Well, it has been some time since I signed in, but I just can't hold back any longer. I am listening to politico arm chair quarterbacks blather incessantly about whether or not we should get or have gotten involved in Libya's struggle for freedom from their vicious dictator and the extent of our involvement or lack of. First, let me give you the names this tyrant goes by and the media uses to identify him . . .
(1) Muammar Qaddafi,
(2) Mo'ammar Gadhafi,
(3) Muammar Kaddafi,
(4) Muammar Qadhafi,
(5) Moammar El Kadhafi,
(6) Muammar Gadafi,
(7) Mu'ammar al-Qadafi,
(8) Moamer El Kazzafi,
(9) Moamar al-Gaddafi,
(10) Mu'ammar Al Qathafi,
(11) Muammar Al Qathafi,
(12) Mo'ammar el-Gadhafi,
(13) Moamar El Kadhafi,
(14) Muammar al-Qadhafi,
(15) Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi,
(16) Mu'ammar Qadafi,
(17) Moamar Gaddafi,
(18) Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi,
(19) Muammar Khaddafi,
(20) Muammar al-Khaddafi,
(21) Mu'amar al-Kadafi,
(22) Muammar Ghaddafy,
(23) Muammar Ghadafi,
(24) Muammar Ghaddafi,
(25) Muamar Kaddafi,
(26) Muammar Quathafi,
(27) Muammar Gheddafi,
(28) Muamar Al-Kaddafi,
(29) Moammar Khadafy,
(30) Moammar Qudhafi,
(31) Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi, and
(32) Mulazim Awwal Mu'ammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi.
As it that weren't enough, he also goes by the following titles:
(1) Dean of the Arab rulers,
(2) King of kings of Africa, and
(3) Imam of Muslims.
How's that? We not only can't find a six-foot-plus Arab on dialysis, but now we can't agree on what spelling to use to name yet another sociopath that, by the way, world governments have tolerated for more than 40 years. I wonder if the Mayan people ever vacationed in the Middle East or North Africa. Could this all just be a calendar snafu? What happened to Persia anyway?
I also recently am inspired by the constant barrage of virtual claims about social media and social marketing. While I am pleased that a large group of people can be assembled in a short period of time to protest, attend a rave or riot against their government, I fail to see the value vs print to inform the public of actual facts and support the dissemination of those facts through advertising.
It seems some CEOs in Arizona have sent a signed letter to AZ legislators asking them to back off immigration attacks through state bills proposed by a few politicians hoping to literally whitewash their inability to raise enough funds to run their state. According to this misguided few, everything that is wrong with Arizona must be the fault of immigrants. After all, if we can pit the poor African Americans against the poor Hispanic Americans, we can keep them from organizing against the wealthy. I don't wish to begrudge anyone's success, but if the soldiers of this nation are protecting the abilities and freedoms of those who need abilities and freedoms to become rich, then they should volunteer their wealth to fund the struggle. If illegal immigrants were gathered and placed on active duty, perhaps some National Guard and Reserve men and women could come home and do what National Guard and Reserve men and women are supposed to do. When the new soldiers have completed 3 years of service to their new nation, they could become American citizens and get an education and continue to contribute to our society.
Anyone priced lettuce lately? Now imagine if white people were picking it. We'd be paying $3 to $4 per head. Then there are grapes, lemons, melons, peppers, tomatoes, nearly every type of fruit and vegetable picked by immigrants. With politicians seemingly trying their best to reduce pay and benefits for middle America, higher priced food is far more painful than educating a child of an undocumented alien.
I always thought it would be interesting to see people with political career desires to be given the same amount of time on radio, television, in print and on the web and let the best person win. But, our Supreme Court Justices have determined that America deserves the best government money can buy. Hopefully, it will all play out like the recent Wisconsin rucus. Maybe Americans will decide they've had enough and realize their government isn't really there to protect them or improve their quality of life, but there to have cushy jobs with great benefits and pensions.
I do feel a little better now that I've ranted. Good luck and God help us, everyone!
That's all for now . . .
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Latest from Arizona
Observed moment of silence in respect for recent fallen and injured and their families in what is being called Tragedy in Tucson. Finger pointing has begun, and quotes from politicians, pundits, media hosts and the like are being attributed to the motive of the gunman.
They're all right and they're all wrong. I don't believe it is any one statement or gesture or accusation or threat that causes an unstable gun owner to decide to murder people. I believe it is the fervent fevor of society in general and our acceptance of inane thoughts and gestures.
