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The funny thing about this Blog is that I am no able to identify the author of a particular expose, article, poem, what have you, before I get to the bottom, at which point the author actually identifies himself. I know these contributors so well I need only read two lines of a particular piece before I know the general direction of their commentary. 

44/45 times thus far, that has been the case. The one outlier...?

The one outlier... Allow me to take this opportunity to be blunt: I was shocked when I read"Going in for Life" by my roommate of ... call it 2 + years; and shocked for more than the obvious reasons of topic choice and tone. I thought that if there is anybody - ANYBODY - who writes for this blog who's writing I am able to promptly identify, it's his. But, as I read and re-read and re-re-read, I could not for the life of me deem who could have possibly wrote that piece. 

Now, let me use the next few lines to explain two things, and I'm going to be straightforward. I agree with only 50 % of what he asserted in that piece. Not only do I agree with only 50% of it, but as he pointed out, I'll probably hold about 100% of it against him if and when I choose to make fun of him (I think he said I would say he was being soft... umm YAHHHHH).

But here's the beauty of a post like that, a blog like this, and ultimately friendships like the ones I have in these 4our other young men. I can disagree with a certain thing - hell, I can disagree with all of a certain thing - yet maintain a high level of respect for them. Lubeen said what he said because he meant it, and I know he meant. He wrote what he wrote because he feels passionately about it, and I, however reluctantly, however begrudgingly, stand behind him in full support. I can clown him, and make jokes, and harken back to the times when I believe he didn't believe what he wrote; I can pry, and nitpick, and claim his ridiculousness; but at the end of the day, his post, "Going in for Life" represents the manifestation of the maturation that he has undergone here at St. Paul's. In fact, it represents the maturation that the 5ive of us together have gone through here, whether I'd like to admit it or not. Granted, some of us display that maturation more than others, but you'd be hardpressed to find one willing to refute its presence. Period. 

So, in closing, Lubeen, although I know you won't take this as a slight or a calling out of sorts, I want you to make sure you know that I admire, truly and wholeheartedly, how you feel as indicated in "Going in for Life". I don't agree with it...

But its admirable. 

- Show Stoppa

And I'm late for class...