealthy loyalty to the home team, and every visiting team loss is somehow tied to that loyalty.
2) Every coach (and every fan, for that matter) is convinced that their own player NEVER fouls anyone else, yet at the same time is convinced that same player gets fouled on EVERY play they make, even if it's a technical foul shot.
3) It is customary at every game, for a fan, usually on the visiting side, to take it upon himself or herself to personally monitor the 3-second lane violations of the other team. (I'm not sure if its a self-designation, or it's relegated in some sort of pre-game committee meeting.) Now, I'm not totally sure what a 3-second lane violation is, but having been so designated, the appointed fan will notify the officials of the infraction EVERY play until it is called, and again after it hasn't been called for several minutes. By the way, the refs are so dumb, they rarely call it, even with said fan making them aware of the infraction on each play.
4) Fans (particularly parents) believe the players are listening to them in the stands. So calls of "Hustle!" and "Move!" and "Shoot the ball!" rain down from the stands with regularity. As every player is usually instructed to pay attention solely to his coach while in the game, and while it is virtually impossible to hear much of anything when hundreds of fans are all yelling at the same time, this does not deter the fan. I suppose the players do not tell these fans to shut up so as to help boost the self-esteem of the parent and preserve peace in the home.
5) The traveling violation (which is actually a false-start in football) was created, I'm to understand, to keep the player from grabbing the ball and running with it like a tailback. But the violation is called even if a player breathes wrong while holding the ball. If a player falls, and therefore has no control over their own movement, nor any ability to dribble a ball, they are still called for traveling, the sense of which I haven't been able to make out yet. Moreover, even though I'm sure that every coach teaches their player how to dribble a basketball, they all assume the other coach has not done so, because every time an opposing player has the ball and moves with it, they scream out "traveling!" Maybe it's in their contract to do so.
6) A "jump ball" is supposed to be called when a player from each team simultaneously has possession of the basketball. Some years ago, I'm to understand, officials were instructed to award the jump ball more liberally so as to cut down on the scrums that can turn a little violent when both teams are scrambling for a loose ball. It has done the opposite. Now, all you have to do is punch the opposing player in the neck when he has the ball, and you can be awarded a jump ball, upon which, no one jumps. I can only assume this is because the crowd likes a good fight. So it is a ruse. Under the guise of cutting down on scrums, they actually wanted to create more scrums, which they have. It's like hockey. That game's boring to the point of passing out, so everyone hopes for a good fight.
7) Coaches yell out things like "Four Corners!" or "Five-Out!" and "Kentucky!" or "Pioneer!" when their team has the ball on offense. I've learned this is a smoke screen, and only done to confuse the opposing team. Turns out, these phrases really have no meaning. Mostly, they all mean "Keep running around until someone get's open and takes a shot!" But apparently the other team, upon hearing such things, believes the team on offense is going to do something other than run around to get open and take a shot, so they stop playing defense properly, which they're coach hasn't taught them how to do anyway.
8) Unless you are too big or dumb to do so, it is federal law to know how to dribble a ball behind your back and between your legs. Not necessarily at the same time though, but sometimes.
9) A coach is not allowed to call a time out when things are going well for his team. Only when things are going badly. And if he does this, then he is allowed to yell at his own team. Also, coaches are not allowed to yell at the visiting players, even if they are punks. Only the fans are allowed to do this.
10) Even though it is the most physical game I've ever seen -- including football, and closely resembling wrestling matches -- it is apparently the job of the referees to get the hands of one player off the opposing player. Apparently, the coaches have no obligation whatsoever to teach their players to keep their hands off players of the opposing team, so the untrained players do it the whole game. The refs, however, suck at maintaining this order. See #1.
11) Refereeing in general is totally arbitrary. It's true. There's no rhyme or reason to it whatsoever. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if there really isn't an actual rule book, or perhaps there is literally only ONE rule book, and none but a precious few have actually seen it, let alone read it. There are times when two players can way-lay each other to the point of drawing blood, and no foul will be called. Other times, a foul can be called when one player winks at another. I've tried, but I've found no pattern as of yet to how these determinations are made, which makes me think it's random. Which is fun, if you really think about it. Keeps things interesting.
12) Every fan, regardless of basketball knowledge or experience, knows more about how to coach the team than the actual coach does. I find this fascinating, because it seems to me that in today's culture of strapped school budgets, a lot of money could be saved by ditching coaches altogether and just throwing the players out on the court and let the fans tell them what to do.
13) In fact, you could do that with the refs too. Again, see #1.
What you can't do, however, under any circumstances, is get rid of the announcer.
I was always more of a baseball guy, and I'm a big football fan. But basketball? Not so much.
