It has been a while since I wrote on here. Veterans Day was on the 11th and the entire country didn’t notice. The elections are over and the Dems took over.
It’s done. Now, for the complicated part.
We, as a country, need to stay on top of these fuckers to make sure that the moderates don’t start to slip on over to the dark side and pass tax cuts for the rich and screw the rest of us non-rich folks.
I promise to not let that fucking happen. Not on my watch.
Not supporting the troops. It’s a big thought. Anyone who says that we shouldn’t be in Iraq is clearly not supporting the troops. Anyone who says that if we don’t go to school that we’ll end up fighting a war in Iraq is obviously anti-troops. Anyone who voted for the Dems is unmistakably waiting for Allah to convert those troops.
Man, it’s amazing. They pulled it off. The Dems actually managed to get into both houses of Congress at a time when no one thought it was possible, and it looks like they did it with just a narrow space of support. No one is questioning the results, which leads me to two conclusions; the Repubs don’t care about midterms or the Dems are just a bunch of whiny bitches. I think it’s actually both. The Repubs don’t give a damn anymore. As long as they control the Big House, er, White House they don’t care.
On to the last part of this fragmented post, our failed republic.
I remember a time, (which was only about 10 years ago,) when the schools taught us about the branches of government and checks and balances. I remember a time when we were graduated from high school with a pretty decent understanding of how the system works, and at the very least, how to make the system work, should we ever need it. I remember a time when it was more important to teach us about the government than it was to teach us not to have sex, at all, for any reason. I think my parents’ generation can even remember this class they used to have called ‘Civics’ which taught all of the stuff needed to petition the government for anything, as well as how to register to vote, apply for a government job, and to take pride in dissent.
Where did this class go to? It’s been replaced with the anti-sex class and gay bashing class. Gone are the days of students learning about the Forefathers’ vision of the country, gone are the days of learning about legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, and gone are the days of learning how to be active members of society rather than passive and accepting little sheep.
http://www.squidoo.com/civics/
Go there. Read about civics. Learn something, and then use it.
Let me bottom line this for you: If you refuse to participate in the system, it will implode and there won’t be a system to ignore anymore. No more “I’m busy” excuses. Take the time to learn this about your government before it morphs from the borderline demagogue it is into a full out fascist-based system loosely translated from the Christian Bible, and not the good translation about love thy neighbor, either.
I will be around. Send email to me about how mad you are and I will be sure to reply. Not some candyass pre-made reply either, a heartfelt screw yourself will be sent out immediately.
Until the next, much love to you all and Happy Turkey Day. I hope to have another post ready by then, but just in case.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Memorial Day 2006
First, thank you to the troops who died in the service of our country. Your sacrifices will truly never be forgotten.
On to my reasoning for the "Memorial" day posting.
While everyone is enjoying their cook-outs and day off, I would like to draw a bit of attention to the issues surrounding why we celebrate "Memorial" day.
The idea is to remember those of us who choose to dedicate their lives to protecting freedom. Historically, there have only been two wars to protect American freedoms and both occurred on American soil about 100 years apart from one another. I am referring to the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the American Civil War (1861-1865.)
The American Revolution was fought by a group of rag wearing ex-patriot Englishmen against the King of England's armed forces. It lasted about seven years and resulted in the freedoms you and I enjoy today.
The American Civil War was fought by the northern part of the United States, (at this time, referred to as the Union,) and the southern part of the United States, (at this time, the Confederacy.) It lasted about four years and reunited a country after a long period of perceived inequality, (rich white southerners felt that rich white northerners didn't know anything about being rich or white in the south and being a rich white slave owner.)
Ultimately, the other wars that have been fought in this country have been largely cosmetic. We were trying to appeal to immigrants, (WWI and WWII,) we were trying to stop the drug trade (Operation Just Cause,) we were trying to expand our borders because we had a mandate from God, (Spanish-American War and Mexican-American War,) we believed that communism was wrong, (Cold War, Vietnam War, Korean War,) or, we were just bored and needed a way to take the heat off of our own corruption, (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Desert Storm, War on Terrorism, War on Drugs, War on Homelessness.)
I realize that not all of the last few were armed conflicts between our nation and another but, perhaps it is time to make the following point: our nation could be more than a war based economy. Millions upon millions of men and women have decided to go into the military over the years; some for family pride, some for patriotism, others because there were no other options available. Many times, the reason is because there isn't anything else available to the person and the Army or Marines make a good pitch about school. If there was a way to make school funding available to those students who are super-intelligent, yet lacking the funds to attend school, how many wars could we fight then? If not all high school seniors in this country had to decide on whether to make money or go to school after graduation, where would all of the jobs be? If some companies took the time to invest in children who posses amazing text book skills, rather than kids that have amazing factory skills, OUR COUNTRY MIGHT NOT BE WAR BASED.
