POLITICAL VIEWS OF THE DAY - FREEDOM OF SWITCH

Political discourse in America: Who’s to blame???!!!

 Is Fox News to blame? Is MSNBC to blame? Is Beck to blame? Is Palin to blame? On and on and on and on.

First of all, we should be asking ourselves, are WE to blame for political discourse going south? We’re the ones who elect officials. We’re the ones who give TV show ratings. We’re the ones who drive to work every morning and listen to talk radio.

Fox News leans conservative, we know this, but why are they getting ALL the ratings? It’s not just because conservatives are watching it. liberals, moderates, and conservatives watch Fox News. Liberals watch it to get fodder for their blogs. Moderates, like me, watch it for the entertainment value. And conservatives watch it, cause watching Glenn Beck cry is, to conservatives, the equivalent of a 12 year old boy finding free internet porn on his parent’s computer. They can’t get enough. 

What is the real draw to conservative stations? In a word: entertainment. If it wasn’t entertaining, we wouldn’t be watching or listening. Even liberals have to admit, you would rather listen to Sean Hannity than Al Franken. Now, Al may have something interesting to say, but Sean is gonna get you angry about something and push a few buttons.

On a side note, It’s funny that liberals watch Fox News and listen to conservative talk radio, so they can have a rebuttal. Conservatives used to be called the “Reactionaries”, but not today. Now conservatives call the shots, and liberals just back down and whine: “oh, if I were there, I’d give you such a pinch!!!”. 

Politics is like sports, and the “talking heads” in the media are like sports commentators. Fox News and conservative talk radio understand that notion.

Let me give you an example, here are two morning stories that aired the same time in 2010: CNN is having a special interest story about rescued Chilean miners, oh, but on Fox news, they are having a dance expo, starring the Jet Girl cheerleaders. Which channel would YOU watch? Really? Don’t give me a “political” answer. Thank you, I thought so. Whether you’re as conservative as Rush Limbaugh or as liberal as Michael Moore, let’s face it: BOOBS are the GREAT EQUALIZER!!! As Confucius once said: “Where there is cleavage, there is balance.”* And I, as a moderate, would be right there with ya, fellas. 

But let's get back to our discussion. We are adding to the distraction in the media today. To quote Shakespeare’s Cassius, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves.”** And I would agree, although, instead of Brutus blaming astrology, I would say, “The fault, dear America, is not in our celebrity stars or political pundits, but in ourselves”. Why do celebrities get away with it? Why do political ideologues get away with it? Because, we are letting them.  

We have freedom of speech in this country, but we also have a freedom just as invaluable: it’s called FREEDOM OF SWITCH!!! 

JUST TURN IT OFF!!!!

If you don’t like what they say, turn it off. But we can’t turn it off. It’s human nature to be drawn towards competition, aggression, conflict, and silliness.   

And it’s also a guy’s nature to be drawn to attractive news anchors. Does Rupert Murdoch really own Fox News or is it Hugh Hefner? I forget sometimes.

It’s all show business folks. So, before we start trying to have everyone retract their statements, lets not even give them a chance to speak into our ears. Out of sight, out of mind. Just turn it off.

Change the channel, turn that radio dial, erase that news internet page from your “favorites” list.

If John Lennon was around today, he would probably add another verse to his classic song, Imagine: “Imagine no 24-hour news stations…I wonder if you can”.

Amen, Mr. Lennon, amen.

Notes:

*I don’t think Confucius said that—don’t quote me on it! 

**From Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Don’t Google it, go out and read it!!!

POETRY CORNER - New Year/Old Fear

New Year/Old Fear 

We used to have bad days,

now we have bad decades.

Hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, terror threats, poverty.

Politicians who want to spread democracy everywhere,

but here.

Sometimes, when God is silent,

the Devil has Tourette's;

Our leaders say it’s getting better everyday,

but maybe politicians have become

our new televangelists,

and the news channels, their pulpits.

Both are authorities on things not seen.

If change is coming, believe me,

politicians will be the last ones to know.

