Football and Concussions

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/23/concussion-concerns-may-lead-to-fewer-boys-playing-football/

     It is becoming more apparent of the risk of long term brain injury from multiple concussions. Because of football having such a high risk of recurring concussions it seems that some parents are preventing their kids from playing the game. In the CNN poll 86 percent of Americans said they had at least heard of the connection between concussions and long term brain injury. This correlation has got 1 in 4 Americans saying the they will keep their kids from playing the game. Still the other 3 out of 4 say that the benefits such as commitment, teamwork, and athletic ability out way the risks. An interesting point is brought up about the effects these mindsets can have. Pop Warner is where many of the now NFL stars started. If parents start preventing their kids from playing the game could it decrease the number of athletically talented recruits? I personally find that notion hard to believe.
     Still the issue of safety remains. The NFL is investing in research in order to make the game safe from better rules to improved helmets. With the potential of life long brain defects do you think the game is worth it? That is hard to say if you have never played it. Given that I only played JV it still helped me grow into my high school years. I bonded with the guys that I struggling to completely that next sprint with, hit that next practice dummy, and run that next play. It taught me to persevere and keep fighting. I know that it gives many kids valuable life lessons. It can help kids in school. But is it worth it? I think that with increasing awareness of concussions and improved equipment we can combat the negative effects that can come from the game.

Judgement

    This book has got me reflecting on how I view other people, how I treat them, and how that affects interactions. It is very easy to quickly judge others based on their outward appearance. I know that if I saw that family in Geek Love a million different thoughts would start bouncing through my head. Many of them would likely be things that should be kept to myself or not thought of to begin with. It is difficult not to judge and make decisions quickly when we see people for the first time. I would like to see this family in really life just to know how I would respond to them being different from me and everyone I know. Just because someone is disfigured that does not mean that we should avoid them. We most certainly must not treat them any different.
   Even if you are not Catholic or religious at all I am sure that you could get behind many of the Pope's actions lately. His most recent is the embrace of a disfigured man. The man had hundreds of tumors all over his face and body and the Pope pulled the man into his chest and kissed his forehead. This is a shining example of how we need to constantly treat those around us (maybe not always in such a literal sense). I would like to think that if I saw someone completely different that I would not tweet about them or make any other side remarks. This is difficult because society influences would say that this is okay to do. I am making a more conscious effort to be more accepting and simply not looking at someone oddly because they may be different than me. I would encourage others to strive for this in your lives as well. If you would like to read an account of the Pope's encounter with this man it can be found at http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/world/europe/pope-francis-embrace/ . It is a powerful story and I am sure that it is influence the millions of Catholics, Christians, and other people of the world.