Mistakes and Blunders in the News

 I will be the first to admit, I have made many mistakes in my life. Most of these blunders have been small and inconsequential to the world at large, for which I am very grateful. What could be worse than being famous enough to make a mistake that ends up on the front page of the news for weeks on end? Here are a few of the biggest errors of late, in my opinion, of course!

Hershel Walker made the mistake of running for public office. (Or maybe the mistake was aligning himself with Donald Trump?) Once upon a time, Walker was a beloved figure in the state of Georgia. The Heisman Trophy winner was a hometown legend until he chose to enter the ugly world of politics. Because he is a Conservative and ran as a Republican, his opponents and the media immediately began the process of trashing his reputation. Every small mistake or regret (or allegation) became front page news and now Walker is more hated than loved in Georgia (and most of the rest of the country as well.) I would bet that in hindsight, he wishes he had never run for the Senate.

Harry and Meghan going on Netflix could be a big mistake. Just the trailers have already created a huge negative backlash against the couple. (Some might say marrying Meghan was a mistake on Harry’s part, but I don’t know. If they really love each other, good for them both!) Just my own humble opinion, if you don’t want to be an active part of the royal family, fine, but you don’t have to trash your family and be so ugly about it! And big liberal Meghan who hates America and its “institutional racism” leaves the country, marries into the Royal family, then decides they’re all racist too, and moves back? Hypocrite much? So is the Netflix documentary a mistake? Probably, but Harry’s book might be even worse. Unless of course, you desire attention so much that even negative attention is better than none.

Deion Sanders becoming the Head Football Coach at the University of Colorado could turn out to be a mistake. At least, if he intends to keep winning championships. He has been enormously successful at Jackson State, winning a national championship last season, and he is poised to complete an undefeated mark this year and capture his second straight conference title. Meanwhile, Colorado finished 1-11 playing in the PAC 12. I’m not sure if Sanders can coach or not, but at the upper echelon of college football, recruiting is probably more important than Xs and Os. At Jackson State, Sanders ability to lure 5 star recruits gave him a decided advantage on the field. Most of his opponents had nowhere near the talent pool that he was able to assemble. That will all change now. He will still get his fair share of star talent, but his opponents will also field a much higher level of talent. I wish him well, but he might look back in a few seasons and wish he had stayed in the SWAC.

Joe Biden’s mistake? Swapping an arms dealer for a basketball player. (Or the original mistake, Brittney Griner carrying drugs into a Russian airport.) My opinion? Both were pretty big blunders! So far, the American public has not been a big fan of this particular trade. Releasing the “Merchant of Death” for someone guilty of a minor drug charge doesn’t seem like a fair exchange to most people. Adding marine Paul Whelan would have made the deal a little more acceptable (even to those of us who oppose prisoner swaps in general), but apparently the Russians are better negotiators than our present administration. Most feel this was a high price to pay for a professional athlete who won’t even stand for the national anthem. If the Russian arms dealer is linked to future terrorist attacks against our country this will be viewed as an even bigger mistake.

Anyway, that’s enough of all that! Have a great week and let me know what you think!

Twitter Wars

As an independent author, I followed the advice of my fellow writers and joined Twitter a few years ago. Currently, I maintain a modest presence and follow many people, mostly other authors, regardless of their political views. I have quite a few followers, again, mostly other writers.

In all honesty, I am occasionally offended by tweets, but since I am an adult, I scroll on and get over it! I feel no compulsion to engage in fruitless arguments with strangers. Because, again, I am an adult.

Mostly, I am amused by many of the opinions expressed by those who see the world differently than I, and at times, I marvel at their hypocrisy and lack of common sense. Often, I am amused by the tweets of Conservatives, as well. I do not respond or comment on political posts. To each their own when it comes to opinions.

Now that Elon Musk has taken control of Twitter, I’ve seen very little change in the app. I guess most of us writers don’t really have the time to get into all the political mess, even the ones who frequently tweet about politics. Then again, we’re just the regular folks of social media. You know, the ones without the blue checks.

On the other hand, the celebrities are going nuts! I keep reading, with hilarity, the comments from the growing list of celebs who are proclaiming loudly their intention to leave Twitter. (Mainly in response to a certain former President being allowed to return.) Apparently, they aren’t big fans of free speech.

My opinion? Go ahead and leave! Who cares? Just like in 2016 when they were all going to leave the country if Donald Trump ever became President. Of course, they didn’t and most probably won’t leave Twitter either. Maybe they’ll refuse to pay for their blue checks or stop tweeting, but many will hang around, mostly (I think) just to see what’s going on. And to complain about any and all changes.

