Crossing the Line

Tonight, I was wondering a fundamental philosophical question... What happens when you allow your principles to override your common sense?

Normally, this would seem like a rather strange thing to wonder about. One would like to think that principles and common sense would mutually coexist without contradiction. However, one honest look at the world around you, will prove that this isn't the case.

When stripped of all logical thought, and driven by pure emotion, even the most noble and worthy of causes become perverted and corrupt. It's easy (and often wonderful) to want to stand up for basic human rights... Even when you may not fully agree with the person/people you're defending. The problem is, where do you draw the line? (And a line must always be drawn.)

At what point, do you stop being a champion for liberty, and become the very thing you're opposing? There are several people and groups whom have crossed this line (,most without seemingly knowing it), and are now every bit as bad as the things they once fought against. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of them tend to be Liberal or Progressive in nature.

On its surface, there's absolutely nothing wrong with Liberalism. It's an ideology of high ideals, and strong moral principles. (Honestly, who can debate that rights and freedoms should be shared by all equally?) It uses emotion to humanize our laws and society, while forcing us to face issues we would often rather shy away from.

Liberalism gives a voice to those who would normally be ignored, and defends those who are typically forgotten or oppressed. But, what happens when the so-called downtrodden hold extremist views? Or, are only playing the victim for notoriety and disruption's sake? What happens when defending the rights of the individual (or a minority) damages and restricts the rights of the whole (or a greater majority)?

This is the tragic failure of the modern Progressive movement (and quite possibly, modern American society in general). Almost no one takes the time to look beyond their outrage, to uncover the truth, or the bigger picture.

Over fifty years ago, civil rights leaders marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr peacefully, to end segregation, and give everyone equal rights. Today, many of those surviving activists are promoting segregation and violence, by marching every time a young black drug dealer/thug is shot fighting with the police. You don't see or hear from them when a white thug/ criminal is shot. Where is their outrage when over 4,000 black people a year are murdered by other blacks in Chicago alone? Why are the "rights" of a criminal/suspect refusing to comply with the law, more important than those of the entire community around him? Why is it acceptable to protest and riot with slogans like "Black Lives Matter", yet it's deemed racist to say "All Lives Matter" (and beyond unspeakable to declare "White Lives Matter")?

Another prime example of crossing the line... Recently, I read a story about a man who drives through a small town every day to get to his job. He's an atheist and became offended when the town put up a cross and nativity scene on the courthouse lawn. He got the ACLU to sue the town into removing the Christmas display, even though he didn't even live there.

Now, I'm sorry he got offended, and I hate that he felt as though religion was being forced upon him. But, what about the actual 40,000 or so citizens of the town? I mean, they live there for crying out loud, shouldn't they have a voice in this? What bout their freedoms of speech, expression and religion? Why are the feelings of one man (who isn't even a resident) more important than those of tens of thousands?

Go ahead, tell me he isn't the only one who feels that way on the issue. I'll agree with you, then show you that for every one who thinks the way he (and the ACLU) does, there are millions more who disagree.

It's time to wake up, and start thinking with our heads, rather than our bleeding hearts. Common sense isn't dead... it's just on life support. Don't help them to pull the plug.

Update

It's been awhile since my last post, and a lot has happened both nationally, and personally. I will attempt to post more whenever I can, however count on infrequent entries, as I may not always have the time.

A Trip to the Museum

I took my son to a Science Museum yesterday, and the exhibits were both entertaining and educational, for the most part. However, they had a "special exhibit" going this month (entitled: "Race: Are We Really So Different?"). I was apprehensive about going in there with my autistic and impressionable son, given the current climate in America today, but my wife and I took him in anyway.

Most of the displays were well informed, and insightful. Even the ones covering slavery and segregation were fairly balanced. (My son thought it was interesting to learn that all humans originated in Africa.)

Then, I got to the display in the back of the room, the one I hoped wouldn't be there, and dreaded. It was a video of different people, of different ethnic backgrounds, talking about their views and perceptions. Most of them were interesting and made me think.

However, when the Caucasian came up, it was an older man who started off by saying that it took him 53 years to realize how much his color had given him privileges and advantages black people never had.

