Random Thought: September 2013

Forgive me. Are we going to bomb Syria or not. I have lost track the last few weeks finding the answer in the news. Which, the slight cynic that I can be at times, I find very interesting. President Obama seemed all worked up in a lather about this the last few months. The last few months of summer, by the way. That is usually the time [ like Friday evenings, late] when politicians like to slip something past the people and the media with as little attention as necessary. Why? Because it will be unpopular and, possibly, devious in nature. That is why I am cynical about the Syria story. Is this made up--- ala, the movie ''Wag The Dog''--- to divert another issue from drawing attention? Or, is this a legit story that we should be alarmed about? It seems, from the Gospel According To Obama, that the Syrian people are being gassed by their dictator President and his ruthless henchmen. Well, haven't we heard this story before about weapons of mass destruction being used to ''control'' the people with ''extreme prejudice?'' Of course, we have. It was the neighbor to the east of Syria, that ole rabble-rouser and former U.S. puppet Saddam Hussain and his playtoy country called Iraq. Remember, that long-ago war of 2003 that was gonna free the people of Iraq because they were being poisoned [ among many atrocities] by this tyrant? Yes, we are starting to have rerun wars now every couple of years. Same reasons, but, new players on the world chessboard. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Now, it seems the rush to war is slowly down somewhat [ which is good] and other avenues of direction are being explored to stop more violence from happening. The irony in all of this is that the Syrian people, like the Iraqi people before them, are genuinely in the clutches of a murdering monster who has no hesitation to play God with lives. People do forgot that Hussain DID have weapons of mass destruction at one time, and, used them freely. The same seems to be happening in Syria. But, because of the bungling of the last war, it is hard to believe if what is happening is in fact happening for real. Are we being played again for political power, mixed, as always, with Big Business? I don't know anymore which way to believe when it comes to government action. However, I do know one thing for sure. I am getting sick and tired of this country being the police force for the world, especially, in that part of the world. We have learned, long and hard, that these people in the Middle East are too irrational for us rational to have any dealings with. I said long ago that we should begin to extract ourselves financially from this area because it is out of control in terms of violence and human decency. But, we are still there, buried deep as ever, in the affairs of barbaric and unstable people........ While we play war games, the media, that bastion of public taste, looks for other areas to divert us. On the show business front, the big story for a few weeks now is Miley Cyrus. She is, for those that don't know, the daughter of ''Achy Breaky'' guy Billy Ray Cyrus, and the star of the kids show ''Hannah Montana''. The fact that Billy Ray was allowed to reproduce is a debate for later, when the topic of cousins having sex with each other is being discussed. Now, being of middle-age and having no kids, I could not tell you anything about when she was ''Hannah Montana''. I know nothing of fictional characters named ''Montana'' unless it is ''Tony Montana'' from ''Scarface''. Still, every generation has its young stars and Miley, all sweetness and cuddles, enjoyed her fifteen minutes of fame until her fans had grown up and dropped her. But, now, unlike in previous generations when child stars faded away, Miley has reinvented herself. Like Britney Spears in the early 2000's [ around the Iraq war, see it all ties in] when the ''good girl'' persona runs out of juice, then, you start the juices going in another direction with the ''sexy look''. Ms. Cyrus now is all gussied up and being the tart!! Well, in defense of her, she is now an adult and can do anything she damn well pleases. However, there is a marketing ploy being played here. It is all for show, at least when it comes to her career. Willingly shifting gears to jumpstart a morbid career, she does what many have done before. She is now ''shocking'' and ''obscene''. If you saw her recent performance at the ''MTV Awards'', beside her future felony crime hip-hop performers, she did what any smart manager and publicist advised her to do: she got tongues wagging and people interested. Sex, as we know, sells big time, especially, in the hormone driven teenagers that she covets. So, the fact she is still being talked about is a testament to her management and career advisors. And, to Miley Cyrus. She is too young, of course, to see what damage this will do to her long-term. She is the hot topic now, but, she has limited talent and will be off the world's stage soon. Look for a drug habit and Lindsay Lohan-type of behavior coming soon....... I have always hated when parents push kids out front on a stage and showcase them. Usually, the kid is forced to exorcise the broken dreams of stardom that the parents failed to achieve. Show business is filled with the child stars being manufactured and hustled by a money-making machine. For every Ron Howard, who seemed to have normal parents and is a normal person, there are the stories of abuse and drug addiction for the kids when the limelight goes dark. Picture a child star around ten years old. The world, which they know nothing about, revolves around them and they are front and center, being lavished with gifts and anything the heart desires. They are pampered and adored. They are spoiled and their actions are excused. The reason is the money is swirling straight from the kid talent. As long as the cash flows smoothly, all is well with the youngster. The public's tastes, however, remain fickle and short-termed. For every bright light of talent, there is another kid waiting in the wings. And, unless the kid star is supremely centered [ usually, watched over with love by caring parents] then the house of cards will fall very quickly for the kid. The spotlight shifts to the Next Big Thing. The public forgets because it is told to forget. The kid slides down from the unreal world of show-business to the harsh real world of life. That is when we here the stories of bad public behavior, also hand and hand with the kid discovering that the money they are earned is nowhere to be found. From the ''Little Rascals'' to Gary Coleman to the Brat Pack and Ms. Lohan, the cruel machinations of exploited children has many examples. It seems to me to force--- and, most kids are forced by someone to be showing off to the public--- someone out there to be groomed for stardom, is a form of child abuse. The child doesn't understand and is, therefore, a victim. Sure, there may be success stories and quality entertainment the kid provides. But, whenever I see a kid now who is drawing a lot of attention, I cringe a little and pray that this kid will survive the onslaught. Some do and end up on the stage as an adult winning an Oscar. Most don't make that stage. They make the morgue...... And, finally, on a lighter note. We have the Bears starting out the season 2-0. The two games they have won have been quite exciting to watch. The last game against the Vikings had one dramatic ending!!! Jay Cutler, whom I still defend as a player and not as a human being, rebounded from a potentially embarrassing fiasco to lead the team to a thrilling victory in the closing minutes. I was at Buffalo Wild Wings with some dear family members and the place erupted in jubilation when the final pass from Cutler scored a TD. That game, and its ending, is the reason I love football so fiercely. It is three hours of on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrills. This town seems to divide its worship when it comes to the Cubs and the other team whose name I can never remember. The Hawks have gained a wide audience the last few years, mainly, because they are winning and the bandwagon jumpers go along for the ride. That is fine, you might as well become a fan of a team and sport when they are winning. But, hockey still is not the all-dominant sport that football is. People watch the Bears, but, also watch other games happening and become fantasy football experts. The sport crosses all ethnic groups and ages and both sexes, which is always a welcome thing. Football has become ''America's Game'', replacing baseball long-ago. You prepare your week for the game, what with planning social occasions and food and drinks to enjoy while the game is on. Everybody is a football fan, and, everybody in Chicago embraces the Bears. Fall has only one drawback: it is the opening act for that dark time known as winter. But, fall also has the best of charms to it. And, the biggest is the three hours every Sunday in that grand old stadium by the lake. Go Bears!!!!!!