NASCAR Dads...



Unlike The Elder, I am a Dad and I love NASCAR. Ellen Goodman needs to actually attend a race or talk to one of us before she types with her biased fingers.

Go read Ellen's "column" and then come back. I'm waiting.

Welcome back.

What did you think? Ah, thats a good point, but let me type a thing or two.

First, a bit of history. (Remember, I AM A NASCAR DAD.) I started watching races, on TV with my Dad, in the seventies. My Dad has a Doctorate in Education. My Dad would be considered middle class and my Dad worked for Arizona (yeah Arizona, not the South) colleges for over 40 years. We watched NASCAR, basketball and baseball. We had fun. He is a great dad. I have a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in computer information systems. I am middle class. I am a veteran of the U.S.A.F (1981-1985, my Commander in Chief was President Reagan) and I have worked in education for over 10 years. I have a beautiful wife, a 12 year old son, a 18 year old daughter (who is now in the U.S.A.F), two dogs, two cats and a fish.

I think The Elder did a fine job taking the "column" apart and he certainly is a better writer than I am, but I have to add the following:

Ellen says: "In case you don't wear designer labels, NASCAR Dad is man of the political year. He's the XY chromosome heir to the Joe Six-Pack, Reagan Democrat, Angry White Man types and stereotypes of years gone by."

I say: "I do wear some designer labels, well at least I think I do. I have a $500 leather Dale Earnhardt jacket. I am a Little E fan (Ellen, I bet you don't even know what that means) and I am a 'Angry White' Reagan Republican. What am I angry about? I am angry that you, Ellen, have no idea what I am or stand for. I am angry that you think I am like a "Joe Six-Pack" (I prefer 12, oops) and that anyone would believe your biased columns. You have no idea what this country is about or stands for. Its sad really."

Ellen says: "But by and large, NASCAR Dad has become a shorthand for socially conservative and economically struggling white men."

I say: "Read the history above and like The Elder said, buy a ticket. Two years ago I attended the race in Phoenix and my seat cost $225! And Ellen your a racist. No, really. I have never thought once about anyone at the race. Interesting how you do. We go and watch races, we go because it is fun and we like it, not because the secret 'economically struggling white mens' club' has a meeting. Ellen, by the way, about half the crowd is female and they are babes to boot. You have been around to many of your Northeast cocktail parties, for to long, come-on out to America, I will take you to a race and you can see what we are really like, then you can type about us.

Ellen says: "The NASCAR Dad may like risk-taking as a spectator sport, but these days he's the guy buckling the kids in the child seats. In the same vein, he believes in national defense but doesn't want anybody conning his sons and daughters into combat over missing weapons of mass destruction."

I say: "Well I want to say... But I won't. Instead I will say, we are educated, loving Dads who want to be around to raise our children. We want to teach them the values that have made America unique and important. I know you don't think Dads are needed, but we are. And, um, Ellen I served. Did you? NO! And my daughter is. Is yours? NO! Guess you missed that one completely."

Ellen says: "Blah, Blah, Blah" Same old disconnected, liberal, biased, junk.

I say: "You have no idea what about 70% of America believes. We understand that the money we make, we made and it is ours. That we can do more with it than the government can. We understand that President Bush loves America and wants to protect it. We understand that the economy is about business and not about government programs. We understand America and you don't."

There is a race on SPEED and a cold one that needs my attention, so gotta go...


Posted: Tue - February 24, 2004 at 07:37 PM      

©