Your Vision for My America? No Thanks!

Makai and I took our daily walk again this morning and I reflected on how he interprets this time as compared to how I use the time. Mak, our Anatolian Shepherd, enjoys checking out each clump of grass, grazing upon certain particular blades and then moving about 10 feet to check out each individual blade of another clump of grass. If he had his way our morning walk would last just about three and a half hours and then he would eat a little chow and take a nap. On the other hand, I look at our morning walk as a time for a little exercise for both Mak and myself. A brisk little half-mile jaunt during which I can enjoy the fresh air and perhaps clear my mind and get ready for what the day will bring. I allow about 10 minutes for this endeavor and then off to the shower and office.

Which one of us is right? If you answered NEITHER then I think you are on the right track. We both enjoy our walk together but for totally different reasons, neither of which is right or wrong; just different.

America used to be this same way. Your pursuit of happiness was protected by the Constitution and also by the collective “American thought.” As long as your concept of “happiness” did not infringe upon mine, then go for it. When did this change? Why did it change?

Today every one of our Elected Betters has his or her “Vision of America” as they “fight” the good fight to shape our country and thought into what they perceive to be a “brighter and more just America.” Their only requirement is that we passively follow where they lead. When did we abdicate the pursuit of our happiness to the pursuit of Our Elected Betters Concept of Happiness? I think it happened when we realized that it is hard to think for ourselves. It requires effort and even results in some failure to realize our dreams while if we let the elected officials make all of the decisions it is so much easier.

Look how easy our cattle have it compared to the wild deer. The free roaming deer have to contend with traffic, bad weather, predators, possible famine and even disease. In the end they learn to fend for themselves and adapt to the encroachment of people into their space. Cattle have it so much easier. Their Selected Betters (us) bring them their food, bring them into the barn during bad weather, treat their illnesses and even carefully transport them to the slaughterhouse. How much happier they must be than their hard-living ruminant cousins, the deer. Their Selected Betters supply them with everything they could possible need and the only thing required in return is for them to quietly give up their lives for our comfort and eating enjoyment.

Is it just me or does it seem to you, too, that our Elected Betters treat us pretty much the same as we treat our cattle. Everything is going to be okay as long as we don’t ask questions and just keep putting them back in office. Sure some of us will die in Afghanistan but look at the big picture. Sure some of our property will be seized by eminent domain and given to private developers but look at the increased tax dollars. Sure some of  us will have a hard time paying for required health insurance but so what, that’s why the Healthcare Bill also hired 16,500 new IRS agents.

Until we take back our responsibility to pursue our own happiness, then we are going to get the type of government we are getting. Believe me, there are plenty of people who are more than willing to tell you what to do if you just pull their lever. Resist the easy way and, even though it hurts, think before you re-elect the same crowd that has populated Washington and Annapolis for the past 50 years.
When in doubt, throw them out! Term limits. No more than 12 years of “public service” then they have to work in the private sector and experience the results of their legislation. Sure we might lose some good people but that makes way for more good people to shoulder the responsibility. No more “cushy” retirement for Our Elected Betters, let them fund their own IRAs just like the rest of us.

America once was the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, let’s try to make it that way again.

Tiger Would, If He Could

Each year after The Myrtle Experience, the BGA has a certificate that is awarded to the player that has the lowest stroke/hole ratio. It is called "The Tiger Would If He Could Award." Obviously it kiddingly m0cks our golfing abilities because even the best among us is pretty doggone bad. This posting is not in that vane. Sadly I don't find much to be humorous about today. First of all, no matter how we feel personally about Tiger, he is not immune to having jokes made about him. In fact, some of them will soon be posted on the BGA website. I am, however, not posting all of them because, in my opinion, Elin and the cubs should not be subjected to ridicule.

Would Tiger take back all of the affairs (and I don't feel that the word "alleged" is necessary here) if he could? I would like to think that he would. However, on the radio this morning I heard an advertising executive saying that Tiger's endorsements would be solid with his major companies because the public (that's us, folks!) will come out in larger numbers than ever to see Tiger now that his "indiscretions" have created such "buzz." Does this make any sense to you? I'm ashamed for us that notoriety and celebrityhood hold such sway with us.

Tiger appears to be shameful of his actions being made public and in that shame I think we might find hope. Our society seems to have made shame an unnecessary emotion. You should not judge me, I am free to do as I wish. Therein, as is oft said, lies the rub.

Sadly this attitude carries over to what we expect from our political class. Our elected betters seem to try to outdo themselves in poor behavior. They are expected to be crooks and we poor fools who vote them in don't condemn them but instead we point out how much worse the other side was. We have become relativistic in our approach to behavior and in so doing we have lost our way. Bad is bad, not less bad or more bad, just bad!

Here in Baltimore our Mayor Sheila Dixon has been convicted of illegally using gift cards for herself that were intended for needy children. What has the reaction been? Sheila says no problem, she is going to continue doing the people's business just like before. Her supporters are encouraging people to come out this weekend and "show our support for our mayor." There is no apology, there is no thought of stepping down; there is no shame. Her actions now are aimed towards parsing the law to point out the technicalities of whether she used the cards in an official or unofficial capacity. One would allow her to remain in office, one would require her to step down. What's the difference? Bad is bad. If she "unofficially" used the cards for personal benefit am I to believe that her behavior is less shameful?

Back to Tiger Woods. I heard that Jaspar Parnivik is now sorry that he ever introduced Elin to Tiger. How he feels is up to him and I can see how he would be disappointed in Tiger's behavior but it is not his responsibility to screen Elin's choices. At some point in our lives we have to become responsible for our own decisions and choices.

Tiger has quite a job ahead of him rebuilding that trust he has lost with his wife. By being ashamed of his behavior I think it is an important first step to being forgiven and thereby attain redemption and acceptance. Shame does not have to be a permanent condition, but it does seem to be a vital stage if there is to be any real healing.

Look, Tiger is entitled to live his life as he wishes but he does not live in a vacuum and along with his actions there will be reactions. Unlike our elected betters, Tiger appears to be acknowledging that he behaved badly and has not tried to point out how much worse other athletes have behaved. In this I see hope.

Will I continue to watch Tiger on the golf course? Sure. He plays the game in a way that I can't even begin to. Will I look towards Tiger as a role model? No. Being a role model is not a choice, it is an honor and Tiger's behavior has not earned him that reward. Can he become a role model? Of course, but that shouldn't be his goal. His goal should be to heal his family. His cubs are still young enough to love him unconditionally. Healing his relationship with his wife (and don't forget his mother!) will be much harder. I wish him the best of luck in doing this and if he acts from his heart and not from some PR department directives, I think Tiger will give all of us a chance to forgive him. And that would make all of us just a little more human and humane.

As for all of our elected betters, fat chance they will ever change. Thank God for golf and the chance to make all of that political class irrelevant for a few hours.