Dome Pondering

I'm not shocked at all that Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice. Not shocked in the least. I wasn't exactly rooting for him to be removed, or even wishing for his entire career to be thrown down the hatch due to the recent state of events - that would be unwarranted and cruel. After all, one could argue that regardless of what happens moving forward, Brett Kavanaugh will always have everything - EVERYTHING - that happened in late 2018 hovering over his career. However, what I find discomfort in, as many do - well, I guess depending on your party affiliation and/or strength of commitment to said party and overall belief - is the overwhelming reaction and outlook by Washington on the situation.

So in shocking fashion, the juggernaut that is Nike has now backed Colin Kaepernick and all that is, was, and has become, in this on-going dilemma. And of course, has now added a new layer to it all. Interestingly enough, the company fully supports Kap, and has centered the 30th Anniversary of it's "Just Do It" campaign around him, continuing a clear divide of idealism and ridiculousness across the country. And shall I say, even more absurd rhetoric on defining patriotism in the good ol' United States of America. First things, first. If you're new to this blog, I'll catch you up to speed on my stance - I've been with Kap. And no, I'm not "anti-American". But I'm pretty sure you will jump to conclusions and tell me that I am.

Is prior racism forgivable?  It's a loaded question and one that seems to have presented itself in the ever-evolving battle we have in our country. When do we allow and validate a person's change of heart from the the depths of previous discriminatory behavior? The question is an interesting one, especially when blended with the likes of white privilege and an underlying (thick) layer of foundational and systemic racism in this country.  When the stories of Hulk Hogan being reinstated to the WWE and Josh Hader's controversial tweets from his teenage years made their way to the public forefront, it was an interesting dynamic in which left me very curious on how our society would approach the different social issues. I found myself thoroughly intrigued to watch the response, the reaction, and the fallout.  Both men, at one time, regardless of when, stated nasty things. We're not talking about easy shades of ignorance and stereotypes, or even daily micro...

Laura Ingraham of FOX News really stepped in it this week. Her comments to LeBron James and Kevin Durant in regards to their political opinions and her direct message to them of "Just shut up and dribble" has caused a stir among many on both sides of the political divide - a divide that seems to grow daily in this nation. Rather than wait to pen my thoughts, mainly because I was so fired up to do so, I shared took to Twitter (ugh..I know, sorry y'all) on a Subway ride home after seeing her rather ignorant remarks.  See below for the quick rant: 

Forgive me, but I just don't understand. I don't understand how a President can repeal an act he deems unconstitutional, but believe in this action so much that he sends his Attorney General to make the announcement - then hours later, attempt a backtrack by "giving Congress 6 Months" to legalize it.  I don't understand how a President, who ran under the oath of Christianity and God, can somehow find it in himself to continue to regulate and deregulate policy that is offensive, bias, and a clear message to people of color, that they are not of importance to him. I don't understand how a government can work for only some of the people for as long as it's existed without repose.  I don't understand how some within the Christian community continue to rally behind this in the name of faith.

This weekend has been exhausting. Despite the constant systemic injustice that is the United States of America, it's a moment like this weekend that is delivered and must be unpacked and discussed carefully in the pursuit of social justice - justice that is long deserved.  There is plenty wrapped up in everything that is Charlottesville, Virigina. This is deep, spans back to the beginning of this nation, and is a result of current times as well.  I'm still decompressing it all. Here are a few quick thoughts as I too wrap my mind, my emotions, and my intellect and rationale around it:

Facebook rants aren't my thing. I'm actually one of those people who find the platform to be filled with just that - overshared rants and unintelligent or ill-advised comments. There are of course exceptions - depending on who you're friends are - but yeah, that's Facebook.  However, what lead to me to the rant was the recent news of the current administration in the White House using the nation's highest resources delegated for civil rights endeavors to be directed towards an attack on affirmative action - most precisely, the college admissions process.  As you already know, I'm pretty passionate about social justice, and education. After all, I work in higher education. The comments were based on the recent New York Times article .

It's rare that I use a GIF to accurately describe how I'm feeling, or as the kids say, "mood right now", but that's exactly what I had to do this weekend. Just check the Twitter feed. Of course, after much of the hyper-politicized atmosphere that was 2016 began to mellow as the calendar turned, all of it erupted once again this weekend when Donald J. Trump officially became the 45th President of the United States.  Now, if you're expecting a verbal backlash, or some rant on President Trump, I'm sorry, this post won't be that. I've already been there, moved on, and am attempting to not start this calendar year with the political unrest and rage that I carried in 2016. Or at least, maybe, I'm saving it for when the time calls for it.  My issues with Trump are short and sweet, but effective - I have a deep passion for social justice and educational equality. If you're a longtime follower of this little blog, or if you know me pers...

I'm not even sure what to say to be honest. I'll apologize immediately as I begin this post as I am not sure where it will end up, because, there really is a lot to digest in what happened this week - Monday night, and every night since then - in Ferguson, Missouri, and now here in New York City, as well as across the country. Unfortunately, we all expected this verdict of no indictment.  It's obviously a hot topic of discussion, and I truly don't want to add to the number of random thoughts and voices being thrown out there at the moment. Yes, everyone has a voice, and as of right now, everyone has a viewpoint and opinion, mostly spurred by emotion, but there are lots of people saying many things, from many different viewpoints, which simply add to the chaos.  I get asked time and time again from some of my students, student-staff, and interns, "Where do you come down on the Ferguson decision?" And while it seems there is an answer as black and w...