If you've read any of my previous posts, you probably know that I walked out, right then and there. But (against my better judgement) I kept my mouth closed on the subject.

In an earlier entry, I described my childhood (and I know several others who have gone through similar circumstances). I described being bullied and picked on due to my skin color and poverty.

"White Privilege" is a racist lie, made up by people too lazy to elevate their own circumstances in life, so they feel the need to tear others down. It's what I've started calling "justifiable racism", where someone feels they are entitled to be bigoted. And, like all racism, it's wrong.

Rather than throw a huge fit, and demand that they remove the exhibit (the way those on the Left frequently do). I exercised my common sense and simply walked out. Even  though what they are preaching is disgusting and hurtful, it is still their right to say it. Just as it is my right not to listen or participate.

That's the way our rights are supposed to work. You cannot defend only the rights of those you agree with. You must accept and defend everyone's equally, regardless, or you all lose.

Charlotte Riots

Here we go again... Once more, an American city is being torn to pieces and destroyed by people claiming to want justice because of a lie. Once more, there have been attempts made to let the truth be told, only to be ignored and shouted down by race baiters and the misinformed.

What we do know is that, 43 year old Keith Lamont Scott was confronted in his car by the Charlotte police. When approached, he became uncooperative and combative, refusing to comply with the officers' orders which resulted in him being fatally shot.

The first reports of the incident claimed he was unarmed, and simply reading a book, while waiting for his son to get home from school. We now know that this report was untrue.

Not only did Scott have a gun (which he refused to release after several commands from the cops), we're now hearing that there wasn't a book anywhere near the scene of the shooting. It was a lie his daughter told to the press to generate sympathy and outrage over her father's death. Several civilian eye witnesses have stated that the police gave him every chance to surrender peacefully, and he refused to follow their instructions, or comply with their demands.

The truly sad (and sickening) part of all this, is the community's reaction. Even before the details were known, they began taking to the streets, rioting and looting. They even went as far as to attack police officers, with large mobs destroying patrol vehicles and brutally beating 16 cops.

Scott's mother called for peaceful, non-violent protests. And, the mayor, along with the chief of police, tried to inform the public of Scott's gun, his combative actions and that the officer that shot him was himself a black man. Not surprisingly, the rioters and race baiters ignored all of this, and began tearing their city apart a second night.

So far, no one group or so-called "activist" (like an Al Sharpton, or a Black Lives Matter) has been seen out in front, driving this particular protest. But that doesn't mean they're not there. Nearly every time we see demonstrations with this kind of chaos and violence, there are ringleaders.

The people organizing these riots don't care about the truth, or about racial harmony and unity. They're not out for "social justice", or any other catchy buzz-words that they only pay lip service to. They're only interest is division and hate. It's how they earn their living and stay relevant.

I am well aware that some people would gladly call me a racist for even talking about this issue, or pointing out the truth behind the commonly held lies. It's another tired, old tactic of the true race baiters... shut down any opposing view, by playing the race card and screaming "racist" when someone says something they don't like, regardless of how true it may be.

The truth is, the vast majority of these police shootings (not all, but most) are righteous and legitimate. In most of the cases reported (such as Ferguson Missouri and Charlotte North Carolina), the "victim" of the shooting was the aggressor, resisting arrest, and defying police orders. Despite the narrative being told to the black community and the general public, unjustifiable police shootings (based upon race, or otherwise) is extremely rare. And, a white male is still three times more likely to be shot by a cop than any other group.

I'll say it again... until there is truth, there can be no unity. The lies we've been told for decades, are only meant to keep us divided. It's time to wake up, stop this kind of stupidity.

Deplorable

Last week, Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton referred to "at least 50%" of Donald Trump's supporters as a "basket of deplorables". Naturally, even her cheerleaders in the mainstream media couldn't shield her from the firestorm she unleashed.

I'm not deplorable because I want my country's borders secure, and expect everyone within those borders to follow the law. I'm not deplorable just because I want our military and veterans to receive better healthcare and benefits than people who are here illegally. Wanting to put my country and its allies ahead of nations that want to destroy us, doesn't make me deplorable. Neither does putting the lives of our police officers above those of criminals and thugs who resist arrest and put the public in danger.

