Yesterday was a whirlwind of emotion for everyone, one of the worst shootings in American history. When I see a disaster happen, I will always look for the truth, and try to assess the situation to it's fullest, however I am subject to the emotions caused by and my political leanings, as much as I try to curb.
My apology is for those who were offended to my reactions to an Onion article posted by "Star Trek". actor Will Wheaton. The article (linked below) entitled "‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens", uses the same text four times with changes in image and names in the text.
To me, the Onion, is a news site used for humor, not for real news and political commentary. To me, it appeared insulting to use one of their articles during a tragedy (this is the site that posted pieces on Biden selling Pot and Tim Kaine shoving crackers into a voting machine). The addition of blaming the NRA (who I've seen yet to even issue a statement or mentioned in the Onion piece) by saying "Fuck the NRA" just seemed like unwarranted attack, even against a group I don't support.
My response to this is not in keeping with my own personal rules on discussing politics and lowered myself to the level the troll. It also is not in keeping with the message of this blog, which is to provide my opinions in an eloquent manor and promote intelligent civil discourse.
Again, I apologize, my comments were offensive, and,I was error in my interpretation of the article; I have since deleted those posts.
Thank you.
Link:
http://www.theonion.com/article/no-way-to-prevent-this-says-only-nation-where-this-36131
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Friday, August 18, 2017
Ripples of the Civil War
I don't need to rehash the events that occurred in Charlottesville Virginia these weekend, as it should still be fresh in everyones mind. The worst parts of this country ripping at very fabric of the nation. I blame both the left and the right for the altercations that have occurred since the election. In this case however, Alt-Right White Supremacists are by far the most to blame.
What we are feeling to day are the ripple effects of the Civil War, probably the most prolific war in American history. For five years, 1861 to 1865, we tore ourselves over slavery. It has been argued that "States Rights" were a major cause of the war, and there is truth in that, but slavery was the primary reason it was fought. The affects of the war reverberate to the modern day, it reshaped out culture and who we are today.
Following the end of the Civil War came a short lived period known as Reconstruction, Lincoln's plan to bring the South back into the Union. The purpose of Reconstruction was to rebuild the Southern infrastructure and economy, and protect the rights of freed slaves. The South was divided in large military districts to help facilitate this effort. However, when it ended in 1877, racist sentiment still existed and rights of African-Americans were still curtailed and that wouldn't be full addressed until close to a hundred years later in the 1960s. It was also during that time, many of the Confederate statues that are the center of the current controversy were built.
When I first heard about the removal of the Confederate statues, I was irritated by it. As a proponent of studying History as unbiased as possible, and heavily against revisionist historians, I found the idea of tearing down these monuments as repugnant. It looked like plot from the left to rewrite our history that was comfortable with their sensibilities. After some arguments, soul searching, research, and events of this weekend, I am behind taking Confederate monuments down.
To be clear, however, this does not include museums, they are places of learning, and must look history as unbiased as possible. I had a long conversation on Twitter concerning this, we need to preserve history, not bury it due to people's sensitivities.
Back to the issue at hand, the statues the commemorate the Confederate cause should be taken down. As I said, slavery was the main cause of the war, this was a rebellion to keep that institution intact. We shouldn't be celebrating people who fought to keep this crime alive. Many of these statues were built following the end of reconstruction as a way to legitimize the Confederate cause, they were constructed even as recent as the 1930s.
In response to the calls to have the Confederate statues removed, many right leaning groups have posted memes asking why statues of FDR aren't being torn down because of the Japanese interment camps during World War II. While some left leaning groups have called for the removal of of the Theodore Roosevelt statues in New York and even blowing up Mount Rushmore. That is a loss of focus on issue at hand, we're talking racism and prejudice here and people threw the nation into war to keep those beliefs. I'm not sure how many times I need to repeat that.
To conclude, this nation needs to do some soul searching. The comments of President Trump represent a nation that still believes (to a good extent) in the myth of the south and not the truth. They are offensive and inappropriate if they to finally leave the Civil War in the past and learn the lessons from it instead of being doomed to repeat it.
Additional Reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_Era
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/10/attended-1936-dedication-robert-e-lee-memorial-dallas
https://www.romper.com/p/what-is-antifa-the-anti-fascist-protestors-are-being-blamed-for-violence-in-charlottesville-76857
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unite_the_Right_rally
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/17/vice-editor-lets-blow-mount-rushmore/
What we are feeling to day are the ripple effects of the Civil War, probably the most prolific war in American history. For five years, 1861 to 1865, we tore ourselves over slavery. It has been argued that "States Rights" were a major cause of the war, and there is truth in that, but slavery was the primary reason it was fought. The affects of the war reverberate to the modern day, it reshaped out culture and who we are today.
Following the end of the Civil War came a short lived period known as Reconstruction, Lincoln's plan to bring the South back into the Union. The purpose of Reconstruction was to rebuild the Southern infrastructure and economy, and protect the rights of freed slaves. The South was divided in large military districts to help facilitate this effort. However, when it ended in 1877, racist sentiment still existed and rights of African-Americans were still curtailed and that wouldn't be full addressed until close to a hundred years later in the 1960s. It was also during that time, many of the Confederate statues that are the center of the current controversy were built.
