Love the Sinner... Hate the Sin

I'm pretty sure we've all heard the phrase, "Love the sinner, hate the sin" - or some variation of it.  At first thought, I went along with this completely, but then I started thinking about it... analyzing what it means.  I really have a problem with that phrase.

First of all, hate is a very strong word.  I'm not saying we need to embrace sin or even justify it, but just having hate in your heart for any reason is probably not a good thing.  I have noticed that when people carry hatred around with them, they start to think negative thoughts about everything.  You can't just switch the channel from hate to love.  Mentally, emotionally and spiritually... it cannot be done by mortals.  Hatred breeds anger and resentment.  Even though you may be directing your hatred toward an inanimate object or activity, that hatred and anger spills over into other areas of your life.  Maybe it is healthier to replace those negative feelings with something other than hate... say, maybe compassion.

Secondly (and this is closely linked to what I mentioned at first), we have a tendency to categorize sins and attach them to the sinners that they belong to - for instance, "See, John over there... John the adulterer."  Even though we "love" John, we just can't get past his sin that we hate so much.  We can't forgive and we can't show compassion for him - ever.  John will forever be stigmatized by his sin that he is known for.  This is the reason why we confess our sins in private, because many of us cannot separate the act of the sin from the sinner... the person.

One of things we should all realize is that we are all sinners.  None has escaped falling for temptations and succumbing to weakness.  We tend to judge other people by the sins they commit.  If the other person has committed a sin that is one that we are not currently guilty of, we may tend to condemn that sinner.  We may claim that we love the person, even though we carry around our own sin of being unforgiving.

I have also noticed that we tend to grade different sins, according to our own scale of guilt.  Some may not even be sins at all, but simply things that annoy us or maybe they are arbitrary rules and guidelines that for some reason or other (whether it be upbringing or personal opinion) have been ingrained in our brains that are "inappropriate" or "unworthy."  I have personally witnessed how some sins and indiscretions have been dealt with by severe punishment and abuse - a much worse sin than the original offense.

In the end, one sin that we may all be guilty of is being dishonest.  Whether we are dishonest with ourselves or other people or dishonest with God - I believe we are all dishonest to a certain degree.  It would be well with us to look into our own hearts and ask if we truly are honest - or rightly, to ask God to make us aware of areas where we are dishonest so we can be humbled and make those corrections.  If we love a person but hate his or her sin, and therefore withhold compassion, we are being dishonest.  If we justify our own sins and indiscretions, but never fail to see the faults (no matter how petty) of other people, we are not truly being honest with ourselves or fair to other people.  Once we can truly begin to be honest and see our own faults and beg forgiveness for them, our ability to see the faults of others will diminish and we will see the beyond their weakness and truly see the beautiful people they are.  We will also be able to accept ourselves and work on our own weakness because it will be a lot more in focus.  It will truly be a humbling experience to do so.

I would recommend that we continue to love our brothers and sisters and rather than hating the sin, we just avoid sin and seek repentance for our misdeeds and we forgive one another and have true compassion.  We work on lifting others and helping and sustaining others, rather than categorizing them for the sins they have committed.

Why Do I Hate Dogs?

I have been harshly criticized because of my general disdain for dogs.  That's ok... people can have their opinions.  It's when another person's "right" infringes upon another person's rights, health and safety is where I draw the line.

First of all, let me explain that I don't hate dogs... or should I say I don't hate all dogs.  I do hate some dogs though and in many cases I hold their owners personally responsible and accountable.  I actually enjoy the company of some dogs.  In fact, a couple of weeks ago we were invited to a friend's house.  He has this big poodle/golden retriever mix named "Cooper."  Cooper is a gentle and playful dog.  He likes to be petted and he will chase after a tennis ball when you throw it to you.  I rather enjoyed playing with cooper and it was a positive experience to pet his soft fur (and I'm sure he enjoyed it too).  This is what pet ownership is all about.  It's about a mutual, friendly relationship you have with an animal.  This is the ONLY legitimate reason for having a pet.  Now, there are service dogs that are employed for the safety and security of humans or used for law enforcement and tracking or even used as "beasts of burden" to pull sleds or wagons.  These, in the traditional sense, are not necessarily pets - not any more than you would expect a horse or a camel to be a pet.  They are trained for a task or service and if the animal doubles as a pet, than that is an added bonus.  

This is where a lot of people get confused and lose sight of the reasons for pet ownership.  I have heard some pretty lame reasons for owning a dog.  One of the common ones is that "it teaches a child responsibility."  Unfortunately for the animal (that is often ends up neglected, abused or dead) the child's lesson may never be fully reinforced simply by the ownership of an animal.  

Dog ownership is a huge responsibility.  It entails much more than providing food, water and a place to sleep.  You have to actually give the pet a lot of attention.  You provide a safe and appropriate place for the dog - with plenty of room to run.  In other words, you need a large, fenced yard that is sufficient to keep the dog from escaping.  Chaining your dog to a tree or keeping it in a small cage is unacceptable.  You train the dog so it is not a nuisance to neighbors or visitors and doesn't cause harm to property, people or other animals.  A constantly barking dog is a nuisance.  At this very moment, I can hear a multitude of dogs barking.  They do so day and night.  There is a "dog farm" over a quarter of a mile away from where I live and the people who run the place do absolutely nothing to stop the packs of dogs they keep from barking.

Dogs love to dig through garbage.  You must keep your dog away from garbage.  Some dogs like to eat some pretty disgusting things - like feces and carrion.  People often forget that dogs are animals and that they have animal instincts.  Dogs will often dig through trash and eat just about anything... not just food.  Some will even eat poopy diapers.  I'm serious.  My parents had a dog that would do that and as it turns out, this behavior is not that uncommon, especially in dogs that don't get fed properly.

You must go walking (or more fittingly - running) with that dog, every day.  You must clean up after the dog.  The dog is going to poop a lot.  You have to clean that up and dispose of it properly.  Your dog is going to get fleas.  When you bring the dog into the house, your house will have fleas.  Unless you like fleas and unless you want your visitors to be subjected to the effects of fleas (and possible infestations), you are going to have to be vigilant and constantly guard against flea infestations - this means giving your dog a flea bath and having it wear a flea collar.  It also means that you need to regularly apply insecticides to your carpets, upholstery and linens to kill them so they don't get out of control.  Your dog needs regular baths.  Dogs can get pretty dirty and smelly - just like a person would if they didn't take frequent baths.  Most dogs shed and you end up with hair all over your house that you have to clean up.  If it isn't evident already, there is a lot of cleaning up after your pet that you must do.  I have gone into some pet owners' homes that are unbearable because of the pet odors.  After awhile, a pet owner will most likely become desensitized to the stench of feces, urine, saliva and external smells associated with unclean fur.  Many people (like me) are sensitive, if not allergic, to pet dander.  I have to wash my hands and whatever other body part touches a dog or cat or it will burn or itch.  When you own a pet, you will limit the people who may visit your home.  

Dogs require shots to keep them from carrying diseases or getting sick.  They also need other veterinary care.  Some irresponsible owners neglect the care of their animals and they simply get sick, suffer and die... or they just suffer throughout their life with a condition or injury because the owner was either too cheap to have it cared for or ignorant to the fact that pets need medical care, just as humans do.  

Some dogs will invariably cause major property damage.  They destroy furniture, walls, doors, windows and screens, yards, fences and the exterior of buildings.  Bigger dogs tend to be more destructive, but I have seen some tiny critters that have caused a lot of damage as well.  We once took care of a big sheep dog for a month.  That was a month too long.  This dog destroyed our window screens, the neighbor's fence, and damaged our lawn.  Besides the physical damage, the dog also barked constantly, so we had complaints from the neighbors that had eventually gone to the police.  I'm glad this was only a temporary situation.

