Newtown Massacre

Well here it is another school shooting.  Another sick individual. My heart goes out to the families of the victims of this tragedy.  If things play out the way they usually do when there is any kind of shooting where children are involved, we're all about to become victims. 

I watched an interview this morning on TV, the person being interviewed was the school nurse in Newtown Conn..  She spoke about how she had hidden under her desk when the gunman came into her office, and how she could see him through a hole in the back of her desk for computer cables to go through, and how after he had left (to continue his rampage) her secretary had come into the office, and closed the door and they both hid in the closet for almost 4 hours. Congratulations to both of them for surviving, and having an action plan, but how much more gratifying would it to have been to hear this. "I was in my office and heard some popping noises, I reached into my desk, and pulled my hand gun out of my purse, after checking to make sure it was loaded, I proceeded into my secretary's office where I found her hiding under her desk. I told her to go into my office, lock the door, and then go into my store room lock the door, and hide there until everything was OK.  Next I went out into the hall where I came almost face to face with the shooter, on his way into my office, I raised my gun, and shot him. I'm very sorry for the 1 victim of the shooter, and I heart and prayers go to the family, but I'm thankful I chose to have a conceal carry permit, and know how to effectively use my weapon." I know myself for one would much rather hear this, hour after hour, day after day, month after month, year after year, than talk about more gun control legislation.

 I read an article a few years ago, I think shortly after 9/11 that was relevant then, and even more so here. Its called "On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs. In it, it makes the correlation between people who are Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs, and how each reacts.  How great would it have been had this nurse been able to have been a "Sheepdog". Read on for the narrative, I didn't write it, but it sums up my feelings. Before the September 11 attacks in 2001, I flew almost weekly, and since I was 5 or 6 years old I had carried a pocket knife, (yes to school as well). When I started flying for work I had always had my knife in my pocket, not because I expected problems, but because I used it for work, as well in the back of my mind I had thought if there were ever any problems on board (hi-jacking) I at least had a weapon I could use to defend myself or others. After 9/11 that no longer is an option, now when I fly, I have to remember to "disarm" myself and leave my pocket knife at home.  I, thanks to our government have now become a sheepdog with no teeth. Should something happen on board a plane that I am on, will fight to the death, but it will be with my bare knuckles, fingernails, teeth and whatever else the government cannot take away from me.

      Sheep, Wolf, or Sheepdog?

Many individuals seem to have a rather limited view of gun owners. We are variously depicted as "good ol' boys" -- rebel rednecks who are uneducated and for whom shooting is a cheap, macho thrill, vigilantes who believe something along the lines of "Shoot 'em all -- let God sort 'em out", or patriotic, right-wing extremists who will brook no argument over the precise meaning of each of the twenty-seven words in the second amendment. These stereotypes aren't surprising; they are the inevitable result of years of fomenting fear by gun control advocates, biased reporting by most of the media, and inaccurate portrayals of firearm use by the entertainment industry.

Well, folks, make a new category for me and my sisters. I am an armed mother. I own a variety of firearms. I have five children -- three stepsons and two toddlers -- ranging from just over 1 year old to 14 years old. I am a passionate defender of any responsible individuals right to keep and bear arms, for both ideological and practical reasons. And I am not alone.

I first began shooting simply out of curiosity -- my former father-in-law is an experienced hunter, and he wanted to share his knowledge and enjoyment of firearms with his son and me. I fell in love with his 12-gauge pump shotgun -- and became proficient with it my first afternoon of shooting. With the first recoil into my shoulder, before the booming echoes faded away, recognition of the power I commanded flooded me. It filled me with something I'd not known before: the absolute knowledge that if someone tried to mess with me, I could successfully fight him -- or them -- off. Size was no longer an insurmountable obstacle; numbers were more of a challenge but I would have a much better chance being armed. I could fight--and win!

