Calling Mr. Miyagi and Other Thoughts This Week…

     So many interesting stories this week. Some of this stuff, you couldn’t make-up; yes, truth can be stranger than fiction and in some respects history repeats itself. Think of the fictional stories through times, from Greek Tragedies to Shakespeare to Dickens, people and human nature don’t change, only the characters do…

     Tiger Woods. What a saga. Over the years we have seen the young talented athlete rise to top of his game, quite possibly one of the greatest players to ever play the sport and then fall over and ofer again. What happened and what is the best prescription for him to live a productive life with meaningful relationships with his children?  Isn’t that the goal most of us wish for, a life with meaning and harmony with those we love? Hold that thought…

     Did you see Scott LoBaido’s new painting unveiled yesterday, April 1?  He and NYC radio talk show host, Sid Rosenberg, had an April Fool’s unveiling.  Scott is a New York City personality and a very talented artist who does many patriotic paintings. His art often reflects popular culture and current events. The newest piece is a portrait of the recently elected mayor of the BIG Apple.  I watched a video of the unveiling yesterday at noon. He teases the audience with the first glimpse. Scott has a good sense of humor but he always seems to cut to the chase, sometimes with colorful language but his intent is always respect for America and the values the forefathers fought for.  Something to chew on for New Yorkers and other Americans at this pivotal point in our nearly 250 year history…

     Reflecting on this past weekend’s No Kings Day protests. In reading, watching clips and driving past Saturday’s event (hadn’t planned on it, it just happened to be on our route to do errands) I find it all very interesting. Here are my observations:  1) Those protesting have every right to do what they are doing. If they want to spend their Saturday peacefully protesting, singing, dancing and carrying signs, this is America and they can.  Most of those protesting were paid. Go look it up. Big pocket individuals and organization paid many if not most of these people and provided them with signs. My feeling is, make that known. If you are proud of what you are doing, tell us the truth. 2) If we really had a KING in power in this country or a president who behaved like one, protesters would be outlawed and then of course, they could be would be thrown in jail. (Now, if the peaceful protests became violent, then of course, they could be arrested).  3) The behavior of some of the protestors was laughable as well as some of the signs. I saw a delegation in New York City crawling on the ground like animals and others in clown like attire behaving like fools. I ask quietly to myself, but to those in favor of this movement, “Is this what you want to be associated with?” 4). Another observation is, Donald Trump won the election. Elections are part of our Constitution and how our government runs. Joe Biden won the previous election and he and his party had a chance to run their agenda. So are you only for democracy if YOUR TEAM WINS? Is your attitude unless my side wins, “I’m willing to burn the house down?” Sort of like the spurned boyfriend or girlfriend when someone breaks up with them. 5). Lastly, it’s surprising to see people (some college education) allow themselves to be “useful idiots” for a greater cause. I ask, is it the money, the attention or do they only read one source for their information? I wonder if they really believe what they are representing?…

     The Women of ABC’s The View.  I remember when the show first aired. It was longtime, famed journalist, Barbara Walter’s vision, to bring women with different backgrounds and views, to the table for a lively discussion and I believe what the show has become was NEVER Barbara’s vision. I was expecting our last child when the show premiere and I loved it, watched it for years. Remember the show when Donald Trump called in for a conversation with Rosie O’Donnell? I watched while we were on vacation. It was great! Once Barbara left, it was never the same. It turned into a freak show of insults. Barbara welcome those who had opposing views and respectful had discussions with them. The panel used to include a conservative view. Over the years they have eaten alive any woman who tried to fill that spot, both mocking and insulting them, usually 4 on 1. Now and then, I’ll watch a clip and it’s surprising that ABC still gives it a spot or that the show has any ‘viewers left,’ no pun intended. This week, the crew mocked Isabel Brown, a young conservative influencer who when speaking at CPAC-the Conservative Political Action Conference, encouraged young women to get married and have children.  Is getting married and having a family for everyone? This is a decision that every person needs to make for themselves and do what is right for THEIR life.  I believe that for young women to be presented with  the options of pursuing a career without children, forgoing a career outside of motherhood or living a life with a balance of both, gives young women a vision of possibilities available to them.  Women have a choice and the choice is up to them and their spouses as to how they want to live their lives and what is fulfilling to them. I wonder why the women of the view are so insulted and angry by that? These women made the choice that were right for them. Are they only happy with people who make the same choices as them? I wonder?…

