The Crazy, The Insane, The Dysfunctional: The United States of America
We are a country in crisis. Besides an economic crisis, an energy crisis, a health care crisis, and any other crisis du jour, there is an actual crisis that supersedes all the other crises. It's The Crazy, The Insane, and The Dysfunctional. It's a crisis that isn't economic or political. It isn't a foreign nation. It's a crisis brought upon ourselves. It's a crisis that we created and have no intention of stopping. It's a crisis of stupidity.
THE CRAZY:
The crazy defines our media, TV, print, radio. Quick, what's the biggest story out there, nationally? The Ground Zero Mosque, right? And in my mind, there is no debate. If people want to build a mosque a few blocks away from Ground Zero, build a mosque. It doesn't affect me. Islam did not knock down the Twin Towers. It was Al-Qaeda, a radical, extremist form of Islam. Any indication to the contrary is wrong, insulting to the Muslim community and an affront to the so called religious freedom we have in the country. There is no debate. The only debate is whether they can comply with local ordinances and pass building inspections. And, in reality, that's not a debate.
But instead of applauding the people responsible for bringing a Mosque near Ground Zero, the debate focuses on the "wisdom" of putting a Mosque near Ground Zero. Ground Zero may be hollowed ground, but it doesn't include the surrounding areas. You know what's near Ground Zero? A gentleman's club, an OTB, a McDonald's, and a bunch of other crap. If we are to believe in the words we preach, believe that religious freedom and tolerance is not just words on paper, then we build the mosque, and we don't look back. We build it, we celebrate it. And we move on. We, as a nation, say we can practice whatever we religion we want. We say that we will be accepting. But, debating the merits of a Mosque near Ground Zero is not tolerant. It's not practicing religious freedom. Who cares if there is a Mosque near Ground Zero? There is nothing wrong with the Muslim people or the Islam religion. Al-Qaeda is a horrible faction of Islam. But, it's not Islam. It's batshit crazy. It's terrorism. We're not building a Mosque that supports Al-Qaeda beliefs. We're building a Mosque. And we should be proud of it.
But don't worry. Whatever your opinion is, it will all be over in a few days. The thing with the news cycle is that it's just that: A cycle. News circulates for awhile, and then it goes away. Anyone know what's going on in Haiti? How about the Chile earthquakes? What about the Gulf of Mexico? They've recovered? Oh, okay. If that's what you say, media.
We get our news from a few places. MSNBC, a liberal station. CNN, a centrist station, but it's so terrible that it doesn't make a difference. And Fox News, a right wing station. It would be nice if CNN would actually deliver news. But watch a few minutes of Rick's List and try to keep it on. You can't.
It used to be noble to be a journalist. Now, you're smeared for everything you write. What's the real big story in our country? It's probably the near 10% unemployment. Or the fact that our dependence on oil is worse than ever, and we need to start developing alternative sources of energy. Or maybe it's the fact that the Gulf of Mexico was devastated by the BP oil spill. Maybe it's a war in Afghanistan we're fighting. Maybe it should be the fact that states are going bankrupt. Or the fact we have a $13 trillion dollar deficit. Or the fact our infrastructure is crumbling and our education system is failing our children. But no way in hell should it be the Ground Zero Mosque. It shouldn't be Michele Obama going to Spain for a fucking vacation. It shouldn't be Obama going on The View. There are serious, complex issues facing our nation. Issues that will define us as a generation. Issues that will either point us in the direction of long term stability and prosperity or in the direction of debt and despair. But, yeah, let's focus on the Mosque that people will forget about in a few days. It's not like our nation's future is depending on it.
THE INSANE:
We have two countries. Red. And Blue. Red has a very different belief system than Blue. Which is fine. Having different beliefs is what makes a country go. But, there's having different beliefs and respecting that fact and there's having different beliefs and not giving a crap about the other. In fact, Red and Blue don't communicate. They criticize. They ridicule. They mock. In Red's mind, anything that Blue does is crazy and vice versa. In Blue's mind, Red is never right and vice versa. Red is the enemy of Blue, Blue the enemy of Red. We are not a country that believes in United We Stand, Divided We Fall, but, rather, United We Fall, Divided We Stand. It's better for one country to gain the upper hand, both in government and in population. That way, that country can can assert it's dominance. We The People are not We anymore. We're Them. We're alone in our own world. A Blue Country resident who lives in Red is an outcast. Plop a red-stater in Blue, and they will stand out more than Lady Gaga. We are no longer defined by our nation, but rather, our political beliefs. I'm a Democrat. I'm Blue. Therefore, according to Red, I want to pull the plug on Grandma, raise taxes, increase spending, start spreading socialism and stop protecting our troops. In reality, I do want to raise taxes, but I want to decrease spending. I don't want to spread socialism. I want to protect and help our troops as much as possible. But, since all Blues are made alike, my individual beliefs will never be heard.