I have since educated myself about responsible firearms use, handling, and storage, and learned how to shoot different firearms. I have also written numerous articles on RKBA topics and self-defense. While I am by no means an expert, I enjoy reading and learning more about firearms, and enjoy practicing with them. Due to my willingness to write about firearms, I've had some interesting exchanges with individuals from across the spectrum. In part as a result of that, and also from my reading in the area, I have come to view individuals as falling into one of three classes: sheep, wolf, and sheepdog.

Sheep are, unfortunately, the most numerous group. Individuals who are horrified by guns and protest indignantly that they would never own a gun, because they could never hurt another human being are sheep. So are individuals who, for whatever reason, can't or won't be bothered to think about their own protection. Also in this group are those who believe that the government -- the police, 911, etc. -- can and will protect them, and so don't think about protecting themselves.

From the published accounts of in-flight conversations from people on the three jets that became third world cruise missiles on 9-11, slamming into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, most of the people on those jets -- and the people they contacted -- were sheep. They allowed terrorists armed with knives and box cutters to commandeer the aircraft, killing themselves and thousands more in the buildings. Based on what we currently know of those flights' last few minutes, no one made any attempt to resist the terrorists. One woman who called her husband on a cell phone asked him what they should do; sadly, he did not suggest she recruit some others to overcome the terrorists. Those poor doomed souls had been so conditioned into relying on someone else for their protection that they apparently didn't even try to mount a resistance. They died huddled into the back of the plane, like the sheep they'd become.

Wolves are the least numerous group, thankfully. Individuals who prey on others, for whatever reason, are wolves. Terrorists, rapists, thieves, and psychopathic killers are obviously wolves. So are those who derive satisfaction from the power they wield over others, whether by bullying or manipulating or deceiving. It's difficult to get a good estimate of just how many wolves there are out there, because ways of counting and defining them vary. According to the American Psychiatric Association's measures, what I'm calling wolves can be classified into three categories (it is possible for someone to belong in two or more categories): antisocial personality disorder (most common criminals); sociopaths; and psychopaths. The incidence of each of these in the population is, respectively, 4%, 3%, and 1%.

It is possible for an individual to overreact to the threat that wolves present to the rest of us, and become wolf-like. These individuals typically make statements such as, "If anybody comes after me he'll get the business end of my rifle!" or "If I'd had my gun with me that SOB would have learned a thing or two courtesy of Mr. Wesson!". They abuse the power of firearms, and become bullies -- as long as they're behind their weapon. Fortunately, this kind of "reactionary wolf" is similarly rare.

That leaves the individuals who know better than to rely on the empty promises of security the government offers, and who educate themselves and arm themselves with a variety of tools for self-protection. These individuals aren't sheep, passively waiting and hoping someone else will watch over us. Nor are they wolves, using their tools and training against those who pose no real threat to them. They are sheepdogs -- ever watchful, appraising potential problems and responding appropriately to a threat. If a wolf approaches, they bark first to warn it off. If it persists, they increase the defensive measures. If the wolf begins its attack, only then does the sheepdog unleash its most powerful weapon -- firearms -- to stop the lethal threat to its life and loved ones.

In my work for Project: Safe Skies, I have heard the objection several times that armed citizens on board a plane would overreact -- in effect, becoming those reactionary wolves I described above. Sadly, I've even heard this from individuals who describe themselves as "pro-gun". If the possibilities were limited to sheep and wolves -- prey and predators -- it is possible that someone simply saying hello to his companion while on a jet -- "Hi, Jack!" -- could get shot by a reactionary wolf with a quick trigger finger. The reality is that most gun owners are sheepdogs: prepared, alert, and thinking. Threats are assessed and dealt with an appropriate fashion, rather than drawing the gun and firing away every time.

