How To Compromise the Morals of the U.S. Government: Part 1

The troops are the true American heroes, not star athletes, movie stars, or business tycoons. It's the men and women who put their lives on the line for the red, white and blue. But the case of U.S Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has put that ideal on hold for the time being.

The White House, in an unprecedented move, essentially traded five extremely dangerous members of the Taliban for the safe recovery of Sgt. Bergdahl. We don't negotiate with terrorists, that's a hallmark of these United States. At no point do we ever stoop down to the level of radical members of terrorist groups and give them what they want. But this time we did, and what precedent is it setting? According to CNN correspondent Elise Labott, the Obama Administration says that no precedent has been set by this weeks actions.

To make matters worse, a litany of scandals has surrounded Sgt. Bergdahl which weren't anticipated by the Obama Administration. He has been accused of being a deserter. Leaving a note, and all of his belongings behind as he waltzed off base one night in 2009. Jake Tapper of CNN states that veterans claim his "selfish act ended up costing the lives of better men."At least six were killed in the search.

To make things worse, Tapper reports that soldiers in his battalion signed a "nondisclosure agreement... to never share any information" regarding Bergdahl. This doesn't sound an awful lot like the America we are used to. Soldiers are supposed to set the benchmark for humility, and be role models to their communities and country. And who really knows whether or not Bergdahl was conspiring with the Taliban? Nobody, speculation alone should be a red flag before executing such a risky trade.

Nobody is happy with the situation at hand. The world may indeed be worse off with the release of the "Cuban five," but what's done is done. Unfortunately though, this scandal has weakened the United States. We have compromised our morals for a person with no real way of backing up the circumstances of his disappearance. The public should be outraged. When we lose touch with our own values, (and yes, by we I mean the government in this case) who knows what can happen when put under a new kind of pressure situation... Only time will tell

So... Who Actually Has the Greatest Fans?

After every major accomplishment by a player or team, the phrase, "we have the greatest fans in the world" is often thrown around as praise. But is this commonly uttered phrase thanking the fans for their loyalty? Or, rather, allowing the athletes to represent their city?

Unfortunate as it may be, the Chicago Blackhawks, our beloved hockey dynasty, lost game 7 at home to the Los Angeles Kings. But for a small moment, my fellow sports fanatics and I focused on an alarming statistic, which bashed the loyalty of the adversary's fan base. In fact, according to Bleacher Report, the losing Blackhawks reeled in five times the amount of viewers as our foes, who just happen to be in the nations number 2 TV market. "The game actually pulled a higher rating in Buffalo" according to the very same article.

Whether or not they had ample support from their fan base, the Kings are on their way to the Stanley Cup final, one of the most cherished prizes in sports. But it got me thinking, who really has the best fans, and why are they better in certain places compared to others?

Being loyal to a sports franchise can be hard, we all get that. It's difficult for some to want to attend a game which has a high probability of ending in defeat. But why don't we all take a look at the Chicago Cubs as an example. Their unprecedented streak of over 100 years without a championship tops all, but still, year in and year out they pull in the fans. They are one of the worst teams in baseball currently, and have been for the better part of two decades. But fans come for the experience, not necessarily the team. It's a far different culture going to a Cubs game than it is anywhere else. The culture of the city plays a big role in fan loyalty.

It also has to do with where you are, geographically speaking. In defense to the Kings, Hollywood doesn't strike us as a hockey town, after all it sits in perfect temperatures nearly every day of the year. People in warm climates are less likely to fall in love with a sport played on ice. Much like people are less likely to attend a baseball game if it's going to be 35 degrees outside.

Whether we like it or not, the most loyal fans are those to teams who constantly put up a winning record and compete for championships. That's what we crave, we want a celebration. It's a huge bummer when your team gets knocked out after years of hard work. Some franchises just know how to put a winning team in the spotlight.

David and Goliath

What is the step in your life that really pushes you over the hump and helps you accomplish your dreams? Many business tycoons and politicians may say college, specifically their links to the elite private institutions, stemming all the way back into grade school perhaps. But how much does all of that really matter?

In a blog from one of my classmates, I read that, Phillips Academy, a private grade school in New Hampshire has stemmed "48 senators, governors, and representatives in its time" and it boasts a 30% ivy league yield rate. Institutions like this are only available to certain people, with tuition climbing well above $40,000 for each year.

Does enrollment in one of these private institutions guarantee success? Or, better yet, is it the key to success? Many think it holds an integral influence the success of a person, contrary to the American Dream, which is that anybody can succeed regardless of the privileges they have as a child. In a recent 60 Minutes segment, Canadian journalist and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell talked about the underdog. His recent masterpiece, "David and Goliath," illustrates  "the contrast between seemingly elite prep schools and more downscale ones in which students may be likelier to excel." His advice over the course of the segment, and the ultimate message of his book being, "ignore school ratings. Be a big fish in a small pond. Who wants to be a guppy at Harvard?"

Gladwell's book demonstrates an interesting point that many people shy away from. We all strive to go to the best universities possible so we have a better chance to succeed. But maybe the best idea is to go where you can excel, not necessarily where you may be just average. The argument he makes adds a glimmer of hope that the American Dream is still alive and well. That money doesn't necessarily lead to greater success. But self-analyzation and the ability to find an environment to thrive in does.