When asked to clarify her remarks, Clinton and her advisors have half-heartedly apologized stating she shouldn't have used the 50% statistic. (Notice how they didn't take back the entire "deplorable" remark?) She actually attacked a large portion of the population (just as Obama did in his infamous "clinging to God and their guns" remark), and still her supporters blindly follow her and make lame, thin excuses. (Hillary supporters can put more spin on an issue, than an EF5 tornado.)

In short, Clinton is nothing short of a disgusting, corrupt and lying career politician, that needs to be imprisoned. This is only one more thing in an ever growing list of reasons why no one (Liberal or Conservative) should ever vote for her. And, if she wins in November, I want you to know in advance, that anyone who voted for her OWNS every bad thing that happens in the next four years. No excuses, no exceptions (including the popular but ignorant "we didn't know...").

September 11th

It was a chilly September morning, fifteen years ago, when the America I grew up with officially came to an end.

I can still recall where I was, and exactly what I was doing when I first heard the news... I was on a scissor lift, 25 feet in the air, wiring a new building at work. A man came running through the work area screaming about how "they" attacked New York. (He was a well known paranoid, and there was no telling who "they" were at the time.) I told him that no one was going to attack New York, and then I got the call to report to the office. When I arrived, the first tower and the Pentagon had already been hit. The TV was running a live report on, and to my amazement, I watched a plane strike the second tower. I couldn't believe what I had just seen, nobody could.

We didn't know then, how much our world was about to change. We had no way of knowing that our illusions of safety were over forever. All we knew, in those horrible moments, was that we were all Americans. There was no white or black, there wasn't any Republicans or Democrats, no Conservatives or Liberals. We were truly one.

In those moments, we discovered exactly what it means to be an American. We pledged then, that we would never forget... but we have. So many of us don't seem to remember the anger and outrage we felt then. So many have forgotten the unity and brotherhood we all felt at the sight of so many innocents losing their lives at the hands of cowards.

I haven't forgotten.

The Real Story on "White Privilege"

Let me tell you a little something about "white privilege"...

I was born a poor, white kid with hyper-emotionalism, in a small southern town. Throughout the majority of my childhood, my family lived in housing projects and low-income neighborhoods, where we lived feast or famine, hand to mouth. And yes, most of these neighborhoods were "predominantly black" sections of town.

As if being constantly bullied and humiliated in school, due to my sensitivity and poverty wasn't bad enough, I was tormented all the time on the bus and in my own neighborhood, because of the color of my skin. I was constantly singled out, shoved and jumped by two or three guys at a time, to the point where life was often a living hell.

It didn't help that my dad was an abusive drunk, who was also a very outspoken racist (the genuine article, not a Black Lives Matter/Al Sharpton victim). So, most of the time, I had nowhere to turn for any peace, and was always being beaten on by someone.

Thankfully, there were a few good people in my life, who made things at least bearable. My mother, my current wife (and childhood crush) and my best friend Nick. I honestly believe that without each of them, I wouldn't be here today (or, at least not the man I am now).

I can remember, after my dad left, things got harder. There were times when we actually had to dig in the couch cushions to find enough change to eat that night. My mom taught me perseverance and doing whatever it takes to get out of a bad situation.

There were times, when I would go to school black and blue from the beatings my father gave me, and I would see the love of my life. She would do anything she could to make me laugh and would never allow me to give up on myself or put myself down. She taught me the value of love, and feeling like you matter to someone.

And then there was Nick... we hung out at each other's homes all the time, and he would actually have my back and stand up for me against anyone who picked on me in the neighborhood. We weren't like brothers, we were brothers. He taught me that stereotypes are wrong, and not everyone of a certain race is alike (whether you're white, black or other). Once, he even had a bottle of baby powder dumped over his head on the bus, because he hung out with me, and was "acting white".

Anyway, the moral of my personal story is this... Don't you dare speak to me about how "privileged" I am because of the color of my skin. Don't try to tell me how white people are all racist, or can't understand oppression and discrimination. And do not get in my face, telling me that the life of a criminal, or a two-bit thug, matters more than mine.

I'm not a racist because I believe that our laws should be upheld, or that people should conduct themselves in a civilized way (no matter what color they are). I'm not prejudice, just because I don't accept poverty as an excuse for lawlessness, and believe that everyone should work for the things they want on life (whether it's a new car, or a better community).

