For and Against: Volume 4 - April

What I'm for: "April in the 'D'"

Fox Sports Net Detroit has been running an "April in the D" commercial/slogan (see 'Related Videos' above). "The D" is a nickname for Detroit and FSN Detroit has been running the spot because April is an exciting months for sports in the city of Detroit. You have the NHL and NBA playoffs starting and the MLB season commences as well.

I am looking forward to Detroit playing in the NHL playoffs more than anything. My greatest sports memories growing up were watching the Wings win 3 Stanley Cups (that and watching Barry Sanders play on TV and in the Silverdome against the Bears). I also have a special spot for the Wings because they train in Traverse City and I always used to skip to watch them train at Centre ICE in the fall. The Red Wings are the 1 and are up 2-0 on arch rival Colorado - remember how much these two teams hated each other? Each game was a angst-filld-slugfest. Detroit already beat Nashville in round 1 4 games to 2.



Honestly, I couldn't care less about the NBA or the Pistons during the regular season, but I will watch them during the playoffs. If they lose I'll be a little upset, but I won't lose any sleep over it. They are tied 2-2 with the Sixers in their first round match, but they are expected to get to the Conference finals to play against the Boston Celtics! What a classic match-up that would be. Read this article about possible classic playoff match-ups by Bill Simmons.

Finally you have the Tigers. Coming into the season they were almost a lock to win the AL Central, but an 0-7 start thwarted those thoughts. They have turned it around, but they are still a few games under .500. It's only April, so no need to panic. And how fun is it to watch the lineup we have? We dropped 37 runs on the Texas Rangers in a three game series...37!

April is also an exciting sports month outside of Detroit. You have the NFL Draft, the MLS season starts, and the Champions League knockout stages are in full swing. What a month for sports!

What I'm against: April in TC...

...as in Traverse City. The weather is so up and down! It was just in the 70's last week and today it snowed! We have a frost advisory for tonight! This weather is crazy. I've got to play a softball game tonight in 30 degree weather with the chance of snow! If only I were in the islands! Oh well, summer seems to be just around the corner! Hopefully May brings warmer, more consistent weather.

For the Sake of an Update

So I haven't posted in almost two weeks, but truth be told - I don't really have that much to say.

I haven't had a "For & Against" in a while now, but there really isn't anything of substance that I am "for" or "against".

I could tell you all about my new car: It's a silver 2007 Ford Focus. Of course it's great to have my own car, and life is far easier/better now that I don't have to make plans around having a car or not. But of course getting a car meant taking out a loan. What does that mean? That means that I am now in further debt (although I have a great credit score). It also means that it will be much harder for me to go abroad. But I am trying to stay positive - "where there's a will, there's a way". I never thought I'd make it to Micronesia, but I did. I just have this bad feeling that before I know it I will be 40 years old with a long list of "Places to See" and feel terribly unfulfilled. I will just try to stay positive.

My presentation went well (couldn't think of a clever segue). Only a handful of people showed up, but they all seemed very interested and asked some great questions. I am trying to figure out how to load my PowerPoint presentation onto this blog, but have no idea! Any tech-plugs have any insight?

I could also tell you about my weekend in Chicago, but it was very similar to my last trip. I'm happy that Josh, Ashley, and Dylan got to go this time! The only negative is that according to Grandma: Josh is leader and what he says goes because he is the oldest; Ashley is the Princess; and Dylan is the baby ("if you are walking on the road together and you are all hungry and you only have 1 sandwich, you give it to Dylan because he is the baby"). What does that leave me with? Middle child syndrome I suppose. It's okay...Grandma can tell them about how the family rank works in Pohnpiean/Mwoakillese culture, but I got to live/experience it first hand.

We also went to downtown Chicago. I love that city.

I'm feeling pretty sick so far this week. Not the most uplifting post, but at least the weathers nice.

