Wrestling Media
Wrestling Media on the Australian Sport and Entertainment Portal.
Greg Tingle's media website is Media Man Australia
Wrestling and sports news on Media Man Australia
THE LEGACY OF TRUTH, by Chris Bernes, 11th September 2002
I sit here at 3:29 p.m., September 11, 2002,
and I am reliving, through various television news outlets, the horror I felt
one year ago today.
The tragedy we all, not only as Americans
but as a world community, felt as barbaric militant extremists fighting in the
name
of God compromised our national security; created a chaotic feeling amongst
the citizens of the world; and, most importantly, stole the lives of 3000+ people
who were given no chance of survival, some on four 600-ton jetliners loaded
with jet fuel, making it a flying bomb... others in their offices, doing their
daily work, supposedly secure in a place where they make there living.
Bodies disintegrated in the heat. Many
people at the World Trade Center in New York either perished in the collapse
or leaped to their doom, avoiding the crumble. People at the Pentagon, protecting
us, had no protection. Several died in a field in Pennsylvania while trying
to stop these barbarians from further harming our national security. All had
no choice. Rescue workers, protecting their fellow human beings, gave their
lives to save others. Remember them all.
But in a time where patriotism, in the US and abroad, has been heightened in
the wake of 9-11-01, I fear that we are slipping
back into the mindset of all for me, rather than all for one and one for all.
And yes, before you ask, it has everything to do with wrestling and this newsletter.
"Homophobia = simple evolutionary logic" was one of the most disturbing
comments I received as part of my Billy and Chuck dissertation from last week.
Since when is hatred an acceptable logic? When is fear of what we do not understand
acceptable? Why hate, when we should all care for each other? Do we not teach
our young, as we were taught, that hate solves nothing. Because of hate, gays
are persecuted ,minorities have been and continue to be denied equality, and,
most
importantly, hate is the catalyst for the brutality that the United States suffered
one year ago.
I was asked by our editor not to use the name of the person who sent me that
response... and I will not, out of respect for Colin and the respondent. But
regardless of WHY Vince McMahon and his creative team decided to run the gay
wedding angle (ratings, shock, to create a buzz, etc.), who are we to spew our
filthy guts in a homophobic rage because we disagree with same sex marriage
or an actor's portrayal of such?? If you do not like it, change the damn station!
Watch "Friends", a bastion of basic human decency and simple evolutionary
logic, where everyone sleeps with everyone else, they stare at fat naked people
thru a window, and have created a sense of not having to be held accountable
for your actions as long as you have 5 other degenerate scumbuckets who subscribe
to those same "sleep with everyone, answer to no one" mentality. Rent
"La CageAux Folles" and write a letter to Robin Williams and tell
him he is wrong for portraying a gay man for the sake of making money! So, to
the person who said as much to me, SPARE ME YOUR HOLIER THAN THOU, ABOVE THE
FRAY ATTITUDE!!
Anyway, I am as burnt out in reading emails and websites that skewer Vince McMahon
and the WWE for putting this into our living rooms. Everyone of us has cried
foul at one point or another because we were not treated fairly, by society,
peers, teachers, bosses, etc. Now, you are being overly hypocritical and crying
the blues over a damn wrestling angle.
I remember Chris Jericho's internet rant a short while ago regarding internet
junkies criticizing his match with RVD. and
basically saying that we have no right to tell him what he did wrong/right if
we have never been inside a ring. In the same breath that we, as Americans (for
those of you from the US) use the Freedom of Speech card to say 'Yes, I have
every right to speak my peace', you also degrade those who differ from your
viewpoints (as evidenced by my mailbox in the last week) and proclaim yourselves
the be-all-end-all through your opinions.
When I state my opinion, I always welcome criticism, praise, and venom, and
will listen attentively. As a college educated,
Army veteran, and American citizen, I am able to listen and understand an opposing
view, and also keep my views, without trying to force my view into anyone else.
I stand up high in my thoughts, yes, but I do not try to TELL you how to think.
Nor does Vince McMahon. Or Howard Stern. Or Don Imus. Or your local newspaper
opinion columnist. YOU are ultimately responsible for your own opinion and beliefs.
In short, if you do not like what you are seeing, turn the TV off. Close the
magazine. Read a different column here in W-O.
Turn the radio off. Stop berating me for having an opinion, an ultimately allowing
yours to be heard. I do not have to offer an address for you to respond, but
I do. I could fly anonymously through these columns,and you would have to contain
your praise and hatred inside yourself. I offer you the choice to let me know
your side. I sometimes reply privately if the response is compelling enough
to speak my interest. That is equality. Learn it.
DaRealrSlmShady won trivia this week. Brian
Pillman's last opponent was Goldust.
No trivia this week. I have no interest in it right now. It will return next
week.
Colin, you do us all a great service by providing this forum of news and opinion.
From your station in life in Malta, to me
here in the US, to those reading this newsletter in other countries like India,
Australia, and others that I have received email from, we all appreciate this.
I hope you, the readers, remember that we do this FOR you, and you give us this
opportunity in
return. THAT, my friends, is not only what equality and freedom is about, but
it is also the truth....and today as it was one year ago today, the truth is
sometimes very painful.
May God bless each of you, and GOD BLESS AMERICA...AND THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!
Chris Bernes, Norwich, Ct., USA, September 11, 2002. WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
Greg Tingle, Sports and Wrestling Journalist, in Australia, wrote:
G'day Chris
Your article: THE LEGACY OF TRUTH, was most impressive, so much so that I am interested to include it in the Media and Wrestling sections of the Australian Sports and Entertainment Portal, that I am the Director of.
Perhaps you are familiar with our website?
Please examine:
http://www.cooldudesandhotbabes.com/media.html
http://www.gregtingle.tv
http://www.cooldudesandhotbabes.com/interviews.html
to get a feel for the website.
In any event, I am impressed - luv your work, as the expression goes, and I am interested to work on various internet and media projects with you.
Australia's hearts go out to the victims, I know personally I think about it each day, and realise how lucky I am to live in Australia. Well, at least that's the feeling, but no where is safe, but together the world will fight off the evil doers, and the world will become a better place to live.
I too am also former Defense Force - Australian Army Reserve, and I would not hesitate to sacrifice my life for the good of Australia, and the free world, if I was called upon, to do what's right.
I look forward to your reply.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director: Australian Sports and Entertainment Portal
Freelance Journalist
Sydney, Australia
http://www.gregtingle.tv