ENRAGED BUT NOT SURPRISED

Rather coincidentally, i found myself watching a documentary (part of the Boston Jewish Film Festival)last week just as the Penn State repugnancy was spilling out. More of a coincidence was the fact that the documentary was about the Orthodox Jewish community of Baltimore and a number of its rabbis who have been sexually assaulting adolescents for years. Then, there was this--more or less slipping under the radar--in the last few months male coaches training young women in both gymnastics and swimming as part of the U.S. Olympic training process have been fired wholesale for sexually molesting the young folks in their charge. And lest I forget, there is the Catholic Church. All I could think of was the title of a recent TV show called "Men Behaving Badly". Which is an oversimplifications and does not do these events justice. But it is men (very few women) who are in positions of power and authority and both abuse their positions and then abuse the young people. And all of the events are treated as idiosyncratic when in fact they are part and parcel of the same thing. Men (remember Woody Allen, anyone?)who consistently use their power to satisfy their sexual "urges". I am not smart enough to figure this out though it is also connected to the work I have done in the past. Men in positions of authority in families who similarly abused the young people in those families. There is more than something wrong here--this is related to how we men are raised and what we are taught and how we may have been been victims ourselves. In the end, treating these events as if they were unique misses the whole point. Until something is done earlier in our lives, we will continue to say "oh my, isn't that awful" and then move on. We do not respect children and until we really do, we will see another story like this next month or next year.

So I was wondering how Jon Stewart would play this one. Wisely, I believe, he stayed away from it until last night and then got at it only indirectly. Turns out Sandusky (the perp at Penn state--no need for me to use the word alleged) decided to call into Bob Costas on an NBC TV show. Costas was sitting with the guy's lawyer for god's sake who presumably supported this conversation. Well Sandusky's lawyer, as it turns out, sexually assaulted and impregnated a young woman (below the age of consent) when he was 49 and then Sandusky sputtered when Costas (to his credit) directly asked him about the shower incident. Just "horseplay"--I thought Stewart would have a coronary.

Speaking of Elizabeth Warren (I was, wasn't I?), we saw her at an event in Roxbury this past weekend. She was quite the thing greeting each and everyone of us at the door and getting herself introduced by a recently elected African American City Councilwoman. She said all the right things to an audience of "right ons" and "whistles" and applause. I really liked her but of course have to add two concerns. I thought 3/4 of what she said, Scotty would have agreed with. Plus, her total embrace of unions left me a bit uneasy especially in Boston since I think the Boston Teachers Union is terrible. I just don't buy "all unions are good" position. Overall, I do hope she gets to be a bit more angry when Scotty is across from her. Then I remind myself that it is a year away.

On the same topic Doonesbury has got one of the character's grandmothers coming to Boston to work for Warren. The grandmother is living with her granddaughter who will be her driver. It is just terrific to see how these generations do or do not get along in the comic strip.

Congrats are in order to Allan and Lucy who have become grandparents. The baby is lucky to have those two around for help, support, and love. And belated congrats to Stef and Graham who are getting married. Very exciting and I am especially honored since they have asked me to lead the ceremony. All of us are very happy to all of them and their extended families. Kudos also to a certain Texan for settling in and managing such a large transition much more smoothly than I could have--cannot name the person since (s)he craves anonymity.

BTW, Whole Foods has opened here in beautiful JP but it is more like a mini version of their other stores. I was dying to cross a picket line the first time I went but no such luck.

SPORTS TALK

Since last we chatted, the Pats have lost to one NY team and beaten another. After the loss, for the first time in my memory, the Brady/Belichik love affair with the media started to show cracks. After the victory, all the critics went into hiding. There does seem to be some consensus that Brady has an injured throwing arm but a fool like me could not see it in the second half this past Sunday. Otherwise, I watched a news conference that Belichik is required by the NFL to hold--he absolutely intimidates the media. You have to see it because it is hard to describe except he has that look which says "I dare you. you assholes". And if you dare, you get a one word answer. I will say that if you look at the rest of their schedule, they should end up with 12 or 13 wins and a bye. The real question for me is if the defense over that time will coalesce.

Bye Bye Pap. Your nickname was the second worse on the team next to little ole "Pedey". I say, as a non Red Sox fan, that you can be replaced and Cherington was correct in not overpaying for a head case like you who basically has one pitch. As a balanced reporter, I will also say that Posada should not be brought back and may have done the Yanks a favor by saying so himself.