I don't get all giddy at March Madness time. In fact, I'm a little surprised I know what March Madness is. I don't watch the NBA draft, and couldn't begin to tell you who plays for what team, unless it's Lebron, Kobe or... well, I can't think of anyone else. I do know Bobby Knight used to coach at IU, and I know that someone who plays for Kentucky this year played with my son on his junior high team, one of only two seasons my son ever played in his life, so that's pretty cool.
My lack of interest in basketball is such that I rarely know the opponent our team is playing until I actually arrive at the game. You see, as the stadium announcer, I'm not a play-by-play guy, like the guy you hear on the radio listening to the game. My job is to make announcements, hype up the starting line-up, call out who made the shot, and who committed the foul, and do it all in a way that keeps the home crowd all hyped up. I'm good at that, and as long as I have a roster in front of me of the visiting team, who that visiting team actually is is actually pretty irrelevant.
I don't attend away games, because, again, I don't like basketball. It's not personal, you understand. I love the kids! I really do. I have a good relationship with the athletic administration, and the coaches, most of the players and I root for my hometown. I just don't like basketball.
Which is why I rarely know what our record is. Because I have no idea whether our team won in whatever away game they played last night. Every time I'm asked, "Who we playing tonight?" my response is, "I have no idea." And more than once have I been asked by someone, "What do you think of the team this year?" And I have to make up something about, well, we have some shooters, and they work hard, or they're going to struggle because they have no inside game this year.
Whatever all that means.
Which is why, prior to announcing my first high school basketball game, at nearly 31 years old, I had personally seen -- including my own high school days -- perhaps not more than five full high school games. Which is also why, when the high school athletic director asked me, "You announce basketball games?" my response was, "No, but I'll do it if you need me to."
That was prior to the 2001 boys basketball season, and I've been doing it ever since. A year or two after that, I began announcing the girls basketball games as well, and so, I suspect, that since that time, given an average of about 15 games a season or so, I've now seen a little over 200 high school basketball games.
Now I realize that may pale in comparison to those who actually like basketball, especially if they've played the game themselves and/or have children and/or grandchildren who play. Those of you who fall into that category have probably seen thousands of games or even more. But I think 200 games is enough to have learned a little about the game, so, I will get to the crux of this blog.
I would like to share what I've learned about basketball -- specifically high school basketball -- in my days as a high school announcer. As a preface, let me say this: As any of you who have seen a high school game know, the announcer's table, along with the scoring table and the players benches, are actually on the visiting team side of the gym. (At least they are at our home gym. Since I don't go to away games, I'm not sure if it's this way at every gym or not.) Now, why this is the case, I do not know. I can only assume that the IHSAA, in their infinite wisdom, has some logical reason for this, but I cannot say for sure. So you need to know that most of what I've learned, I've learned from the visiting team.
With that said, here are the things I've learned in my days as a high school basketball announcer:
1) Referees have no idea what they're doing. None of them, not one. I know this because the fans have informed us thusly at virtually every game I've called. Mostly, they're blind. They're never serious. (I know this too because after every call, someone asks them if they are serious, and even though they never answer back, I can only assume they are not serious.) They kid a lot too, although this too is unconfirmed. Many have never officiated a basketball game in their lives, and therefore they have failed to get in the game, whatever that means. What's worse is that at every game I've ever called, I've had the misfortune of seeing the worst official someone in the stands has ever seen, which is saying a lot, seeing as though that person has probably seen over 1000 games, and me a mere 200. It's probably just dumb luck on my part, but I pretend it is a badge of honor so as to not get so depressed. And even with so little officiating experience, they somehow have earned the honor of being hired by the home team so often, they've developed an unhealthy loyalty to the home team, and every visiting team loss is somehow tied to that loyalty.
2) Every coach (and every fan, for that matter) is convinced that their own player NEVER fouls anyone else, yet at the same time is convinced that same player gets fouled on EVERY play they make, even if it's a technical foul shot.
3) It is customary at every game, for a fan, usually on the visiting side, to take it upon himself or herself to personally monitor the 3-second lane violations of the other team. (I'm not sure if its a self-designation, or it's relegated in some sort of pre-game committee meeting.) Now, I'm not totally sure what a 3-second lane violation is, but having been so designated, the appointed fan will notify the officials of the infraction EVERY play until it is called, and again after it hasn't been called for several minutes. By the way, the refs are so dumb, they rarely call it, even with said fan making them aware of the infraction on each play.
4) Fans (particularly parents) believe the players are listening to them in the stands. So calls of "Hustle!" and "Move!" and "Shoot the ball!" rain down from the stands with regularity. As every player is usually instructed to pay attention solely to his coach while in the game, and while it is virtually impossible to hear much of anything when hundreds of fans are all yelling at the same time, this does not deter the fan. I suppose the players do not tell these fans to shut up so as to help boost the self-esteem of the parent and preserve peace in the home.
