Ole Miss Mascot Mess

Colonel Reb was ousted a few years ago by the powers that be at the University of Mississippi.  The playing of a small portion of Dixie was eliminated last year.  Now Ole Miss has shelved its mascot and fight song.  Why?  For the most politically correct reason of all, someone might (yes might) be offended. 

It seems that Ole Miss has bought into the idea that we have a new Constitutional right.  Yes a new amendment must have been passed and now we have the right not to be offended.  But before you get all excited, rest assured that right is reserved for only some. 

I am often offended by politicians, TV personalities and even Ole Miss.  Nobody cares though.  Maybe because I am just an old white man.  Add to that the last straw that I am also from the South.  So while others may be protected from possible offense, I am not. 

The search for a new Ole Miss mascot has turned into a joke.  The trouble is that when you disrespect your past, there is no reason to give you respect.  Ole Miss would have been better off to educate their students about the past and remain true to their heritage.  They chose the path of least resistance.  They chose the path that required no character, no respect for their past, no honor. 

Ole Miss is a university running from its past and running into an uncertain future of political correctness.

SORE LOSERS BAD FOR COUNTRY

People who choose to run for office in the United States generally decide to be members of either the Democrat or Republican party.  Of course they can affiliate with smaller parties or run as an independent.  While the rules vary from state to state, if you run as a Republican or Democrat you go through their primary election process.  If you run as an independent you normally have to obtain a large number of registered voter signatures to get on the ballot. 

Then of course there are the sore losers.  They are the ones who choose to run as Republicans and when they are turned out by the electorate, decide to stay in the race believing I guess that the voters just got it wrong.  They had no such thoughts when voters put them in office.  Of course they might just have read the pre-election polls and jumped even before the primary. 

Sore losers are conceited individuals who just don't like the voters' verdict.  They want another slice of the pie, another bit of the apple, a second chance.  Well dear friends there are losers in all sorts of competitive events who would like a second chance.  From football to bridge, when the game is over, the game is over. 

From Florida to Alaska we now have candidates who want that second chance and are willing to play games with the system in order to get that chance.  Voters should turn these disgraceful candidates out of office as quickly as possible.  In most instances they have held on to power for such a long time they have come to believe it to be their right.  They do not own those offices.  The people own them.  We must send these old selfish ones home.  They no longer represent the people. 

    

DEAR MUSLIM PROTESTORS

Some nut half way around the world from you claimed he was going to burn copies of the Quran.  Let's make a few things clear.  The guy is inconsequential in almost every sense of the word.  He would be burning books printed in America in a language you can't even read.  He wouldn't be burning any copies of your Quran that you have ever seen.  There will be plenty of them left.

Respecting the book is your right and probably your duty as well.  Asking others to respect the book is also your right.  Demanding that others respect your book is religious tyranny. 

Jumping around shouting "Death to America" just makes you look silly.  It is also so yesterday.  At least come up with new slogans.  Take some advice; get a grip, get a life, get a job.  Honor your religion by setting a good example for others.  Try improving the lives of your citizens by establishing an orderly society.  Here's a thought; try respecting other religions.  Who knows they may return that respect.

You might even condemn those who execute Christians because they are Christians.  I know I'm going out on a limb here, but how about respecting life.  Surely you are taught to respect the creations of your God. 

I'm thinking of downloading a copy of the Quran and then deleting it.  Will that drive you into the streets in protest?  Just asking.

It's A Crime To Lie To Congress?

Wow, Roger Clemens charged with lying to Congress.  Who knew?  As bad as lying to Congress must be, since they are charging him with a federal crime, don't you think Congress lying to the American people should be a crime?  We are lied to on almost a daily basis by our Congress. 

Do you remember being told that the health care bill would reduce your health care costs?  LIE.  Do you remember being told it would reduce the budget deficit? LIE.  Do you remember, well I don't have all night. suffice it to say our Congress does things it has no power to do and fails to do some of the most important things it is supposed to do.  Of course the current, and even former members of the Executive Branch are no better.