When I first heard about the removal of the Confederate statues, I was irritated by it. As a proponent of studying History as unbiased as possible, and heavily against revisionist historians, I found the idea of tearing down these monuments as repugnant. It looked like plot from the left to rewrite our history that was comfortable with their sensibilities. After some arguments, soul searching, research, and events of this weekend, I am behind taking Confederate monuments down.
To be clear, however, this does not include museums, they are places of learning, and must look history as unbiased as possible. I had a long conversation on Twitter concerning this, we need to preserve history, not bury it due to people's sensitivities.
Back to the issue at hand, the statues the commemorate the Confederate cause should be taken down. As I said, slavery was the main cause of the war, this was a rebellion to keep that institution intact. We shouldn't be celebrating people who fought to keep this crime alive. Many of these statues were built following the end of reconstruction as a way to legitimize the Confederate cause, they were constructed even as recent as the 1930s.
In response to the calls to have the Confederate statues removed, many right leaning groups have posted memes asking why statues of FDR aren't being torn down because of the Japanese interment camps during World War II. While some left leaning groups have called for the removal of of the Theodore Roosevelt statues in New York and even blowing up Mount Rushmore. That is a loss of focus on issue at hand, we're talking racism and prejudice here and people threw the nation into war to keep those beliefs. I'm not sure how many times I need to repeat that.
To conclude, this nation needs to do some soul searching. The comments of President Trump represent a nation that still believes (to a good extent) in the myth of the south and not the truth. They are offensive and inappropriate if they to finally leave the Civil War in the past and learn the lessons from it instead of being doomed to repeat it.
Additional Reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_Era
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/10/attended-1936-dedication-robert-e-lee-memorial-dallas
https://www.romper.com/p/what-is-antifa-the-anti-fascist-protestors-are-being-blamed-for-violence-in-charlottesville-76857
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unite_the_Right_rally
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/17/vice-editor-lets-blow-mount-rushmore/
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Quick Thought: Annoyed...
There is no way to eloquently start this, and I'll keep it short, the American people had more than two choices for the President of the United States. Instead of recognizing the variety of candidates, they selected from what the media said were the only to legitimate candidates, a warmonger and a reality TV star. In the libertarian corner, you had two governors, Gary Johnson had run a successful company out of high school, elected twice in New Mexico, balancing the budget while in office, and was far better shape.
But no, we selected a man with no leadership ability, whose only redeeming quality was that he wasn't part of the system. We chose to elect a reality TV star over a pair of governors, and based their opinion on him on the inability of MSNBC to understand what a "transition in topic" is.
I hold a lot of frustration back from this election and only irritates me more that we will do the same in four years. We still chose only between Democrats and Republicans, unable to think outside the box, unable to take a risk on might look like the fringe party. It is hard to comprehend that people could chose between two of the worst candidates to ever run for that office and ignore candidates with leadership ability under their very nose.
My fellow Americans, we really have some soul searching to do...
Friday, July 14, 2017
Quick Thought: Health Insurance Idiocy
Health Insurance, probably the single most irritating and frustrating issue of modern American politics. It affects us all, allowing us to pay for the sometimes outrageous cost of health care. In their infinate wisdom, the government has attempted to create a system helps reduce cost and assure that everyone is covered, but it feels that they have only made the whole system worse.
From a person experience in dealing with the Mass Health Connector, the system the ACA (Obamacare) is based on, has failed in it's mission. While they provide a lower cost insurance, my options were limited to five companies, each of increasing price. To make matters more irritating, we were promised by the ACA (which would cover all Americans) that if we liked our doctor we could stay with them, that was a flat out lie, as I am now currently in the search for a new one, staying with my current would mean higher premiums or directly paying over a hundred dollars per visit.
Below I have posted a link to a health care bill proposed by Senator (Dr.) Rand Paul. In his bill, we are allowed to decide a heath plan that fits the needs of the individual, nothing mandated. Businesses can work together form insurance pools, and we can have "health savings" accounts. It is not perfect bill, but it is a step in the right direction, protecting people with pre-existing conditions and fulling the needs of the individual.
It frightens that his proposal isn't even being considered, one would think that someone in the industry would hold more weight on the issue. That is the problem though with the current congress, people who speak and grandstand with emotional arguments, but come forth little substance. They do what their lobbyists tell them do, and use whatever means they have to sway the people. Health Care something we shouldn't pass and then review it later as Nancy Pelosi suggested in 2010. It should be handled with tact and logic, be bipartisan, and consider both people and economics.
