Seriously...really pay attention!!
Friday, May 31, 2019
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Can't believe I'm addressing this...AGAIN!
In recent months, we have seen laws passed in several states that effectively make ANY abortion illegal. States wouldn't have even considered these laws in the past, but with our current Supreme Court, they are feeling more confident about when these laws get challenged. They see it as a way to overturn Roe v Wade.
But at what cost?! Can these people even call themselves pro-life? I mean, pro-birth is a better label. These people do not care about the well-being of the child after it is born. If the mother cannot provide medical, food, etc. on her own, well then, she simply shouldn't have even been having sex in the first place. I say that, because these same people want to teach an abstinence-only sex education curriculum, and like to tell employers that they don't have to carry insurance that contains birth control coverage if birth control and such is against their religion. They also say that medical providers do not have to perform responsible sterilization procedures, if such is against their religion. These people do not care if the woman's life is at risk should she get pregnant, or the fact that if abortion is illegal in this country, desperate women will still take desperate measures...measures that could kill these women. These people do not care if a sonogram shows a fetus has a critical birth defect that would cause it to live a very short, painful life outside of the womb...if it lives beyond the first few minutes after birth, or that the woman in such a case must live with prolonged grief as she carries the child to term knowing that it will not live after. They also do not care if the "mother-to-be" is an 11-year-old girl who was raped by an older man or a family member.
These very same people ignore the fact that at any given time in this country, there are about 400,000 children in our country's foster care system. They ignore the statistics with regards to foster kids...low graduation rates, higher rates of abuse, higher teen pregnancy rates, higher drug use and criminal rates. If being a foster kid were such a great option, why is it such a large number of foster kids come out of the system wishing they had never been born because of their terrible lives?
The abortion laws being passed have nothing to do with saving lives, and everything to do with controlling a woman's (or girl's) body!! Do you see them viciously going after absent fathers? No! Men are constantly allowed to shrug their responsibilities to their children, while the court systems say the woman should work harder, or consider giving the child up to a family member who can raise them, or to the system. Do you see a court system that fiercely goes after men who commit rape? Nope!! Rapists often spend less time in jail than a person convicted of a non-violent crime, if they spend any time at all. The whole while, the victims are blamed for being raped in the first place (they shouldn't have worn those clothes or been at that party, or hell, even been jogging alone at 7 a.m.)! Do you see them working to improve the foster care system, or insuring there are programs for single parents to have access to medical care and food for these children? Do you see them making sure that ALL schools afford the same eduction and opportunities for all children to succeed? Nope, and nope!
These people in these positions of power simply want to push their religion on us women using their power to control our bodies! That is all there is to it!
But at what cost?! Can these people even call themselves pro-life? I mean, pro-birth is a better label. These people do not care about the well-being of the child after it is born. If the mother cannot provide medical, food, etc. on her own, well then, she simply shouldn't have even been having sex in the first place. I say that, because these same people want to teach an abstinence-only sex education curriculum, and like to tell employers that they don't have to carry insurance that contains birth control coverage if birth control and such is against their religion. They also say that medical providers do not have to perform responsible sterilization procedures, if such is against their religion. These people do not care if the woman's life is at risk should she get pregnant, or the fact that if abortion is illegal in this country, desperate women will still take desperate measures...measures that could kill these women. These people do not care if a sonogram shows a fetus has a critical birth defect that would cause it to live a very short, painful life outside of the womb...if it lives beyond the first few minutes after birth, or that the woman in such a case must live with prolonged grief as she carries the child to term knowing that it will not live after. They also do not care if the "mother-to-be" is an 11-year-old girl who was raped by an older man or a family member.
These very same people ignore the fact that at any given time in this country, there are about 400,000 children in our country's foster care system. They ignore the statistics with regards to foster kids...low graduation rates, higher rates of abuse, higher teen pregnancy rates, higher drug use and criminal rates. If being a foster kid were such a great option, why is it such a large number of foster kids come out of the system wishing they had never been born because of their terrible lives?