In fact, armed citizens have a better record of successfully targeting criminals than do police officers. Sheepdogs mistakenly shoot innocent individuals in only 2% of shootings; for police the rate is 11%. If you think about it, this makes sense. Civilians don't have the protections that come with the badge a cop wears. Instead, if they fire (or even show a weapon in many states) inappropriately, the civilian can face criminal and civil suits that can lead to bankruptcy, and the loss of a good reputation in the community. Because of the higher standard of accountability, many sheepdogs also work hard to maintain solid defensive skills -- often times much harder than law enforcement officers do. That training pays off in greater safety.

I have 7 excellent reasons to be armed and prepared to meet any threat that may come my way: my life and the lives of my wonderful partner and five beautiful children. As a mother, it is my responsibility to raise my children to be healthy, responsible adults. This includes protecting them from and educating them about potential dangers in the world. That's why I'm a sheepdog. My responsibility does not end when we set foot on airport property. Indeed, the events of 9-11 (another failure of government safety schemes, but I'll save that topic for another day) have demonstrated that sheepdogs are in even greater demand than ever before.

So, what are you? A sheep, a wolf, or a sheepdog?

Does anyone seriously think that a wolf is going to follow the rules? lets make more gun control laws. Take weapons away from everyone, no more sales of guns or ammunition, guns are still going to be owned by those wishing to do people harm, hell, I even made a gun in my high school metal shop class.  It doesn't take much knowledge to make one. Just a metal lathe, and a micrometer.

Frank Ocean Coming Out Letter

I came accross something today that to me was kind of a "WOW" moment. It was written by Frank Ocean, a black rapper.  I'm not really into rap, this guy hits it on the head. It is his comming out letter that he wrote in a open format. It is very much how I felt, and was unable to put to words. Good job Frank

"Whoever you are, where ever you are… I’m starting to think we’re a lot alike. Human beings spinning on blackness. All wanting to be seen, touched, heard, paid attention to. My loved ones are everything to me here. In the last year or 3 I’ve screamed at my creator, screamed at clouds in the sky, for some explanation. Mercy maybe. For peace of mind to rain like Manna somehow. 4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence….until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping. No negotiating with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life. Back then, my mind would wander to the women I had been with. The ones I cared for and thought I was in love with. I reminisced about the sentimental songs I enjoyed when I was a teenager.. the ones I played when I experienced a girlfriend for the first time. I realized they were written in a language I did not speak. I realized too much, too quickly. Imagine being thrown from a plane. I wasn’t in a plane though. I was in a Nissan Maxima, the same car I packed up with bags and drove to Los Angeles in. I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best, but he wouldn’t admit the same. He had to go back inside soon. It was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn’t tell me for years. Now imagine being thrown from a cliff. No, I wasn’t on a cliff, I was still in my car telling myself It was gonna be fine and to take deep breaths. I took the breaths and carried on. I kept up a peculiar friendship with him because I couldn’t imagine keeping up my life without him. I struggled to master myself and my emotions.

 I wasn’t always successful. That dance went on… I kept the rhythm for several Summers after. It’s Winter now. I’m typing this on a plane back to Los Angeles from New Orleans. I flew home for another marred Christmas. I have a window seat. It’s December 27 2011. By now I’ve written two albums, this being the second. I wrote to keep myself busy and sane. I wanted to create worlds that were rosier than mine. I tried to channel overwhelming emotions. I’m surprised at how far all of it has taken me. Before writing this I’d told some people my story. I’m sure these people kept me alive, kept me safe.. sincerely. These are the folks I wanna thank from the floor of my heart. Everyone of you knows who you are.. great humans. Probably Angels. I don’t know what happens now, and that’s alrite. I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore. There’s probably some small shit still, but you know what I mean. I was never alone, as much as I felt like it.. As much as I still do sometimes, I never was. I don’t think I ever could be. Thanks, to my first love, I’m grateful for you. Grateful that even though It wasn’t what I hoped for and even though it was never enough, it was. Some things never are.. and we were. I won’t forget you. I won’t forget the Summer. I’ll remember who I was then I met you. I’ll remember who you were and how we’ve both changed and stayed the same. I’ve never had more respect for life and living than I have right now. Maybe it takes a near death experience to feel alive. Thanks, to my Mother. You raised me strong. I know I’m only brave because you were first.. so thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man. If I listen closely.. I can hear the sky falling too.
-Frank