And the enemies of imagination

will continue to succeed,

as a disgusted, defeated generation,

lies in ruin.

Let our disenchantment turn to defiance.

by John Seery

(Originally written January 2006. Copyright@Poetry.com)

POETRY CORNER - SHADOW OF FEAR

SHADOW OF FEAR

Fear is my savior,

my only constant emotion.

A shockwave sent through every satellite dish

scorches with every turn of the page

surges through every cable line

screeches through every radio station

searing into my mind,

syringed into my senses.

Anger is the air I breathe,

and rage is my only release.

A mindless machine, a dizzying mess.

Conceived in misery,

born through generations of war and hate.

Extremists now set world policy,

and we are caught up in their nightmare.

Our families are the casualties of this new war:

An apocalyptic struggle, a crash course to Armageddon;

torn between cowboy crusaders and turbaned fascists.

Both eagerly anticipate the final annihilation;

unqualified minds with unlimited power.

 

by John Seery

(Originally written Fall of 2005. Copyright@Poetry.com)

POLITICAL VIEWS OF THE DAY - IN GUN WE TRUST?

After the horrific and tragic shootings in Tucson, Arizona, before we, as a nation, could even grieve or pray for the families involved in this horrible tragedy, we started hearing all the political jibber jabber between the left and the right.

We don’t even take time to care for the people who were hurt by this tragedy. What’s our first thought? How did this psychopath get to this point of taking innocent lives? 

We have to find something or someone to blame. For Columbine, we blamed Marilyn Manson. For the REAL Manson, himself, he blamed The Beatles’ song, “Helter Skelter”. John Lennon’s assassin, Mark David Chapman, blamed J.D. Salinger’s: The Catcher in the Rye.

But where does it stop? Do we always need an excuse for our wrong doing? I think there needs to be some accountability here. Each individual must be responsible for his or her actions. I sound like I'm a kindergarten teacher, but it seems people need to be led by the hand today. 

Do we blame ourselves, or society, in general, because we couldn’t “get help” for this “poor, troubled soul, who clearly has mental issues”. 

Society, at large, must be blamed? It takes a village to make a murderer?  

I’m sorry, mental issues notwithstanding (except if you have severe mental retardation—which clearly, Jared Loughner, a pre-meditating killer, does not), but if you have an IQ over 70, at least, and you don’t know where to get help these days—then you shouldn’t be out in public. Is that too harsh? Ok, well explain to me, how could you NOT get help, these days! Join a church, get a psychiatrist, go on the internet and blog about it, write a journal, do volunteer work, call 911 and tell them you need psychological help, go to a library, read a book, have a TLC reality TV show, go for a walk, watch Oprah!!! Do something, for God sakes!!! Stop making excuses that something or someone else is to blame.

Is the media to blame? Are guns to blame? Again, we are blaming "things", and not looking within ourselves to find the answers. 

Of course, guns don't help stop violence. Gun worshippers say, well if someone in that crowd had a gun, this would have never happened. But, then, they had to change their stance on the issue, because someone did have a gun in the crowd, but almost shot the wrong person. Does that logic still stand? 

When the brave passengers on United 93 took back the plane from terrorists, they tackled them with sheer muscle, and not with guns. On the other hand, 19 hijackers took over those four planes initially, not with guns, but using plastic knives, and convincing the passengers that they had real bombs attached to their chests. 

Should we now ban sporks from planes too? The fact is, you don't need a gun to cause terror, but, on the other hand, should we use guns to inspire safety?

I am all for anyone's amendment rights, but are there some things in the Constitution that are mildly outdated. Obviously, freedom of speech, the press, religion, etc, are rights we should always possess as a nation and free people. But, contrary to what Glen Beck might tell you, the Constitution, as great as it is, it is NOT Holy Writ. That's the whole reason there are AMENDMENTS! Thank God, we had forbearers who put a government in place which can be flexible to change according to the consent of the governed. Not to change at a whim, but to look at one issue at a time, and see if it's valid any longer in a free government. For example, anyone remember the Three-Fifths compromise? Yeah, that was in the Constitution. 

