The Things I Say

One of the hardest things in the world is controlling what I say. I grew up with one of the most critical and judgmental fathers in the world. At least, I think he would be in the top 10. He would at least place and maybe even get a bronze. Anyway, after a while it gets ingrained in your brain to always look for faults in other people. I guess it's a result of not thinking much about yourself and trying to elevate by denigrating others.

Well, I don't like it and never have. But still the battle to control the tongue rages on.

Yesterday, I saw that people were protesting the yet to be released movie Tropic Thunder because it used, what they referred to, as the "r" word too much. By the "r" word they meant retarded. The protesters felt that it was offensive to people who are mentally handicapped. Their protest phrase is, "Words Matters" or something close to that.

Now, your first reaction might be to say that people need to lighten up - it's just a movie. Maybe we do need to lighten up a bit but perhaps the protestors have a point - words do matter.

Yesterday, I was also joking with a friend and in the meantime really hurt this persons feelings. I would never want to intentionally hurt my friend's feelings but I did. In fact, I'd prefer to cheer people on. I think it makes for a nicer planet.

Still trying to watch the things I say.

Good Book

Hey bro. I am highly recommending this book. It's been out a little while but I hadn't read it until now. It is an easy read and quick. It's a non-fiction about a reporter, Jeffrey Marx, who spends a season with a high school football team coached by former NFL star Joe Ehrmann. What he learns is what so many men don't know - what it means to be a man.

You don't have to be a football enthusiast or even care about sports to identify with this book. Every man should read this book. Jumping off the pages are the things that most of our fathers never taught us. And what you will discover is that being a man is about the relationships you have - nothing more, nothing less.

The reality is that we are living in a fatherless nation. The divorce rate in this country is 50%. Also, 4 out of every 10 children are born out of wedlock (7 out of 10 amongst African Americans). What does this mean? More than ever our boys (and girls) are growing up with out fathers and they have no idea what it means to be a man. Scary.

If you are a male, read this book and get to work. There's a lot of work to do.