5) The traveling violation (which is actually a false-start in football) was created, I'm to understand, to keep the player from grabbing the ball and running with it like a tailback. But the violation is called even if a player breathes wrong while holding the ball. If a player falls, and therefore has no control over their own movement, nor any ability to dribble a ball, they are still called for traveling, the sense of which I haven't been able to make out yet. Moreover, even though I'm sure that every coach teaches their player how to dribble a basketball, they all assume the other coach has not done so, because every time an opposing player has the ball and moves with it, they scream out "traveling!" Maybe it's in their contract to do so.
6) A "jump ball" is supposed to be called when a player from each team simultaneously has possession of the basketball. Some years ago, I'm to understand, officials were instructed to award the jump ball more liberally so as to cut down on the scrums that can turn a little violent when both teams are scrambling for a loose ball. It has done the opposite. Now, all you have to do is punch the opposing player in the neck when he has the ball, and you can be awarded a jump ball, upon which, no one jumps. I can only assume this is because the crowd likes a good fight. So it is a ruse. Under the guise of cutting down on scrums, they actually wanted to create more scrums, which they have. It's like hockey. That game's boring to the point of passing out, so everyone hopes for a good fight.
7) Coaches yell out things like "Four Corners!" or "Five-Out!" and "Kentucky!" or "Pioneer!" when their team has the ball on offense. I've learned this is a smoke screen, and only done to confuse the opposing team. Turns out, these phrases really have no meaning. Mostly, they all mean "Keep running around until someone get's open and takes a shot!" But apparently the other team, upon hearing such things, believes the team on offense is going to do something other than run around to get open and take a shot, so they stop playing defense properly, which they're coach hasn't taught them how to do anyway.
8) Unless you are too big or dumb to do so, it is federal law to know how to dribble a ball behind your back and between your legs. Not necessarily at the same time though, but sometimes.
9) A coach is not allowed to call a time out when things are going well for his team. Only when things are going badly. And if he does this, then he is allowed to yell at his own team. Also, coaches are not allowed to yell at the visiting players, even if they are punks. Only the fans are allowed to do this.
10) Even though it is the most physical game I've ever seen -- including football, and closely resembling wrestling matches -- it is apparently the job of the referees to get the hands of one player off the opposing player. Apparently, the coaches have no obligation whatsoever to teach their players to keep their hands off players of the opposing team, so the untrained players do it the whole game. The refs, however, suck at maintaining this order. See #1.
11) Refereeing in general is totally arbitrary. It's true. There's no rhyme or reason to it whatsoever. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if there really isn't an actual rule book, or perhaps there is literally only ONE rule book, and none but a precious few have actually seen it, let alone read it. There are times when two players can way-lay each other to the point of drawing blood, and no foul will be called. Other times, a foul can be called when one player winks at another. I've tried, but I've found no pattern as of yet to how these determinations are made, which makes me think it's random. Which is fun, if you really think about it. Keeps things interesting.
12) Every fan, regardless of basketball knowledge or experience, knows more about how to coach the team than the actual coach does. I find this fascinating, because it seems to me that in today's culture of strapped school budgets, a lot of money could be saved by ditching coaches altogether and just throwing the players out on the court and let the fans tell them what to do.
13) In fact, you could do that with the refs too. Again, see #1.
What you can't do, however, under any circumstances, is get rid of the announcer.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Another Tragic Suicide
This is the kind of post that usually gets me in trouble.
It's the kind of post that some people read, and then instantly label me as "uncaring," "unloving" or "cold-hearted." It's the kind of post that readers subsequently tell me I have no right to "judge" or that I should be more like Jesus.
Truth be told, I get those responses from Christians and non-believers alike.
It's usually because they don't pay attention. (Which is true of about 90% of the Twitter universe, but I digress.)
I read this story a couple days ago. It's the tragic story of a suicide. A teenage boy took his own life. Stepped in front of a moving semi-truck in the middle of an interstate. You can read the story for yourself here. Please do, because the details of it are important to what I'm about the write.
You'll notice a couple things first. One, as is usually the case in stories like this, the reporters didn't bother to get both sides of the story. Nobody has talked to the parents. As yet, I can't find one report that includes any comment from them. They managed to pull a quote from Cincinnati's "first openly gay city councilman," but they didn't talk to the parents. Didn't even make the attempt, from what I can tell. That's important to note.
Two, you'll notice that the story (and every other one I've read covering it) refers to the young boy as "her." It's shoddy reporting at its worst. It's almost Rule #1 in reporting: Correctly report the gender of the subject. This teen was most definitely a male in every way. You'll further notice that I will refer to him as "him."
Three, its not a unique story. Oh, the reporter wants you to believe it is, because it has a sensational sub-plot. But it's not. At its core, it is the tragic story of yet another teen who killed himself because he was confused about life and couldn't see any alternative. And even worse, lives in a society wherein the media glamorizes suicide as "peaceful" and "freeing."