Many dogs will chase or bite people or chase vehicles.  This behavior cannot be tolerated and must be dealt with.  Some dogs can learn through discipline, while others will not.  A child that gets a puppy often does not understand the gravity of what that dog is capable of doing... and the parents are oblivious (or in denial) about the negative implications as well.  All they see is a cute, furry, playful puppy.  Dogs must learn to not harm people.  Owners are held liable for the actions of their pets.  Dogs that bite cause injuries that can cost many thousands of dollars in medical bills.  Some injuries from pets are permanent and disfiguring.  I have a nephew who had a good portion of his ear bitten off by a dog.  There are some dogs that will kill humans, livestock or other pets.  When a dog is dangerous, it is necessary to euthanize the animal.  It is a fact of life that we must accept.  Dogs that are capable of injuring or killing humans are not safe to keep and the owners must accept that fact and are responsible for euthanizing the animal, no matter how attached they become to their beloved pet.  It is better that the dog dies a humane death before a tragic incident occurs and the dog has to be euthanized or is killed by law enforcement or a person acting in self-defense (which may not be a painless or humane way to die).  A dog that chases vehicles is likely to be run over.  If the animal survives, the owner is responsible for some very expensive medical bills and the dog may also suffer permanent disability or disfigurement.  A dog that attacks wild animals, other pets or livestock is likely to become infected and become a carrier of disease, parasites or infestations.  Dog owners are responsible for any damage their pet inflicts upon other pets or in the case of wild animals - some animals may be protected or endangered, and the owner of the dog will be held criminally or civilly liable for such damages or death.  

Another lame reason for having a dog is that people believe that their dog will protect them from crime. In many cases, an attacker will be less likely to mug or rape a victim that has a dog, but having a dog for the sole purpose of protection is missing the point of having a pet.  Having the dog as a pet is first, as a protection is a secondary bonus.  I know people who chain up a dog in the yard with the intentions of keeping burglars away.  How sad for the dog!  Not only are they abusing and neglecting the dog by doing so, a dog that barks at everything is going to be ineffective at scaring away burglars or alerting the owners of suspicious activities.  In fact, in many cases there are dogs that only bark when the owners are not home.  Not all burglars are stupid.  Some of them will observe the activities of dogs and can tell when an occupant is not at home because the dog acts differently.  In this way, your "watchdog" can become a liability.  If you really want to ensure that your home is secure, invest in a reliable security system.  

Admittedly, my disdain for dogs stems back from childhood, but has not stopped there.  Like many children, I was pretty naive about dogs and thought that anybody who was against them was a "bad guy" or was a "mean and nasty person."  Then I had a wake-up call.  Growing up in a somewhat rural neighborhood, many people thought it was ok to let their dogs run wild.  I got to personally experience the worst of the worst of canine behavior.  My two elder brothers and I were responsible for taking out the trash every week.  Almost on a regular basis, unfettered and undisciplined dogs would come over and knock over the cans and string garbage all over the place and it was particularly bad on windy days.  That's when I began to hate dogs. 

I loved to play in the yard with my siblings, but quite often our fun was spoiled by one of us stepping in dog poop.  One of the things that I like to banter inexperienced dog owners with is the fact that they will be (or legally and ethically should be) responsible for is cleaning up dog poop for the next 15-20 years or so.  I have told new dog owners: "Well, I hope you like poop!"  I have to smile (in a wry sort of way) whenever I see people out there with a baggie, cleaning the poopie off the ground.  This is so disgusting.  I have changed baby diapers and I rejoice when the baby is potty-trained.  The dog is never potty trained.  Ever.  One good thing I can say about cats is that at least you can get them to poop in a litter box.  You still have to clean it out, but at least you won't step in it or roll in it when you are out playing football in the yard with your children.  I hate dog poop.  I have always hated dog poop.  This made me hate dogs even further.  

The one thing that dissuaded me from ever owning or wanting a dog and has become a sore spot for me ever since was when I had a paper route.  At the tender age of 11 years old, I faced the stark reality that dogs attack people.  They chase, threaten, pounce and even bite their victims, without regard for size or age - in fact, aggressive dogs tend to attack victims that are smaller or weaker.  You have to remember that dogs are predatory animals and it is a predator's instinct to prey on the weak, the young and the sickly.  I am not sure at what point in history the dog became "man's best friend" but if you look deep into history, you will find that dogs were once regarded as unclean and as a nuisance.  There are many biblical accounts and metaphors that deem them as unworthy creatures - and rightly so.  Not only is a dog considered "unclean" by Hebrew standards (the law of Moses) but they were also menacing scavengers... on the same plane as hyenas and other unpleasant beasts that are persistent, aggressive and unmanageable.  My loathing of dogs turned to fear as I encountered many such unrestrained animals that would aggressively chase me on my bicycle (or on foot), sometimes biting me or knocking me over.  Owners always acted shocked that their dog could be capable of such behavior, but their recourse or remedy (if any) was invariably inadequate.  Some owners would verbally scold their animals or slap them: "Bad dog!"  Others would blame me for somehow instigating the dog's aggressive behavior: "You must have been teasing the dog!" While there were others yet that would either deny that the dog had bit me (I had to show them the bite marks) or disbelieve that their dog could ever do such a thing: "My Fifi has NEVER bit anybody!"  This is why I never believe a dog owner whose dog chases me.  I know better.  I will always reach for my pepper spray when a dog comes after me, no matter what the owner says or action he or she takes.  I often hear things like, "He won't bite... he just wants to get to know you!" or (as in the case of a huge Bull Mastiff that lives at the end of the street) "The worst thing that dog will do is lick you to death!"  

I never trust a dog and I never trust a dog owner.  I have made that mistake before... numerous times.  And I have been bitten.  I carry lethal as well as non-lethal protection for such occasions.  Fortunately, I have never had to resort to using lethal methods... yet.  I have come frighteningly close though.  I have, however, used pepper spray at least a half a dozen times on aggressive dogs that came close enough to lunge at me.  I will take no chances.  Dogs can kill.  Some dogs are more dangerous than others.  Just today, I got a call from my wife who works cleaning houses.  One of the guys who works with her was bitten by a pit bull that the owner thought was incapable of attacking someone.  I asked her if she called the police.  She did.  She is a smart woman.  Biting dogs need to be reported.  Had I known better when I was a youth, there would have been numerous reports to the sheriff's department - not to animal control.  When a person is attacked or injured, whether it be by an animal or another person, this needs to be reported to law enforcement and charges filed.  If there is personal injury or property destroyed, those need to be reported as well and if necessary, taken to a civil court.  Oftentimes, a dog owner will refuse to take responsibility for the actions of their pet for whatever unreasonable excuse they can come up with, but legally the owner is responsible and can be held civilly and criminally liable - though it will never repair damages or bring back a life.  

I recently read an interesting article about how even the most intelligent dogs will have the intellect no greater than a two-year-old human.  Dogs can be trained, but their abilities can only go so far.  Taking that into account, and realizing that some dogs can kill a person, I as this question: Would you give a toddler a lethal weapon to play with?  The reasonable answer would be: Absolutely not!  You have to think about these things when harboring a potentially dangerous animal.  We can be in denial all we want, but the statistics pile up against certain types and breeds of animals.  What I have found though is that many of those who keep aggressive breeds use them as an extension of their own aggression and malice.  There are others though, out of ignorance and/or denial that will raise or adopt known aggressive types of animals, believing that theirs is an exception.  

Living in a civilized society and knowing what we know, I find it surprising the amount of inaccurate information that feeds the masses and the ignorance and denial that goes along with wanting something so bad that you purposely ignore or cover up truth.  I also find it staggering how we as humans put so much effort into trying to humanize animals or to elevate them to human status... or to depreciate our own species in such attempts.  Well, some of us do this anyway.  I find it more common in recent years, and ironically as our knowledge increases and our availability of information blossoms and as we "evolve" into more intelligent beings, in some ways we become more stupid.  I find that we are de-evolving when we put a lower species of animal on a higher plane of priority and importance than that of our own species.  

