Baseball..
Damn y'know.. when it gets to be this time of the year.. one expects to see kids out with bats and gloves.. spring training games on television.. the thwak of bats hitting balls all over the country.. It's part of the North American seasonal parade.. much as the leaves turning in the fall.. and snow up past your backside in the winter..
One has to miss it.. even if you can't stand the game itself, it means summer's not that far away when your windows occasionally become colateral damage..
It's a cultural thing..
As is the reaction of many to this war..
Know this fellow.. lives in South Western Ontario.. works in computers and makes a damn good living at it too.. drives three hours a day to get to and from his job.. has a house paid for.. a wife he loves to bits.. she works as well and between them they can afford to take several vacations a year..
They couldn't care less about Iraq.. this war..
They have no opinion on the morality of it all.. they've been asked, and quietly smiled while saying 'I pay politicians to make these decisions.. the army to enforce them.. don't waste my time..'
And when pressed about the 'morality issue..for gods sake..' their smile becomes a trifle more strained.. their tone of voice closer to that one would use with an annoying but handicapped zealot.. and they answer 'we do what we can.. we watch our own.. and we leave national issues to the people elected..'
They are the silent majority.. and they have every right to be just that..
When people decry the stance of one side or another in this conflict.. they're merely stating for whatever record they might feel will exist.. that they agree/disagree with decisions they are powerless to affect. Once the machinery is set in place.. we as a whole are subject to the 'whims and fancies' if you will.. of those we have given the job of running it to..
Truth be told.. as my friend says.. 'Why would I want to be Prime Minister..? I make more money.. and can sleep at night..'
Indeed..
In the meantime we'll march to the sound of the band we hired for the night.. even if some of us wanted rock and roll.. and the group plays polkas..