War! What is it Good For?

It seems that every time I open the newspaper, tune into talk radio or watch TV Network/Cable news, I keep hearing the phrase “War on Women”.  Really?

When I hear the word War, I think Iraq, Afghanistan, The Middle East, Israel, Iran or Syria.   America is no stranger to War and has a rich history and checkered past when it comes to conflict.  But is there really a war against women in the USA? Who knew?

Say it aint so, Joe.  I don’t want to go to war with women. I like women.  In fact I love a number of them.  I’m married to one… My mother is a woman, so is my sister, I have three sisters- in- law, two daughters and  three granddaughters… and countless friends, wives of friends, ex-wives of friends.  Some of my best business clients are women.  If I harm them, I may not eat or pay my mortgage. A woman cuts my hair... with sharp scissors in her hands. How safe is that if we are at war?

When did this war start?  Was there a draft...  like in Vietnam?  Was their training? Boot Camp? How come no one told me to prepare? They let me come home every night and attempt to listen to my wife tell me about her day.  I could have used guerilla tactics by staying late at the office or stopping off at the golf course.  Or retire to my “man-cave” at home to watch ESPN and MLB Network before dinner.  

But hey, if we are at war, would my wife even make me dinner?   She did, so I asked her “Honey, are we at war with you women”?  She answered “Not if you help with the dishes”.  Whew! Is that all I need to do to avert a major conflict? But there had to be more to it.  The Media outlets wouldn’t embellish this war, would they? What could prompt her to invoke the “He Needed Killing’ law to be put into effect? Would I have to sleep with one-eye open?

Who else could I ask, who else would know.   I called my Mother... after all, she has been a women for 91 years so I needed to pick her brain about any wars she may have engaged in, not the least of which with my father, who I thought might be sainted after he died… for demonstrating superb patience in the wake of their marriage wars.  But when I called her to ask if we were at war, she said what she always says to me; What time is it there?  How’s the weather? And How ‘bout those Phillies! (She lives in Philadelphia –a great a place to be from – “from” being the key word).

My sister just sent me a CD titled “The Lord is my Shepherd” – Hmmm!  Psalm 23… with beautiful violin music for times of prayer and contemplation.  That’s certainly not a war cry. But maybe she is trying to divert my attention away from the coming battle.

Diversion? That’s it! Why didn’t I realize it sooner?  We are in an election year!  And the President is running for re-election. And he has to run on his record… yikes! Nobody in their right mind would want that.  Gosh, there are 12 million people out of work, many for 6 months or longer; 15 trillion in debt, excessive regulation strangling small business, the 99% are waging class warfare against anyone making six figures.  Suburban soccer Moms are paying $90 to fill up their SUV’s? Now that means War – on women’s pocketbooks.

But what do we hear? Sandra Fluke, a thirty year old woman attending Georgetown Law School ($23,000  tuition per semester) can’t afford to have sex because some killjoys insist that Health Insurance provided by Catholic institutions (and our cash strapped government) refrain from paying for her contraception.  She claims this form of “health care” that prevents pregnancy may cost $3000 over a three year term.  Her parents must be proud... to hear of her ambitious exploits! What happened to modesty? Or ladies who didn’t kiss and tell?  Maybe she feels stuck in that Virginia Slims ad from the early 70’s “You’ve come a long way, baby”. But geez, what a slacker—buck up, honey, you’re 30 years old.

 We’re told emphatically this is a women’s rights and health issue. Since when has obtaining contraception ever been a problem –until now?  Why, birth control pills must cost all of $10 per month at large retailers Wal-Mart and Target… and are free at Planned Parenthood clinics. That’s $120 annually, less than the cost of a premium cable channel, or two Starbucks lattes.

But I digress.  It’s time to strategize… President Obama needs votes –so let’s start a war. War is good for business. Let’s have the tail wag the dog!  Let’s divert the country’s attention from the real issues and hunker down under the veil of Women’s Rights.  Yeah, that’s the ticket; the GOP won’t know what hit them.  The President even called Ms. Fluke to encourage her as she testified before Congress to declare that the War is indeed raging.  What do you think he said? Did he quote Lincoln, Eisenhower, or Churchill-- real leaders during real Wars?  No, he probably just quoted the immortal words of Sun Tzu, “All war is deception”.  Charge!!