Four, the article (and, again, each piece I've read about it) paints the parents in a very negative light. On purpose, I suspect, but easy to do when you don't bother to get the other side of the story.
So, with those aspects out there, let me say this: This is a tragic, sad story. Heartbreaking that a teen took his own life in his prime, needlessly and senselessly, while those around him were either unable to, or incapable of, helping him. My heart goes out to his family in this loss.
And this is the point where you, as the reader, have a responsibility to PAY ATTENTION! Because I do not in any way want to belittle this death, blame the victim, or dance on a grave.
Rather, what I want to do here is focus ON THE REPORT. The Story. Or even better, how the story is portrayed.
When you read this young man's post, you will come away with the idea that his parents were hateful, heartless monsters. You will believe that they were righteous, indignant, religious zealots who were stone hearted enough to not let their little boy just "be who he wanted to be."
At least, that's how the boy portrayed them. And that's how the reporters who've covered the story have allowed it to play out, because they haven't bothered to get the other side of the story. In the end, they all might be right. These parents might be the cold-hearted bigots they're made out to be.
But we'll never really know, will we?
You see, today's society tells us that we're all allowed to be whoever or whatever we so choose. And if we don't accept that blindly then we are racists, or bigots, or "phobes" of one sort or another, or heartless, or whatever you want to call us.
But think -- for just a moment -- about what these parents were being asked to do. They were being asked -- no, rather, "told" -- to reject a lifetime of doctrine, teaching, standards, morals and convictions. They are being told to reject a theology that is thousands of years old and is the foundation this country was built on...
...all because their little boy decided one day he wanted to be a chick instead of a dude.
(That's the part that usually gets me in trouble.)
Please -- stay focused -- I don't want to get into the debate about whether he "chose" to be transgender, or whether he just "discovered" it. That's a different debate.
The reality is, he was a male. In every way, shape and form. I don't even pretend to know the ins and outs of transgenderism, but I know that even if it were possible to change gender (which I do not believe it is) this young man hadn't even started the process. He wanted to, that much is sure. But hadn't. And even if he had, he was born a MALE. Believe in God if you want to or not, even scientifically speaking, he was male.
And yet, his parents, raised as Christians, living their faith, trying to raise their family the best they know how, and -- despite the physical and scientific evidence -- are just supposed to dismiss all that in an instant because their boy thought he was a little girl?
The teen himself admits the parents tried to get him help. HE didn't think it was helpful, and YOU might not think it was helpful, but it was what the PARENTS knew and believed to be right. They are Christians, so they sought Christian help. Why is that so bad? Because they lost this fight? So that makes them wrong?
Non-Christians do not regularly seek out Christian advice, or counsel, or therapy in times of need. Why is it so disturbing that Christians would not then seek out non-Christian advice? Monsters, you say? I bet when push comes to shove, you seek out whoever you are most comfortable with.
What if they were right along? What if it is true that God doesn't make mistakes? What if the Bible is true when it says the devil tries to deceive people? What if the devil deceived this little boy into taking his own life? Does it make you feel any better to know Satan won instead of God?
See, that's the part those who want to support the boy don't want to face. That's the side of the story those with an agenda don't want to tell. We want to side with the teen who clearly was confused about life. Because that is the position that is cool and chic in today's world. But in the end, we don't want to face the fact that maybe -- just maybe -- the parents were right.
When our soldiers go off to war, sometimes they get killed. But the death doesn't make the cause any less worth fighting. It's tragic and sad, but the cause is still just. I'm sure these parents are as heartbroken about this as any parents would be. And I'm sure they're questioning everything they've ever said or did regarding their son. And I bet they're beating themselves up to the bitter end trying to think of what the could have done different. I bet if they ever get the chance, they might do some things differently. But if they are true Christians, I bet they stand firm in their faith. Because they know that sometimes, when we do battle with Satan, we lose. And people get killed.
You might say that this teen didn't ask to go off to war. But then again, maybe he did. Maybe his "choice" was to go toe to toe with the devil in attempt to challenge God's perfect plan. Maybe he listened to the devil's ticklish plans and chose to dance. And maybe he lost. Maybe we all lost in this case.
Just Maybe.
It's the kind of post that some people read, and then instantly label me as "uncaring," "unloving" or "cold-hearted." It's the kind of post that readers subsequently tell me I have no right to "judge" or that I should be more like Jesus.
Truth be told, I get those responses from Christians and non-believers alike.
It's usually because they don't pay attention. (Which is true of about 90% of the Twitter universe, but I digress.)
I read this story a couple days ago. It's the tragic story of a suicide. A teenage boy took his own life. Stepped in front of a moving semi-truck in the middle of an interstate. You can read the story for yourself here. Please do, because the details of it are important to what I'm about the write.