The abortion laws being passed have nothing to do with saving lives, and everything to do with controlling a woman's (or girl's) body!! Do you see them viciously going after absent fathers? No! Men are constantly allowed to shrug their responsibilities to their children, while the court systems say the woman should work harder, or consider giving the child up to a family member who can raise them, or to the system. Do you see a court system that fiercely goes after men who commit rape? Nope!! Rapists often spend less time in jail than a person convicted of a non-violent crime, if they spend any time at all. The whole while, the victims are blamed for being raped in the first place (they shouldn't have worn those clothes or been at that party, or hell, even been jogging alone at 7 a.m.)! Do you see them working to improve the foster care system, or insuring there are programs for single parents to have access to medical care and food for these children? Do you see them making sure that ALL schools afford the same eduction and opportunities for all children to succeed? Nope, and nope!
These people in these positions of power simply want to push their religion on us women using their power to control our bodies! That is all there is to it!
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Been away for a bit
I've had to step away from the issues for a bit, because...to put it mildly...shit was simply pissing me off!!
Today I want to discuss the argument that certain folks keep presenting when faced with the fact that there is in fact racism and discrimination still very much alive and well in this country:
"What laws prevent you from....?"
I've heard this a lot when I've tried to discuss discrimination that we woman face, or that those of different skin color, sexual orientation, gender identification, faith, etc. face every day. What laws? Of course, the truth is that there are no laws that prevent anyone from being treated equally, for the most part. Yes, I will concede that there are civil rights laws and anti-discrimination laws at the local, state, and federal levels that call for equal treatment of all.
However, the reality is that it is not an issue of laws. Yes, the laws exist. However, they are not always followed, and their interpretation are often twisted in the process. As a woman, are there laws that say I should get the same pay for the same work as a man? Yes. Does that mean it is a reality? Nope!!! There is still a huge wage gap between men and women in the workplace, and employers use every excuse in the book to justify why women are getting paid less...justifications that are passable under the law. It is so easy to fudge a work review to make it look like the male employee is performing so much better than the female employee, and thus it becomes a case of her word against the employer. And they don't even have to report that she is doing a bad job...just that she is meeting expectations while her male counterpart is going "above and beyond"...whatever that means.
Or what about people of color getting the same opportunities as whites? Yes, one can say that there are laws that say a person of color must be given the same consideration for things such as schools, jobs, etc. Those who argue that racism doesn't exist claim circumstances or class as the deciding factor, pointing out that a person of means will naturally have more opportunities than a poor person...suggesting that all the poor person has to do is work harder. They fail to recognize the discrimination that helped create the disparity!! Sure, there are laws, but that does not stop local governments from spending more money in more affluent, white neighborhoods than they do say black or Latino working class neighborhoods. It becomes really hard to work your way up when all you see around you is poverty. It is also hard when your schools don't give you adequate tools to advance yourself (as schools in these poor neighborhoods typically are struggling financially, as well, which effects the quality of education). Government policies have been in place for years that work to limit the number of people of color who succeed at the same level as their white counterparts.
Crime rates higher among people of color? Well, if you live in impoverished circumstances, you tend to become a bit more desperate to survive. So much crime is the result of people feeling they have no other choice! Slinging dope? It's an easy way to make money when you don't have money to pay for a higher education. And, we all know that drug dealers have their "territories" and what not, which then brings in the issues of gangs and violence. And let's talk gangs for a minute. Ask most gang members, and the biggest reason they join the gang is because the gang made them feel like family. This is what happens when you incarcerate fathers and/or mothers for petty pot possession (which there are a lot of folks in jail for this...many who are people of color...because, the justice system is lopsided). This is what happens when fathers are not held to the same accountability as mothers (yes, she is supposed to carry, birth, and then raise the child...because god forbid she need medical or food assistance...while the fathers are left to go on their way creating even more babies they will not support). With so many kids being brought up in single parent homes where that parent is off to work most of the time just to put a roof over their heads and food on the table, you can see how someone may think they have more family in a gang!
And what about that justice system?! A white male who commits rape in today's environment gets LESS TIME than a man of color caught with an ounce of pot on their person for personal use! Let that sink in!
So...what laws? What is worse, is that this argument comes from the same people who say that gun laws do not stop people from illegally obtaining guns when opposing any kind of reasonable gun reform! They acknowledge that laws don't stop everyone from certain actions, but they are quick to say that there is no racism and discrimination, because...well...there are laws against such things!
Today I want to discuss the argument that certain folks keep presenting when faced with the fact that there is in fact racism and discrimination still very much alive and well in this country:
"What laws prevent you from....?"
