The Coin Has Two Sides

I am happy with confidence to place my racial, religious and ethnic contour (examination / comparison) against any measurement offered. That said, I think we would agree that on the heels of every racial conflict or incident in this nation, we hear the same conversation about race-relations and all the possible interwoven and connected debates. I welcome such conversation and debate on the subject of race provided the focus is on improving relations rather than blaming or character attacking of easily identifiable groups.


What I am not interested in is the suggestion about some bogus need for 'Black History' to be taught in public schools. I also do not wish to have Irish history, Hispanic history, Polish history, Italian history or Jewish history taught per se' in our public schools. Don't get me wrong, I believe there is much to be studied about each of the aforementioned groups but I think we need not mandate specific studies, which suggests that 'whitey' does not understand thus he needs to be educated. Fact-of-the-matter everybody is ignorant about 'the other group.' Everybody suffers from ethnocentric tendencies. Tolerance education as it relates to race, ethnic, and religious acceptance is necessary for all peoples.  Let us approach the conversation, debate and any studies accepting the premise we all carry baggage !

'Say Cheese'

The recent 'hacking' of celebrities' nude photos from their private computers jarred my memory of another similar moment. I was a sixteen year old lad working in a St. Louis factory (1955). The factory employed perhaps 20-25 people who worked at skilled and semi-skilled blue-collar jobs. These folks were not college educated but they were for the most part good family people and patriotic Americans trying to keep the wolf from the front door.


One particular co-working fella, I will call 'MT,' was a amateur photography-geek who liked to photograph himself in the nude. He obviously had one of those time-delayed cameras that permitted him to set the shutter-release and jump into bed with his nude lady-friend and assume various fornicating positions.  'MT' would bring nude photos to work and enjoyed sharing the pictures with all the guys. One interesting observation; in every photo, 'MT' was looking directly into the camera lens and smiling.

I often thought, 'What a weird ass, sick pervert!' Fast forward from 1955-to-2014, I am amazed at the perverted narcissism, which is apparently common among many highly regarded celebrities and entertainers.
"Oh, no-one knows what goes on behind closed doors."...Charlie Rich 
Perhaps there is a potential money-making market in 'Entertainers' Nude Trading Cards' I.e., baseball card-shows.

Reflections

I suppose every man nearing life's end seeks a personal mental solace, which validates a purposeful journey. Perhaps many men take liberties identifying with Frank Sinatra's song, "My Way" because it suggests that a man must beat-back perilous struggles to succeed. I am sure most men justify making the aforementioned case with conditional concessions to reality measured against one's perception. Regardless of one's thesis or a counter-argument, we all listen to that inner spiritual voice that says, "Well done; you did good."
One certain factor is the ability for every person to evaluate and draw conclusions about our neighbor's life rather than self-scrutiny.
I believe our Lord saw this inherent weakness. Did He not speak with clarity of the speck in one's eye versus the speck in others' eyes?

Sometimes Winning IS Everything

I was always amused by basketball 'people' (coaches & fans) who would suggest that a coach is either a 'defensive-coach' or 'offensive-coach.' Consider please, a coach can play a very deliberate offensive style and the final 'low' score perhaps would suggest he is a defensive coach; ain't necessarily so.  My first head-coaching job was at Mason City (Illinois), which is now a consolidated school called Illini Central. I followed a coach into that position who was a deliberate offensive and good defensive coach. I recall once my second year when my Mason City team beat an opponent 114-to-89. Many local fans thought I was not teaching defense because they were accustom to their Mason City teams winning 50-to-25; a similar point-difference but low scoring thus suggesting 'defense.'


I remember the late, Joe Lucco (Edwardsville high school coach) who once told me that he believed a good defense started with a great offense. Joe's theory was 'put up' twice as many shots as your opponent and you'll win.' I personally believe that since high school coaches cannot (legally) recruit players it behooves the coach to determine, in the preseason, the strengths and weaknesses of his players and then orchestrate offensive and defensive approaches that give the kids a chance to win. As they say, 'accentuate the positive (strengths) and eliminate the negative' (weaknesses). That said...don't call me a defensive or offensive coach; most fans didn't, they called me other things!


PS. On another matter, I recently said in a blog that Harry .S Truman was second only to Abe Lincoln when listing our best Presidents. Obama  needs to take a page from Harry's 'playbook' and drop the 'Big One' everywhere we know ISIS terrorists are active. Again, sometimes the best defense is a good offense!

Speak For Self Not For Jesus

Can we agree that both the Christian 'Right' and Christian 'Left' believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; they differ in what they believe Jesus wishes from us and for us. The Christian 'Right' embraces the gospel of prosperity, which suggests that if you are a sinless believer you will be rewarded with material things. The 'Right-wing Christian' infers that the poor are lazy and sinful.


The 'Left-wing Christian' believes that the poor is poor because they are not valued except for cheap labor. The 'Left' asks for social justice through wages that allow for provisions of body and spirit. A plethora of issues put the two Christian viewpoints at odds. The 'Conservative Right' will become motivated to fight abortion, stem cell research (using embryos), availability of contraceptives through health care plans as well as the very affordable health care plans designed to benefit the poor. The 'Liberal Left' will  call for a woman's choice, protection of the poor and wage fairness. 'Right-wing Christians will state the former is sinful and the latter is redistribution of wealth.


Believers thus face a choice between 'Conservative Right-wing thinking' Christians and 'Liberal Left-wing thinking' Christians. Ultimately, we seek to answer the question: 'What would Jesus do?' I can MAKE that decision (choice) without assistance from others; hope you can, also.

Some Win, Some Lose; Some Remain The Same

I often wonder, which of the following sad circumstances will end first: (1) prejudice / racism, (2) the Middle East conflicts or (3) the Chicago Cubs' World Series drought.  I am convinced that it will take three more generations to die-off before we bury prejudice attitudes and discrimination. As for the Middle East conflict, it appears much as the Ten Commandments; written in stone; those folks ain't ever going to stop fighting! The good news seems to be coming to the North side of Chicago. I believe those young Cubbies' fans entering college this year will celebrate a Cubs' World Series winner before they graduate from the higher institution of learning. In the meantime, they'll continue practicing celebratory-drunkenness for all kinds of reasons!

No Strategy / Bad Wardrobe

I would not claim to be some type of 'Presidential Historian;' like most Americans with limited in-depth knowledge, I have my favorite Presidents. Those Commander-in-Chiefs are Abraham Lincoln, Harry S. Truman and George Washington. The listing order is intended and significant.
We (countrymen and women) have always been critical of our leaders; I liken it to my critical eye on St. Louis Cardinals' managers.


The other day, I caught a portion of President Obama's press conference as he spoke briefly to the nation about the economy numbers, which seem improved and the mess confronting the world by the activities of the terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).
The President stated at one point that he would be engaging Congress regarding the desired direction after the Pentagon weighs in with more information but at the moment there IS NO firm strategy. Holy cow-crap, the right-wing group went off on the President who would dare suggest WE OMNIPOTENT Americans don't have a game plan. Shit-fire-and-save-matches cowboys, we should just bomb the bastards and hoist a flag stating: "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED." Oops, scratch that idea that's what put us in this shit hole!




Another thing Mr. President what's up wearing a beige suit during the press conference. Ronald Reagan NEVER wore a tan suit representing our country.