Jasper Journal

First off, a tip of the Jasper Journal ball cap  to the coach of the Navy Midshipmen who chose to go for the win today  against Maryland rather than a certain tie with 31 seconds left. It didn’t work, but it is the kind of courage I like to see in college football.  Speaking of college football, Congrats to FSU, Colorado, Nebraska and Air Force.  Condolences go out to CSU fans and die hard supporters of the Washington State Cougars. Remember , there is always another week!

I was reading the Denver Post today and came upon a commentary reprinted from Indian Country Today. In it, the author compared the building of the Islamic center near the site of 9/11, to the desecration of Indian lands such as with Mt Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills,  and Denver International Airport.  Clearly the author is upset over the treatment of native Americans and their culture, and is using the mosque issue to make his point. His final comment was  ” Why not build a mosque near the hallowed grounds of the world trade center? American Indian holy sites are desecrated by Christians all the time.”

 The author states he wants to do away with double standards. However, I fail to see how desecrating a site revered by so many today can make up for insensitivities in the past. If indeed the author wants people to respect other’s sacred areas,  then don’t build the Islamic center there.  I suspect the author was using shock value to make his point about how poorly the native american culture was treated in the past. I was not aware that Denver Airport was built on a burial ground either.  Nonetheless, it is probably not helpful to complicate an already  explosive issue with 200 years of mistreatment of native Americans.  The last thing we need is another group joining in this fray. If you wish to read the whole article, the link is below. Am I off base here?

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_15986921

Boy was I wrong about things!.  For years I lived under the misconception that you needed experience to be president of the United States. wrong, Obama.  That using cocaine and marijuana would make you unsuitable for high office. wrong Obama. That being in a racist church for twenty years and having friends who were former terrorists would cause concern for your ability to make good judgements. wrong, Obama. That you needed to have done something worthwhile  or of national impact to be considered for the senate of the United States. Wrong Franken; wrong Caroline Kennedy; wrong Bennet ; wrong Burris. Now I find out that if you are 32 you can be head coach of an NFL football team without any head coaching experience. Shezam! 

 The good folks in Colorado are  adjusting to the announcement of the new Bronco head coach Josh McDaniels from New England.   Some say age doesnt matter… but he is only 7 years older than his quarterback and younger than a lot  of  his players. They are calling him Mc kid, or Mc coach.  Ouch. In any case,  I give credit to the Bronco’s owner for making an incredible gamble with his money. He wanted to make his team a winner and made a bold move. How it turns out  wont be known for several years. However, all i can think of  tonight is a similar big coaching gamble made by Nebraska with Bill Callahan. Also very bold and daring that  ultimately made Nebraska the laughing stock of college football.  I am a gambler by nature and like people to throw the dice occasionally so I will withhold judgement on young McDaniels for a while. Give the Mckid a break. If only the  health and security of our nation were as easy to suspend good judgement on.

Well the so called national championship college football game was played tonight.  A good game from a viewers perspective but sadly only a teaser of what a true football championship  might be. Kudos to Florida for totally stopping Oklahoma’s unbelievable offense. However,  my heart goes out to Texas and USC and Utah, all of whom have a legitimate claim to football’s national championship. How nice it would be if next week we had a game between Florida and Texas, and Utah and USC. the winners would play for  the true national championship the week before the Superbowl , or the day before if we wanted to truly bloat the American football fan into an orgy of food and drink over a two day period. Wow what a thought! We can dream cant we?