And their complaints? Mostly about censorship. And in reality, they were perfectly okay before when Conservatives were routinely censored and a definite Liberal bias was obvious. In that regard, Twitter (or Facebook or the rest of social media) was no different from Mainstream Media.

And don’t you just love the way the Left views censorship? It’s fine with them, as long as the ones being censored are the ones with whom they disagree. I especially love the way any political opinion in opposition to their own view is immediately labelled “hate speech.” Or else “fact” checked and blocked/deleted as “misinformation.”

Anyway, Twitter may become a little more fair and balanced (or maybe not. I’ll believe it when I see it.) And if that offends you? Well, don’t let the door smack you on the behind on the way out! LOL!

My Reactions to the Midterms

I guess now, it’s all over but the crying (and the vote counting in the bizarrely slow states of Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia! LOL.) Anyway, I thought I’d share my thoughts, even though I find the whole mess painful.

My first reaction was a bit of shock and amazement. I didn’t completely trust the “red wave” thing, but I did believe that at least a few of the important/close races in key states would be won by Republicans. Instead, the red wave turned out to be a trickle and most of those races went blue, despite polling that had suggested otherwise. And despite some severely flawed candidates. On both sides.

My initial shock and amazement gave way to depression and anger, and then eventually settled into a strong sense of sadness. I just find it incredibly sad that so many (Democrats and Independents) would vote to continue in the direction this country is heading, led by people who don’t seem to care about inflation or gas prices or the wide open border. If ever there was a time for change, this should have been it. So, I’m sad for my country and the people all across our nation who are suffering. We can do better. We should do better. Instead, we’ll get more of the same, with a little dose of government gridlock.

Here are my other random thoughts and questions. Forgive the sarcasm, but if we can’t laugh at our mistakes, we truly have lost all hope.

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How much is Donald Trump to blame for some of the Republican candidates who failed to win? Or should we blame all the sneaky Democrats who voted in Republican primaries to help themselves face weaker opponents in the general elections?

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So, is Stacey Abrams still the governor of Georgia?

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At least, Texas voters were once again able to hand Beto a loss. I guess now, he can begin working on his next Presidential campaign.

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I find it truly sad that so many voted to continue supporting policies that are killing our country.

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So, Arizona elected a Governor who refused to even debate her opponent! I guess she successfully followed the Joe Biden “hide in your basement” strategy.

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On a serious note, it still disturbs me that the Democratic Party has once again gamed the system and used the mail-in ballot as their primary weapon. For all their rhetoric about voter suppression, the reality is that they have made voting easier than ever. Too easy in fact.

Maybe not the most popular opinion, but I for one do not think voting should be easy. At least not as easy as it has become in many states.

Once upon a time, absentee or mail-in ballots served a very important function. They allowed people who were unable to vote in person to cast their ballots and participate in elections. Of course, they had to provide a reason for their inability to get to the polls on Election Day. Now, it’s become just an easy and convenient way to vote without ever leaving the comfort of home.

Shouldn’t it be just a bit harder than that? Shouldn’t voters have to make at least a minimal effort? It’s important! It matters! People who really care about the outcomes should be willing to invest just a tiny bit of time and effort. At least, some of us think so.

 

Are Today’s Voters Stupid? Or Just Ignorant?

As a so-called writer, I frequently have to remind myself to be precise in my language. I do occasionally slip and use the word stupid, when I what I actually mean is ignorant. And when it comes to voters, sadly, way too many (on both sides) are woefully ignorant.

Everyone should vote. I mean, those of us who are actually eligible to vote. Dead people, illegal aliens and other non-citizens, should of course, not be allowed to vote. And those people who have already voted multiple times. Sorry Democrats, I know I’m talking about your base here, but really.

Unfortunately, there are many people who vote for candidates about whom they know almost nothing. If you are a gun owner, voting for someone who wants to abolish the 2^nd Amendment is stupid! And if you don’t know the candidate’s position on the issue, then you’re just ignorant. Abortion is always a big issue. Whether you are Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, your chosen candidate’s position should matter to you. He or she will be voting to send your tax dollars to pay for things. Shouldn’t you care about where your money is going?

I’m Pro-Life. I think choices are great and I truly hope the women in my life make good ones. I also hope they know the difference between birth control and abortion. I’m conservative enough to think these are not the same things. Abstinence is a choice. Birth control is a choice.  Aborting babies weeks before they are due? Not so much a choice as a “Get Out of Jail Free” card for failing to make the right choices in the beginning. IMHO

What about border security? Abolishing ICE? Or raising your taxes to pay for all the new welfare recipients who are entering the country illegally? What about MS-13 and the drugs pouring into our country through a weak and unsecure border? What about building a wall? How does your favorite candidate feel about those issues?

