The wind beneath my wings

Every once in a while, just to keep my feet on the ground, I check out the famous Vox Pop in the Brainerd Dispatch. For those of you not from Brainerd, the Vox Pop is an opinion page feature that allows citizens to state their opinions without leaving their names. Another name for it would be Opinions for the Spineless. Or Chicken Shit Letters. Apparently, the history of the Vox Pop links back to teachers: some citizens of Brainerd did not feel comfortable stating their opinions for fear that the teachers in the district would penalize their children. In other words, if Claudia Podunk says something in a letter to the editor that upsets a teacher, that teacher is going to fail Ms. Podunk's kid. In fact, the editor of the Dispatch once claimed that the school distict employees were terrorists.

Sometimes I understand the need to protect one's identity, like when making complaints about stoplights, dove hunting, etc. Those are extremely sensitive issues.

All this is getting to an item in today's Vox Pop:

They're called heroes
I feel bad for the Warrior teams who have forfeited games because of what seems to be somewhat obscure rules. Nonetheless, they are to be commended for their victories and spirit. We have a name for people who do the right thing even when it's not in their self-interest. We call them heroes.

Now I have great sympathy for the soccer players since they had all of their wins forfeited through no fault of their own. That sucks. But heroes? Heroes?! Are you fucking kidding me? What is the "right thing" that was done here? I don't get it.

I love Vox Pop.

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Oh well -- I'm heading to The Decemberists concert tonight! According to Josh and John V., this makes me a limp-wristed communist. Long live Lenin, girlfriend.