I am not insinuating that we no longer need a military force. I am saying that we might want to rethink how we consider the men and women who have given their lives "In protecting Freedom." Or, more specifically, how "Freedom isn't really free."
If the people who had died since the end of the Civil War in 1865 saw what we were doing to the other countries over the last 141 years, many of them would wonder what they fought for. The south wanted to be its own country and keep slavery legal, because the Christian bible said it was OK. The North wanted to have the South back because that's where all of the raw materials for their industries came from and because they wanted to punish the rich white slave owners for mis-using the text in the Christian bible
We are trying to level the playing field for people in other countries. I do not question our country's desire to help those in need however, I do question our referencing to the military as "Protectors of Freedom." The military goes wherever its Commander in Chief tells them, does whatever is asked of them for however long it takes, and does it all with the knowledge that we will consider them heroes, whether they come back to us with on a commercial airliner or a military one. That is a truly amazing sacrifice.
What about sending them into a hornet's nest to "defend" a freedom that wasn't even wanted? What about sending them after one person to avenge 3,000 deaths, just to turn around and send them after another? What about invoking the name of the Christian god whilst destroying another Muslim country's people and mosques? What about killing innocent civilians? What about running our country into the ground while trying to prove a point about American military strength? What about...I could go on forever.
Our men and women, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children and grandchildren, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces should be revered, not reposed. They should be able to serve their country without the fear of never coming home again. They should be able to serve the entire republic, not just the rich white ones.
As I wrote the above diatribe, images floated into my mind of the countless times in our country's history when a mother has lain her son or daughter to rest while fighting a war that only a select few believe in. A distraught father, retired from many years of service to his country, laying a rose on top of a casket that should hold him, not his son. A wife, shattered by the appearance of an army chaplain at her job, forcing herself to believe that she needs to work more than grieve.
I know that we are going through a period of indifference in this country, I just don't understand why. I feel pain whenever someone has to be told that their loved one or friend won't ever say hello to them, walk on the beach with them, drive them to school, be at another wedding, drink a beer at a barbecue, celebrate another birthday, or just breathe ever again.
The things that we ask our men and women in the service to carry out in the name of our country need to be questioned by someone. We are a bunch of ignorant, self-centered fucks content on driving to the end of our mile long driveway in our SUV to check our mail, leaving all of the lights on in a home when we aren't there because it makes us "safe" from the bad black men living across town who are waiting for us to go on vacation and rob the place, sitting our children in front of the TV rather than in front of a bookshelf, drinking our lattes and eating our burgers while talking on our cell phones and driving back to work. We also drink cases of beer at family gatherings, talk about how church is the only place to go and socialize when we should be asking our collective God to watch over our family while they are off fighting a war that no one quite knows why we are fighting, sitting in our trailers watching wrestling, out back building a shed or repairing one of the 50 cars in the front yard, going to the lake to fish or swim or drink, telling the kids to shut up while driving that Chevy Suburban to Wal-Mart at 2:00am, or wishing that our kids would become rich while they are too busy eating fast food and lapping up the bullshit that is fed to them everyday by their parents who think they can actually do something that no one in their family has ever done before.
The military does what it is told to do and never speaks a word otherwise.
Who does that leave to speak up for them?
Thank you veterans and current servicemen and servicewoman for your undaunted and amazing resilience to our imaginary crises as they have arisen over the last 141 years. Your service to our country, while not truly needed, is very much admired.
To the rest of us that believe that we are in serious shit now more than ever on the world stage: remember the words of one of the greatest civil rights leaders ever, Mahatma Gandhi, who said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
This is the only way to turn things around.
Happy day off, everyone.
Much Love to you all,
On to my reasoning for the "Memorial" day posting.
While everyone is enjoying their cook-outs and day off, I would like to draw a bit of attention to the issues surrounding why we celebrate "Memorial" day.
The idea is to remember those of us who choose to dedicate their lives to protecting freedom. Historically, there have only been two wars to protect American freedoms and both occurred on American soil about 100 years apart from one another. I am referring to the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the American Civil War (1861-1865.)
The American Revolution was fought by a group of rag wearing ex-patriot Englishmen against the King of England's armed forces. It lasted about seven years and resulted in the freedoms you and I enjoy today.