Individualism. The ability to say and do what you want. To not feel beholden by a standard you didn't create. That's one of the cornerstones of this country. But, if I tell a Red I'm a Blue, my individualism is immediately corrupted. I'm no longer Me. I'm one of Them.
We used have to debate. We used to have a dialogue. Yeah, Red disagreed with Blue, but it was always with respect, and there was always a compromise to be made. But then you have this shit, and it's impossible to compromise:
If that's the level of discourse, then fuck it. Because what's the point of standing and trying to have an honest discussion about the issues of our time when someone is focused on a fucking birth certificate? There is no point. That is our discourse. That is our discussion. There is no compromise there. There are no solutions to be found. There is only anger. There is only an argument. There is only a nation of yellers, not of thinkers.
We can sit and pretend we have some unity, but let's face it, the only time there is unity in this country is during the Olympics and after a National tragedy. The Olympics are every two years. And National tragedies only last in our minds for a little bit. So no, we don't have unity. We are not the United States of America. We are Red. And We are Blue. If you're somewhere in the middle, you're fucked.
THE DYSFUNCTIONAL:
Quick, name your two senators. Mine are Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Now, quick, name their positions on key issues. Well, since my Senators are both Democrats, their "position" is the Democratic position: More Stimulus, health care for all, etc, etc. The United States Senate and House of Representatives used to be one of the most respected institutions in the world. These were noble men and women.
But, now, instead of being beholden to the people, to their constituents, they are beholden to their party, to whoever gives them enough money. The US government has seemingly lost track of what's important.
They're more tied up in short term things, sound bites to help in their re-election campaigns. No one dare touches the issue of taxation and spending. All taxes have to be lowered, they say. The sad truth is, the more taxes are lowered, the more we're in a shit hole. All spending must be cut, but the military must never be touched. And while spending needs to be cut, there are plenty of places in the Defense budget that can be cut. We can't talk about increasing taxes a bit to pay for a clean energy economy--one that will, by the way, bring millions of millions of jobs and release us from the chokeholds of Middle Eastern countries--because it's seen as a government takeover. My definition of government is this: Do for the people what they can't do for themselves. The people haven't been able to create a clean energy economy--the government must.
But because everything requires 60 votes in the Senate, and all bills passed in the majority rules House of Representatives must be passed in the Senate, and then reconciled between the two and voted on again, nothing gets done. Republicans will filibuster all bills. Democrats will do the same when Republicans are in power. So, while the issues of are time are real, the minority will never help the majority, God forbid they anger their base or be seen standing with the other party. I mean, for God's sake, Florida Governor Charlie Crist was vilified for hugging the President of the United States. The Fucking President of the United States. The President wants to hug you, and you hug back. But Crist will probably lose his Senate bid because he was seen as siding with Obama. He gave the guy a fucking hug. If you can't hug someone, for fear of losing your base, what kind of base is that?
But, that's the game we have. Who gives a fuck about policy? Because policy, the things that will actually get us out of our shit hole, doesn't satisfy the crazy. Having a real debate about real issues isn't sexy. So, we yell and scream, and Senators lie and accuse each other of shit that doesn't even matter. It's not politics. It's war.
We The People, The Crazy, The Insane, The Dysfunctional. We are in a spiral of despair. And unless the curlicue whimsy of fate is on our side, nothing will stop it. Unless, that is, we, the people, decide to say enough is enough and make a change. Rise up and demand accountability from our media. Rise up and demand real solutions from our government. Eliminate the R or D next to someone's name. Forget about Blue and Red and realize our shared power is better than it is separated. We, The People, must understand that if we let this silly game we call our society continue, that we will look back on our lives as a failure. This is our generation's greatest task. We must bring a country back from the dead.