People are taught to fear certain species of animals more than others.  Naturally, a person is more afraid of a ferocious wild animal like a bear or an alligator.  We often have unfounded or unreasonable fears of benign insects or beasts.  I find it interesting, or rather comical, how a person can scream and flail at the sight of a spider or a snake, but may not have the same fear or watchfulness of a hornets nest, though the likelihood of being stung to death is much greater than that of being bitten by a spider or snake and almost never from being bitten by a rodent (unless that rodent has rabies or some other infectious disease).  The same goes for larger animals.  People are afraid to go camping or hiking for fear of bears or mountain lions, but have no fear of encountering a strange dog - or having an incident with their own dog.  You are much more likely to be seriously injured or killed by a dog (somebody else's or even your own) than you are by a bear, mountain lion, alligator or even a shark.  

So, there you have it.  You will never have to wonder why I will never own a dog and why I normally choose to distance myself from most dogs and why I carry lethal as well as non-lethal protection.  In my experience, there are a few good dogs.  A few... but those are the exception.  

Things I Will Never "Get"

As I observe some habits or popular trends, I have to scratch my head in puzzlement.  What goes on inside a person's head to compel them to do these things?  Let's take a look at a few of them:

Tattoos
Whenever I see someone with a tattoo, I just wonder what that person was thinking... or IF that person was thinking when they got it.  Here you are going to put an indelible mark on your skin that is supposed to represent your thoughts, feelings or identity.  With enough forethought, you can determine that your current thoughts and feelings or life will not be the same 20 or 30 years from now when you are looking at that saggy, ugly skin and regretting getting inked.  In many serious professions, a tattoo is considered a "black mark" (no pun intended) on your image.  You limit your future career opportunities  by desecrating your body.  If it's a matter of sending a message to the world (or yourself), why not put that message on a tee shirt or article of jewelry and wear it that way?  At least that way you can keep your options open.  By getting a tattoo, you are permanently stuck with that image on your skin.  One other thing that I have observed is that tattoos seem to be very popular with poorer people.  I just have to ponder how a person can afford a tattoo when money for necessities is scarce.

Multiple Body Piercings
This is a case where a little bit is attractive, but you get to a point where it is excessive - and permanently damaging to your body... especially in extreme instances like gauges.  Much of the same things apply from the portion on tattoos, so I won't repeat myself.  Jewelry can be add to a woman's attractiveness, if used judiciously, but like a strong cologne - a little bit goes a long way.  I have to seriously question why a person would have some very private and/or sensitive areas of the body pierced.  Maybe I don't want to know.  I will have to say that I am deeply disturbed whenever I see a post driven through a tongue.  It makes me not want to look at a person when they are talking.

Nuisance Pets
Now, I don't know if it is out of ignorance or an extension of their own obnoxiousness, but some people have a knack for getting the most annoying and/or high-impact animals that you could possibly imagine.  I have a neighbor who never ceases to bring home these beasts.  For the entire 23 years that I have known these people, they will get one dog after another that barks, howls, chases and threatens people, or gets into his neighbors property and causes damage, yet time after time he will get another obnoxious mutt when the other one dies or "runs away."  Recently, this neighbor had several goats and didn't properly fence the yard.  I can say with a high degree of certainty that goats are one of the most damaging domestic creatures that a person can own.  Why???  There are a few families in our neighborhood who have dogs that bark, bite or chase people.  There is one family down the road that has about half a dozen dogs of various types and they all start barking whenever somebody comes by.  To make matters worse (not better) the owner is just as obnoxious when she comes out and starts telling them to shut up.  There is a common concept that is going around now that if you have a pet, it is a natural stress reducer.  I'm just not seeing it in these instances.  Tell me how going out and hollering at the dog to shut up or having to deal with angry neighbors or passersby or to field complaints to the Humane Society is going to reduce stress in your life.

Pet Rescue
This all sounds good and nice, but more and more we hear about these crazy cat people who have dozens of cats in their house and not being to care for them properly.  The authorities have to seize their homes and condemn the house because it is filled with urine, feces, filth and disease... all because the person who brought them home just couldn't bear to know that the animals were euthanized.  So the Humane Society comes in and finds the deplorable conditions that these animals are in and has to euthanize them anyway because they are physically and mentally incurable.  I've seen the stories and it makes me sick (and though the ones on the news are extreme - it is more common than one might imagine).  I am befuddled as to the motives of "pet rescue" people - who often cannot even take care of their own needs or the needs of their family, yet they get cats, dogs, goats, horses... whatever animals they are trying to save from euthanasia or the slaughterhouse.

Smoking
I am not sure how raspy voice, premature aging, stale smoke stench, hacking and coughing and tobacco stains are supposed to make a person sexy or cool, but some people still buy into this illusion - or delusion.  Mostly, I feel sorry for people who are addicted to tobacco.  It's a sad and destructive addiction that's very difficult to break.  I can understand the addiction part, but what I don't get is the part when somebody thinks it's a good idea to start smoking.  After all we have learned about the damaging effects of tobacco, people will still try it anyway.  Besides all of the negative effects it has on your body and your opportunities (yes, this is yet another habit that will choke out future opportunities in your life), the price of five to eight dollars a pack for cigarettes is astounding.  If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day (at 7 bucks a pack), that ends up being over $2500 a year or around $150,000 a lifetime (if you live long enough)... heck, you could have bought a house with all that money you squandered trying to look cool with your stinky cigarettes!

Weird Food Combinations
We don't have cable TV, so it is kind of a novelty for my son who was traveling with us and tuned into the Food Network while we were staying at a hotel.  Maybe it's just me, but I was seriously grossed out at some of the things that gourmet chefs were conjuring up for a cooking contest.  I would not like to be one of the judges if actually tasting the food were part of the job.  You get these "foodies" now who revel in finding weird ways to cook and bizarre combinations of foods and herbs.  Lest you think I am uncultured, fastidious or making a judgement without trying, let me assert that I have tried some of the more tame recipes in some of the fancier restaurants in the local area.  I don't get it.  You pay good money for stuff that you have to "acquire a taste for" - or in other words you have to suppress your gag reflexes in order to swallow it.  What is wrong with just capitalizing on known favorites and cooking to perfection?  If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.

Garbage on TV
While the thought of the Food Network is still fresh in my mind...  There is some excellent programming out there in TV world.  There are fascinating shows that inform or entertain or there are some that affect our emotions in such a way that it brings us back to watch the sequels.  My next career move in the entertainment business is in hopefully becoming a director/producer/writer of some of the future's motion picture entertainment.  This is something I have to look forward to.  I love being in the entertainment business and producing fun/funny shows or interesting documentaries.  That being said... I have to seriously question: What has happened in this world though?  Some of the more popular shows out there are simply trash.  It's not worth wasting our time on.  Honey Boo-Boo?  The Kardashian's?  Give me a break!  I had only seen a few short video clips of Honey Boo-Boo to determine that it was not worth watching, but while I was visiting a relative, they turned that show on and I ended up enduring a whole episode, simply because I was already on the sofa working on my computer and didn't feel like getting up and leaving the room.  What the heck is this trash?  Better yet, who watches this trash on a regular basis?  The only thing I can think is that it's like driving by a horrible car accident... as much as you know you will be scarred for life, you can't NOT look away from the carnage.  Maybe it's human nature to be attracted to nonsense.  Maybe there is something deep inside that makes us feel superior or at least justified when we see other people's failures or mediocrity.  One way it affects me though is that my IQ seems to drop a couple of notches whenever I am exposed to this garbage.

Drugs
I've already trashed tobacco... so now I can trash drugs as well.  Maybe I can somehow see the medicinal or therapeutic effects of some drugs (they make you feel good) and why a person might be compelled to start using them.  I get that.  Not that I condone their use, though some people might have a good argument where marijuana and some other pain-relieving drugs are concerned.  But what I am talking about are recreational drugs.  People go to a party and take something to get a buzz or have hallucinations.  That's a scary concept to me... losing control of your mind or emotions, even if it is merely a temporary condition.  I will also include alcohol in this segment, because for all intents and purposes, it acts the same as many other "street" drugs... in some instances, maybe worse.  No thank you.  I choose to live my life sober, not addicted and I choose not to have all my money going to violent and otherwise vicious scoundrels.  I find it ironic how druggies claim they are peaceful people, yet they fuel the worst kinds of violence and torture by squandering their money on illicit drugs that have left a bloody trail and into their self-absorbed bodies and brains.  I hate street drugs with every fiber of my soul.  I hate what they have done to friends and family and our society.  I don't get how people - some of them intelligent - can possibly get tangled up in their grasp.