I for one am tired of being lied to by Congress.  If there was a way to bring the Congressional liars up on charges, I would be all for it.  In fact, if there was a way to bring any of the lying elected officials up on charges I would be for that too.  We deserve better, or do we?  After all we were dumb enough to elect them in the first place.

Roger had one heck of a fastball.

Glenn Beck Stretches The Truth

Actually I like a lot of the things Glenn Beck says.  He usually seems to believe what he says and all in all appears to be an honorable person.  However, he recently made a statement that disparages the South and lately he seems to be doing that more and more at least by implication.  What he said that got my attention was that about ten years ago he was doing a show in the South and there was a delay getting it started.  He complained and was told the reason they were running late is that they were on colored standard time.

I've lived in the South for a long time and it has been well over 40 years since I've heard anything like that said.  People just don't talk that way anymore, if they ever did.  This is particularly true of anyone young enough to still be working. 

However, assuming that Mr. Beck was dealing with someone of limited intelligence, it is doubtful that the person would have made such a statement to him.  People who disparage others due to race etc. generally don't do it in front of strangers.  They particularly don't do it in front of well known strangers who can go back and talk about them.

Finally, even if Mr. Beck found the one complete idiot who might say something like that to him, there was no reason to tell the story.  There is no place you can go that is totally devoid of people who define other races in a negative way.  Mr. Beck is all too willing to ignore the great progress in race relations that have been made in the South.  There are no professions in which Blacks are not represented.  From elected officials to police, to nurses and doctors Blacks are fully able to participate in all levels of society and that is as it should be.

Glen Beck needs to focus on how the federal government we have today is destroying this nation.  He can continue his love of Abraham Lincoln if he wishes, but it would be nice if he took the time to study history before spouting it to us.

Dear NFL, IT'S PRACTICE

So without much else to do I flipped on the TV and watched part of an NFL pre-season game.  Yes, it speaks to my desire for real football to begin.  It also is an indicator that I should be doing something better with my life.  Nevertheless, there I was watching what is essentially a practice game.  A practice game for which people have to pay full price for tickets.  A great deal for the NFL, and a finger in the eye of fans. 

Anyway, during the aforementioned pre-season game, i.e. a game that will count for nothing in the final standings, the challenge flag came out.  Everyone stopped play, and the officials ran over to the camera and spent several minutes determining whether it was a touchdown, as called on the field, or not. 

After the first 30 seconds or so it was all I could do not to scream at the TV.  It's practice for gosh sakes.  The outcome of the game means nothing.  Nobody will lose a job or keep a job because of this one disputed play in a practice game. 

It's bad enough to be watching a practice game, but to have to wait while a meaningless challenge is decided is too much.  Dear NFL, during the practice season let's do away with challenges.  Thank you.

Government Protects Us From Roger Clemens

Every day we should arise and be thankful the federal government is out there protecting us from harm.  No, not from the thousands who enter our country illegally every day.  Not from those who want to dance on the graves of thousands at Ground Zero by building a Mosque.  Not from the flood of new taxes we will be facing.  Not from the incredible and wasteful spending.  The federal government, thank goodness, is protecting us from Roger Clemens.  Who?  The baseball player who may, or may not, have taken performance enhancing drugs.

Having failed to do their jobs in any meaningful way, Congress decided it was important to investigate baseball.  Baseball?  Yes, who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man?  Maybe some of those baseball players used drugs.  Maybe some die hard fans give a rip.  Is this what our federal government should be doing?

It is beyond my limited abilities to describe the failures of our federal government without resorting to foul language.  Maybe Congress should take performance enhancing drugs.  Maybe they could actually do their jobs for the American people.  Then again, probably not.

But we won't have to worry about Roger Clemens destroying the image of our national past time.  Yeah, that's way more important than billions of wasted dollars and millions of illegal immigrants.  Sure, way to go Nancy.  Is it time for the seventh inning stretch?