Talk about needing a reality check. I never told my son to admire, respect, or idolize any man. Society is what does that. Turn on the tv and ESPN or CBS Sports or ABC Sports is telling our kids whom to idolize. For heaven's sake, we have Big Media telling all of us that a child pervert was a great man, that a cocaine snorting prima donna with no qualifications for the job is the right man for the White House, and that players like Ron Artest are assets. The reality check is that this society and culture have for decades promoted ill-gotten gains as long as it made big news, built up then torn down those who made the ill-gotten gains, and twisted a once God-fearing, decent people into a hedonistic rabble. The reality check is that this nation is in trouble, and by coddling the likes of drug-using athletes and promoting them as great, we only get deeper into that trouble. Rolling Stones, Woodstock . . . blah, blah, blah. . . all part of the problem, not the solution.
There is good and evil, right and wrong, justice and injustice, and until we get back to honoring the good, the right, and the just, truly honoring them, we will be a wayward nation careening along the descent into Hell.
So we should just ignore society all together?
Just one question: which president are you slamming -- Obama or W? Are either of them using cocaine now? No. Youthful mistakes? Yes.
Over the top post.
Baseball players are athletes, entertainers, not necessarily role models. I agree the media is a culprit in promoting adolation of undeserving superstars. But a descent into hell? Give me a break.
Over the top post.
Baseball players are athletes, entertainers, not necessarily role models. I agree the media is a culprit in promoting adolation of undeserving superstars. But a descent into hell? Give me a break.
I think rhobbs is on to something, abc. I'll give you that his is a pretty bright line--it's either/or--and that may be hard to live by. The world presents too many gray areas to be strictly either/or. On the other hand, here are some questions for anyone who might wish to say that either/or is not within reality:
(1) Do you believe in Christ as the only path to salvation?
(2) Do you believe that abortion is the killing of an innocent human life?
(3) Do you believe that torture, or even enhanced interrogation, is wrong?
(4) Do you believe that the death penalty should apply to a woman who killed her three children then lived with their decomposing bodies for six months?
(5) Do you believe a 17 year old who drinks and drives, crashes, and kills another human being should go to jail for 10 years?
(6) Do you believe that a soldier who, in the heat of battle, fires on and kills two woman running across a street, should be court-martialed for war crimes?
Yes, the world presents many gray situations, but when we start to move off of a hard-and-fast set of right and wrong, we get into a relativistic approach that becomes personal whim and the protection of personal interests. rhobbs seems to say that our athletes are like anyone else, walking in a gray world, but that they need to know and abide by the bright line rules of right and wrong, good and evil, and so forth. I think he is right. Just like Obama or W or anyone other national politician, athletes are put out there as examples of success for kids to follow. Would it not be better if they did abide by clear rules so the kids who are looking up could know, understand, and live by those same rules?
(1) Do you believe in Christ as the only path to salvation?
(2) Do you believe that abortion is the killing of an innocent human life?
(3) Do you believe that torture, or even enhanced interrogation, is wrong?
(4) Do you believe that the death penalty should apply to a woman who killed her three children then lived with their decomposing bodies for six months?
(5) Do you believe a 17 year old who drinks and drives, crashes, and kills another human being should go to jail for 10 years?
(6) Do you believe that a soldier who, in the heat of battle, fires on and kills two woman running across a street, should be court-martialed for war crimes?
Yes, the world presents many gray situations, but when we start to move off of a hard-and-fast set of right and wrong, we get into a relativistic approach that becomes personal whim and the protection of personal interests. rhobbs seems to say that our athletes are like anyone else, walking in a gray world, but that they need to know and abide by the bright line rules of right and wrong, good and evil, and so forth. I think he is right. Just like Obama or W or anyone other national politician, athletes are put out there as examples of success for kids to follow. Would it not be better if they did abide by clear rules so the kids who are looking up could know, understand, and live by those same rules?
... Hell in a handbasket, huh? The "blah, blah, blah" examples are to suggest that we have NEVER been the nation many believe it once was. I never brought up religion, but if we want to do that then the majority of the world (being non-Christian) is doomed. As for my point, Babe Ruth was a womanizer and a drunk, and he was a God before "big media". Big media is you and I, so unless you don't watch baseball on TV, or the Superbowl, or any other sporting event, you are also to blame for our new "non-Christian" hell we are in.
We always want to think that things used to be better, but we have never been an innocent society. The "Leave It To Beaver" ideal never existed. I'm trying to figure out who filled our minds with this junk, since the people who believe this nonsense are the same people who raised the kids who created this "new world". My father-in-law is a priest and doesn't even believe this nonsense!
We always want to think that things used to be better, but we have never been an innocent society. The "Leave It To Beaver" ideal never existed. I'm trying to figure out who filled our minds with this junk, since the people who believe this nonsense are the same people who raised the kids who created this "new world". My father-in-law is a priest and doesn't even believe this nonsense!
isaacvanwart and rhobbs,
I am more with captainhasbeen in this debate.
I am content to have black and white rules for substance abuse in a professional sport. Rules for amateur status vs. pro status, etc.
I just don't want to receive the death penalty for a speeding ticket on the beltway because someone thinks I have transgressed into the realm of evil....
I react strongly when someone condemns over 50 percent of the population (in a "democracy") for electing a politician he deems unqualified. I find it offensive in fact. Do you know how often I have to live with the candidate who is not my choice? Alot...
I think acknowledging gray areas is a sign of willingness to do the difficult mental work to make decisions and choices. Black and white thinking just absolves us from having to think at all. I do not agree with the zero tolerance policy in Fairfax County, for example, though I know is easier for administrations.
That's my take. No wonder umpires have it so tough. There are very few plays in baseball that are black and white.
So back to baseball...
I am more with captainhasbeen in this debate.
I am content to have black and white rules for substance abuse in a professional sport. Rules for amateur status vs. pro status, etc.
I just don't want to receive the death penalty for a speeding ticket on the beltway because someone thinks I have transgressed into the realm of evil....
I react strongly when someone condemns over 50 percent of the population (in a "democracy") for electing a politician he deems unqualified. I find it offensive in fact. Do you know how often I have to live with the candidate who is not my choice? Alot...
I think acknowledging gray areas is a sign of willingness to do the difficult mental work to make decisions and choices. Black and white thinking just absolves us from having to think at all. I do not agree with the zero tolerance policy in Fairfax County, for example, though I know is easier for administrations.
That's my take. No wonder umpires have it so tough. There are very few plays in baseball that are black and white.
So back to baseball...
Jeffress was called up to Milwaukee as rosters expanded yesterday. He made his debut last night, tossing a scoreless inning in which he gave up one hit. He promptly rolled a 4-6-3 DP, then got another groundout to 2B to get out of the inning.
Thats great news for Jeremy both on & off the field!
JJ tested positive for a "drug of abuse" sometime after the 2006 Draft but was not suspended...Was tested positive a second time for "a drug of abuse" and was suspended 50 games in 2007; later admitted to marijuana use...tested positive a third time for a "drug of abuse" and received a 100-game suspension on June 29, 2009 under Minor League Baseball's Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program.
JJ was put on the 40 man MLB roster as he faces a lifetime ban if he tests positive again...
The MLBPU has rules that will not allow testing for the recreational drugs JJ was using in the MiLB.
Congrats to the young man for his MLB appearance.
Could become the Brewers closer.
JJ was put on the 40 man MLB roster as he faces a lifetime ban if he tests positive again...
The MLBPU has rules that will not allow testing for the recreational drugs JJ was using in the MiLB.
Congrats to the young man for his MLB appearance.
Could become the Brewers closer.