I lived in Japan for 5 ½ years and loved living and experiencing the world of Japan.

I have many friends who live in the Sendai area which was wiped out by the quake and the tsunami.

My thoughts and prayers are with my friends, as well as the 100,000s of families who are hurting today.

With the risk of this being a ”cheesy, motivational blog entry…”

As you watch the horror on CNN, think about your own life – are you living it to its fullest?

Are you using your talents and abilities to their fullest?

Are you a great, honorable person?
Are going after greatness?

All of us can be better  –better friends, husbands, wives, employees, etc…

Don’t waste your life floating through it waiting for tomorrow to begin…

Make today the first day in the rest of your life.

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I don’t watch TV at home – not at all.

But at the gym in Dubai, there are several flat screen TV’s playing in front of the running machines and cross trainers.
When I work out at the gym in Dubai, I have no choice but to stare at the 10+ tv screens in front of me.

Half of the tv channels are on VH1 and play music videos nonstop.

Nearly, every other music video has very sexual content, most could be ”rated R.”

This morning I watched a video where several women were shown kissing and fondling each other in the middle of a gigantic orgy on the streets of New York.

The video after that one showed a man and woman aggressively, tearing each others shirts and pants off and then the two of them making out and fondling each other, like two dogs in heat going at it.

Once upon a time … even just 10 years ago, this was considered unacceptable content.

When did it all change?   Why did it all change?

Western entertainment, led by America has taken the concept of “sex sells” to an unbelievable level.

But, yes — I know …. it’s the principle of “supply and demand”

Ok.

What is next?

How far can our society and our world today, led by America push the limits?

I am only talking about music videos.

But considering America is the assumed leader of the “free world” ….

1 in 7 Americans is living under the poverty level.

More than 50% of America is obese.

Where is the leaership?

In my eyes, there is no leadership.

Or I should say, in the world we live in today, our leaders in America ..
whether they are leaders in business, professional athletes, or political leaders … everyone seems to be more concerned with being “liked” than “leading.”

Which bring me to something I feel strongly about, tomorrow’s blog topic … “leadership today and the desire to be liked”

As you go through your day today, notice how many times you are aggressed/assaulted and pushed back by senseless negativity from people in our lives- my reference to ”people” includes all types, including the media.

The world markets are struggling not to fall apart …. unemployment in America is climbing in just about every state….
Oil is gushing nonstop in the gulf of mexico ….without question, 10,000′s of people who relied on tourism, fishing, etc have been hugely affected by this oil spill ….  yet american media focuses our attention on Lindsay Lohan.

Each time I post a blog attempting to battle the negatives in the media, naseba’s marketing director tells me with a smile on his face:  the media is just supplying what is demanded…

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I posted this blog 13 months ag0 – but it sets the tone for tomorrow’s post, thus I re-post today.

(repost from May 2009)

Yesterday, I saw on CNN.com a headline, the 4th headline news article (this is no joke) “are some sexual toys harmful to your health?”

Today a few headlines on CNN:

3rd headline: “Hulk Hogan: I totally understand O.J.” a story where he says he understands why OJ killed his ex-wife

5th headline: “unlikely singing sensation eyes date with queen” this story is not worth commenting on

6th headline: “cuddly robot seal impacts the lives of elderly.” I didnt waste my time to read this story

1st headline: North Korea poses real threat to the world (Lets be honest – the reality is that Guam is about as much of a threat to the world as North Korea)

Other headlines: there is a graphic (although entertaining) video of a 911 call where we get to hear a woman screaming on the phone about a drunk man who was trying to break into her home, then we get to hear her husband shoot and kill the drunk man all on the headline video.

There is not one story on the greatness in man.

Yesterday, I saw a small article in the news about Isiah Thomas accepting to become the Head Coach of a tiny, almost non existent college basketball team at FIU in Miami.

Isiah Thomas is a NBA hall of fame player turned coach who had 3 very successful years coaching the Indian Pacers to the playoffs, 3 years in a row during the period he was the head coach.

Then he got hired as the General Manager and Head Coach of the New York Knicks, had a great beginning, but from what I have read, Isiah had a very difficult time managing/coaching mega spoiled baby super star athletes who did not work as hard as he expected them.

He lasted two years before resigning; he was probably forced out.

It is worth noting that when Isaih Thomas was a professional, super star NBA basketball player, he was never in the news for getting into trouble; he is not covered in tatoo’s and never had an asshole haircut.

He just performed.

… many months after he resigned from the Knicks, he recently turns down two other NBA head coaching jobs, but accepts to coach a tiny, almost non existent college basketball team in Miami – FIU.

But it gets better — he announced yesterday, he is donating his 1st years salary back to the University who just hired him.

A great, inspirational story which is not even in the headlines on ESPN.com right now; it is not even mentioned on the first page of the CNN sport site.

HOWEVER….

I guarantee …. IF Isiah had accidently, run over a pit bull puppy with his car while driving, he would be commanding headline news/breaking news coverage for his cruelty to animals.

Furthermore….

Another great story, I never heard about — the Voice of Reason sent me 3 emails telling me to blog about it, but it wasnt until his 3rd email that i finally read the story …

The story of another sports hero, this time in the NFL, James Harrison …

Harrison was drafted in 2003 and made $5,000, but was cut from the Steelers — over his career, he was cut 3 times by the Steelers and once by the Ravens (4 times he was told he was not good enough for the NFL), but he believed in himself and kept fighting.