     The war. We were at a party last week when a women aside to me, “I hate the war and I hate the president? I asked her what is it that she hated about the war? “The killing of babies,” she responded. My thought, who likes the idea of war? No one. I asked her if she was aware of the restrictions and control that the Iranian regime had over their people? Many people have similar views and if they don’t know the history of the region it is understandable that people have these views. I thought that Secretary of State, Marco Rubio gave a very good explanation for our involvement in the war. It was posted this week On THE WHITE HOUSE platform.It explains Iran’s quest for a nuclear weapons and how much damage those weapons could do including how far they could travel. I suggest if you have not scene it to watch it, it was put out by The White House press. Rubio explains the objectives of the mission and how the next few weeks will be played out. The President also did a good job of explaining it on Wednesday night in his brief address.  This conflict didn’t just start. It started forty plus years ago and no one has been able to handle it or stand up to the evil regime that has cause terror, destruction and death around the world. There will always be evil in the world but to minimize as much of it as possible, in my opinion, is a good thing…

     Back to Tiger.  I think what he needs is a “Mr. Miyagi”. Remember him from the movie Karate Kid? Ralph Macchio’s character moves from Newark,New Jersey to southern California. He hates that he and his Mom had to leave New Jersey after his parents’ divorce, leaving his friends and familiar surroundings. He meets Mr. Miyagi played by Pat Morita, who teaches him discipline, self respect and karate. Mr. Miyagi acts as a wise old sage father/grandfather figure. I think that’s what Tiger is missing. Yes, he had the discipline to become the world’s greatest golfer at one time, but what was missing was the discipline in his personal life. We have seen him go through personal relationships with women that have not withstood the test of time. Maybe it was that his father could coach him in the area of golf but may not have been the best ‘life coach’ or the life coach that Tiger needed to succeed in his personal life. Maybe it was that he was let by with bad behavior and people looked the other way or enabled it. No matter what, or who did it, it did not serve Tiger well. Those left are himself, his two children and his mother, his closest of kin. His role as a father is the most import role he will ever play on this earth. He needs to get himself back on track for him and his children!!  There is still a chance. He may be in pain from his injuries  and surgeries but he is still here and as long as he is still here, he has a chance. These two kids need him. Samantha and Charlie are at an age where they need their father (and their mother of course!) to guide them into adulthood. The choices they will make in the next few years will set up the rest of their life. What career paths they will choose, where they will do it and who they will marry. They need both of their parent for guidance. Maybe it’s time for Tiger to put the career aside. He has the money,  he had his chance and many of his fans are rooting for his success in life, not golf. Get a driver. Hire a “Mr. Miyagi” after you get yourself some professional health. Someone who can help you get things together so you can be the father your kids need. He can’t be that father until he ‘puts the oxygen mask on himself.’ Forget about pleasing the fans and the golf world. Please yourself by having success at the most important job in the world, a parent. You can do a better job if you are at your best personally. Find your faith find yourself and they you can grow from there. The romantic relationship the golf, whether it is his legacy or a role on the senior tour, it won’t come until he gets the help he needs. Most of his fans are still rooting for him and want him to have the success he deserve in his life. As long as he is still here, there is hope. 

     This weekend is the weekend of hope there is no better time to embrace life and the possibilities each day presents us to be kinder and better to those we love.  We can ask for forgiveness  and move forward. Jesus’s death on Good Friend and resurrections on Easter Sunday does that for us all, no matter who we are or what our circumstances are.  Easter gives us the promise of the Good News Jesus brought in his preaching in his time on earth in his 33 years on earth and in his resurrection.  Because of that, each day can be a great day.