Category: Politics

Don’t you stomp my flag, or the latest in midwest idiocy

May 7th, 2015 · · Legislation, Politics No comments - Tags: , , , , , , ,

First – I love the idea of this country. Also, I have respect for those in, from, and around the armed forces. They’re way braver than me just to sign up, never mind what some have had to go through or do in their service times. I am not a fan of pissing on the flag. By that I mean it has been a symbol of this country through good and bad and I view it as a symbol of the good and ideals that this country used to aspire to become.

With all of that being said, Fox News blew up with some guy and some idiots advocating stomping on the flag for whatever reason. Well, they seem to be twats but whatever. Now Fox drew in a guy who got the Medal of Honor and there was planted the seed of blah blah blah challenge. Okay, it was cute when it was ice water and raising money for disease research but these days people call anything they want support for a challenge. Get over it.

Some idiots want to trash the flag. I believe them to be jerks, but so be it. Pretending that you posting a picture of a flag is some anti-protest or whatever is only keeping their attention going. Do something productive and get our troopers home instead of playing world police. THAT would actually be something to issue a challenge about.

Back when it was chairs in yards because some old fart actor told you to do it. Now it’s pictures of flags. How about you do something useful instead of voting the same crap into office and fighting over things that don’t affect your day to day life. Focus on your money leaving at a rate of 50% while you argue if sex education should be taught in schools or if birth control should be available to people. While you argue over details the rich keep stealing your money and then making you pay for keeping the system going and they walk away richer.

Wake up.

They’re all hypocrites

June 28th, 2013 · · Legislation, Politics No comments - Tags: , , , , , , ,

So, I was listening to some christian radio station on my commute home last night as I’m prone to do in the evenings. I was listening as they went down a list of complaints about marriage, Texas, and Obama. I get the marriage bit because their holy book says no-no. Fine. Your opinion is your opinion. I also get the Texas bit because it was something about making abortion illegal or restricted or something (I missed most of it paying attention to driving). They say no abortion ever, and I do agree with that as my opinion.

However, the bit about Obama saying the SCOTUS gave a great decision regarding marriage stumped me. It wasn’t that they didn’t like Obama supporting the decision. The station’s ire was raised by the fact that he said it in a country where same-sex marriage is is illegal – Senegal. Their bit was (paraphrased) ‘Obama shouldn’t praise something which is illegal within the country is visiting. That’s rude.’

Again, their opinion and they are more than entitled to it. It struck me as odd though considering Senegal is a muslim country with laws slanted in that direction. I have vague memories of Obama being called a panderer and other not-nice things when visiting other countries and paying attention to protocols as to not offend them. I’m having a hard time reconciling this in my head.

So, Obama is a douche for not ignoring protocols and being an ignorant American, AND he’s a douche for ignoring the fact that same-sex marriage is illegal in a country and speaking about it? Make up your damn minds.

Don’t get me wrong, I hate all these political pundits who spin shit over the public eyes but this is the most recent bit and it splintered in my mind so I wrote about it. They are all liars and spin data to rile up their viewers for ratings. You do realize that don’t you? None of the supposed news sources care about anything but money. They make more money by using spin to enrage you and lead you down the primrose path.

Take in your ‘news’ from multiple sources and be discerning. Don’t buy into the bullshit.

The Romeike Misdirection

April 25th, 2013 · · Family, Legislation, Politics, School No comments - Tags: , , , , , , , ,

So, I happened across a post about the Romeike family and how they are being forced to defend their religion and prove persecution in their home country of Germany so they can have asylum here in the United States. Countless hours have been logged by some religious law club in an attempt to argue in favor of these poor folks being granted asylum so that they do not have to endure the continued persecution which the German government heaps upon them.

As an United States citizen I was appalled that our government would even think about not granting asylum to these people who are being persecuted for their religion. Our constitution has enshrined in it the very ideal that religion is something we should all be allowed to practice (or not) in any form reasonably (unless you’re Muslim, because they’re bad). These people should be taken in, given freedom as we take it for granted, and enjoy their lives. We all deserve freedom no matter what our country of origin.

Then I did some background checking.

The only article I could find with supposedly first-hand information was written with 90% composition by their primary lawyer. Obviously that was biased as can be. This family claimed religious persecution, was granted temporary asylum, and this court proceeding is to determine if they can stay permanently. In the article I found it is laid out that the family didn’t like some of what their kids were hearing in the state run school, and so pulled them out. In the US – no big deal. In Germany – big deal. All children are required to attend school up to a defined level in Germany. This is a good requirement I feel. However Germany was about to put the parents in jail for not sending their children to school.

I can imagine ‘Oh those poor people. They must send their child to a state school. If only (insert religion) was allowed to have a school then this could be avoided.’ Great news! There are many church schools in Germany which are acceptable to the state since they meet the minimum education guidelines. I do not know if the family chooses to not like any of the religious schools or if the cost is prohibitive however there are other options the family could choose from if they had the desire.