I've heard this a lot when I've tried to discuss discrimination that we woman face, or that those of different skin color, sexual orientation, gender identification, faith, etc. face every day. What laws? Of course, the truth is that there are no laws that prevent anyone from being treated equally, for the most part. Yes, I will concede that there are civil rights laws and anti-discrimination laws at the local, state, and federal levels that call for equal treatment of all.
However, the reality is that it is not an issue of laws. Yes, the laws exist. However, they are not always followed, and their interpretation are often twisted in the process. As a woman, are there laws that say I should get the same pay for the same work as a man? Yes. Does that mean it is a reality? Nope!!! There is still a huge wage gap between men and women in the workplace, and employers use every excuse in the book to justify why women are getting paid less...justifications that are passable under the law. It is so easy to fudge a work review to make it look like the male employee is performing so much better than the female employee, and thus it becomes a case of her word against the employer. And they don't even have to report that she is doing a bad job...just that she is meeting expectations while her male counterpart is going "above and beyond"...whatever that means.
Or what about people of color getting the same opportunities as whites? Yes, one can say that there are laws that say a person of color must be given the same consideration for things such as schools, jobs, etc. Those who argue that racism doesn't exist claim circumstances or class as the deciding factor, pointing out that a person of means will naturally have more opportunities than a poor person...suggesting that all the poor person has to do is work harder. They fail to recognize the discrimination that helped create the disparity!! Sure, there are laws, but that does not stop local governments from spending more money in more affluent, white neighborhoods than they do say black or Latino working class neighborhoods. It becomes really hard to work your way up when all you see around you is poverty. It is also hard when your schools don't give you adequate tools to advance yourself (as schools in these poor neighborhoods typically are struggling financially, as well, which effects the quality of education). Government policies have been in place for years that work to limit the number of people of color who succeed at the same level as their white counterparts.
Crime rates higher among people of color? Well, if you live in impoverished circumstances, you tend to become a bit more desperate to survive. So much crime is the result of people feeling they have no other choice! Slinging dope? It's an easy way to make money when you don't have money to pay for a higher education. And, we all know that drug dealers have their "territories" and what not, which then brings in the issues of gangs and violence. And let's talk gangs for a minute. Ask most gang members, and the biggest reason they join the gang is because the gang made them feel like family. This is what happens when you incarcerate fathers and/or mothers for petty pot possession (which there are a lot of folks in jail for this...many who are people of color...because, the justice system is lopsided). This is what happens when fathers are not held to the same accountability as mothers (yes, she is supposed to carry, birth, and then raise the child...because god forbid she need medical or food assistance...while the fathers are left to go on their way creating even more babies they will not support). With so many kids being brought up in single parent homes where that parent is off to work most of the time just to put a roof over their heads and food on the table, you can see how someone may think they have more family in a gang!
And what about that justice system?! A white male who commits rape in today's environment gets LESS TIME than a man of color caught with an ounce of pot on their person for personal use! Let that sink in!
So...what laws? What is worse, is that this argument comes from the same people who say that gun laws do not stop people from illegally obtaining guns when opposing any kind of reasonable gun reform! They acknowledge that laws don't stop everyone from certain actions, but they are quick to say that there is no racism and discrimination, because...well...there are laws against such things!
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Reminded of this today...
Church laws are fallible, because they are created by man! Think on that for a bit....
Friday, October 19, 2018
Need to step away from the political issues for a while
I've seriously can't keep up with them any more! There is just so much bullshit going on! Voter suppression, Kavanaugh, the fact the US will not denounce the murder of a US resident journalist because of money, etc. Seriously...all I can say at this point is that we all must get out and VOTE in the next couple of weeks! We need to VOTE to being back sanity and decorum to this country!
I'm going to start trying to take my blog back to things that interest me rather than discussing politics. There may be a post here and there...and I'm not going to delete anything, because it is all very much relevant and needs to be out there for someone to read. For my own sanity...I just need to move on to happier things!
I'm going to start trying to take my blog back to things that interest me rather than discussing politics. There may be a post here and there...and I'm not going to delete anything, because it is all very much relevant and needs to be out there for someone to read. For my own sanity...I just need to move on to happier things!
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
If Conservatives really boycotted all companies that went against their values...
If the Conservative right were as passionate about all of their beliefs as they try to make us believe they are about "not kneeling for the flag", wouldn't they be in a world of hurt!! Out of curiosity, I looked up companies that are in support of or who have given money to Planned Parenthood, and companies who urged the support for gay marriage before it was legalized in the US. Man...how these lists were extensive...so I will describe to you life of the Conservative who stands firmly on their beliefs...as they so claim!
