What Wouldn't You Do?

What Wouldn't You Do?

By. William C Walker Jr

September 24, 2013

I saw the film Prisoners this weekend and it made me wonder about how much a child in your life could change who you even are as a person.  While I thought the movie had some very solid performances, I felt a bit drained from the running time, and the really weak ending.  But this isn't a review of the movie this about the moral dilemma and question the film presents to parents.  In the film Hugh Jackman's character daughter is kidnapped, now he doesn't go all Taken Liam Neeson style on the guy. But he does go Jack Bauer style on suspected assailant, trying to do everything in his power find and save his daughter. The film makes it a moral dilemma because you don't necessarily know if the guy is the actual kidnapper, or if he just happens to know something about it.  So even though what Hugh's character is presented as this typically moral man, his morals go out the window when it comes to trying to save his child.  It seems crazy to the level and extent he goes, but it made me think and wonder.  If I where a parent and to the parents out there. What wouldn't you do on behalf of your children?

Again I'm not a parent, but I have an abundance of nieces and nephews that I'm very protective of.  So if anyone where to threaten them or harm them, I could see doing everything in my power to protect them or seek justice for them.  Now I'd like to say my parents' raising and my Christian faith would keep me from going all Jack Bauer on someone.  But I honestly can't say I wouldn't, that's just real.  There's this instinct that's naturally in humans to defend themselves and what they deem valuable.  I think this instinct is only amplified when there's a emotional connection to someone you care about.  Sometimes it's easy to accept bad things that happen to adults, no one relishes in another person's misery.  Most aren't sociopaths when it comes to misfortune that befalls another.  There is however a totally different reaction to crimes against children.  

Children are just naturally perceived as innocent so it's always hard to hear when tragedy befalls them.  I'd imagine as a parent you'll always want your kids to not have to feel what you felt, or go through what you had to go through.  So it's that much more important to you to protect them from harm or danger.  It's why even if you may be up for hours on end, you don't want your kids to be up because it's not good for them.  While you may have no problem watching extreme violence, it's not something you'd want your kids exposed to.  So how much of your own moral compass would you ignore when it came to your kids?  I guess it can depend on what you view as right or wrong in general.  I do think most parents when posed with the question of, what wouldn't you do for your kids? The answer would easily be anything, and I believe that to be the case.  But does a line even exists?  I know my parents love me tremendously but I couldn't see them break the law for me.  Even with that being said I still wouldn't doubt as a child my parents going to extreme lengths to ensure my safety.  So again I pose the question if faced in a situation such as in the film Prisoners.  What wouldn't you do for your child?

Fever Pitch!

Political gridlock remains prevalent in Republican controlled House. 

By William C Walker Jr.

September 20, 2013

"I believe that if we're successful in this election, when we're successful in this election, that the fever may break, because there's a tradition in the Republican Party of more common sense than that. My hope, my expectation, is that after the election, now that it turns out that the goal of beating Obama doesn't make much sense because I'm not running again, that we can start getting some cooperation again," - President Barack Obama

          The above quote was from President Obama during a campaign stop in Minnesota.  At the time he was running for re-election and through his first term there was extreme political gridlock.  The only thing the President and his opponents could agree on was that it was clear that the Republican Party didn’t like him.  So as the campaign season was in full swing the President expressed his hope for what would take place after he was re-elected. So here we are not even a full year through President Obama’s 2^nd term, and that fever he spoke of has yet to break.

            It seemed like a reasonable expectation from a very reasonable man.  Yet something the President hasn’t realized is that he’s not dealing with reasonable people.  He’s dealing with a political party that proudly rebuffs the old adage “don’t cut off your nose to spite your face”.  House republicans would take a hatchet to their nose if means opposing the President.  In their latest efforts the house is set to pass a bill that would defund the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) in order to raise the debt ceiling and prevent a government shutdown.  They’re attempting this even in spite of the fact all of their attempts to do so have failed miserably.  According to Thinkprogress.org house Republicans have voted over 7,000 times to repeal or defund Obamacare, and it’s gone absolutely nowhere.  Even after the Supreme Court deemed the law constitutional which was republicans best chance to actually have the law stricken down, they continue to pursue this fruitless endeavor.  Let’s just keep in mind any bill that passes in the house than has to be taken up by the senate, once it gets through the senate, it then has to be signed by the President into law.  So once this said bill passes it has to actually be passed by the Senate which is firmly in the democrats control, but let’s say miracle of miracles happen and they actually get the 60 votes needed to pass, then it would require the President to sign it instead of vetoing the bill.  As of now President Obama has already said he would veto any bill that would disrupt the Affordable Care Act.  So why do Republicans insist on taking this course?  Simple they truly hate the President, in a Captain Ahab & Moby Dick way.  Like Dallas Cowboys & Washington Redskins.