These are just a few of the things that are on my mind at present time.  If I think of more, I will have future installments.

Ban This!

It seems that there is an entire segment of the population that has the mindset that the best way to eliminate problems associated with an item or activity is to outright ban the object or the activity.  If you don't like or agree with something, just ban it!  Where I live, we have dealt with some recent bans - some of them arbitrarily by city and state government, while others are brought to the ballots and voted upon.  We've been subject to banning plastic grocery bags, using cell phones while driving, smoking in public places and even "big box" stores have been banned.  There are several other things that are under consideration to ban, such as coal trains and tubing on a local river.  There is an ongoing debate as to whether to ban guns or certain types of firearms.

Some people just like to go out and ban things.  What can I say, they just get ban-crazy.  So in light of this mentality, I have come up with this satirical piece and will provide some very compelling arguments to support my claims.  Here is a partial list:

Cigarettes
The smoking in public ban doesn't go far enough.  I read a recent report that clearly demonstrated that by far the biggest contribution to litter is cigarettes.  Everywhere you go there are cigarette butts.  They are on our city sidewalks, hiking trails, in the ocean, on the beaches... everywhere!  Cigarette butts and tobacco products packaging, by weight and volume, are more pervasive (and potentially damaging to nature) than plastic grocery bags.  I once caught a relatively large trout that looked very sickly with its eyes clouded over.  There was definitely something wrong with this fish.  I cut open its stomach to reveal the contents: cigarette butts.  Not only are cigarettes unhealthy to animals and fish, but they are unhealthy to other humans.  A significant portion of medical costs goes towards health issues directly related to first, second and third-hand smoking.  Cigarettes have no useful purpose.  Let's clean up our sidewalks, streets, trails and beaches.  Let's work towards a healthier population.  Ban these!

Dogs
There is an emerging notion that a family is not complete without a dog.  What part of the family exactly is the dog?  Is the dog your brother/sister, child, parent?  I suppose I'll never understand.  When will your dog go off to school and become a contributing member of society?  Anyway, aside from the weird family relationship with a completely different species of mammal, I would like to bring to your attention a few other reasons why it is unreasonable to keep a dog.  Unless one is completely insulated from the news, you will discover on quite a frequent basis how many children (and adults - including the dog owners) are mauled by their beloved canine "family member" - sometimes maiming, disfiguring or even killing the victims.  You can find more information on this by visiting the sit called dogbites.org or simply Googling pictures of children that have been attacked by dogs.  I warn you that the pictures are quite disturbing.  Besides the danger that dogs are to humans, there are other reasons why dogs are a menace to our society: 1) Owners do not always clean up the feces left by them or dispose of it properly, contributing to instances of high levels of fecal coliform and other dangerous bacteria that make it into our bodies of water.  2) Dogs get into trash and spread it around, spreading disease and filth.  3) Dogs bark unnecessarily, disturbing neighbors and those wishing tranquility (who doesn't?).  4) Dogs have been known damage to property and other pets and livestock, especially when running in packs.   Ban them!

Driving
Ordinary citizens have no business being behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.  A motor vehicle is a dangerous device and becomes a high-speed projectile that can inflict serious damage to property and is a major cause of death and injury throughout the world.  I do not need to provide a statistic, as it is commonly known just how dangerous a vehicle is, however you can research for yourself at the CDC website.  One of he scariest things is to hand over your car keys to your teen driver for the first time.  It's just like handing your child a loaded handgun and giving the charge to "not kill or injure anybody." It's crazy!  Motor vehicles should be reserved for public transportation, emergency services and for professionals transporting goods and necessary service-related businesses - and then, only specially trained, certified and bonded professional drivers should ever go on our public roadways.  Private citizens should make use of public transportation or conveyances by professional drivers (buses, taxis, trains, subways, etc.) or make due with walking or cycling.  Western Europe has set the standard in this area and we should not only follow that standard, but raise the bar.  We can fill our streets with responsible drivers by having only trained professionals as drivers.  Ban private driving by ordinary citizens!

Rap Music
I don't like rap music, but that is beside the point.  Much of the lyrics are geared toward violence, drugs and disrespect for authority.  Rap music is evil and should not be a part of our society.  Many people who play this on their car stereos do so with the bass blasting to where it is disturbing and disruptive.  When you patronize rap "artists" you patronize a violent subculture.  We must stop this infection in our society.  Ban this!

Alcohol
From the beginning of recorded history, alcohol has been a part of cultures worldwide - and it has been the bane of society as well.  The root of many problems at home and in the workplace have to do with addiction and intoxication from alcoholic beverages.  Alcohol ruins lives, destroys health and breaks up families.  Many incidents that have resulted in death or serious injury are directly related to drunkenness.  We have not given prohibition a fair chance.  We should reinstate the eighteenth amendment of the Constitution.  We have the means now to properly enforce it and to crack down on "moonshiners" and organized crime related to the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol for drinking purposes.  Without further ado - Ban this!

Swimming (and other water sports)
Another leading cause of death, especially among children, is drowning.  Drowning occurs in backyard swimming pools and other areas designated for swimming and other water sports.  Swimming is a dangerous activity!  Many swimmers overestimate their abilities and get trapped in waters that are beyond their ability to escape to shore.  Water sports are completely unnecessary and most of them can be accomplished similarly (and safely) as virtual activities on computer or TV-based video games or as apps that can be loaded onto mobile devices.  For the sake of our children and the safety of all and to preserve emergency rescue resources for other much needed incidents - Ban this!

Illiteracy
Almost every day I encounter poorly written notes, comments or essays... some of them barely (or not at all) coherent.  People should not be allowed to communicate publicly if they have not demonstrated proper spelling and/or grammar proficiency.  Our language is being polluted and thereby becoming corrupted by those who are either lazy or have not been trained how to use written forms of language.  Many people have gotten into the habit of using "texting" language, which is abhorrent.  This is unacceptable!  Minor errors, artistic expression or stylistic differences should be overlooked by "spelling and grammar Nazis" however, in general we have dropped to a level of illiteracy that cannot be ignored any longer.  The First Amendment should not cover gross discrepancies and breakdowns in written communication.  Only those who have proven their proficiency through approved education, grades and testing should be allowed to publicly communicate.  For the restoration and preservation of coherent and standardized language - Ban illiteracy!    Oh, and for Pete's sake - turn off the autocorrect on your smart phone or other mobile device... it only makes you look stupid!

Sport Fishing and Hunting
Why on earth do we still need to fish or hunt for our food?  We have evolved beyond the dark ages where it is necessary to subsist upon fishing and hunting.  There are many instances where the practice of fishing and hunting are cruel and barbaric.  Ordinary citizens should not use our public bodies of water and lands to carry out these practices.  There are many citizens who would like to spend their recreational time in solitude and tranquility, unfortunately their peace and potential safety is disrupted by rifle blasts and and noise of motorized watercraft.  If you go into any supermarket, you can find a variety of meat and fish that will suit your needs.  These have been raised or harvested by professional ranchers, farmers and fishermen.  By patronizing them, you also do your part to contribute to their livelihoods.  At your convenience and for your enjoyment, there are a number of computer and video games that simulate hunting and fishing experiences, so you can enjoy the "bloodsport" vicariously through games and programs.  Leave the harvesting of animals and fish to professionals.  Keep our forests and lakes safe and serene - Ban these activities!

