Watch any station covering politics today and you simply cant avoid hearing a Republican (my bad, not all conservatives are republicans, OKAY) spend 15 minutes of airtime ranting on and on about Obama's "socialist" programs, "big" government, and increasing regulation. These so-called "conservatives" spend their lives trying to perpetuate the concept that Obama is allowing government to make decisions as to how we live our individual lives while the GOP stands at the ready to "protect" our "freedom of choice". As sad as this complete misrepresentation of neo-conservatism is, perhaps even worse is the oppositions' inability to counter by pointing out the inherent hypocrisy in the GOP argument. Anyway, Ill help the Democrats out.
The idea that Republicans are the champions of freedom is about as close to realty as your everyday Iranian propaganda film showing the "equal" treatment of women in the sheltered Islamic nation. Republicans scoff at the notion of taxation as government making individual decisions, yet at the same time they oppose allowing the freedom to:
1. Be Gay- Let's be honest, the right isnt against gay marriage for the cost
2. Smoke pot- I though the government isnt supposed to be telling us what we should or should not do?
3. Speak out against America- Where was all that tea party "first amendment" talk during the protests prior to the start of the Iraq war?
4. Drink alcohol (under 21)- even "socialist" Europe is largely 18
5. travel to cuba- seriously, we cant even go on a nice vacation?
6. practice islam- once again, probably not the most politically-correct statement, but it is pretty obvious how the patriot act and other post 9/11 legislation has inhibited muslims' ability to freely practice their religion
The list goes on and on and on.
So next time you think the Republican Party stands up for your individual rights, think again. The bottom line is that both parties are at their roots following the same principles. After all, we are all Americans and the sad part is that we are beginning to lose sight of that essential fact. Even the modern calls for patriotism seem forced and simply disingenuous political maneuvers. Lets get back to basics. Washington: Stop worrying about the next election and start making our country the model of all nations once again. Fix this great nation and the elections will take care of themselves.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The King, The Ego, and the Chance of a Lifetime
As those of you who know me are well aware, I am not a fan of today's NBA. Not because of the outrageous salaries involved, I realize that is part of professional sports in today's world, but rather because of the outrageous egos the NBA has defined itself by. All professional athletes are by nature over confident human beings, yet the NBA institutionalizes the concept of me and demeans the concept of we. That said, I cannot help but take a stake in this horror film that is the Lebron James free agency.
For the sake of getting on with the argument, I will say flat out that I pray Lebron stays in Northeast Ohio. Again, I could care less about the Cavaliers and the NBA, especially during the majority of the NBA season that coincides with the far more intriguing college basketball season (and I could go on and on about how the allure of the NBA has ruined college basketball, but I will save that for another day and another early draft entry announcement). Rather, my interest in Lebron staying is an interest in the future of the Cleveland area, an area that is my family homeland of sorts and one that I have always had a close connection to.
Cleveland needs Lebron to stay. This isnt a case of Jim Thome or Manny Ramirez heading east to seek a larger contract, this a a hometown kid who is threatening to leave for no other reason than his belief that Cleveland's hopes for a title have gone by the wayside. This hometown kid is not leaving for money, not leaving for home, and perhaps not even leaving for a better team (if he goes to New York).
Many talking heads on ESPN have continued to hammer in the assertion that, in the words of Tim Legler, "3 titles in New York are worth 1 in Cleveland". That simple sentence is the basis for this rant of a posting. How can you possibly say that? This is a Lebron James who, although he has chosen to be a fair-weather fan his entire life, replacing the Indians and Browns with membership in the fanhoods of the cowboys and yankees (half of Cleveland didnt know the Cavs existed before Lebron), is well aware of the pessimism that has enveloped a town that has gone title dry for nearly half a century. Combine the thirst for a title with the economic despair facing a city whose reliance on the steel industry has reeked havoc on modern improvement and you have a situation in which Lebron can easily be seen as all that stands between hope for a rebound in Cleveland and permanent relegation to third-class city status. Lebron knows this need Cleveland has for his return and also knows that winning a title in Cleveland is perhaps the single greatest challenge available to today's professional athlete.
