I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS TODAY!

 I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS TODAY!

I have just read that 18 states in the USA have passed legislation that makes it harder for people to vote in elections. I haven’t followed all of the details, but the entire practise seems to be philosophically wrong! In a democracy, the theory is that the government is selected by the people to represent them. I would expect that making voting easier and more accessible would be the principal goal, not making it harder. 

As I understand it, most of these voting changes have been made in Republican states in order to reduce the number of eligible Democratic voters. No matter how you rationalize this practise it is a blatant example of anti-democratic action. It is similar to gerrymandering where political boundaries are re-aligned to benefit one party or the other by including their voters or excluding voters for the opposition. Words like “crooked”, “dishonest”, “cheating” and “disgusting” come to mind when I think of these practises.

If the electoral process is made more convoluted by scheming, manipulation, and tampering, then it just confirms how far “democracy” has fallen from its original intent. Politics and government are no longer designed to serve and meet the needs of the electorate; it is to win and then maintain power at all costs. And honesty and integrity have no place in today’s political arenas. Would anyone like to defend these practises?

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Well, this morning I am ecstatic! As most of you may know, I have been a fan of the Cleveland Indians baseball team for almost 70 years. As a kid, all of my buddies were either Yankee fans or Dodger fans. I wasn’t keen on either team and so I selected the Indians partially because their team emblem was a cartoonish little Indian caricature called Chief Wahoo. As a twelve-year-old I thought he was cool, colourful and unique.

Then as time passed and people developed their sensitivity and correctness genes, some people began to criticize the Wahoo cartoon as demeaning and racist to the First Nation’s people. Strangely, several surveys revealed that native Americans didn’t have any real issue with the character but a movement soon erupted to change this insulting figurehead. Over the past decade, the pressure finally forced the baseball team to decide to retire (eliminate) the colourful little character and also the name “Indians” from the team. 

An “exhaustive” search was conducted over the past year to try to find a new and more appropriate name for “my” team. Over 1100 names of ever shape and size were studied and finally after much consultation and deliberation a new name was chosen. And it was revealed this morning!

My Cleveland Indians that I have faithfully followed all of my life will now be called —sound the trumpets — The Cleveland Guardians!

Of course, I am overjoyed with the name! After all of the input and study what could be more uplifting and exciting than The Guardians? I am sure that the baseball world will be delirious to learn of this new colourful and meaningful moniker! Be still my beating heart! I would have been more thrilled if they had been called the Dipsticks or the Nerds or the Baseball Team! What the hell does The Guardians mean? What image does it conjure up? What will their logo look like? An insurance company building?

I can only assume that the naming committed consulted with the same naming experts that selected the name the Edmonton Elks to replace the old Edmonton Eskimos football team ( Apparently, “Eskimos” was demeaning and racist to two Inuit people.) But life will go on and I will just have to practise more tolerance and understanding than I possess at the moment. 

Do I hear three cheers for the Cleveland Guardians? ( I can’t hear you!)