First of all, I don't know why we are even seeing these folks commenting on our social media feeds, as both Facebook and Twitter were on the list for supporting gay marriage. Oh, and so were Apple and Microsoft...meaning that, unless these folks are using Linux or Unix, they shouldn't be on a computer at all. I guess that means Conservatives need to give up their iPhones, too. Oh, but they cannot use any devices that contain an Intel chip, either.
Next, it may be difficult for these folks to get their prescriptions, as CVS, Walgreens, Rite-aid, and Wal-Mart were on both lists. Of course, that is after they change their insurance to some low, cut-rate policy because also on these lists were insurance companies such as Aetna, Cigna, State Farm, GEICO, USAA, and Prudential. There may be others on there, but these are the ones who stuck out.
Clothing shopping is also about to get way more difficult! Wal-Mart and Target are out of the question, as well as Gap (which also is the parent company for Old Navy and Banana Republic), Victoria's Secret, Nordstrom, Abercombi, Calvin Klein, Marshalls, Ralph Lauren, T.J. Maxx, Levis, Bebe, Amazon, oh and the list goes on and on!
There are several banks they also cannot do business with...like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan Chase...just to name of the few big ones on the list.
Hope Conservatives don't plan on traveling. It may be difficult with American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue, and United on at least one of these lists, as well as several hotels under Marriott, Wyndham, and Hilton also showing up on one or both lists.
Of course, BOTH Pepsi Co and Walt Disney are on at least one of these two lists, and that opens a whole can of worms, seeing as those two companies alone own about half the world (or at least it seems). And so many food items...General Mills...can't even drown their sorrows in Ben and Jerry's!
I mean, everyone has the right to boycott who they wish. There are a couple of companies I boycott for my own reasons, and it is usually something very specific. However, you would never see me burning my stuff...I would donate it or consign it (at least try to get some money back to buy a replacement of a different brand or something else). Even I understand that if I boycotted every company that didn't align 100% with my ideals and beliefs, I might as well live alone on an island...growing my own food, building my own shelter, and walking around naked...as no company aligns 100% with what I believe.
First of all, I don't know why we are even seeing these folks commenting on our social media feeds, as both Facebook and Twitter were on the list for supporting gay marriage. Oh, and so were Apple and Microsoft...meaning that, unless these folks are using Linux or Unix, they shouldn't be on a computer at all. I guess that means Conservatives need to give up their iPhones, too. Oh, but they cannot use any devices that contain an Intel chip, either.
Next, it may be difficult for these folks to get their prescriptions, as CVS, Walgreens, Rite-aid, and Wal-Mart were on both lists. Of course, that is after they change their insurance to some low, cut-rate policy because also on these lists were insurance companies such as Aetna, Cigna, State Farm, GEICO, USAA, and Prudential. There may be others on there, but these are the ones who stuck out.
Clothing shopping is also about to get way more difficult! Wal-Mart and Target are out of the question, as well as Gap (which also is the parent company for Old Navy and Banana Republic), Victoria's Secret, Nordstrom, Abercombi, Calvin Klein, Marshalls, Ralph Lauren, T.J. Maxx, Levis, Bebe, Amazon, oh and the list goes on and on!
There are several banks they also cannot do business with...like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan Chase...just to name of the few big ones on the list.
Hope Conservatives don't plan on traveling. It may be difficult with American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue, and United on at least one of these lists, as well as several hotels under Marriott, Wyndham, and Hilton also showing up on one or both lists.
Of course, BOTH Pepsi Co and Walt Disney are on at least one of these two lists, and that opens a whole can of worms, seeing as those two companies alone own about half the world (or at least it seems). And so many food items...General Mills...can't even drown their sorrows in Ben and Jerry's!
I mean, everyone has the right to boycott who they wish. There are a couple of companies I boycott for my own reasons, and it is usually something very specific. However, you would never see me burning my stuff...I would donate it or consign it (at least try to get some money back to buy a replacement of a different brand or something else). Even I understand that if I boycotted every company that didn't align 100% with my ideals and beliefs, I might as well live alone on an island...growing my own food, building my own shelter, and walking around naked...as no company aligns 100% with what I believe.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
These SAME people will pay 10% blindly to a church!
