The WTFriday Show (2024)

22/03/2020

“Prophets have predicted extinction, virgins spoke in apparition, and if it all came to pass now, you’d think we all deserved it somehow.” Neil Tennant.
In early October of 1918, an elderly man from a small town in central Utah, left the LDS General Conference in Salt Lake City. He was on his way home from what had been a memorable and spiritually uplifting gathering of the Saints. After all, during the opening of the conference President Joseph F. Smith revealed what was later to become Doctrine and Covenants section 138, the revelation dealing with the redemption of the dead.
The world was still reeling from the horrific loss of life on the battlefields of Europe. The end of “The Great War” was still a month away and the wholesale slaughter in the trenches continued.
In addition to the death being dealt by the war, an influenza virus that had plagued the soldiers had begun its inexorable march from the battlefields to the civilian populations of the world. It was a virulent, indiscriminate killer, taking the lives of old and young alike. It was also a speedy assassin, killing some within 24 hours of infection. Quite literally, a person could be perfectly healthy one day and locked in the final throes of death the next. It was a viral pathogen that killed 2.5% of those who contracted it, making over 20 times more lethal than any other influenza strain then known. In fact, so many died in 1918 from influenza that it decreased the average life expectancy by more than a decade. It was death’s scythe come to America’s shores.
As he started for home, he likely had no idea that the same influenza virus that had killed hundreds of thousands so far, had already started its deadly work within him. The idea that the coughs or sneezes of his fellow conference attendees would prove the instrument of his demise probably never entered his thoughts as he boarded a train for the trip home. He may have attributed the sudden feeling of exhaustion as nothing more than the inevitable price of old age. Perhaps he even managed to sleep a bit as the train carried him and the virus soon to kill him to Richfield, where he would leave the train and drive by buggy or automobile to his home in Koosharem.
But as the days advanced since leaving Salt Lake City, he most certainly would not have been able to ignore the telltale signs that he was now suffering something severe. The sudden high fever accompanied by terrible aches and pains throughout the body. The all-consuming weakness that sent him to his bed, making even the most basic movement a herculean effort. Next the virus would have attacked his respiratory system, manifesting presence by an unceasing cough that would wrack his body, expelling a bloody liquid from his lungs. His face may have taken on a blue complexion like so many victims did, as his system struggled to provide oxygen to his weakened body. Even if he survived the influenza itself, the after-effects would claim him. The body already depleted from its battle with the flu, would be defenseless against other pathogens, viruses and bacteria alike. In his case, pneumonia that was nearly indistinguishable from the flu itself. He would draw his last feeble breath on October 14, 1918, his battle with the 1918 influenza virus mercifully at an end.
The elderly gentleman was my Grandfather, Eric Gustave Erickson. I use the word “elderly” somewhat reluctantly as I’m now 49 years old and 68 seems much closer than it once did. Grandfather was a Swedish convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who along with his wife had joined the faith in his native Sweden. After saving enough money for the voyage, they immigrated to Utah and eventually settled in the small town of Koosharem, a beautiful hamlet nestled in a valley to the east of Richfield. They raised a large family of seven boys who, it seems were blessed with the tall stature of the Scandinavians. Alas, that particular trait wasn’t passed down to my siblings and I who inherited our height from our mom’s English lineage.
With the recent news of the Coronavirus or Covid-19 consuming every waking minute of our lives, I thought I would revisit family history to gain a sense of perspective. This happens to be a frequent pastime of mine as it prevents me from feeling sorry for my lot in life and gives me a greater appreciation for what I do have.
While I fully admit that we’re still in the relatively early stages of America’s turn with the virus, something about all this feels . . . slightly overblown. Of course, I believe it is incumbent on all of us to do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus. Especially to keep those who are susceptible to the virus or those with preexisting health conditions. The government has provided a list of actions we can take to lessen our potential exposure to the virus. Common sense stuff like washing hands, avoid sneezing and coughing on others, not deliberately exposing others if we’re sick, sadly has to be drummed into the heads of those less hygenic.
To the rest of the “normal” people, those who don’t suffer OCD and germaphobia such as myself, I say welcome to my world! The “social distancing” and “self-quarantine measures” now being preached ad nausaem have been a large part of my life for the better part of 35 years. As such, I feel myself amply qualified to address the current societal panic. True, there may be those who will remind me that I’m not a physician or epidemiologist and therefore I lack the credentials to comment. But I can say, that as a lawyer familiar with argument, that to make an appeal to authority is rarely sound logic.
