GwenElle's Comments (983)

“MalloMel, clearly I should have used the term alleged false report. At this stage no one, including you and me, know the facts of the incident. That is why the police are investigating -- to find out exactly what happened. There has been enough reported to indicate that the police are more than a bit suspicious about what was reported to them by Tiger, his wife or the both of them. That is a legal matter, whether you want to accept it as such or not.

I am intolerant of special treatment given to celebrities. I don't care who he or she is. I made my comment out of an interest is in seeing that the law be applied equitably and that violence termed as domestic abuse no longer be tolerated in our society. As I clearly stated in my comment, anything else about this incident is a private matter between Tiger and his wife.

As for your last remark, I'll leave it to you to learn whatever you desire to know about the law (which clearly is not much).”

“And I always find it interesting when people use expressions such as "so many blacks". There are millions of black people in this country. It is not humanly possible for anyone of us to know even one percent of that population, yet we are fond of using statements like "so many blacks", particularly when excoriating the actions of one black person.

I took offense to Tiger's comment, but was not wounded by it. It would have been more accurate to say I was annoyed by the remark. So I accept responsibility for failing to accurately express myself, which clearly led to your mind-boggling observations. I find it challenging to believe that anyone actually living in a ghetto would consider Tiger's remark flattering (with the possible exception of a handful of rappers, that is).

How Tiger identifies or expresses himself is his choice. How I responded to the "going ghetto" remark is specific to me and is not a response that should be accrued to all or most *black people*. Attributing my individual remark to most black people registers a bias that is yours to claim or disown as you choose.

To make a statement such as "black people never" anything or "most black people" anything is blatantly ridiculous and significantly less than insightful, particularly "living with predominantly grassroots blacks", all of which is proof positive that simply living does not make one wise or all knowing.”

“Exactly where did I say that ghetto refers only to people of color or to race? And your reference to ghetto as a state of being is absurd.

Words have associations and connotations based on our experiences and the environment in which we find ourselves. The etymology of the word is uncertain, however I challenge you to find two people in the United States who when they hear the word ghetto don't think of black people as blacks represent the most common cultural reference of that word in the United States. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous at best. However, anyone familiar with the history of Poland or of Polish descent when hearing the word ghetto would tend to think of the segregation of Jews in that country (as an example).

If you are interested in the etymology of the word, you can visit here:
http://kpearson.faculty.tcnj.edu/Dictionary/ghetto.htm

As for how what the word conjures for me, that is a factor of my personal experience not living in a ghetto, but living with eyes and ears wide open in America.”

“It is both the advantage and disadvantage of living in a free society that each individual gets to decide for themselves what is news. While like you I am weary of *celebrity news*, I do pay attention when *celebrity rules* are being applied rather than the laws that are applied to the rest of us. To the extent that celebrity justice may be rearing its ugly head once more, I come down on the side of aspects of this incident very much being news.

Though not as newsworthy as soldiers dying in Afghanistan, equal justice under the law, stated another way, equitable application of the law, is one of the underlying principles that our brave soldiers fight and die for.”

“Please understand this elemental distinction: his marital problems are not our business. Filing a false report (a misdemeanor) and assault with a deadly weapon ( a felony) are violations of law. Violations of law are our business. This is a nation of laws (or so we are told).

In many states, domestic abuse is not the quaint crime of a bygone era in which it was the prerogative of the spouse to file charges. If laws (minor or serious) were broken, it is the responsibility of the police to investigate and of the prosecutor to bring charges. This process is fundamental to a nation based on laws and vitally important to a society that does not which to be held captive by the cult of celebrity.”

“I share your opinion on that. Found it offensive that a man who has made it a point to distance himself from the African American community to which he at least has a genetic connection would make such a remark. Guess it shows just how disconnected he truly is (and I don't mean racially).”

“I beg to differ. It is precisely for the reason that you state "he's an immensely talented man who is a master craftsman . . . " that the sharp eye of public accountability ( and tinny ear of gossip) is being applied to him. And should be. The perch of privilege, prestige, wealth and fame that the public's idolatry of his skills has afforded Tiger, comes with consequences. He must know and understand that the same rules apply to him that applies to the rest of us. And more importantly, we (the unrich and unfamous) must know, understand and insist on that. Failure to understand that is to undermine in subtle and insidious ways the very democratic principles that we so take for granted in this country.

I speak primarily from the point of view of whether a misdemeanor was performed in filing a false report to the police. But I also offer my comment in ridicule of the public attitudes and beliefs that accrue fame and wealth to individuals because we consider them to be "so immensely talented and masters of their craft (read the universe) that they should be or can be treated differently than the rest of us.