If you were to meet me now, you'd see a white, middle class man with a shiny new car, and a great family. Don't mistake that for privilege, when you have no idea about all the fighting and crap I had to go through to get here. Don't judge me (or anyone else) until you know every step of the journey.

So, you can take all your "white privilege" B.S. and flush it down where it truly belongs.

To All Clinton Supporters

I've got to ask it... What in the hell is wrong with this country, and the people in it? Are we really that far gone? Is there truly no hope of ever bringing us back?

Recently, I've been reading the news posted on my browser. Not surprising, about 90% of it is anti-Trump and pro-Hillary (and then you wonder why she's still ahead in the polls). That much is expected, because the media doesn't even try to hide their Left-wing bias anymore. The truly disturbing and sickening part, is found in the comments section after the story.

There are so many drooling zombies, regurgitating things they've heard on NPR, the Huffington Post and MSNBC (the unholy Trinity of Liberal "News"), that I instantly feel the need to flush.

I'm all for political discussion (as if you couldn't tell by this blog), and I wholeheartedly support everyone's right to choose the beliefs that work best for them. However, what infuriates me beyond all reason, is an uninformed, dishonest opinion free of all evidence and facts. If you're going to state something for all the world to see, at least have the self-respect enough to make sure it's truthful, and you actually know what you're talking about. (And, for the love of monkeys, read a book every now and then!)

Seriously, I could beat my head full force against a brick wall, and it'd be less painful than talking to some of these people. The arguments some of them have posted leave me feeling as scared, frustrated and confused as Paris Hilton at an elementary school spelling bee.

For the record... Yes, Hillary Clinton is a proven liar, not mistaken or misquoted, or even misunderstood. I could do a thirty-five part special on just the lies she's blatantly told in the past five years alone. But, I'll assume you want a few as proof:

"I never sent, or received any classified emails on my server, that were marked 'classified' at the time."- said multiple times during several speeches and interviews. FBI Director Comey debunked this when he revealed their findings, and then again when he testified before Congress.

Or, how about this lovely little gem... "I remember stepping off the helicopter under intense sniper fire, when we landed in Bosnia..."- again, multiple interviews. CBS (normally cheerleaders in the Clinton fan club) were the ones who refuted this, and even posted videos of the event with no gun fire to be heard anywhere.

And who can forget... "The attack on the Benghazi Embassy was the result of a protest over a disgusting YouTube video..."- taken from an inter-office memo to Susan Rice and also told directly to the families of the fallen victims. Later the FBI presented emails recovered from her illegal servers (she initially denied having) written to both Chelsea and the President of Egypt on the night of the attacks, proclaiming them to be a "concerted, Al-Qaeda style terrorist attack" with no mention of a video.

Those are just a few of her obvious and blatant lies. Believe me, I could go on for hours with more.

Also... No, Hillary was not "exonerated" for the email scandals. The FBI simply refused not to prosecute under intense pressure from Obama's corrupt Department of Justice. There's a massive difference between not being prosecuted and being exonerated, look it up.

As I've stated before, Donald Trump is no angel, and he can be quite arrogant and full of himself at times. I will even grant you that a few of the things he's said have been off color and perhaps borderline racist.

But, to my knowledge, he's never been directly involved in the deaths of American citizens, he's never been caught mishandling state secrets (then tried to lie his way out of it), and he hasn't been accused of selling his government appointed position to the highest bidding enemies ("Play-to-Play" scandal) under the guise of a charity.

Like I said, vote for Clinton if you like... Just be honest, and know exactly what you're voting for.

The Problem With Third Parties

It happens every election year, and each time, it seems more viable than the time before. People begin to talk about third party candidates and adding yet another major political party to the mix.

Usually, the talk comes about when people start noticing the poor quality of the available candidates on either side. (And believe me, each election we seem to get worse and worse.) It seems that only the least qualified, most corrupt and barely educated individuals in America actually run for President. Then, we're given the absolute worst among these to choose from in the general.

While I can certainly understand the desire to have more (and possibly better) choices, I don't believe that another major party is the answer. The reason why is something I've dubbed the "pond scum effect".