In one of my many, many online arguments today, someone brought up an interesting fact. Most of the Right is made of church-going Christians...church-goers who have NO PROBLEM handing over 10%...or more...of their income every month to their church, without having any clue where the money is really going! This especially includes mega-churches such as Joel Osteen's in Houston, or Bethel Church in Redding, California, where chances are likely that these "tithes" are going to pay for the pastors' mansions or private planes!
However, when it comes to paying any portion of their "hard earned money" to help make sure people have access to their healthcare they need in this country...oh hell no!!! They don't want their tax dollars going to a national healthcare system. They don't what to pay just a little more on their insurance premiums to make sure EVERYONE who needs access to things such as maternity care has it. Oh, and many of these same people don't think they should have to pay school taxes when they pay tuition to send their kids to private schools, or have no children in school at all!
The very people who scream the loudest against "socialism" are the very people who freely hand money over to some church just so they can get a "feel good" message every Sunday morning! The very same people who claim to believe in a book that states they should help take care of the poor, needy, sick, elderly, orphaned, etc. Talk about some HYPOCRISY!
However, when it comes to paying any portion of their "hard earned money" to help make sure people have access to their healthcare they need in this country...oh hell no!!! They don't want their tax dollars going to a national healthcare system. They don't what to pay just a little more on their insurance premiums to make sure EVERYONE who needs access to things such as maternity care has it. Oh, and many of these same people don't think they should have to pay school taxes when they pay tuition to send their kids to private schools, or have no children in school at all!
The very people who scream the loudest against "socialism" are the very people who freely hand money over to some church just so they can get a "feel good" message every Sunday morning! The very same people who claim to believe in a book that states they should help take care of the poor, needy, sick, elderly, orphaned, etc. Talk about some HYPOCRISY!
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
An interesting observation...
Last autumn, wildfires ripped through Sonoma and Napa counties in Northern California. These fires destroyed homes, businesses, vinyards.
Not a peep from most Christians about prayer for this area.
Around the same time, wildfires ripped through parts of Southern California. These fires and the Northern California fires combined saw 43 fatalities.
Again, not a peep from most Christians about prayer.
Last week, wildfires in Greece claim 91 lives, and causes devastating destruction.
Most Christians...silence!
This week, wildfires rage in and around Redding, California...home to Bethel Church. This church is a megachurch that many non-denominational churches are following for doctrine, practices, etc. They pay license fees to play songs in their own churches that Bethel holds the copywrites to.
From Christians? "Pray for Redding!!! Pray for California!!!"
Why is it they only pray when it is for their own? Weren't those affected by the wine country fires worthy, or not, because they produce an alcoholic product. What about Southern California? Or is there just too much sin in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas to be concerned with. What about Greece? Surely, the Greeks deserve prayer, right?
No, when the megachurch they all idolize is in danger of wildfires, only then is prayer justified!
Not a peep from most Christians about prayer for this area.
Around the same time, wildfires ripped through parts of Southern California. These fires and the Northern California fires combined saw 43 fatalities.
Again, not a peep from most Christians about prayer.
Last week, wildfires in Greece claim 91 lives, and causes devastating destruction.
Most Christians...silence!
This week, wildfires rage in and around Redding, California...home to Bethel Church. This church is a megachurch that many non-denominational churches are following for doctrine, practices, etc. They pay license fees to play songs in their own churches that Bethel holds the copywrites to.
From Christians? "Pray for Redding!!! Pray for California!!!"
Why is it they only pray when it is for their own? Weren't those affected by the wine country fires worthy, or not, because they produce an alcoholic product. What about Southern California? Or is there just too much sin in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas to be concerned with. What about Greece? Surely, the Greeks deserve prayer, right?
No, when the megachurch they all idolize is in danger of wildfires, only then is prayer justified!
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
The President cannot pardon himself, but here is how he can be indicted!
The Constitution prevents the President of the United States from pardoning himself. He cannot use his power to prevent his impeachment or removal. Now, some will argue that the Judicial Branch cannot indict a sitting President. This is true, however...
The Judicial Branch and/or House Judiciary Committee can order a special council to investigate suspected hinky business committed by the sitting President. Once this special council is ready to submit their findings to the House Judiciary Committee, they will then do so. The Committee can then determine if the findings are enough to bring up Articles of Impeachment to the House floor for a vote.
If Articles are deemed warranted, they are then voted on by the House. If the House votes to impeach, the matter is then sent to the Senate.
