...yes, of course, Abraham Lincoln--but it is also the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin (coincidence?). CNN today reported that fewer than 50 percent of Americans surveyed thought that the theory of evolution was factual. Of course, as they also reported, most of the people who didn't think it was true (or factual) were, well, to put it bluntly, ignorant--as in having lower levels of education than those who accepted it.
Most of those who refute it use--also, of course--the Bible as their basis to do so, saying humans were created in God's image. One caller from Kentucky (again, surprise, surprise) said something to the effect that "God doesn't look like a monkey...." My immediate thought to that was, "How the hell does she know? Has she actually seen God? And if God is all powerful, can't He make Himself in any image He so desires?"
My thought is this--yes, we were created by God...but I don't believe it was in full form as we are now. I believe God started the universe off, and things have happened as they should, including the creation of Earth and the evolution of all life on it.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Thoughts on Michael Phelps and A-Rod
The recent photographs of Michael Phelps holding a bong—a marijuana pipe—has created a lot of buzz, both on TV and over the internet. And now Alex Rodriguez’s admission that he used performance-enhancing substances for thee years in the early part of this decade has the sports world buzzing yet again.
But it’s not just sportscasters and sports blogs—regular news shows, entertainment programs, even politicians have been weighing in on what this means to the American society: “How will this affect our children?” “How will this affect endorsements?” “What kind of role model are they?” On the other hand, many people are asking, “Why should we care? They are just athletes. What he does in his spare time is nobody’s business but his own and probably no different than what anyone else his age is doing.” “Everyone else was doing it and it wasn’t against the rules at the time.” I believe at the heart of the matter is this simple question, “Is it wrong to look at athletes as role models?” My response is, to put it bluntly, it is not.
America has long prided itself on being the land of opportunity—where everyone has a fair chance at their piece of the American Dream. From the days of Thomas Jefferson (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), through Horace Greeley (Go West, young man—that is where you will find your fortune), and right up to Emma Lazarus (your huddled masses yearning to breathe free), America has been about making it to the top. Once someone has made it there, we celebrate their accomplishments and hold them up as an example as to what each of us can not only aspire to but, through hard work and dedication, what each of us can achieve. So if our society is based on individual success, then certainly we cannot be wrong in looking at those who have become successful as role models.
So the question becomes, then…what defines success? Money? Power? Instant recognition? One’s face on a Wheaties box? For better or for worse (I will let you make that call), the answer to all of the above is “yes.” In a society that is based on fame and fortune, in a society where one’s achievements bring certain privileges—owning a large home in an exclusive community; having access to people and places most other can only dream about; being the object of everyone’s attention—being successful does make one a role model, whether one wishes to be or not. And as been quoted many times, most recently in Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
In America, success brings power: the power to draw attention to oneself wherever one goes; the power to fill a theater, a stadium, a concert hall, a restaurant; the power to motivate people to buy something, to vote for someone or donate money to a cause. Among the people who are among the most visible are sports stars. Now whether we place too much emphasis on sports in our society is a whole other matter for discussion; the fact is that it does play a tremendous role (who didn’t know the Super Bowl was Sunday before last?). And top athletes are among the most celebrated in society. So is Michael Phelps taking a bong hit a big deal? Does the fact that A-Rod used PEDs really matter? Right here, right now, in the America of 2009—you bet it is.
But it’s not just sportscasters and sports blogs—regular news shows, entertainment programs, even politicians have been weighing in on what this means to the American society: “How will this affect our children?” “How will this affect endorsements?” “What kind of role model are they?” On the other hand, many people are asking, “Why should we care? They are just athletes. What he does in his spare time is nobody’s business but his own and probably no different than what anyone else his age is doing.” “Everyone else was doing it and it wasn’t against the rules at the time.” I believe at the heart of the matter is this simple question, “Is it wrong to look at athletes as role models?” My response is, to put it bluntly, it is not.
