Condoleeza Rice had her 1st day as Secretary of State yesterday. History was made, as Dr. Rice became the 1st African American Woman to hold the office of Secretary of State of the United States. Thanks to C-Span, most of us were able to watch her rousing “Welcome” by the staff as she entered the State Department building yesterday. I could feel the "positive vibes" just watching the whole event.
Was this to be shown anywhere on the nightly news or by Matt Lauer on the Today show this morning? I don’t think so.
World History will be made on Sunday, January 30th in Iraq. This will be the first time in a little over a half of a century that Iraq will hold legitimate democratic elections. Yes, the terrorists (otherwise referred to as “Insurgents” by the mainstream media) are doing everything possible to discourage and scare the voters from casting their ballots on Sunday.
Yet listening to Senator Ted Kennedy yesterday, “we should move out,” "it’s a lost cause." "The violence continues," and "this is Bush’s quagmire." Gee, I’m so grateful for his support in all of this. WRONG!
If Ted Kennedy were around after World War II, many of my relatives would still be living under Nazi rule (or God know what kind of totalitarian dictatorship).
Oh and then there is Senator John Kerry! I guess no one has told him that the elections are over, the United States Presidential Election for 2005! Watching him on C-Span yesterday promoting his health care plan for children, I thought the campaign is still going on. How is that prior to the campaign last year, Senator Kerry was not known for authoring or introducting any legislation in Congress. All of a sudden, he's out there authoring and promoting bills left and right. All I see is Another Gloom and Doom guy!
Friday, January 28, 2005
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Writer’s Block // A New Year! 1/19/05
It’s a brand New Year! Off to a Great Start!
On the home front, the Christmas and New Year Holidays were good. For myself, the Holidays allowed some time for reflection, which I know a lot of people do at this time of the year. I can truly say that I am grateful for what God has given me and my family and those around us.
On the global front, there is a tragedy out there, the Tsunami. I just heard on the radio that Indonesia has revised the death toll to 225,000 people. If anyone hasn’t donated yet, there still are organizations accepting. The most reliable I think is the Red Cross.
Nevertheless, the New Year has begun. And there is much work to be done.
Tomorrow is Inaugural Day in Washington D.C., a time to celebrate, at least for those of us who went out there and voted for the President.
Of course, you would never know it on Capitol Hill listening in on the Condoleeza Rice confirmation hearings on C-Span. Senators Kerry and Barbara Boxer really think that they represent the mainstream of America. They just don’t get it!
On the home front, the Christmas and New Year Holidays were good. For myself, the Holidays allowed some time for reflection, which I know a lot of people do at this time of the year. I can truly say that I am grateful for what God has given me and my family and those around us.
On the global front, there is a tragedy out there, the Tsunami. I just heard on the radio that Indonesia has revised the death toll to 225,000 people. If anyone hasn’t donated yet, there still are organizations accepting. The most reliable I think is the Red Cross.
Nevertheless, the New Year has begun. And there is much work to be done.
Tomorrow is Inaugural Day in Washington D.C., a time to celebrate, at least for those of us who went out there and voted for the President.
Of course, you would never know it on Capitol Hill listening in on the Condoleeza Rice confirmation hearings on C-Span. Senators Kerry and Barbara Boxer really think that they represent the mainstream of America. They just don’t get it!
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Writer’s Block // Urban Lament --- Rural Bliss!
It’s been awhile since I’ve last made an entry. (I’m saying that more frequently than I would like to admit.) Nevertheless, I do have something to say today.
I just came back from Chicago, my old hometown of 18 years ago. Actually I was in Glenview at my sister’s house, celebrating her 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Sis!
But I realized something, as I drove back to my new hometown in Southwest Michigan, a city like Chicago tends to place me in a cynical mood, whereas time spent up here in Southwest Michigan has the effect of having a more positive attitude about life.
Now I don’t know if it’s just the fact that 8 million (feels like 8 gadzillion) individuals crowded into a very limited amount of square miles makes one more cynical just because YOU SEE IT ALL, AT ONCE! Or is it because spending anytime in a large urban center like Chicago and it’s accompanying suburbs makes one IMMEDIATELY AWARE OF JUST HOW FAST LIFE IS MOVING ALONG AND HOW QUICK CHANGES ARE MADE AT THE DROP OF A HAT. The jury is still out for me on this one.
If anyone else out there has any thoughts on this, I would enjoy reading your comments on this. The result of this dialogue on this topic may just end a few Urban Myths.
I just came back from Chicago, my old hometown of 18 years ago. Actually I was in Glenview at my sister’s house, celebrating her 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Sis!
But I realized something, as I drove back to my new hometown in Southwest Michigan, a city like Chicago tends to place me in a cynical mood, whereas time spent up here in Southwest Michigan has the effect of having a more positive attitude about life.
