Reflections on What is Wrong with Our Culture

I wrote a bit about my feelings on politicians and their affairs a few weeks ago. Yet again, we have the governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford embroiled in controversy as he was caught amid lies and then forced to admit to an affair. The part that really irks me about him is two fold (and this is in addition to the fact that he was having an affair period): in his public apology he apologizes first for the pain he has caused his mistress. His friends, wife, and sons all follow. That says something. Along with that is the portion where he states he was crying his eyes out in Argentina the past five days. Why? Because he was heart broken over having to leave his mistress to actually honor the commitment he made to his wife? That really rubs me the wrong way. The second part of my frustration is that he and his wife were supposedly separated with the intent of strengthening their marriage. I'm not really sure how visiting your mistress for a week will result in a strengthening of your marriage commitment to the wife you have been cheating on.

Like I mentioned before, cheating by anyone is wrong, equally wrong regardless of what political party you belong to. However, it especially seems to irritate me when the Republican party, and this man in particular, makes a concerted effort to be America's moral police, constantly telling the rest of us what we ought to be doing, all the while doing exactly what they are railing against and condemning. These affairs just highlight the larger problem in America, or the world for that matter, which is a general degradation of morals and values.

People go around acting as if they are accountable to no one, as if vows they took and promises they made are meaningless, as if they are somehow above the other slime that lies, cheats, and steals, and as if an apology somehow makes it all better. This isn't simply limited to politicians. We hear more about politicians because they are in the public eye and possibly held to a higher standard, but everyday men and women engage in this same shameful behavior. It is nothing more than hubris that allows them to believe they will really get away with it.

Integrity is the measure of a person and if you cannot be trusted then there isn't much left.

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It has become increasingly apparent with the recent DC Metro accident and Air France crash that people have developed a cavalier attitude towards safety. It is concerning that in both instances recommendations were made that would have ensured greater safety and both recommendations were either ignored or had not yet been implemented. It seems like there should be a way for travellers to check to see if the particular plane, train, or automobile that they are travelling in or on has had recommendations made and whether or not those were actually followed and implemented. It never ceases to amaze me when officials know that recommendations were made, choose not to prioritize them, and then act shocked when a catastrophic, life-taking event occurs. It makes me mad that the powers that be take these recommendations so cavalierly, as if life is inconsequential. Companies are worried about cost, time involved, and the work required. I understand that. However, it would sure be nice if that same level of concern was given to the lives of those who were on these ill-fated vessels of transportation. Maybe they wouldn't be dead now.

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Until the past few weeks I have watched exactly one episode of Jon and Kate Plus Eight. The one I watched was so disturbing to me that I never tuned in again. I hated the way Kate barked at her husband, I hated witnessing how weak her husband either is or was portrayed, and it pained me to know that those eight kids now had a childhood tainted by "reality." However, this week I watched three episodes, including the one where the big divorce announcement was made. It made me cringe. It seems self-serving that they have chosen to take something private and painful and turn it into a public spectacle. Shame on them. Those children will now have footage for an eternity documenting the demise of their parents' marriage and the end of their family.

Honestly, as Jon and Kate began noticing things going south in their marriage they should have called it quits right then and there, got the cameras out of their house, and made a legitimate attempt to fix their marriage, or at least agree to end things in private and not with America watching. This should not be something that plays out in front of a camera. This isn't reality and it shouldn't be entertainment. There are children involved who will one day see this train wreck in all its glory. As a parent I would protect my children at all cost and I think in this situation the show should most certainly not go on chronicling the demise of a family.

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So, what about society is bugging you right now? How do you feel about some of the above issues?

You Couldn't Pay Me to Board An Air France Flight

I have a pretty big fear of flying. I'll avoid it at all costs if I can. In college, when our team would have to fly for games in other states my coaches would have to drug me so that I slept the entire flight. It was terrible. I haven't been on a plane since 2002 and would rather spend days driving to a destination than to fly.

Needless to say, the recent Air France crash has only solidified this fear (irrational as it may be) and I have seen and read the search updates. Last night I had a very upsetting dream that my husband, the kids and I were on an Air France flight that crashed in middle of the ocean. We survived, but were in middle of the ocean with no land in sight. I was holding both kids and frantically trying to keep them above water. My husband, who in real life is not that great of a swimmer, was struggling just to keep himself afloat. In this dream, I knew that death and the death of my children was inevitable. I kept going under and as I got weaker I couldn't hold the kids above my head to keep them from going under. I was mercifully woken up from this dream when my husband left for work this morning. I told him about it and semi-jokingly said, "Nobody we know better step foot on an Air France flight."

I have these weird premonitions sometimes where dreams or feelings come true or a fairly close variation comes to fruition. It's unnerving but I have also avoided some close calls by following these "feelings."

My father is traveling to Paris. I knew it was coming up, but was unaware that the trip was today. Apparently, he left DC and flew into New York on American Airlines. There his flight was cancelled due to weather. In order to get him to his destination they put him on an Air France flight. He called my mother from the airport to let her know his itinerary had changed. She mentioned it to me when I was talking to her later.

I'm sure this dream, the flight change, and the crash are all mere coincidences, but it is a bit unnerving. I don't have a "feeling" that his flight is going to crash, but considering recent events I think I'd have been a little apprehensive about boarding a flight on the same type of jet that just killed over 200 people apparently due to equipment failure.

Free Fallin'

When I was a child, my parents took me and my siblings all over the world with them. We went to England, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, all over the US, etc. Flying was a way of life and I don't remember being particularly fearful. Then when I was in 4th grade my father took a sabattical at a University in Germany. During the boarding of one of the flights to get us over there, there was a commotion among the flight attendents because they thought my mom was Sarah Ferguson (we were in England). In the process, one of the doors remained open as we started to taxi. They realized immediately, closed the door and it was no problem. However, it was a problem for me because I was sitting very close to that door. It scared me to death and I look at that as the beginning of my fear of flying.

Then when I was in high school I played on a USA Juniors Basketball Team. During one tournament we flew into Dallas and had to ride in a tiny plane to Lubbock. It seriously sat about 25-30 people and shook horribly the entire way. You couldn't talk to anybody because you couldn't hear. Then everytime we hit an air pocket we'd drop. I really thought I was going to die and to this day don't know how that little plane stayed in the air.

Fast forward a few years later when I was in college and we flew to out of town games on an almost weekly basis. My coach used to dose me heavily with dramamine to make sure I was sleeping before the flight would take off. If not, I would hyperventilate.

Needless to say, flying for me is an issue. This poses a problem considering my husband and I would like to take our children to Ireland in the coming year. This poses a second problem because my parents have just moved to DC and unless I have no plans to see them for the next four years I need to figure out a way to not only get my rear end on a plane and remain calm enough so that US Marshalls don't board to escort me off, but I need to figure out a way to remain so calm that my children don't pick up on the fact that their mother is petrified and convinced we are all going to die. A bit extreme, I know. But, a problem nonetheless.

I know that statistically speaking one is more likely to be in a car crash than a plane crash. However, that still doesn't provide me with much comfort. Especially, when it seems like you can't turn on the news without hearing about another plane crashing somewhere. (With the exception of the heroic landing by "Sully" in the Hudson, most seem to turn out with mass casualties).

I know that much of my fear is irrational, but it is a fear nonetheless. So, tell me. Any suggestions to help me get over this fear? And how about you? Any fears you know are irrational but just can't shake?