As hard as it may be (Smell that? It's called sarcasm!), imagine that Washington DC is a giant, stagnant pond. It's surface is completely covered with slimy green algae (which obviously represents all the corruption and filth currently in office). Now, if you throw a rock into the middle of the pond (a new party), the first thing that will happen is, all the scum will be pushed aside from the impact. However, after the initial splash, all the filth and stagnation will rush in to fill the void, and you're left with a pond that's just as nasty as it was before.

In other words, we may actually be able to develop a new party (based upon all the ethics and principles we want), and we may even be able to get a candidate we like to run for it. But, it'll only be a matter of time before all the thieves, liars and power-mongers we were trying to avoid, find their way into the new party as well.

Another issue we're facing is, which ideology will this new party follow? Is it going to be based on Left-wing or Right-wing principles? Or, maybe something in between?

Right now, our politicians have us so divided on nearly every issue (and more than a few "non-issues"), that we can't seem to agree on anything. They have us arguing over which bathroom we're supposed to be using, for the love of monkeys!!!

There are already a few third party contenders, on both sides, out there (some more realistic and viable than others).  It seems, no matter what your personal beliefs may be, there's a group to match, everything from the Libertarians on the Right, to the Green Party on the Left. The problem is, these fringe groups tend to be every bit as "all or nothing" in their beliefs, as the two main parties are (sometimes, even worse).

This is why I'm an Independent, and don't really identify with any particular party, or ideology. I will admit that on most issues I tend to be more "Right-leaning", but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm a Republican, or even a Conservative. I refuse to vote (or even think) along purely partisan or ideological lines. I choose to base my views and beliefs upon my own intelligence and experiences (as we all should).

Which brings me to yet another reason against third parties... It's already become more about the good of the party, over the good of the people. Right now, nearly every time you turn on the news, you'll hear reports about how "the Republicans are imploding", or how "the Democrats need to do this to survive". That's because it's all about the party. Neither side truly cares about their constituents, and there's no reason to believe another will be any different.

As I said before, third parties aren't the answer. They're just another means of dividing us further. The only real solution, is to completely vet anyone wanting to run for public office, and hold every candidate (regardless of ideology or affiliation) to a higher standard. We need to demand better, and stop allowing Washington or the political elite to determine our choices for us.

The Trump Dilemma

I don't really need to tell you that, so far, this has been one strange election year. And, it appears it's only going to get worse before we get to November 8th.

In the last two elections, I had to hold my nose at the ballot box while casting my vote. I didn't like anything about anyone running, and ended up voting against the candidate I disliked the most, rather than for a person I agreed with. It left me feeling dirty, disgusted and a little ashamed (kind of like after watching an episode of the View).

This year, I had hoped it would be a little different, and in some ways it is. After a disappointing primary season (in which everyone I believed in lost or dropped out), we're left with two candidates, and what should have been an easier choice for me.

Given her long history of not really accomplishing anything (as well as her never-ending laundry list of scandals), there is no way in hell I could vote for Hillary Clinton. She's a confirmed liar, who has used corruption to cover blatant illegal activities, and cost the lives of at least four Americans. (Kind of a deal-breaker for me, personally.)

Which should mean Donald Trump by default. But, not so fast...

So far, Trump has spoken about a lot of issues I happen to agree with. He's talked about issues that no one was (or would be) discussing, things that need to be dealt with. And, he's been able to point out the flaws in our current system, as well as who's behind them and why. On the surface, he seems arrogant and gruff, but a lot of people have really appreciated his no b.s. style of straight talk (completely free of the political correctness that's killing this nation).

The problem I (and so many others) have is, every time he gives a decent speech that gives his supporters some kind of hope, he immediately kills the message by saying or doing something completely stupid. The man can't help but shoot himself in his own foot.

I can't even begin to tell you all the times he's had me just about ready to cast my vote for him, and then he says something about the mother of a fallen soldier (granted, he was attacked first, but still it was ignorant to retaliate), or he reorganizes his campaign staff after one of his best speeches (totally killing the news about the speech itself). Often, his words have been twisted and taken completely out of context (to demonize him, and make him sound stupid or racist). But, a lot of times, it's his own doing.

