This might be considered to be a particularly depressing news week. Twenty four hour cable news is cranking out Ebola updates, speculation and argument in a never-ending cycle. Lest our anxiety wane, there’s always ISIS. Pre primary sparring provides an irritating counterpoint, while images of people, arms linked, marching in Ferguson give rise to hope that racism is being driven into the light of day. There. That’s a bright spot!
However, I wouldn’t be fulfilling my role as Debbie Downer if I didn’t report that while the marchers bring hope, police are clapping handcuffs onto protesters and hustling them away. Finally, as if to add weight to the old locker room backside slapping cliche’s – a New Jersey high school football team has taken liberties with younger players. The boys in tight pants, with the big shoulder pads call it hazing. If they weren’t football players would they have gotten away with it this long? I hardly think this sort of hazing hi-jinks would fly in the chess club.
All isn’t gloom and doom. Do you remember Jimmy Kimmel’s segment, where they set up shop on Hollywood Blvd and ask simple questions of people on the street? This bit rarely fails to be amusing, as Americans love to see themselves on TV more than they fear making fools of themselves. What a perfect time for (the suspiciously named) Brick Stone to take a cue from Jimmy, and head to Hollywood, where the only thing more depressing than the news is what people on the street think about the newsy topics! On second thought, maybe this isn’t exactly what we need to cheer us up. Brick Stone and his crew Flint Chip, Rock Ledge and Concrete Block ask folks to opine about Ebola, racism, Columbus and the recent New Jersey hazing scandal. Personally, I learned a lot from the interviews. I’ll just have to face the fact that Obama doesn’t stand a chance for a third term, and you’d better vote in the upcoming primary – because Hillary looks good, but she needs your votes!