Making note that it is Valentine's Day

Another bout of extreme weather we're having. More climate change? Extreme cold set to return on Saturday and to hang around a while longer? 

It is a challenge to keep your spirits up under these conditions. I live alone. The first part of winter wasn't so bad because we have Christmas. We actually had a trend of milder temps for a few days recently. The height of winter cannot be denied though. 

I'm writing this on Valentine's Day. In theory it would be nice to make an affectionate gesture toward someone. I recognize the appropriateness of it. But the person involved might take offense or think it's weird. Do not worry, I will not do it. Sorry I bothered you with that thought. 

Basketball ought to be made the primary sport in America. Weather does not affect it. The injuries can be handled mostly routinely, quite unlike football of course. I have sought to speak out against football, mostly in vain I guess. I was cheered last night amidst this cold snap to be able to watch the livestream of Iowa women's basketball. There was no obstruction on the screen so it was just like watching TV! 

Super evening because I could watch the Hawkeyes defeat Rutgers. Do you still remember when Rutgers women's basketball was the focus for a pretty big story? That was when the Don Imus morning simulcast got in trouble for what was suggested to be inappropriate comments. Dad and I enjoyed watching "Imus in the Morning." There was a fair amount of political satire. Oh and cultural satire which gets us to the Rutgers matter. 

The gimlet-eyed Mr. Imus launched into what I would call a parody of hip-hop culture. Such a thing would require his language crossing the line, shall we say. Hip-hop practitioners themselves do this, I'll inform those of you who might be a little Pollyannish. 

Don Imus

Mr. Imus was pretty spot-on with his sense of parody but the big problem was that his focus was on college female student-athletes. Overnight he was in big trouble. Advertisers disappeared. Dad and I would have to say goodbye to the show. He pleaded that his show was "comedy." IMHO his best defense would have been what I just observed here: "parody of hip-hop culture" 

But we're into race which naturally gets dicey. The holier-than-thou people lined up to be sure. The Rutgers women's basketball coach made a lengthy presentation on live TV. I can't blame her for having some strong feelings. Imus had committed a misjudgment. 

It's tough in the media to be totally sharp and sensitive all the time. 

I can't help but smile as I think of a couple of Imus' lines as he did the parody, and I smile not because I mean any disrespect to the players. How could anyone feel anything but respect for college student-athletes? The humor was directed at hip-hop culture. 

"Nappy-headed hoes." That did it.

You have surmised now that Rutgers had a large number of players of color on the court. Yes they did. 

We eventually got the "Morning Joe" program as the replacement for Don Imus. Imus at first landed on the RFD TV network for a morning show. Yes, seemed an odd paring. Dad and I still watched quite a bit but it didn't seem the same. I still remember the member of the Imus crew who did the impression of Ray Nagin! That has become an obscure name now. Nagin was the mayor of New Orleans. He had a voice that lent itself to some mimicking. 

Imus is deceased.

"Morning Joe" attracted quite a few fans because it seemed like something different. You could sit down with your coffee in the morning and digest some pretty involved political talk. It was a three-hour show. But did this show become a curse for America? I'm serious. Looking back I think the show provided a platform for Donald Trump's demagoguery. Extended clips from Trump rallies. Gullible people would buy into a lot of that. 

It is not a stretch to suggest that "Morning Joe" may have made the difference for Trump getting elected in 2016. Oh, he actually got three million fewer votes than the Democratic nominee. Why are we not all aghast in looking back on that? 

Forum Communications the newspaper company was such a candy-ass then, as they decided not to make an endorsement for president. It is normally a Republican-leaning company. Obviously they could see the threat to America that Trump represented. The Forum should have endorsed the Democrat. They were scared. Today Trump has more people scared than ever. This has gone on for how many years now? 

Lately he and his people have begun attacking the Lutheran Church. Is the whole Upper Midwest ready to jettison the Lutheran Church? The Upper Midwest is saturated with Trump voters. Inundated? I have lost some friends forever. We have a congressperson who is like a clone of Trump, would not question him on anything. 

All this has sunken into our culture in this part of Flyoverland. And we're right next to South Dakota which appears even worse. 

But are we ready to just walk away from the Lutheran Church which has been such a home base for so many of us? Scandinavians abandoning the Lutheran Church? Everything connected to Trump wins out in the end. Nothing stops him and MAGA. Nothing. I am but a grain of sand on a vast beach. 

I had better just forget about Valentine's Day. But I find a source of happiness with Iowa women's basketball winning last night. Unfortunately the Gophers got stopped by No. 9 Ohio State. Close game but no cigar.

 

Re. Valentine's Day, I had better start formulating some thoughts for next year. No matter what I attempt, I'd probably screw it up somehow.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com