I May Not Know Much, But I Have an Opinion on Everything

Today is our wedding anniversary. I bought Marie an Opium gift set, a Megabucks ticket and a pink rose. We've been married four years and it's been eventful and action packed. I love her dearly. I hope our best days are ahead.

Around the web a lot has happened this week. Fox News anchor Bret Baier had a contentious interview with President Barack Obama yesterday about health care reform. Opinions vary on this, and half the country is dead set against it. Given the government's track record in managing other large concerns like Social Security and border security I can understand the scepticism. But what I don't understand and can't tolerate is rudeness to the President of the United States. Even conservatives should respect the office, regardless of whether a liberal or a card-carrying Tea Partyer holds it. I don't like the way debates are framed in our national politics. There is too much labeling and fear mongering, too much distortion and mischaracterization. The is a lack of fundamental decency and intelligent discourse. But it has always been this way. Political cartoons of Abraham Lincoln's time drew him as an ape. There were ugly whispers about his ancestry and appearance. In spite of the stakes we lead with our emotions and our fears.

The Israeli government is going along with plans to build high rise apartments in traditionally Arab sections of Jerusalem. This has heightened tensions with their neighbors and strained delicate relations with the U.S. This too is unchanged from centuries ago. Bible heroes grazed their sheep on the land of the Hittites and the Jebusites, and the struggle has gone on ever since. Fragile alliances and sporadic violence, coupled with profound religious hatreds and fundamental distrust: it's a dangerous recipe they're stirring at the center of the world.

Sandra Bullock, America's sweetheart and recent Oscar winner, has left her husband of five years. People magazine says he had an affair with a tattoo model. So often when a husband cheats it has nothing to do with the wife and everything to do with his own weakness and self indulgence. Here's a woman who was attractive, successful and devoted, but it didn't make any difference. She married a bad boy, and in the end he acted badly. Imagine the pain and embarrassment in being humiliated so publicly. Imagine the pressure of living out your life's most difficult moments with reporters and cameras watching your every move. I wish the family hope, healing and grace. It's never easy to overcome a profound hurt. The person we love has the power to heal or to hurt us like nothing else in the world.

I'm looking forward to seeing her new movie, "The Blind Side." The previews look terrific, and I've always liked her characters. Marie does too. Marie says she is one of the rare actors or actresses that men and women both like, that men find appealing but women don't find cheap or untrustworthy. George Clooney is a male example of the same phenomenon. I don't have the same feeling about the vampire boys or Matthew McConaughey. While we're on the subject of attractiveness, I don't get John Mayer. He's classless and creepy, and all his songs sound the same. With that breathy, effeminate voice, he's James Taylor with no talent and no soul. And Lady Gaga, I don't get her either. She looks like a man in drag, and her act is recycled Madonna and Prince whirled in the blender of hype and self-promotion. Maybe I'm just too old.

Fess Parker died today, one of the heroes of my boyhood. He played Daniel Boone on TV. One of the sure signs of growing old is that the athletes and celebrities you remember start to die. Then there are the times you start talking about a movie or event involving the past and someone asks, "Is he still alive?" And no one is quite sure. Of course there are websites devoted to that now. You can google anything or anyone any more. It's a little scary, really. A random stranger could find you in ten minutes. Probably it's better not to think about it, and be glad the one who loves you found you in the first place. Now if you would please excuse me I've got to go celebrate our anniversary.