One Man's Opinion

I don't know why things like this continue to surprise me but they still do. As I was reading an article in the Chicago Tribune about Washington's State Supreme Court long delayed ruling on gay marriage I came across a somewhat idiotic quote.

In 2004, a judge in Seattle's King County, William Downing, struck down the marriage act, saying there was no legitimate reason to deny gays and lesbians the right to marry each other.

Joseph Fuiten, the president of Washington Evangelicals for Responsible Government, said at the time he was "flabbergasted" by the ruling.

"It's astounding that one man's opinion can turn human history on its head," said Fuiten, who also heads the Faith and Freedom Network, a Christian political lobbying group based in suburban Seattle.

Mr. Fuiten, I'm pretty sure that judges make their rulings based on laws and fact, not just their opinions. Judge Downing even states in his ruling that there is no legitimate reason to deny gays and lesbians the right to marry. He doesn't say it's his opinion that they should be allowed to marry.

But you know what, Mr. Fuiten is partially right, it is astounding how one man's opinion can turn history on its head. Let's review....

In George Bush's opinion Iraq was hiding WMDs, so, let's go to war with them and ignore the guy who flew planes into the World Trade Center.

In George Bush's opinion gay marriage is immoral and imposes on the religious sanctity of marriage, so, let's ignore the Constitution's clear stance on separation of church and state and create and support a law banning gay marriage.

In Osama Bin Laden's opinion American's are evil and should be punished, so, let's fly airplanes into several important and highly populated buildings.

Indeed it is amazing how one man's opinion can change the course of history.

World Cup: New Marketing Strategy

Things have been a bit hectic for me lately and I wasn't able to write about the World Cup at all while it was going on. But I have to say that the officiating and playing done at this year's Cup has given FIFA a better way to market soccer to Americans. As anyone who has played or watched competitive soccer will tell you it is a rough and tumble sport. A full fledged contact sport without the benefit of large amounts of padding. As much as I would hate for that aspect of the game to be exploited if you want most American men to embrace the game that's what you've got to do. Going into the championship match this World Cup had seen more red and yellow penalty cards than any other previous Cup, but then came "the head-butt seen around the world." French captain Zinadine Zidane allowed 90+ minutes of frustration and trash talk get to him and proceeded to head-butt Italian defender Materazzi. For days following this incident I heard more men talking about soccer than I ever have before. While there is more to soccer than violence, if FIFA wants to increase it's American male audience they should use the footage of Zinadine Zidane to market the next World Cup.

Click here for some humorous versions of the head-butt, courtesy of The Register.