Archives for September 2004

Some things are worth going back to for a second look.

http://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/2004/05/islam-and-modern-world.html

As I mentioned numerous times in this Blog I am a bit of a reality TV junkie. There are a number of shows that I watch, although it would be more truthful to say that some I really watch and others I flirt with.

The Amazing Race, The Apprentice and Survivor are constants. The Bachelor and The Benefactor get a little attention from me, but not a lot.

I like the race because I really enjoy seeing the world and there is something cool about watching them compete in some very cool challenges in places that I have always wanted to visit and some that have come to my attention only because I became aware of them because of the show.

The Apprentice is interesting because I think that there are some business tricks that can be learned there and the people on there are interesting to me too. Trump has an ego the size of the The Statue of Liberty and hair to match. But you don’t get to be where he is without having some skill/intelligence. No need to reinvent the wheel if you do not have to.

Survivor is just fun to me. I like most of the challenges and if they do a good job the personalities can keep my eye. But sometimes they grab a bad bunch and I don’t pay much attention to the show.

The Benefactor is a poor attempt to compete with Trump, so I haven’t done more than give it 10 minutes or so of total viewing time.

The Bachelor catches my eye a little but not enough to be devoted. I suppose what I find interesting is how many people are willing to put their lives on display in this format. I can’t see myself doing it with any intention of being serious.

While it would be fun to have 25 women chasing me there are too many potential pitfalls. The editing can make you look like a hero or a jerk. The woman you end up with is going to have the opportunity to watch you with other women, and that cannot be good. Call me a chauvinist, but I don’t believe that any woman really has interest in watching her guy kiss someone else, let alone date them.

And you know that she’ll be watching what you say to the others and comparing it to what you said to her. One small step and you’re in female hell. Not a good place to hang out.

Above and beyond all this is whatever you do is on tape forever. I know myself and I am inclined to say and act without regard for the consequences. I freely admit it. I will jump into the fire and dance my way back out. It is not always the smartest thing to do, but it is me.

The point being that I understand that as a father my actions can impact my children and that is something that I take seriously. I will do things that they are not going to like and they will adjust accordingly, but this takes it to a different level.

That is, a show like that places you in front of millions of people. If Monica Lewinsky ever has children they are going to be confronted with some stories about their mother that may be very uncomfortable, and it will be on a large scale. That can be tough, why deal with it.

OTOH, 25 women chasing me could be so much fun. Maybe I’ll pitch the producers on doing a show in Utah. That would be bigamy wouldn’t it. 😉

“Teacher Sends Boy Home With Feces in Bag



DALLAS (AP) – A teacher is on paid administrative leave after sending a first-grader home with feces in his backpack because the boy soiled the classroom floor.

The teacher apparently was frustrated with the 6-year-old student’s actions so she wrapped up the waste and sent it home with the boy Tuesday along with a note, Dallas school district spokesman Donald Claxton said.

Claxton declined to identify the teacher at Gabe P. Allen Elementary School.

“It generally appears the teacher was trying to help raise awareness with the family,” Claxton said. “It’s just an unfortunate incident. Unfortunately, she took this course of action.”

What the hell was she thinking.

“The wild-card spot in the playoffs hasn’t proved to be a significant disadvantage. In nine seasons since the first wild-card entry, three wild-card teams—the Marlins twice, in 1997 and again last year, and the Angels in 2002—have won the World Series. In other words, though wild cards make up 25 percent of the postseason contenders, they have won 33 percent of the Series since they became eligible.”

It is worth considering.

My confession on the eve of Yom Kippur. I just made a terrible mistake, I watched pieces of the beheading videos. Initially I began to name the two men whose videos I watched, but then I decided that was wrong. It felt like I was dishonoring the other victims.

I didn’t watch the whole video, just a snippet, which is really the wrong word to use. But I acted with as much sense as the moth who flies into a candle and I peeked into the dark closet and saw that there was a monster. I the child who was very much afraid of the dark looked the monster in the eye and was not physically consumed, but mentally wounded.

It hurt me to see these men and to know that their families have to live not only with the pain of their loss but the knowledge that people like me, strangers have access to these terrible films. And for that I do apologize. Just a post or so after I expressed my concern and distaste for this manner of apology, I contradict myself and apologize.

But I feel like I must say that I am sorry. I am sorry for your loss and I hope that in time the pain is diminished.

Some people argue that the people who are slaughtered this way are somehow culpable, that because they stayed when they were told to go they should be held responsible for their own deaths. I can’t accept that. I cannot give them carte blance and say that they are completely blameless, but I can say that it was minimal.

If they had walked through a minefield or intentionally walked into the middle of a firefight I could lay blame upon them. But to be kidnapped and slaughtered like an animal is not the same and it is not just. And during the time in which my people believe that judgement comes I ask for forgiveness from the families and for forgiveness for what I am about to write.

I am incensed. I am angry. I am infuriated and I want justice to be served upon the heads of the animals who did this. No one deserves to die like this. This action makes my blood boil and my soul call for vengeance upon them. I feel ill and I am sorry that I watched these videos, but on the other hand it is a solid reminder that there are evil people out there.

And this kind of evil will not leave you alone, it is a cancer that should be rooted out and destroyed.

I am not one to make public pleas for prayer, but I will do so now. I ask that regardless of your faith that you please take a moment to pray for the families of the victims, to pray for the innocent people who are murdered in Iraq and around the world.

I ask that you pray for the young men/women who serve in the armed forces. I ask that you pray for justice to be served upon those who would harm us and I ask that you pray for a kinder, gentler world.

Monsters walk in the world during daylight and darkness and I am going home to hug my children and hold my family close. The children are a beautiful reminder that there is more good than evil. And there is more splendor and joy to behold.

Have an easy fast.