Touchdown Blogging
January 23rd, 2008One of my greatest sources of irritation in our nation is this belief some hold that they have the right to never be offended. I am not a fan of those who demand apologies or those who give them, but don’t confuse that as a belief in “steadfastness” for its own sake. It isn’t stubbornness, either. I simply mean that if I’m the Pope, and someone asks me if I think Catholicism is the greatest religion in the world and I say “Yes,” I am not going to apologize for it and why should I? It’s my religion and my belief; I do apologize when I’ve wronged someone, feel guilt or make mistakes, but never for what I believe or for asking a question. That Catholic question, by the way, is just a hypothetical albeit a relevant one, since ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson has been suspended by her network for appearing at a Roast, drunk, and declaring her hatred for Notre Dame University, not to mention making a few nasty comments about Catholics and Jesus, “touchdown” and otherwise.
Are you kidding me? She was at a roast. What was she supposed to say? When did it become improper for people to “roast” at roasts? I don’t think she’s funny, she isn’t good at sportsbroadcasting and, frankly, the amount of alcohol she was chugging (from news sources) is sickening but I am disappointed that ESPN would discipline someone for what happens at a roast, in humor. I would never say something so unfunny and potentially offensive, but I could see myself saying something just as offensive but humorous on the other hand. Ask my friends at Students for a Democratic Society, University of Illinois at Chicago campus. Hopefully they wouldn’t tell you — but they’d laugh!
Before I sign off on this “lighter” non-political political entry: I was walking down the road, thinking about the candidates for President from both parties and thinking about Dan Savage’s recent column on Dennis Kucinich’s extraordinary life. You know, besides Al Gore and Dennis Kucinich, John Kerry is the most remarkable man to run for the Presidency in my lifetime. I’m just sorry that the Senator failed to run a quality campaign and lost the election, because he is truly an outstanding human being. And if you had told me a year ago that I’d be sitting here thinking about how I wish the current candidates were more like John Kerry, Dennis Kucinich and Al Gore, I’d think I’d turned on the “Squishy Left” or was being sarcastic, but I’m neither. I’m still the Harry Truman Liberal I’ve always been, and I don’t think I’d vote for Kucinich under any circumstance — I am only saying that these are passionate, idealistic but pragmatic and brilliant men. All of the current candidates can say they’re special human beings, but not like these guys are.