I love when people are able to share, debate, articulate, and work through the issues in this race we call life in a respectable and enlightening way. Quite frankly, it's the essence at which this blog was created more thirteen years ago, and it's the sole purpose I continue to keep it alive. We all struggle to make sense of things, and life simply looks on in repose. Just as the moniker reads above.  So you can imagine the joy I had engaging with some who had feedback shortly after posting some immediate thoughts on Michael Sam's announcement this week ( For No One To Care - Isn't That What We Want From Gay Athletes Like Michael Sam ). The exchanges were interesting, especially the amount I received at two o'clock in the morning here on the East coast.

With the recent announcement from Michael Sam of the University of Missouri, the sociological topics of whether professional sports are prepared for gay athletes is at the surface of discussion and thought. It's a valid question as our society continues to integrate and accept homosexuals in the many facets in which we operate.  Sam, a potential future NFL'er, announced to his teammates prior to this collegiate football season that he was gay. To the respect of his teammates, it never became an issue as 1. not one of them decided to leak it, and 2. it never truly mattered to them. As always in sports, the bottom line is, can you play? And Sam, a projected 3rd, 4th, or 5th rounder, can. Performance will always remain the driving force of sports.

It's safe to say Richard Sherman is now a household name. After the now infamous interview with Erin Andrews, which more resembled something that belonged on pro wrestling programming, the nation took aim and fired away at it's new public enemy number one. After all, his comments were shocking, far from the monotonous, repetitive jabber we are used to. You know, the rhetoric that is probably an already prepared statement in the NFL's handbook for athletes on how to handle the media.  No one saw it coming. It was live television, and it was raw, emotional, and as real as it gets. Something we don't ever get after these games. Rasheed Wallace's epic, "Both teams played hard" mantra immediately comes to mind. Gotta love that awesome presser from 'Sheed. Classic.

Have we become that soft? Seriously, how soft have we become as a nation? Have we become this (!) soft?  The recent backlash over "mispelled-badly-gate" and how Alex Trebek apparently handled the situation insensitively is beyond absurd. Yes, BEYOND absurd! I don't know Trebek personally, so to say he's insensitive or for lack of a better word, a jerk, is beyond my reasoning or understanding in this scenario.  I can understand how many would think so, but come on, how else would a person with all of the answers look on a very tough show like Jeopardy? Just like in school no one liked the smart kid or Monopoly no one liked the bank dealer, the guy in the room with all of the answers promptly letting you know as you get them wrong or stumble over yourself is going to be perceived like that. No matter how great of a person he is.

To say that the social reputation or acceptance of faith in our society is at an all-time low is very accurate. When it comes to faith, spirituality, or even that now overused and negative sounding word of "religion", there seems to be a concise eye-roll, mockery, or even the wave of the hand gesture signifying, "it's not for me".  Today we see a growing percentage of Americans who consider themselves athiests, non-believers, or even a part of other forms of spirituality in which they live their lives. All religions are now seen as something that limits the mind, rather than guiding the soul.  This is especially seen in the reputation of Christianity which has gone from household mandate in the early part of the 1900's to now being the focus of hate, hypocrisy, ridicule, and sheer passable acknowledgement in it's existence.

With the state of California looking (actually re-looking) into how it handles the seemingly always-controversial agenda of same-sex marriage, the idea of marriage as a whole is once again at the center of examination by this nation. It's quite astonishing how far this country has come in a mere few years. It wasn't very long ago when the majority of our nation was against the idea of legalizing same-sex union. However, here we are in what seems like a trend of a younger generation moving for "marriage equality".  But as this movement progresses, and in some ways becoming the trendy thing to do, the issue of same-sex marriage has become the it - injustice-  that many are now picking up for. However, as I watch the legal proceedings and the comments, and the arguments, and the foundation slogans, and the Facebook and twitter movements, I wondered why marriage, the hetero-sexual kind, hasn't been focused on.

Yesterday, I had the esteemed opportunity to supervise and assist in an event I've worked on for quite a while. At this point in my career, its becoming a bit more difficult to be surprised or consider an event "new", but this one definitely was - but, in a good way. The event was the Special Olympics for the city of New York, and is under my responsibilities in my new position in college athletics.  In years past, I've done some things with the Special Olympics of New York, including some fringe work on some of their other events, but was never around to see the results of it. And as any person in the parks, recreation, event, sports, or entertainment industry will tell you, seeing the event brings it all together.

This is has been an issue that has been gaining traction for years, if not decades. It seems the more we move forward as a nation, the more we leave behind our trust in faith, and our belief in a creator. The issue, in my opinion, strongly goes hand in hand with the recent push of a culture that places a great deal of emphasis on "self", and of course, on the growing lack of accountability, morals, and ethical conduct in times today.