Marriage is not obsolete in U.S.

A new survey out last week shows that 40 percent of adult Americans feel marriage is obsolete.
I suppose those same people would think that the foundation to their house is also obsolete. After all, why would you need to worry about what’s underfoot as long as there is a roof overhead? Aren’t there a lot of people in developing nations who get by just fine with thatched-roof huts and dirt floors?
Marriage is the foundation of family and family is the foundation of civilization. We are not animals who mate at random and then move on. It may seem like we’re headed that way if the Pew Research Center survey is anywhere near accurate.
The survey showed that those who had less education and lower incomes were more likely to feel marriage was unnecessary. The shocker was that people who claimed to be conservative had a lower opinion of marriage than their liberal counterparts.
Conservatives are the ones who brought us the whole “family values” thing.
With half the marriages in this country ending in divorce, I guess it makes sense that almost half the people would feel marriage is obsolete. Another part of the survey is equally alarming. It showed that the vast majority – 63 to 88 percent – define families as single parent and child, unmarried couples living together with children, gay or lesbian couples raising a child, and a childless married couple. The survey says 88 percent of respondents believe an unmarried couple living together without children is not a family.
In my book, a family is a married husband and wife with or without children. Single parents with children are a family, albeit a broken one. People with children who cohabitate may not be formally married, but are united in a common law marriage. The government and the courts look upon them as a married family.
Don’t even get me started on gay and lesbian couples. That in no way can or should be a marriage. (Please note that this is my personal opinion and not necessarily that of my employer.)
Getting back to the importance of marriage, it is my belief that marriage is essential to human civilization. Marriage is a vow – an unbreakable commitment and bond – to spend the rest of your life to the one you have selected as your mate. Unfortunately, we live in a society that feels “so long as you both shall live” means “so long as I feel like it.”
America today is perhaps the single-most selfish society the world has ever known. Though selfishness is a natural part of human nature, I think you can pinpoint what ails this country to the post-war baby boom generation. The so-called “me generation” certainly did not uphold the values instilled in it by their parents.
The generation that experimented with drugs and alcohol, burned draft cards, supported women’s liberation, legalized abortion, took prayer out of schools, and took the shame out of divorce and out-of-wedlock parenthood is the same one dumping its liberal philosophies into the minds of their children and grandchildren.
The baby boomers don’t hold the entire blame. The so-called “greatest generation” is the one that dropped the ball as parents and allowed – even encouraged – their experimental behavior. Rather than reining in their children, they simply dropped the reins and let them discover life for themselves.
What we now must contend with as a result of these actions (and inactions) is a society that is devaluing marriage, families, family identity, commitment, work ethic, faith, trust, integrity, honesty, education, responsibility, etc. It seems of late that every social “advancement” means lowering the bar, not raising the standard.
All that being said, I’m not here to bash either generation. I simply assign the responsibility of our current condition to them. Both generations have accomplished great things – and continue to do so. It’s their failures that are the cause of so much consternation.
There once was a time when we would not have thought to even question such things as family, marriage and faith. Now we can’t even accurately define them because they have become so convoluted.
The moral decay that I see in America is nasty and rampant. Sometimes I think we’d all be better off living in isolated tribes with thatched-roof huts and dirt floors. At least that way you’d know where you stand.