The American Civil War was fought by the northern part of the United States, (at this time, referred to as the Union,) and the southern part of the United States, (at this time, the Confederacy.) It lasted about four years and reunited a country after a long period of perceived inequality, (rich white southerners felt that rich white northerners didn't know anything about being rich or white in the south and being a rich white slave owner.)
Ultimately, the other wars that have been fought in this country have been largely cosmetic. We were trying to appeal to immigrants, (WWI and WWII,) we were trying to stop the drug trade (Operation Just Cause,) we were trying to expand our borders because we had a mandate from God, (Spanish-American War and Mexican-American War,) we believed that communism was wrong, (Cold War, Vietnam War, Korean War,) or, we were just bored and needed a way to take the heat off of our own corruption, (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Desert Storm, War on Terrorism, War on Drugs, War on Homelessness.)
I realize that not all of the last few were armed conflicts between our nation and another but, perhaps it is time to make the following point: our nation could be more than a war based economy. Millions upon millions of men and women have decided to go into the military over the years; some for family pride, some for patriotism, others because there were no other options available. Many times, the reason is because there isn't anything else available to the person and the Army or Marines make a good pitch about school. If there was a way to make school funding available to those students who are super-intelligent, yet lacking the funds to attend school, how many wars could we fight then? If not all high school seniors in this country had to decide on whether to make money or go to school after graduation, where would all of the jobs be? If some companies took the time to invest in children who posses amazing text book skills, rather than kids that have amazing factory skills, OUR COUNTRY MIGHT NOT BE WAR BASED.
I am not insinuating that we no longer need a military force. I am saying that we might want to rethink how we consider the men and women who have given their lives "In protecting Freedom." Or, more specifically, how "Freedom isn't really free."
If the people who had died since the end of the Civil War in 1865 saw what we were doing to the other countries over the last 141 years, many of them would wonder what they fought for. The south wanted to be its own country and keep slavery legal, because the Christian bible said it was OK. The North wanted to have the South back because that's where all of the raw materials for their industries came from and because they wanted to punish the rich white slave owners for mis-using the text in the Christian bible
We are trying to level the playing field for people in other countries. I do not question our country's desire to help those in need however, I do question our referencing to the military as "Protectors of Freedom." The military goes wherever its Commander in Chief tells them, does whatever is asked of them for however long it takes, and does it all with the knowledge that we will consider them heroes, whether they come back to us with on a commercial airliner or a military one. That is a truly amazing sacrifice.
What about sending them into a hornet's nest to "defend" a freedom that wasn't even wanted? What about sending them after one person to avenge 3,000 deaths, just to turn around and send them after another? What about invoking the name of the Christian god whilst destroying another Muslim country's people and mosques? What about killing innocent civilians? What about running our country into the ground while trying to prove a point about American military strength? What about...I could go on forever.
Our men and women, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children and grandchildren, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces should be revered, not reposed. They should be able to serve their country without the fear of never coming home again. They should be able to serve the entire republic, not just the rich white ones.
As I wrote the above diatribe, images floated into my mind of the countless times in our country's history when a mother has lain her son or daughter to rest while fighting a war that only a select few believe in. A distraught father, retired from many years of service to his country, laying a rose on top of a casket that should hold him, not his son. A wife, shattered by the appearance of an army chaplain at her job, forcing herself to believe that she needs to work more than grieve.
I know that we are going through a period of indifference in this country, I just don't understand why. I feel pain whenever someone has to be told that their loved one or friend won't ever say hello to them, walk on the beach with them, drive them to school, be at another wedding, drink a beer at a barbecue, celebrate another birthday, or just breathe ever again.
The things that we ask our men and women in the service to carry out in the name of our country need to be questioned by someone. We are a bunch of ignorant, self-centered fucks content on driving to the end of our mile long driveway in our SUV to check our mail, leaving all of the lights on in a home when we aren't there because it makes us "safe" from the bad black men living across town who are waiting for us to go on vacation and rob the place, sitting our children in front of the TV rather than in front of a bookshelf, drinking our lattes and eating our burgers while talking on our cell phones and driving back to work. We also drink cases of beer at family gatherings, talk about how church is the only place to go and socialize when we should be asking our collective God to watch over our family while they are off fighting a war that no one quite knows why we are fighting, sitting in our trailers watching wrestling, out back building a shed or repairing one of the 50 cars in the front yard, going to the lake to fish or swim or drink, telling the kids to shut up while driving that Chevy Suburban to Wal-Mart at 2:00am, or wishing that our kids would become rich while they are too busy eating fast food and lapping up the bullshit that is fed to them everyday by their parents who think they can actually do something that no one in their family has ever done before.