Even as I write this, a report came across the radio stating that there have been 11,000 confirmed deaths from Covid-19 worldwide. That’s WORLDWIDE. Now not to trivialize the tragic loss of life and the sorrow that the loved ones of the lost have suffered as a result of Covid-19. My heart goes out to them and I pray that they may find some solace in their grief.
Nevertheless, there comes a time when we as a society must take stock of where we stand in all this. To do this we have to look at pandemics of the past. While it may be argued, as has one recent pundit that I read, that we cannot look to the flu pandemics of the past for comparison as with influenza, there is a vaccine for it. This is true. However, to that pundit I must point out that there was no vaccine against the Spanish influenza in 1918 and the death toll from coronavirus pales in comparison. In the United States alone, 675,000 people died of the Spanish influenza. That’s over half a million individuals from one nation alone.
Please stay with me for a moment before you exit out or delete this post in anger and disbelief. I know all too well that there are those who are in some strange way curiously obsessed with wanting this virus to be a mass killer, though why anyone would harbor that morbid wish is a mystery to me. That fact is evident through the media coverage and many of those posting on the various articles pertaining to Covid-19.
Invariably, when anyone dares draw comparisons between influenza and Covid-19, they spring to the defense of the latter with some vigor. They extoll the relative unknown “x-factor” of the virus in that we really don’t know what it’s capable of and that it’s “2.5 times more deadly than the common flu” It’s a little like they’ve selected their favorite viral contagion and it’s waaaay tougher than dumb old influenza and soooo much scarier.
Here’s where the perspective comes in. The following are the most recent pandemics that plagued humanity in the last 100 years. I am intentionally excluding deaths from Smallpox, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Cholera, Typhus, Measles, Ebola and Zika in the last century. Instead, I will focus on the influenza pandemics as well as other coronavirus outbreaks and their respective death tolls. They are as follows:
1918 Spanish Flu, 675,000 deaths in U.S, 50 Million deaths Worldwide (1918)
Asian Flu, H2N2, 70,000 deaths in the U.S, 2 Million deaths Worldwide (1957-58)
Hong Kong Flu, H3N2, 34,000 deaths in U.S, 1 Million deaths Worldwide (1968-69)
H1N1. Bird Flu. 12,000 deaths in the U.S. 150,700 to 575,400 deaths Worldwide. (2009)
SARS Co-V, (Also a Coronavirus) 8,098 cases, 77 deaths Worldwide. (2002-2003).
As recently as 2009, 12,000 people died in the UNITED STATES ALONE from H1N1! You read that right folks. There were over half a million deaths WORLDWIDE. Thus far, with Covid-19 we have 11,000 confirmed deaths . . . .WORLDWIDE.
But wait, I can almost hear the conspiracy buffs chomping at the bit. “But what about China hiding the actual numbers Erickson?” I will concede that the death toll from China might be higher than Chinese state media reported. After all, they are a communist government and as such may feel the need to fudge the numbers a bit to make themselves look good. Nevertheless, if even a fraction of the global death toll from H1N1 was experienced in Wuhan province, no amount of state controlled spin could disguise those numbers. Some way, somehow, the true numbers would come out. Truth always does in the end. Even if it takes some time.
What I’m getting at here gentle reader, is the fact that we are destroying our economy, crushing the ability of the American business owner to turn a profit, and denying the American worker their much needed paycheck, on a virus that thus far has nowhere near the death toll of past epidemics that have struck our country. That may be because of the measures that have been taken, but it may also be that we are choosing to embrace fear rather than a healthy amount of caution and common sense when confronting Covid-19.
To be sure, I am all for stopping this virus in its tracks. I get it. I’m not even saying that the leaders of our states, cities and nation are wrong taking the unprecedented actions they have taken. I also fully concede that I am not a physician. The actions that those more wise than I have taken to contain Covid-19 may in fact be the salvation of our country if not the world. My only question is this, where was the panic over H1N1? Where were the mass-shutdowns and quarantining of the vast majority of the American populace when the death toll was much higher? Why does this particular virus that has sadly thus far, primarily killed individuals who suffer from preexisting medical conditions or are elderly merit the “man the lifeboats, the ship is sinking” approach that was lacking with other recent viral pandemics?
Benjamin Franklin once wisely remarked, “passion governs, and she never governs wisely.” I simply wonder if we are letting one particular passion, namely fear, govern our lives at the expense of freedom? On a positive note, I suppose we’ll never take toilet paper for granted again.