Lets Go On Vacation or Marriage and the Constitution

I came across an article awhile back which kind of struck me as interesting.  It's something I knew, but really didn't know why, but remembered learning about it in school. probably in 7th or 8th grade, when we studied the constitution.  The article references Article 4 Section 1 of the United States Constitution, or otherwise known as the Full faith and credit law. 

Section 1.
Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.
Section 2.
The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.

This was put into our Constitution, by our fore fathers for the sole reason, to unify our nations laws. It recognizes that there are numerous jurisdictions involved in just about every aspect of our nation, ie:federal, state, county, city, and that each jurisdiction may have different laws, but basically says that if a judicial proceeding happens in one jurisdiction then that proceeding is recognized in another jurisdiction.

Think about how much of a hassel it would be if your drivers license wasn't accepted out of your home state. (wife)Honey where are we going on vacation this year? (you)Well I'm licensed in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware. (Kids) we want to go to Disney world. (you)We can't go to Disney world, because I only have a weeks vacation, and I have to get 5 drivers licenses, Divorce your mother, and marry your step mom in 5 states and each one will take at least a day to do.(kids) We don't want to go to Easton's Beach againnnnnn, (you) well kids it's either that or I get a drivers license divorce your mom, and marry your step mother in Massachusetts, and we can do the freedom trail in Boston, Oooorrrrrr we do a sta-cation, in the back yard.....(kids)aaallllllllllll right, lets do the beach againnnnnn.

Do you see how absurd that is?  How is it though when it comes to gay marriage, this law seems to not apply?  With few exceptions, if you are married in a state that performs same sex marriages, that marriage is not recognized in the other states, as well as by the federal government. Until the Supreme Court struck down all laws banning interracial marriage in 1967, a number of states banned interracial marriage and did not accept interracial marriage certificates issued in other states.  Is this where we are today, 1966?  Almost 50 years later and were still "banning interracial marriage's" not literaly, but figuratively. Are we that stupid, that were going to allow our government to continue this? I bet everyone reading this knows at least one interracial married couple, and is probably even good friends with them. Would you go out and protest against their right to be married or support denying their right to be married, because "your state doesn't allow interracial marriage"? Or even better, in the 60's black men were murdered because they were living with or were married to white women. How about we go back to that?

In my opinion, who you marry, shouldn't be a Liberal or a Conservative, Democrat or Republican issue.  It should be a personal issue.  If I want to spend the rest of my life by myself so be it.  If I want to marry a man, so be it. If I want to marry a woman good for me. But the issue comes down to being true to yourself, if your attracted to someone of the same sex, even if you marry a person of the opposite sex, your still attracted to people of the same sex, you might be able to put aside for awhile, but at some point its going to come to the surface, and at that point most likely it's going to involve others besides yourself, probably in a very negative way.

For myself, growing up in the 60's and 70's in a small farming community, I never even heard the word gay until I was out of high school. I didn't even look at it as applying to me. I had fooled around with a couple of guys I went to school with, but they both had girl friends, and I liked girls, I just thought that was what you did, mess around with your friends, then you get married, have kids, and live your life, I thought that was what everyone did.  I spent 20 years in a marriage that really didn't work. 10 of those years cheating on her. I was in denial about who I was. After we were divorced, I continued to fool around with guys as well as dating women, none of them but one knew I had an attraction to men.  Finally in my last relationship with a women, I realized I liked women for the company, but not the intiment or sexual part. As long as it was hanging out doing things, it was all good, but as soon as it turned sexual, and she wanted more of a relationship....I wanted to run the other direction.

