Love Not Denied

Congrats to all those brothers and sisters who have been denied a basic human right for so long.  Some may not consider this a “right”.  There are many texts and opinions that would argue its position.  But let us see it from the eyes of our hearts.  The eyes of our hearts, no matter who you are, desire unity and love, to find a connection, a bond.  No person should be denied to share in what a bond can bring to one’s life…happiness, purpose, trust, LOVE.

So, let us all honor this decision by the Supreme Court, for it is not about your personal lifestyle or feelings towards whichever sex you love.  There is no choice in this, meaning love.
We are drawn to it.  It rattles our spirits and possesses our souls.  Every human feels it.  Every human needs it.

No, it is about the equal right to love and all that comes with that.

You may choose to not celebrate.  But please do not hold hate in your hearts.  It will only weigh you down friends.  Rather, give thanks to the love you possess and may it continue to shed light upon your lives, for you are quite lucky to have such!

 

Sincerely,

 

B

 

 

Letter to Detroit Lions

Dear Detroit Lions,

Being your fan is freakin’ torture. Been one my entire life of 33 years on this world, despite your lack of winning…. and don’t plan on changing sides. Loyal to the end….in my neverending love/hate relationship….BUT COME ON DETROIT!!! Sigh…

Really though, the Lions played a damn fine first half. I F’ing can’t stand the Cowboys. But I give credit when it is due and they definitely played well in the second half. However, it was like Detroit just stopped the sticks on D, you know? Slipped tackles, etc. And once the Cowboys gained momentum it was so damn frustrating to watch! Lord knows Stafford needs improvement and no one is claiming he is a legend or anything. Romo, however, is so overrated it makes me sick to keep hearing his name. But he got the job done I suppose.

Bottom line is Detroit had this game and blew it. The call shouldn’t have made a difference, in the end, even if it was bull. They should have went for it on 4 and 1. They should have made some key tackles. They should have NOT kicked a lousy punt, if you want to call it a punt….my little sister kicked further in 3rd grade soccer. They should have protected Stafford better. And where was the freaking blocks for the run game in the 2nd? I don’t care how motivated, prepared and/or charged a team gets at half, there’s no damn way the Cowboys should have been able to come out and just stop Detroit’s run game in the 2nd half like that after the Lions opened things up so well in the 1st half.

When I was watching the 1st half I was like, “Wow! Detroit is actually using a wide variety of its tools to get yards. They finally are playing smart. Maybe, just maybe they’ll play this game right. They just have to go into half with momentum and not come out thinking they have it won like so many teams do and blow it….” And, then came the 2nd half. UGH!!!! The saddest part is as frustrated and as angry I was as I saw it all slipping away, deep down, as a Lions fan, it wasn’t a surprise.

Penalties and more are the vice of Detroit. They just can’t seem to pull the big wins regardless of the reasons. Shiz happens and you just have to play through it. Injuries, penalties, big plays, etc. NO EXCUSES! And shiz happened on both sides, for the Lions and for the Cowboys. The difference was that the Cowboys kept playing…..and got some good things to go their way. But don’t leave it up to the refs!!!

And I’m not saying the Lions stopped playing. The heart remained strong the entire game. The execution just fell apart and the mental prowess of the 1st half seemed to wane. This goes for the coaching staff as much as many of the players…not all of course. Say what you want about Suh, but holy crap did he play great! Despite his emo issues I hate to see him leave. Caldwell….go for it next time man!!!! Take a chance to win and be a champ! Secondary, what the F happened to you in the 2nd half????

Nevertheless, I see great promise in this team and I hope they can really build off of this season, keeping the right people around and getting who they need to fill in the gaps and strengthen. They just have to learn to win the big games. Easier said than done, of course. But, really, let’s get some damn post season wins Lions!!!! You’re one of the oldest F’ing teams in the league for crying out loud and have never even been to a Super Bowl (correct me if I’m wrong)!!! Keep your heads high and let this loss stir, as you should have won this game. But coulda woulda shoulda mutha funkas!

Rest, heal, evaluate, change, build, grow and come back harder! Make your city and fans proud. Lord knows we need it at this point! This goes out to management, coaches and players alike. Open some damn eyes! You guys played hard this season and showed some great strides forward on all fronts (looking better Reggie). Don’t let anyone take that from you. But what do you need to take it to the next level? I challenge you to do better! I challenge you to mature even more and get past your ongoing issues. Prove people wrong! Yes, this guy you could care less about is challenging you mutha funkas!