Drafting Diversity

Michael Sam, the former Defensive End for the Missouri Tigers, is the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL draft. Sam, whose draft stock plummeted due to lackluster performances in the NFL draft combine paired with his announcement in February, was selected in the 7th round with the 249th pick overall to the St. Louis Rams.

Whether or not the pick was out of confidence in his production on the field, or a PR stunt, will be determined late this summer, when NFL teams pick their final rosters. But regardless of the outcome, history has been made and it has been receiving national headlines. Even a statement from President Barack Obama congratulated Sam on beginning his next chapter, stating, "from the playing field to the corporate boardroom. LGBT Americans prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are."

But shouldn't the story be that the Rams are drafting a superior athletic talent rather than a token? It's undeniable that a huge step has been made to abolish intolerance. But not once since he was picked have I heard anything regarding his ability to tackle, his speed, instincts, and NFL potential. That's what draft night is all about isn't it? The next batch of stars to set foot on the gridiron and the potential upside they bring to their organization.

It seems to me that the story so far has been a gay man who happens to play football, rather than the gay football player. Private life aside, he has real potential, and everybody involved should be honored to be a part of the process. But his sexual orientation has little to do with his ability to make the most of his opportunities.

What Happened to the "Student-Athlete?"

The Northwestern football players cast their historic vote on Friday in an effort to unionize. For months now, the members of the team have pleaded for recognition by the school as employees, rather than student-athletes. But that's the whole essence of college, isn't it? Dedicating countless hours to your studies in order to graduate and get a degree in the process. But some sports have changed that, it's not about the education anymore. And depending on what plays out, amateurism can acquire a whole new meaning.

Dale Brown, the longtime head basketball coach at LSU once said, "look at the money we make off of predominantly poor black kids... We're the whoremasters." And it's true, according to esteemed journalist Taylor Branch's, The Shame of College Sports, the SEC (Southeastern Conference) became the first ever to generate over $1 billion from football alone, with the Big Ten conference in a close second with $905 million.

Where does all of this money come from? Ticket sales, concessions, boosters, merchandise, and most of all, TV contracts. All of which maintain a steady income based on the prospects being put out on the field.

The NCAA and individual Universities have star athletes in shackles. Former Georgia wide receiver, A.J. Green, confessed to selling his jersey from a bowl game in order to raise money for a spring-break vacation, according to Branch. He was sentenced to a four game suspension for "violating his amateur status with the illicit profit generated by selling the shirt off his own back." Simultaneously, the stores in and around Georgia University had sold replicas of his No. 8 jersey for upwards of $40.

While I don't agree with the concept of unionization, especially for student-athletes, I do believe that the  outdated terms of the NCAA needs to make some reforms. College sports are completely unique to America, and because of that they are responsible for unfathomable amounts of money for the universities and the NCAA, and it all starts with the players on the field. They may deserve a little bit more leniency when it comes to being rewarded for all of their accomplishments.

Humans and Robots on a Crash Course

You've all seen sci-fi movies... A world with robots and humans coexisting seems foreign, and completely fictional and irrational. But the reality is that the labor force in many lines of work has a big, efficient, and intimidating rival. The robot.

The futuristic 2004 motion picture "iRobot" painted a picture of what the world could be like with intelligent machines roaming the streets. It also proposed the possibility of an apocalyptic outcome in which they "save us from ourselves."

While this scenario may remain fiction for the time being, we do have a robot problem. They're just too damn good at what they do. A 60 minutes feature on robots in a Volkswagen manufacturing factory highlighted this. They're efficient, low risk, and don't require salaries, which saves money in the long run. What's not to like for businesses?

Well, remember that whole unemployment problem that we have been dealing with? I don't see how the inclusion of robots into manufacturing positions could improve that at all. Because of the ideas that media and movies have put into our head, we see it essential to have the latest and greatest technology. But what if that technology puts people out of the workforce? What happens if we keep creating these automated machines and they completely replace the value of human work?

Our Obsession with Death

I have followed the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 closely since it went missing 16 days ago. It's understandable that the world is watching eagerly to discover the outcome for themselves, or lack there of. But what about this mystery has the necessary trigger for this obsession?

An article by Sally Cohn of CNN claims that "there's something about death in sudden, large numbers that grabs our attention." And I thought to myself, what else fits this thesis. In recent years, the Sandy Hook and Aurora movie theater shootings come to mind.

Media seems to become completely enveloped in mass death simply because it may, unfortunately, be more "entertaining" (I apologize if that sounds a bit harsh and I mean absolutely no disrespect). While the looming tragedy of flight 370 has not yet been discovered and has captured all angles of the public eye, death obviously has not ceased since then. According to Cohn's Opinionated article, on the same day the plane went missing, oer 20,000 people died worldwide from cancer, and in the days since, more than 1,000 people have likely died from drug related crimes. Cohn, along with myself, begs the question, "why don't we care about these tales of death?"

The reason lies within our own personal experiences. Evils such as disease and drug violence are familiar to all of us. They are on the news regularly, and have become an integral part to life in America. It's almost as if, because we are so well acquainted with them, we feel immune. We feel better prepared against such events. But a missing plane? A mass shooting in an elementary school? That's foreign.

The media can try to tell us all they want about deaths related to malnourishment, gun violence, and disease. But it will never capture world attention. Media craves mysteries, and once this one is solved (if it is), they will move on to something new.