28/09/2018

Rebecca and Brett. The more things change the more they remain the same.

Three hundred and twenty six years ago, in a small village, a frail, manacled old woman entered the courtroom. She stood before the assembled spectators and accusers to plead innocence to the charge of witchcraft that had been levelled against her. When the charges were first made, the community was outraged that the allegations were brought against the woman. After all, she was well known for her works of Christian charity, her piety and devotion to God.

But her accusers were adamant. The woman was a witch, responsible for the tormented fits several teenage girls in the small community were enduring. The old woman was but one of many souls accused by the girls of associating with the devil, the cause of all the ills the community endured.

Thirty nine prominent members of the community signed a petition in her defense stating that she couldn’t be guilty of so sever a charge as witchcraft. She was simply too good of a person. The evidence against here was paper thin, merely accusations levelled by disgruntled neighbors and “tormented” teens.

When the jury returned the verdict of not-guilty, the “afflicted” girls began to writhe in supposed agony, claiming that the old woman was tormenting them. It was therefore no surprise when the not guilty was quickly overturned in favor of a “guilty” verdict. There was some outrage over the verdict. Some who saw the trial for the sham it was, mob justice and public opinion driving the conviction of the innocent.

Still, the “survivors” of witchcraft must always be believed whether real evidence supported the charge or not. Even a subsequent reprieve from the governor was later rescinded to stave off public outcry. The sentence of death was imposed.

To the very end, even when the hangman’s noose was placed around her tiny neck, the woman proclaimed her innocence. But innocence, fairness and justice were terms that were decided by mob rule and not the rule of law.

The woman was Rebecca Nurse, my great-grandmother.

Observing the spectacle of the Brett Kavaunaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, one can’t help but see the similarities. The outrage. The anger. The indignation. The unsupported allegations. The character assassination. Letters and sworn statements attesting to the man’s good character. The mobs of activists storming the halls of government displaying fits that would make the “tormented” accusers of 1690’s Salem proud. The refrain of “the survivors must always be believed” repeated over, and over. The public hearings. The anguished family of the accused enduring the hell of it all.

Welcome to America, where history can and does repeat itself. Where irony escapes the politically motivated. Where a witch hunt in the name of social justice is acceptable. A place where any accusation, no matter how lacking in evidence, is taken as gospel truth. Where all men are now sexual predators (Unless they contribute to Planned Parenthood or are card carrying members of the Democratic Party). Where feckless late night hacks like Jimmy Kimmel spew calls for physical mutilation of the accused to the masses and claim its comedy. Where reason and civility have been replaced by raw emotion and hysteria.

In other words, the phrase “those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it,” is as meaningless to our society as is the concept of innocent until proven guilty. Then again, maybe we are simply witnessing yet another historic event that clearly demonstrates that Americans get the society and government we deserve.

22/08/2018

Americans should forget about Right vs. Left, the real war is against all of us.

