It’s a Game Show

Did you watch “The Voice” last night?  Who is going to win “American Idol” this year?  

This is the talk around the water cooler every week – and sometimes multiple times in a week. Social media is all abuzz with the pros and cons of contestants. Fans show support for their favorite singer, voting for them and getting their friends to vote for them too. And, this is how we pick our next superstars. 

One of the worst parts? They’re not even singing original songs.

Just think if American Idol was around in the 60’s; Bob Dylan would not have made it through auditions. (Sorry, Mr. Dylan) And, “Blowin’ in the Wind”, would have not been the theme song for a generation. Would John Lennon and Paul McCartney have been able to be ground-breaking with the Sgt. Pepper’s album? Imagine if they had to win The Voice before they could work with George Martin. Neil Young, who influenced a generation that focused attention on a war that could not be won, would not likely be the American Idol. We could still be in Vietnam.

It kind of makes you thankful that we got the hair bands of the 80’s before the T.V. singer contests existed, doesn't it? Not sure they could have won either. Think about your favorite music pre-American Idol... who would have made it?

It also makes you thankful that there are other avenues for original music and true artists to get their music heard. Although talented singers compete, true art is not found on a game show.

Another War?

Our President just recently proposed that the U.S. Congress should declare war on ISIL (the Islamic State) in the Middle East. Why is the United States of America even considering this? Religious wars can never be won. Strong ideologies cannot be defeated. And, people fighting for their own land will not be thwarted. 

If you look back through time, there are wars that can be won and wars that cannot be won. Historically, religious wars have never been won. Egypt could not prevail over the Israelites. Islam has fought against Buddhism in Tibet without success. The Protestants are still waging war against the Catholics in Ireland with no end in sight to this day. Religious wars are a losing proposition.

The Islamic State wants to take the control of their destiny with a strong idealism. Their extreme ideology holds just as much passion as we have in past internal conflicts in our country. Contrast their current revolution to our past revolutions. The Civil war of the North against the South over slavery almost tore our country apart, yet there were distinct sides for supporters to rally. The same holds true when the 13 colonies held patriotism as the ideal to fight for in the Revolutionary War against Britain. Unfortunately, the U.S. is not sure which ally to support in the current revolutions in the Middle East because the opposition to the ISIS is fractured and unorganized. Whose interests are we really supporting by declaring war on ISIS, ours, or the rag-tag sects of opposition?

If you put the shoe on the other foot and look at it from the Islamic State’s perspective, they do not want other people determining their fate and using their lands. It would be like having Britain, once again, come to fight on our soil and take over our properties. We would definitely be opposed.

Figuring out who to support and supporting them is one thing; but, declaring war and inserting ourselves into their battle is a losing proposition.

Thoughts? Concerns? Questions? Opinions?
We welcome friendly and respectful conversation.