The military does what it is told to do and never speaks a word otherwise.
Who does that leave to speak up for them?
Thank you veterans and current servicemen and servicewoman for your undaunted and amazing resilience to our imaginary crises as they have arisen over the last 141 years. Your service to our country, while not truly needed, is very much admired.
To the rest of us that believe that we are in serious shit now more than ever on the world stage: remember the words of one of the greatest civil rights leaders ever, Mahatma Gandhi, who said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
This is the only way to turn things around.
Happy day off, everyone.
Much Love to you all,
Friday, May 26, 2006
Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounding Main...
Two posts in one day will spoil you folks for sure.
I am moving. It is official.
Not really going all that far away, about a mile around the corner. Still, its the first move I have made since I came to Georgia, not including the six or so months I lived with my uncle but kept most of my shit in the house I moved to.
Big deal for me as well as I seem to have developed some sort of weight-related back pain. I guess its really my body's way of explaining how much of an asshole I have been to it lately. I also think that the pain is its only way of fighting back against my idea of living a sedentary lifestyle.
My aunt and father have both returned to their lairs for another round of conspiring to make me wonder which side of the family wants me to pull a Machiavelli and never come back. I had a good time as did they, (I know because that's what they said.) I just wish that we weren't all so far apart. It was also very nice to see my mom's friend, Lynn. She took care of my brother, sister and I when my mom and dad first separated. She also was my mom's inspiration to go back to school and my mom was hers. Weird how things work out, but they always work out they way they have to.
My roommate has deserted me. I re-read the last post and realized that I was dead on when I admitted to being jealous. I offered to buy her a parting-gift; sort of my way of saying thanks. She has provided me with so much entertainment and I really want to make sure that she knows that I don't hate her for deciding to move on with her life, I actually commend her for moving on. The hard part for her is realizing that she can do things without a man around and that she has the capacity to handle the little things better than she does now. She is a great person shrouded in layers upon layers of bitterness. I have asked her to see past the things that have happened to her and look to protect herself only when first meeting someone. Loosely translated, she shouldn't be so cold to strange women and as inviting to any male as she is now.
I do hope that she manages to keep me informed of what's going on but, I also realize that if you love something and let it go, if it comes back again, it hasn't truly learned anything.
As I head off to sleep, I will not have anymore dreams about my now ex-roommate turning into a transsexual while in a bar. I will also remember that I have a massive amount of shit to move and an entire house to make presentable. Woooooooooo.
Until the next I decide to become active,
Much Love,
and goodbye to the old house. :,( I will miss this place.
I am moving. It is official.
Not really going all that far away, about a mile around the corner. Still, its the first move I have made since I came to Georgia, not including the six or so months I lived with my uncle but kept most of my shit in the house I moved to.
Big deal for me as well as I seem to have developed some sort of weight-related back pain. I guess its really my body's way of explaining how much of an asshole I have been to it lately. I also think that the pain is its only way of fighting back against my idea of living a sedentary lifestyle.
My aunt and father have both returned to their lairs for another round of conspiring to make me wonder which side of the family wants me to pull a Machiavelli and never come back. I had a good time as did they, (I know because that's what they said.) I just wish that we weren't all so far apart. It was also very nice to see my mom's friend, Lynn. She took care of my brother, sister and I when my mom and dad first separated. She also was my mom's inspiration to go back to school and my mom was hers. Weird how things work out, but they always work out they way they have to.
My roommate has deserted me. I re-read the last post and realized that I was dead on when I admitted to being jealous. I offered to buy her a parting-gift; sort of my way of saying thanks. She has provided me with so much entertainment and I really want to make sure that she knows that I don't hate her for deciding to move on with her life, I actually commend her for moving on. The hard part for her is realizing that she can do things without a man around and that she has the capacity to handle the little things better than she does now. She is a great person shrouded in layers upon layers of bitterness. I have asked her to see past the things that have happened to her and look to protect herself only when first meeting someone. Loosely translated, she shouldn't be so cold to strange women and as inviting to any male as she is now.
I do hope that she manages to keep me informed of what's going on but, I also realize that if you love something and let it go, if it comes back again, it hasn't truly learned anything.
As I head off to sleep, I will not have anymore dreams about my now ex-roommate turning into a transsexual while in a bar. I will also remember that I have a massive amount of shit to move and an entire house to make presentable. Woooooooooo.
Until the next I decide to become active,
Much Love,
and goodbye to the old house. :,( I will miss this place.
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