If Michigan had a QB who could throw, they might be undefeated. As it is, they will get to a good bowl game. BC--ha ha, going nowhere and I could not be happier.

That's about it. For those driving next week, good luck. And Happy Turkey Day to all.

Sayonara.

NOW I KNOW WHO ANN COULTER IS

I had only heard about her but now, thanks to my best bud Jon Stewart, I have actually seen and heard her. Stewart is going to be FANTASTIC between now and next November no matter who runs or who wins. He already is terrific just covering the crazy Republicans. So, in one of his recent eviscerations of the Herminator, he ran a video of Ann Coulter defending Herman by saying: "Our blacks are better than their blacks". Said on some sort of Fox show in defense of Herman's sexual harassment history. I cannot believe those words came out of any one's mouth in such a public way. Stewart was beside himself wondering if Eric Cantor was a better "Jew" than Joe Lieberman. If you cannot stay up too late, he has repeats on Comedy Central during the day--I know not when.

Alan Khazei must have heard me. He dropped out of the race for the Senate by taking a few mild swipes at Ms. Warren. But he now must be beating the bushes looking for the job I always thought he should have considering that he has done next to nothing since City Year. And we also have this guy Flaherty running for City Council--another person with no life and no job who only runs for office as if it were a full time occupation. I am totally confused still about what District I am in but I don't think I get chance to vote against old Charlie. But I do wish him good luck as he trudges along directly behind Khazei looking for those real jobs.

Then we have those Republicans who went after Barack because we are getting out of Iraq (as he promised for god's sake) and because we did not take the lead on Libya. There is nothing worse than spoilsports and these guys are real experts at it. Nothing will pass as a success. Even that great American soldier McCain had a few harsh words for these two issues. He needs to go back to Arizona and guard the border.

Anyone see the profits of Exxon/Mobil. I cannot count that high. The more we pay for gas the more they make. It is obscene but since no energy bill will pass, nothing will change. I am still not sure what to make of the "Occupy" folks but I kind of feel like they are bobbing in the middle of the ocean and being pulled this way and that by tides--not by a sense of direction. And yet I still find myself associating them quite closely with the Tea Partiers.

After being here 3 years, I may actually have warmed up to our neighbors down the path. I never made friends with neighbors on Walnut Street and overall do not have great social skills (anyone surprised?). But it has been nice to have Barbara and David right down the way who I can schmooze with, go out to dinner with, and have them know we might be out of town. They both come from similar professions as well. I am working hard to be a "good neighbor" in the best sense of the word. Nonetheless, for me, it is also about old friends. I have known Charles since kindergarten and Myra since the fabulous 60's. Having them here and spending time with them was like being in a cozy chair with armrests and an ottoman--easy and comforting.

Just returned from Philadelphia visiting Jess and the kids (Steffen was away)for Halloween. Everyone must know this is Barbara's favorite holiday but not mine. So she got to traipse around and I got to dispense candy. Lilli has turned into a terrific swimmer and Oliver is a warm independent kid. Great to see them all and great to see how good the parents have parented.

Meanwhile, Anna is on the ground in Austin and did a marvelous job dealing with the move, and getting there, and figuring things out, and not sweating the small stuff. She has a great apartment with a balcony, pool, and a/c--crucial down yonder. Very proud of her.

Speaking of which she turned me on to the series called "Breaking Bad". Barbara refuses to watch it but I am in love with it. I am not even sure what it is all about but it is very good.

Just finished the latest George Pelecanos novel. Another terrific artist who does to Washington DC what Robert Parker did to Boston. He also happened to write for Homicide, The Wire, and Treme. Such skill.

SPORTS

Did not watch one complete game of the World Series but saw just enough to know that a lot of it was bizarre and that both teams deserved to win.

don't you think it is quite providential that Lackey needs surgery? He may never come back.

Theo fired his manager right away which seems kind of cruel but at least it was quick and decisive. He had better take the long view over there in Wrigley because the Cubbies right now suck.

Michigan's last two games are against Nebraska and Ohio State. They could end up 10 and 2 which is way better than expected though I still think Dennard Robinson is too erratic to carry them much further.

Mr. Brady and the boys are really struggling and even though my theory is that Belichik knows more than me, what he has done to his secondary is totally mystifying.

That's about it--oh yeah, Whole Foods has opened and I am hoping I get to cross some sort of picket line so I can buy some of their pricey veggies one of these days.

Sayonara.