           

They are firmly entrenched in this feverish delirium to oppose the President no matter what.  It’s not like this has truly worked in their favor currently Congress’s approval rating sits at 19%. The Romneybot of 2012 was soundly defeated, the senate remains in democrats hands, and the only reason the Republicans kept hold to the house, was due to gerrymandering that changed congressional district to skew in republican favor.  So what happened to the common sense republicans that the President hoped would step up after the election?  That would be if there were any common sense republicans left.  But this disdain and opposition goes far beyond political ideology, and rest squarely on the man they face.

            The reality is that President Barack Obama is a Harvard Law scholar, extremely eloquent and charismatic leader, and most importantly the first African American to hold the country’s highest office.  It’s that last point that sadly stokes republicans fire to the highest degree.  No President has faced the sheer level of disrespect President Obama has had to deal with.  For as much as democrats and liberals may have disliked President George W. Bush, you never saw anyone shout in the midst of State of the Union “You Lie”.  And this was in the midst of him trying to sell us on Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.  Or someone threateningly poke their finger into a President's face, like Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

 Yet it’s been done to the President, I firmly believe that when republicans and those in the Tea Party especially see the President Obama they don’t see this very intelligent man.  They see this uppidity  negro that thinks he can tell us how to run our country. 

I say it goes beyond ideology because it doesn’t matter the plan if it’s presented by the President than it’s automatically bad.  I go back to when the President was first elected after the 2008 election and before the new school year started the President was supposed to address returning students.  The level of outrage that swelled from conservative and right-wing parents would have you think the man was giving out a public service announcement urging kids to smoke crack, look up to Lil Wayne, and have kids by age 11.  It’s the President of The United States encouraging kids to work hard in school, not Osama Bin Laden’s greatest hits.  It dawned on me at that moment that these people really hate this man.  I mean Obama could come out and say don’t murder people it’s wrong, and I swear republicans will scream “Who’s he to tell me I can’t murder!  I’ll murder who I want o this is America I can kill whoever I please!”  I swear that’s how deep I think their insanity would go.  The Affordable Care Act was a republican idea!  It’s based on the law passed in Massachusetts by then republican governor Mitt Romney.  The Massachusetts law was also based on idea from Senator Bob Dole back in the 90s, the whole point to get people to actually be accountable for their healthcare cost.  Instead of having uninsured people flood emergency rooms getting bills they wouldn’t be able to pay, thus sticking the bill to those who actually have insurance paying higher premiums.  Yet Obama presents the plan and it’s the spawn of Satan.  Regardless the cause if the President is for it than republicans has to be automatically against it.  Case in point when 90% of the country would agree with some form of gun control, be it Universal background checks, or ban on assault weapons after the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut they fail to move.  There's been 17 more mass shootings in this country since the tragedy in Newton.  A US study commissioned by Mayor's Against Illegal Guns shows that there's been an average of 1 mass shooting per month since 2009.  Yes we all know the republican party lives in the NRA’s back pocket, but it doesn’t help when the President is the one asking them to do so.  It doesn’t matter if he has the majority of the country agreeing with him.  Take the ongoing crisis in Syria, chemical weapons are used to killed women and children, the President declares a line has been crossed and that America needs to act.  Yet when he defers to congress to give him authorization to proceed with military action, suddenly congressional republicans balk stating we need to listen to the American people noting how majority of Americans oppose any involvement in Syria.  So on guns who cares what the American people think, yet in regards to Syria we need to listen.  Guess it only matters depending on which side Obama falls on. 

I bring all this up, because I truly hope we all keep this in mind as the 2014 election approaches.  Typically enthusiasm to get out and vote is low in the first place, even more so during mid-term elections. But it was this lack of awareness during the 2010 elections that allowed Republicans to rally their base and beat democrats at the polls.  Remember the ever growing obstructionist effort that’s being perpetrated as we speak.  Remember the Voting id laws that were passed by Republican governors in an effort to alienate minorities right to vote.  Remember the Supreme Court striking down key provisions in the Voting rights act making these bogus voting laws possible of getting through.  Remember Trayvon Martin and others that could fall victim to Stand Your Ground laws in republican controlled states. Finally remember that if we don’t act the President will face this mind-numbing insanity house republicans continue produce.  Typically if someone has a fever Tylenol or Aspirin is used to help break that fever.  The results of the 2012 election failed to do so, so come 2014 let’s be the Tylenol the President so desperately needs.

Quote above pulled from Politico 44 entry

By Bryan Tau

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/06/obama-republican-fever-will-break-after-the-election-125059.html

The Quest for Even Keel

Quest for Even Keel

(One man’s quest to remain calm during a Dallas Cowboys Football season)

By William C Walker Jr.

September 17, 2013

                It’s that time of the year again when the temperature falls into that last remnants of summer, and the burgeoning of the fall.  It’s also the time when my neighbors may hear shouts of exaltation or cries of despair.  It’s football season and being a football fan, especially a Dallas Cowboys fan it comes with the territory.  Yet after another crushing blow of disappointment last year, I lied to told myself this year was going to be different.  Different, as to meaning I was all in with my belief of Dallas winning the Super Bowl?  No, I’m passionate not delusional despite what some may claim.  It’s going to be different because I’m determined to remain even keel.