You'll notice a couple things first. One, as is usually the case in stories like this, the reporters didn't bother to get both sides of the story. Nobody has talked to the parents. As yet, I can't find one report that includes any comment from them. They managed to pull a quote from Cincinnati's "first openly gay city councilman," but they didn't talk to the parents. Didn't even make the attempt, from what I can tell. That's important to note.
Two, you'll notice that the story (and every other one I've read covering it) refers to the young boy as "her." It's shoddy reporting at its worst. It's almost Rule #1 in reporting: Correctly report the gender of the subject. This teen was most definitely a male in every way. You'll further notice that I will refer to him as "him."
Three, its not a unique story. Oh, the reporter wants you to believe it is, because it has a sensational sub-plot. But it's not. At its core, it is the tragic story of yet another teen who killed himself because he was confused about life and couldn't see any alternative. And even worse, lives in a society wherein the media glamorizes suicide as "peaceful" and "freeing."
Four, the article (and, again, each piece I've read about it) paints the parents in a very negative light. On purpose, I suspect, but easy to do when you don't bother to get the other side of the story.
So, with those aspects out there, let me say this: This is a tragic, sad story. Heartbreaking that a teen took his own life in his prime, needlessly and senselessly, while those around him were either unable to, or incapable of, helping him. My heart goes out to his family in this loss.
And this is the point where you, as the reader, have a responsibility to PAY ATTENTION! Because I do not in any way want to belittle this death, blame the victim, or dance on a grave.
Rather, what I want to do here is focus ON THE REPORT. The Story. Or even better, how the story is portrayed.
When you read this young man's post, you will come away with the idea that his parents were hateful, heartless monsters. You will believe that they were righteous, indignant, religious zealots who were stone hearted enough to not let their little boy just "be who he wanted to be."
At least, that's how the boy portrayed them. And that's how the reporters who've covered the story have allowed it to play out, because they haven't bothered to get the other side of the story. In the end, they all might be right. These parents might be the cold-hearted bigots they're made out to be.
But we'll never really know, will we?
You see, today's society tells us that we're all allowed to be whoever or whatever we so choose. And if we don't accept that blindly then we are racists, or bigots, or "phobes" of one sort or another, or heartless, or whatever you want to call us.
But think -- for just a moment -- about what these parents were being asked to do. They were being asked -- no, rather, "told" -- to reject a lifetime of doctrine, teaching, standards, morals and convictions. They are being told to reject a theology that is thousands of years old and is the foundation this country was built on...
...all because their little boy decided one day he wanted to be a chick instead of a dude.
(That's the part that usually gets me in trouble.)
Please -- stay focused -- I don't want to get into the debate about whether he "chose" to be transgender, or whether he just "discovered" it. That's a different debate.
The reality is, he was a male. In every way, shape and form. I don't even pretend to know the ins and outs of transgenderism, but I know that even if it were possible to change gender (which I do not believe it is) this young man hadn't even started the process. He wanted to, that much is sure. But hadn't. And even if he had, he was born a MALE. Believe in God if you want to or not, even scientifically speaking, he was male.
And yet, his parents, raised as Christians, living their faith, trying to raise their family the best they know how, and -- despite the physical and scientific evidence -- are just supposed to dismiss all that in an instant because their boy thought he was a little girl?
The teen himself admits the parents tried to get him help. HE didn't think it was helpful, and YOU might not think it was helpful, but it was what the PARENTS knew and believed to be right. They are Christians, so they sought Christian help. Why is that so bad? Because they lost this fight? So that makes them wrong?
Non-Christians do not regularly seek out Christian advice, or counsel, or therapy in times of need. Why is it so disturbing that Christians would not then seek out non-Christian advice? Monsters, you say? I bet when push comes to shove, you seek out whoever you are most comfortable with.
What if they were right along? What if it is true that God doesn't make mistakes? What if the Bible is true when it says the devil tries to deceive people? What if the devil deceived this little boy into taking his own life? Does it make you feel any better to know Satan won instead of God?
See, that's the part those who want to support the boy don't want to face. That's the side of the story those with an agenda don't want to tell. We want to side with the teen who clearly was confused about life. Because that is the position that is cool and chic in today's world. But in the end, we don't want to face the fact that maybe -- just maybe -- the parents were right.
When our soldiers go off to war, sometimes they get killed. But the death doesn't make the cause any less worth fighting. It's tragic and sad, but the cause is still just. I'm sure these parents are as heartbroken about this as any parents would be. And I'm sure they're questioning everything they've ever said or did regarding their son. And I bet they're beating themselves up to the bitter end trying to think of what the could have done different. I bet if they ever get the chance, they might do some things differently. But if they are true Christians, I bet they stand firm in their faith. Because they know that sometimes, when we do battle with Satan, we lose. And people get killed.