The Senate then serves as judge and jury. They determine in the impeachment holds water (just like a normal court will hear charges and determine if an indictment holds water). If they find they do, they can then vote to remove the President from office.
At this point, the President is no longer the sitting President, and...depending on what they were removed for...could then potentially be indicted on any and all crimes he was found to have committed that caused his impeachment!! And thus...no longer having their pardon power...they cannot pardon themselves from any convictions after the fact, either!
Now, some may ask about these cases that courts have determined can be heard that are not related to the ongoing special council investigation. Well, these cases involve civil actions...and no one is immune from a civil action. Keep in mind that the President can only be in office for so long. Most statutes of limitations only affect how long a person has to make a filing on a wrong done to them. The court, however, can continue the case as long as needed. Civil cases do not fall under the same rules as criminal cases, where the court must hear and try a case in a certain amount of time as protection of the rights of the accused...mostly because many of these folks are held until trail. You cannot hold a person in jail indefinitely for an accused crime without making a conviction. Civil judgements are a completely different ball game!
The Judicial Branch and/or House Judiciary Committee can order a special council to investigate suspected hinky business committed by the sitting President. Once this special council is ready to submit their findings to the House Judiciary Committee, they will then do so. The Committee can then determine if the findings are enough to bring up Articles of Impeachment to the House floor for a vote.
If Articles are deemed warranted, they are then voted on by the House. If the House votes to impeach, the matter is then sent to the Senate.
The Senate then serves as judge and jury. They determine in the impeachment holds water (just like a normal court will hear charges and determine if an indictment holds water). If they find they do, they can then vote to remove the President from office.
At this point, the President is no longer the sitting President, and...depending on what they were removed for...could then potentially be indicted on any and all crimes he was found to have committed that caused his impeachment!! And thus...no longer having their pardon power...they cannot pardon themselves from any convictions after the fact, either!
Now, some may ask about these cases that courts have determined can be heard that are not related to the ongoing special council investigation. Well, these cases involve civil actions...and no one is immune from a civil action. Keep in mind that the President can only be in office for so long. Most statutes of limitations only affect how long a person has to make a filing on a wrong done to them. The court, however, can continue the case as long as needed. Civil cases do not fall under the same rules as criminal cases, where the court must hear and try a case in a certain amount of time as protection of the rights of the accused...mostly because many of these folks are held until trail. You cannot hold a person in jail indefinitely for an accused crime without making a conviction. Civil judgements are a completely different ball game!
Friday, May 25, 2018
What about bullying?
There has been yet another school shooting today, in Indiana this time, committed by a teenager. Since Santa Fe, Texas last week, there has been a lot of talk again about how bullying may have played into it...that one of the girls killed had turned the kid down twice, and then embarrassed him in class when he persisted. I'm about certain, in this Indiana case, bullying is going to come up again.
So, let's talk about this bullying aspect to the 4 shooters in 15 days that have been teenagers!
Bullying has been going on for decades! I'm 45, and I can still remember being bullied in school, as I'm sure most of us can remember being bullied at some point in school. If you weren't bullied, chances are you were the one doing the bullying. Stealing lunch money, giving wedgies...there are many forms of bullying that have happened over the years. Bullying has been the focus of so many storylines in movies and such...some serious, some funny. I remember watching Revenge of the Nerds, and routing for those "nerds" because I could relate to them!
At first, I was picked on to the point of going home crying for my acne. It started at a young age for me, and it was pretty bad. Can't recall how many times I heard the term "pizza face". I would go home and cry...begging my mom to help me by taking me to a doctor, or allowing me to at least wear some sort of foundation makeup to try to cover it up. She wouldn't take me to a dermatologist. Instead, I heard over and over that acne was just a part of growing up! Mom also stood firm to her "no makeup until you are 15" rule...so no relief for me their, either.
On top of that, I was always what I call...well...quirky. I was attracted to computers at an early age, and I was just good at them. I was always a "bit of a nerd" you could say...having made all A's in all my years of grade school. But I also found myself in a place where I was very different! I ended up going to school in small town Texas. Back then, that meant that this very small population was mostly "country"...Roper boots, jeans, etc. And then there was me...punk rock/new wave, granny boots instead of cowboy boots, skinny pants instead of Wrangler jeans, all black some days, crazy neon colors the next, earrings never matched...listening to Duran Duran, The Cure, Siouxsie Sioux, and a host of other MTV 120 Minute favorites, while the rest of the school listened to George Strait, Reba McIntyer, Randy Travis, and the likes. I was the odd-ball, and it was made known to me!