On the Olympic Torch Demonstrations

Since the Olympic Torch was lit in Greece, its route to Beijing has been met with thousands of protesters proclaiming their disgust with China's shunning of Tibet and China's state of Human Rights (or lake thereof). Protests in Greece, England, and France have become physical with some of the protesters trying to put out the flame. I'm not sure if I have to elaborate any further as I'm sure you've all heard of this already; if you've been living under a rock, well then chances are you are just discovering the wheel (see here) and have no access to this post. If by chance you aren't a caveman and you haven't hear about this, my apologizes.


I am all for protesting for the rights of Tibet and the Chinese citizens, but I think it imperative to not become physical. First of all, lets not punish the athletes who carry the torch. I don't think their participation in this ancient tradition implies an indifference or ignorance to what is happening in Tibet and China, nor does it imply any support of China. Rather, their participation is the result of a life-long dream, and chances are they understand the traditional essence of the Olympic Torch: Peace, purity, and the pursuit of perfection. The flame doesn't represent China.

Secondly, and more importantly, physical or violent protests weaken the credibility of the cause. While in actuality these protesters are extremely enthusiastic and passionate, they come off as a bit maniacal and extreme, and thus the likelihood of action from China (or any entity being protested) diminishes.

I remember when Al Sharpton and a student activist group (the name escapes me) led a march to oppose Proposition 2 (Prop. 2 nullified Affirmative Action). This group invited many African American middle and high school students to join. Some of these students however acted irrationally and irresponsibly; spitting and name calling demonstrators from the opposing side. This was perceived in an extremely negative light (and rightly so) and that student organization and the movement as a whole lost a ton of credibility because of a handful of immature middle- & high- school students.

Once again, I am not trying to undermine the injustices of the Chinese government in any way. Anyone who knows me knows I am passionate about civil & human rights. But for the purpose of accomplishment we need to be non-violent.

"But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here is my idea (and bare with me because it just came to me and is no where near fruition): Instead of trying to extinguish the flame, march. Protesters should march the same route as the flame. Imagine the power of this image: an overhead shot of a single runner with a flame while about a quarter mile behind walks a seemingly endless trail of thousands of protesters singing, chanting, and waving banners. This demonstration could literally march itself across the world. It wouldn't be hard to follow because it is easy to find out where the torch will be next. The only thing is that the routes are starting to change to avoid confrontation, but after the threat of violent confrontations drop, the cat-and-mouse game could end.

Just think of how effective the March on Washington was. One could argue it was the greatest catalyst for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I don't think there would be any shortage of supports, and a march of this length could generate some much positive publicity and opinion that it could gain support of leaders internationally.

It seems like a big task, but we already know the cities the flame with visit. I think it would be relatively easy to organize. The only problem is something would need to be done now. What do you think? Any ideas? Problems? Any thoughts? Please share!

One final note, my friend Adam has posted his latest entry about his time in India. He is a great writer and its a great read, although a long one. Check it out!

For and Against: Volume 3 - Days

The plan was to write this every Sunday, but I babysat for my Grandma all weekend and had no internet access. Writing F&A weekly is also a bit redundant and I am forced to puke something out. So from here on out maybe expect it bi-weekly. Like your paycheck. Think of F&A like a paycheck: it only comes once every two weeks, but you feel relieved once you get it. Okay maybe not. Here we go...

For: Thursdays

Thursdays are great. First of all, I get paid...who doesn't like that? There is a great TV lineup - Survivor: Micronesia, MLS Primetime Thursday, The Office, Scrubs. Ahhh, too many options may kill a man - as they say. And Thursday means its almost the weekend. Actually, at Michigan Thursday was the beginning of the weekend. Thursday is just an easy day to get through.

Against: April Fool's Day

Accents and sarcasm aside, I'm not much of a prankster. I do, however, enjoy pranks. Nothing was funnier this winter than Dylan's prank phone calls to countless customer service reps, waitresses, and Blockbuster customers (note that their are no longer any Blockbusters in TC). But I really can't stand April Fool's Day; the pranks suck and are predictable. I'm sorry Ryan Seacrest, but telling me American Idol is cancelled when you can clearly see the audience just isn't cutting it, bro.

So until someone comes up with a creative, believable, or hilarious prank on April 1, I'm against April Fool's Day