I know some very nice people who profess to be Democrats. I often wonder how they feel about the state of the Democratic Party. This is the party that now hates everyone and everything. They are openly advocating violence against political opponents. And willing to use any ugly smear tactics to destroy those who oppose them. They want to remove Supreme Court justices just because they despise the President who nominated them. They are the most Anti-American group ever assembled, attempting to turn our country into a socialist society, yet a lot of seemingly normal people still proudly stand with them. Why? Do they really believe the ends justify the means?

Eric Holder says when they go low, kick them while they’re down. Hillary Clinton says there’s no reason to be civil with people who disagree with your values. Maxine Waters says when you see your political opponents out in public you should gather a crowd, harass the hell out of them, and tell them they’re not welcome. The mainstream media called former President Trump a liar and a racist on a daily basis. Among other things. With no proof offered, or needed apparently. Antifa, sponsored by the Democrats’ money man George Soros, literally staged riots in our streets. And do you honestly believe that the never-ending caravan (invasion) of so-called refugees will ever be halted by the Party that favors open borders? And remind me again, who are we talking about? Oh yeah, the Democrats.

And yet some really nice people I know are still supporting Democratic candidates. Why? I really have no answer. I pray that it is only ignorance (which can be cured by education) and not stupidity.

 

The Reality of Choice

 

I am constantly amazed at the language of the Left. The way they emphasize certain words and phrases while completely ignoring others? Classic!

Abortion is a perfect example. The Liberals absolutely love abortion, yet they try never to use the word. They love to chant “My Body, My Choice” as if they truly believe that the big bad government is forcing women to have children and taking away all of their health choices. BS! Kamala and Joe have gone so far as to compare it to slavery!

Celebrities are even worse. Take for example, a recent quote from John Legend who called the recent Supreme Court decision “government mandated childbirth.” Like the government is rounding up all women of childbearing age, sticking them in internment camps, and forcing them to have children. Give me a break!

Liberals love to talk about choice, while at the same time actively ignoring all the choices that precede a woman’s trip to the abortion clinic. Women (or men) aren’t forced to form relationships. They make a choice. They aren’t forced to engage in sexual activity. They choose to do so. They aren’t forced to have unprotected sex. There are numerous choices of contraceptives. They can choose from a variety of methods or choose to not take any precautions. All of these are legitimate choices, all of which lead to clearly foreseeable consequences. The Left doesn’t like to talk about any of these choices.

The Liberals love to interrupt with their favorite argument here about rape and incest which account for less than two percent of unwanted pregnancies. They want to use this argument to establish rules and procedures for the other 98 percent. How about we consider those cases to be something different and handle them separately? Like the exceptions made in most of the newly proposed abortion laws (from the Right). Make sense?

Anyway, back to choices. When a woman becomes pregnant, even then, she is presented with many choices. And in most states, she legally has options - up to a point. The so-called “morning after pill” is widely available without a prescription. Within 3-4 weeks, a home pregnancy test is highly effective, leaving the mother (I refuse to use the ridiculous label of birthing person) another ten weeks or so to make a choice about abortion (before the fetal heartbeat which is where many states draw the line). If she puts off making that choice beyond the limits imposed by her state, she still has other choices. With enough resources, she can make the choice to travel to places in the U.S. where she can still opt for abortion up to moment of birth. (Or beyond, believe it or not.)

She could even choose childbirth.

How Do You See God?

I’ve recently had conversations with several different people that got me thinking about a Sunday school lesson I taught years ago. The topic was the various ways in which people view God. It’s an important question, for how we see God can have a great impact on how we live our daily lives.

Non-believers, of course, generally see God as just another fictional character on par with Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, so they give Him little thought as they go through their days. We’ll leave them out of this particular discussion. Of much more concern is the way Christians think about the Almighty.

Let’s consider a few of those.

Some people see God as a huge, cosmic vending machine. They think they can buy or barter for God’s favor. Like in the movies when someone promises God, if He will only do whatever they need at the moment, they’ll promise to go to church every Sunday for the rest of their lives. They put in their coins, select their prize, and wait for God to deliver. And if the results don’t satisfy, they pitch a fit, bang on the machine with their fists, and cry about the unfairness of it all. These people tend to run to God when they need something, and ignore Him the rest of the time.