And when you have people that aren’t even your fans rooting you on, because at this point it’s just sad you have no real titles under your belt, that should motivate you even further! Hell, I honestly know people that say they wouldn’t even be mad if Detroit won a ring, even if the Lions beat their team! Come on Detroit! COME ON DETROIT!!!!……..

P.S. Screw you, Cowboys!!! Sick of you being “America’s Team”! You aren’t my team! And shut up already Dez….just because you’re good doesn’t mean you have to yell it….and get off the field! ……Just had to say that to make myself feel better. 🙂

 

With Love and Frustration,

 

Every True Lions Fan Ever….and this guy in San Francisco amid an army of red and gold who remains true to the blue and silver. West Coast with Mid West ties!

 

 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Thoughts on an Interesting Article Regarding White Viewers’ Racial Imagination

The following thoughts are in response to the Huffington Post article directly below, which was posted by a friend of mine on Facebook.  Thanks Dan.  It made me think.  And I couldn’t help but to write a few words [um, yeah, a few…. 🙂 ] in response to it.  This is stuff I actually find myself observing and thinking about often.  So, this was a perfect opportunity to finally get a few thoughts out.  Read the Huffington Post article first, then my thoughts, and let me know what you think.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-cole/catching-fire-beetee-race_b_4334585.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=3619638b=facebook

Interesting how much white guilt some peeps have.  Articles like this, although they do strike valid points, mass group peoples too much.  Not every white person thinks like this.  Just as not every black person, or brown person or whatever person thinks a certain way, etc., etc., etc.  However, the author does bring up a certain topic that is truly affecting a lot of the white population nowadays, and that’s the white guilt I mentioned above.  There is a lot of that embedded into the minds of the X and Y generations’ white populace.

White guilt tends to cause the “trying too hard” factor, which I find is when whites go out of their way to be overly nice or overly polite or overly sensitive when around people of a darker skin color than theirs.  It can be funny at times, especially because the peeps that are having it happen to them can obviously tell what is going on.  And it’s not to say that it isn’t a good thing that many whites are more conscious of racism and prejudice.  Of course, that’s great.  However comical it can be at times, who’s to say it’s not needed.  It often takes extremes to embed to be natural.

Nevertheless, this white guilt thing still doesn’t negate the prejudice and racism that is still quite embedded into our society, and around the world, for that matter.  The same white dudes that try to act all cool around black dudes tend to be the same white dudes who, when not around black dudes, use the “N” word and say racist ass remarks.  “Closet racism” when around only other members of one’s race seems to be very prevalent.  I know this first hand, as many of my friends throughout my life have been this way…despite my lack of approval and often vocal fights against it.

But there is no white guilt around when this type of behavior occurs in these more private atmospheres.  It’s so ridiculous and such bigotry.  And this isn’t to say this just exists in white society.  I’m fully confident in saying that it exists in all cultures, races and societies.  Until we rid ourselves from racism and prejudice in all aspects of our lives, no matter in public settings or in private social settings, these dark nuisances will continue to exist.

How can we act one way at home or around certain friends and then act another around other groups and say we aren’t prejudice or racist?  It’s a double standard we have to move past.  …..Easier said than done.  But here’s to moving forward.

 

– B

 

 

IOC Vanquishes Wrestling from the 2020 Olympics

It goes without saying the loss of wrestling as an Olympic sport, although it is possible to still retain it via voting and campaigning, is a travesty of what the Olympic games stands for.  IOC, some things aren’t all about your statistics.  Statistics might, and I stress might, not lie.  But if you’re going to use statistics to get rid of the originator, then I say we use statistics to solidify its place back on the podium.

1. How many people can actually do what it takes to be an Olympic level wrestler?  I’m not taking anything away from any other sport, as I believe in the merit of each.  And I fully realize the difficulty of getting to the Olympic level of any given sport.  But let’s be honest here.  Wrestling is a test of might and endurance, technique and tenacity, intellect and slyness.  Few sports rival its overall commitment level and athletic demands.  Furthermore, few sports rival its real world application towards self defense, body conditioning and mental strength.  Where is this stat in the mix?

2. Is wrestling not one of the original, if not THE original Olympic sport?  I keep reading about all this needing to “retain the original games heritage”.  Ummm?  Am I missing something here?

3.  The new Olympic committee wants to look to the future of the games.  Is MMA not one of the fastest growing sports in the world?  What is MMA’s first and foremost base?  Wrestling.  MMA likely won’t be an Olympic sport any time soon.  But even so, if you’re thinking of the future, you don’t get rid of what is the base for the future, as well as the past’s key stone.