This then leads into people screaming religious persecution and an attack on the right to raise your kid how you feel is best. No, this is a law passed to ensure a country is not populated by uneducated morons. Germany has a long history and much different circumstances than the US. Their laws are different for many reasons. This does not mean your religion is being persecuted, it means you don’t like something and threw a fit. Frankly, I don’t like the district my kids are enduring. I would love to send my children to a private school so they could actually learn, however this is waaaaaay too expensive locally – because I’m not Roman Catholic. Mother Church has decided that since I am not of their faith we must pay more than double the cost of Catholics. Perhaps I should seek asylum somewhere.

This is not a case of religious persecution. End of story. These folks should be shipped back to Germany post-haste.

Bias, Ignorance, and Hate

December 11th, 2012 · · Politics, Technology One comment - Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Recently several people whom I consider friends (real friends, not Facebook connections) have posted the picture below to their Facebook walls. Okay, fine. It is their wall and they can post whatever they want. However, this particular idiotic photo tipped something in my wee-little brain and ticked me off. With that in mind know that I am going to rant a little bit about how we (myself included) post these things with no other purpose than to spur hate or anger and perpetuate a bias that has grains of truth among an ocean of sand.

Psy with text

Filmmaker makes a crappy, obscure internet movie that upsets Muslims… Throw him in jail…

Let’s examine the text at face value. Okay, he did make an obscure film. That’s a fact. There were a few protests in Muslim nations that were reported to be about this film so I suppose you can lend some truth to the “upsets Muslims…” part. The big problem I cite with this part of the text is “Throw him in jail.” WAIT A DAMN MINUTE.

Was the dude put back into prison? Yes. Was it in any way due to the film? Nope. Still, that part is left out because this text sounds like we put the poor guy into prison because he made a movie that upsets Islamic people. This feeds the bias that our government supports Islamic people and kisses their (collective) ass.

Our government may kiss asses of many people and countries, but this picture serves only to keep the ‘Murika is good and we don’t need to associate with brown folks’ mentality alive. Should we lose our national identity? Of course not. We should also realize that we are citizens of a big world and we can’t hate a whole group of people because of a few crazies that belonged to that group. I don’t like assholes (though I sometimes am one) of any type. Supporting this type of bias only shows willing ignorance or hate. Which are you?

Idiotic rapper makes a song about murdering the families of Americans he doesn’t like… Invitation to the White House.

Now let us look at this part. “Idiotic rapper...” that’s an opinion. “…makes a song...” Um, I believe he had a couple of lines in a group sing – technically correct though. “…about murdering the families of Americans he doesn’t like…” He said ‘‘kill those fucking Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives…kill them all slowly and painfully.” Pretty harsh, but I have to say that I’m not a fan of illegal torture either. “Invitation to the White House.” Yes, he was invited to the White House due to the insane popularity of his song. So? The White House has hosted many people who have actually killed and/or continue to incite violence. One statement 8 years ago is a mere speck on that record. I’ve said offensive shit much more recently. He was part of a protest regarding a Korean missionary killed by Islamic assholes in retaliation to South Korea sending troops to support the US in the Iraq invasion. It was a reaction to a horrible event. I’ve had those too, have you? The absurd amount of ‘MURIKA after 9/11 comes to mind.

So, I guess what I’m getting at is that what this text on photo says is mostly true from a certain perspective. Unfortunately it leaves a lot of detail to your imagination with the blatant intention of making you hate all Muslims and Obama. That’s the point of this photo with text. We can play in kiddie land and say ‘I’m just presenting facts’  with this, but let’s be realistic – you’re spreading hate through ignorance to increase bias. That is being an asshole.

Make a Difference in Election 2012

November 5th, 2012 · · Illinois, Legislation, Politics No comments - Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

My friends in Illinois,

Obama has won Illinois. Neither he nor Romney spent any money here because of the lopsided polls. Chicago, East STL, Peoria, and others have decided for you. I tell you this not because I support Obama, but to appeal to your logic.

A vote for Romney is pointless in this election. You may be doing it to spite the D or whatever, but it won’t actually do anything. What I ask you to consider is voting for Gary Johnson – a Libertarian. Why? A number of reasons, but I will attempt to keep this a reasonable post. Libertarians believe in liberty. More specifically they believe in personal choice. What people do, so long as it does not harm others, is your own business. (my interpretation)

Gary Johnson is polling at 4% when included alongside the D and R candidates. With your help he could reach the magical 5% number that the D and R established to get federal money (yup, you fund the candidates like it or not) and most importantly ballot access. Ballot access means that the Libertarian party will be allowed special privileges like the D and R instead of having to fight, get petitions with signatures, and be denied the ability to participate in debates. This also means that the D and R might have to take a stand on issues instead of mostly agreeing without taking a definitive stand.

In the end, I don’t know that my plea will make a difference, but I am hoping that you will make a difference. This election cycle goes to the D in Illinois. However you can use the vote you might have cast in spite, out of tradition, or whatever reason you had and use it to allow another party to have a say in politics and provoke some change. I ask you to cast a vote for a truly different candidate and spur our political system to what it can be – greatness.

Sincerely,
Me