And while I may be an optimist, I'm not stupid. Solving the issues of our time will requires a mass cultural change. A change in what we believe , in what we think, in how we think. A change in our actions. A change in our mindset. This cannot be the work of one person. Can't be the work of a few hundred. Everyone must pitch in. Everyone must put on their hard hat and get to work. We are a country that is dying. And we're worried about a Mosque. Sure, that's the appropriate response. No. Fuck it. Let's get to fucking work. Because we have no choice. We have no fucking choice.
Thanks for returning to The Blog of Champions!
BP
We all know about the horrors of the BP oil spill. They don't know how to stop the leak. Thousands upon thousands of gallons of oil have gushed out. It could go on for weeks.
BP, and the government's response, has been lackluster, at best. I don't know how to stop the leak, but I think a more visible presence from Obama and BP would be better.
As I was driving today, I passed by a local BP gas station. There was a bit of traffic, so I was stopped adjacent to the station. I looked over. What did I see? A bouncy castle.
Yes, a bouncy castle. One of those things kids enjoy. A bouncy castle. While oil is leaking at an unfathomable rate. Really? Is getting a bouncy castle priority 1? Because if it is, I worry for our country. Clean up the oil. Stop the leak. Then put a bouncy castle in. It's shameful.
The worst part was that there were kids in the castle. Parents thought it was okay to support BP and use the bouncy castle.
BP needs to stop the oil. They need to clean it up. And then a vigorous PR campaign. That's when the bouncy castles come in. Not when oil is gushing. Priorities, BP. Priorities.
Framing The Debate
Changing over to politics, for a little bit. I've been struck about how Democrats are dealing with Republicans. Look, I'm all for bipartisanship. I think conservatives have some great ideas. Problem is, Republicans don't want to engage. Democrats call them hypocrites--rightly so--but then invite them to the table for discussions.
If Democrats want to do anything, the best thing to do is to ignore the Republicans. Liberal shows like Keith Olbermann's spent almost all of their time on Republicans. By doing this, the Republicans win.
Instead, ignore the Republicans. They aren't going to offer anything policy-wise, so go about it your own way. You're not losing anything. You're putting the focus on you, the Democrats, the solution party, the party that cares. You're the good guys.
And, about the filibuster, make the Republicans filibuster. Who cares if they "intend" to filibuster? Make them! Make Jim Demint read the phone book, the Bible whatever. You can only filibuster for so long. Civil rights legislation was filibustered. Make them stand up there. Make them make a fool out of themselves. It'll be worth it.
I know this rant is kind of unorganized, so forgive me. The central thesis is this: Spend less time pointing out the pitfalls of the Republicans, and more time pointing out the successes of the Democrats. Frame the debate in your favor. Frame it so Americans are focused on you, not the antics of the Republicans. The Republicans are winning because the focus is on them. Ignore them, and put the focus on you.
Balloon Boy And Our Sad Social Commentary
I realize I am late with this. I realize that this isn't the first time you've read about something like this. I'm not sure why I didn't post about it. Maybe because I thought it wasn't necessary. Maybe because I just wrote it off as another fame crazy story. Maybe because I only cared that the kid was safe. Maybe. But, it still burns at me in a way I never expected. You see, I've always thought that our society is focused on the wrong things. We care more about Jessica Simpson sometimes than we do about the war in Afghanistan. And sometimes, that's okay. We need a diversion. But, it shouldn't be our main focus. We should never have round the clock coverage of Anna Nicole Smith. It's just not right.
Balloon Boy, when the story first came out, was understandably captivating. Here you have a boy, stuck in a balloon. You care for his safety. You care for his life. You're engrossed. But then, you find out it was a hoax, that it was done to get a TV show. It should've been then that we stopped. It should've been then that we moved on, that we didn't give these fame seeking whores the time they wanted. Instead, we ramped up our coverage. By doing that, we've become an enabler. An enabler of this bad behavior. An enabler of families risking their kids to get money, to get fame. An enabler of young celebrities going out all the time, hurting themselves. We're the problem.
I've always wondered how our political system would be different if more time and energy was focused on it. Imagine round the clock coverage of the health care proceedings. There could be real time conversation about aspects of the bill. Folks from all around the country could weigh in. We could spend time on this meaningful debate. Imagine round the clock coverage of families who have been hit hard by the economy. There would be a mass springing into action, people helping out their fellow countrymen. It would be amazing.