At the ever so relevant MTV Music awards on 8/20/18, music icon/aging pop-shock artist Madonna was selected to pay tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Now to be fair, the producers of the awards show should have known that Madonna would make the occasion all about herself. After all, she did exactly that the last time MTV dredged her up to pay tribute to Prince following his untimely demise.

Madonna delivered a nearly mono-tone speech dressed in costume, wherein she told the story of her own struggle through poverty, and how Aretha was in essence her savior. Within moments of her exit from the stage, the social media backlash exploded with criticism not just for her self-promotion, but for cultural appropriation. (Madonna was wearing a doofy black robe with African jewelry). One individual in particular, Alicia Garza, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, commented, “Whiteness has no shame.”

That last comment, “whiteness has no shame” is troubling. Far more troubling than the annoying narcissism of Madonna. When taken at face value, the comment infers that simply being white is bad. That narcissism can and in fact is genetically attributable to an entire race of people. Last time I checked, labeling anyone based solely on race was the very definition of racism. Clearly that’s no longer the case so long as the race of the person making such a despicable comment is a member of a protected class. Then it seems overt racism is socially acceptable.

Of course this episode is only one example of the disease that has infected our nation. It’s a virus that’s been deliberately injected into almost every corner of society, insidiously tapping into the hidden evil that occupy space in the recesses of the human heart. “E Pluribus Unum” our national motto, meaning “From Many, One,” has been re-written by the extremes of both sides of the socio-political universe to “E Unum Pluribus.” “From One, Many.”

In my nearly 48 trips around the sun, I’ve seen eight presidential administrations come and go. Well, actually only six since it would be a stretch to claim that I remember much of the Nixon presidency, and we’re still in the midst of the Trump-era. During that time each administration has had its fair share of supporters and detractors. Some presidencies were monumental in their impact on the nation, good and bad (Reagan, Obama, Bush II). Others have been nothing more than momentary blips on the radar of American history (Carter, Bush I).

Verbal and written attacks against a particular president are nothing new. Most are based in ideological differences between well-meaning people who simply don’t agree with how the other side governs. The vast majority of Americans let the ballot box do the talking for them, trusting in the process by which a republic chooses its leaders. Yet underlying the often vast ideological divide that separated us individually, was the spirit of some commonality. Through it all, we still looked upon the “other” as Americans just as ourselves, and when push came to shove, we rallied around the unifying thought that at our core, we held dear a common set of values.

Yet now it seems that a far different spirit energizes the extremes on the left and right while simultaneously enervating the rest of us. Those of us in the middle.

In case you missed the constant barrage of 24/7 media coverage, the alt-right and the alt-left are locked in a death struggle and the clown car isn’t big enough for both of them. Both are two sides of the same rusty coin that funds equally horrific societal outcomes: Fascism and Communism. Almost daily we see the acolytes of these extremes marching in the streets, destroying public and private property, assaulting those with whom they disagree and denigrating the very system that allows them the freedom to protest. I mean, ANTIFA (far left domestic terrorists) who beat the holy crap out of a Bernie Sanders supporter in Portland who had the temerity to waive an American flag.

Historically, those of us in the middle stood back in bleachers and watch these two ideological goons slug it out, leaving it to law enforcement to ensure their socio-political fisticuffs didn’t infringe on our quiet lives.

But that was then. In a stroke of diabolical genius, these two ideological bottom feeders managed to drag the rest of us into the fray. How? Simple. They went back to the atavistic playbook and dredged up from the sewers of human existence what evil always has, the twin terrors of race and class.

Thanks to social media and a mainstream press that has gleefully circled the carcass of societal outrage hoping to find a scrap or two of national dysfunction to put on air, we are pitted against one another as never before. Not since perhaps the Civil War have we despised one another so much. To the alt-left, race is paramount. One cannot simply be an American as they define it, You must be a hyphenated-American to maintain any sense of self and legitimacy. To the alt-right, race is paramount as well. One cannot look upon our fellow citizens as American as they define it if they don’t have the right skin pigmentation.