Travel/Tourism
You can spot them from a mile away as soon as they step off the plane or cruise ship - tourists.  Americans are notorious for being some of the most inconsiderate tourists.  Leisure travel is a waste of precious resources that should be reserved for other more important uses such as business, military, filmmakers and international relations trips by dignitaries and politicians.  Any country or community can be researched on the Internet or you can purchase (or check out from your local public library) videos, books and documentaries of those places you desire to experience.  Not only will you be able to view things that you wouldn't normally be able to visit in your travels, but you can do so in the comfort and privacy of your own home at a fraction of the price - or free!  Tourism is unnecessary, costly and strains our relations with those in other countries.  Let's leave the foreigners and their communities alone - Ban this!

Lawns
Is it just me or has anyone else every wondered why on earth we cultivate and maintain grass - for no other reason than having ornamental "green" space?  If you really sit to think about it, lawns have absolutely no practical use.  Beyond being a waste of space (that you could use for other things, such as a garden or a parking lot) the time you spend working on this lawn could be spent doing more productive things AND this is a waste of resources and a contributor to pollution.  Lawnmowers burn fossil fuels that pollute our air and they release motor oil that tends to get into our water supply.  Lawnmowers are noisy.  At any given time of the day, I can walk out in my yard and hear some a lawnmower being operated.  When is there any peace?  I hate hearing the constant roar of engines in our neighborhood and I don't know anybody who actually likes this sound.  It's annoying and a stress-inducer.  We need less stress... nor more.  We don't need the stress of keeping up lawns either.  Did you know that stress is a major contributor to poor health?  So, for the sake of good health, preservation of resources and peace and tranquility in our neighborhoods - Ban lawns!

Cell Phone Cameras
Professional photographers cringe at seeing people taking pictures with their phones.  The Internet is bogged down by amateurish "photos" sent via Instagram and web pages and social media sites.  While this is annoying and tacky, it is not nearly as troubling as the unauthorized cell phone camera abuse that goes on every day.  Creeps use their cell phone cameras to take pictures of children and other unwitting subjects.  Kids bring their cell phones to school and "videotape" abusive teachers and embarrass them by posting the videos to Youtube.  Some teachers and other school staff members have lost their jobs as as result of such cell phone cameras.  Cell phone camera abuse also extends to recording arrests or brutality by police officers.  This obstructs justice and gets in the way of official police business.  Cell phone camera abuse is getting out of hand.  We don't need the continual invasion of privacy by more cameras and other recording devices.  Ban them!

Garage Sales
Speaking of amateurs... nothing can be more unprofessional than selling items out of your garage or front lawn.  There are no regulations regarding the sale or control of sales of these items.  This is out of control!  Many people put up unsightly signs all over the neighborhood and never bother to take them down after the sale is over, leading garage sale enthusiasts to drive aimlessly around looking for a sale that has long past.  There is no way to collect necessary sales taxes from these rogue sales either, yet the sellers are bold enough to sell their wares out in the open without any accounting of their transactions.  The better option would be to donate your items to an approved charity where the transactions can be accounted for, taxed and regulated and the proceeds will go toward a good cause as well as employing those at the thrift store.

This is just a beginning.  See, banning isn't such a bad idea after all!

Levels of Literacy - Part 1: Making Conventional Communication Obsolete

I picked up a Gregg's Shorthand book at the public library in the free books section a few weeks ago.  I leafed through it and tried to figure it out by reading some of it.  It was quite interesting... almost like a completely different language.  It looks like a different language.  Does anybody still use shorthand anymore?  From what I have researched, it is not completely dead... yet.  It isn't necessarily required for a secretarial position anymore though like it was in the past.  But nobody I know uses it.  Well, that's fine though because it wasn't widely used anyway except mostly as a temporary dictation language.  Now, there are some older documents that people had primarily written in shorthand, for whatever reason.  Basically, we have lost this level of literacy, but it matters very little because it wasn't used widely for common communication anyway.  We have books about shorthand that we can learn from if we need to decode some old obscure documents.

I am not going to talk about shorthand.  What I want to address are are common forms of communication that are trying to be obsoleted: namely longhand, or what is best known as cursive writing.

I've seen several arguments as to whether it should or should not be taught in elementary school.  Many people now (including educators) believe that cursive writing is a waste of time and that it is obsolete - we should focus our efforts on keyboarding now, since that is where most of our communication takes place anyway.  I also see a decline in the emphasis on handwriting in block letters as well... only to be kept at a minimal level.  This is a disturbing trend.

We shouldn't let handwriting die.  Why?  Many people consider handwriting (especially cursive) as something that was used in the past and no longer necessary.  We all have computers, smart phones and other handheld devices.  Why should we bother learning handwriting?  The answer is blatantly clear: we still need to learn handwriting because many people currently use it.  It's really a no-brainer, yet surprisingly many people still insist that learning it is a waste of time.  Since many people (who have learned the art and use it frequently) write in cursive, wouldn't it make sense to be able to read their writing?

I discovered that some teachers or schools were no longer requiring pupils to learn handwriting when my wife wrote a note and one of my children (who was in middle school at the time) could not read it.  This is a serious breakdown in communication.  I learned that many teachers were no longer teaching it - the reasoning being that it was obsolete.  How could an element of our language that is still in use be considered obsolete?  This is quite bothersome, especially to someone (me) who believes so strongly in the value of effective communication.

Many proponents of keeping handwriting alive have stated that the reason for learning cursive is that we need to know how to write our signature.  This is a pretty lame reason to keep an entire art from dying, so I can see the reasoning behind the push to move on to other methods and leave this art form in the past.  Let me leave with some perfectly valid reasons why handwriting should be preserved and still taught in our elementary schools:

1) Consider all the letters, journals, official documents (like wills) and important notes that have been written - not only by those in past years but by those who currently write in cursive.  A form of communication that is currently in use (on a large scale) is not obsolete.  I guarantee that everyone will encounter cursive handwriting at some time in his or her lifetime.  Some people (like secretaries and receptionists) will encounter it on a daily basis.

2) When we lose a level of literacy, we lose a link to our culture and our past.  We lose a link to our forebears and ones that we love.  It creates gaps in our society and severs ties that cannot be rebuilt.  It prevents us from decoding past historical documents and forces the ignorant to rely on the "translation" skills of those more educated in the art.  Those of us who have learned cursive handwriting take for granted how easy it is to read this, but to one who has not learned it, this is like a different language altogether... just like trying to learn shorthand.

3) I know this kinda sounds lame, but many other have expressed it and I also agree - cursive handwriting is a beautiful art and helps define your personality... on paper.  It's more than a mere signature, but your writing itself.  It personifies your writing style.  Typewritten messages are so impersonal in that way and can be manipulated and edited, whereas handwriting is very difficult to alter.

So, for the sake of maintaining a level of our literacy and as a means of keeping connected with the many people in the past as well as those who still currently use handwriting, let's keep this important art alive!

The Three Keys to Good Health

Some of you reading this may wonder why I wouldn't post this on Facebook.  Well, believe it or not, some people get offended when you try to share with them things that would help them be healthy because they would rather believe that they could take some kind of pill or have some medical procedure done that would fix their health than to follow ALL THREE of these three elements of healthy living.  You may not believe just how many people believe they were born with certain ailments - they were hereditary - or developed them because of environmental factors (being exposed to substances, abusive people or whatever).  Now, there are a few people that may not be able to fully follow a plan of healthy living to where these things would benefit them... but those are VERY few and the exception, rather than the rule.  Here's a little hint: you're likely not one of them.  Most people who have these excuses believe they are this exception.  I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who were skeptical about these things but later (after they tried them) went on to boast about how much better they felt.  I was one of these skeptics.  So without further ado, here they are:

1) Proper diet.  This includes eating a nutritious and balanced diet.  You consume what your body needs... not excessively nor to any extreme.  You eat balanced meals.  Fiber is important as well (for proper digestion).  Part of this proper diet is also exclusion - excluding harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol, drugs (to include caffeine) - with the exception of occasional mild pain relievers or  antibiotics (only when absolutely necessary) used judiciously.  There are other prescription drugs that may need to be taken to save your life or bring you comfort, but then again most often the cure is in the prevention in the first place.  There are many medications - even ones prescribed by your doctor - that cause more health problems than they cure.  Let me single out one type of medication that is particularly bad and has a bad track record for ruining people's lives: antidepressants.  They are poison for your body and mind.  Many people can run a course of antidepressants and emerge relatively unscathed, but there are also many of us that have had our lives permanently altered (I mean in a negative way) by these mind-altering drugs.  Stay away from them!  Believe me, you don't want to take that gamble.  Besides, their true effectiveness is marginal, at best.  Any positive effects are temporary and only an illusion to the user anyway... just like taking cocaine, speed or LSD.  You feel "great" or "different" for awhile, but eventually the effects are devastating.  Many people don't even realize just how much their lives have been altered and how their personalities have become much worse on these drugs but their friends and family notice.

