Random musings

Sometimes I think American society is going to hell in a hand-basket. There is just so much stuff that just makes no sense in our current state of affairs that I sometimes feel I am losing it.  Here are just a few random observations and thoughts about things swirling around here abouts:


1. Is there anything this President can do that someone, somewhere will not criticize him for?  I honestly believe he could be sitting on the front steps of the White House taking a breather, and a cadre of folks from somewhere will start criticizing him for being a lazy bum or selling the free world down the river. He is the President of the United States, elected according to our electoral system. It is done; it is over. But he just can't seem to do anything right in the opinion of many.  This guy can't even be indignant, as he was today about the rise of school violence, without someone jumping all over him for voicing an opinion.  In the past eighteen months there have been 74 incidents of gun violence in schools.  This is a disgrace. I will grant you, there are other big ticket issues that need to be addressed here, but really?? Children are not safe at school.  Who can disagree about  this troubling situation?


2. There are far too many news programs, stations and outlets with far too many "newscasters" who are actually giving their opinions about everything from the tax and banking systems to the color of J-Lo's latest designer gown.  And unfortunately since most do not seem to have an adequate understanding of either economics or fashion design, many of their professional statements do not make any sense.  And even though I will agree that the average American woman is closer to a size 12 than a size 4, (an astonishing statistic shared on a national news show this morning) asking your colleague on the air what size she wears is just plain asking for trouble, as well as being unprofessional.


3. A movie opening is not news....I repeat: a movie opening is not news.  I do enjoy reading movie and play reviews, especially in the New York Times when said production is a disappointment, but the over reporting of movie openings is just a time waster.  Bedsides that, there are really not many films of quality being shown.  And while I am at it, films are made from a distinct point of view, as are novels, and one needs to be aware of that.  Oliver Stone is a film maker not an historian.


4. History is told from the standpoint of the winners, and most historic events have been retold and revised by many for their own purposes.  Just as movies and novels are told from the point of view of the author, so history is viewed through the lens of the researcher/writer. History can be manipulated, and has been.


5. The word "hero" is overused. I pledge to avoid its use in everyday speech and will only use it when absolutely necessary.


Now I feel better, but know I have probably offended someone out there....sorry.