Writing is cathartic. I express my thoughts and emotions with my fingers using the keyboard, not using my fists to rearrange someone else's face, even though the thought does prove tempting at times. It's okay to be unhappy when things don't always go your way. There's nothing wrong with getting angry when you feel an injustice has gone unpunished. It's even okay to peacefully protest an grotesque injustice and try to inspire others to motivate necessary change. Remember the TEA Party? However, it's not okay to scream like a jackass at the top of your lungs six inches from the face of someone you don't like. Nor is it okay to hit that person when his or her back is turned, like a coward is often tempted to do. And it's not okay to destroy private property belonging to someone who disagrees with you...in fact, that's criminal behavior called assault, vandalism, theft, and whatever the legal term is for felony destruction of private property. Oh...I guess the technical term would be arson. This is how liberals "disagree" with other people. It's also not okay to stand in the middle of the street forcing traffic to stop and redirect in order to avoid you, while you scream profanity at the people in the car. These people have completely lost their minds. Like a virus, this irrational, out-of-control anger coming from liberals, progressives, radicals, and anarchists has been threatening to spread out of control because the response from rational and reasonable people has been rather calm and understated, which only emboldens these crazy people. In November … [Read more...]
Racists, Charlottesville, and Republicans
I could never be a member of the Democratic Party, if only because of their history. If you haven't already seen this very informative video featuring Professor Carol Swain about the Democratic Party's long history of racism in America, you should watch it now. I will never join the Republican Party either, because I can't abide the stupidity of their current leadership in Congress, or the fact they don't seem willing to keep their campaign promises. ( see John McCain.) I love my friends on Facebook. They know me well. Yesterday when I started posting pictures of puppies, kittens, and flowers on Facebook, they recognized the calm before the storm. Some wondered if they'd missed it. Nobody missed anything. Yesterday, the pot was still simmering. We've finally reached a full boil. It's time for me get it off my chest and toss in my two cents on this recent debacle in Charlottesville. I'll start with the reasons for both protests, why it became violent, and my opinion on who were the bad guys. The short answer is, everyone involved. Charlottesville began when a few politicians decided that some statues of Confederate generals so grievously offended them that they must be removed from public property, announcing their plans in advance. Some might believe the announcement was a necessary public service, but more cynical minds could suspect the Democrat politicians running both the city and the state had schemed to manufacture the crisis to come. Large numbers of skinheads and neo-Nazi thugs blatantly used the event as an excuse to draw attention to themselves, … [Read more...]
Failure to communicate
I'm perfectly capable of having a polite yet spirited conversation with anyone about virtually any subject. I find the discussion tends to be far more interesting when two people seek common ground while exploring theoretical areas of disagreement. The potential to learn something new is far greater as ideas are freely exchanged, not banter dominated by memorized talking points that originated in some book written by somebody else. I write my own books. But it takes two to tango, as they say. Truly scintillating conversation ultimately depends on having a willing and worthy adversary for a vigorous debate. In any debate of interest both participants will clearly articulate their thoughts that have been steeped in logic and reason, without making appeals to emotion or resorting to regurgitated group-think. Both participants in an intellectual discussion must carefully listen to the opposition's point-of-view and make a serious attempt to understand it, if they hope to respond with cogent and effective rebuttal arguments. The problem is that in modern society, most people simply assume what another person thinks based on some preconceived label and would rather demonize and demagogue than persuade their opposition. Mere disagreement frequently inspires fits of apoplectic rage, and sometimes, even violence. Don't believe me? Just look at what's happened with the Berkeley riots. Interestingly, a college professor at Fresno State has also asserted that "college campuses are not free speech areas." The special snowflakes are encouraged to report their fellow students for … [Read more...]
