October 1st / 3rd
"Contradictions and Convolutions"
Life is replete with contradictions, many of which are fraught with
convoluted logic. Here are some recent examples:
Last week some leading economists said the recession was technically over.
At the same time, the Census Bureau reported that the number of people
living in poverty had risen from 39 million to 43 million. This could be
explained by the fact that leading economists don't live in poverty.
Despite what most women's health professionals say to the contrary, the
New England Journal of Medicine just published a report that slams mammograms
for being ineffective in saving lives. Coincidentally, that same week,
many of Obama's health care reforms kicked in, including one that requires
insurance companies to pay for mammograms. We all recall the back room deal
Obama made with big Pharma to keep cheaper drugs out of the country, so it
makes you wonder if insurers had something to do with the Journal report.
After all, if doctors start to believe that mammograms are useless, then they
won't order the procedure, and insurers won't have to eat the cost.
Speaking of so-called health care reform, insurance companies will no
longer be allowed to cap the amount of lifetime benefits for customers. The
catch is that Congress put no cap on premiums, therefore, most of us with
mounting medical bills will never fully realize our benefits because we won't
be able to afford the astronomically high monthly premiums.
Citizens in King, NC are upset because City Council removed the Christian
flag from a veterans memorial. Council felt the flag violated the
separation of church and state. But the bigger issue is why so many Christians
support invasions of foreign countries, and the murder of hundreds of thousands
of innocent civilians. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who fought
Nazis, but politicizing a memorial while our country is still embroiled in two
unethical wars, sends a mixed message about condoning senseless violence.
President Obama just told us that creating jobs is his number one
priority. Yet he's done nothing to repeal the bad trade agreements that have
depleted our workforce. He has also refused to end tax breaks and tariff relief
for American companies who benefit from sending their jobs overseas where
they can hire cheap labor.
And while we're on the topic of unethical industries, Hanesbrands came out
smelling like a rose at the recent opening of the Milton Rhodes center.
Local and national officials praised Winston-Salem for its innovation and
leadership, yet no one mentioned that the new facility was paid for by a
company who shuttered over 30 plants and laid off over 15,000 American workers.
There is nothing innovative about decimating local jobs and sending them to
third world countries. So let's all give the Arts Council a pat on the
back for building a monument to slave wage labor.
And that brings us to college athletes who some claim are nothing more
than slaves. The University of Georgia suspended football star AJ Green for
selling his jersey. Meanwhile, the university makes over $100 million dollars
each year from the sale of jerseys and other sports related items. I'm no
defender of athletes who pretend to be students just so they can play
sports, but those who work hard at athletics and academics have no time for a
part time job, thus have no spending money. Maryland basketball coach Gary
Williams favors paying college athletes in revenue producing sports a monthly
stipend. That's fine, but what about the students who play golf, tennis
and soccer? Maybe they can be paid from the endorsement fees the coaches get
from shoe companies.
TV stations say they are hurting for revenue, yet the makers of Zestra, a
female enhancement product, say they are having difficulty buying time on
local TV stations. These are the same stations who accept ads for male
enhancement products, but don't want to broadcast messages about female
sexuality. This is probably more sexist than it is contradictory, but my position
is, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. I guess the TV
stations just don't want us guys taking a gander at products for the geese.
And finally, a female sports reporter said she was offended by male nudity
and cat calls in the NY Jets locker room. But if she is so offended, then
why does she keep going in there? As I was pondering this contradiction,
the Oscar Meyer "Wiener Mobile" rolled into the Triad, giving me a moment of
profound clarity. If God had meant for women to be in men's locker rooms,
he would have given both sexes the same equipment between their buns.
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