Amazing Grace In The UNITED States

This has been the week we needed in these United States Of America. After weeks and months of pain and tragedy and awful news everywhere you turn ... we finally got some victories. The Supreme Court yesterday voted 6-3 in favor of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that millions of Americans will continue to receive the damn expensive health care they need. This is HUGE. And long overdue.

Then this morning, the Supreme Court votes 5-4 in favor of Marriage Equality. The rights of marriage upheld for everyone, no matter who you love. This is MASSIVE. And way past time. Our President gave a wonderful speech celebrating this landmark decision. Please watch - and appreciate - how very far we've come.

Then after that, President Obama gave the eulogy at the memorial service for the slain North Carolina minister, Reverend Clementa Pinckney. It is an incredibly moving speech, showing us again that yes, we've come so far, but also how very far we have to go. But today, across the nation, we are able to revel in the AMAZING Grace that is possible when hearts and minds are open, and acting in the name of love. Our President breaks into that very song at the end of the memorial speech, and it is a special moment ...

...one that shows how incredible and amazing everything can be when we are all truly UNITED.

Today, I can say it and truly mean it, with pride ... God Bless America.


*I bet it's gonna be going OFF tonight at The Roosterfish! Cheers, Friends!

SKOL VIKINGS!!!

... And the only reason I'm talking about this, and not the HORRIFIC Supreme Court decision yesterday that ended Democracy as we know it, and wondering which corporations paid for which judges (and it wasn't even on the 11 o'clock news!) is because I feel like we'd better enjoy ourselves while we can ... and it's the Vikings.

I love New Orleans, and love that the Saints are doing so well and giving the city a much-needed morale boost ... but we're Minnesota kids and we bleed purple. The Vikings are our very ancestry, so it goes deep. Plus the massive burn to our arch-rivals, the Green Bay Packers that is Brett Favre. He has even brought harmony to my own immediate family, as while we kids are TEAM supporters, Mom (born in Wisconsin) has turned out to be a MAN supporter, and now finds herself rooting for her kids' team. I'll take these small steps to World Peace in any form.

I have my own little piece of Minnesota in Venice, as three guys from my high school (Brandon, Tony and Knighter) also live in Venice, my brother, Shane and Troy (from Minneapolis and Hibbing, respectively), at least us, and anyone that has Minnesota affiliation - and can prove it - always watch the games together, and this season has been a blast. I even have actual scars to prove it. This Sunday is a big deal - Vikings Vs. Saints for the NFC Championship to go to the Super Bowl! My horned helmet has been buffed, and my hair is standing by to be braided ...

... And while this Purple Reign is going on, I'll keep my helmet on, and honor the Viking spirit of THOR GOD OF THUNDER! to fight this insanity in D.C. that just bought and paid for Hit Men who have doused out the liberty torch of the American Dream.