Gay and Republican

I've been listening to the radio and television quite abit the last few weeks, and something that I keep hearing repeated by numerous hosts, on the current political forefront, is if your LGBT, and your voting republican then your an "Uncle Tom", as in being gay but taking sides with the enemy. I heard one radio host on XM saying when he came out to his parents a few years ago, they had always been staunch republicans, and he told them that if they continued to vote republican it was the same as voting against him, as they were supportive of him and his boyfriend.

I take offense to this notion.  Number 1, in my opinion being LGBT, is not and should not be in the political realm.  I'm gay.  Maybe your gay, maybe your straight, or somewhere in between.  It doesn't matter. Just because I'm gay doesn't mean, that I believe in liberal fiscal policies, the welfare state, and taking from the rich to give to the poor (wealth re-distribution), gun control, and most of the other planks in the Democratic platform.  What I do mean is that, yes the Republican party is against gay rights, but for the most part the rest of the platform I agree with.  Do I like it, that they don't support my rights as a human being? No, but that is one of the give and take areas, I choose to give on. 

I doubt that everyone in the Republican party agrees with every plank, and the same with the Democratic party as well. Hell I bet there are just as many Democrats who don't like the party supporting gay rights, as there are Republicans that don't like our party denying gay rights.  To me its almost like saying if your gay then you have to be a Democrat, and if your straight, then you have to be a republican.

No one is ever going to agree 100% with each other, were all different, and in being different, that is what makes us human.  As for me I will remain a Republican, but will try to change the way our party looks at us, by setting an example they can see in a positive way, not the example people see from so many in the LGBT community.  I have lots of friends who are Republican, straight, and know that I am gay, they don't have a problem with me or my partner, and feel that we are getting the shaft...no pun intended, and I believe that in a few short years our party will reverse their stance on gays.

Father's disowning of son letter

I read saw an article on this today, how sad.  Does his dad not realize this kid didn't make a choice to be gay? That this kid probably having been raised in a Christian home has probably been in turmoil for several years about this, asking God to change him, to make him straight, not be attracted to guys, but that didn't happen. What this father, and I use the term loosely needs to realize that we are born this way, we didn't choose it, just as he didn't choose to be straight, and that society and Christianity continues to cause more problems by considering homosexuality an "un-natural lifestyle".  As long as this kind of thinking continues we will continue to have people like myself that "choose" to be straight because that is "normal" and get married and have kids, only to realize several years into their marriage that they cant think themselves straight, and then either get divorced, or even better, cheat on their wives, possibly bringing home unexpected gifts....HIV, or any other STD's before finally getting caught. 

I look back on my life and quite honestly know I was gay before I had any concept of what that was....(I never even heard the word until I was in High School) I was always easy to cry, I would get aroused in 1st grade at the site of my friends under ware, never really liked to get dirty, closest friends in school were girls, until older when the other boys started getting interested in girls, then I got interested in the other boys....the list goes on and on.

Luckily I never caught anything, or brought home anything, although I cheated on her for about 10 years before being caught, which tore my family apart. To this day, (11 years) my kids wont talk to my parents, sisters, or myself.

This man should be thankful his son was "Man" enough to let him know, and respected him enough to talk to him and let him know.  I cant say the father cant be hurt, and wish otherwise, but he needs to accept who his son is, and love him unconditionally, just as Jesus did for him.