Cosplay is your word of the day

The word of the week is “cosplay.” It’s a combination of the words “costume” and “play”.
According to online sources, the term was coined by a Japanese studio executive named Nobuyuki Takahashi. He got the idea in 1984 after attending a science fiction convention in Los Angeles. Initially it referred to people who dressed up in costumes based on Japanese characters in manga, anime, comic books, etc.
Here in the good ol’ U.S. of A., the term has come to mean most anyone who dresses up as a costumed character for something other than a stage production. For example, the people in period dress at the Texas Renaissance Festival are cosplayers. So are the folks who will dress up in Union and/or Confederate uniforms and invade Liendo Plantation this weekend for the Civil War re-enactments. A lot of people here have also seen the Brazos Bottom Cowographers perform at the Watermelon Festival. Those fine folks are cosplayers, whether they know it or not.
If you’ve ever seen the people dressed up as Stormtroopers from Star Wars, you’ve seen a cosplayer. Same goes if you’ve seen me in my Lone Ranger outfit. Of course, the best place to see cosplayers is at a convention of the science fiction or comic book variety.
There is a vibrant subculture and a thriving cottage industry in the world of cosplay. There is a lot of time and money invested in those costumes. My Lone Ranger outfit, for example, cost more than $1,500 and I still don’t have a decent pair of boots to go with it. A good Stormtrooper uniform will easily go well over $2,000.
The industry has moved way beyond the days when people wore plastic pointy ears and red, blue or gold shirts and went to Star Trek conventions. The costumes of today often rival and sometimes exceed those made by the Hollywood professionals.
My wife, Sandy, is a semi-pro costume maker. Most of her work is for children’s Halloween costumes and church and school theater productions. She loves making period dresses and has done several from Gone With the Wind and Pirates of the Caribbean.
It’s amazing how serious some of these people can be about their costuming. There are some who take it from an art to an exacting science, especially in the Star Wars cosplay universe. I know that to get into the 501st Stormtrooper Legion that a costume must meet certain standards.
Another group of cosplayers are the folks who participate in the Old West shooting competitions in the Single Action Shooting Society or Cowboy Action Shooting. These people dress in period clothing and hold shooting competitions using replica weapons of the time. It’s a lot of fun and the people who do it really get into their hobby. If there is anyone around who does that, I’d love to do a story on it.
What brings all this to mind are two things that are going on now. The Texas Renaissance Festival wraps up on the next two weekends and is located very near here between Plantersville and Magnolia. The Civil War events take place the weekend before Thanksgiving at Liendo Plantation. Both events are costume-intensive. And you can rank the Civil War cosplayers among those with stringent costuming regulations. You have to if you want an accurate representation of an historical period.
No matter the genre, one thing all cosplayers have in common is a love of what they do. Speaking from experience, it is a lot of fun to step outside yourself and assume a new identity for a while. People love it. It’s a nice feeling when someone wants to have their picture taken with you or they stop to talk about your costume or the character you’re portraying. It’s a great way to meet new people and make friends.
It’s also a way to help keep history and heritage alive. The more we study history and the attire and accessories of the people, the more we learn about ourselves and where we come from. On the other end of the spectrum, those who engage in the comic book, sci-fi and fantasy cosplay help expand creativity and imagination. Kids these days seem to be lacking that trait. This is a fun way to get them to express themselves in unique and creative ways.
The important thing to keep in mind when engaging in cosplay is that it is a hobby and it’s just for fun. There are those who can and will get carried away with it and become obsessed to the point that it becomes their idol. There is no way I can advocate this activity to that degree.
Anyway, I digress. My point is that this is a growing industry and enjoyable hobby. Like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. If nothing else comes of this column, at least you learned a new word today and had your eyes opened to a different sector of our culture and society.

Experiencing the thrill of a lifetime

Cross one more off the ol’ bucket list.
Every once and a while in this job you get a chance to do something out of the ordinary. In my career, that has meant flying with a 95-year-old pilot (who set a world record five years later on his 100th birthday), riding in a hot-air balloon, flying in a biplane, flying in a stunt jet, watching a space shuttle launch, attending major concerts, meeting numerous celebrities, photographing pro sports, shooting paintball guns and participating in Cowboy Action Shooting events.
But of all the incredible things this career has afforded me, nothing comes close to what I experienced last Saturday at Skydive Houston, just south of Waller. That’s right; I went and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane about two miles above the ground.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever beaten the airplane to the ground,” I told my tandem jump instructor, Marcus Harris, after we landed.
On that day, Marcus was my newest and closest friend. I mean that quite literally. When you’re strapped together for a tandem jump, you are in very close quarters.
Let me back this tale up to the beginning. When I learned there was a skydiving business in Waller County, I knew it was a story I’d just have to do. Whether I got to jump or not, adrenaline junkies make great stories and even better pictures.
I contacted owner Todd Bell and we made arrangements for me to come out last Saturday to do a story. A family emergency kept him from meeting with me, but his public relations specialist Thomas Baen filled in quite adequately.
One of the first things you notice when walking onto the Skydive Houston building is the joy and passion expressed by nearly everyone there. Hanging out in their building reminded me of what it’s like in a ski lodge, or a surfing shack or a rock climbing cabin.
People who take risks and enjoy thrills for a living have a special attitude and swagger about them. The attitude is the same even if the sport is different. It’s an air of confidence, if not outright cockiness. But when it comes to safety, they’re as straight-laced as an Army drill sergeant.
Thomas gave a fantastic interview and tolerated well my three, wiggly sons who were in tow. I got to meet and interview others on staff, all of whom were very friendly and enthused about sharing their sport. After the interviews were finished, it was time for me to experience a jump. I was introduced to Marcus, who strapped me into my safety harness and then gave me a quick, two-minute instruction on what to do. Then we boarded the plane and were soon off the ground. It was the first time I had flown facing backwards. It was a strange but enjoyable sensation.
As we climbed to roughly the two-mile mark over Waller County (between 13,000 and 14,000 feet), Marcus strapped us together, tightened everything and gave me some last-minute instructions on how to exit the plane. When we hit the spot, the videographer, Alex Frey, slid open the door and stepped out, holding onto the side of the plane. As soon as we nosed out, he let go and was instantly in our faces as we began the free-fall.
All my nerves and butterflies vanished in an instant as soon as we began to fall. Actually, it feels more like floating than falling. The air was cold and the wind whipped by at more than 120 miles per hour. After about two minutes of free-fall, Marcus pulled the chute open and we jerked to an upright position.
It was instant paradise. It became silent and we slowed to a gentile drift. From that vantage point we could see the Houston skyline and even make out the waters of the Gulf Coast. It was a very peaceful yet exhilarating feeling. After a bit Marcus asked if I got air sick easily. I assured him I didn’t and he offered to do some spins. That was a trip! We spun around rapidly, watching the world spiral ever closer. As we glided closer to a landing I noticed that most of the jumpers on our flight were already down, even though we were first out. Finally Marcus instructed me to lift my legs up for the landing. It was smoother than landing in a plane.
Even though it’s been several days since the jump, my head is still in the clouds. That was easily one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my life. If my budget would allow it, I’d go up again in a heartbeat.
To be sure, it’s not for the faint of heart. Not everyone can skydive for various reasons. But if you’re healthy, adventurous and can spare a couple hundred dollars and an afternoon, I highly recommend you try it at least once. Then you, too, can cross it off your bucket list – or begin a new hobby.
To find out more, visit www.skydivehouston.com or call 1-800-JUMP-OUT.

