Bidding Adieu

K Marsala

Everyone has their personal lists of things they would like to bid adieu too at the end of each year

Not that my list will be any better or hold more truth than yours. Nevertheless, it is my list as a commentator on cultural, political and society that I pronounce mine forward- feel free to disagree, agree or add on if you desire.

Things I would definitely like to say adios permanently to- for they I feel have been of no benefit:


Media/TV:

Dan Rather, Mary Mapes, Bill O Reilly, CBS, Reality Shows.

Dan Rather, Mary Mapes, and CBS all fall together into one big event that really I believe told the story of how the media has an agenda. The biased opinions being sold as truth were laid before the American public open and bare. Dan has now retired, Mapes is still defending her bad choice and peddling her book on CNN, and CBS perhaps has learned a thing or two.

I can hear the scratching of heads over me adding in Bill O’Reilly to a list of those I would like to see gone with 2005. I think Mr. O’Reilly had at one time truly a “No Spin Zone,” but as I have watched his show regularly, he appears to be caught up into too much of “Bill’s spin.” The bloviating at times is all O’Reilly’s opinion and little else. As a viewer of the show, I believe he has gotten away from his original formula. If he goes back to being the “No Spin Zone” then great… we need him and his talents.

Reality shows… come on do I really need to explain this one? Do we not already live in reality? Why do we need to watch loser unemployed actors who are drunk, having sex with anything that moves and spilling their emotional baggage on us? As well, why do we need to watch anyone do any of these things? Wasn't TV created to be an escape from it all or are our own lives so pathetic that we need to watch the suffering of others to make ourselves feel better?

Politicians:

John Kerry, Howard Dean

To the vacillator, Sen. Kerry, I would like to say au revoir forever. He cannot make up his mind or maybe he can- before he changed it. Lest we forget too, his comments on CBS’s Face the Nation I believe were inexcusable; “And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs. Whether you like it or not...” Sen. John Kerry.

Howard “HeeeeYaaaaWWW!!!” Dean- you gotta love the guy for his candor, honesty and ability to open mouth and insert foot. Honestly, at least you do know where he stands politically, but his speaking of mind before thinking has placed him on the list of those who need to go- bye, bye. His declaration that, "the idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong” has landed this Democratic National Committee Chairman flat faced in the mud. Along with Nancy Pelosi and John Murtha and many of the other cohorts have done little to help our military force win, their comments have only aided and abetted the enemy.


Entertainment:

Paris Hilton, Michael Jackson, Kayne West, Britany Spears, Tom Cruise

Do these entertainers really need explanation? Paris Hilton- girl put away the camera and get a real job and a life. M. J., whatever really happened to his brilliant talent? I hope he never returns to sharing his bed anyone. Kayne West- just a loud mouth looking to sell his wares. Britany Spears- someone get her into therapy- she needs to find out who she really is. Tom Cruise- used to be Top Gun on my list of hunks, but his whole persona has becoming disturbingly troubled.

Anti-War Ranters:

Howard Dean, John Kerry, Cindy Sheehan, most of the entertainment industry.

It will take more than 9-11; the beheading of Nicholas Berg; terrorism in Bali; the London terrorist bombing (July 7th) to help these imbeciles get a clue.

Religious Leaders:

Jerry Falwell and Jesse Jackson

These two men may feel they walk with God, but it appears to me they live to walk in front of a camera.

Civil Liberty Action Organizations:

The American Civil Liberties Union or ACLU

This organization continues to baffle me. The ACLU states they are defenders of free speech:
“The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:
Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association, and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.
Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.”
Seems the ACLU has selective speech choices as they continually attack anything with a religious tone or flavor.
As Americans, we need our civil liberties protected not silenced by those who want to stomp out freedom of speech when it comes to Christianity.
It would appear the ACLU has forgotten this statement: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” – First Amendment, U.S. Constitution
Fashion:

Baggy Pants, short tops with bellies hanging out, and the “Toni and Guy” cookie cutter haircuts.

Education:

No Child Left Behind

This has become nothing more than a nightmare. Teaching to the test, mounds of paperwork, twelve-hour days, no weekends, and substandard pay. What insane person would pay for years of college to join? Yes, our educational system must be held to a higher standard, but we are killing our educators and limiting the education of our children by utilizing a very flawed idea.

Lawyers:

Ramsey Clark

He makes me scratch my head and say, a few extra prayers at night… frankly he scares me to death. His line up that he defends makes him a mad man. He has advised Bernard Coard, the murderer of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, Radovan Karadzic, the indicted Bosnian Serbian war criminal, and the Rwandan pastor who is accused of telling Tutsis to hide in his church and then summoning Hutus to massacre them, and then leading killing squads. His latest client- Saddam.

Natural Disasters:

Katrina

Hurricane Katrina was the topic of concern for most of the year ending 2005. There remains much to do in the rebuilding, but the human spirit will not be quenched until all damaged areas are restored.

Medicine:

I’d like to leave behind those who have forgotten their Hippocratic oath- and killed slowly and deliberately Terri Schiavo. Add to this list all the murders of babies for 2005

Economy:

High gas prices- "As you know, the government takes 40 percent of what you make. The other 60 percent, of course, taken by the gas stations." - Jay Leno

Petrol prices took an enormous jump this last year and everything from hurricanes to the war was blamed for it… interesting how oil companies’ profits surged isn’t it?


Sports:

Illegal drug enhancing use.

On March 17th, 2005, Palmeiro testified during a hearing on Capitol Hill to examine the use of steroids in professional baseball. Hearing of the rampant use of steroids saddens many fans, but evidently, steroid use has long been a problem not only in baseball, but within the sports world at large.

I do suppose, just as McGwire stated, “he was not here to talk about the past, but to be positive and talk about the present and the future,” that that was a wise saying. As we move forward in 2006 and beyond, may all sports players put behind them the use of illegal drugs.

Looking forward:

These mentioned are but just a tip of the iceberg that I would like to bid adieu too, the true list of "forgettables" would be too long to mention.

Alas, though as 2006 has taken her debut we have John Kerry threatening to run in ’08, and we already have natural disasters occurring in Oklahoma, Texas, and California. All proving that overall things do not really change. We have our problems and dilemmas in this country and with this world. Whether the angst is caused by a thoughtless political gainer, or a natural disaster there are many things we all would like to leave at the ending of each year.

Perhaps though, as we bid certain irritants adieu, we first need to recall and study why these things occurred and honestly ask ourselves how we can do better next time around so at the year ending in 2006 our lists will all be shorter.