Movies Kill People

I truly send my condolences to all the family's affected by today's massacre in Colorado at the premier of the new Batman movie.  That said, while watching the news today one of the reporters quoted a movie director as saying "remember movies don't kill people, armed sicko's kill people" How is it that liberals seem to think that if movies don't kill people, without the help of a "Sicko" that guns kill people without the help of a "Sicko"

If our politicians follow their pattern of gun control they will attempt to do two things.
      1.     More gun control, because everyone knows that guns kill people. Even more apparent after
               this massacre
      2.     "Movie control" close movie theaters, keep law abiding citizens from purchasing tickets,
                while the law breakers have full access to them

Race in America UPDATE

Well I gained some information today, that kind of pisses me off....I should have known better, than to truly believe our news media, but instead of being 14 as has been reported, "Little Travon" is actually 17.  And surprise, surprise, the picture that we have come to know Travon as, is of a 12-14 year old Travon, not how he currently looks at 17, as Travon the thug.....a little more scary looking now.  Still no reason to be shot if he was truly Innocent, but certainly more intimidating.  See for your self.

Race in America

Why has it that in America today, everything has become about race? Two weeks ago, an unfortunate incident happened, in that a young black man, Travon Martin was fatally shot by George Zimmerman who was a neighborhood watch captain. Zimmerman claims it was self defense, Travon'ssupporters claim it was a racially biased shooting.

Common George, you felt scared enough for your life that you chose to kill that person, a 14 year old boy? I've seen your pictures, you look like a you could be a pretty intimidating man, I wouldn't take you on, and I'm not a small guy. I'm 6'2" 210, and in reasonably good shape.

I don't know what happened, nor does anyone else in America or the world, but i can give you my take on it. I believe what happened was an unfortunate series of events that lead to the death of one young man, a black man. When George saw a person walking through the neighborhood, he for whatever reason felt he was suspicions. It could have be because he was black, I don't know. It could have been Travon'smannerisms caught Georges attention. It could also have been a person on a power trip, who felt that because he had been given/taken/volunteered, a level of authority he had the right to carry a gun in the execution of that authority, and use that gun in a level consistent with law enforcement. (don't get me wrong, I believe in the right to bear arms, and carry a gun). The problem there, is Zimmerman wasn't a member of law enforcement, he was technically even lower than a totem pole, than a rent a cop or security officer. Travondidn't know who he was. He wasn't wearing a uniform. Zimmerman probably followed him for awhile, then I imagine Travon saw or heard him behind him and knew that "somebody" was following him, and started to walk faster, eventually probably taking off at a run, or even possibly trying to hide. George called to him to stop, probably said something about being in the neighborhood watch, maybe saying he was a cop. Travon continued to run trying to evade George, not necessarilybecause he was guilty of anything, but rather because he didn't know who George was.

That's the key to the whole thing here, we are in a society that doesn't know our neighbors, if we’re lucky we might know the people next door. How many kids have been abducted, murdered, raped, because they trusted a stranger? When I was a kid we were taught to obey adults, and do what they said. We lived in a simpler time. We've taught our kids to run if a stranger approaches them, and to TravonGeorge was a stranger. Eventually George Shot. Do I think you intended to kill him? No I don't.I think you maybe tried to scare him, maybe even shoot him, but not kill, just to stop him from running or walking away from you. But you did kill him so now you had to make up a reason as to why you shot Travon. Self-defense. There it is plain and simple self-defense; it’s now pretty much a dead person’s word against yours as to what happened. You get off, maybe a slap on the wrist, but basically you get off. Do I think you’re a Racist? No, probably not, maybe a little profiling, but I doubt you even knew he was black until sometime into the whole deal.

What’s going to happen here is someone else is going to end up dying before this is all over. George you need to man up and tell us what really happened, take your lumps as they fall, but tell the truth.

Law enforcement needs to get a handle on neighborhood watch groups, most I'm sure are totally law abiding, do as the books and pamphlets say, don't engage a person suspected of something, take notes, don't pursue, be a good observer, and a help to law enforcement. What has happened to a few, is they are self-appointed vigilante's, hiding behind the neighborhood watch. They think there cops. Police departments across the nation have at a time of diminished budgets, created a ticking time bomb, by giving people information, and no power or authority, by helping to establish the neighborhood watch programs. Now in the police department’s defense I'm sure they didn't tell or even encourage George to carry a gun, but he did. I think what needs to happen, when the neighborhood watch programs are set up in a neighborhood, for the life of the program, there needs to be some supervision by the department with jurisdiction, every couple of months, maybe 4 times a year, they need to have a meeting with members of the community, and the ones in charge. Reiterate rules, ask questions, be open to questions, stress the no contact rules.