But instead, we're focused on Balloon Boy, on Lindsay Lohan, on Britney Spears. And while it's fine to use them as a diversion, they should NEVER be the top story of the night. Balloon Boy shouldn't get more than five minutes of coverage. It's an update, and then we move on. But, it doesn't work that way. People don't want to face the news of the day. They don't want to hear about foreclosures. They don't want to hear about health care. They don't want to hear about wars. So we watch Dancing With The Stars, and American Idol. We care more about the winner of those shows. We vote more. We're active. And we do it because it's easy. It doesn't require you to think. It doesn't require you to face the facts. It's a phone call.
I can't change the way our media works. I can't change the way society thinks. What I can do is try and bring us all down to earth. As painful as it is, we have to realize that almost 10% of our country is unemployed. We have to realize that there are two wars going on, and thousands of lives have been lost, and many more will be lost. We have to realize that almost 50 million people do not have health insurance. We have to realize that global climate change is real and upon us. We have to realize our Congress is as bitter and partisan as ever. Until we realize this, until our media realizes this, we'll have Balloon Boy every day of the week. We'll have stories, that seemingly have no importance, dominate the news cycle. We'll spend more time on the new cast of Dancing With The Stars. Let's move on from this. As painful as it is, let's focus on what really matters. Because until we do, we're going to get nowhere.
They Shouldn’t Be Dancing, Yeah!
Dancing With The Stars came out with its new cast list today. Take a look:
Hopefuls include entertainer Donny Osmond; singers Mya, Macy Gray and Aaron Carter; actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar and Ashley Hamilton (son of George); models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; reality stars Kelly Osbourne and Mark Dacascos ("the Chairman" on Food Network's "Iron Chef America"); mixed martial artist Chuck Liddell; professional snowboarder Louie Vito; Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin; former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin and the 62-year-old former congressman from Texas (Tom DeLay).
Are any of those people stars? Who is Mark Dacscos? Who is Louie Vito? And Tom DeLay? Tom DeLay? Are you kidding me?
I could go on and on. I know people who are addicted to this show. I don't know why, but they are. If they could somehow get Tom Hanks, I would be interested. If they could somehow get Julia Roberts, I would be interested. But, Dancing With the Stars is just another tabloid, much like US Weekly. They are making people begging for fame famous. They are enablers. Because of them, we have reality shows with people I've never heard of. And they get famous because of it! Not people who are actually actors, or musicians, who deserve fame. I don't get it. Until someone stops this madness, this enabling of fame hungry whores, this country will suffer. Instead of focusing on real issues, the cast list of Dancing With The Stars is the front page on Yahoo!. No one cares! This whole country would be 10 times smarter if the actual issues were on the front page all the time. These enablers don't realize they are actually hurting us. And until they do, they are going to continue to hurt, because they are making a ton of money doing it. What a shame.
Raul Ibanez Fires Back at Blogger Over Rumored PED Use/The Blogger Journalist Handbook
Phillies outfielder, Raul Ibanez, is up in arms over a blogger's suggestion that Ibanez's great stats thus far are due to the use of performance enhancing drugs. I don't know if Ibanez has used steroids, nor do I wish to opine on the subject. Here's what he had to say:
"I'll come after people who defame or slander me," he said Tuesday night before the Phillies played the New York Mets, according to the report. "It's pathetic and disgusting. There should be some accountability for people who put that out there."
"Make them accountable. There should be more credibility than some 42-year-old blogger typing in his mother's basement. It demeans everything you've done with one stroke of the pen."
As a blogger, I don't try to take the place of a journalist. I don't try to pretend I am one. Because I am not. I don't have nearly the training, access, or discretion that journalists do. I am merely someone providing thoughts on the world at large. And there have been times I've been controversial. But where is the line, between blogger and journalist? How can we set up guidelines, so that bloggers don't step their way into the journalistic realm? How do we, as bloggers, differentiate between a factual, sourced, reported story, rather than something from our own mind? Because, in essence, the blogger in the Raul Ibanez case did not probe sources, did not try to cultivate information. He just looked at stats and created a conclusion.
I believe that there is a place for bloggers and journalists to share a happy medium. While the journalists have the experience, access, and discretion, the blogging field should not be diminished, just because we don't write for a newspaper. At the same time, bloggers shouldn't feel entitled just because we have a space to share our thoughts. I'm going to list sort of a Blogger-Journalist handbook. It will outline what I believe is necessary for blogs and newspapers to coexist.