2) Exercise.  I'm talking about sustained, vigorous cardio-vascular activity at least 5 times a week.  Sustained means 30-minutes or more.  There are numerous physical benefits (too many to list here) that are derived from exercise, but there are also mental, spiritual and emotional benefits as well.  Why?  Exercise relieves stress by having an "outlet" for your physical activity.  Also, your body chemistry is better regulated and you will naturally get a boost of the chemicals (hormones) that your body needs and craves to combat pain and depression.  I refer to exercise as my daily "dose of medicine" because there is nothing more effective than a good workout... no drug, no psychiatric therapy - nothing.  I've found that people who don't exercise always have some kind of excuse not to or they think they are getting more exercise than what they are realistically getting.  Trust me, I know.  I understand.  I used to be one of those that made excuses and thought I was getting a proper amount of exercise, when in actuality I wasn't.  You have to make a conscious effort to get that exercise.  Walking to and from your car - no matter where you park in the parking lot - is not enough.  It doesn't count.

3) Sleep/rest.  Your body and mind need proper rest and on a regular schedule.  The general rule is to have 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.  This may not be possible when caring for small children or when your sleep is interrupted by noises or flashing lights.  Do your best to ensure you get the proper amount of uninterrupted sleep.  Your bedroom should be conducive to rest - meaning that you should have a comfortable bed and surroundings that are free from the lights and sounds that would interrupt your sleep.  This may sound like a no-brainer, but some people sleep with cell phones or think that falling to sleep with the television on is a good idea.  Those are bad habits that keep you from having a good night's sleep.  Occasionally, one may be afflicted by insomnia.  If that is the case, get out of bed and do something that would calm you in order to get to sleep.  What I find helpful is to have a cup of hot cocoa (this may not be advisable for many people, but it works for me) and pick up a book and read about something that won't stimulate your mind too much.  I find that history books tend to bore me to tiredness.

I purposely haven't gone into too great detail about these three things.  It's up to you to figure out.  What I can tell you is that doctors know these things.  They know that proper nutrition, exercise and rest are the best things you can do to improve your health.  Here's how you can tell a good doctor from a quack: the good doctors will first want to help you get started on a plan that includes these three elements of a healthy lifestyle, rather than shoving some kind of prescription in your face.  If your doctor isn't one who will be willing to promote health using these methods, RUN... don't walk away from this quack!  Fire that clown!  Find a doctor that will help you become healthy, not one that uses the cop-out of writing a prescription for everything.

I just wanted to emphasize - or reemphasize that actively pursuing a healthy lifestyle by taking only healthful substances into your body, getting adequate physical exercise and the proper amount of restful sleep are the keys to improving and maintaining your physical, mental and emotional health.  So there you have it.  I know this works.  It works for me and I've seen it work for numerous people.  So stop making excuses.

Disclaimer: I realize that there are people with genuine health problems - even debilitating conditions.  I do not want to be insensitive to those who may be thus affected.  So, take what applies to you.. what you CAN do and take the rest as academic, good-to-know information.  In other words, don't take it personally.

The Media, DHS And The Obamites Are Gonna Love This One!

http://news.yahoo.com/alleged-minnesota-terror-plot-know-far-170000908.html

I call shenanigans.

Am I the only one who notices things like this?  What I mean is an imbalance in reporting and an imbalance in investigation and law enforcement.

If you haven't read the story or gone to the above address for the story, basically what has happened is that the FBI and other law enforcement officers have found a "weapons cache," (ok, he had "several" guns) some Maltov cocktails and what appear to be pipe bombs in some guy's mobile home in a rural Minnesota town.  They have built a case that he (Buford Rogers) is a "white supremacist" and had formed a militia group.  He apparently believed in conspiracy theories and posted incoherent rants on social media.  He is a former felon who now has allegedly has violated the law by possession of weapons.  Even though no attack is imminent and no specific targets have been named, he has already been labeled as a terrorist.

That's the guy the media has been looking for!  This is going to be their GOP, NRA, Tea Party, Right Wing extremist that they were hoping to find in the Boston Marathon bombing, but never did.  So now they have him... and they will crucify him.

This is going to be great for the media, DHS, the Obama Administration and liberals in general on several accounts - why?

1) This man is a white U.S. born American - as opposed to a typical run-of-the-mill terrorist (who would fit the profile as a Middle Easterner either "legally" on a foreign visa, illegally, or a naturalized person of Middle Eastern descent or a Muslim convert).  That way they can prove that it's not just the brown-skinned, Arabic or African Muslims that are terrorists - so this can justify DHS and TSA policies and preclude "racial profiling" as a way to single out potential terrorists.

2) Rogers is a "Right-Wing" extremist - or so they say.  It was very easy for the media to jump to this conclusion because of his paranoia and conspiracy theory rants.  If he doesn't trust the government and has gained followers, then he must be part of a Right-Wing militia that wants to exercise his Second Amendment rights and take on the government.

3) This case can give credence to gun control advocates who want us to believe that "gun violence" is not just an inner-city problem, a Rural America epidemic as well.

4) It was important to throw in the "white supremacist" allegation because it further builds the case against this loony... and that his type can be lumped together with gun-toting, Right-Wing, GOP, NRA, conspiracy-theorist, Tea Party crazies.

5) Making this into national news will further marginalize those who believe in the Constitution - particularly the Second Amendment.  Notice how rather than stating such a suspect's intentions or interpreting the barely coherent ramblings, the media source directly quotes (including misspellings and poor grammar) in order to further categorize "his type" as uneducated, illiterate and basically just plain stupid.  This is a tactic used by the Leftist Elites who try to propagate the myth that gun owners and those that support the Second Amendment are ignorant or stupid.

Let's take a look at the imbalances in this case vs. Boston by comparing and contrasting to other stories involving Islamic extremists:

Buford Rogers is a terrorist even though no violent attack or apparent threats or imminent plans have been mentioned.   The Boston Marathon bombers were not considered terrorists until after the attacks were confirmed, even though there was reliable intel and prior records on at least one of the brothers and other family members and associates.  The attack at Benghazi was not even acknowledged to be a terrorist act until many days after the event - and that only when they were pressured for an inquiry.  The mass-shooting at Fort Hood is still not considered a terror attack... just a workplace shooting, even though the shooter had become activated or radicalized in Islam.

They are actively looking at other conspirators in the Rogers case.  In the Boston Bombing, assertions that there were other conspirators involved were quickly dismissed by DHS, files were altered (or destroyed), persons of interest were shuffled around and/or deported and even found sympathy from the First Lady and the Obama Administration.  In Benghazi, it was suggested by the secretary of state and the Obama Administration that the attack was a mob riot... "protesters getting out of hand" and no other motives or conspirators were sought.  The Fort Hood shooter "acted alone" and even though contacts have been made with a radicalized imam and these connections have been discounted simply because this anti-American imam has said so... so we believe him.

We know SO much about this guy already... and he hasn't even committed a violent crime yet.  On the other hand when bombs went off and suspects were named in Boston, we knew very little about them and those who did know them (or should I say the accounts of those portrayed widely in the media) told about two pleasant and upstanding citizens who nobody could believe committed such atrocities... well, until further investigation and certain parts of the accounts could no longer be suppressed.

