Skip to main content

Debate?

I'm not even sure how to start this one. I'm going to try to think as rationally as I can... There's just so much. Anyway - bear with me.

1. The Trump Talk. How can anyone speak like that? I mean, I'm a dude, and I've been in the Navy, and I know that people talk like that. So I'm not surprised, sadly. But... I'm disgusted. I haven't even bothered to watch or listen to what was said - I can guess, and I've read a couple of commentaries about it. And Mr. Trump himself called it "locker room talk" whatever that means, and as if that excuses it. I just... I don't even know what to think. I'm not sure if I'm more disappointed that he said it in the first place or that I'm not surprised. I'm also disappointed that this is what we're talking about, rather than the issues. It's a distraction, and it has become an issue in its own right - for better or worse, character is something we have to talk about when it comes to our nation's leaders. But I wish it weren't. I'm deeply saddened that the nature of our political discussion has revealed such significant flaws in our chosen political representatives. Mr. Trump does NOT represent me. I also believe that he does not represent a majority of men. And yet, he's getting all the play as being the one who "tells it how it really is" or some other such drivel. The fact is, TOO MANY MEN DO TALK LIKE THAT. Far too many. It's discouraging.

2. Mrs. Clinton embarrassed herself by wading into the mud, although she generally did better than Mr. Trump. I expected more and better of her, though, and she should have completely heeded Michelle Obama's advice about going high when your opponent goes low. You're better than that. You don't need to wallow.

3. The trotting out of Mr. Clinton's accusers was a new and terrible development. I know Mr. Trump has threatened to do this for weeks, but it doesn't make anyone look better. Mrs. Clinton had nothing to do with Mr. Clinton's issues. What's the point of dredging them up and putting them on display? I really don't understand... We're deciding on Mrs. Clinton, not Mr. Clinton - he had his go 20 years ago... Is his wife somehow responsible for his indiscretions and immoral if not illegal behavior? I seriously don't get it. I do know that it's just plain ugly, and Mr. Trump doesn't look better because of it.

4. When they finally DID address some of the concerns in the election, the issues and the policy statements, I think that it went fairly well. I can see why Mr. Trump is interesting to people - his ideas are wrong, racist, Islamophobic, and will undoubtedly lead the county into a huge depression - but they're attractive to people who don't know any better. People who equate running a business like running a government. It doesn't work that way, but I can see how one might be interested. Mrs. Clinton, on the other hand, came off as being interested, engaged, and intelligent. Which is part of the (many) reason(s) why men feel threatened by her...

5. Mr. Trump threatening to put her in jail may have won the drama point of the night. That's simply not going to happen, and everyone knows it. It's drama - it makes for interesting reality TV show theatrics, but it's ultimately unsubstantiated and unfeasible.

6. Mr. Trump's last comment was perhaps the best thing I've heard out of his misshapen pie hole. His genuine regard for Mrs. Clinton as "a fighter" came across, and he handled the question much better than she did (complimenting his kids). He does have good kids. But surely there's something about Mr. Trump himself that is worthy of commendation... I mean, nothing comes immediately to mind for me either, and I can understand the pressure of having that to answer first... There's not a lot of love lost between them, and Mrs. Clinton in particular has endured A LOT of personal and emotional attacks.

Anyway. People are calling it a tie. I agree, in that I think they both lost.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Other Art

I'm not sure we appreciate photography as much as we do other art forms. Part of this comes from the reality that surrounds and permeates a photograph - it's very, very real, and the photographer strives for clarity and crispness in the representations. Perhaps this is why black and white images continue to be relevant - they strip away extraneous information (color) and leave us with something that is at once familiar and also non-existent - for nothing exists in black and white. Nothing. I also think that pictures are becoming too common-place... Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and while that's a very democratic thing (everyone can express themselves in a picture easily and readily, and can find an audience for these images, which are casually taken and casually viewed, and perhaps just as casually forgotten) I think that we embrace that casual attitude, and it spills over to all aspects of the media, making it impotent. So I read this article this morning: h...

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...