Is a Yellow Ribbon enough?

Do we?

I have blogged twice this year (The Draft Wars and Just One Day Isn't Enough) about the military and how we, as civilians in America, treat veterans returning home from war. As junior theme approaches, I know I want to focus on the military, but instead of focusing on the wars and battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, I want to focus on the wars and battles that happen in the United States to veterans returning home and their families.


My dad, an avid reader of military books introduced me to a book titled, What it's like to go to War by Karl Marlantes, a Vietnam veteran. I began researching and found an interview he did about this book for the beloved NPR. In it, he says,


'There are yellow ribbons, beer commercials showing people clapping at airports, and banners on freeway overpasses. There is the well-intended 'thank you for your service,' and a hasty handshake." 


I think he perfectly characterizes how society reacts to the return of troops. Of course we care, this isn't Vietnam, where as Marlantes writes in his book that he was spit on by a young women when he was in uniform. These days, we say we care. We respect those who serve, but is caring and respecting troops and veterans enough? Marlantes doesn't think so, and I don't either. Hopefully, I will be able to explore this topic further over the next month.


Why is there a disconnect between military and non-military in the US? 
Why don't we try to better our treatment of returning troops and veterans so that their transition is easier?  

Why We Love to Hate Duke

It's Selection Sunday, the start of the best time of the year for college sports fanatics. For these fanatics (me included) the month of March is filled with excitement, anxiety, anger, happiness, and many near misses in class when the teacher almost catches you streaming live game footage to you iPhone. But most of all, it's a time for people to root against Duke, unless of course, you are a Duke fan.

Let me give you some personal history regarding my relationship with Duke.

Via thevictoryformation.com

• No one in my family has gone there
• Until I was about 13, I picked Duke to win every year. Once I got my bracket, I immediately penciled (this is before the online bracket) in "DUKE" throughout the bracket.
• When I reached the above age, I realized that my brothers and my dad hated Duke, so I began to hate Duke. 
• Now, I don't know whether I love 'em or hate 'em, I just know a lot of people hate Duke (*cough *cough, Doc O'C), and I want to figure out why.

So why does anybody that doesn't go to Duke, doesn't have a family connection to Duke, doesn't live in Durham, absolutely distain Duke and Duke Basketball? 

Well, it's definitely a combination of things, but I'll delve into the fact that unless you are a fan of the team, when a team has great success in a certain era, you are likely to despise that team. Whether they keep beating your team, whether they keep appearing on your tv, or whether you are just plain jealous, you will start to feel negatively about this team. 

In an article from last March, right before the tournament started, CNN contributor Terrance Moore, covered this same topic. In his article, he quoted Jay Bilas, a sports analyst and Duke grad, saying, "For years, people hated Notre Dame football. For years, so this hatred is not unique to Duke. People don't hate (mediocre) teams."

Via bracketmadness.wordpress.com

When a team keeps winning, it gets annoying unless you are a fan of that team. The thing is, Duke has only won the Tournament four times ('91, '92, '01, '10). Granted, in the Coach K era, they have won a NCAA best 79 tournament games and had 11 Final Four appearances. 

So while I agree with Bilas, that this hatred may not be solely something Duke and Duke fans have to deal with (Yankees, Lakers, Cowboys maybe), there is another reason we love to hate Duke. 

It has to do with how elite Duke is not only athletically, but also academically. How often can a school maintain athletic excellence while still being one of the most selective schools in the country? Duke is better than you, and Duke wants you to know that. I know it isn't as simple as that. Jalen Rose and the Fab Five can tell you some other reasons for hating Duke. As a matter of fact, I bet everyone could give you a reason for why Duke is the enemy. 

Now let me ask, why do YOU hate Duke? 

What about you, Rush?

At this point, it's Rush Limbaugh vs. Women. Maybe not all women, especially those fundamentally against contraception, but let's say a vast majority of women are not too happy with Mr. Rush Limbaugh. Why, might you ask, am I, and so many other women angry with him? 

Limbaugh on the left, and Fluke on the right. 

Well, as you probably know, Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a "SLUT" and a "PROSTITUTE" for testifying in front of a panel, pushing for contraceptives to be included in health care coverage. This is the same Rush Limbaugh that has BEEN MARRIED 4 TIMES! Really Rush? Really? Are all women that simply want to control when they get pregnant "sluts" and "prostitutes?" How come a man can't be called either of those two words? How come you, a man who has by my guesses engaged in premarital sex and/or extramarital sex, call a well-educated women these things? 


And it gets worse, believe it or not. His apology, after backing his statements again days before is the following:

"In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke."

In what way is singling out a woman and calling her a "slut" and a "prostitute," not a "personal attack." I can't seem to think of another instance that is more of a "personal attack."  

What do you think of this story? In what ways does this make you question the use of the word "slut?"