My Soapbox

In this episode I share some of my thoughts on the Democratic National Convention or the DNC. I reflect on my disappointment with the hypocrisy of the pick of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's Vice-Presidential running mate, a woman who as a prosecutor helped shield police from accountability while letting people of color pay the price while at the same time presenting herself in her acceptance speech as a champion of people of color in the era of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, both of whom lost their lives due to police violence. After the inspiring, honest, no nonsense, serious, often cutting, and heartfelt speeches of Barack and Michelle Obama and Joe Biden, Kamala Harris looked out of place with her not not so serious, insincere and forced presentation in my opinion, looking more aimed to impress for a possible future position instead of showing herself as a team player of integrity as the Vice Presidential candidate. I believe the Demoractic party sold out to selecting a less deserving candidate for whatever reasons, while passing on other candidates, more honestly in line with their stated policies such as Susan Rice.  However, I also discuss the net positive of a non-Trump White House regardless of who sits in the Democratic Vice-President's chair, and the therefore almost default need to vote for Joe Biden in 2020. 

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In this episode, I discuss the frequent mismatch between what we profess to believe and our actions. This often comes up when believers claim to believe in the Bible, which clearly states that the power of prayer and faith is all you need to receive what you ask for such as healing, while going to doctors and taking medical treatments at the same time. I also explore the conflict within myself of claiming there is no self nor free will, while acting as if these things actually exist.  I discuss the utility of believing in things such as the self and free will for our own survival even if such ideas are not true or factual. While I do not believe that belief in God is necessary for survival, it seems the belief in the self and free will are pragmatically necessary for our survival, as Dave and I have discussed previously, particularly in the past podcast episode #61 entitled "The Game."  

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In this episode I reflect on the out of control Covid-19 situation in the United States, and my skepticism this will ever get resolved barring a vaccine or other “miracle” treatment since too many citizens of the United States are unwilling to do what it takes with wearing masks and social distancing to control the spread. Italy is one national example of a country that has the virus possibly as under control as a county can without a vaccine. It is a shame the United States can not manage to do what Italy has done. I also describe why it is ultimately up to each one of us to do the things necessary to get the Covid-19 transmission under control.

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In this episode, in a welcome diversion from the Covid-19 pandemic news, I reflect on my thoughts, feelings, and rankings of the "Rocky" saga movie series, in which I include the two "Creed" films. At the start of Part 2, I begin my reflections and analysis on the fourth ranked Rocky film in my rankings, "Rocky Balboa."  I found it personally helpful to reflect on what is my opinion an excellent, uplifting, and often great movie series about overcoming adversity as an underdog, and moving forward no matter how hard life hits you.  My personal rankings in terms of best to least best are:  1.  Rocky 2. Creed  3. Rocky II  4. Rocky Balboa  5. Creed II  6. Rocky III  7. Rocky V  8. Rocky IV

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In this episode, in a welcome diversion from the Covid-19 pandemic news, I reflect on my thoughts, feelings, and rankings of the "Rocky" saga movie series, in which I include the two "Creed" films. I found it personally helpful to reflect on what is my opinion an excellent, uplifting, and often great movie series about overcoming adversity as an underdog, and moving forward no matter how hard life hits you.  My personal rankings in terms of best to least best are:  1.  Rocky 2. Creed  3. Rocky II  4. Rocky Balboa  5. Creed II  6. Rocky III  7. Rocky V  8. Rocky IV

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In this eposide I vent my frustrations on the communication breakdowns at the chruch where I work where one worship leader is trying to use the pulpit as a platform to push his personal agendas and uninformed opinions on Covid-19 - a move completely unethical and which has, among other things caused me to rethink my ability to continue working as a musician for this church where we have decided for a time to stop all live singing amidst Covid-19 transmission concerns in the congregation.  I also discuss more of my frustration with Major League Baseball and the almost innumerable ways this Commissioner-mandated 60-game season could go sideways and not be able to be completed, my disappointment with America's inability and unwillingness to seriously combat this virus, opting instaed for more "entertainment," the almighty dollar above the health and well-being of people, and other superficial bullshit instead of putting all of our resources and energy into slowing and ultimately stopping the spread of Covid-19. 

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In this episode I talk about some of my misgivings with what I perceive to be this “anything goes” attitude about what we should and should not do to combat the spread of Covid-19. Whether we are aware of them or not, there are facts of a given matter, and there are more reliable and less reliable sources of information about Covid-19. It is therefore my feeling we must go with the advice of the most credible medical sources and up to date information from places like the World Health Organization and public health officials. I speak of my disappointment with members of my own family who seem okay with taking this laissez faire approach to Covid and best practices to keep ourselves and others safe. I also touch on my issue with phrases like “black lives matter” which only serves to divide us further based on our differences rather than being united in our common humanity, and why I therefore believe a much better, productive, and truthful saying is ALL Lives Matter.

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In this episode I discuss some recent issues in the world concerning Covid-19 and the demonstrations and riots which have ensued from the murder of a black gentleman George Floyd by a white Minneapolis, MN police officer. I discuss the non-democratic move by Trump to stop peaceful protests for social justice by wanting to use the military to do so, and what this could mean for the democratic American experiment and its viability. I also discuss the hypocrisy and double-standard of sports leagues possibly going back to playing games which must by their nature defy social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines of the CDC and other health professionals and experts, while the public is being expected to still maintain social distancing measures. I discuss the bad example this sets, and why sports leagues playing games is no different than Donald Trump or Mike Pence not wearing masks in pubic spaces.  It seems it is politics and business as usual in the United States, with humanity and justice once again taking a back seat. As long as America's priorities remain this convoluted, there is no telling when or if America will ever emerge from this pandemic of Covid-19 and the hatred and racism still sadly rampant in the laughing stock that is now the United States of America. 

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In this episode I reflect on a recent podcast episode from Sam Harris’ Making Sense in which he speaks with Jonathan Haidt on a number of issues, including the upcoming election in 2020 and the baffling support of Trump in spite of overwhelming evidence of his incompetence, narcissism, and bad faith decision making. I also contemplate the difference between being stupid and being mistaken, what it is I believe we most need, especially now - courage, and the strength to want to know what is actually true instead of being “right” which is a value that attempts to justify “motivated reasoning.” I also discuss why motivated reasoning is just a bad faith effort to simply rationalize a preconceived belief and/or presupposition, and has nothing to do with sound reasoning - a good faith effort of genuinely trying to know what is actually true.

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In this episide, I talk about some of the latest on the Covid-19 crisis, including the hasty re-opening of American society without a plan for rigorous testing, quaranteening those who are ill and allowing the healthy to return to society, the stupidity and utter lack of leadership from the current administration of the United States, the infighting, the divisions, the wastefulness, and the fear this will go on indefinitely because we cannot get our act together.  I also talk about what I consider to be perhaps the biggest problem for humanity and it’s incredible cost to us, especially in today’s environment - the problem of pride and not wanting to respect evidence-based critical thinking, sound reasoning, scientific method, opting instead for superstition, wishful thinking, misinformation and other nonsense, as well as the unwillingness to admit when we are wrong. To which I say, to borrow a quote from the film Pulp Fiction, "F- pride!"  

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