I'm not  saying we should make an amendment to make our second amendment rights defunct, but, the system now is out of control, and we have to talk about it, seriously.

And, yes, we know that if we ban guns, someone, somewhere will always find access to guns, or make their own guns. But, of course, to make them stop from being "bad people" they need to find religion or Dr. Phil. 

But, let's face it people, do we really need semi-automatic weapons to hunt dear? You need an AK-47 for Bambi? Really? Thumper needs to get an Uzi to the head? What are we, hunting in a Looney Tunes cartoon? And we get our nuts in a bunch over dog-fighting? 

I'm tired of militia-madmen going off the deep end, and we twiddle our thumbs and try to uphold outmoded systems. Real, concerned citizens need to start talking openly about the issue. Let's start again. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY- JANUARY 2011 -HEAVEN CAN WAIT

The good news: when you die, you'll go to heaven and there will be 72 virgins. The bad news? They’re all guys. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY - JANUARY 2011 -ALL ABOARD!

Living with me is like taking a ride on: “THE BI-POLAR EXPRESS”

QUOTE OF THE DAY - JANUARY 2011 -OBAMA, A SOCIALIST?

Same people who call Obama a socialist, voted for FDR—FOUR TIMES!!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY - JANUARY 2011 - OBAMA-WAN

Help me Obama-Wan, you’re my only hope. 

POLITICAL VIEWS OF THE DAY - TO FREE SPEAK OR NOT TO FREE SPEAK

Freedom of speech, one of our greatest virtues as a country, is in the news again with the tragic events of Tucson, Arizona. Everyone is pointing at the highly negative political discourse going on today. Are political pundits and commentators to blame? We are debating if certain things should or should not be said. But I think we have to look at a deeper issue. There will always be negative views, but we must decide what OUR response should be. 

Thank God we have freedom of speech, but, let’s not forget, just because we can say anything, doesn’t mean we MUST say EVERYTHING. I think it’s wonderful to have blogs, and online journals, and Facebook, etc. To have a forum in which we could speak our mind: it's essential. 

But, I think we should be responsible and realize that what we put online will be online FOREVER! Or, until, God forbid, a giant meteor hits the earth. So, let’s be good editors, and separate the good from the crap. Literally, I do not have to hear that you’re on the toilet, while on Twitter at the same time. Cause I’ll follow you almost anywhere, but the bathroom is not one of them.

In terms of freedom of speech, some people just shock for the sake of shocking, and, after a while, that gets old. If Howard Stern says something shocking, it’s boring now. It’s part of his character to say something off-kilter, so, when he does, he’s not adding anything new or challenging to the public discourse.

We should have a certain check list if we choose to use our freedom of speech to shock others. First, let's ask ourselves: 

(1)WHO are we directing it at? (2) WHAT are we really saying?

(3) WHY are we saying it? 

For example, I have the freedom to wear “black face” and walk down the streets of Harlem.

But I wouldn’t want to, for three reasons:

(1) I’m not a racist.

(2) I’m not stupid.

(3) I don’t wanna get killed.

Now, how is wearing “black face” advancing public discourse? I am just making people angry for no reason. There needs to be a purpose to what we say. Do we want to make the world a better place, or not? 

I’m not saying we always have to say sweet little nothings to each other. Sometimes we have to be cutting, and biting, but, at the heart of what we say, we should reflect on how we can advance human discourse, and not degenerate it like a Tea Party protestor who held up a sign telling our president to: “Go Back to Kenya”. How is that helping us as a nation? Or, as a world? Or, as the human race? What are generations gonna say when they come after us?

There was a reason why Rosa Parks sat in front of the bus. Maybe to her, as she said in her own words, she was tired from work, and wanted to sit in the front. But look at the generations that were affected by that one “simple” statement, and she didn’t even have to use a word.

Maybe Anne Frank was just another girl keeping a journal. But, look at the generations later who would be inspired by her undying spirit.

