I recently read a well-reasoned column by conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer. While I rarely agree with his political perspectives, he has always commanded my respect as a journalist.
In last week's syndicated column, he made a compelling case for changing the name of the Washington Redskins. The team's owner, Dan Snyder cites "the long and proud history surrounding the Washington Redskins that goes back generations." He maintains that no malice or prejudice was ever intended by using the name "Redskins"
and cites the team's 80-year history.
But Mr. Krauthammer states that "words don't stand still. They evolve." He cites as an example the manner in which the term "Negro" is no longer considered acceptable "unless you've been asleep for the past fifty years." So he suggests that we honor "changes in linguistic nuance" and agree to a name change. He offers as a substitute the name "Skins" as in "shirts and skins pickup basketball teams". I dunno. What would the logo look like? Some super-buff, bare-chested dude with bulging pecs and biceps? --- and maybe a set of fangs, with dripping saliva?
I had actually considered another alternative: keeping the name, but changing the logo in honor of The Redskin Potato. Hey, it's heart-healthy and full of protein! Just one li'l fly in the ointment: the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) beat me to the punch. An article on PETA's webpage promotes this suggestion along with a tidy graphic of a masterfully-cooked, meticulously-presented redskin potato ready to be dined on.
On second thought, most football fans probably aren't vegetarians. They crave mmmeeeeaaattt!!! And blood 'n gore 'n raw guts! So scratch the redskin potatoes gambit.
Hey, I got it! The perfect name, especially in the wake of recent political upheavals in The Nation's Capital. ***The Washington Shutdowns!***
There ya go!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Don't Feed the Loafers!
Petty meanness rules!
Here we are; it's Day 2 of the federal shutdown. Not only that, but just up the road a piece, we'll be bumping our collective heads on the debt ceiling. Apparently we've succeeded in electing a bunch of heartless, mean-spirited human beings who've made their sentiments abundantly clear: They don't give a damn about folks who are struggling to survive.
Maybe enough voters will come to their senses in 2014 and send some of these monsters home. Here's one sample of pure meanness: Tennessee Congressman Steven Fincher (R - 8th). He was among the majority of House Republicans to vote for deep cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food stamps to needy households. Over 40% of SNAP households include at least one wage-earner. Seniors and folks on disability account for most of the balance.
Yet Mr. Fincher insists on citing the following biblical passage: "Those unwilling to work shall not eat". He went on to say that caring for the poor is "something Christians might do, but not with government money". (Charities do great work, but have never been able to help more than a fraction of those in need, especially in stressful times).
This congressman, who along with his family operates a prosperous 2,500-acre farm (about 4 square miles), has no qualms about suckling the government titty himself. His business has benefitted from well over $3 million in federal farm subsidies over the past decade, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Tennessee's Eighth District, which covers the westernmost tier of counties above Memphis, has a long, bearded tradition of electing socially conservative Democrats. I would like to believe that local Democrats could field a worthy opponent for Mr. Fincher in 2014: someone with a much more humane interpretation of the Bible; a candidate who'd appeal to everyone's better nature. Most voters in that district do not share the Fincher Family's good fortune, and probably know folks who are struggling --- and may even be on food stamps.
Not to be forgotten is Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (R - 1st), the Ayn Rand acolyte and self-anointed budget maven whom Mitt Romney chose as his running mate. According to Mr. Ryan, SNAP is "a hammock that lolls able-bodied people into lives of dependency and complacency".
Many seemingly moderate Republicans are decrying the shutdown and fear for their own political futures. Understood. Yet they continue to support measures that shred the social safety net, such as the food stamp cuts.
The Dems need to retrieve 17 seats next year in order to re-establish a House majority. If the Tea Party nutcakes continue to hog the limelight, maybe just maybe it could happen!
Here we are; it's Day 2 of the federal shutdown. Not only that, but just up the road a piece, we'll be bumping our collective heads on the debt ceiling. Apparently we've succeeded in electing a bunch of heartless, mean-spirited human beings who've made their sentiments abundantly clear: They don't give a damn about folks who are struggling to survive.
Maybe enough voters will come to their senses in 2014 and send some of these monsters home. Here's one sample of pure meanness: Tennessee Congressman Steven Fincher (R - 8th). He was among the majority of House Republicans to vote for deep cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food stamps to needy households. Over 40% of SNAP households include at least one wage-earner. Seniors and folks on disability account for most of the balance.
Yet Mr. Fincher insists on citing the following biblical passage: "Those unwilling to work shall not eat". He went on to say that caring for the poor is "something Christians might do, but not with government money". (Charities do great work, but have never been able to help more than a fraction of those in need, especially in stressful times).
This congressman, who along with his family operates a prosperous 2,500-acre farm (about 4 square miles), has no qualms about suckling the government titty himself. His business has benefitted from well over $3 million in federal farm subsidies over the past decade, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Tennessee's Eighth District, which covers the westernmost tier of counties above Memphis, has a long, bearded tradition of electing socially conservative Democrats. I would like to believe that local Democrats could field a worthy opponent for Mr. Fincher in 2014: someone with a much more humane interpretation of the Bible; a candidate who'd appeal to everyone's better nature. Most voters in that district do not share the Fincher Family's good fortune, and probably know folks who are struggling --- and may even be on food stamps.
Not to be forgotten is Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (R - 1st), the Ayn Rand acolyte and self-anointed budget maven whom Mitt Romney chose as his running mate. According to Mr. Ryan, SNAP is "a hammock that lolls able-bodied people into lives of dependency and complacency".
Many seemingly moderate Republicans are decrying the shutdown and fear for their own political futures. Understood. Yet they continue to support measures that shred the social safety net, such as the food stamp cuts.
The Dems need to retrieve 17 seats next year in order to re-establish a House majority. If the Tea Party nutcakes continue to hog the limelight, maybe just maybe it could happen!
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