4. How many other sports are as cheap as wrestling to fund?

5.  How many people, in North America, at least, would watch wrestling if it was actually on…and I don’t mean at 3 in the morning on one of the affiliate channels.

6.  You’re telling me people would rather watch walking over wrestling?  Really?  I mean, really?  Let’s get some stats going on popular vote, if they haven’t already done so.  And I mean really truthful stats, not stats via Mr. or Ms. politician who has never had the ability or desire to take on something as physically demanding as wrestling and, so, does power walking or badminton on the weekends.  Wrestling should be respected for what it is, revered for its nature.  It should be honored, not thrown away.  Are the Olympics not about challenge of sport and good will?

The wrestling community is small, but of the highest caliber in terms of sportsmanship and appreciation towards one’s opponent.  Even if not a very successful wrestler, there is always a certain camaraderie amongst those who have stepped on the mat, a certain respect.  It is because not everyone can do it.  In my experience, even the most decorated and influential wrestlers have the ability to put their competitive nature aside for the sake of good will towards their opponents.  Is this not what the Olympics stand for?

Respect of difficulty and physical ability.  Honor of athletic prowess and mental strength.  Admiration of devotion and spirit.  Love of competition and performance.  Teaching and practice of sportsmanship and good will.  Wrestling contains these attributes.  Truly, to be a wrestler sets one apart from the rest of the world, but in the most positively influential of ways.  The IOC seems to agree with the separation part of this statement, separating wrestling from its home of the Olympic games, and putting it in a false light.

Over the next 7 years, let us fight to reestablish wrestling and solidify its place one again as a base Olympic sport.  Olympic spirit isn’t about money or even popularity, although it is a sad fact these factors are to blame for much of the world’s athletic prosperity, as well as wrestling’s current departure.  But the Olympics are suppose to be different.  They aren’t suppose to be a representation of business and this web generation’s non-present/non-accountable TRL-style voting.  They are suppose to be about the essence of sport.

Olympic spirit is about the challenge and drive.  Let us keep it this way.  May this be only another stepping stone for one of the world’s most respectable, yet often most misunderstood and unappreciated, sports and martial arts.

 

–  B

 

PS: Barack Obama has nothing to do with wrestling getting cut people.  Geez.

 

Naked Therapy

Heard about an interesting thing happening online called naked therapy.  Basically, it consists of a woman/man undressing as she talks to her/his “patient” and listens to his/her problems.  Of course, this is mostly a female “therapist” to male “patient” occurrence.

What are your thoughts on this?  Just a gimmick to take horny/depressed/shy/etc. peeps’ doe?  Or is a valid way to get at peeps’ problems, using a relaxing, sexually stimulating approach?  I’m open to new ideas.  But I do think it’s funny these “therapists” are grouping themselves with people that have spent years gaining their degrees and perfecting their crafts as legitimized professionals.

So, open to new ideas, yes.  Feel it’s right they should be calling themselves therapists, sure.  Why not?  You don’t need a degree to be one in my opinion.  But calling yourself a professional therapist, no.  That’s different and needs a license to accompany it.  Still, who’s to say they can’t call themselves professionals alone?  Professional is a very open term, after all.

Who knows?  We might be witnessing a whole other field of therapy taking form.  Sexual healing.  It’s been around since the dawn of man.  And, let me tell you, it does work!  Marvin had it right.

 

– B

#NakedTherapy

Health Care Debate….on Facebook

Today I caught a discussion between a friend of mine on Facebook and a friend of his on Facebook.  They were debating the current health care system debacle and how much government should play a part, one saying he believes government should intervene, more or less, and the other saying the government’s intervention would just take away more of our freedoms and be more expensive, more or less.  My bud quickly made a point of saying the current health care system is, hellooo, already expensive as #$*@!!! and is currently not run by the government; it is broken.   His amigo quickly replied with some hoopla about President Roosevelt attempting to intervene in 1912 and the government having played a role, not being a good one, in health care since.    He is also firm on his stance of health care not being a “luxury” that everyone is entitled to, it not being a God-given right…nothing is for free.

Yes, the political talks are at the forefront with the presidential election just around the corner, hot off the heels of last evening’s first presidential debate.

I had a few thoughts I wanted to contribute to the conversation.  But my “few” thoughts turned into a longer rant.  Soooo, I decided to post on here instead!  The main point I’m trying to make….well, you tell me if you get what I’m saying….