Rogers had a "cache" of weapons - including a Romanian AKM (a semi-automatic AK-style rifle - or modified AK-47).  He also allegedly had what appeared to be pipe bombs and Maltov cocktails in his mobile home - AND combine this with his anti-government or anti-law enforcement rants AND had been a convicted felon.  Wow!  This sounds pretty major, right?  Now take your average gang member in a violent city, say Chicago, and compare/contrast, if you will.  Compare or contrast this to MANY Motown rappers... does anything sound familiar?  Well, besides the alleged pipe bombs (which, for all we know are typical plumbing fittings found in many homes and garages... I know I've got a bin full of iron pipes and fittings in my workshop) and the alleged Maltov Cocktails, which could very well be a composite of a six-pack of vintage coke bottles + a nearby can of lawnmower gasoline.  Who knows?  So why is it that anytime a "gangsta" rapper gets busted for the same charges, he is not labeled a terrorist?  All the same elements are there.  Oh, but wait... his cop-killing diatribes simply constitute an expression of the First Amendment and are thus protected... it's only entertainment and not a call to action by other gang members - or is it?  Why is it that when a white person is busted for these crimes and has racist tendencies, but when a so-called African American or other than caucasian race uses racial and anti-law enforcement rhetoric, they are not racist nor are they terrorists.  Let me bring you back to an incident that America may have conveniently forgotten.  It was the 1992 Los Angeles riots.  Dozens of people were killed, thousands were wounded and billions of dollars of private and public property was destroyed.  These riots were incited by such violent rhetoric.  This was an act of terrorism.  Why was it not labeled as such?  It had all the elements of terrorism - a motive, violent acts designed to punish those who disagreed with them in a way that we would be fearful of reprisal in subsequent rulings (acquittals of those whom the mob believed were guilty) and future threats through gang-related culture and angry diatribes targeting law-enforcement, disguised as "music."   This may seem like a one-sided racial statement, but let me ask this question: Why was there no similar rioting when O. J. Simpson was acquitted?  Why was he acquitted?  May it have been something to do with the fear of reprisal that was obviously present - as there were literally armies of police officers in riot gear ready for if the trial had gone the other way?  This is just something to think about.

There are so many other unanswered questions and so many imbalances that I have not covered.  Suffice it to say that this man has been targeted by the media as a terrorist when no terrorist act has been committed.  I will assert very strongly that there are MANY terrorist acts which are thwarted but go unnoticed or unreported because the instigators are considered to be Islamic extremists.  Could it be that the government intentionally suppresses or downplays these incidents because they are protecting us from being terrorized by terrorists?  That would make sense, but when a story like this breaks where this WHITE U.S. BORN AMERICAN is labeled as a terrorist and credit is given to the FBI and local law enforcement for thwarting an alleged attack, then I may tend to think otherwise.

Boycotting... I wonder if people realize it can go either way?

I'm a big fan of collective bargaining... when it is necessary and not exploitive.  Now, I would say that most of the union striking that happens now is exploitive - to the point of extortion.  Unions were a good idea to start off with because they acted in defense of workers who didn't have a voice, yet were forced to work in conditions that were not safe or fair.  In many ways though, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction and it ends up being the unions that have been not only taking advantage of the companies, but employees as well... in other words, something akin to organized crime.

I'm not here to talk about unions, since currently they disgust me.  I am here to talk about a different form of collective bargaining that often isn't publicized as such: boycotting.  It's the power of the masses... and everybody can participate!

I read in the news today about how some advertising companies are boycotting certain conservative commentators because they believe that advertising on their shows was bad for their image.  The one commentator named was Rush Limbaugh and the incident in question was when he called an openly sexually active Georgetown University student who was protesting because she wasn't getting a break on contraceptives a "slut."  Now, personally I believe the language was harsh and strong and I wouldn't have used it - HOWEVER... I wonder if advertisers will dare boycott in droves, the likes of David Letterman, Bill Maher and John Stewart?  Certainly they are guilty of some blatantly rude and unsavory comments that are equal, if not worse, to those used by the outspoken Rush Limbaugh.  I'm sure Limbaugh has insulted his fair share of people using what Libbies like to refer to as "protected free speech" - or our First Amendment rights.  We can say anything or express ourselves in any way we like, no matter how offensive it is to anyone else, as long as what we have done cannot be proven to harm anybody else... right?  I mean, this is why even the most depraved of media can be portrayed as expressing our constitutional rights, am I not correct?  So why single out Rush Limbaugh then?  The other person of interest whom the media have targeted is Glenn Beck.  Nobody can even give a straight answer as to why he is being boycotted or where the breakdown is, but I suppose that just because he is an outspoken Conservative commentator, he must have said something along the line that is offensive to someone.

So let the advertisers boycott.  It's their right.  On the other hand, it is our right to boycott the advertisers who have taken it upon themselves to take an other than neutral stand.  If we don't agree with a company's political stance, let's boycott them.  If we agree with them, then by all means let's patronize them.  It worked for Chick-fil-a... or it did for awhile anyway.  I don't know if that little boost they had because of their political stance supporting "traditional families" has built the stamina that they need to keep their business afloat or not, but at least it likely got them through until the next major media debacle targeting some other business or individual the Leftists and the politically persuasive disagree with.  This is why the masses that follow media trends have such a short memory for these things.  But we can use these trends to work towards our advantage as well.  Why should it be so one-sided?  Why should we be at the mercy of those we don't even agree with... or worse, why should we be the ones paying their paychecks through our patronage?

So, here's what we can do: we find out which companies boycotted the Conservative commentators and boycott them.  But don't stop there.  If there are businesses that have openly demonstrated family values (especially those that have done so with their donations), patronize them instead!  Do a little (okay maybe a lot) more research and find those businesses or organizations that do not promote wholesome family values and trying to build a safe, moral, ethical and/or God-centered society and boycott them.  I do it personally (whenever possible).  Imagine how much we could clean up the trash in our society by not patronizing their businesses?  In this highly competitive world of business, the consumers can have more power over big business than what they realize... much more power than illegally camping out in a park and chanting annoying mindless slogans while waving signs and banners.

Good Guys and Bad Guys

Among the most powerful weapons an adversary can use is one of your own strengths that has been found to have a loophole or a flaw.  So it isn't surprising that liberals and atheists like to use our own passages of scripture in order to win arguments or advance their agendas.  One such passage of scripture goes something like this: "Judge not, that ye be not judged" or different variations of such.  There are also numerous other passages of scripture that tell us not to judge others - because by so doing, we become hypocrites.

Guess what?  I could safely say we're ALL hypocrites in one way or other.

But that's not the point.  I think it is important to judge... not for the sake of condemning another individual, but as an awareness of good and evil and as a protection against the evils of the world and against bad people.  

The crowd that has espoused so-called "moral relativism" would have us believe that there aren't good people or bad people, just people that make good decisions or poor decisions.  Well, I have some news to tell you: There are good people and there are bad people.

It's as simple as this: good people have good intentions and bad people have malicious intentions.

We all have things we struggle with.  Many of us struggle with some very bad things.  That does not make us necessarily bad people.  But there are people who want to harm or exploit others or take advantage of other people - murderers, rapists, abusers, pimps, thieves, illicit drug pushers, arsonists, warmongers, dictators, con-artists, pirates and so forth... these are some examples of bad people.  It's not a judgement.  People who do these things are bad.

 Most everybody else I would consider good people... or should I say not necessarily bad.  I think most people are inherently good people.  Most people have good intentions and would make good decisions and would want to help others if a situation arose where help was needed.

We need to know the difference between good and bad.  We need to know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.  We need to recognize and acknowledge who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.  We need to recognize which behaviors are good and which are bad as well.  In our society where the lines are increasingly becoming blurred or where the fine line between good and bad has become a wider gray area, maybe it's tim to look at what is good and what is bad and delineate absolutely what is good (or what would bring us in a direction closer to God) and what is bad (that which is influenced by Satan).

Poor People - Where'd They Get the Money for THAT???

