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Up for Debate: Canceling a tradition
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 12:52am
How do you feel about the decision Friday to cancel this weekend's New York City Marathon? Was it the right decision or the wrong one? If the marathon had been held should it have been used to highlight the devastation from Sandy and solicit donations or should it have just been held as usual?
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Filed under: City Voices
It was the right call but I also think it was done late in the game.
I concur with the decision and Captain Nemo's comment.
While the possibilities exist to promote an atmosphere of normalcy, perhaps even generating funds for the victims, there was no way of knowing what as yet undiscovered problems might have resulted in possible endangerment to participants and and the eventual, needlessly delayed cancellation.
A sad truth I have finally realized, is most traditions eventually pass into history, devolve into periodic observations, or are transformed due to circumstances beyond control or the desire of newer generations to sweep away the old and place their mark on the event.
I'm sure many dedicated runners will look down their nose at the decision, but they will recover.
Good morning, Nashville.
Nanny-state mayor Bloomberg had to back-pedal on his original foolish decision to go ahead with the race. He has not admitted that he had made a mistake...he never admits an error.....he's always prepared with an excuse that relieves him of any personal blame....Bloomie is a politician's politician.
Staging a marathon this late in the year in New York is a pretty dumb idea in and of itself....in my humble opinion...this is the cold, wet and raw time of the year in this part of the country....we have not had any sunshine in a week or more and that's normal for this area. yes, NYC is 400 miles from here, but the weather patterns are not all that dissimilar....if it's crappy in Rochester, it's probably crappy in NYC.
Since the race was to began on the most devastated borough of New York, I'm
amazed it wasn't cancelled immediately after the storm. But I'm no Bloombergy.
Bloomberg is not just a politician, he's a business man. The NY Marathon brings millions of dollars into the city, the mayor was loathe to see that cash cow go un-milked. The loss of that race revenue nearly brought the otherwise stoic Mayor to tears.
The mayor should have applied to the state of Israel for storm relief aid....after all, hizzoner called NYC, "the world's largest Jewish city", in full-page ads he took out in the Jerusalem Post...since the Big Apple is now Israeli Occupied Territory, the state of Israel should be billed for the clean-up and rebuild?
Will the storm damage in NYC cause the voters there to stay home on Election Day?
Perhaps.
Since NYC is primarily populated by Democrats and upstate is primarily Republican, the storm could affect the race...at least in theory...wouldn't it be funny, if NY's EC votes went to Romney, because of the storm? The pundits would be stupefied.
...and you Titan fans...we Bills fans feel your pain this dreary morning...the Bills are 3-5.
Amazing, we all seem to agree on a subject. The marathon should have been postponed when the damage of the hurricane was first issued... not the day before it was scheduled to start.
I could cause a lot of people to ignore coming back to one in the furture.
Go Bears ! Right Blanket. lol
What Nemo said
[click] ..!.
They ended up with the right decision and I think I understand why they waited. I also remember something about a certain road paved with good intentions...
That Bear defense...whoa. Shades of '85?
Loner, it looks like more nasty weather is headed your way on Wed. afternoon around 4:20pm; hang in there buddy.
Is the NCP making an attempt to keep a bunch of calm and social arguers on this site today; the day before election? Good luck, NCP.
(click)
A few runners did show up & run. IMO that was disrespectful to the people suffering cold, hunger & many with no place to live. There are always a few me, me, mes in every situation.
Now that we all agree, let's talk about something serious: elections.
We need to reform our electoral system.
1. Universal ID card for verified citizens. This could include any data desired: voter, drivers license, insurance proof, emergency contacts, whatever. Mexico has had a photo voter ID for 20 years; and we've still got this little folding cardboard thingy?
2. Polls: Instead of hundreds of polling places tied to each precinct, we should have large centers at places people go: downtown, malls, libraries, the courthouse square, parks. A personalized ballot could be produced at each place.
Plus, there would be a paper trail in the form of a reciept so we know we voted the way we wanted and not the way Diebold wants us to vote.