1. Journalists have to acknowledge that we exist.
Yes, we're here, and not going anywhere. The 'citizen' journalist will be here to stay. With the advent of instant technology, Twitter, Facebook and more like them, anyone can write anything. And while we don't have the experience, we have opinions, and a lot of them are valid and worthy for discussion.
2. Bloggers should not feel entitled
I have a blog. I pay a hosting company to host it. But I, and others like me, cannot feel that we have the ability to sway the masses just because we have a blog. We have to learn nuance, when to blast someone, when to keep our commentaries reserved, when to accuse someone of cheating and when not to. The best solution? A boot camp for bloggers, where we learn about reporting stories, sourcing, discretion. I've had to learn on the job, and it's hard. It's hard to decide what's appropriate for posting, how it should be written. If we could take a boot camp, our ability to convey a story will be much improved.
3. Understand our boundaries: work together
Let's face it: Newspapers are dying. With the current economic climate, the advent of free newspapers on the Internet, not as many people are buying a paper. It's likely that all newspapers at some point will be digital. And, in essence, journalists become bloggers. They have a forum online to speak. Yet, what they have that we don't, is a reporter's ability. And while we have to work together, we can't blur the lines. I'm not going to report facts on a story. Bloggers should write what they feel, write about issues, write deep, probing commentaries on what they think is important. And while reporters can do the same, that have to be reporters first and foremost, not commentators. While they report facts, we make our opinions known. While they dig for sources, we react. There is a fine line, and it should not be crossed. If you are a commentator, a Jason Whitlock or a Dan Wetzel, you can speak your mind on stories. There is a line between reporting and commentating. Bloggers are on the commentary side. And we should stay there.
If there is anything to learn from this Ibanez case, is that bloggers have to understand where we fit. We may be the majority, but right now, we have to play by the minority's rule. And that's not to say we don't have a voice. We do. And it should be recognized. We have amazing bloggers who provide the world with great content. Hopefully this site does the same. If we are ever to be respected as a field, if we are ever to recognized as a voice in the world of journalism, we have to know our place. We can't speculate that Raul Ibanez used steroids, just because his numbers are inflated. If a reporter talks to sources and backs it up with factual information, it can be reported. And until we have that access, we can just talk about it. It's frustrating, because I want to dig deeper into my stories, talk to people in the know. But I can't. So unless I have hard, concrete information, I'm left to my opinions, and bloggers cannot be in the field of defamation. We can talk about the Magic winning Game 3, but we should not talk about Raul Ibanez potentially using steroids. I know there will be bloggers who disagree. They'll say that we have every right to conjecture about personal lives. I don't think we do. We wouldn't want people conjecturing about our personal lives, and since we don't have that access, those sources, we can't just guess. And if we want to be respected, we have to lay off. For now.
Super Bowl and Other Thoughts
I don't think I realized how long it has been since I last posted, but sure enough, it's been a while. I think we'll all agree to start with the Super Bowl.
It was a great game--dramatic, fun, the works. But the greatest? No way. It couldn't be. Not when compared to last year's, or the Patriots Rams game. Or even the Ice Bowl. It was a great game. But not the greatest. By the way--Larry Fitzgerald is one of the greatest receivers I have ever seen. On his second touchdown, he might've been flying. Some commercials were funny--especially the Doritos ones.
Lots of spirited debate on Capitol Hill with regards to Obama's Stimulus. Crazy. Nonsense. People are losing their jobs every day. And Congress and the Senate have the balls to debate this? No more time can be wasted. Get it passed as quickly as possible. It's been shown in the past that public works and government intervention work. Tax cuts and supply side economics don't .Doesn't make sense to me. Now, I'm not smart enough to figure out the best way to fix the economy. But, I am smart enough to know that something has to be done. I thought Obama made a great statment when he talked about the voters voting against tax cuts of the past eight years.
Unfortunately, even if the stimulus gets passed, this same partisan rancor will continue. As an American, it annoys the hell out of me. Congressional and Senate members are concerned with one thing: getting re-elected. So they're going to anything and everything in their power to make that happen. Whether it's porking up a bill to get something for their constitutions, or not voting for something that is needed, because it's risky politically (i.e. bailout, stimulus), ,they're going to do it. So this is what I propose: Senate and Congressional Term Limits. This can't be a career. Have Senators serve one 6 year term; Have Congressmen and women serve one 4 year terms. That way, they can get it, serve the public good, and leave. Call me an ideologist , but I really think this will work. It cannot be a career, that is built upon getting re-elected. Washington has to 'uncorrupt' itself. They have to get rid of lobbyists, and get the people more involved. After all, it is a government OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people. Not for a select few.
