Let’s play a quick game, which just for fun we’ll call “Myth and Reality” ; in which I’ll first state a generalized myth or accepted ideal about a specific subject , and then present either factual evidence to the contrary or provide my view on what the reality REALLY is. Now that we’ve laid out the framework of the rules for our little game, let’s begin………….
1) MYTH: The Academy Awards ceremony (a.k.a. “the Oscars”) is an annual event held to publicize the presentation of awards for the “best of the best” in their respective fields within the film/ motion picture industry.
REALITY: The Oscars are actually Hollywood / the entertainment industry’s way of promoting itself to the GREATEST degree of excess possible, to remind us “common folk” just how special that THEY ARE, and that YOU are NOT. Do you really want to see them ‘parade’ themselves on the “Red Carpet” ? Really ??? So you can be reminded that they are wearing designer suits and dresses / clothing styles and fashion that cost them what it would require YOU to work (no, SLAVE for) a year or two of your annual salary ? But I digress (tongue in cheek)……..
2) MYTH: The NBA All-Star Weekend is a 3-day event that is a showcase of talent of the league’s biggest and brightest stars, in a stunning display that is a combination of skill, raw talent and ability, and showmanship designed specifically to entertain basketball fans all over the world.
REALITY: The NBA All-Star Weekend is merely just a bunch of GROSSLY overpaid athletes, with incredibly OVER INFLATED egos, participating in a bunch of ‘playground’ –type games , passing them all off as having the importance of an national event, with the accompanying hype and shameless self-promotion of hip-hop culture (I’ll get to that in a second), and then over-charging fans to attend the event for thousands of dollars ------- my sports hero growing up as a kid (“Pistol” Pete Maravich) could provide REAL ENTERTAINMENT when he played for fans who could attend the games for the price of general admission ($ 7 ), and he surely would be disgusted with how the game he (and I ) grew up loving has de-evolved into the “sport” (if we can still call it that) that it currently has become…….
3) MYTH: The price of gas continues to rise because of a combination of factors which include crisis in the Middle East (affecting oil production), the resistance to open up federal oil reserves such as the one in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge (affecting oil production, or its lack thereof), and the continued greed of wealthy oil companies who know that they can get away with over charging the consumer, since we NEED their product to maintain the ability to drive / transport ourselves from one place to another.
REALITY: While all of those factors are plausible, the current hysteria is actually being blamed (hey, someone deserves to get some ‘heat’ over this blatant GOUGING of our pockets) on “oil speculators”, who are investors who snap up oil contracts that are currently up for bid on the oil production market, in an attempt to bet that they’ll be worth MORE in the future, and by doing so (which is the part that I personally still have difficulty understanding) drive up the price of gas by ‘predicting’ what the cost of oil production will be down the line . My question is WHY are these guys having THAT MUCH influence on the price of fuel ? An Iranian president bent on causing conflict in international waters --- I get that ; but “speculators” ??? I’m at THEIR mercy??? Give me a break, already………..
4) MYTH: Hip-Hop performer / rapper/ R&B singer Nicki Manaj is an exciting and culturally iconic performer, who has taken the music industry by storm , and in the process gaining legions of fans.
REALITY: Nicki Manaj probably does possess some talent (I think), but unfortunately it is not suited to SINGING, as in the ABILITY TO VOCALIZE a song, in the field of musical performance. And as someone who grew up during the “heyday” of the rap music era, her “rapping” is completely INCOMPREHENSIBLE -------- does anyone even know just WHAT it is that she’s even saying half of the time ??? Another PRIME example of an individual in the music industry with little or no talent, becoming famous because of (and by taking advantage of) a generation of youth that doesn’t KNOW ANY BETTER…………………
5) MYTH: President Barack Obama will EASILY win re-election later this year, because much like Bill Clinton in 1996 (when he CRUSHED Bob Dole), he will basically run “unopposed”, since the Republican candidate will be unelectable in the eyes of the voting public.
REALITY: Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum ........ who YOU got ??? By the way, I hold no allegiance to either party, but as a former Young Republican in the ‘80’s and a huge supporter and devotee of Ronald Reagan, I know that the Republican Party faces an uphill battle , especially when they spend so much time trying to “take out” EACH OTHER………….
Now see ? Wasn’t that fun ? We’ll revisit this game once again sometime, in the near future ; and please feel free (in the comments section, below) to submit some topics that YOU would like to see discussed, for the next time that we play --------- “MYTH and REALITY”……………………….
Just a thought to have readers debate. We fought to get away from England for freedom because we were being crushed by laws, taxes, government, etc. Aren't these the same things holding everyday Americans back today?? The rich getting richer off the middle class struggling to survive, gaining from the ignorance of the poor and there's no end in sight to slow down, or halt. I don't want to be overburned w/ laws as many others, however, I sometimes believe if we capped gains on certain profits it would force prices to be kept at a more reasonable amount, workers would be more fairly compensated, and the GREED in society would be kept somewhat in order. Remember how in the 60's the manager/owner/President of a company might make 10%-50% more than the lowest paid employee? Now you're looking @ unheard of numbers from 50% to 6000%+ difference. From banks, oil companies, car manufactures, NFL, NBA, etc.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I must state that I do not wish to live in a country that has laws at every turn, however, the constant GREED is over the top. How many exorbident homes, over price cars, must we consume while others in our country starve, sleep in streets, under bridges, and the list goes on. Only we, Americans, can make a change.
And then reelection, in any position. Politicians used to really work hard for the people. Now, I see them working really hard the first term, then self promotion the 2nd term since they can not be reelected. Life long benefits after completing one full term in office. WHAT COMPANY OFFERS THAT?? We the people should be the ones voing on anything the government has. It is suppose to be service to country, not the country going broke to pay you oversized saleries. And, like you I was a conservative Republican my whole life. Now, I'm not sure what I am, except wanting to better America for the people. FOR THE PEOPLE!
Susan, those are definitely some valid points that you make, and I certainly appreciate that you are adding to the debate on a variety of topics, by providing your own perspective ----- well done, ma'am !!!
DeleteI know I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, hell didn't even graduate high school.
ReplyDeleteI didn't go get my GED until I was around 38 years of age. However here are a few of my thoughts.
I am a conservative Republican and proud of it sir. Unfortunately there are few of us left. I see many running as such but when you look at their records, it leaves a lot to be desired.
Also the GAS issue is out of hand. The more we produce, the more is sold over seas to people who don't even like the United States. I could go on about these issues but it makes me angry that the American people have allowed this country to get into this shape. (including myself)
We have the power to go a different direction and have had that power as long as I can remember.
However the public still votes to put these jackasses into office.
I'll stop here because it makes me sick thinking the average voter has been brainwashed with all this political correctness garbage.
I do enjoying reading your post though. Thanks!
Kreig, I agree with you that the average voter is swayed by tatics such as political correctness, and that is indeed pretty sad. While I'm no great fan of the current administration, I haven't voted Republican since they left me hanging on for life (literally) in Hurricane Katrina ; that may not be a good enough reason for me to NOT vote for their candidate, but until the party has a viable leader return to lead it, I can't see myself voting for the candidate that they'll present in November...... appreciate the vote of confidence that you have taken the time to give me for my posts, sir ----- it means a lot !!!
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