We had a group in school that to this day I affectionately call "The Misfits". We were the kids who really didn't fit in. We were the one-offs that in some larger school somewhere else, we may have found a group of kids just like us...but not here where a grade averaged 50 students or less. We had everyone. The girl who had a terrible scar on her chest that looked like you could just lace her up, because that is what they had to do when she was younger, they had to go in to work on her heart so many times. The guy that everyone was certain was gay, but no one knew for sure. They guy who was years older than us...because he had failed grades too many times (who did end up being the "diva" I know and love still to this day). While everyone was in their cliques in the morning gossiping about the world, you could find us on the floor in a hallway somewhere playing Uno! We were called names. We were pushed around. Sometimes one of us got beat up.
Now, I can't speak for the others, but NOT ONCE did I ever consider walking into the school and shooting it up! I watched horror movies with as much blood and gore as you could imagine! My punk rock music wasn't the "nicest" thing to listen to, for sure! Lots of screaming about anarchy and the likes. My favorite show was Miami Vice, which every week they were in to drugs, and shooting up stuff, and fights, etc. We didn't have the same video games...I was no stranger to Centipede. But even still, I never even considered shooting up a school. Spreading a rumor as revenge, maybe...but never shooting up the place!
So, what has changed from the 1980's until now? Okay...so video games may have gotten more realistic...possibly desensitizing kids to violence. But for decades, kids' behavior has been blamed on media of some sort, and we have not seen terror like we are seeing today. You can't blame it on abortions, either. Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. Before that, women were getting back alley abortions, using coat hangers, etc. to get rid of unwanted pregnancy. We had the "Free Love" era of the 60's along women burning their bras. I'm certain there were plenty of abortions back then. Still, you didn't see people, or kids, trying to shoot up a school every week. Even just a few decade or a few years ago...this wasn't as common an occurrence as it is NOW!
What has changed?! Try the climate of America! While bullying used to be something you mainly saw in the school yards, and grown folk mostly acted like grown folk, that isn't the case any longer! Sure, there were the shouts of racial slurs on the streets, or in the work place. There were environments that felt hostile. However, most people could go to their homes, and that was their safe place. It isn't that way any longer!!! We have elected officials bullying the media, various people groups, etc. on TV and social media every day!! Every day there is another list of hurtful statements said about a people. Then, have this media outlet spewing hate about one side, and the other media outlet spewing hate about he other.....hate hate hate hate hate! Everywhere...hate!
To add fire, the skin of society has gotten thinner, in general. There are many legit complaints out there, but when you have a political commentator on national TV complaining about getting water thrown on her, because of her past hateful comments on air. When you have a kid who can't simply walk away from a girl who won't go out with him, and has to pester her to the point of being embarrassed in front of a whole class, and later coming to school with a gun killing her and several others. You have a President getting butt hurt over something the New York Times or CNN said about him, or about some football players kneeling to protest police brutality and unequal treatment of people of color...turning to social media for days with rants, when we all know he has better things to do! This same President then turns around and calls impoverished countries shitholes, undocumented immigrants rapists, and a variety of other hateful comments.
Yes, bullying may be at play here, but it is because as a country, we are all bombarded by it every day! It is the new social norm!!! You can't even have an intellectual debate on social media any longer without the name calling starting. Say you support BLM or gun reform...out comes the "libtard" comments. You want to know where these kids are getting all this hate and violence from? It isn't the media. It isn't video games. It is the very people who are raising them!
So, let's talk about this bullying aspect to the 4 shooters in 15 days that have been teenagers!
Bullying has been going on for decades! I'm 45, and I can still remember being bullied in school, as I'm sure most of us can remember being bullied at some point in school. If you weren't bullied, chances are you were the one doing the bullying. Stealing lunch money, giving wedgies...there are many forms of bullying that have happened over the years. Bullying has been the focus of so many storylines in movies and such...some serious, some funny. I remember watching Revenge of the Nerds, and routing for those "nerds" because I could relate to them!
At first, I was picked on to the point of going home crying for my acne. It started at a young age for me, and it was pretty bad. Can't recall how many times I heard the term "pizza face". I would go home and cry...begging my mom to help me by taking me to a doctor, or allowing me to at least wear some sort of foundation makeup to try to cover it up. She wouldn't take me to a dermatologist. Instead, I heard over and over that acne was just a part of growing up! Mom also stood firm to her "no makeup until you are 15" rule...so no relief for me their, either.