Truth Runner: Spring Break in Four Words

Truth Runner: Spring Break in Four Words: Pitchers and Catchers Report ! There may be many a sweeter verse in the English language, but none more pertinent at this time of the ye...

Spring Break in Four Words

Pitchers and Catchers Report!  There may be many a sweeter verse in the English language, but none more pertinent at this time of the year.  Yes, the annual rites of spring and the coming baseball season are making its way through our culture once again… a sure sign that there is a God.  It is the quintessential American experience and recreational diversion in a world filled with financial, political and spiritual upheaval.

Not that we haven’t been entertained and sidetracked through the winter by football, Tebow and the Republican debates.  More recently, a global tidal wave has surrounded another young, Christian athlete –Jeremy Lin-- who has taken the basketball world by storm.  And it’s a much bigger storm in China. The Lin story has been wonderful with its unlikely component of an Asian kid from Harvard getting his chance to shine brightly on the big stage of the Big Apple with the New York Knicks being the last stop before oblivion.  While Tebow at least has a stellar college career, Lin emerged from total obscurity to forge a commendable run in his point guard role.  More importantly to me was the timing of Lin’s ascent, who was thrust into the spotlight to fill the slow-news sports gap between the Super Bowl  and those four glorious words appearing in sports sections and on the lips of sports reporters around the country.  The world may need love, sweet love, and look to Lin but it needs the return of baseball more.  Can I get an Amen?

But don’t take my word for it.  A noted French born American historian, named Jacques Barzun has what might be the best, most comprehensive quote ever attributed to the game; "Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball....” 

Noted political pundit, intellectual and rabid baseball fan George Will was asked on his Sunday political roundtable what movie will win Best Picture.  As a man who is highly paid to give opinions, he responded as one might expect with this year’s crop of nominees… His pick was the only film he “actually understood” (his quote) – and that was Moneyball, which he saw four times, because “what else is on TV… until the real games begin”.  In terms of art imitating life, Hollywood has always been enthralled with the sport of baseball and its visceral beauty and simple quality.  Its film history would be household names (Pride of the Yankees, Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, and The Natural).  Even it’s ballparks are legendary – Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Boston’s Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, “the House that Ruth built”  (until the new one opened a few years back).  No other sport conjures up descriptions of sports stadiums as cathedrals… hence the religious overtones of this great sport.

Will hasn’t been the lone scholarly voice espousing the cerebral underpinnings of the game.  Bart Giamatti was the president of Yale before being appointed to the post of Baseball Commissioner.  Critics were aghast!  Giamatti explained it away by saying, "There are a lot of people who know me who can't understand for the life of them why I would go to work on something as unserious as baseball. If they only knew."  

Therein also lies its beauty... it appeals to the intelligent, the affluent, the poor, the foreigner and the average Joe.  Giamatti as a college president certainly had a way with words and waxed poetic during his Ivy League tenure expressing this sentiment about baseball which still resonates today as a connection to American life:  “It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone."  We in Southern California may not relate to ‘chill rains’ in the form of weather but we all share in the flawed human condition often enough to grasp the magnitude of that vision.

The game also derives its richness from one of our most influential and important human relationships –that of a father and son. Playing catch with Dad becomes a rite of passage from toddler status to “kid”.  Who can forget picking out their first baseball glove, that first bat and donning that cap with the rolled brim and attending that first big league game?  Like a Norman Rockwell vision, many of our earliest memories of growing up revolve around those activities. 

This is not to suggest that our fair-maiden gender be excluded… not by a long shot. My mother is 91 years old, lives in Philadelphia and every time I speak with her between November and February she never fails to convey her impatience for the season to begin so she can watch her beloved Phillies. During the season our phone calls begin with three questions; “How’s the weather,” What time is it out there?” and “How ’bout those Phillies?”  Is there a better way to spend 6+ months of the year than watching our national pastime in your 90’s?  