3. Move Election Day from Tuesday to a long weekend; polls open on Friday morning and stay open 24/7 until Wed. night.
4. Public financing. Other democracies do it: the UK and most of Europe.
Or if not that, then limit giving to individuals(not corporations) who reside in the district of the person they give to. No more millions from Michigan for a State senate seat here in Tn.
5. MUCH shorter campaigns. MUCH shorter.
6. Make the Electoral College proportional: this can be done by state legislatures; a couple of states already do it by Cong. district.
I'm sure there are other ways to improve: go for it gang!
Many more went to Staten Island and helped.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-04/new-york-marathoners-run-to-help-in-storm-ravaged-staten-island.html
Agreed gdia. The runners got in and pitched in to help clean up.
gdiafante - And those runners are people that care & have compassion.
Add 7., Kosh III; the winner should take the office over within one week after the vote closes. The "in houser" shouldn't be given an additional 11 weeks to place harm on the 'man' the people want. And under the current circumstance... look out.
bfra, people who run in marathons are masochists.. a masochist will give until it hurts.
I've always thought that national elections should be a holiday. And that (somehow) they should manage a way to have all voting end at the same time, regardless of time zone. I think with early voting, and having a legitimate day off from work would help.
I'd also be in favor, instead of this instant polls just closed in Tennessee and CNN is ready to give it to _____ crap, having all the results released at the same time.
They could even do it like a reality show......special thanks to the avante-garde jugglers, Pet Vomit...wasn't that great? Now, it's time to reveal the winner of the 2012 Presidential election...the winner is...(dramatic 2 minute pause)...
Watch it slacker, I'm a runner...
I feel your pain gdiafante.
It's not painful...especially when I use the "special" gatorade...
slacker is feeling his oats this AM.:-)
gdiafante - Have you tried that stuff Joe Montana drinks, I think it is joint juice?
Nope. Truthfully, I don't like anything but cool, clear water. The other always made my saliva thick, which isn't a good thing when you're running.
bfra... most of those runners have grease fittings installed in their knees.
That number on their jersey is.. next oil change date.
I see slacker sitting and running off a marathon of wise cracks today.
gdiafante - I'm with you on the water, nothing beats it.
slacker - LOL
Now if House chimed in, we could really have a marathon! LOL
My knees are bionic. I had them upgraded recently, no lubricant, just space-age metal with an electromagenetic field that keeps them from rubbing.
Now my ankles...40W in summer is great...I feel like I'm gliding...
Loner prefers Brownies when he thinks about running.
Not true, I have never lusted after Brownies...their Scout Mothers, well, that's a different story.....I blame it on my Den Mother...as a Cub Scout, I learned my knots by way of bondage sessions...she was kinky...but back then, folks got away with stuff like that....now, I have to deal with the PTSD that it caused....that's why a take my meds...which are right over here....
"You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming" Frank Shorter
I agree with cancelling the NYC Marathon for the resident's of the city. It is a bummer for the runners who have been training for month's, for one day. But, I'm sure they understand.
I hear that Ron Popeil of Ronco fame, is working on a device that will block tv political campaign ads. The device will sell for $19.95. If you order now, a Pocket Fisherman is included at no extra cost.
Kosh put up a nice laundry list for electoral reform. Without campaign finance reform all other reform is doubtful.
The major political parties, the candidates, the donors and the major media all prefer this "Democracy Lite" system...they know how to game the system and they are reluctant to clean up their act.
And we the people have more important things on our agendas...so the theater continues unabated.
I read about that, Slack.
Ronco also markets the Dogma Removal Tool that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association used to remove Mormonism from its list of cults.
I think you'd look like a stupid, selfish a$$clown waving around a finishers medal and bragging about jogging 26 miles while trotting past folks that just lost everything and cant even buy a gallon of gas, or heat their home.
I saw that Loner. The Dogma Removal Tool, also includes a free Veg-O-Matic.
Sorry about that Loner. The rumor I started must be a total untruth.
Any rumor I start, always has plausible deniability.
Can I believe that?
maybe!
If any of you are interested, which I doubt, I just watched a youtube post Obama doesn't want to be seen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fECpVS6DrQ&feature=related/
How much of maybe can I maybe have doubts about?
I'm not sure, nemo...
[click]
It depends..
How much sure can I be sure of is for sure, gdai?