On top of that, I was always what I call...well...quirky. I was attracted to computers at an early age, and I was just good at them. I was always a "bit of a nerd" you could say...having made all A's in all my years of grade school. But I also found myself in a place where I was very different! I ended up going to school in small town Texas. Back then, that meant that this very small population was mostly "country"...Roper boots, jeans, etc. And then there was me...punk rock/new wave, granny boots instead of cowboy boots, skinny pants instead of Wrangler jeans, all black some days, crazy neon colors the next, earrings never matched...listening to Duran Duran, The Cure, Siouxsie Sioux, and a host of other MTV 120 Minute favorites, while the rest of the school listened to George Strait, Reba McIntyer, Randy Travis, and the likes. I was the odd-ball, and it was made known to me!
We had a group in school that to this day I affectionately call "The Misfits". We were the kids who really didn't fit in. We were the one-offs that in some larger school somewhere else, we may have found a group of kids just like us...but not here where a grade averaged 50 students or less. We had everyone. The girl who had a terrible scar on her chest that looked like you could just lace her up, because that is what they had to do when she was younger, they had to go in to work on her heart so many times. The guy that everyone was certain was gay, but no one knew for sure. They guy who was years older than us...because he had failed grades too many times (who did end up being the "diva" I know and love still to this day). While everyone was in their cliques in the morning gossiping about the world, you could find us on the floor in a hallway somewhere playing Uno! We were called names. We were pushed around. Sometimes one of us got beat up.
Now, I can't speak for the others, but NOT ONCE did I ever consider walking into the school and shooting it up! I watched horror movies with as much blood and gore as you could imagine! My punk rock music wasn't the "nicest" thing to listen to, for sure! Lots of screaming about anarchy and the likes. My favorite show was Miami Vice, which every week they were in to drugs, and shooting up stuff, and fights, etc. We didn't have the same video games...I was no stranger to Centipede. But even still, I never even considered shooting up a school. Spreading a rumor as revenge, maybe...but never shooting up the place!
So, what has changed from the 1980's until now? Okay...so video games may have gotten more realistic...possibly desensitizing kids to violence. But for decades, kids' behavior has been blamed on media of some sort, and we have not seen terror like we are seeing today. You can't blame it on abortions, either. Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. Before that, women were getting back alley abortions, using coat hangers, etc. to get rid of unwanted pregnancy. We had the "Free Love" era of the 60's along women burning their bras. I'm certain there were plenty of abortions back then. Still, you didn't see people, or kids, trying to shoot up a school every week. Even just a few decade or a few years ago...this wasn't as common an occurrence as it is NOW!
What has changed?! Try the climate of America! While bullying used to be something you mainly saw in the school yards, and grown folk mostly acted like grown folk, that isn't the case any longer! Sure, there were the shouts of racial slurs on the streets, or in the work place. There were environments that felt hostile. However, most people could go to their homes, and that was their safe place. It isn't that way any longer!!! We have elected officials bullying the media, various people groups, etc. on TV and social media every day!! Every day there is another list of hurtful statements said about a people. Then, have this media outlet spewing hate about one side, and the other media outlet spewing hate about he other.....hate hate hate hate hate! Everywhere...hate!
To add fire, the skin of society has gotten thinner, in general. There are many legit complaints out there, but when you have a political commentator on national TV complaining about getting water thrown on her, because of her past hateful comments on air. When you have a kid who can't simply walk away from a girl who won't go out with him, and has to pester her to the point of being embarrassed in front of a whole class, and later coming to school with a gun killing her and several others. You have a President getting butt hurt over something the New York Times or CNN said about him, or about some football players kneeling to protest police brutality and unequal treatment of people of color...turning to social media for days with rants, when we all know he has better things to do! This same President then turns around and calls impoverished countries shitholes, undocumented immigrants rapists, and a variety of other hateful comments.
Yes, bullying may be at play here, but it is because as a country, we are all bombarded by it every day! It is the new social norm!!! You can't even have an intellectual debate on social media any longer without the name calling starting. Say you support BLM or gun reform...out comes the "libtard" comments. You want to know where these kids are getting all this hate and violence from? It isn't the media. It isn't video games. It is the very people who are raising them!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)