America has long prided itself on being the land of opportunity—where everyone has a fair chance at their piece of the American Dream. From the days of Thomas Jefferson (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), through Horace Greeley (Go West, young man—that is where you will find your fortune), and right up to Emma Lazarus (your huddled masses yearning to breathe free), America has been about making it to the top. Once someone has made it there, we celebrate their accomplishments and hold them up as an example as to what each of us can not only aspire to but, through hard work and dedication, what each of us can achieve. So if our society is based on individual success, then certainly we cannot be wrong in looking at those who have become successful as role models.
So the question becomes, then…what defines success? Money? Power? Instant recognition? One’s face on a Wheaties box? For better or for worse (I will let you make that call), the answer to all of the above is “yes.” In a society that is based on fame and fortune, in a society where one’s achievements bring certain privileges—owning a large home in an exclusive community; having access to people and places most other can only dream about; being the object of everyone’s attention—being successful does make one a role model, whether one wishes to be or not. And as been quoted many times, most recently in Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
In America, success brings power: the power to draw attention to oneself wherever one goes; the power to fill a theater, a stadium, a concert hall, a restaurant; the power to motivate people to buy something, to vote for someone or donate money to a cause. Among the people who are among the most visible are sports stars. Now whether we place too much emphasis on sports in our society is a whole other matter for discussion; the fact is that it does play a tremendous role (who didn’t know the Super Bowl was Sunday before last?). And top athletes are among the most celebrated in society. So is Michael Phelps taking a bong hit a big deal? Does the fact that A-Rod used PEDs really matter? Right here, right now, in the America of 2009—you bet it is.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Maybe I am just not "with it"....
...but I did not like Jennifer Hudson's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner prior to the Super Bowl. I'm just not into "interpretations" of it, as if it is a jazz tune or a Broadway standard, which this evening's rendition reminded me of. I think it should be sung straitforward, quickly, and with dignity. But what the hell do I know?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
RIP John Updike
One of my favorite writers, John Updike, passed away on January 27 at the age of 76. I remember being introduced to Updike in a sophomore English class at MSU--one of the assignments was Rabbit, Run. Since then, Updike has ranked among my three of four favorite authors.
A truly unique American voice is now silent.
A truly unique American voice is now silent.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Quick Bitch Session
It was -19F last night in South Bend...if I wanted to freeze my ass and one remaining testicle off, I would have moved to flippin' Barrow, Alaska. Hell, it was probably warmer in Barrow than it was here. At least I wasn't in Minnesota, where it was much colder--but those crazy Scandinavians Lutherans just say, "What the hell, eh?" and dig into another hot, steaming fish casserole. As Mr. Buffett sings...."I gotta go where it's warm."
End of (this) bitch session.
End of (this) bitch session.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Another Sign I am Getting (More) Jaded
So I am watching the local Fox affiliate this morning, and they run this story about an Atlanta woman who just celebrated her 107th birthday. And I think to myself...you know, 10 years ago, I would have thought, "How cool!" But today, I didn't...and I got to wondering why.
Then it hit me. She may be 107 years old, but she was born in the same century as I was. Back in the late 20th century, it seemed....fascinating, I guess...to know that someone had lived in the century previous to yours (as my great grandmother, who was born in 1893 and died in 1979, did). But now, for some reason, it doesn't seem all that unique. After all, my late maternal grandparents were born in 1911 and 1917...
She has seen a lot of things in her 107 years, to be sure, bt she didn't see the turn of the prior century; maybe that's why it didn't seem so fascinating to me. Either way, I hope she lives to see the turn of another decade, at least.
Then it hit me. She may be 107 years old, but she was born in the same century as I was. Back in the late 20th century, it seemed....fascinating, I guess...to know that someone had lived in the century previous to yours (as my great grandmother, who was born in 1893 and died in 1979, did). But now, for some reason, it doesn't seem all that unique. After all, my late maternal grandparents were born in 1911 and 1917...
She has seen a lot of things in her 107 years, to be sure, bt she didn't see the turn of the prior century; maybe that's why it didn't seem so fascinating to me. Either way, I hope she lives to see the turn of another decade, at least.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
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