The sooner we end the cult of celebrity in this country the better off we all will be.”

“I agree with you that the marital difficulties of Tiger and his wife are not our business, but In a democratic society when the law is broken that is the public's business. If a false report was filed by Tiger or his wife, that is a crime, a misdemeanor.

Enforcing the law is the public business that we entrust the police to conduct (enforce), but we live in a society where the laws are not equally enforced. The rich and the famous often get breaks that the rest of us don't. That is ethically and often legally wrong. Public outrage is sometimes the only tool the public has to ensure that the authorities do their jobs. It is a way to remind them that in a nation of laws they are accountable to we the people, and that part of their oath to serve and to protect is to apply the same standards the rich, the famous and the connected that are applied to the rest of us.

As for the petty gossip surrounding an affair and marital woes, that is the ugly side of human nature. But so is the cult of celebrity that is partly responsible for the wealth and fame that Tiger and his wife enjoy. To employ a cliche, they can't have your cake and eat it too.”

“As someone who has grown more than weary of the healthcare reform debate/leg­islation/q­uagmire, I am beyond astonished to hear that Speaker Pelosi and House Democratic leaders are "worried they've appeared unresponsive to rising unemployment because they were absorbed by health care".

Appear unresponsive? Are you kidding me? How about being actually irrelevant to what matters most. This crop of Democrats forgot what Clinton learned and preached "It's the economy stupid". In the midst of a recession that is causing much economic suffering there is no excuse for their amnesia.

This healthcare battle feels more like the pet project of obsessed, myopic politicians than a principled cause. Democrats have been so fixated on *healthcare reform* that they have lost sight of the fundamental fact that a job is more essential to an individual's ability to care for their health than a messy piece of bad legislation, no matter how well intentioned. Healthcare reform was supposed to be one aspect of a larger blueprint for the nation's future.

II thought the stimulus package was wrongheaded, lacked boldness and was tied to a framework of wishful thinking. I thought then that a payroll tax holiday stood a better chance of having an immediate and direct impact on pocketbooks and the economy as a whole. And here we are months later with jobless, insecure citizens being expected to forego their fears in the interest of healthcare reform and for the sake of a vision that has never been clearly drawn.

Oh well.”

“Following comment was erroneously posted to XRavavis. It was actually intended for supergenious02:

Did you even bother to watch Moyers' program? Either you did not or you are beyond reason. In any event, and in the oft chance that you sincerely care about something other than having a point of view, I paste the link to the program here for your convenience:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11202009/watch.html”

“Did you even bother to watch Moyers' program? Either you did not or you are beyond reason. In any event, and in the oft chance that you sincerely care about something other than having a point of view, I paste the link to the program here for your convenience:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11202009/watch.html”

“And I wonder, will you or one of your loved ones be one of those troops you are so eagerly advocating that the President send to Afghanistan? Being stateside and out of harm's way obviously provides you with a comfortable vantage point from which to offer derision.

Inciting arguments with Obama supporters on a liberal blog hardly strikes me as courageous. It is far more principled to really put something at risk, such as life and limb. Surely a few lefties disagreeing with your point of view costs you nothing.”

“Additional point in case it is lost . . . the word sacrifice in the last paragraph is used with sarcasm directed at the chicken hawks, who of course sacrifice nothing except the oxygen used to make their war-happy arguments about escalation.”

“After watching Bill Moyer's report, I was literally in tears. Johnson was torn by the responsibilities of the office, his political ambition to be re-elected and his own conscience. He was clearly tortured and deeply uncertain about what to do. He should have been.

What is striking in the report is the uncertainty of Johnson's advisors and confidantes. The military advisors seemed certain, which brings to mind the adage "if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". Unsurprisingly, the political opposition was certain. Making political hay is a cheap and easy enterprise. A fear-based and prideful response is just as easy.

In the end, Johnson made the politically expedient decision; not the courageous one. All of history tells us that there should not have been an escalation in Vietnam. We have serious problems here at home that will not be solved by more troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

Truth is, no one can really know what is the right decision at the time, but history reveals what is wise and truly courageous. I am willing for President Obama to be a one-term president. The question is, is he?

If the President decides to escalate, he should ask the Congress to institute the draft. Let the entire nation face the sacrifice, not just the chicken hawks who find it way too easy to make decisions about war when it is someone else's life and well being at stake.”

“Surely you did not mean to imply that abuse is the best thing for this woman and her son? I am willing to believe that the "it" in your last sentence is simply a misplaced pronoun reference and that what you are in fact saying is that leaving the abuse is the best thing. Still, you confused me there for a minute.”