Juan Williams says you can't blame the rhetoric of the right for the Tragedy in Tucson. He's right. But, that doesn't mean there wasn't an influence from the Palin crosshairs and Nevada's Engle who suggested her constituents exercise their 2nd Amendment Rights and take out Harry Reid. Of possible influence was the ad that Giffords herself posted toting an automatic rifle. And the Mama Bear statment of don't retreat, reload.
Put those thoughts and images in the twisted mind a derranged gun owner on the edge and maybe he decides it's his responsibility to take out this dangerous politician who opposes his views.
The mentioning of poilitical rhetoric comes in play because a Congresswoman was shot, an attempted political assasination, but hundreds of people are shot every day for anger, love, jealousy, drugs, money, spite, revenge, initiation, sport, and nobody mentions political rhetoric.
While watching footbal games this weekend I was struck by the insensitive nerve of two commercials in particular, both by Bud Light Beer. One showed a driver waiting for his truck while mechanics stole his cargo and partied under the bay, lying to him about his truck's problem and continuing with the celebration. The second involved a couple of thugs holding hostages and making wild demands because they found Bud Light. It sounds innocent enough an is made humorous by thie outrageous requests, but the fact remains that in order to take hostages you must be committing a crime and have weapons to keep the hostages detained. I realize these are meant to be humorous and appealing to the sophomoric audience watching the ball games, but, as with some explicit video games, we tend to desensitize to viewers and users.
It is far different to gobbly things with Ms PacMan and have a frod dodge in and out of traffic than to reward points for shooting cops or causing bodily harm to women.
Could these commercials and games be contributing to the violence in America? Who knows?
As an alleged civilized society, we are responsible for all of our actions, including our verbiage. If one attributed every thought to being a prayer, perhaps we could begin to offer words of understanding, acceptance and compassion rather than threateing words of contempt, anger and discontentment; We can begin to see our opponents as jopponents and not enemies.
Someone has to step up. Someone needs to lead the march for civility, not just for women or black men or Christians or gays, but for all humankind. We need to Think Universally, Act Globally!
Peace! Namaste! Shalom! Ho'oponono!
That's all for now . . .
They're all right and they're all wrong. I don't believe it is any one statement or gesture or accusation or threat that causes an unstable gun owner to decide to murder people. I believe it is the fervent fevor of society in general and our acceptance of inane thoughts and gestures.
Juan Williams says you can't blame the rhetoric of the right for the Tragedy in Tucson. He's right. But, that doesn't mean there wasn't an influence from the Palin crosshairs and Nevada's Engle who suggested her constituents exercise their 2nd Amendment Rights and take out Harry Reid. Of possible influence was the ad that Giffords herself posted toting an automatic rifle. And the Mama Bear statment of don't retreat, reload.
Put those thoughts and images in the twisted mind a derranged gun owner on the edge and maybe he decides it's his responsibility to take out this dangerous politician who opposes his views.
The mentioning of poilitical rhetoric comes in play because a Congresswoman was shot, an attempted political assasination, but hundreds of people are shot every day for anger, love, jealousy, drugs, money, spite, revenge, initiation, sport, and nobody mentions political rhetoric.
While watching footbal games this weekend I was struck by the insensitive nerve of two commercials in particular, both by Bud Light Beer. One showed a driver waiting for his truck while mechanics stole his cargo and partied under the bay, lying to him about his truck's problem and continuing with the celebration. The second involved a couple of thugs holding hostages and making wild demands because they found Bud Light. It sounds innocent enough an is made humorous by thie outrageous requests, but the fact remains that in order to take hostages you must be committing a crime and have weapons to keep the hostages detained. I realize these are meant to be humorous and appealing to the sophomoric audience watching the ball games, but, as with some explicit video games, we tend to desensitize to viewers and users.
It is far different to gobbly things with Ms PacMan and have a frod dodge in and out of traffic than to reward points for shooting cops or causing bodily harm to women.
Could these commercials and games be contributing to the violence in America? Who knows?
As an alleged civilized society, we are responsible for all of our actions, including our verbiage. If one attributed every thought to being a prayer, perhaps we could begin to offer words of understanding, acceptance and compassion rather than threateing words of contempt, anger and discontentment; We can begin to see our opponents as jopponents and not enemies.
Someone has to step up. Someone needs to lead the march for civility, not just for women or black men or Christians or gays, but for all humankind. We need to Think Universally, Act Globally!
Peace! Namaste! Shalom! Ho'oponono!
That's all for now . . .
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