Or, maybe Gandhi was just fasting for the fun of it. Or, maybe, just maybe, he was trying to say something too, with his actions, and not just his many quotable phrases. We must remember, his phrases are quotable, because his actions were notable.

Or maybe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Happy Birthday, today) marched on Washington, merely for the exercise. We have to realize, we are more than our words. Our actions must define who we are, and the words we say are just an outer reflection of our inner being.

Jesus once said: “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth: this defiles the man” (Matt 15:11). Of course, another would put it, “garbage in, garbage out”. I am not saying we should completely avoid these internet, television, or radio influences, but, if we are gonna let garbage in, we must learn how to receive that refuse, and also differentiate between the trash and valuable information. 

We must also learn how to RECYCLE that garbage, so that we may turn it into a good use for humankind. There’s no way we can avoid garbage in this world, but we must find a away, as we do with other refuse, to somehow make it work for us. Let it make us stronger, instead of dividing us.

For example, If we hear lunatic ramblings of Ann Coulter, who labels 9/11 widows as witches, we just simply take out the pages in her book, and turn it into origami. Then sell that origami to help widows and orphans of that tragic day. Much more creative than Nazi book burnings, wouldn’t you say? Who knows? Ann Coulter might actually be seen as a national hero, and she wouldn’t even know it. This way we can take her garbage and make good with it. 

On a side note, if Ann Coulter actually read her Bible, as she purports, she would read Saint Paul’s famous phrase: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

So let’s overcome evil with good. I know it’s not “easy being green”, but let’s learn to recycle the refuse of political discourse and turn it into something that will transform the world.

And, as for us personally, let’s not make the “garbage of negativity” so much a part of our lives. And maybe, one day, everyone will be responsible, do their part, and we wouldn’t have to recycle the negativity.

I think we also have to make time to be quiet, and take that walk, or read that book, without headphones, without cell phones, without always casting our eyes on a screen, or creating blockage in the brain with negative views being spewed out on the radio.

Cause, maybe, just maybe, the voices in our head will finally tell us to spread peace, joy, and love, instead of aggression, distress, and hate.

QUOTE OF THE DAY - JANUARY 2011 - LIFE IS LIKE A BOXA--GRANOLA BARS?

This will be my first quote post in my blog: Yay! I'm so excited. In the future, I will try to have all quotes from my imagination, so no one thinks I'm stealing their words. :) 

Of course, if I do use someone else's quote, I will specify. As I do below. 

For my first quote, I will use a saying that my friend Gary told me. My friend said his father gave him this advice, and the saying stuck with him ever since:

"Life is like a granola bar. Without the fruits and nuts, all you have left are the flakes."

NEW YEAR, NEW ME, NEW BLOG

Welcome,

Yes, it is a corny title for a blog, but I want to really start the new year out right. I have talked about creating a blog for years, but I kept putting it off. I do not wish to use my blog to transfer my deepest, personal thoughts. Those personal thoughts are for my hand written musings in my private journal. Too often today, people post their most private thoughts online. I don’t wish to do that. Yes, I will be open and frank about what I see is wrong or right with the world, and offer my opinion, but I do not wish to have my most private thoughts on display for just anyone to see and twist to their liking.

Sometimes we get too close to these technological tools, and if we’re not careful, it could come back to hurt us. One of the reasons why I rejected a blog for so long was the fact that I would rather have interaction with friends in person then via the web. But, thinking about it now, some of the best ways I express myself is through the written word, and I want to share with my friends, family, and colleagues a side of myself that they rarely see in every day life. 

I think, to anyone interested, my blog will be a worthwhile venture filled with a diverse catalog of writing. I will be, sometimes serious, sometimes funny, sometimes spiritual, sometimes vain, and, yes, sometimes, outright silly.

I will sometimes have a quote, or a poem, or a thesis, or just a thought that I am trying to work out in my life.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but, as one of my favorite songs would relate, as Bono sings: “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”. Maybe you and I can try to find the answers together.

God bless, happy new year, and I hope you enjoy where my writings will take you. (God willing, they take you to some place good)

--John Seery