WHY OH WHY

WHY OH WHY DO WE GO TO THE MOON WHEN WE HAVE FOOTBALL AND JOHN EDWARDS ON EARTH? SPACE TRAVEL SEEMS TO ME IRRELEVANT AND UNNECESSARY WHEN IMPORTANT DISCONNECTS EXIST HERE ON THE HOME FRONT. A GRIDIRON COACH WISHED THAT THE PLAYERS COULD BE SOMEBODY DIFFERENT ON THE FIELD. HE SAID IT'S OK TO ACT LIKE THUGS, HOODLUMS AND VANDALS IN COMPETITION. HE SAID HIS PLAYERS COULD BE LIKE REGGIE WHITE, AN ORDAINED MINISTER, WHO ACTED DIFFERENT OUT OF PLAY. HE SUGGESTED THAT PARENTS DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE THEIR KIDS MAD BEFORE THE UPCOMING FRIDAY NIGHT’S GAME. WHY OH WHY DO MOTHERS LET THEIR BOYS BECOME FOOTBALL PLAYERS OR THEIR HUSBANDS WATCH THE GAME? THE IMMORAL IDEA - WIN AT ANY COST - SEGUES INTO A REFLECTION ON (OR THE ECLIPSE OF) JOHN EDWARD'S INTEGRITY. A CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRAT NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008, MR. EDWARDS MADE HIS FORTUNE ATTACKING THE RICH AND PANDERING TO THE DOWNTRODDEN. NO COURTROOM SHENANIGAN WAS LEFT UNTRIED. HE ALSO HAD NO DIFFICULTY PUBLICALLY DECRYING INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT FORECLOSED ON THE HOMES OF KATRINA SURVIVORS EVEN THOUGH HIS INVESTMENT IN ONE COMPANY WAS WORTH MILLIONS. THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN EDWARD’S SPEECH AND BEHAVIOR IS AN INHERENT CHARACTER FLAW. WHY OF WHY DO AMERICANS FALL FOR THE APPEAL OF QUACKS?

ONE ANSWER MIGHT BE THAT OUR CULTURE HAS REACHED THE OUTER LIMITS OF GREED, IMMORALITY, INCIVILITY AND INDECENCY IN THE NAME OF TOLERANCE. IF WE GO TO THE MOON JUST BECAUSE "WE CAN," WHY OH WHY CAN'T AMERICANS GO WHERE FEW HAVE EVER GONE BEFORE - DEEP INTO THEIR CONSCIENCES - AND DISCOVER SELF-REDEMPTION?