Mass Shootings: Guns, Games, or God?
Opinion August 7, 2019
Why is it that every time there is a shooting in this country, my feeds get flooded by blame. All I see is article after article on who or what I should be blaming for the latest shooting. “It’s because of video game violence!” “No, it’s the gun control laws!” “It’s about religion.” “Blame the parents.” “Blame the government.” “Blame anybody who doesn’t agree with me.”
Ultimately, I understand that people want to find a cause. That way they can turn off the valve, right? Cut off the source, stop the flow, end the violence. I need to run to the hospital for the whiplash as I get dragged in one direction after another. Is there a real answer, no. Maybe that’s why we’re all so confused.
In a society so focused on the individual, so inundated by the idea of one above all, there is no room left for love. Hate crimes, hate groups, home-grown terrorism, it all points to one thing for me. Stop being so selfish. We have so many people hating so much about this country, its people, its leaders, and its laws that I find no surprise anymore in these shootings.
How is a man supposed to respond to the world that he has found. And yes, I say ‘man.’ In 2019 alone, it seems like every time I look at a shooting of more than five people, its a guy. No, it’s not 100 percent, but it is overwhelming. When I look around, I see people screaming at each other about beliefs. Take a moment and search it yourself, I can promise you right now, I can find at least 20 videos of people filming with their phones a confrontation with people protesting. At least 18 of those videos are going to end up in screaming match with one or, more likely, both sides not even listening to each other.
It’s all about me today. I am god. I am the truth. How dare you not agree with me?
And if you are reading this thinking, “Oh, you tell those leftist idiots! They never listen.” Then you are part of the problem.
Again, if you are reading this thinking, “It’s about time someone stood up to those Right Wing nutjobs.” Then you, too, are part of the problem.
People talk about how racism is flooding our nation hating on Hispanics, degrading Blacks, ignoring Whites, and despising anyone else. Heck, I’m probably racist for not listing every single oppressed group like LGBTQ. But this is exactly the problem. We all hate everything that isn’t all about ‘me.’
Let me tell you about something I read on Social Media recently. It was a story about a teacher educating students on the Salem Witch Trials. I read that this teacher decided to play a game with the students. The teacher said they were going to go to each student in the class and whisper to them if they were a witch or a normal citizen.
The teacher proceeded until every student had a designation and then told them that they were to collect into groups. The largest group of students that didn’t have a witch in the group would receive an ‘A’ for the day. The rest of the students not in that group would fail. Likewise, if there was a witch in every group, then the witches would receive the ‘A’ and the other students would fail.
Soon, several groups had formed but quickly began distrusting anyone not already in their group. The hate spread quickly as they shunned each other for the slightest hints of being a ‘witch.’
As the time limit neared its end and the groups were solidifying into solid “cliques” of ‘us vs them.’ The teacher called for the students attention. The time of judgment had come. The teacher then asked every student who they had designated a witch to raise their hand…
The problem was that nobody raised a hand.
The students then turned on the teacher saying that the teacher had done something wrong and the game wasn’t fair. The teacher then explained, “Do you think there was actual witches anywhere in Salem? All I did was release you to act on what you were told, the same they did in Salem.”
Just like the students in this story, I find it quite telling how quickly people in this country abandon humanity. They lose cooperation in favor of segregation. You’re a republican so everything you say is biased drivel that promotes racism and gun violence. You’re a Liberal, so you must only be out to subvert society and erode life.
I feel like the more young people I talk to tend to identify as a middle ground or third party political standing. Maybe it has something to do with our society being more interested in classifying, separating, and statistically quantifying people so much that they are willing to listen to anything with numbers instead of sitting down and taking the time to understand the intricacies of each other.
We are selfish. Instead of generalizing those “Millenials” as lazy, greedy kids who want everything for free, listen to the underlying concerns of wanting to make things like healthcare and education more accessible so that the entire country can be healthier and more educated. Instead of calling those Second Amendment advocates violent sociopaths, try to understand the point that guns mean protection from intruders and shooters, but also from a government that may subdue the population and abuse their right to govern.
