Man of the Century

I think I was trying to be a little too ambitious in doing a lot of research for my posts. Then again shooting from the hip isn't always the best approach either. My goal was to try to begin to understand why we (the world) care very little about abuses and atrocities committed in Africa. There's the current genocide in Darfur, the past genocide in Rwanda, numerous civl wars where people are butchered because of ethnicity or beliefs, and not to mention the pandemic of AIDS. Increasingly the cause of saving Darfur attracts more and more people and there are a host of websites dedicated to the horror, various celebrities support the cause, and even Kofi Annan has given the situation lip service. But no action has been taken. When the world learned of genocide and even concentration camps in the Balkans during the 1990s we responded. We created a homeland for the Jews after WWII. It can be argued that not only have we not helped in the case of African genocide, but as former colonial powers on the continent we created many of these situations where tribal or ethnic rivals are competing for power. Is it because the Balkans was the doorstep of Europe, well it is Europe I suppose? Did we help the Jews because they too are white? Do we shun Africa because they are black? Certainly there are those who feel Americans do not care about the "Dark Continent" because its inhabitants have dark skin pigmentation. I have come to a very different conclusion which brings me, finally, to the title of this post.
Dwight D. Eisenhower isn't known for much more than leading the nation into Korea to fight the communists and playing a lot of golf during his tenure in the White House. But after reading his farewell speech the other day, I've decided to name him Dinosaur's Egg "Man of the Century." If you've never read it, I stronly suggest it. Instead of "Ike" we should call the man Nostradamus. What does this speech have to do with African genocide and the AIDS pandemic? Everything. Ike warned of the "growing military-industrial complex" and its influence on government, society, and every other facet of American society. I believe that complex is the reason we don't care that Rwandans are butchering each other in the street, or why refugees are pooring out of Sudan by the thousands. It is part of the same reason why AIDS is tearing the continent apart, and is perhaps a larger problem than ethnic conflict, civil war, and political corruption combined. We don't care about African problems because there is no strategic or economic interest on the continent. Those are really one in the same, strategic and economic interests that is. Western Drug companies have the means to treat AIDS, to make those living with the disease more comfortable and even able to support their families. African countries cannot get access to these drugs, why, because there is no profit in helping those who have nothing. I understand businesses are in business to make money, whether you're selling pharmecuticals or tires, but we're all human. How can you have the means to help people and not do it? Ike's "growing military-industrial complex" is worth billions upon billions of dollars, and forget lobbies, leaders in these industries walk the halls of government. Dick Cheney is the former head of Halliburton, who has been scrutinized for cheating the government as a contractor in Iraq, and still owns stock in the company that is greatly profiting from the conflict created by the current administration. Former President George Bush, and other White House insiders, sit on the board of the Carlyle Group which is a conglomerate that owns large defense contracts. How long has this been going on? Is the military-industrial complex responsible for the arms race of the early 1980s? If so, do they deserve credit for bringing down the Soviets? How many conflicts, whether in the Balkans, Korea, Vietnam, Central America, or the Middle East, were entered into, not because of national security interests, but to protect American industry? And if not to protect American industry, help them greatly profit from bloodshed, chaos, grief, and misery caused by war by selling the arms and supplies of war. I'm convinced these global conglomerates have helped shape policy for decades and we sit by and take it. It is utterly ridiculous to believe we are in Iraq to protect national security. The Bush Administration lost all credibility, whether W's intentions were true or not. There is too much evidence saying we were misled, duped, deceived. Is it about oil? Is it about making Humvees, helicopters, feeding troops, guns, smart bombs, missiles, and tanks? Is it about rebuilding the war-torn country? It is about anything other than our country's security interests and interests of the men who have died on Iraqi soil. Where the fuck is Osama Bin Laden? Why in the fuck haven't we blown every mountain between Afghanistan and Pakistan looking for that murderous son-of-a-bitch? Why? I'll tell you why, because there's no fucking money in it. Thanks Ike, too bad we're too anestithized by television and pop culture to listen.

5 Things

In keeping with Worldwide '96, here are five things about me you wouldn't know by reading this blog.

1. I am the offensive coordinator for my old high school football team. Crest High School is one of the best programs in the state and I'm proud of the position, especially given my age, but I also realize it would not be possible were I coaching at some other school. We have four state titles to our credit and I'm proud to have been a part of three of those, two as a coach and one as a player. I am the only person in Crest history to do that. It's enjoyable most of the time, although practice, summer workouts, and all the political bullshit can be trying. There is absolutely nothing like Friday night under the lights though. Maybe it's that old football warrior in me that still thinks he has a game or two left in him and just can't let it go, or maybe it's the chess game that unfolds during the course of the game. Either way there's nothing like the payoff on Friday night.

2. I am a left leaning conservative nowadays. I say it that way because my political pendulum swings back and forth as I get older. During my good ole college days at UNC it swung way left, with my first paycheck it swung back right, property taxes and a lot of the things I see in public education made it swing further right, and thanks to W and the mess in Iraq it is slowly swinging back left. I feel safe in saying there will not be a return to my collegiate politics.

3. I worked in public relations at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte when I got out of college. I was almost one of the public relations guys for M&M/Mar's in NASCAR, but that just ain't my bag anymore. I opted for the comforts of home rather than the bright lights big city and big money of traveling 32 weekends of the year following a racing circuit. What a great decision.

4. I love cigars and scotch, two things I used to hate. I must be getting old.

5. I am a xBox junkie. I could sit and play for hours and hours if I didn't have anything else to do. My particular favorites are Tiger Woods golf, Splinter Cell, Madden football, and Call to Duty. Good thing I'm married with two kids.