Not to be outdone, my wife Angela has also joined the baseball bandwagon. We spend many spring and summer nights captivated by the golden voice of Vin Scully over the TV and radio airwaves or in attendance at Dodger games (yes we still are among the shrinking legions of fans interspersed throughout the park).  She can even recite the sacred four words that are bound to ignite a growing bond between us.  Equipped with this new found jargon and love for the Dodgers, she has spearheaded a trip to Arizona this month to wallow in the leisure of life’s simplicity that is spring training.

The good news, or so I’m told, is that there must be baseball in Heaven. I just hope I’m not pitching anytime soon. The advent of pitchers and catchers reporting is a little like Heaven on earth.

Truth Runner: To Awaken a Sleeping Giant

Truth Runner: To Awaken a Sleeping Giant: We have all heard the expressions “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” … some of us even follow it as good advice. But here we have a President, i...

To Awaken a Sleeping Giant

We have all heard the expressions “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” … some of us even follow it as good advice.  But here we have a President, intelligent by anyone’s estimations, choosing the opposite path and deciding to poke Rover during his afternoon siesta.

In this fragile and fractious atmosphere that is America today, there is no reason to pick a fight with the Catholic Church.  But he did!

One might think he has built up such high levels of goodwill that allow him to indulge his ideology anywhere he wants, including religious organizations. He has not!     

Catholics are protesting the presidents signing of a bill put forth by Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires nearly all employers -- even Catholic ones -- who provide insurance to their employees to include coverage of birth control services.  Churches and church-affiliated secondary schools are exempt from the rule, but other organizations with religious affiliations -- including universities, charities, and hospitals -- must comply.  This is not a minor imposition or small infraction. There should be a realization that 1 in 6 Americans utilize the Catholic hospitals and Health Care establishments.  

The Catholic Church in the United States, with 77 million members is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 27% of the electorate.  Obama won 54% of the Catholic vote in 2008…  He can ill-afford to turn off such a large contingent of supporters. The administration is treading in dangerous water here. Catholics don’t vote as a straight bloc, but winning the Catholic vote is critical to winning elections.

Catholics also don’t necessarily all agree on every issue. There are plenty of pro-choice voters, who presumably don’t want to follow Catholic teaching.   That is sad and unfortunate!  If they just voted consistent with Biblical and Church beliefs on the sanctity of life question, they could send a strong message to Obama and the legion of Democrats who unequivocally support abortion rights. Of course Obama (or any Democrat) could never harness anywhere near a majority of Evangelicals, period.  He received a meager 25% in the 2008 election.  Presumably, this fact alone would cause the Administration to avoid riling up the Catholic masses (no pun intended).  And to throw salt on the wound, many Catholics live in the battleground states.  So my Catholic friends … how will you vote?

Politics aside, there is a First Amendment issue here which provides for the free exercise of religion.  Many people, myself included, believe the administration is on the wrong side of the Constitution.  The “audacity” (but not of “Hope”) and arrogance it takes to order religious institutions to go against their doctrine and beliefs are nothing short of astounding. 

Just so we are clear… The final ruling, (by HHS)  says that starting on Aug. 1, 2013, health plans must cover all FDA-approved contraceptives, including hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills; implanted devices such as intrauterine devices (IUDs); Plan B emergency contraceptives (the "morning-after" pill); and sterilization -- all without charging a co-pay, coinsurance, or a deductible. The plans will not have to cover abortions, however.  Isn’t that special? (Apologies to the Church Lady)

The mandate was eloquently summed up this way: “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The cardinal-designate continued, “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable. It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty."

Catholics took to the pulpits last Sunday to issue statements and bulletins for churchgoers to contact their members of Congress to support legislation reversing the rule.  How many of the 77 million American Catholics heard this battle-cry proclamation?  Catholic conservatives, in lockstep with Evangelicals will oppose the administration’s decision.  But will we hear the sound of Catholic liberals slipping  away from their rock solid support of this sitting President who once again seems out of touch politically as well as morally.

That’s why we’ll need all hands on deck to keep Catholics in the column of the candidate and party that best represents Catholic social teaching on foundational issues as life, marriage, family and religious freedom in 2012.  Catholics need to make that “right” turn now… and don't let the same dog bite you twice!

