As IF Times

link [VIDEO] Oprah Winfrey tells BBC many Americans hate Obama because he’s BLACK » The Right Scoop –.

Let’s investigate Oprah’s claim.  If there was that much hatred towards Obama because he’s black, how did he get elected not once, but twice?  Casting aside conspiracy theories of vote rigging on the last election,  the United States is still statistically a white nation though that is changing rapidly.  Even though as a bloc, Blacks voted overwhelmingly in the neighborhood of 90% for Obama, the president could not have won without the support of the larger community.  Of course the possibility exists that the general population voted for the white half of Obama.  In that case, I suppose it could be racism.

It’s a pretty tired and suspect argument to use racism as the rationale for someone’s unpopularity.  In fact, to do so is in itself racist.  It’s like an automatic get out of jail free card for any shortcomings in personal character.  If the United States were a racist nation, how is it possible that some of the most culturally influential and successful people in entertainment and music (even those of truly dubious talent) and sports as well as the top rungs of the political system including the President and Attorney General are of  black heritage?

The most recent ‘shocking’ headlines involving race centered around the locker room activities of the Miami Dolphins.  Apparently, Jonathan Martin, a  player whom is half black, was ‘harassed’ by the white player, Richie Incognito.  When it was revealed that the harassment included racial slurs, it became national news as the plain folk were apparently aghast at the rawness of the exchanges between the two players.  Mr. Martin could withstand the physical punishment of gangs of 300 pound men beating him up on the football field, but name calling was too much to bear, especially racially tinged name calling.  Well I guess that dispels the old ‘sticks and stones’ theory.

There seems to be a common theme here.  If you are black, your character is unassailable.  As the old M.C. Hammer lyrics state, “you can’t touch that”.  If you are not completely black, like Obama, like Jonathan Martin, you are fair game for ridicule and scorn, because you are essentially half white.  It wasn’t too long ago that the previous White House incumbent, George W. Bush was the target of merciless and vile attacks on his character, his appearance, his intelligence and even his laugh.

Oprah “Whine-frey” has it wrong.  People likely disparage the President because he’s half white, not because he’s black.  The lying, incompetence and lack of any real talent outside of reading must be from his white side.  No real black person would have to endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune as the old verse goes.  They would never dare to disparage a black person.

link AFP: Health experts rap World Cup fast food sponsorship.

Do gooders are scourges.  You can try to escape by enjoying some harmless entertainment such as watching a sporting event or concert, but still they come at you like ants at a picnic.  All you ask for is a simple break from the rigors of life and not have to deal with all the rules and restrictions that society places upon us.

In this article, ‘experts’ are attacking the sponsorship by Budweiser, Coca Cola and McDonald’s of the World Cup soccer tournament because they represent unhealthy food choices. Why don’t they just attack eating?

Those that think that spectator sports in general but soccer in particular should be venues associated with “healthy” eating are social nerwins whose idea of fun and excitement is to own the most recent game app for their Ipod.   Like most big scale sporting events, soccer is a stylized game of war in which fans express their tribal convictions fueled by alcohol and hedonistic fast foods.  That’s the way it is.  It is not the opera. It is not a spelling bee. It is not meant to be healthy.   The enthusiasm of any crowd would be seriously impeded if all they had to consume or throw at the players in disgust was iced tea and granola bars.  Besides, those kinds of products don’t have the ring of normal sports sponsors.  Can you imagine the ad guys trying to make, “The World Cup of Soccer, brought to you by Kellogg’s Bran Flakes” into a jingle?

A cynical person would think that all of this tsk tsking of these sponsors is really about not letting men have any enjoyment since most sports fans are men.  However, the story includes some statistics regarding, how shall we say, zaftig women as well.  In fact, the article states that:

“…A recent report by the national Heart Foundation found that 29 percent of South African men and 56 percent of women are overweight…”

If we accept that most sports fans are men and they would be the sponsors’ targets, what do tubby women  have to do with these food sponsors at a soccer game?  Clearly, the women are getting their bad food influences from somewhere else.  Perhaps from watching Oprah.  Therefore, all this sanctimonious babble is really anti-West or more particularly anti-American.  Are there any more iconic names in American consumer foods than Budweiser, Coca Cola or McDonald’s? Underlying the facade of urging people to eat “healthier” is a current of antipathy towards these representatives of American influence. 

Another line from the health gestapo is also amusing:

“…But it would be a great boost for public health around the world if FIFA could show real leadership on this issue by announcing it will not consider companies that promote unhealthy products as sponsors or partners in future…”

Really?  FIFA is regarded as a world trend setter and leader in social issues?  Like the NFL or NHL, or NBA, have these organizations been masquerading as sports organizations all this time?   Well if so, they must all be chastised for not paying enough attention to teen pregnancy, gay rights and global warming.  It must be galling to many that despite all efforts, the impact of America through their cultural influences, affect the world in so many far reaching ways, even in the most non American sports event, soccer.  I think it’s time for these companies to tell these modern day Gladys Crabbits’ to mind their own business and let people have some unfettered enjoyment in their lives.  Tell them to take their thinly veiled anti Americanism to France or Iran where they willingly accept that kind of propaganda. 

Or, they can drum up groups to sponsor their own PC events.  I suspect that the only sponsors interested would be wienie makers.