Author: Tony "T-Bird" Burgess

Hi there, my name is Tony Burgess from Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. I am a believer, bleeding-heart, idealist, and blogger. I'm married to Laura and Cody is our dog. Daily I work for a blood bank. My blog is where I chronicle and curate the sacred, serious, and silly things in my life. I am a member of The Episcopal Church. Thank you for connecting with me. Grace, peace, and love!

America The Mean

The seeming lack of empathy, sympathy, kindness.and grace in America is pretty disappointing. This country is a pretty mean place. COVID is spiking again because people choose to be selfish. Don’t tell me to leave if I don’t like it the way it is because frankly things can be better and America isn’t perfect by any stretch.

The Biles Decision

When a person decides to do something especially when it’s in the public domain, if it’s for personal reasons there should be no debate, no questioning it. Empathy and sympathy are in short supply, so it seems. United States Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles decided what was in her best interest, period. Give the woman a break.

By Agência Brasil Fotografias – EUA levam ouro na ginástica artística feminina; Brasil fica em 8º lugar, CC BY 2.0,

She didn’t make that choice to drop out lightly. Taking care of herself was the best decision she could ever make. Similar decisions are made every day by people not in the white-hot spotlight of competitive sports. Her supporters will be louder than her critics. At least we hope anyway.

Let’s see how things shake out for her in 2024. She will know what to do.