Tsunami - Two Years Later

I'm not a big humanitarian. I don't give a lot to charity or help the homeless and needy. It's not that I'm a bad person, I just don't have a lot of money. But ... how about this piece of news that the Red Cross is having trouble collecting on aid pledges for tsunami victims in southeast Asia. What's worse is that half of the money the Red Cross has collected has gone unspent. What in the world are they waiting for? I realize it must be a logistical nightmare trying to make sure everyones paperwork is in order but ... build a freakin' dormitory or something that can house these people until you get everything straightened out. I love how the U.N. guy says, "It should really not take this long to build permanent housing. I do not accept the explanation that it is going to take four to five years, in some cases, seven. I'm an architect, I know how long it takes to build a house." Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha. The U.N. is one to talk about efficiency. In a way, I hope the relief effort turns into an international scandal wrought with corruption and bribery. If there's one thing I hate it's international relief efforts headed by some faceless bureaucracy. It's just one more thing pushing us closer to one big world government and space colonization.

Illuminati Strikes Again ...

If you haven't seen Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's video on youtube, it's freakin' hilarious. He walks up behind what I think is a woman and acts like he's humpin' her. He sees the cameras recording the event and smiles and waves. Could you imagine W getting caught humpin' somebody? Italy, what a country. Anyway, after the video is over the site gives you the option of watching two new videos. One of these videos is someone dressed up like the guy from V for Vendetta, you know, the one who was accused of trying to blow up Parliament. Written on his hand is a simple message: One World!!!! Why would that video be linked to a comic video of the Italian Prime Minister humpin' somebody? I think I know how they're going to begin their plot to take over the world, aside from owning the vast majority of production, resources and capital. They're going to convince all the European anarchists, you know the ones who riot anytime W comes to town, that they will unite Europe under the flag of peace, love and prosperity and there will be no need for government once that is accomplished. The upper class of Europe will buy it because they won't have to worry about the anarchists overthrowing the government or blowing up their mansions, or otherwise taking their possessions in the name of socialism. And they will make concessions to the European labor unions to appease the working and middle class. The wild card is the growing population of African and Middle Eastern immigrants, who have already shown their desire and ability to cause trouble in France, Spain, Germany, and Great Britain. I think they will ride the coattails of the War on Terror and have all of those people killed, jailed, deported, or implanted with the same chips we're going to put in sex offenders so they can track them. Maybe one last big push by the radicals (Muslims or whatever) will be the impetus for all of this to happen. Either way you and I will most likely be gone. You because of old age and me because I uncovered the Illuminati's plot and published it on the World Wide Web.

Odds and Ends

After a long winter's nap, or Christmas Break as we call it in the teaching profession, I have a few things I would like to share.

• The Dallas Cowboys are the worst team in the playoffs, besides the overrated New York Jets, who very well could beat the New England Patriots by the way. Their defense gives up too many big plays and blitzes way too much. Their offense is inconsistent at best and lacks a solid running game, a must for success in the NFL. It all went wrong when they drafted Julius Jones BEFORE Stephen Jackson a couple of years ago, and they signed the biggest parasite in the league and gave him $25 million to drop touchdown after touchdown. Nice move Jerry, what a class act.
• November Rain by Guns and Roses might be one of the best rock epics ever. It's lyrics tell an interesting story, the music is never boring or redundant, and it has an outstanding guitar riff in the middle of the song. Plus, it was a great video. Whatever happened to Axel Rose?
• The worst thing in the world is when your small child is sick. There's nothing you can do and they couldn't tell you even if there was something you could do about it. What's worse than that is when your kid is sick on Christmas Day.
• Is there any vacation spot that beats Myrtle Beach? Ten years ago I would've said that any vacation spot is better than Myrtle Beach, but, just like a lot of other things, that has since changed. There's just something in the air down there, maybe it's just nostalgia, but there's definitely something that keeps me coming back. The bad thing is everyone else has discovered whatever it is too and they're starting to ruin it.
• It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
• Kansas City at Indianapolis: The vaunted Colts run defense does just enough and Peyton, the greatest player in the game today, puts the team on his back and carries them to the next round. Peyton makes a statement in this one. He's tired of the "he can't win the big one talk" so he comes out firing and embarrasses the Chiefs shaky defense in front of the home crowd.
• New York Jets at New England: The Pats win in a squeaker. Mangini is impressive but Pennington is pitiful and Tom Brady might be the second best player in the game (LT has to be in the conversation) and the best coach in the game is without a question, Bill Belichick. I want to wear a hoody on the sidelines, I just don't have the balls. BTW, the Pats have the number one defense in the NFL.
• New York Giants at Philadelphia: The toughest game to pick in this blogger's opinion. You have several story lines, Tiki's last go 'round, the resurgent and streaking Eagles. In the end Philadelphia is a tough place to play anytime of year let alone in January and the Giants have struggled since week 7. The playoffs is not the time to try to get it together and besides, no one on the team really cares enough to send Tiki out a winner. Eagles offense keeps mistakes to a minimum and Eli coughs it up a couple of times, maybe Tiki too.
• Dallas Cowboys at Seattle: I realize I just said "the playoffs is not the time to try to get it together," but the Cowboys are for real. The defense will get it together and T.O. for all his faults is a player and wants to win. The Big Tuna puts the rest of the league on notice, Dallas wins in a walk in front of a stunned 12th man. Romo puts it back together like he did on Thanksgiving and Marion Barber has 100+ and takes over as the primary running back because Julius Jones SUCKS.