Back here in the Whining States of America-visiting with my father. Important to do, and I knew if I did not get here now-the odds of me getting back here before November are slim to none.
Typing this post on the MacBook. I am liking the key board-as well as the screen a lot. Watching Women's beach volleyball on the TV. I find it quite odd that that the American women are wearing those stupid T-shirts. Sure it is London-and no doubt it is cool, but still-hearing that they were forced to wear them because of someone's offended fee fees is just too much. I almost kind of want the Argentines to win-since one can see their incredibly fit and curvy bodies. But that, at its heart, would defeat for me-the main purpose of watching the Olympics. That being watching Americans win, and Chinese, Russian, and Arab athletes lose.
A few other observations of the Olympics, in no particular order:
The supposed "disappointment " with the opening ceremony is just ridiculous. One of the most bizarre things I think, is the criticism of Kenneth Branagh being dressed up like "Lincoln". It is ridiculous-and shows the peculiar inability of Americans to understand that there are nations with much longer and equally storied histories as ours:
Well, the clothing was certainly similar. But Kenneth Branagh's getup at the Olympics Opening Ceremony Friday was really meant to evoke a very different man who was great in his own way.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel lived from 1806 to 1859, nearly contemporaneous with Lincoln, which explains the clothing style. But he was British, and perhaps the greatest industrial engineer and designer of the 19th century, the architect of much of England's 19th-century industrial revolution. Here's a quickie biography.
And what celebration of British history would be complete without a celebration of the greatest playwright in history? It is probably a commentary on how much American education has slipped, that Shakespeare is not easily recognizable by younger Americans. But it makes sense if you think about it.
Now I will grant you I thought the opening was slightly too long-and delayed the real purpose for which I and others watch the opening ceremonies: The Parade of Nations. I'll say it again-the Olympics are not for me about the glory of sport. They are about my country kicking ass and defeating other countries athletes. Being an American-I want to hear the Star Spangled Banner played so often it sounds like Stars and Stripes Forever.
I'd also be remiss if I didn't think the whole "scandal" of certain athletes Twitter posts-one Greek Olympian was dismissed for hers; not the best decision that I think the Greeks could have made. Especially since their team is smaller this year. A simple stern reprimand could not do-and whose business is it any way, what she Tweets? That's a different subject entirely but it begs the question of when the "thought police" are going to be given their walking papers.
Speaking of the Thought Police, I would like to switch gears from the Olympics and add my two cents worth on the whole Chick Fil A "controversy. It will probably come as a surprise to those who brand me as "liberal"-but I think this whole outrage over the remarks of Chick Fil A's president is just silly. The gay lobby needs to step back, relax, and take a powder. This is Chick Fil A. Anyone who has spent time in the south knows they are closed on Sunday and knows why. The President of the company is as entitled to his opinion as anyone else-and most folks know he is a flaming extremist of his own right; equally as much as some of the boycott backers are "flaming" extremists themselves. Get a grip. Concentrate on whether they are violating labor law-and all indications are they are not, rather than idle rants of a evangelical. (Maybe you could pull a "West Wing approach" on him).
Do I need to know how he feels about gays? Probably not-and he probably should not have been publicly quoted saying what he is quoted to have said. But it takes all kinds to have an economy and this business of mayors turning down a potential employer coming into their cities is just nuts. The tide of history may be moving in favor of gay marriage, but the pro gay lobby should not forget that there are still a lot of people who not comfortable with much of their agenda-even if I can agree objectively that there is little in the way of a logical argument to make against it. But freedom of speech has to work both ways-and the gay lobby does themselves no favors with the boycott. Hell, in Germany, most businesses are closed on Sunday-and while there is little controversy over the gay bit, you would be kidding yourself if you didn't realize that there is also still a requirement for a certain level of public discretion.
I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of military personnel marching in gay pride parades in uniform. I'm not thrilled with gay marriage but then again, I more and more am thinking that all marriage is pretty useless. I'll be writing more on that this week. I don't like the Navy celebrating gay couples kissing at homecomings-but firing CO's for liking women. But like it or not-events are moving; older guys like Mr. Cathy are like me about women in the military. Right but increasingly being ignored about being right. It is what it is.
And so that is the news for a rather slow Sunday back in the land of my birth. Romney is Israel-probably on the way to saying stupid things to the Israelis just to impress stupid evangelicals like Mr. Cathy. NOW THAT is something people of either sexual preference should be more concerned about than a stupid statement by one man. Besides-who eats chicken with pickles anyway? Not me.