Economy of Obama, Media and the Truth

If I had any smarts I would have watched Seinfeld reruns… instead of watching the President’s State of the Union address.  Maybe I would have caught the episode of the Soup Nazi, who was much less contentious.   But there I was, sitting through 65 minutes of lofty platitudes, false proposals and divisive rhetoric.  Ok, I’ll admit he has mastered the art of public speaking (especially with a teleprompter) and can be convincing.   But we don’t need a ShamWow salesman; we have a country to save.

The man was angry and his tone was combative. It was like he was trying to channel the spirit of Newt Gingrich’s attitude of righteous indignation from last week’s debate.  Why not? It propelled the Speaker to win the South Carolina primary in convincing fashion… a comeback the President could use as he campaigns for a second term. 

I’m hoping Newt is not the nominee but give him credit for using brilliant political gamesmanship in a flawless putdown of the mainstream media.  And let’s not forget to thank CNN’s John King for choosing to kick off the debate and embarrass   the man in front of a national television audience with the ex-wife open marriage question.   Any potential damage was thwarted by the speaker’s masterful rebuff.  It was doubly effective because South Carolina’s voters, a large swath of Evangelical Christians, made it clear that they loathe media bias more than they loathe the sin of adultery and divorce.  That they can forgive…  Poor Mitt Romney, his frontrunner status dwindling, didn’t stand a chance.

This is the same media described by pundit and author Bernard Goldberg as having “a slobbering love affair” (the actual title of his book) with the President. Obama continues to get a pass on a first term of failed economic policies, vast entitlement strategies and a continuing dialogue of dividing Americans along class lines and calling for wealth redistribution amid flawed tax policy.  As Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels who delivered the official GOP response said it best “No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others.”

It’s more evident that, sadly, the concept of two Americas is becoming reality more each day. If you also tuned in to the President’s speech this week and are following the blood sport that is American politics, you have to wonder if the Civil War will be re-enacted.   Only this time the roles and players are reversed. In 1860, we had a Republican President (Abraham Lincoln) and a solidly Democratic South.    Today we have a President who is a Democrat and a solid base of Republicans in the South, a bastion of conservative thought, Judeo-Christian values and what used to be known as the Protestant work ethic.

 Obviously, the “State” of that Union was very fragile.  The State of this Union is becoming the same, despite the fact the President believes that America is on the right track and anyone that says the country is in decline doesn’t know what they are talking about.  Really?  Tell that to the one in five men of prime working age, and nearly half of all persons under 30, who did not go to work today.  He blames the fat- cat high wage earners who are not paying their fair share of taxes that has the country in a precarious mess. Obama even tried citing a belief from Lincoln: That Government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more.  He certainly doesn’t govern by that premise nor can he really believe it.  He espouses BIG government – translating to out-of-control spending, high taxes and massive regulation.

Contrary to the President's constant disparagement of people in business, it's one of the noblest of human pursuits.  In bizarre fashion, it seems that he doesn’t like people who work hard to succeed and embrace American capitalism. You can be sure when Obama stated that anyone who makes 1 million a year should have a minimum tax rate of 30%; he had Mitt Romney in his crosshairs.  Romney had just released his tax returns that day and “only” paid $3 million on $21 million of income, a tax rate of 15%, the legal amount on investment income known as capital gains.  It became a rallying cry for the confused masses, many of whom pay no income tax at all.  But it doesn’t begin to tell the real story.

We are surely at a crossroads in America when a guy like Romney, a successful businessman paid 15% on capital gains after being taxed initially at a 35% corporate rate when he first earned the money. He would get hit another 55% on estate taxes should he die tomorrow.  He also gives $3 million (over $7 million in two years) to his church and charity.  Talk show host Dennis Miller said it best: “Somehow he (Romney) is the problem… while Time magazine’s person of the year was the “protester”, the guy who takes a dump on the squad car down on Wall Street as part of the Occupy movement”. 

Maybe it’s time to conduct ourselves in true Howard Beale fashion (from the movie Network)… go to our windows, open them  and yell “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”  That seems to be the only way to get attention in this mad world we Occupy.