Don’t get caught up in the screaming, but also don’t passively agree just to avoid an argument. I know people who will continue arguing a debate just to argue and anger the other person. Even if these people know they are wrong, they don’t care, they don’t want to lose. They are selfish people who don’t build to an answer, they build tension.
One should go into a debate absolutely convinced of their belief with examples to support them, but they should also be open to listening and understanding the other side of the debate. A debate is not a fight, it’s a learning experience. I argue and debate with people to test my thoughts and beliefs. I may still come out believing what I believe or I may come out with a changed mind, but I always learn something and add to my knowledge.
And on that note, don’t degrade and put down people who change their minds. Maybe if we talk to people, try to understand them, they wouldn’t feel so alone with us and violent against us. Maybe we could reduce the mass shootings or find an actual answer instead of just blaming video games or gun laws.
Stop fighting against other groups and start intermingling because, I promise you people, there are no “witches” in this game.
The Purge Is On!
Opinion July 23, 2019
I stand back in amazement as the Democrat party implodes struggling to find a way to defeat Trump and still remain relevant to their hopeful changing America’s political position from a Representative Constitutional government to a socialist one. It can only end in a civil war!
The Democrat Party has almost been totally absorbed by Socialists but a major change is underway to move the party to Marxism. The childish new Marxists in their ranks are getting tired of the slow progress the Party is making in fundamentally changing America and want action now! Among other things, the Democrat party may soon be bereft of any remaining old white people (Liberals) who have run the party since the days of Jim Crow and the KKK.
The pointed attack on Nancy Pelosi as a racist, by the ‘Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse’ clearly signals the new direction the Democrats are going. Some decrepit Party remnants like Chuckie Schumer, Steny Hoyer and a few more, remain to kiss up to the Marxists in what is a futile attempt to forestall the inevitable. The can’t because the purge is on.
To the new congressional radicals who are serving their true political leader, Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC’s Chief of Staff, the Democrat Party means nothing except the vehicle by which to gain votes and power. The Party’s political direction is changing and Nancy will not be its leader.
Sanctuary cities and states acting in defiance of federal laws on immigration are the front line of AOC’s socialist cabal’s assault on Federal legitimacy. The question becomes an issue found in the 10th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and there’s a lot of room for maneuver in how to interpret them. The 10th simply enumerates the powers retained to the states, or not, and the powers of “the people.” The 14th amendment is all about civil rights and includes, arguably, who is and isn’t an American. So, with the confusion found there, illegal immigrants can’t be illegal if they can come here, regardless of the laws forbidding it, and establish themselves as US citizens. Having a baby here help’s.
We already know, from existing video’s that Pelosi and Schumer once totally agreed with the position President Trump takes on illegal immigration enforcement, and did so until Trump tried to build the wall. We are approaching a state of anarchy with many “Blue” States and Progressive Federal judges interfering with Trump’s enforcing Immigration laws.
For a city or state to resist federal immigration laws and get away with it, is evidence enough that creeping Soviet style socialism is already here in our local governments. I’ve outlined this before but it can’t be said enough. Take Los Angeles for example. Mayor Eric Garcetti has ordered his Chief of Police, Michael Moore, to absolutely not cooperate with ICE on deportations of illegals even those who have criminal records and were ordered out by courts.
Garcetti is therefore not really a ‘Mayor’ but a “Commissar,” in the soviet mode, while Chief Moore has simply become his “Political Officer,” not to enforce the law, but smother it for the good of the Party. When these Commissars order confiscations of Constitutionally protected rights, like our guns, then anarchy will breakout and there will be blood in the streets. San Francisco, Seattle, Portland are all great examples of other cities embracing socialism and smothering their citizens with the threats of armed fascist hooligans swarming the streets to beat up people who disagree with them. Even now, some media voices are encouraging street thugs to emulate the Colonials at Concord and Lexington and resist the evil king Trump.
Remember, freedom is the goal, the Constitution is the way. Now, go get ‘em!
SIX DECADES OF CENSORSHIP
Opinion March 27, 2019
SIX DECADES OF CENSORSHIP
More and more, it is coming to the light that the “free” press is pressured and controlled by the corporations that own the media. These corporations have most likely “bought and paid for” the candidate of their choosing and demand that the spin to always be in said politico’s favor.