You might say that this teen didn't ask to go off to war. But then again, maybe he did. Maybe his "choice" was to go toe to toe with the devil in attempt to challenge God's perfect plan. Maybe he listened to the devil's ticklish plans and chose to dance. And maybe he lost. Maybe we all lost in this case.
Just Maybe.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
A Politician Does the Right Thing!
There are times when a politician does the right thing.
I know that may surprise some of you, but it's true. But the interaction I had today with a politician is so unique, I felt I needed to share it.
A couple weeks ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed (as I am wont to do regularly) and I happened upon this story. You can check the link out and read it for yourself. I read it, and I wasn't happy with what I read. It seems things are amiss in the town of Ocala, Florida.
It was, in short, as hopefully you've read by now, seemingly yet another story where the rights of the everyday American are getting trampled by government bureaucracy, mostly in the name of political correctness, and to add fuel to the fire, it seemed that the same rules aren't applying to everybody. The whole story, as it is presented in this piece, speaks to the center of one of the biggest hot buttons of the modern political landscape -- immigration.
As you might have seen, at the end of the story, the reader is invited to contact members of the Ocala, FL, town council, and/or it's Mayor. Their email addresses are presented, and I decided, rather than post my usual rants on my Facebook page, to instead write the Mayor of Ocala, FL, a personal email sharing my distaste for the events presented in the story.
Here is the email I wrote (mistakes intact!):
Sir,
My name is Paul Uhls, and I am a small business owner in Indiana. We have been considering relocating to Florida recently, but it is because of a story I read this morning, and others like it, that we will likely abandon that idea.
I read the story of your city's fight against a local business owner flying the Gadsden flag in from an internet link, so I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt if indeed it's untrue, because I know you can't believe everything on the internet.
However, as a small business owner, it is very disturbing to continue to see our individual rights stripped away in the name of political correctness and the fear of offending someone. It is extremely upsetting to see your town punish an American business owner, holdng him to some arcane public standards, yet at the same time allow other ethnicities to fly flags in a manner that is against the law, presumably for the purposes of appeasing their sensibilities.
My wife and I are considering relocating to warmer climes, and I will be bringing my business with me. But it is for reasons such as this that we will not consider relocating to towns like yours. I am simply tired of seeing true American citizens get trampled in the name of political correctness, and you, and your town council should be ashamed of restricting the rights of this upright business owner, while allowing others to ignore federal law.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this matter further.
Thanks for your time.
As you can see, I opened the email with the disclaimer that I understood not everything one reads on the internet can be believed. (Shocking, yes?) And because I am a firm believer that if one is going to share one's opinions with and/or about others, one should put one's name on it. As you can also see, I ended my email with an invitation to the Mayor of Ocala to contact me if he wished to discuss the matter at all.
I did not, as you might surmise, hold my breath in hopes of hearing from the Mayor.
Today, mere hours after I had sent the email, I got a phone call from the Mayor of Ocala. Because I missed the call, he left a voicemail message inviting me to call him back so we can discuss what the town has been doing to rectify the situation highlighted in the news story.
The Mayor of Ocala, FL, called me -- a nobody from some podunk town in Indiana he's probably never heard of -- to discuss a problem I had with his town. I returned his phone call.
Kent Guinn is the Mayor of Ocala. He was very personable, polite, and didn't seem to be irritated in the least to have called me. He was not offended, off put, and was, in fact, eager to share what they had done to solve the problem.
First, let me say that I explained to him that I was both fascinated and appreciative that he took the time to call some random guy in Indiana. He said he felt it was his civic duty to do so. He explained that he only got paid $200 per month during his 12 years as a town councilman and that he now earns $550 per month as Mayor, and that he has another, regular job, so he took the job because he wants to serve his town. He said he tries to respond to everyone who contacts him.
He explained what the town has done to rectify the problem of the flag. As I suspected, he shared some details of the story that weren't necessarily included in the story I read in hopes of shedding a little more light on the situation. But he did, in fact, admit the laws and ordinances of the town needed to be analyzed and changed to ensure that this type of problem wouldn't happen again.
He explained further that the town council has met and is changing the ordinances to be more accommodating to those who might want to fly flags that represent American values. He explained the measures that are being put in place. He noted that the business owner featured in the story is a very nice guy, and was a bit surprised the situation had gotten the publicity it had. He mentioned that the business owner has been working together with the town to reach a solution to the problem, which they all feel, at this point, they are achieving.
I mentioned I believed he could appreciate my frustration at the seemingly endless stories like this that continue to pop up and I appreciated his taking the time to call to tell me what was going on, as I was extremely surprised to hear from him.
We talked briefly further. He asked about my business, and that he hoped I might still consider Ocala when I do indeed relocate. We talked about the town, the housing market there, and so forth, and he invited me to look him up should I happen to get that direction. We thanked each other and that was that.