How can Legler say that winning a title in a city full of titles would do more for Lebron than bringing the first professional sports title in over 50 years to HIS HOMETOWN!!! We are talking one of the greatest stories in sports history and you think that winning yet another title for the city of New York outweighs that? The Knicks may have struggled the past century (irrationally waiting for this year's free agent market instead of competing like men for titles in the present), but their fans have had the pleasure of titles won by the Yankees and the Giants, a luxury Cleveland fans simply have not had.
Very few professional athletes get the chance to play for their hometown teams, let alone with the star power of a Lebron James. Lebron has become a national icon, grown into one of the premier NBA stars, and nurtured a worldwide brand, all from the comforts of home in Akron. New York and Miami may seem like beacons of hope with their bright lights and bustling streets. But in the end, none of those attractions, none of those promises of fame, fortune, and glory, can compare with the chance to become immortalized in your hometown. Stay in Cleveland and bring home a title, Lebron. Your community needs you know more than ever.
For the sake of getting on with the argument, I will say flat out that I pray Lebron stays in Northeast Ohio. Again, I could care less about the Cavaliers and the NBA, especially during the majority of the NBA season that coincides with the far more intriguing college basketball season (and I could go on and on about how the allure of the NBA has ruined college basketball, but I will save that for another day and another early draft entry announcement). Rather, my interest in Lebron staying is an interest in the future of the Cleveland area, an area that is my family homeland of sorts and one that I have always had a close connection to.
Cleveland needs Lebron to stay. This isnt a case of Jim Thome or Manny Ramirez heading east to seek a larger contract, this a a hometown kid who is threatening to leave for no other reason than his belief that Cleveland's hopes for a title have gone by the wayside. This hometown kid is not leaving for money, not leaving for home, and perhaps not even leaving for a better team (if he goes to New York).
Many talking heads on ESPN have continued to hammer in the assertion that, in the words of Tim Legler, "3 titles in New York are worth 1 in Cleveland". That simple sentence is the basis for this rant of a posting. How can you possibly say that? This is a Lebron James who, although he has chosen to be a fair-weather fan his entire life, replacing the Indians and Browns with membership in the fanhoods of the cowboys and yankees (half of Cleveland didnt know the Cavs existed before Lebron), is well aware of the pessimism that has enveloped a town that has gone title dry for nearly half a century. Combine the thirst for a title with the economic despair facing a city whose reliance on the steel industry has reeked havoc on modern improvement and you have a situation in which Lebron can easily be seen as all that stands between hope for a rebound in Cleveland and permanent relegation to third-class city status. Lebron knows this need Cleveland has for his return and also knows that winning a title in Cleveland is perhaps the single greatest challenge available to today's professional athlete.
How can Legler say that winning a title in a city full of titles would do more for Lebron than bringing the first professional sports title in over 50 years to HIS HOMETOWN!!! We are talking one of the greatest stories in sports history and you think that winning yet another title for the city of New York outweighs that? The Knicks may have struggled the past century (irrationally waiting for this year's free agent market instead of competing like men for titles in the present), but their fans have had the pleasure of titles won by the Yankees and the Giants, a luxury Cleveland fans simply have not had.
Very few professional athletes get the chance to play for their hometown teams, let alone with the star power of a Lebron James. Lebron has become a national icon, grown into one of the premier NBA stars, and nurtured a worldwide brand, all from the comforts of home in Akron. New York and Miami may seem like beacons of hope with their bright lights and bustling streets. But in the end, none of those attractions, none of those promises of fame, fortune, and glory, can compare with the chance to become immortalized in your hometown. Stay in Cleveland and bring home a title, Lebron. Your community needs you know more than ever.
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