You can't talk about American pop culture in the first decade and a half of this Century and not discuss the entertainment genius of Jimmy Fallon. I have never met Jimmy but I feel like I have known him for years. My wife and I are avid fans of the Tonight Show and we are always laughing at his jokes, the skits, and how he interacts with the Roots, his celebrity guests, and the audience. Most of the time it feels like that we are not watching TV, but we are in his living room and he is telling a story on the other side of the table and has everyone intently listening, hanging on his every word.
This is the magic of Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy is a comic genius but it is his ability to befriend rock stars, rappers, boy bands, politicians, Presidents and First Ladies, movie and TV celebrities that make his shtick work. Celebrities and public figures, even the ones he makes fun of night after night in his monologues, want to be on his show and volunteer to be on EW, Beer Pong, or whatever crazy game he and his staff come up with. The fact he comes up with new "episodes" of EW that are funny is amazing. What does he hang out with 12 year old girls for a week before he writes the script?
Jimmy Fallon embodies what America is about. He talks "to" people not to their race, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. In fact, I don't know which side of the political aisle Jimmy sits and I don't care. I still would tune in every night. So, thank you Jimmy for making myself, my family, and the rest of America smile and laugh away our worries and stresses and welcoming us into your home.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Why Trump Is Wrong About Immigration
It is funny how someone can run for President of the United States and forget what is the fabric of this Country. This Country is made up of immigrants from the first voyage of the Mayflower in the 1620's. Unless Donald Trump is 100% Native American, then I guess his relatives from years past came from outside these shores. In fact, his mother was from Scotland.
Human's should be judged by the type of person they are and how they treat their fellow man and they should not be pre-judged because of the color of their skin, their ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Unfortunately, there are evil people in this world. There are rapists, murderers, and kidnappers in the United States, Canada, UK, Mexico, Bolivia, France, Kenya, and every country on this Earth.
Mr. Trump will never win the Presidency because he is arrogant and in watching his interviews since he became a "candidate " he is a bully. Take away his $10 Billion, Mr. Trump would be reduced to a Republican blow hard who calls into the Sean Hannity show on a daily basis to rant his views. Great President's and Statesman recognize that America has their enemies, but they also know that there are good people from all creeds and backgrounds and a true leader stands on the side of the good and protects the weak. Mr. Trump, I just finished watching Caitlyn Jenner's speech at The ESPYS, a fellow Republican, you could learn a thing or two from her.
Human's should be judged by the type of person they are and how they treat their fellow man and they should not be pre-judged because of the color of their skin, their ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Unfortunately, there are evil people in this world. There are rapists, murderers, and kidnappers in the United States, Canada, UK, Mexico, Bolivia, France, Kenya, and every country on this Earth.
Mr. Trump will never win the Presidency because he is arrogant and in watching his interviews since he became a "candidate " he is a bully. Take away his $10 Billion, Mr. Trump would be reduced to a Republican blow hard who calls into the Sean Hannity show on a daily basis to rant his views. Great President's and Statesman recognize that America has their enemies, but they also know that there are good people from all creeds and backgrounds and a true leader stands on the side of the good and protects the weak. Mr. Trump, I just finished watching Caitlyn Jenner's speech at The ESPYS, a fellow Republican, you could learn a thing or two from her.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
American Independence - Don't Take It For Granted
Today is Independece Day, where we celebrate with fireworks, hot dogs, baseball, apple pie, and beer. But as Americans, we should take time to cherish our Independence. Most of us don't really appreciate or take for granted what it means to be Free. I know I didn't until I met my friend Irwin a little more than ten years ago right after I moved to Orlando.
Irwin moved to the United States with his wife and two children from Venezuala. We met through our kids, who played on the same recreational soccer team and we soon became good friends. Irwin was a kind man who would go out of his way to do you a favor and never asked for anything in return. One of the few people I have met who is truly unselfiish. Irwin is the same age as me and when we met, he was working at McDonald's unloading the morning delivery trucks and working in maintenance. One day, I asked him how his family came to America and that is when he told me his story.
Irwin used to work as the CFO of a major Venezualian Corporation during the Hugo Chavez dictatorship a few years prior to when we met. He was also a skilled piano player and played in his church. In the late 90s, early 2000s, Chavez was crazy enough to believe that the United States would attack Venezuala and wanted every male to sign an oath of loyalty to him, which also meant that without warning you could be drafted into the army. Irwin refused to sign and not only was he threatened with jail time, but the Dictator would put his Wife and pre-school aged children in jail as well. Irwin knew he needed to move his family to a safer place where his kids could grow up and be what ever their hearts desired and most importantly, live a life of happiness and freedom.