I regret that I failed to mention that those of us here in Mooresville are a little sensitive to flags, what with our being the home of the Indiana State Flag. But I digress.
First and foremost, I'm glad to hear the situation has moved in a positive direction. I'm even more glad that the political leaders of the town recognized a problem and moved to rectify it. And I'm downright stymied that the Mayor of Ocala, FL, would call a nobody from Indiana to discuss the issue, because I emailed him about it and he thought it was his duty to respond. I mean, I'm not exactly one of his constituents.
The pessimists among us might argue that he only contacted me because perhaps he inferred from my email that my business might be more prominent than it actually is. He asked about my business, and I explained that it is very small... that it is, in fact, just me and my own personal business that I operate.
And perhaps that did indeed have something to do with it. But I don't think so. I don't feel as though my email was misleading as to the size of my business, as though I led him to believe the town's actions regarding some guy's flag was jeopardizing some giant economic development opportunity for Ocala, FL.
No, I got the genuine feeling that this man cared that his town had been portrayed in a bad light. I can only guess as to why he thought it was important to explain it all to me, someone with whom he has absolutely no political clout and to whom he has absolutely no political responsibility.
I just think he thought it was important to set the record straight simply because it was the right thing to do. He was elected to do a job, which is to serve the people of Ocala, FL. Part of that job is to make sure others know that good things are going on there. To portray Ocala in the best possible light and to let others know that the town's leaders are working to make sure the right things get done in the end... regardless of who those others are.
Sometimes, that's the only reason I post something on Facebook -- a link or a comment on something -- simply because it's the right thing to do. Often, there's nothing to be gained. But I do it because I feel standing up for something is simply the right thing to do.
Is that refreshing? It is to me. I shared this whole story with my teenage son tonight, and he said, "Don't you wish Obama would do that?" My son nailed it. That's precisely why it is refreshing, because it happened in light of all the other political mayhem we hear of day after day on the TV newscasts. It happened because it was the right thing to do
We have politicians like that around here, especially locally. I don't want to name names, only because I'm afraid if I do, I might leave out some others who are doing equally well, or who care equally as much. We have some duds, make no mistake. But if you take the time to find them, and get to know them, and find out why they make the decisions they do, you may find some people who, deep down, truly care about our town, and the well-being of those who live here. I spoke at length the other day with one of our own, Mooresville town council members... a man who I know truly loves Mooresville, even if he might make a decision every now and then with which I might not agree.
Yes, sometimes, a politician actually does the right thing. Today, the Mayor of Ocala, FL, did exactly that.
I know that may surprise some of you, but it's true. But the interaction I had today with a politician is so unique, I felt I needed to share it.
A couple weeks ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed (as I am wont to do regularly) and I happened upon this story. You can check the link out and read it for yourself. I read it, and I wasn't happy with what I read. It seems things are amiss in the town of Ocala, Florida.
It was, in short, as hopefully you've read by now, seemingly yet another story where the rights of the everyday American are getting trampled by government bureaucracy, mostly in the name of political correctness, and to add fuel to the fire, it seemed that the same rules aren't applying to everybody. The whole story, as it is presented in this piece, speaks to the center of one of the biggest hot buttons of the modern political landscape -- immigration.
As you might have seen, at the end of the story, the reader is invited to contact members of the Ocala, FL, town council, and/or it's Mayor. Their email addresses are presented, and I decided, rather than post my usual rants on my Facebook page, to instead write the Mayor of Ocala, FL, a personal email sharing my distaste for the events presented in the story.
Here is the email I wrote (mistakes intact!):
Sir,
My name is Paul Uhls, and I am a small business owner in Indiana. We have been considering relocating to Florida recently, but it is because of a story I read this morning, and others like it, that we will likely abandon that idea.
I read the story of your city's fight against a local business owner flying the Gadsden flag in from an internet link, so I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt if indeed it's untrue, because I know you can't believe everything on the internet.
However, as a small business owner, it is very disturbing to continue to see our individual rights stripped away in the name of political correctness and the fear of offending someone. It is extremely upsetting to see your town punish an American business owner, holdng him to some arcane public standards, yet at the same time allow other ethnicities to fly flags in a manner that is against the law, presumably for the purposes of appeasing their sensibilities.
My wife and I are considering relocating to warmer climes, and I will be bringing my business with me. But it is for reasons such as this that we will not consider relocating to towns like yours. I am simply tired of seeing true American citizens get trampled in the name of political correctness, and you, and your town council should be ashamed of restricting the rights of this upright business owner, while allowing others to ignore federal law.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this matter further.
Thanks for your time.