BEING CHRISTIAN AND GAY

While Christianity for the most part doesn't accept us, we accept it. We sit in service with our "partners" not showing the love we have for each other, that the rest of the congregation can do with their wives/girl friends. Were there because, we believe in What church stands for. We believe in God and our savior Jesus Christ, and that he died for our sins.

Were really not any different than anyone else. We Live, we Love, and we Laugh. We also cry. We cry when we're hurt, and when people say and do insensitive things. We cry when were not allowed to do what is natural to us. Imagine yourself as a "straight" person in a gay world where everyone but a small percentage were gay, and being in love with a woman, but not being allowed to get married. Worse yet imagine being told by people that your sick, have a mental illness, that they hate you. being bound and tied and drug or beaten to death. And that you made a choice to be straight, and if you would just change, everything would be fine.

Well I don't know about you making a choice to be straight, but I didn't make a choice to be gay. Yes I made a choice to act on what was normal to me, but its no different than you choosing to act on what was normal to you.

Al-Qaida.....Do I see double standards?

BAGHDAD -- Al-Qaida's front group in Iraq claimed Wednesday it was behind a wave of attacks that killed 46 people across the country and said the violence shows how weak government security is heading into next week's Arab League summit in Baghdad.
The attacks on Tuesday struck Shiite pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala, set cars on fire near a police headquarters in Kirkuk and targeted security forces and government officials in Baghdad. In all, insurgents struck eight cities in just under six hours, killing 46 and wounding 200 people.
         By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA

What is it with Al-Qaida, do they not see the hypocrisy in what they do? An American soldier for whatever reason, PTSD, anger, fun (im not condoning what he did) goes out and kills Innocent men, women, and children, and Al-Qaida vowes retribution against the "American infidel's" and then Al-Qaida attacks and kills 46 people in Iraq? 

Al-Qaida attacks America on 9/11 kills hundreds of our people, causes us to loose many of our freedoms by causing major inconveniences everywhere we turn, and when we attack them we are the aggressors....Sheesh. In America we live by 2 standards, liberal- you give me your eye and everything is good, conservative- an eye for an eye. But with Al-Qaida's standard they will take your eye, and when we attempt to take theirs, they will take your other eye for trying to take theirs, and kill 20 innocent bystanders.....

REPUBLICAN PARTY

I am a Republican, and the Republican party most matches where I stand on most issues, but as far as gay rights go, they do not match. I like a lot of my friends who are also gay republicans, feel like our party is out of touch with a huge part of their constituency, and a large group of people that for lack of anything better have sided with the liberal party simply because the Democrats tend to support more of the gay rights issues, and they don't feel that is is right to support a party that at every turn Deny's us, what every other American citizen receives without even asking for.


We're out there in the fields where men are men and being "Gay" is not the norm,; but were still here. Some are in the closet, others are out to a few close friends, still others don't lie about who they are when asked, but don't volunteer information either. We're neither activists, nor do we march in gay pride parades. Your more likely to find us on the back of a horse in the high desert of Oregon, driving a 4 wheel drive truck in the back country of Nevada, or shooting a gun, while hunting deer, coyote, or any predator or varmit attacking our livelihood. We're also Christians.

GAY MARRIAGE

Gays in this country, and most countries are treated as second class citizens, and by Gays I mean the LGBT community, we are for the most part not allowed to get married, have no rights as far as being allowed to make medical decisions for our partners, community property rights and so forth. We are probably the only minority where our government openly allows discrimination, and they have done this by becoming involved in marriage by issuing licenses. If ever i saw where there should be a division of church and state it should be here. If a church doesn’t want to marry someone because of their religious beliefs, then so be it, that is that institutions choice, the same argument that has been made against requiring religious institutions to provide birth control and contraception to employees. This should be the same courtesy extended to pharmacists who disagree with dispensing the morning after pill.

