It's Time

It's Time We Discuss The real Issues

It’s time that we have a discussion about the actual subject on several issues. I really believe that people get around issues by reframing the issue, and obscuring the subject.  The first is “Gay Marriage.”

                To me, we’re not discussing gay marriage, we’re discussing gay rights. Marriage is a spiritual commitment between two people who commit to live their lives together. This has nothing to do with the government; the only thing that the government has to do with marriage is to give people, who enter in to this commitment, certain legal rights and privileges based upon their commitment. A civil ceremony is just a validation of this commitment; a church wedding is a spiritual consecration of this commitment. I don’t think that many in the gay or straight community are fighting to get church recognition of these unions. The vast majority of the gay community has split with their churches well before they get to the point of marriage. The government has no right or any inclination to tell the churches that they have to have these weddings. The thing that gay couples are looking for is the ability to move out of the shadows, and live their life in the open; they want the same rights and privileges as straights that have a union. The gay community shouldn’t be considered second class citizens just because of their lifestyle; they should be given the same legal rights by the government as others. As far as I’m concerned, they should have the same legal standing as other couples, the churches should have the right to not bless these unions, if that is their belief.  By not recognizing these unions are we going to change the lifestyle? I think not, the gay lifestyle has gone back to Biblical times, and been discussed in the Bible, so I don’t think it will, or should go away.

                My second concern is the “Torture” discussion. Is there any doubt that we shouldn’t torture enemy combatants? We signed off on the Geneva Conventions and agreed that our expectation was that our soldiers wouldn’t be tortured, nor would we torture others. What has changed to make this different? I realize our Homeland was hit on September 11^th, and innocent individuals were killed, but in all wars in the past, innocents have been killed by all sides. We have never had someone bring war to our shores. Since terrorists have hit the Homeland, does that make it O.K.? As my Mom always said, two wrongs don’t make a right.  We need to continue to hold the beliefs that we have had in the past, and keep our pride. The people that have died defending our rights did that so that we could keep our beliefs. Part two of this discussion is what constitutes torture? According to the Geneva Convention is weatherboarding torture?  Are the other “Enhanced Interrogation “techniques torture? If they are we shouldn’t do them, and the people who ordered them should be held accountable. Didn’t we hold the Nuremburg Trials to address these issues in WWII in Europe? If the techniques aren’t torture, by the rules, then we were right to use them. The enemy did far worse things to our people and I have no problem going to the wall to fight them.

 

 

It's Time for NASCAR to Think

Last week I went to a Q & A at Infineon Raceway and what I saw were the reasons that NASCAR is so successful, and some reasons why NASCAR should be concerned about the future. First the good.

                Jimmie Johnson and his wife came to the Raceway to spend time with fans that had bought tickets to a special section set aside for his fans. The tickets were basically a half price offer, and as an incentive the ticket included the Q & A. The Raceway and NASCAR both realized that their fans were in a tough financial environment and that to sell out, they needed to help the fans to be able to afford the tickets, so they stepped up and reached out to the fan. The fans responded, there were over 600 fans in the stands on a Thursday afternoon, at high noon, to spend time and hear Jimmie speak. The fans came from as far as way as Yakima Washington to spend a half hour with Jimmie. We all set on a sunny hillside and were close enough to reach out and touch one of the stars of the sport. What other professional athlete from any other sport would be this accessible?  Do baseball or football or basketball stars sit in the stands and talk with the fans? Not that I’ve seen.  Jimmie stood for pictures with fans and signed memorabilia that fans brought. Again, rare for this to happen, other than in a staged event where the fans pay to play. The drivers and the tracks realize where the money comes from and they are working to keep the fans involved and feeling valued.

                A couple of things that were said during the Q & A made me concerned for the future of NASCAR. Jimmie Johnson is a multi millionaire and looks the part, clean cut, well dressed and polished. He was also there to pick the wine that would be served to the winner, WINE at NASCAR? Budweiser must have had a fit. One fan asked a question regarding training that Jimmie had gone through in getting to the top of NASCAR, and he explained that he had been taken classes in public speaking and sponsor relations and worked with PR people to be a better spokesman for the sport. Hardcore NASCAR fans like their heroes to be authentic, down home guys. Does anyone think that Richard Petty, David Pearson, or Dale Earnhardt went through PR Boot Camp before they became the stars of the sport? I know that Tony Stewart has PR people, but apparently he doesn’t do well at listening. Kyle Bush doesn’t censor his comments when he gets out of the car. NASCAR seems to have a rough and tumble history and the fans still have that expectation of their drivers. The gentrification of NASCAR is starting to bother many of the fans of the sport. The drivers are losing their connections with the fans, like the stars of other sports.

                Another point was the fact that there was hardly any trash talking by Johnson. The fans gave him many opportunities, they asked about battles with other drivers, Jeff Gordon, Junior, or Tony Stewart and Johnson didn’t rise to the bait, he wouldn’t speak ill of the competition. The fans like a little bravado from their heroes.

                NASCAR’s roots are based in the common man from the Southeast, and that has been successful up until now, why change? The way they have done business in the past has worked for them; they have brought the sport to the pinnacle of success. They were starting to lose fans at the tracks before the recession, and the decline has accelerated during the last year. I realize the leadership has  changed, but they need to listen to the fans.

               

It's Time To Support Local Businesses

Last week there were two articles in the Daily Republic regarding the rise of the Olive Oil business in the Suisun Valley.  The article focused on the Sievers family and their plans for a mill and olive oil grove. I think it’s great that the Sievers are planning this, but there has been a family, that for over four years, have been promoting the Olive Oil of the Suisun Valley.

            Joel and Peggy Quartemont have  been running Sepay Groves Olive Oils and they have been actively promoting Suisun Valley oils to the locals and tourists that visit from their boutique at 370 Chadbourne Road. The Quartemonts are active advocates for their product. They have posters that show how Olive Oil has helped their health. They have a tasting area where they share the tastes and benefits of the different oils that they blend. They also blend vinegars that are extremely tasty.

            The olives that the Quartemonts use come from the Gordon Valley Farms, a local grower; the olives are taken to a press in Sonoma County where they are pressed. The oil then comes back to the store in Fairfield where small quantities are bottled, to keep the oil fresh, and it is sold through the store.

            My wife and I have become steady customers of Sepay. The oils and vinegars are great and they make tasty salad dressings and are a great addition to our cooking.