Irwin had close friends, who belonged to a Christian Church in Orlando. The only way to get Irwin out of Venezuala was for the Church to ask for assylum for Irwin and eventually his family. The Church told the American Government that they needed a piano player for their congregation and Irwin was their "Piano Man". Irwin came to the United States first and then his wife and children followed.
Irwin told me something that has stuck with me for a long time. He said that he would rather work at McDonalds for the rest of his life if it meant that he and his family could be free than to make good money as a CFO in Venezuala and live in fear. Irwin went on to fulfill another dream of his; becoming a real estate agent and owning his own real estate agency. Irwin and his family wound up moving and unfortantely over the years we lost touch, but I will never forget his courage, kindness, and how he made me realize how precious our freedon is.
May God bless Irwin and his Family and May God Bless the United States of America!
Irwin moved to the United States with his wife and two children from Venezuala. We met through our kids, who played on the same recreational soccer team and we soon became good friends. Irwin was a kind man who would go out of his way to do you a favor and never asked for anything in return. One of the few people I have met who is truly unselfiish. Irwin is the same age as me and when we met, he was working at McDonald's unloading the morning delivery trucks and working in maintenance. One day, I asked him how his family came to America and that is when he told me his story.
Irwin used to work as the CFO of a major Venezualian Corporation during the Hugo Chavez dictatorship a few years prior to when we met. He was also a skilled piano player and played in his church. In the late 90s, early 2000s, Chavez was crazy enough to believe that the United States would attack Venezuala and wanted every male to sign an oath of loyalty to him, which also meant that without warning you could be drafted into the army. Irwin refused to sign and not only was he threatened with jail time, but the Dictator would put his Wife and pre-school aged children in jail as well. Irwin knew he needed to move his family to a safer place where his kids could grow up and be what ever their hearts desired and most importantly, live a life of happiness and freedom.
Irwin had close friends, who belonged to a Christian Church in Orlando. The only way to get Irwin out of Venezuala was for the Church to ask for assylum for Irwin and eventually his family. The Church told the American Government that they needed a piano player for their congregation and Irwin was their "Piano Man". Irwin came to the United States first and then his wife and children followed.
Irwin told me something that has stuck with me for a long time. He said that he would rather work at McDonalds for the rest of his life if it meant that he and his family could be free than to make good money as a CFO in Venezuala and live in fear. Irwin went on to fulfill another dream of his; becoming a real estate agent and owning his own real estate agency. Irwin and his family wound up moving and unfortantely over the years we lost touch, but I will never forget his courage, kindness, and how he made me realize how precious our freedon is.
May God bless Irwin and his Family and May God Bless the United States of America!
Monday, June 29, 2015
Barak Obama - Progressive President
President Obama had by far the best week of his Presidency last week and the best week for Progressive Politics in years. The legalzation of same sex marriages, banning of the Confederate Flag, and affordable health care truly bought the United States into the 21st Century and has placed Obama into the same category as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson as the top Progressive Presidents this Country has ever seen.
Same Sex Marriage has been legal in many Christian European countries for years so the fact that it was not recognized throughout the most recognized Democratic Country in the world was ridiculous. Opposition to the recognition of same sex marriage in this country, i.e mostly Republicans, forget that our country is built upon the Separation of Church and State for a reason. I am a heterosexual male who is personally against abortion but I would fight for the rights of my fellow citizens to make decisions about their own body and whom they love and I am glad President Obama and our government are doing the same!
It is wrong that some Southerns still associate the Confederate Flag as honoring their ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. Your ancestors fought to keep the horrible and disgusting institution of slavery as a fabric of this Country. They were traitors to this Nation. You don't see Germans honoring their descendants who fought in World War II marching around with Nazi paraphernalia. The flag will be banned but only a strong education will get rid of racism in future generations.
All Americans have the right to affordable healthcare. Opponents to Obamacare equate it to socialized medicine. Those opponents should go live a few years with their families in a country that truly has socialized medicine such as Canada or Sweden. We are the richest country in the world and no American with good intentions should have to go through the nightmare of not having access to good doctors and medicine for themselves and their loved ones. Obamacare insures that won't happen.
I have not always agreed with all of President Obama's policies but last week he showed me something. He took the lesson he learned growing up as a bi-racial American and fought for legislation that is for the Good for All of Us and that's what a true leader does.
Same Sex Marriage has been legal in many Christian European countries for years so the fact that it was not recognized throughout the most recognized Democratic Country in the world was ridiculous. Opposition to the recognition of same sex marriage in this country, i.e mostly Republicans, forget that our country is built upon the Separation of Church and State for a reason. I am a heterosexual male who is personally against abortion but I would fight for the rights of my fellow citizens to make decisions about their own body and whom they love and I am glad President Obama and our government are doing the same!