Nothing is for free, true.  But we’re already paying for it…quite a bit.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have affordable health care?  You might be paying for it with taxes.  But you wouldn’t have to worry when an inevitable comes…at least not as much as now.  Who wants to have to choose a life-saving operation over their home?

Not saying the plan is laid out perfectly.  But change is hard fought, especially when it’s never truly given a chance to be effective.  How can we say something won’t work if it’s not even properly attempted?  Too much bickering for self-preservation going on in the government.  Big business scared to lose its place.  Wealthy might not be so wealthy anymore.  Yada yada yada.  Boo hoo.  How about thinking about the overall effect of a nation health care system instead of simply how to stop it from coming into fruition?

Yes, our society takes pride in its freedoms.  However, without government action things would get, well, a bit out of control.  But who is suppose to run the government???  US!  Government is our freedom.  Hence, we are making the decisions through our votes.  It’s our choice to make things happen the way we want them to.  If the “government” is too controlling doesn’t this mean we’re too controlling?  Doesn’t make sense, right?

The problem is there are too many appointed officials in our government that think too much for themselves and not the people they are suppose to represent.  We appoint these officials with the hope and trust they will make decisions worthy of our wants and needs.  So, why shouldn’t these officials, OUR government reps,  intervene at some point with health care?  Aren’t they looking out for us, in essence?  Sadly, that’s not always the case, right?

But there has to be invention at some point.  Guidance and restrictions versus all out rule though, of course.  What’s to stop price increases otherwise?  It should be on more of a local government level for the most part, with the feds implementing certain nationally recognized measures.  It’s a tough thing though, no doubt.  After all, it’s our government representatives that run or have stake in so many of our current health care system providers, which adds yet another layer to the sweet dump cake that is this health care situation.

Why do you think so many politicians are so opposed to the system’s change?  CHA CHING bye bye.  MORE OBSTACLES, hello.  So, they are convincing the people, and themselves, for the most respectable and selfless reasons I’m sure, not to make change (I do hope you get my sarcasm there).

But even if there is change they’ll still have a say in some way or another since, hello, they are within our chosen government.  There will just be more restrictions since they can’t do it in the cooperate fashion any longer, where they can hide this and that, use that loop-hole and this tax cut.  Now they’ll have to make their moves for cashzilla by tip-toeing around government procedures, which they don’t want to have to deal with since it will limit them.

Lord knows a whole slew of new “laws” will be presented out of nowhere to ensure certain aspects of business are “preserved for the people”, aka will keep the doe flowing in the pockets of those that control the big business.  If ever we’re able to push through a new health care administration, just watch how fast bills will be presented to become “laws”.  Just watch.

It just cracks me up how black and white so many Americans think these kinds of issues are.  There are so many levels to take into consideration.  So many details behind the scenes.  Politicians say what you want to hear.  Very few of them actually give a shit about you or your dying mom that you can’t afford to take care of.

So, I laugh, I chuckle, I holler, I sigh at those persons that hold what is said on the outside so close on the inside.  Politicians play on emotions, our emotions.  Set in motion a planted idea and watch the field of battling amongst ourselves unfold.  That’s the plan.  It’s like a fine game of Risk, strategy at it’s best.

These guys make it look so easy though.  You don’t even realize what’s going on.  Instead, everyone is too busy debating what he said here or what he said there.  Listen to what isn’t being said.  Then you’ll have your answer(s).

Our government needs reform, but so does the mindset of its people.  Think of the future, not the present; your children’s children, not yourselves.

 

– B

Believe It.  Do It.

 

***As always, Bryan Bachar doesn’t hold himself accountable for any factual or grammatical mistakes.  T’is what it t’is.  Haters don’t die.  They multiply.  Have a nice day.

 

 

Obama’s Speech – 9.6.2012

Watched #Obama’s speech.  Good stuff.  No matter your opinion or views, the man was dealt a tough deck of cards.  And I do agree change will never happen without struggle, especially if we quit.  We’ll see if he can continue progress….that is if he wins another term.

So far, from what I’m hearing and seeing in the midst of all the political mumbo jumbo, he’s got my vote….again.  All in all, I just hope #America can come together and push.  Nothing is won without hard work and determination, or else we’d all be rich playboys and playgirls who are ex-professional athletes that graduated from the best universities with honors on our way to a Nobel Prize for something and starring in our own movie with a Grammy-winning soundtrack provided by none other than us.

Think with your mind peeps, not with the other guy’s.  Believe it.  Do it.

 

– B

#BryanBachar