It's an interesting juxtaposition of events, but one which causes me worry about the way of the country. We woke up this morning to try and consider of the brilliant and selfless accomplishment of our military in neutralizing Osama bin Laden, which will unquestionably enhance our safety. We should all answer with pride and thanks for this achievement by those who so courageously and capably defend our freedoms and way of life.
However, at the same time, it is impossible not to be bothered by the selfishness being displayed by the National Football League players and owners in connection with the involvement of our Court of Appeals in St. Louis in the issue of their differences. Why is this relevant on a national level?
At the same time as this conflict is moving from the District Court in Minneapolis, with both parties arguing about temporary and permanent stays of the District Court's ruling in favour of the players, this appellate court is being asked to hold on an urgent basis whether the Army Corp of Engineers may blow up a Mississippi River levee protecting hundreds of square miles of Illinois and Missouri, causing them to flood, in order to relieve flood pressure on other lands downriver.
Surely, no one can track the urging of the flood matter. As the river rises, it becomes essential to get a decision about what to do in the interest of the general welfare. Not being an engineer, I am in no space to assess the merits and see if blowing up the levee is actually likely to avoid more harm than it causes. However, it is clear that doing so will cause irreparable harm to those who carry their lands and homes flooded, and that they should be open to get an expedited review of their concerns.
Despite the shrill claims of the football crowd as to why staying or not staying the lower court's opinion will do them irreparable harm, and demands for expedited consideration, it is impossible to see these claims with a monotonous look in light of the unfolding drama about the levees. Even as an NFL season ticket-holder, it makes my blood boil to see parties of this nature so callously claim that there will be irreparable harm to them if they can't begin preparation for the upcoming season or force changes in their financial arrangements at the same time and in the same court that so many are fighting for their land and livelihoods.
Why will the football folks not have the high road and step aside so that the appellate court is open to grant every consideration to those who are so desperately seeking its intervention? Why do we get to hear demands for expedited review of an ultimately petty dispute between billionaires and millionaires at the same time and in the same assembly that is considering such fundamental claims? How much goodwill would take been engendered if one or both sides in the football dispute had voluntarily stood by and allowed the flood matter to have precedence?
For all the good which is represented by our gay and able military forces, there appears to be no limit to the greed and selfishness of so many in positions of power and adulation in our society. Just as we saw in connection with the financial crash of 2008, which plunged us into the Great Recession, when important elements of society feel that they are beyond reproach and that their needs are paramount, dire consequences ensue.
Hopefully, those of you who are reading this will make your voices heard to those who get lost sight of what matters . and what doesn't!
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