It is wrong that some Southerns still associate the Confederate Flag as honoring their ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. Your ancestors fought to keep the horrible and disgusting institution of slavery as a fabric of this Country. They were traitors to this Nation. You don't see Germans honoring their descendants who fought in World War II marching around with Nazi paraphernalia. The flag will be banned but only a strong education will get rid of racism in future generations.
All Americans have the right to affordable healthcare. Opponents to Obamacare equate it to socialized medicine. Those opponents should go live a few years with their families in a country that truly has socialized medicine such as Canada or Sweden. We are the richest country in the world and no American with good intentions should have to go through the nightmare of not having access to good doctors and medicine for themselves and their loved ones. Obamacare insures that won't happen.
I have not always agreed with all of President Obama's policies but last week he showed me something. He took the lesson he learned growing up as a bi-racial American and fought for legislation that is for the Good for All of Us and that's what a true leader does.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Fatherhood - The Modern Dad
Yesterday was Father's Day and I had te pleasure of spending the day with three of my five children and it got me thinking about what type of Father am I? I am a 45 year old man with three kids from my first marriage, all born in the mid to late Ninties, a 10 year old step-daughter and a 11 month old son, whom I had with my wife.
Being a father is the thing I am most proud of . I am involved in my children's lives and am not afraid to show the softer side by showering them with hugs and kisses, and telling them how much I love them. For all my children, I change(d)their diapers, feed them, and rock them to back to sleep in the middle of the night singing Bruno Mars, Billy Joel, and Kermit the Frog. In a positive way, my wife says that my fathering is similar to Phil Dunfy. So,is it better to be Phil Dunphy or Howard Cunningham?
Mr.C did not have to deal and adapt to situations that the modern dad has had to such as divorce, step-children, and different mothers. Dads have the same pressures of building a career and building your relationship with each of your children, making sure that you are not only meeting thier needs financially but emotionally as well. Children have easier access to information in this day and age that I did not when I was young, so as a parent I need to possess the characteristics of being diligent, real with my emotions, and one step ahead in this ever changing world.
I love ALL my children with ALL of my heart. It doesn't matter if their mother is my ex-wife or current or if I am their biological father or not. In this "You Owe Me" generation, I am ardent that my relationship with my kids is based on trust and love, not how much money I spend on them. Love is not based on materialistic things and that is the most important lesson I can pass on to them. I am happy to be a "Modern Dad"; a Phil Dunphy, a father filled with love, compassion, understanding, sensitivity, and a goofy sense of humor.
Being a father is the thing I am most proud of . I am involved in my children's lives and am not afraid to show the softer side by showering them with hugs and kisses, and telling them how much I love them. For all my children, I change(d)their diapers, feed them, and rock them to back to sleep in the middle of the night singing Bruno Mars, Billy Joel, and Kermit the Frog. In a positive way, my wife says that my fathering is similar to Phil Dunfy. So,is it better to be Phil Dunphy or Howard Cunningham?
Mr.C did not have to deal and adapt to situations that the modern dad has had to such as divorce, step-children, and different mothers. Dads have the same pressures of building a career and building your relationship with each of your children, making sure that you are not only meeting thier needs financially but emotionally as well. Children have easier access to information in this day and age that I did not when I was young, so as a parent I need to possess the characteristics of being diligent, real with my emotions, and one step ahead in this ever changing world.
I love ALL my children with ALL of my heart. It doesn't matter if their mother is my ex-wife or current or if I am their biological father or not. In this "You Owe Me" generation, I am ardent that my relationship with my kids is based on trust and love, not how much money I spend on them. Love is not based on materialistic things and that is the most important lesson I can pass on to them. I am happy to be a "Modern Dad"; a Phil Dunphy, a father filled with love, compassion, understanding, sensitivity, and a goofy sense of humor.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Racism in America Today
It is hard to believe that in 2015, racism and the poor treatment of Black Americans and other minorities still an issue in today's America. The massacre in Charleston, SC was done at the hands of a young, white aryian supporter who was looking to start a race war. What is happening in our Country with white police racially profiling and shooting unarmed black citizens, and massacres at places of worship?The foundation for this way of thinking is a lack of a proper education in schools and homes across America.