“Truly ironic isn't it? I am chuckling right along with you.”

“Odd comment by Clinton. Since when has healthcare reform not been politicized? In our society, and with the present level of thinking brought to the matter, how can it not be?

As long as we are talking about healthcare in terms of costs, we are talking economics and if we are talking economics then we are inevitably talking politics. And with politics in the mix, the kind of reform that is really needed will remain beyond our reach. We will remain prisoners of the same old institutions (the healthcare industry, our political system) and perceived solutions to our problems.

As someone with the soul of an iconoclast, I find talking reform and institutions in the same breath a dismaying non sequitur.

My idea of healthcare reform: each of us thinks and acts in terms of wellness rather than sickness, believes in health as the natural order of things rather than illness, and failing that, accepts the reality of our own mortality rather than respond reflexively to it with fear. Eventually, we achieve critical mass such that we relegate politics, politicians and their lobbying bedfellows to virtual irrelevance.

That's my pipe dream and I'm clinging to it!”

“Enjoyed the analysis; parallels the processes of human growth and transformation.

I am bit short on caffeine this morning (the brain is not exactly clicking on all cylinders), but the thought that clings to the few neurons that are active is that some systems just simply do not survive and nor should they. More *Great Empires* have died than have ever been resurrected (Egypt, Rome, Great Britain, et al). This soul-murdering economic system of ours needs to die. Currently, it seems that it is in the process of committing suicide. Except for the suffering that this rightful death causes, I say good riddance. I despise unnecessary suffering.

Ultimately, we humans will create responsive and viable economic systems based on something other than the accumulation of material wealth. That will come as an evolutionary rather than as a revolutionary act as you suggest. Evolved systems will reflect the state of our evolved consciousness.

In my vision of the world, spiritual wealth will be valued more than material wealth. In the meantime those of us who loathe the system as it is do our best to thwart, counter and deflect its soulless effects, all in an effort to keep our spirits in tact and to retain a modicum of human dignity.

(And if anyone is wondering . . . no, I am not religious.­)”

“No need for therapy. I am emotionally healthy enough thank you. I am also wise enough to know that I have about as much unexpressed anger as the next person. Much better to vent my spleen at meaningless football games and towards over-hyped, self-important sports teams than human beings. That is therapy enough. The functional equivalent of pounding a punching bag or banging pillows that some therapies advocate. And it's free. I don't even have to leave the comfort of my home.

But thanks for your concern. I am sure it runs deep.”

“Sorry I missed the entirety of the game. Had I seen it with my own eyes, I would have delighted even more than I do now in just hearing about Belichick and the Patriots infamous defeat.

Despite not seeing the game, I have read almost all of the comments on this thread and just have to weigh in. For those who are hailing this as a smart coaches decision I say bullstuff. If Belichick didn't have confidence in his defense to stop the Colts (Manning) from marching to a 80 or so yard touchdown because he considered the defense exhausted, how then is it wise or logical to risk turning the ball over to Peyton at your own 28 and then expecting what not only was a fatigued defense, but wouold now a demoralized one because they knew their coach did not have confidence in them?

In my opinion, this was an arrogant and boneheaded coaches decision. If not for his arrogance Belichick would have recognized it as such and punted the ball. Let your players play. Belichick made the game and its outcome about himself. He believed in himself more than he did in his team and that is bad coaching on every level.

Though I missed this one live, you can bet I'll be watching the inevitable rerun on the NFL channel. I'll watch just out of spite! The Patriots are just one of those teams that I love to hate.”

“I say again, Palin is really just that obtuse.”

“Yes, she does. Palin is really just that obtuse.”

“I'm totally with you Brett. Not only do I like to highlight, but to highlight subsequent readings in a different color and date them as well. It's always interesting to see how my understanding of or appreciation for the material has shifted between readings. Often what stood out before as interesting, relevant or insightful may have now become run-of-the-mill, humdrum. Or to discover information that now makes everything perfectly clear that was right there on the page but managed to escape my notice or comprehension.

As for being surrounded by walls full of books, I so totally identify with that. To my mind and spirit, books are a way of being surrounding myself with possibilities and potentialities. Regretfully, I have more of them than I'll ever get around to reading. I kid (delude) myself that one day I'll get around to them, but for the most part resigned myself to the fact that I never will. Still it's a joy to have them. I agree with you, that's an experience that an electronic device cannot replicate.”

“"He wasn't the best speaker", said one attendee. A perfect equation. He wasn't the best president either (to say the least).”

“And you just made me laugh out loud.”