It's like he's deliberately sabotaging his own campaign. Either that, or he thinks being controversial alone is what got him this far.

He's got a long way to go, to prove to me that he deserves my vote, and there isn't much time to get there.

And so, whenever anyone hears me calling myself "undecided", they need to know that I don't mean on who to vote for. To me (at least this year) "undecided" mean on whether or not to vote at all.

The Art of Disagreement

One of my favorite past times (and another reason for this blog), is talking with people about the beliefs and issues of the day. I freely admit that (even in my private life) I am that guy... the one who will gladly discuss the "forbidden" topics (religion and politics) with total strangers.

I don't do it to stir, or create controversy. I do it because I'm genuinely interested in what people think, and why. If you tell me you're a Pagan Communist who believes in human sacrifice and enslavement, I truly want to know how you came to your beliefs. It doesn't mean that I will agree with you, but it also doesn't exclude us from talking to each other.

I have had several friends and acquaintances that were polar opposites from my personal views. In fact, once we got past the emotional defensiveness, most have discovered that we could have some of the most interesting and stimulating conversations of our lives. You get a certain quality of conversation with people you disagree with, that you can't find anywhere else in life (as long as both sides can remain civil, without yelling and name calling). Chances are, both parties will actually learn a few things along the way.

Lately, I find it sad that this point of view seems to be getting rarer and rarer. It just seems to me that we're all missing out, when we surround ourselves only with people who agree with us, and shut out those who don't. You can never truly know the whole story, if all you listen to is one side of things.

Do I get frustrated and passionate about my beliefs? Yes, on occasion. I may not like what others are saying, or feel that they're being ignorant, but I would never deny them the right to express their opinions. Just as, I will never allow anyone to silence mine.

We can disagree, without being disagreeable. In fact, that's one of the things that has always made this country so great... Freedom of Speech, and the willingness to hear all sides of an argument.

I may mock and ridicule certain opposing views (just as I have plenty of mine mocked and ridiculed), but I will never try to stop anyone from stating them.

Just remember the words of 16th century philosopher Voltaire...

"Although I disagree with what you say, I will defend your right to say it with my life."

An American Classified

Wanted: A honest and hardworking, no nonsense candidate with fiscal discipline, a solid moral background and strong ethical convictions. Must be able to maintain a strong military, peaceful and friendly relations with our allies, and a sense of prosperity and equality for all our citizens.

We will provide a competitive salary, vacation time, healthcare for you and your immediate family and free housing and transportation.

Must be able to pass a full background check and drug screening. Experience not necessarily required, but comparable skills are preferred.

This is an Equal Opportunity offer, valid for all non-felon U.S. citizens, 35 years and older. Offer only good for one four year term, with one possible four year extension, and not valid with any other employment offers. See the United States Constitution for details, terms and limits.

To apply, simple fill out a FEC Form 2 with the government, send out petitions to be put on the States' ballots, and announce your candidacy and platform publicly. All serious bids (and a few not so serious ones) will be considered.

Please address all cares, comments or concerns to "We the People", c/o the United States of America.

Good Luck, and looking forward to hearing from you soon...

The Reboot

It's time for a reboot and a fresh start...

After reading through some of my old posts, I decided this blog (much like the country), wasn't going in the direction it should. I was spending entirely too much time making some of the same points over and over, and not enough on other issues I was wanting to discuss.

Often, I would spend half the night writing and rewriting entries, because the issues I was wanting to talk about were just too big, with way too much information, and I wasn't sure where to even begin.

Plus, at times I found myself sounding as robotic as Hillary Clinton addressing the "commoners".

Anyway, the purpose of this blog won't change. It's always been about exposing the truth, educating those who will listen and inflicting my own perspectives on the unsuspecting masses. I may not always be considered "fair" or "non-partisan" on certain topics, but you can bet that I will always be as truthful as O possibly can be (depending on the available information at the time).

I sincerely hope that anyone reading this will genuinely enjoy my commentary, and feel free to comment whether they agree with what I'm saying, or not. All comments (for or against) will be treated civilly, so long as you remain civil yourself. I'm a big boy, I can take disagreements and criticisms with the best of you. All I ask, is that you keep it honest and real.

Now, with that said, it's time to start the show...