As you can see, I opened the email with the disclaimer that I understood not everything one reads on the internet can be believed. (Shocking, yes?) And because I am a firm believer that if one is going to share one's opinions with and/or about others, one should put one's name on it. As you can also see, I ended my email with an invitation to the Mayor of Ocala to contact me if he wished to discuss the matter at all.
I did not, as you might surmise, hold my breath in hopes of hearing from the Mayor.
Today, mere hours after I had sent the email, I got a phone call from the Mayor of Ocala. Because I missed the call, he left a voicemail message inviting me to call him back so we can discuss what the town has been doing to rectify the situation highlighted in the news story.
The Mayor of Ocala, FL, called me -- a nobody from some podunk town in Indiana he's probably never heard of -- to discuss a problem I had with his town. I returned his phone call.
Kent Guinn is the Mayor of Ocala. He was very personable, polite, and didn't seem to be irritated in the least to have called me. He was not offended, off put, and was, in fact, eager to share what they had done to solve the problem.
First, let me say that I explained to him that I was both fascinated and appreciative that he took the time to call some random guy in Indiana. He said he felt it was his civic duty to do so. He explained that he only got paid $200 per month during his 12 years as a town councilman and that he now earns $550 per month as Mayor, and that he has another, regular job, so he took the job because he wants to serve his town. He said he tries to respond to everyone who contacts him.
He explained what the town has done to rectify the problem of the flag. As I suspected, he shared some details of the story that weren't necessarily included in the story I read in hopes of shedding a little more light on the situation. But he did, in fact, admit the laws and ordinances of the town needed to be analyzed and changed to ensure that this type of problem wouldn't happen again.
He explained further that the town council has met and is changing the ordinances to be more accommodating to those who might want to fly flags that represent American values. He explained the measures that are being put in place. He noted that the business owner featured in the story is a very nice guy, and was a bit surprised the situation had gotten the publicity it had. He mentioned that the business owner has been working together with the town to reach a solution to the problem, which they all feel, at this point, they are achieving.
I mentioned I believed he could appreciate my frustration at the seemingly endless stories like this that continue to pop up and I appreciated his taking the time to call to tell me what was going on, as I was extremely surprised to hear from him.
We talked briefly further. He asked about my business, and that he hoped I might still consider Ocala when I do indeed relocate. We talked about the town, the housing market there, and so forth, and he invited me to look him up should I happen to get that direction. We thanked each other and that was that.
I regret that I failed to mention that those of us here in Mooresville are a little sensitive to flags, what with our being the home of the Indiana State Flag. But I digress.
First and foremost, I'm glad to hear the situation has moved in a positive direction. I'm even more glad that the political leaders of the town recognized a problem and moved to rectify it. And I'm downright stymied that the Mayor of Ocala, FL, would call a nobody from Indiana to discuss the issue, because I emailed him about it and he thought it was his duty to respond. I mean, I'm not exactly one of his constituents.
The pessimists among us might argue that he only contacted me because perhaps he inferred from my email that my business might be more prominent than it actually is. He asked about my business, and I explained that it is very small... that it is, in fact, just me and my own personal business that I operate.
And perhaps that did indeed have something to do with it. But I don't think so. I don't feel as though my email was misleading as to the size of my business, as though I led him to believe the town's actions regarding some guy's flag was jeopardizing some giant economic development opportunity for Ocala, FL.
No, I got the genuine feeling that this man cared that his town had been portrayed in a bad light. I can only guess as to why he thought it was important to explain it all to me, someone with whom he has absolutely no political clout and to whom he has absolutely no political responsibility.
I just think he thought it was important to set the record straight simply because it was the right thing to do. He was elected to do a job, which is to serve the people of Ocala, FL. Part of that job is to make sure others know that good things are going on there. To portray Ocala in the best possible light and to let others know that the town's leaders are working to make sure the right things get done in the end... regardless of who those others are.
Sometimes, that's the only reason I post something on Facebook -- a link or a comment on something -- simply because it's the right thing to do. Often, there's nothing to be gained. But I do it because I feel standing up for something is simply the right thing to do.
Is that refreshing? It is to me. I shared this whole story with my teenage son tonight, and he said, "Don't you wish Obama would do that?" My son nailed it. That's precisely why it is refreshing, because it happened in light of all the other political mayhem we hear of day after day on the TV newscasts. It happened because it was the right thing to do
We have politicians like that around here, especially locally. I don't want to name names, only because I'm afraid if I do, I might leave out some others who are doing equally well, or who care equally as much. We have some duds, make no mistake. But if you take the time to find them, and get to know them, and find out why they make the decisions they do, you may find some people who, deep down, truly care about our town, and the well-being of those who live here. I spoke at length the other day with one of our own, Mooresville town council members... a man who I know truly loves Mooresville, even if he might make a decision every now and then with which I might not agree.
Yes, sometimes, a politician actually does the right thing. Today, the Mayor of Ocala, FL, did exactly that.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)