Now that that rant is over, I want to share some pictures from Adam Graves Night. It was an unbelievable night, that showcased the best that hockey has to offer. Adam Graves is a truly a great person-- watching walking onto the ice, stopping to hug each and every person that he works with The Garden of Dreams foundation brought me to tears.
In other comedic news, Joe the Plumber was in Washington today--to give Republicans his thoughts on the stimulus. You're kidding, right? It's almost insulting. He's the one who's talking to our lawmakers. Crazy. Just. Wow.
Before I leave, I have a couple of TV shows that are addicting: Trust Me, and Life on Mars. Check them out.
Defending Obama’s Stimulus
We've heard a ton of banter from congressional members about Obama's stimulus package. Will it be enough? Will the tax breaks be effective? My answer to it is this: we need it. Enough of the petty arguments to further yourself politically (I'm talking to you Congress), but, for once, putting away your interests for the country's interests. Yes, a massive stimulus package will not only get people back to work, it will inject cash flow into the consumer market, which is something that is sorely needed, as it makes up 2/3 of our economy. So Congress, fight all you want. But don't let the stimulus fall to the wayside. I've said it for awhile, that one of the main problems this country faces is the divide between Democrats and Republicans, right wing and left wing. It's so bad, that we have trouble passing legislation sorely needed. Get it together. Get your act together. For our country.
Parker Resigns
Remember Rob Parker? The volatile journalist who asked Rod Marinelli about his son-in-law, and his daughter's choice in men? Well, he resigned. Just an idiot. A grade-A idiot. Someone who lost all respect for the journalistic code, someone who lost their sense of right and wrong. I'm glad he resigned. I would've rather seen him fired. But, this is enough. Rob Parker shouldn't get another job. He shouldn't. He should work somewhere out of the public eye, where he doesn't have to deal with people. It was a despicable thing to say, and his apology was even worse. Crazy world we live in.
Gill-Chizik
I haven't written one of these inflammatory posts in a while, so forgive me if my tone seems off-key. But know what is really 'off-key'? Auburn hiring Gene Chizik as head coach, and, more importantly, not hiring Turner Gill as head coach. Readers know I love Turner Gill; I've been promoting him for the Syracuse, Auburn, and Tennessee Head coaching jobs--all jobs that went to white men. Let me rephrase that. All jobs that went to unqualified white men. Lane Kiffin in Tennessee? Yeah, because his stint in Oakland went really well. Doug Marrone in Syracuse? Yeah, an NFL offensive coordinator really translates well to being the coach of a football team in college. And Gene Chizik at Auburn? Yeah, because going 5-19 at Iowa State really makes you an attractive option. I wouldn't have a problem with this if they were qualified. No problem at all. If they were right for the job, fine. So be it. But they're not. Turner Gill is. Turner Gill not only turned around a terrible Buffalo program into MAC contenders, he also just knocked off the (at the time) Number 12 ranked team in the country, in Ball State. So you want to tell me that Turner Gill is not qualified? Please. Gill coached at Buffalo. Imagine what he could do at Auburn, or Tennessee, with the resources they have. Not only is this flat-out racism (yes I said it) it's a bad football move. When Auburn fires Chizik in a year, and come calling for Gill, he better turn it down. Go to a school that really wants you. That wants you based on your qualifications. So Auburn, Tennessee, Syracuse, I hope you fall flat on your face. Fall straight down. Because you deserve it. If Turner Gill isn't qualified, I don't know who is. If Turner Gill was white, wouldn't we be having this conversation. I hate that I have to talk about race. It's not something that I want to do. It's, in fact, the last thing I want to do. And what do I know? I grew up in a predominantly white, affluent suburban neighborhood, with, 5 or 6 black kids in my high school. So I'm no expert. But, if this doesn't scream racism, I don't know what does. If this doesn't get your blood boiling, I don't know what will. If this doesn't make you angry, upset, frustrated, I don't know what will. If this doesn't make you speak out, I don't know what will. I hope you are as angry as I am. I pray that you feel this same anger that I do, this same urgency that I do. We just elected a black man to serve in the highest office in the world. And we can't even hire a black football coach, a qualified black football coach? Wow. And I thought our economy was screwed up.