The only way to get real news about the United States and what is really happening in the world is to go to a foreign or alternative news source. These sources are less likely to candy coat or spin the issues. It can be a real eye opener.
Should a journalist here in the US try to step out in an unpopular truth, they will be quickly squashed and suppressed. The bosses get the tongue lashing from the political power. That defecation rolls down hill and so on. However, this is not new, but it is only worsening.
If anyone remembers Richard Nixon and the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the point is easily proven.
The Smothers Brothers found themselves in direct conflict with the CBS’ network censors. The show catered to the counter culture that was sweeping the country in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Regardless of the controversy, the show was hilarious and wildly popular with viewers. The guests and writers of the show were mostly against the mainstream.
The president, Richard Nixon, was often the butt of many jokes. The Vietnam War was another unpopular issue that was bandied about in satire. In fact, a documentary on the show and its’ suppression has been aired on Public Television with Tommy Smothers narrating.
Not only was their show pulled from the air by the powers that be, the Smothers Brothers were blocked from having other shows. They were more or less black balled from the entertainment field.
Another example that comes to mind is the movie starring Robin Williams called Good Morning Vietnam. Loosely based the experiences of an AFRS DJ during the Vietnam War,
Adrian Cronauer is a very popular military DJ, played by Williams. He is frustrated at his inability to report the actual news. The military censors received the telex reports of the happenings in the area. They crossed out anything that would be considered controversial. The denouement of the movie occurred when Robin Williams’ character refused to be censored and reported all of the news which was forbidden.
An article written on LiberalOutcast.com entitled Liberal Blogger & Journalist Shows How Most News Is Controlled For Political Purposes by is an example of the frustration and awakening of a liberal writer. Being a liberal is usually a pass to say what is on your mind without any road blocks. However, even the liberals in the press corps are herded toward the vision statement and political leanings of the powers that be.
Recently. Judge Jeanine Pirro was pulled from the Saturday Night Line Up on Fox News Channel on the 9 o’clock slot between Jesse Watters at 8pm and Greg Gutfield at 10pm..
Her First Amendment rights were taken away as Fox News was concerned about her comments about the actions and comments of Ilhan Omar, freshman Congresswoman. Ilhan Omar is out talking freely about her Anti- Semantic views yet Nancy Pelosi cannot bring herself to call her out by name, but Judge Jeanine is pulled from her very popular show because no one wants to offend a Muslim or their beliefs.
It is hard to explain how the news companies have traveled from the horrifying and tragic events on 9/11/2001 to where they tiptoe about in fear of being called a racist, an Islamophobe, any other kind of “phobe” etc.
Perhaps the people who died on this date are no longer important. Or perhaps, the last administration was so caught up in Islamic adoration that everyone was indoctrinated?
How can we have a free press if it is controlled?
Have we already lost the First Amendment?
In Idaho it definitely was for a moment. The governor signed a cancellation of the 1st Amendment into law. The Ag-Gag law will jail anyone who does undercover filming inside production areas where animals are husbanded. In no way is it advocated to abuse animals but it is understandable that a business would not want their operations filmed if there are industry secrets that could be copied. However, the law was in direct opposition of First Amendment rights.
However, the law was later overturned by a Federal Judge, citing it violated free speech. https://www.democracynow.org/2015/8/4/headlines/idaho_judge_overturns_ag_gag_law_citing_free_speech_rights
All that being said, it is completely irresponsible to pass a law that restricts free speech. How can the truth reach the masses if it is controlled?
The social media platforms are in a state of conflict with the First Amendment of late as they have set up algorithms to control Conservative views. Twitter will ban anyone for life if they please, YouTube takes away one’s ability to make money from their videos, Facebook will “review your post” if it is controversial.
Seems everyone who is of a conservative mind must be controlled by the Left, who are allowed free rein of their tongues, a privilege that is now denied to anyone on the Right or a Republican.
The country is in a sorry state that has been on the downhill slide for six decades where freedom of speech is concerned. One trembles to think what will happen if it is not checked in a hurry. Everything the United States has ever stood for is at stake here. Please stand up and be counted. Fight for our First Amendment rights.