What does it say to our youth when the Confederate flag is allowed to fly in the South in States such as Georgia, South Caolina, and Florida. This is a symbol of hatred. If it wasn't for the forward thinking of Abraham Lincoln our Republic would not exist. That flag represents the biggest stain in the history of the United States. It represents slavery, lynching, Jim Crowe, and Segregation. I don't buy into the thinking that Southerners are honoring their relatives who fought in the Civil War. Your relatives were fighting to preserve an institution that was inhumamain. They were rebels. Germany does not allow the Nazi Flag to be flown as to what it represents. It's time for our federal government to follow suit and ban the Confederate Flag.
It falls on parents and teachers to teach our children that we are all Americans and people should be judged by whom they are and not the color of their skin, religion or their sexual orientation. It is hard watching history repeat itself. Yes, America has come far where Black Americans have become doctors, lawyers, governors, congressman, evening news anchors, and President of the United States. It is time for the one person, who can relate to both the Black and Caucasian races to stand up and make a difference. The hate crimes that have increased over the last year have come under the President's watch. America is so quick to act against atrocities around the World but we are still fighting the same fight at home since 1776. Now is the time for the President to make his mark on history and end racism in America.
What does it say to our youth when the Confederate flag is allowed to fly in the South in States such as Georgia, South Caolina, and Florida. This is a symbol of hatred. If it wasn't for the forward thinking of Abraham Lincoln our Republic would not exist. That flag represents the biggest stain in the history of the United States. It represents slavery, lynching, Jim Crowe, and Segregation. I don't buy into the thinking that Southerners are honoring their relatives who fought in the Civil War. Your relatives were fighting to preserve an institution that was inhumamain. They were rebels. Germany does not allow the Nazi Flag to be flown as to what it represents. It's time for our federal government to follow suit and ban the Confederate Flag.
It falls on parents and teachers to teach our children that we are all Americans and people should be judged by whom they are and not the color of their skin, religion or their sexual orientation. It is hard watching history repeat itself. Yes, America has come far where Black Americans have become doctors, lawyers, governors, congressman, evening news anchors, and President of the United States. It is time for the one person, who can relate to both the Black and Caucasian races to stand up and make a difference. The hate crimes that have increased over the last year have come under the President's watch. America is so quick to act against atrocities around the World but we are still fighting the same fight at home since 1776. Now is the time for the President to make his mark on history and end racism in America.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Why Hillary Clinton Will Win The Democratic Nomination For President
Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic Nomination for President and most likely the Presidency making history as the first female President of our United States. This statement does not surprise a lot of people. After all Hillary has been apart of mainstream American politics since I was a junior in college in 1991. She was an active when her husband was President championing for health care for all, a Senator from New York during 9/11 and the immediate aftermath, Presidential Candidate in 2008, Secretary of State, and now candidate again. However, is her virtually unchallenged candidacy good for the future of the Democratic Party?
Hillary Clinton is a great orator and probably the best I have heard since 1988 from either party behind only President Obama and her husband, President Clinton. All of the candidates from both sides are wealthy, but if anyone can "relate" or pretend to "relate" to the average American and on top of it has the experience to deal with international issues, it's Hillary. She has become such a polarizing figure, there is no one in her party that has come far enough in their political career to challenge her and keep her humble and hungry for the next year and a quarter.
As great as Hillary is she is lacking one major characteristic; the "it" factor, the intangible that the great politicians have that gives Americans hope and comfort that they will get things done in Washington and they actually acheive their goals. Today, Americans are asking politicians "how" will they acheive the agendas they lay out. Lincoln, TR, FDR, JFK, Elenor Roosevelt, Reagan, and yes Bill Clinton are the Presidents and First Lady possessed that special something. As of June 17, 2015, Hillary Clinton is the best candiate for President, but to be great, she'll need to study the Greats of the past in order to secure our future.
Hillary Clinton is a great orator and probably the best I have heard since 1988 from either party behind only President Obama and her husband, President Clinton. All of the candidates from both sides are wealthy, but if anyone can "relate" or pretend to "relate" to the average American and on top of it has the experience to deal with international issues, it's Hillary. She has become such a polarizing figure, there is no one in her party that has come far enough in their political career to challenge her and keep her humble and hungry for the next year and a quarter.
As great as Hillary is she is lacking one major characteristic; the "it" factor, the intangible that the great politicians have that gives Americans hope and comfort that they will get things done in Washington and they actually acheive their goals. Today, Americans are asking politicians "how" will they acheive the agendas they lay out. Lincoln, TR, FDR, JFK, Elenor Roosevelt, Reagan, and yes Bill Clinton are the Presidents and First Lady possessed that special something. As of June 17, 2015, Hillary Clinton is the best candiate for President, but to be great, she'll need to study the Greats of the past in order to secure our future.
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