Now I don’t know if it’s just the fact that 8 million (feels like 8 gadzillion) individuals crowded into a very limited amount of square miles makes one more cynical just because YOU SEE IT ALL, AT ONCE! Or is it because spending anytime in a large urban center like Chicago and it’s accompanying suburbs makes one IMMEDIATELY AWARE OF JUST HOW FAST LIFE IS MOVING ALONG AND HOW QUICK CHANGES ARE MADE AT THE DROP OF A HAT. The jury is still out for me on this one.
If anyone else out there has any thoughts on this, I would enjoy reading your comments on this. The result of this dialogue on this topic may just end a few Urban Myths.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Writer’s Block // A Sad Day For The NBA – 11/20/04
I’m not a big basketball fan. I actually favor college football. It’s the whole culture of college football that eschews traditional values and sportsmanship as far as I’m concerned, despite recent aggressive recruiting among all of the colleges.
But once in a while, I become a voyeur and take a peek at professional NBA basketball. Last night was one of those nights. I have to admit that if I chose a night with any historical significance, then last night’s game between the Detroit Pistons (who I actually favor now) and the Indiana Pacers (who I favored a few years back when the Chicago Bulls were “all the rage”) will be a game that will go down in “Infamy.”
If you haven’t heard by now, (as Ralph Cramden would say) It Was A Riot. It all started when Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons literally (and I think pretty viciously) attacked Ron Artest of the Indiana Pacers after Ben thought a foul should have been called on him by Ron. Well if it only would have stopped at that moment, that would have been sufficient.
But what happens after this is where I think the line should be drawn. It was when Ron Artest went into the stands and attacked, smacked down, a little ole white boy who happened to throw some water, pop or beer on the immature players fighting a few feet away on the floor in front of their fans.
It didn’t stop there. Another player from the Detroit Pistons (and at this time I need to confirm who it was) rushed to an approaching fan on the floor and punched this fan in the face. I mean Punched. After that, “all hell broke loose.”
Now we could all say that little boys must play their games. I know that is what some of you might be thinking. But a “little old lady” was found smack down on the floor amidst all of this chaos.
I listened to a few commentators this morning on the Sports Channel and it reminded me of this ongoing debate we just had with the past election. One commentator stated that the players, because they are professional (and also I might add, get paid mucho bucks) should be above the fray. They should take responsibility for these actions.
The other commentator said that everyone should be taking responsibility for these actions. Everyone, which includes not only the players but also all of the fans, the managers, the coaches, even the security people.
This reminds me so much of our current situation in society as a whole. There seems to be a group of people who think that “we are all responsible for the problems that exist in our society.” We all must take blame for what is wrong. This thinking just seems to smooth it all out and it results in no one taking Any Responsibility.
I have to admit that I take the side of the former (1st) commentator in that someone has to (and is) more to blame for what goes wrong. And in this case, I certainly agree that the Professional Players should have been above whatever their fans were thinking. Besides, those fans are who Pays Their Salaries.
I can say this without prejudice, since each of these teams has a piece of my heart. Come on guys, Grow Up!
But once in a while, I become a voyeur and take a peek at professional NBA basketball. Last night was one of those nights. I have to admit that if I chose a night with any historical significance, then last night’s game between the Detroit Pistons (who I actually favor now) and the Indiana Pacers (who I favored a few years back when the Chicago Bulls were “all the rage”) will be a game that will go down in “Infamy.”
If you haven’t heard by now, (as Ralph Cramden would say) It Was A Riot. It all started when Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons literally (and I think pretty viciously) attacked Ron Artest of the Indiana Pacers after Ben thought a foul should have been called on him by Ron. Well if it only would have stopped at that moment, that would have been sufficient.
But what happens after this is where I think the line should be drawn. It was when Ron Artest went into the stands and attacked, smacked down, a little ole white boy who happened to throw some water, pop or beer on the immature players fighting a few feet away on the floor in front of their fans.
It didn’t stop there. Another player from the Detroit Pistons (and at this time I need to confirm who it was) rushed to an approaching fan on the floor and punched this fan in the face. I mean Punched. After that, “all hell broke loose.”
Now we could all say that little boys must play their games. I know that is what some of you might be thinking. But a “little old lady” was found smack down on the floor amidst all of this chaos.
I listened to a few commentators this morning on the Sports Channel and it reminded me of this ongoing debate we just had with the past election. One commentator stated that the players, because they are professional (and also I might add, get paid mucho bucks) should be above the fray. They should take responsibility for these actions.
The other commentator said that everyone should be taking responsibility for these actions. Everyone, which includes not only the players but also all of the fans, the managers, the coaches, even the security people.
This reminds me so much of our current situation in society as a whole. There seems to be a group of people who think that “we are all responsible for the problems that exist in our society.” We all must take blame for what is wrong. This thinking just seems to smooth it all out and it results in no one taking Any Responsibility.
I have to admit that I take the side of the former (1st) commentator in that someone has to (and is) more to blame for what goes wrong. And in this case, I certainly agree that the Professional Players should have been above whatever their fans were thinking. Besides, those fans are who Pays Their Salaries.
I can say this without prejudice, since each of these teams has a piece of my heart. Come on guys, Grow Up!
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