On July 4, 2009, America's Independence Day, hubby and I were on our way to a big celebration where his band was the entertainment, when we heard the news that Steve McNair had been found shot in Nashville Tennessee in an apparent murders suicide. We live in Tennessee and are Titans fans. I always thought of McNair as a good man, a faithful husband to his wife of 12 years Mechelle and loving father to his four children. Apparently McNair had a 4 month affair with 20 year old Iranian Sahel Kazemi, after meeting her at Dave & Busters in Nashville where she worked as a waitress. Story and pictures here, here. Kazemi's sister said McNair told her he would be divorced in two weeks and she thought they would move in together permanently. This might be news to Mrs. McNair.
Do people no longer have pride in themselves, in their relationships, in agreements that they make? When people get famous and rich, do they no longer think their word is their bond? We seem to be living in a time when so many people thing they are entitled to get and do anything they want without taking responsibility.
People buy houses, sign loan contracts, with full knowledge that they do not have the income to actually repay the loan. Then they expect the government, a/k/a you and me, to bail them out. Businesses make bad loans, congress makes it possible for the bad loans to be made, no one takes responsibility, and the rest of us who do take pride in ourselves, who think our word is our bond, end up paying for their bad judgment.
Society pays for the bad judgment of individuals.
People don't have insurance, don't have jobs, don't have food, don't have shelter, don't provide for their families, but expect somebody else to take care of it for them. Some think they can cheat, lie, steal, and it's OK, because it's them.
Yesterday was America's Independence Day and it may have been Mrs. McNair's independence day also. We have no idea what McNair put her through during their marriage. The lesson here is that payday comes someday, you can't go on forever thinking you are special and can do whatever you want, that no one will find out, that no one will be hurt -- because that's not true.
Our government has promised to be all things to all people, trust us they say, we know what's best for you -- government knows what vehicles you should drive, what kind of house you should live in, what kind of energy you can use, what you must do to your own house before you can sell it, what medical treatment you can and can't have ...
We as Conservative Americans, and even some on the Left, know this is wrong. We know that personal pride in personal accomplishment, in taking care of our own, in creating, producing, inventing, giving our word and keeping it, are everything. We want that back for our nation. We want that back for our politicians, for our government, for our children.
... Our representative democracy, coupled with the enormous freedoms of our daily lives, seem so natural, as if preordained. The result of this unthinking acceptance of these rights is that many of us are not even grateful for the blessings they confer, viewing the rights more as burdens, than benefits.
Why do I say this last? Because more and more people resent the fact that one has to work for the basic freedoms the Founders risked their lives to institute. Sometimes one has to fight and die for them. -- The Declaration of Independence and ... chickens! by Bookworm Room
I'm sick of people thinking they are special because they are politicians, or sports heroes, or just your run-of-the-mill person in America who thinks you are different, you are special, you don't have to abide by rules and morals, and that you deserve special treatment. Take pride in who you are, in what you stand for, in what you promise whether it is to an institution or to your spouse.
what a disaster...so many family members brought down because someone couldn't control himself. And women are SO happy to throw themselves at ANY MAN with a little money ........
I couldn't help wondering if this could have been a muslim hit "messing around with an INFIDEL" thing, but it sounds like a murder/suicide after having read your links.
WoW, Debbie....you're so right about PRIDE and standing by your convictions. Thanks for that.
I hope the gig went great! Z
Posted by: Z | July 05, 2009 at 04:35 PM
We as a Nation have been negligent in teaching our children basic respect for hard work, honesty, and other virtues that we were taught by our parents. Now we are paying the reaper a huge price for everything we neglected to fight for.
Posted by: Edward | July 05, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Z: I'm not sure of the woman's religion, but I don't believe there was any religious aspect to this.
She was adopted by her relatives here in the US at age 9 when her mother died. She appears to be completely Americanized. She dated another man for 4 years (which would have made her 16 when she started dating him), broke up with him, then met McNair when he started coming in the place where she worked as a waitress I believe.
He pursued her, according to her relatives.
Edward: You are so right, but even when parents do raise their children right, they stray. We can only do our best.
Latest reports say Mrs. McNair is devastated.
Posted by: Debbie | July 05, 2009 at 07:19 PM
These things are always tragic to those family members left behind. I don't know where the fault lies--it could just be the time we live in, but when you think on it things like this have been happening for thousands of years. I suppose its in the nature of man.
Posted by: Ron Russell | July 05, 2009 at 08:48 PM
We as Conservative Americans, and even some on the Left, know this is wrong. We know that personal pride in personal accomplishment, in taking care of our own, in creating, producing, inventing, giving our word and keeping it, are everything.
Posted by: MK | July 05, 2009 at 09:49 PM
Yes things like this have been going on for thousands of years -- still does not make it right -- still makes me so thankful that I have my sweet hubby. It is rare these days for soul mates to actually find each other, to stay together, to still love each other, to still respect each other.
I know how very lucky I am.
Posted by: Debbie | July 05, 2009 at 11:20 PM