Last year, Harrison was named the NFL Defensive Player of the year – he also had the longest interception return in super bowl history and starred on the team who won the super bowl.

He recently, signed a new contract worth $51.5 million which guarantees him 20 million dollars.
He earned less than 800,000 dollars a year over the past 4 years – so suddenly, he is extremely, wealthy.

Harrison’s response to his big contract was “I want to make them proud and not let them down ….. this is what is going to drive me.” And the article I read comments that he was back in the weight room training two days after the super bowl victory.

The story I refer to above – it didnt make headline news — in fact, it never came close to being headline news worthy.

Why would we want to hear a story about a man who gets cut 4 times in the NFL, but never quits — ultimately, becoming the best defensive player in the game, wins a super bowl, has the longest interception in the super bowls history – and is back in the gym training two days after the super bowl…he gets rewarded with a $51.5 million contract — and his response is to say how grateful he is the the Steelers – and that he doesnt want to let them down….this story is not interesting …

its much more interesting to read about Madonna trying to adopt a couple of Nigerian babies.

Although Harrison’s greatness did not command headline news last week — the super star Terrel Owens made the headlines for not showing up to practice…

I guarantee, IF Harrison had been pulled over by some white cop in Alabama and discovered to be driving his Ford Explorer with expired registration, it would command headline news.

Seriously …

why don’t we ever hear stories on the greatness in man in the news today?

Who really gives a F…. about “a robot seal helping the elderly?”

How does this news item have any positive impact on anyone?

Although I completely understand Hulk Hogan’s sentiment, in his headline worthy article he discusses that he is not allowed into his 20,000 SQF home (which he paid for) and a 19 year old is driving his $75,000 car (which he paid for) as well as sleeping with his ex-wife whose only claim to fame was marrying the Hulk and riding on his success, thus Hulk mentions in the article he understands why OJ killed his wife.

BUT why does this negativity command the 3rd headline news story on CNN.com today?

What does it say about the world we live in today (or maybe I should say what does it say about America) when what readers are more interested in reading/hearing about are dangerous sex toys; people killing people with guns; teachers having sex with 13 year olds (one story recently was about a 13 year old sleeping with two different teachers in the same school and neither teacher knew about the other); movie star break ups; stories on the failures of man ….. instead of wanting to read/hear about stories on the greatness in man.

Where is John Galt?

Within the next couple of days, if everything goes to plan, a 13 year old American boy will summit Mt. Everest.

http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2010/05/jordan-romero-13-begins-push-for-summit-of-everest.html

Take a couple of minutes to read the article … and reflect back to when you were 13; maybe you have a child in his or her early teens (I have a 15 year old step daughter) … can you imagine yourself or your child having the maturity, strength and drive to set a goal of summiting the highest peaks on the 7 continents?

But not just talking about it…actually making it happen.

The article which I pasted above is replete with negativity … some “expert” in the UK claims the 13 year old boy is too young for such an achievement … the “expert” (whom I do not believe has climbed Mt. Everest) goes as far as claiming its “child abuse” by his father to allow him to climb.

This 13 year old boy has summited 6 of the 7 summits … has undergone extensive ice climbing training …. and is proving to be more than just a dreamer with a focus.

http://www.jordanromero.com/about/

His response to all the criticism is very mature– basically, he says he will let his achievement speak for him.

Recently, Jessica Watson, a 16 year old Australian girl completed a 7 month nonstop solo-unassisted sail around the world … 7 months nonstop solo unassisted journey around the world … I have been following her blog for the past 6 months.

http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/_

During her journey, her boat was knocked completely on its side several times in various storms … she had to personally, all by herself fix just about every major machinery on her boat.  And she is just 15-16 years old.

Reflect back to when you were 15-16 years old…. Could you have sailed off by yourself; bravely, sail through storms, navigate your way around the world, fix an engine or water pump, etc?  I know I couldn’t have – and I still can’t.  (sailing around the world is one of my goals)

We live in a world of obesity, negativity and violence …. victimization … we are bombarded every day by the media basically, telling us “its not our fault …” comforting us that being mediocre is ok.

A 16 year old girl,  Jessica Watson successfully sails around the world non stop … and its not headline news?
The first thing the media pointed out is “she might have not sailed far enough…”  although she sailed around the world, someone somewhere is challenging her achievement by saying “its not far enough….”

The media could have used Jessica’s achievement, and Jordan’s as a way to positively influence so many young people out there who need positive influence and motivation … but instead the media focuses on the negatives of each one of these teens achievements.

Jessica’s achievement never made headline news in america – I bet Jordan Romero’s summit of Mt Everest will not make front page headline news … but sadly, I guarantee if he fails and doesn’t summit …. it will be headline news worthy.

The 19 headlines on CNN.com Thursday night (when I wrote this) … not one of them is focused on something positive.
The last headline listed today is simply: “Warrant out for Lindsay Lohan.”

Why does Lindsay Lohan’s personal troubles command such attention and focus?

Instead of celebrating the greatness in man, we are reassured by the failures of others.

Where is John Galt?

To me … it is incredible that the world we live in today, (arguably) the most powerful news media in the world, CNN’s major headline:  “is religion diverting our attention?”

Diverting our attention from what????

buying shit we don’t need?