Tebow Time on Hold

The miracle run of Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos ran its course and hit the wall last weekend at the hands of a blowout win for the New England Patriots.  There are many who will say and think that we now have proof that maybe God is not that concerned about Tebow, the Bronco's or the NFL after all.

While I would agree that God is not merely a Denver Bronco fan, it would be an understatement to believe that he doesn't intervene in the affairs of Man; especially when it serves to spread the good news, which is the Gospel message. While many professional athletes count themselves Christians, it was Tim Tebow's public display of his faith on the national stage (and there are few larger than the NFL) that landed him in that rarefied atmosphere of icons of American culture... loved by many, hated by some, criticized daily while capturing hearts and minds consistently.

Much has been made of Tebow's Christian faith and miraculous 4th quarter comeback's this year culminating in a dramatic overtime playoff win against the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers on the first play from scrimmage in the extra period.  No matter your religious faith or lack of one, admittedly something Divine seemed to be happening here.

How does one account for the other-worldly "Tebow-by-the-numbers" puzzle?  The statistics revealed that Tebow had passed for 316 yards on only 10 completions.  That fact prompted media sources, social and otherwise, to light up the Internet with millions of hits citing the well known biblical scripture verse of John 3:16.  Ironically it was displayed on signs and banners in stadium end zones for years… held by what always seemed like scruffy looking guys in rainbow wigs and sandals.   Understandingly the message got lost with that messenger.  Not so with Tebow, who does the hard work on the field and walks the walk in public. Photos emerged showing Tim wearing the verse (among others) on his eye black from his days at the University of Florida.  Sports media hosts remained tongue-tied as the blogosphere rambled on all week citing the 316 yards, the 31.6 average completion yards and for good measure, the Nielson rating of 31.6 for households that had witnessed the inexplicable feat. 

Even though the stage has been huge, Tebow has kept grounded for his mature- beyond- his- year’s age of 24. During the season and as part of his personal philanthropy programs (Wish / Dreams Come True) he has made it a point to visit different young and infirmed children in Denver and other cities he is playing before and after every game.  This specific program aims to bring the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses to life.  He has additional plans through the Tebow Foundation to build a children's hospital (fall of 2011) in the Philippines, the country where Tebow was born. 

 Lest anyone forget, Tebow's parents were Christian missionaries living there when his mother was pregnant with Tim.  Doctors had expected a stillbirth and recommended an abortion to protect her life.  She refused and chose life. This incident was depicted during Super Bowl 41 in a thirty second commercial (sponsored by Focus on the Family, a prominent Christian ministry) that riled women's groups and was condemned by the pro-choice class while pro-life groups celebrated the ad.  Tebow, by living out his values sent a strong but gentle pro-family message.  Obviously, he was not a stranger to controversy before reaching the NFL.

On this day, his final game of the season, Tebow fulfilled his generous obligation, meeting a young man named Zach McLeod who suffered a severe head injury a few years back that has left him incapacitated. For Tebow, this activity made it a "good" day in contrast to the lopsided outcome of a 45-10 defeat on the gridiron.  He said as much in a post game interview stating "it all depends on what lens you are looking through".  That is a great perspective for our current sports craved culture. We know that Tebow is looking at life through a Christian worldview and that makes all the difference.

These are real life stories and football is still a game. Tim Tebow, at a young age, knows that and exhibits his faith in Christ along with love for his fellow man with such sincerity.  For that he has become a polarizing figure to the masses that make up American culture.  He is both loved and rejected, much the way Jesus Christ was in the flesh 2000 years ago and as he lives today through believers.

Tebow will not get the chance this year to lead  his team in pursuit of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the NFL’s highest honor, named for the legendary Green Bay Packers coach who said this in a May 1964 speech to the First Friday Club of Los Angeles:

“When we place our dependence in God, we are unencumbered, and we have no worry. In fact, we may even be reckless, insofar as our part in the production is concerned. This confidence, this sureness of action, is both contagious and an aid to the perfect action.

“The rest is in the hands of God -- and this is the same God, gentlemen, who has won all of His battles up to now.”

Tim Tebow may have channeled the legendary Vince Lombardi in his quest to do his best to win but also honor God with his life in Football and the example he sets in the public square.