I will go into more detail in another longer article on the many various facets of the issue. For now, consider that many of us the situation varies, a one size fits all plan will not work. Also consider the bill Rand Paul proposes, it's not perfect, but it has merit and potentially a good start to creating a system that works.
https://www.paul.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/ObamacareReplacementActSections.pdf
From a person experience in dealing with the Mass Health Connector, the system the ACA (Obamacare) is based on, has failed in it's mission. While they provide a lower cost insurance, my options were limited to five companies, each of increasing price. To make matters more irritating, we were promised by the ACA (which would cover all Americans) that if we liked our doctor we could stay with them, that was a flat out lie, as I am now currently in the search for a new one, staying with my current would mean higher premiums or directly paying over a hundred dollars per visit.
Below I have posted a link to a health care bill proposed by Senator (Dr.) Rand Paul. In his bill, we are allowed to decide a heath plan that fits the needs of the individual, nothing mandated. Businesses can work together form insurance pools, and we can have "health savings" accounts. It is not perfect bill, but it is a step in the right direction, protecting people with pre-existing conditions and fulling the needs of the individual.
It frightens that his proposal isn't even being considered, one would think that someone in the industry would hold more weight on the issue. That is the problem though with the current congress, people who speak and grandstand with emotional arguments, but come forth little substance. They do what their lobbyists tell them do, and use whatever means they have to sway the people. Health Care something we shouldn't pass and then review it later as Nancy Pelosi suggested in 2010. It should be handled with tact and logic, be bipartisan, and consider both people and economics.
I will go into more detail in another longer article on the many various facets of the issue. For now, consider that many of us the situation varies, a one size fits all plan will not work. Also consider the bill Rand Paul proposes, it's not perfect, but it has merit and potentially a good start to creating a system that works.
https://www.paul.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/ObamacareReplacementActSections.pdf
I'm Still Here...
To the people who follow my blog; I apologize that I haven't posted in awhile. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I have a whole slew of articles I'm writing and editing, politics, technology, ect... Life always has a way of absorbing time, work, hobbies, people, ect... Anyways, hopefully I'll have a new full article up within the coming weeks and smaller ones over the next few days.
Thank you for your patience!
Thank you for your patience!
Friday, May 12, 2017
Quick Thought: Annoyance
Has the world today become to unbearable? Has the rise of our online social structure made the world an irritating mess?
Social media is akin to a gun, both can be used for recreation, a force for good, or a force for evil and hatred. We use it as a weapon for our reactionary nature without any recognition of the consequences. Liberal SJW's (Social Justice Warriors), Conservative SJW's, and Mid-Range SJW's, they spout their world view and try to dictate it others; I will admit, I have likely pushed my ideas in a such a way on Facebook.
We have created a reactionary society, sometimes it's good for bringing an important issue to bare. However, on many occasions, our reactionary society will move in hatred against something or someone without thinking or understanding the full story. How can you fly into a rage over a clip of an interview without seeing the thing?
I have threatened numerous times to deactivate my social media accounts, I will probably never do that, to many connections. It's like a defensive reaction to arguments that drive me over my tolerance limit. Winston Churchill once said, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." If your going to enter the battlefield of opinions, one needs to grow a thick skin, and that comes with time.
In conclusion, I would ask people over social media to consider their words before posting; not just in a grammatical sense but also in content. In this country we have the right to free speech, but it's important to exercise that right carefully and with consideration.
Thank you.
Social media is akin to a gun, both can be used for recreation, a force for good, or a force for evil and hatred. We use it as a weapon for our reactionary nature without any recognition of the consequences. Liberal SJW's (Social Justice Warriors), Conservative SJW's, and Mid-Range SJW's, they spout their world view and try to dictate it others; I will admit, I have likely pushed my ideas in a such a way on Facebook.
We have created a reactionary society, sometimes it's good for bringing an important issue to bare. However, on many occasions, our reactionary society will move in hatred against something or someone without thinking or understanding the full story. How can you fly into a rage over a clip of an interview without seeing the thing?
I have threatened numerous times to deactivate my social media accounts, I will probably never do that, to many connections. It's like a defensive reaction to arguments that drive me over my tolerance limit. Winston Churchill once said, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." If your going to enter the battlefield of opinions, one needs to grow a thick skin, and that comes with time.
In conclusion, I would ask people over social media to consider their words before posting; not just in a grammatical sense but also in content. In this country we have the right to free speech, but it's important to exercise that right carefully and with consideration.
Thank you.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Quick Thought: Comey Fired
By now, we all know who FBI Director (former) James Comey is, and that as of yesterday, he was fired by President Trump. In all honesty, he would have been fired regardless of who would have won the election. Clinton blamed his investigation of her emails as a cause for her loss in the election. Despite that he called off the investigation and simply called Clinton incompetent, a logical assumption is that he would have either been fired or forced to resign.
Is this the end of Comey's involvement in the supposed Russia scandal? Congress could still call him back to testify in the investigation. This was probably a stupid move by Trump, in the public eye, it does it look like he is trying to cover up something, even if there was nothing there. He should waited till the investigation was over, frustrating as it probably was for him.
Is this the end of Comey's involvement in the supposed Russia scandal? Congress could still call him back to testify in the investigation. This was probably a stupid move by Trump, in the public eye, it does it look like he is trying to cover up something, even if there was nothing there. He should waited till the investigation was over, frustrating as it probably was for him.
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