Others see God as some distant creative genius who invented everything we see around us, but then got bored and abandoned us while He went on to his next project. (Makes me think of the old Bette Midler song that proclaims God is watching us – from a distance. Beautiful, but not theologically accurate.) People like this tend to give little or no thought to this negligent God. They acknowledge His existence, but think that He doesn’t care about them, so why should they care about Him.

A lot of people see God as some stern, old, white-haired judge with gavel in hand just waiting to pronounce us guilty and lay down the maximum sentence for our crimes. This is the God the Liberals love to talk about. According to them (and their twisted world view), He hates everybody, especially the LBGTQ folks, and He can hardly wait to punish us for our sins. These are the people who fear God and blame Him for every trial that comes their way. Why hold yourself accountable, when you can blame God, the mean, old man upstairs?

Then there are the ones who think of God as the teacher or principal who just wants us to sit still, listen and learn, and turn in our homework on time. Or maybe the old school assistant principal walking the halls with a wooden paddle sticking out from his back pocket looking for the latest rule breaker in need of correction. While we’re on the school theme, how about the coach striding up and down the sidelines alternately screaming encouragement and instructions, and occasionally throwing a clipboard or water bottle in anger and frustration. Again, these people see God as controlling our lives and handing out failing grades as He judges our actions.

I believe there are much better ways to think of God. Maybe you see God as a friend or a brother, a constant companion who will always be there to support and defend you against all others. Or perhaps, you see Him as the Holy Spirit living within us, providing everything we need to make it through each day.

And of course, as Christians, we are frequently reminded to see God as our father. That of course, opens up a whole separate can of worms. Those who have grown up with absent or abusive earthly fathers often find it difficult to relate to God as father, at least in a positive way, but most find comfort in viewing God as a loving father who genuinely cares for his children.

Sadly, when bad things happen, regardless of our view, we have a tendency to get mad and blame God and feel as if He has somehow disappointed us! Often, this happens because we have tried to make God in our own image - created our own form of idol worship where we are in charge and God is expected to follow our lead!

Truthfully, for most of us, the most honest answer to the question is that our view changes at different times in our lives and in different situations. As a Christian I prefer the positive view. I like to think of God as the Spirit that fills me, the Friend who walks beside me, and the loving Father who watches over me daily. This is the God I believe in, and this is how I see Him. I would encourage you to do the same!

The Greatest of All Time

In any professional sport, there will always be some debate about the designation of the GOAT – the Greatest Of All Time. Although there are a few sports which have a clear choice, in many, there are differing opinions, and often legitimate arguments to be made for various individuals.

In football, Tom Brady is considered by most fans to be the GOAT, although there are still people who prefer Joe Montana, or even some of the players from previous generations, such as the great Jim Brown. The NFL has certainly had some great players, but it’s hard to overlook Brady’s record.

One of the hottest current debates centers around the NBA. Despite the accomplishments of LeBron James, many (including myself) will always look no further than Michael Jordan when seeking the sport’s GOAT. Or why not Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, or Bill Russell?

In hockey, there are Wayne Gretsky fans and others who support Gordie Howe. In soccer, there are several names usually mentioned including Lionel Messi, Landon Donovan, Diego Maradondo, or even the renowned Pele from years past.

Boxing has Muhammed Ali, baseball has Babe Ruth, golf has Jack Nicklaus (or Tiger Woods), and men’s tennis has Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, or Novak Djokovic. Or maybe a legendary great such as Rod Laver. Sometimes it really is difficult to decide on a single person. Another huge debate is in the sport of women’s tennis. The recently retired Serena Williams is certainly one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, but not everyone would agree that she is the best ever.

Margaret Court could be considered the GOAT. So could Martina Navratilova. I have a hard time thinking of anyone more dominant in her time than Steffi Graf. Or maybe Serena really is the greatest, but it’s not as clear cut as some people would think.

I suppose the hardest aspect of the debate (in any sport) is the reality that it is nearly impossible to compare players from different eras. Things change. Rules change. Equipment changes. The level of competition varies. I guess that’s why so many people try to base the decision purely on statistics. That of course leads to even more debate.

The problem there is longevity. Any player who performs at a high enough level, and stays healthy and active over a long period of time will invariably accumulate some impressive statistics. That’s a given. And those records that result are worthy accomplishments. BUT, such records alone don’t necessarily prove that a particular player is better than others who may have had comparatively shorter careers. And being Good for a very long time, doesn’t necessarily make one Great.

And (IMHO) no offense to LeBron or Serena, but athletes who nominate themselves, campaign for the designation, or feel the need to argue in favor of themselves? You’re probably not the GOAT. Just saying.