[THREAD] Story time. As is Appalachian tradition, we turn everything into a story. I boxed for a long time. It was the only sport I was naturally good at. I worked hard at it, as well. Boxing is a hell of a sport to train for, which is why so many folks stop short 1/
after awhile. Anyway, every year there was a glorified tough man contest a few towns over from me. Anyone could sign up for this "boxing" tournament. Sign a waiver and you're good to go. So the last year I did it my second round "opponent" was a pretty typical contestant. 2/
Probably 6'1, at least 270 lbs, mid thirties/early 40s, and in terrible shape. But he had some confidence from getting past his first round match against an equally terrible opponent, as was tradition. Anyway, I worked this guy pretty hard in the first round. During the 3/
second, I realize this dude is out on his feet. He's not home. But the crowd is way into it and backing this guy because he's not staying down. He keeps coming back. I tell the ref he needs to call it. He won't call it. So then I got angry. I was angry that this guy 4/
wouldn't stay down. I was angry that the crowd was backing him. I was the real boxer, not him. I had put in the time, made the sacrifices, etc. So I decided that when I came out of that corner I was going to smoke him. I worked his left side with jabs and hooks 5/
for about 15 seconds. His left hand dropped - that was all I needed to toss a rocket with my right. Dude dropped like a sack of nickels and the whole crowd made the "oooooo" that always follows. And he was hurt. Really badly. Found out later that he suffered an orbital 6/
blowout, a few facial fractures, and lost a few teeth. Found that out because he sued the event promoters, which is a whole different TED talk. Anyway, a lot of people just said "well, he should have never gotten in that ring." But that didn't sit with me - I controlled 7/
my actions. And I acted like an angry, immature little boy, and permanently altered a man's eyesight because of it - because of what amounted to a tantrum. I had to ask myself afterwards: "is that who I am?" And I decided that no, it was not. I've not done anything 8/
remotely like that since.
That is how I feel about this immigration issue. You can hem and haw all you want about "well they shouldn't be here in the first place." Fine. Feel that way. But we're in charge, and we're in control of our actions. So ask yourself this 9/
That is how I feel about this immigration issue. You can hem and haw all you want about "well they shouldn't be here in the first place." Fine. Feel that way. But we're in charge, and we're in control of our actions. So ask yourself this 9/
question:
"Is this who we are?" And, if so, what does that really say about America?
If not, then let's change what we're doing to conform to who we actually want to be. Redneck anecdote infused story over.
10/10
"Is this who we are?" And, if so, what does that really say about America?
If not, then let's change what we're doing to conform to who we actually want to be. Redneck anecdote infused story over.
10/10