                Now to many my goal or quest may not seem like a big deal.  But trust me, for those that know me.  Staying even keel during a Dallas Cowboys football season, is akin to saying a fat man will only eat salad at an all you can eat buffet.  Chances are slim at best.  Yet I’ve made my mind up told my girlfriend “I’m going to stay even keel this season”.  It doesn’t matter if Dallas loses a game when they’re up by 14 with less than 5 minutes to go in the 4^th quarter ala at home versus the Giants in a 2011 defeat.  Nope no matter the mind melting infuriating circumstance I’m going to stay even keel.

                So how am I doing two games into the season?  Before I answer let’s take a look at what I’ve witnessed thus far.  Let me start with game one, after a satisfying win versus the New York Giants.  The first victory for the Cowboy’s inside Jerry’s World (recently named AT & T stadium) it’s hard not to be pleased.  Especially due to the manner of which they achieved said victory.  A football team that had a total of 16 takeaways for the entirety of the 2012 season, kicked off the 2013 season with 6 takeaways.  Last year Dallas didn’t have 6 takeaways until Week 6.  So while it’d be easy to jump for joy with this new found determination to get the ball.  Keep in mind that Big D only won by 5 points and it took that sixth turnover to clinch the game.  At a moment when it was less than 2 minutes left and Eli (aka Droopy) Manning had the ball at midfield only down by 6.  

It’s a scenario that’s become all too common to Cowboys fans.  While I could feel my blood pressure rise, neck tightening, and a few choice words resting against my tongue, Brandon Carr erased said feelings with an electrifying 49 yard interception return for a touchdown to seal the game.  So even with happiness at starting the season off 1-0 in a very good not great way, I decided to temper my excitement.

So after week 2 and an extremely frustrating (not infuriating) one point loss on the road to the Kansas City Chiefs the reason for my temperance was front and center.  In fact the loss to the Chiefs revealed all the same ingredients which have led this team to back to back seasons of mediocrity at 8-8, adding 3 consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs.  Missed opportunities, bad play calling, inconsistent line play, and failing to step up and make a play when it matters most.  Yet with all these elements present the Cowboys still had a very good chance at winning the game.  

The defense after giving up a 77 yard drive for a touchdown to Kansas City, where the defense made Alex Smith look like his replacement in San Francisco (Colin Kaepernick) the Cowboys D then hunkered down.  The offense after another wasted trip to the red zone in their first drive, remembered that Dez Bryant is a man among boys and fed the X-factor.  The defense made stops even though the turnovers were missing, yet they still made a great play in blocking a FG attempt to take a 10-7 lead to halftime.  The first drive of the 2^nd half the team marches to the Kansas City 5 yard line.  So with first & goal from the 5 what does Dallas do?  Run the ball, of course not let’s pass not even play action pass just straight pass, and then Romo is sacked.  On 2^nd down the line get’s a false start which backs them up 5 yards, after a decent play by DeMarco Murray to give you 3^rd and goal from the 9.  

What does new Offense coordinator Bill Callahan call? Let’s see to the left you have Dez Bryant 6’2 222lbs and already having 5 catches 100 yards and 1 TD against corner back Brandon Flowers 5’9 187lbs and given up 5 catches and 1 TD.  To your right you have Terrance Williams rookie WR who’s been inconsistent at best also on that side Miles Austin in the slot Jason Witten at Tight End, so the majority of the Chiefs defense is to that side.  So given what’s on the left side & what’s on the right I asked what does Bill Callahan call?  Answer a WR screen to Terrance Williams from the 9 yard line.  The result a 3 yard loss and Dallas kicks a FG instead of scoring a touchdown.

 I decided to focus on that series of events because in a nutshell that’s your ball game.  Yes Dallas continued to have opportunities that they squandered with complete lack of running game, and a 4^th Quarter where Romo’s pain shot for bruised ribs must’ve worn off, because he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.  But essentially during that series you saw pretty much everything that continues to make Dallas a mediocre team.  Flash of good execution and balance (they actually ran the ball that drive) which moves you into the red zone, then abandonment of said run, and then a mind boggling play call that leaves you scratching your head.  The Chiefs game reminded me all too well of the team I’m dealing with.

So I asked how am I doing 2 weeks into the season?  Proudly EVEN, I didn’t scream and shout and explode with F-bombs after the Dallas loss.  Now some in my family will say it was due to the angelic presence of my new baby niece Laila.  But I adamantly profess it’s this new sense of calm and perspective, that after Tony Romo threw an interception on 1^st & 10 last year in the last game of the season against the Washington Redskins.  When the team was only down by 3 points with a chance to win the division, after one of the rants to end all rants washed through me.  I said let it go my friend embrace the sense of even keel.  So thus far I’ve remained perfectly content and calm, that is at least until Week 3.