Thursday, March 29, 2012
Race in America UPDATE
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.
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.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
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.....
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.....
Monday, March 19, 2012
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.
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.
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
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.
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