I know what it's like to be poor.  I've been there.  I'm not going to go into detail in this particular blog post, but suffice it to say that being poor was a miserable thing for us - especially when we had bills to pay and could't afford to do so and had to make the decisions as to either pay a past-due utility bill or to buy food for our family.  Usually, the compromise was that we would pay less for groceries and end up with foods that were adequate to fill our bellies but not necessarily the best nutritionally - for instance: we would load up on bread from the bakery thrift store.  Our family subsisted on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Now, I don't know what has happened in the past 20-30 years (or if maybe it's been going on a lot longer and I have just noticed it more in recent years) but there are some trends that just can't go unnoticed.  Poor people are now enjoying frivolous indulgences!  I'm not talking about people on food stamps going in and buying steak and ice cream.  To me, that's no big deal... I mean, when you get food stamps you are allotted a certain dollar amount of food and you buy what you can afford.  If you can afford ice cream, well so be it!  When your food stamp allotment is gone, it's gone and you have to scrimp until you get your next month's allotment.  They have EBT cards now and from what I understand you can buy a lot more with your EBT than what you used to.  I'm not going to get into what you can and cannot buy with your EBT card.  No, what I am going to talk a little bit about is maybe the definition of being poor (or not being poor).

I remember hearing someone complain about being categorically needy or living in poverty level - an arbitrary statistic that the government throws out there that determines whether you are poor or not.  Like I said, it's an arbitrary number.  I can't determine that current dollar amount off the top of my head, but it seems to me that for most of my life we have always been at or below that number and for the most part I haven't thought much about it.  To me, being poor meant that you couldn't afford all the basic necessities of life, not yet luxuries.  So without further ado, I'm just gonna launch right into this and make my point.

I see these young "kids" now that are supposedly poor.  Now, I don't know if they are living with their parents, leeching off their parents while living in an apartment, using their student loans/grants or getting welfare... it doesn't matter.  What matters is that they claim they are poor.  They are always looking for some kind of handout or help whether it be from the government, parents, church or whatever charity will provide for their basic needs.

There is a great irony though.  These young people are sporting tattoos that would shame a seasoned sailor and enough piercings to set off metal detectors at the courthouse where they go to mitigate their traffic violations.  Some of them come walking into public places (like a grocery store) toting a purebred dog... because they just can't leave the pup at home or afford to pay a sitter or kennel.  Others go for the exotic pets because jeez... you just can't live without having some kind of animal in your apartment!  Then there's the dope... the dope, the booze and the cigarettes.  I'm not a smoker, but I was shocked the last time I saw the price of a pack of cigarettes - it's about 6 bucks... or more!  I don't even know how much it costs for weed and booze and beer and Starbucks coffee... and pet food!  And lest we forget the necessary iTunes cards and the apps that they load onto their iPhones so they can have something to do while they are illegally camping in a park at an Occupy protest or some other fruitless annoyance to the productive members of society.

My question is this: Where do they get the money for all this crap?  I'm pretty sure it doesn't come from a full-time job because NOBODY would hire a person that looks like a freak and hasn't bathed recently  or shaved in months and ignores neat grooming and clothing standards of a 21st century civilization.  Then they have the gumption to go down and protest (which is more like a giant party) against the hard-working and prosperous members of society... about the greed and lavish lifestyles of Corporate America while these poor humble peasants are languishing in their poverty... these cohabiting, irresponsible "students" then have the nerve to beg for free contraceptives.

Okay... so maybe I am making an example out of the dregs of our society but still, there are a lot of kids and young adults now who seem to have enough money to pay for electronic gadgets, new vehicles, trips to Hawaii or Europe or thereabouts, DVDs and video games, pets, cute shoes and new wardrobes - but then don't seem to have enough to pay the utility bills or put food on the table.

Don't get me wrong.  I think it's great to explore the world and enjoy some of the finer things in life... when you've saved up and can truly afford to do so.

Maybe it's just me but it appears that "being poor" is much more fun now than it was when I was poor.

It Takes a Village

In the past 20 years or so, I have often heard (mostly by the so-called "Progressives"): "It takes a village to raise a child."  What do they mean?

After many months of hard work in recording, photographing, promoting and providing equipment and support for a high school aged band, I was working at one of their final performances when a middle-aged man came up to me and shook my hand and said "thanks" and handed me a little card.  This stranger was one of the band member's dad.  Handwritten on the card was the phrase: "Thank you - it takes a village."  That card meant a lot to me because I know the spirit in which it was written.  I have long struggled with this concept though because I only agree with in partiality.

A few weeks ago I watched a video clip by MSNBC that I was appalled at.  The host claimed that our children belong to the community or the collective, rather than belonging to their parents or their family.  Nothing could be more wrong.

I believe that we all can and should do something to give back to our community and influence the lives of our children for good and to look out for and protect them however my child does not belong to the community or the government nor is it anyone else's responsibility to raise, nurture and teach and protect and provide for your child.  We, as parents, should not come to rely on the community to raise our children, though we should naturally have more compassion and look out for the orphans, widows, the fatherless and those from broken homes or wherever help is needed.

Here are some concerns over relying on the community to raise your child:

• Safety - The streets (as we so often refer to them) have an unsavory reputation for being a dangerous place for our children.  Even sending these children on public transportation can be a harrowing and worrisome experience for many parents... and for a good reason.  There are many dangerous or careless people that would seek malicious intent on a child if they were allowed a chance.  
• Bad examples - what are your children learning... and from whom?  Do you care?  There are plenty of bad examples for our children to learn from.  They need good examples.
• Delinquent kids - who provides the discipline for them?  The community does not dare to provide discipline for your child.  It is not their job.  In worst case scenarios where the discipline is left to the community, your child would end up in juvenile detention - perhaps worse.  By the time your child ends up in the hands of the courts, it may be too late.  Disciplining is the job of the parents.
• Absence of nurturing - Where does a child turn in the vacuum of appropriate nurturing and affection?  Is it any wonder why we have a problem with teenage pregnancy?  Children need proper affection and to be taught (by demonstration) what is appropriate touching and affection.  Children (even teens) are starving for attention and affection.  Loving parents provide that nurturing.  The community cannot do this.
• Confusion and lack of identity - The children of this generation suffer from a lack of identity.  Many of them aren't aware of their heritage, their religion or any hard and fast principles and morals.  They need a moral compass... somebody to tell them what is right and wrong and who they are, to define their gender and even their sexual orientation.  

We need strong communities and it is good to raise our children in these strong communities, but we can't count on it to happen.  As parents, we need to take the responsibility of raising and nurturing our children.  We shouldn't expect that the school, the church or the community will do an adequate job in doing so.  We need to reject the idea that the government should rule over our families and make the decisions that we should be making as parents.  We need to reject the idea that somebody else (the community... the village... whatever or whomever) will teach our children everything they need to know to survive in the world.  We need to reject the idea that we, as parents, are inadequate for raising our own children.

About This Blog

There are things that I think about all the time and I often start to post them on Facebook, but then I realize that they are too controversial because I have "friends" from all over the political, social and religious spectrum.  So I often delete my posts from Facebook or decide not to post what I am thinking.  I want to remain friends with them, so I need a safe place where I can post my thoughts and not end up in a war of words.  If you have discovered this blog by chance, then be warned: this is NOT Facebook and I don't post things here in an effort to appease friends.  This is NOT what you would call a "politically correct" blog. You may disagree with things that I post and that's your right to do so.  I also have the right to dismiss (delete) any posts that are caustic, hateful or contain profanity.  Those who come here to argue may be ignored or blocked.  If you want to read the blog and add your constructive input, fine.  If you came here to troll or post silly or irrelevant things or make personal attacks, then go somewhere else.  Don't try to waste my time by bringing up an argument.  The purpose for this blog is a place where I can boldly post my thoughts about things and maybe I can shed some light on some subjects that other people would dare not approach.

I would consider myself a political conservative, however there are things that I will likely post that will even bristle the hairs of many conventional conservatives.  I am coming at this from what I consider a practical approach, not partisan.