Class and social status are also liberally thrown into the collective sludge of far-left and far-right political ideologies. To the alt-left, those who have achieved financial success have done so at the expense of the underprivileged and oppressed. So one must hate them and all they stand for. To the alt-right, the underprivileged and oppressed are in that state because of genetics and their fundamental inferiority. Ergo, we must hate them and all they stand for.

If the goal of these groups is to drag all of us into the cesspool of division with them, it’s evidently working. We’ve witnessed pro athletes kneel during the national anthem, serving to anger the majority of us in the middle and making a national sport an unwelcome political stage. We’ve seen the insanity of masked hooligans chanting communist slogans smashing shops and Marine Corp recruiting offices. We’ve watched our while bigots wave confederate flags as they march down city streets, provoking an angry response from those of a different skin color.
Abraham Lincoln once said, "All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
"At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by su***de."
As divisions are allowed to multiply, as civil discourse breaks down and blame is laid for all ills at the feet of “the other,” and as we allow emotion to rule reason, it seems that we as a nation are closer than ever to fulfilling that dire assessment.

20/08/2018

David Cross and low hanging fruit.

I’ve generally always liked David Cross. True, the man is no comedic genius despite his attempts to be so, but he’s entertaining. I confess, until his most recent controversy surrounding his cheap shot at the LDS faith, (Cross posed with a woman clad only in the LDS temple garments and tweeted it) I didn’t even know he performed stand-up comedy. That’s just how culturally relevant on the stand-up circuit he is. But, I had a minute or two to spare so I looked up some of his stand-up on YouTube.

Now it’s clear, the man is no George Carlin or Richard Pryor in terms of his contribution to the world of stand-up. He’s good. Not great. But good. He’s the kind of comedian that would be opening for Sly and Family Stone tribute band or a Barbara Mandrel impersonator at an off-off the strip casino. That he’s not a great comic is not his fault. Hubris motivates even the best of us at times to assume we’re better at something than we really are.

His comedy is typical for the left these days and certainly nothing original. Religion sucks. Conservatives are idiots. Trump blows. Louie C.K. is MUCH better at those jokes. Oh there are a few societal bits that don’t involve politics or religion, but Seinfeld does those better. He’s like a third-string quarterback of comedy.

My experience with David’s career has largely been through his performance as Tobias Funke on Arrested Development, and his turn as “Minion” in the animated film Megamind. Both brilliantly done. Credit where credit is due.

I’m also aware that he’s an author, but I’d be lying if I said his books interest me at all. I’m sure David would have some smug self-serving dig at my lack of intellectual prowess for not reading his book readily available to tweet. I mean the guy felt literarily superior enough to slam a critic of his who thought his Mormon tweet was “excruciatingly bad” by commenting that such wording is employed by a 14 years old or a poor writer. Easy there Mr. Clemens, you’ve not exactly produced Pulitzer-worthy material either.

Now back to his offensive tweet. It seems that the outraged masses in Utah are clamoring for his show to be cancelled. They’re offended. That they’re offended is completely understandable. Being a practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I was offended as well. It was a low blow. A weak attempt at humor at best, and at worst blatant religious bigotry.

But really, who cares? Outside of the State of Utah, not many. One could argue that he clearly doesn’t know his target audience if his goal is to put people in seats at his show. After all, Dave probably wouldn’t go to say, Jerusalem and take a picture with a naked woman sporting a yarmulke outside of the Wailing Wall. Or pose with a woman wearing the headpiece of a Hajib but nothing else at the Dome of the Rock mosque. It’s doubtful he’d sell many tickets. It’s also likely he’d be running from an angry mob at either location.

But here in the United States, Dave is free to pick the low hanging fruit of comedy. The cheap and easy joke rife with shock value. The stunt evidently worked if his intent was to cause buzz for his show.

However, members of the church should not be calling for a boycott or cancellation of his show. After all, many of these same faithful were angry that members of the University of Utah faculty and many students were calling for the university to cancel the Ben Shapiro speaking engagement. Freedom of speech means just that. Freedom. (Side note, I do find the hypocrisy from those same faculty members at the U of U who labeled conservative commentator Ben Shapiro’s comments “hate speech,” yet clearly have no problem with religious intolerance, very telling. Their silence speaks volumes).

