Cheerios And Chidren

This commercial came across my cyber desk the other day:

View it by clicking here.

It has caused a lot of controversy because the family is biracial. Obviously, this particular version has not been seen that often; however, other versions with discussions following can run up to six, seven, eight minutes or longer.

It was not that long ago when biracial or interracial marriages were outlawed in many states. Today they are allowed in every state. It was not until 1967 when the Supreme Court deemed anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional, with many states choosing to legalize interracial marriage at much earlier dates. That is according to Wikipedia. If you want to read the entire Wikipedia entry, click here.

I find it appalling how certain groups of people still have a problem with miscegenation in the United States in the year 2013! There are enough of them to create such an uproar that Cheerios and General Mills decided not to run the comments after their online commercial.

If that is the case, do those groups feel the same way about people with disabilities marrying? I know people who are against people with developmental disabilities being married.

What about the LGBT community and the recent Supreme Court decision allowing Gay Marriage? Look how long it took that group and the fight they had struggled to gain equality in marriage.

Are there always going to be haters out there? I already know the answer to my question. What can be done about it? Anything?

I try to do my part in speeches when the opportunity arises where I can make a comment on the subject. That rarely happens when I can get into the subject very deeply. Occasionally, I may get a question from an audience member that allows me a platform to give my opinion on certain subjects. I have to be sensitive to my meeting planner's goals and objectives, so I cannot stray too far into subjects I might like to discuss.

I look forward to your comments. I hope this leads to an interesting discussion.

Later,

Mike

Mitchell Marcus Scores!

If you know me, you know I love basketball! It has been, is and always will be my favorite sport! I was playing with a mini basketball about the time I started walking. In my last post I showed a picture of my father teaching me how to use a basketball scorebook when I was five or six. In that picture, I was holding my mini basketball.

That is why this story is so important to me. I love basketball stories on any level. This one has a very special meaning because two boys did something very special at the end of a basketball game in El Paso, Texas.

Friday night I was watching the news on CBS. Steve Hartman has a job I envy. Every Friday night he goes on the road and does a segment to end the Friday night news. Last Friday night he did a piece on the last basketball game of the season for Coronado High School in El Paso and young Mitchell Marcus.

Watch this video, see what Jonathon Montanez, a senior on the opposing team, does in a very classy example of sportsmanship for the subject of this post Mitchell Marcus. It is truly what high school sports are all about!

Watch this video and see if you are not touched like I was:



If the video does not show up, click here.

In looking through one of the pages of comments, I found this. I think it is especially gratifying to know other people besides myself think this was an incredible act of sportsmanship and everybody wins in this game:

What an awesome story! I tear up every time I watch it. Y'all restore a little of my faith in humanity. Yes, the kids on both teams are winners! I don't know if the opposing team was aware of Coach Morales' plan. Regardless, it was nice of them to go along. Congrats to both teams for your sportsmanship and kindness!

Do you think the world would be a better place if everyone played and/or watched sports on any level showed the kind of sportsmanship that was exhibited by these teenagers?

I know this video has already gone viral, and I think it is wonderful to see the true value of what sportsmanship is all about.

As always, I welcome your comments.

Later,

Mike