 How many people made the decision to be Heterosexual? Maybe the state and federal government need to get out of the marriage business, and let people marry who they want to, and leave it up to the churches or individuals who are performing marriages as to whether or not they choose to perform the ceremony. I think a good way to do this, the person officiating at the ceremony would simply issue a marriage certificate, then the person would take it to the city where they live and pay a small fee to have it registered.

 There are a lot of different ways to live any more, MMF, FFM, FF, MM, MF, etc. all of which are fine if the people involved are all consenting adults, the government should stay out of it. I’m sure someone now will say what about a man/woman marrying their dog, cat, horse, car, etc., where does it stop? This seems pretty simple and straight forward, simply state that all participants have to be Human beings. Not because were making rules for people to live by, but because being married also has tax implications. if you want to marry someone other than a human, you can, you simply cant register it with the government.

ON BEING GAY

I am a gay/bi male, and spent 30 years in the closet, being married, children, and having the perfect "family" life. Only perfection was a lie, and one single "mistake" away was total chaos. I cheated on my wife and family for over 10 years, keeping it in the closet, several times just seconds or minutes from being caught. Did I like living a lie? No. But Society and Christianity taught me that being gay was wrong, that I’d go to hell, that it was unnatural, an abomination to God. Did it feel like any of those things? No. I felt normal. Did I make a choice to be gay? No. Did you make a choice to be Straight? I imagine not. Was I in the closet because that felt normal or natural? No, I was in the closet because of society, and had someone found out my secret I would have been humiliated, possibly to the point of suicide.


When I was still married and cheating on my family, I lived a continuous lie, any time I was somewhere other than where I was expected to be, I had an alibi. Imagine how that can affect your well being and mind. When I finally came out it was with the encouragement of a friend, who was gay and had been out for most of his adult life, I saw how easy it was for him, not having to remember what the lies were he had told, hours, days, months, or years ago, and how his family and friends were accepting, loving, and didn’t treat him any differently than they would have treated anyone else “treat others as you would like to be treated”


One of the 10 commandments is Thou Shalt Not Lie. My entire life was a lie, if your going to count which sin is greater, and I dont believe that being gay is a sin since God made me that way, then i would think that the 10 commandments would be the 10 biggest sins, being gay is not on that list. Yes you could say it falls under adultry, but if gays were allowed to get married then it would no longer be adultry. I would imagine there isn't a Christian alive today or ever that hasn't lied at sometime in their life, and technically as far as the bible goes looking on someone with lust is also adultry, so I would be willing to say that most christians are living at the same level of sin as gays

RUTGERS SPY CAM

On the issue of the Rutgers web cam spy topic, I feel like this is a problem caused by our Christian society. kids will be kids....yes the parties involved were a little older, but they’re still kids doing stupid things. Yes had Dharun Ravi been peeking in a window it would have been just as much of an invasion of privacy as watching on a web cam, and he was wrong to invite others to watch but it was a stupid prank that in the end, devastated 2 families, and sparked a nationwide controversy. Not so much over the actual act of filming 2 consenting adults in an intimate moment, which I think everyone agrees was wrong, but the fact that they were 2 men caught doing something that "Society" and Christianity says is wrong, and Tyler Clementi being pushed emotionally to the point of suicide because of the embarrassment caused; either by friends, family, or peers finding out his "Secret". I don't know whether or not he was open about his sexuality, or kept it hidden, but I do know what ever the burden was, it was heavy enough to cause him to feel that suicide was the only solution. Our society and Christianity makes being “Gay” a big deal, and until that attitude is gone, these types of incidents will continue to happen, devastating even more lives and families.