The Bible is full of strange things

It’s interesting some of the things you will find in the Bible if you just open it up and read it.
For example, did you know beer is in the Bible? It appears several times in the Old Testament. Probably the most notable verse is Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
Almost all of the references to beer are in a negative connotation. This from Proverbs 31:6, “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish.” Notice that beer is to be given to those about to die anyway, while wine is used to ease pain.
In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “stuff” is used 16 times. I always thought that word was more modern than that.
There are apes and baboons in the Bible, but no monkeys. I found references to lions and bears, but not tigers, oh my!
Of course, there are going to be differences in translations when you look at various versions of the Bible. I found several references to donkeys in the New International Version (my preferred version), but none in the King James Version. Instead, all I found in the KJV were asses. (I remember as a kid trying to justify the vulgar use of the word “because it’s in the Bible.”)
Speaking of donkeys, I won’t print it here, but have you ever read Ezekiel 23:20-21? I doubt you’ll ever hear a sermon preached on that!
Another difference between the two popular versions of the Bible can be found in the names of creatures. The KJV refers to the mythical satyrs, unicorns and cockatrices (rooster-serpent hybrids). The NIV calls them goats, oxen and vipers respectively.
Another example can be found in 2 Kings 18:27, where the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the men sitting on the wall — who, like you, will have to eat their own filth and drink their own urine?” (NIV). The KJV uses the words dung for filth and piss for urine.
The second book of Kings (2:23) we get a somewhat modern insult that is very similar in both versions. The NIV puts it this way: From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!”
Not all of the really weird stuff is in the Old Testament. The New Testament has some pretty strange things, too. It has zombies, dragons, demonic pigs and bug-eaters (not to be confused with Nebraska Cornhuskers). The book of Revelations alone is filled with many strange creatures, some of which are unfathomable.
In Matthew 27:52-53 we find the zombies. “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
There are many references to dragons in Revelations. The KJV is peppered with talk of dragons in the Old Testament. As for the demonic pigs, do you recall the story of how Jesus drove the demons out of a man and into a heard of swine, which then stampeded off a cliff?
As for the bug-eater, Matthew and Mark both say that John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey (talk about bitter-sweet!).
Now that Halloween has passed, I’m reminded that there are ghosts in the Bible. In 1 Samuel 28 we get the story of Saul going to a medium and having her call up the spirit of Samuel. So, if you believe the Bible, you must believe that there are ghosts.
You can take comfort that they will not bother you unless you seek them out like Saul did. Even then, Samuel did not want to be bothered. “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” he demanded of Saul. He later warned the king that “The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”
Somehow I don’t think I’d want to be messing with a dead guy like that. I’m content to leave the dead well enough alone.
As weird things in the Bible go, I’m just scratching the surface. To really find out about biblical oddities you should sit down and read the Bible for yourself. Not only will you find many strange and bizarre things, you will also find the truth and the light. That is a treasure that is worth looking for.