In the final analysis, David Cross will still perform his show as scheduled, with all its clichéd, hackneyed material mocking Latter-Day Saints and conservatives. The sun will still rise on the morning after the show. David will go on to another town and plum the shallow depths of his comedic genius for material. I’ll still enjoy watching Arrested Development, and realize that the character he portrays, Tobias, is in reality a far more interesting individual than the man who plays him.

06/07/2018

The modern protest: or how to get publicity without really putting yourself out.

Evan Rachel Wood, star or HBO’s Westworld, recently dedicated herself to a hunger strike to bring attention to the plight of illegal immigrant families along the border. Generally, when it comes to hunger strikes, the image of Gandhi immediately springs to mind. A dedicated individual seeking to make a real difference, fasting for days, even weeks to bring their cause to the attention of the world.

In Rachel’s case. . not so much. With much fanfare and attention (which I guess brought the cameras out) she announced that it “was a privilege not a sacrifice” to undergo the grueling ordeal of depriving one’s body of nourishment. It’s truly powerful, and no doubt a touching gesture for the immigrants to see that this member of the Hollywood elite was willing to give up so much to bring attention to their plight.

I have no doubt that persons who travelled hundreds of miles, often on foot, with little to no food or water, for weeks on end, often in the company of drug cartels and human traffickers, were humbled by Evan’s sacrifice.

Just how long did she devote to her “hunger strike” you may ask? A week? Two weeks? A month? Longer? Answer: Her “hunger strike” lasted a sum total of 24 hours! Yes indeed! Evan endured that torture for TWENTY-FOUR HOURS! Let that sink in for a minute. If I had the drive and someone paid for my subscription, I could binge watch Westworld and still come in under 24 hours. She’s essentially fasting.

To those unfamiliar with the Latter-day Saint faith, once a month we are supposed to fast for a 24 hour period to better ourselves spiritually and physically. The purpose is to humble us, help us to see the bounty we enjoy and make us more open to the promptings of the spirit.

I’ve never referred to the monthly spiritual observance as a “hunger strike” though. I kind of wish I had. I mean, it would have made it sound like a much greater ordeal than it actually is. (Mild hunger pains, bad breath, some thirst, stomach growling). Hell on earth stuff apparently. To her credit she did purchase some items to distribute to the folks at the border. I have no doubt her stomach was rumbling its displeasure every moment.

But here’s the thing Evan, your statement about your “hunger strike” was pretty accurate. This wasn’t a sacrifice, not even close. At best this was a mild annoyance for you. At worst, this was a cheap publicity stunt coupled with an effort to be part of the concerned starlet crowd. A vainglorious attempt to have your peers recognize your compassion credentials. I’m not questioning her thought as to the cause of these immigrants. One can’t read another person’s mind after all. But it does seem remarkably convenient.

Having lived in a third-world county rife with poverty for two years, walking among starving children and sharing a meager meal with men and women living in dirt-floored shacks, I can safely say that no amount of fasting or “hunger striking” as you define it, could ever come close to giving me the smallest modicum of real understanding as to what they endure.

In the future Evan, if you really want to make a difference, travel to the home countries of these individuals you seek to empathize with. Live among them. That doesn’t mean you have to dress in sackcloth and ashes in a dirt hovel. But rent a villa and walk among them. Visit their homes. Drink the same polluted water they do. Have them spend their last Piso or Peso to buy you a snack on a hot day, knowing full well that they probably won’t be able to feed their family for a few days because of that sacrifice.

Maybe then you’ll impress us all with your “sacrifice” of twenty-four food-free hours. Until then, enjoy the wonderful world of pretend you live in. The costumes, the props, the characters. I not talking about your role on Westworld by the way. I’m talking Hollywood.

The WTFriday Show

22/03/2020

28/09/2018

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20/08/2018

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