Tag Archives: commentary

Something About People Doing Right

April 19, 2017 Tony Burgess 3 Comments

Just because one is famous does not give them license to get away with things that demean or harm others. Powerful people have great opportunity to make life better for those around them but sometimes they act in such a way that discriminates and abuses. All sorts of people have paid the price for not doing the right things when they had the chance. We live in a world where affluence and influence can do great harm to the innocent among us. I ask what is so wrong with behaving like a grown up and being a force for good instead of wanting to get away with murder. If an every day person did some of the things we see in media they would be locked up immediately.

When it’s all said and done it takes everyday people to get the job done of being kind, considerate and encouraging us all to live together in a safe local, national and global community. Each one of us is a role model whether we like it or not. Your role is to do right by others. Granted we will mess up and make mistakes but its through those times when teaching moments are important.

Doing right means doing good and being good.

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Time Travel Forward, You Can’t Go Back

February 1, 2017 Tony Burgess 1 Comment

doctorwho_s05_e00_21_tardis__x-large — Time Travel by The TARDIS from “Doctor Who”

Time travel is a flight of fantasy for many. Going back in time to see the past is a wish many could have, including me. The style, decor and fashions of those eras are awesome. However the only direction people can go is forward. No one can go back, you can only move forward. What I am seeing lately is a strong movement to bring back the things of the past that oppressed people and to make discrimination a thing again.

Some folks really want the old ways back and they are selfish enough to impact people who have gained rights and privileges that many have had access to for years. I can only think back to when people of color were forced to drink from separate water fountains or to sit in a separate part of a baseball stadium. LGBTQ folks had to stay deep in the closet due to fear of being separated from a disapproving family and friends. What scares me is the hate and fear of the past is revisiting the 21st century. I am ready to see people have freedom of choice regarding their own bodies and souls. As I have said before as a white, Christian male I have no dominion over anyone especially a woman.

People are people. We should get along. Respecting the life choices of our friends and neighbors should be something we do by default. That is one aspect of time travel when we respected everyone and got to know people where they are.

I am a proud progressive in many things and its important that I do things to give everyone the opportunity to be who they want to be. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should be a universal thing available to everyone. I think the founding fathers of the USA were on to something and that is one old school thing I can go for.

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A Middle Aged Man Complaining On The Internet

January 29, 2017 Tony Burgess 5 Comments

Yeah, I am a bit of a cliche…a forty-something man complaining on the Internet. Yet I don’t complain about what I don’t have or about my woes (although we all have them) I complain about what others don’t have and what is being taken from them. Our world is so diverse which the norm and not the exception in the 21st century. As an old white guy” I am not threatened by people getting things they need to make their lives better, I am happy for them its a win-win thing for all. Jealousy and fear are two things that are rearing their ugly heads all over today, two dangerous emotions when magnified in social circles. I am concerned that many are suffering because of it.

We live in a world that is ever-changing and there are many that feel left behind…well I would say its time you caught up. What are you doing to make yourselves smarter, kinder, loving? Perhaps you shouldn’t blame others but look at yourself in the mirror and see what is looking back. The world is speeding by and it’s not going to slow down. This goes for me too.

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The World Will Be Won

January 28, 2017 Tony Burgess 1 Comment

The world will be won by the little guy trying to get by on less. It will be won by the nurse who is working a double to be sure their patients are going to be alright. The world will be won by the nerd who finds a cure for a disease. The world will be won by a student who is discovering science and Shakespeare and Rowling. The world will be won by extravagant displays of love that will change people. The world will be won by a beat cop playing football with the neighborhood kids. The world will be won by a young person in a small village in a place you never heard about organizing their community. The world will be won by a believer living their faith instead of talking about it. The world will be won by a family of three escaping persecution. The world will be won by people who have faith in science and nature. The world will be won by a person donating their time and life blood. The world will be won by people who give a damn and loving those seeking asylum.

The world will be won by you, if you want to win it.

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Something About Division

January 21, 2017 Tony Burgess Leave a comment

I was never really good at math but it doesn’t take a mathematician to see how divided the world is. We already know the USA is pretty divided at the moment and I am not confident the current president can heal wounds. To me what its all about is people seeking the same rights and privileges that others have had for hundreds of years.

We can see that one group is so afraid they won’t have control anymore while another group seeks the right for self-determination. Freedom is a very loaded word in that it means that one side wants the right to control everything, everywhere. It also means they get to call the shots too. But then another side is told they can’t have basic human rights such as health care, marriage, reproductive freedom, equal pay, and to just be treated fairly without prejudice and so much more.

Leveling the playing field benefits everyone. No one loses. So why do some want to make it hard for others. It doesn’t make sense to me.

I am an American but I am a citizen of the planet. One is no more important than the other. However some don’t see it like that. I don’t buy into America first at all costs because as long as someone suffers elsewhere then a higher power tells me to love thy neighbor as thyself.

We don’t have to be divided if we would be more generous, welcoming, loving and caring. Selfishness is a heart problem and no country will be great as long as it’s still a thing.

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TV and Profanity

December 20, 2016 Tony Burgess 6 Comments

Watching a movie with a modest amount of profanity on basic cable TV is kind of funny when they edit the profanity out. Yeah I am still a fan of regular cable TV and have not cut the cord yet primarily because of over the air signals are hard to get where I live. So when you watch a movie that has curse words and even tasteful nudity edited out it is almost comical. I guess it’s what you have to do to show some movies to a wider audience. I have thought about swearing and think it’s OK if you are showing extreme emotion but if it’s used in a way that it becomes just something to say because the writer couldn’t figure out something else to say then it loses it’s intended effect. It’s really surprising what doesn’t surprises us these days. Cussing on TV is one of those things that has made us a little desensitized to the whole world of profanity.