I'm sorry I'm yelling in my diary title. I'm also sorry this really isn't a diary. I must vent, however, or blow an aneurysm.
My 30th high school reunion is fast approaching. Due to work and money constraints, it's looking like I won't be able to attend. This was initially distressing, but the more emails I receive from one of my closest high school friends, Connie, the more I'm not too horribly upset.
More self-therapy below the jump, if you're interested.
I grew up in a small, conservative Colorado town. Then I left, physically and mentally and emotionally. Connie left physically. That's about all there is to say about it. No, one does not have to change one's stance on nearly every major issue over the course of the years into order to say one has "grown up", but holy crap. At least LOOK at things before you adopt them as gospel truth!!!
The argument can be made that I should try very hard to attend my reunion and do my best to gently point out that there is life outside what Fox News dictates. I understand the logic of this but...I don't want to drive my butt off and spend money I don't really have in order to try to talk logic at someone who clearly isn't too concerned with facts. Also, I really LIKE Connie. She's a nice person. We have a lot of history together. I don't know that there's a way to impart logic to this kind of a mind-set, though, so I'm probably going to weenie out and just say nothing. Dammit. :-(
I received the email below this morning, and I just can't make myself hit "reply all" and send my comments back to Connie and everyone else she deemed worthy. I'm posting it here as a means of hopefully lowering my blood pressure a little bit.
Tiger Woods didn't mention Obama his introduction of the U.S. Naval Glee Club during the HBO-televised "We Are One" concert event prior to Obama's inauguration. Woods' speech is copied and pasted verbatim from the email, below. Stop apostrophe abuse in our lifetime!
TIGER WOOD'S SPEECH AT THE INAUGURATION:
Tiger Wood's received a special invitation to speak at the inauguration. His inviters we're stunned, when he did not deliver the message they expected. You will see why the media swept it under the rug with no further ado, and why a certain element is not too happy with Tiger.
Below is the text of his speech, intitled:
"You'll Never Walk Alone," as posted on his Web site:
"I grew up in a military family - and my role models in life were my Mom and Dad, Lt. Colonel Earl Woods. My dad, was a Special Forces operator and many nights friends would visit our home. They represented every branch of the service, and every rank.
In my Dad, and in those guests, I saw firsthand the dedication and commitment of those who serve. They come from every walk of life. From every part of our country. Time and again, -across generations,
they have defended our safety in the dark of night and far from home.
"Each day -- and particularly on this historic day -- we honor the men and women in uniform who serve our country and protect our freedom. They travel to the dangerous corner's of the world, and we must remember that for every person who is in uniform, there are familie's who wait for them to come home safely.
"I am honored that the military is such an important part, not just of my personal life, but of my professional one as well. The golf tournament we do each year here in Washington is a testiment to those unsung heros.
"I am the son of a man who dedicated his life to his country, family and the military, and I am a better person for it.
"In the summer of 1864, Abraham Lincoln, the man at whose memorial we stand, spoke to the 164th Ohio Regiment and said: 'I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country.'
"Just as they have stood tall for our country - we must always stand by and support the men and women in uniform and their families.
"Thank you, and it is now my pleasure to introduce the U.S. Naval Glee Club."
And below, comments from the email regarding Woods' introduction, along with what I reallyreallyreallyreally wanted to email back to Connie et al interspersed:
I have never been more proud of Tiger Woods than when I heard his 2-minute tribute to the military at the Inaugural Celebration in Washington DC.
Yeah, given that he was introducing the U.S. Naval Glee Club, he was really STICKING IT TO THE MAN by mentioning, you know...how he feels about the U.S. Naval Glee Club! That maverick! Oh, wait. That's McCain. Sorry. Didn't mean to apply the wrong superlative to the wrong guy.
You know he was greatly pressured to be there.
Really? You have first-hand knowledge of this?
Liberals have been mad at him for a decade for not joining their ranks.
Um...I'm about as liberal as they come, and I can safely say that I've not wasted any energy being mad at Tiger Woods. I would prefer for someone with the visibility of Mr. Woods to use his celebrity for more than just padding his own bank account, but...I'm not pissed at him. If anything, his apolitical stance means he's probably not sending out blanket emails that make no sense whatsoever, so that's a plus.
You know he didn't want to be there.
The guy is a bazillionaire. Trust me. If he doesn't want to do something, he doesn't do it. And again, how do we "know" he didn't want to be there? Did he tell you that?
So instead of paying homage to Obama, he paid tribute to our soldiers.
YEAH! The black guy didn't mention the black president! Take THAT, pinko, socialist, tree-hugging, 'Merikin-hating, lefty wackos!!!!!!! Way to go! Introducing a group of Naval musicians by...introducing a group of Naval musicians! Truly ground-breaking.
Not one time did Tiger mention Obama, the inauguration or the new administration.
And I wonder if he knew the massive import that would be tacked onto this omission? I don't go around constantly telling people I'm not a Russian spy, so...I'm hiding the fact that I'm a Russian spy. Gotcha.
He knew beforehand that his love for America , and appreciation for our military men and women would anger them further.
Anger "who" further? Left-leaning progressives like myself? Who continues to protest the invasion of Iraq and continues to support the troops who got sent there? Who didn't slap one of those stupid-ass made-in-China yellow magnets on my vehicle, but instead has put rather large amounts of my own money into sending care packages overseas to people I will never meet? You might want to check this out: http://anysoldier.com/ I thought I'd include the URL, in case you're interested in taking actual action to support our troops, instead of just sending out nasty emails about it.
But Tiger is his own man; his father taught him to be his own man.
And my parents taught me to be my own woman, and not forward on nonsense like this email. I was taught to use my brain and not swallow everything Fox News tells me. What a concept.
Somewhere over that cold, gray Washington sky, we feel that Earl Woods was smiling down on his beloved son. And there will be one more crying hug waiting for Tiger when he passes through the Pearly Gates into God's arms.
Really? Because I don't know that Tiger Woods has ever made any public professions of faith in Jesus of Nazareth. I profess massive faith in Jesus of Nazareth, which sadly probably disappoints you. I promise I'll stay in my corner of heaven and not sully yours. Promise.
PASS IT ON!
Um, just "pass". Thank you.