Second Amendment Enthusiasts
(Seriously! Get your heads out of your asses)
I've been silent for a long time due to medical issues, but when I saw the story about guns not being allowed in Chipotles any longer on The Daily Show I was like Whaaat!! Guns in a fast food restaurant with little kids who's brilliant idea was this. It never should've been allowed in the first place. Hello, Insanity! Do we need a weekly reminder of tragedies like Columbine?! Thank you Michael Moore! Apparently we do when gun holders are calling the new smart guns a violation of the right to bear arms. Smart guns can only be used by the owner thanks to a band you wear around your wrist that identifies you. How is this bad? Or a violation? I'm not pro guns but if they have to be around and they always will the smart gun will at least make sure the right people are arrested and put in jail. Plus, it will rid of us of unfortunate tragedies when parents don't lock up their guns. If smart guns had been around when I was younger my brothers friend wouldn't have lost his little brother to an accidental gun shot by another friend. I still remember where I was when heard the shot. So gun enthusiasts get your heads out of your asses and think of the kids for fuck sake!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Friday, November 16, 2012
9/11 11 Years Later
I was just watching a recent episode of Bones, which may seem a strange way to start this post but it's actually very significant in why i'm writing at this moment. The episode was about a man who was found that died a week after the attacks and had a part in saving someone that day.
It got me thinking about why i have still never watched any footage of the attacks. First there is the way i found out. I was in the hospital when it happened recovering from major surgery so the last thing I wanted was to watch the news. My parents who came to see me every day knew but never told me. Not even the day i was released, so i didn't find out until i returned to work and another worker told me. When i told her i ddn't know she asked if i'd been living under a rock. I frankly wanted to hit her for her blase attitude. I don't think i ever got over my parents not telling me.
Then there are those who are always saying when the subject comes up how we were all affected the same. That's Bullshit! Would you tell that to the mothers,fathers, wives, husband, and kids who lost family members?! How dare you say it was the same for all of us. There are also those of us who like me not only had their country attacked but their cities as well. Mine being New York. I take that very personally. Just as much as i take the attack on our country. Maybe even more because New York was my home for 30 years and 2 years later a landmark i saw everyday on my way to work is gone and the people in and around it as well. A few people i know just barely escaped being on of the number that were killed that day and i take that personally. I'm glad that their safe but they never should've been at risk in the first place.
Which brings us to then President Bush who took his weet time reacting to the attack and then left the troops over there so long that the carnage just increased exponentially. I may not believe in war but i Obama for finally giving me some closure. It did affect all of us but some in bigger ways than others. I may not have lost any family but those people who did die feel like family as do the soldier's who died. Family who died in what i feel was a pointlessly cruel attack and the bloodletting continued away from here for over a decade.
I was just watching a recent episode of Bones, which may seem a strange way to start this post but it's actually very significant in why i'm writing at this moment. The episode was about a man who was found that died a week after the attacks and had a part in saving someone that day.
It got me thinking about why i have still never watched any footage of the attacks. First there is the way i found out. I was in the hospital when it happened recovering from major surgery so the last thing I wanted was to watch the news. My parents who came to see me every day knew but never told me. Not even the day i was released, so i didn't find out until i returned to work and another worker told me. When i told her i ddn't know she asked if i'd been living under a rock. I frankly wanted to hit her for her blase attitude. I don't think i ever got over my parents not telling me.
Then there are those who are always saying when the subject comes up how we were all affected the same. That's Bullshit! Would you tell that to the mothers,fathers, wives, husband, and kids who lost family members?! How dare you say it was the same for all of us. There are also those of us who like me not only had their country attacked but their cities as well. Mine being New York. I take that very personally. Just as much as i take the attack on our country. Maybe even more because New York was my home for 30 years and 2 years later a landmark i saw everyday on my way to work is gone and the people in and around it as well. A few people i know just barely escaped being on of the number that were killed that day and i take that personally. I'm glad that their safe but they never should've been at risk in the first place.
Which brings us to then President Bush who took his weet time reacting to the attack and then left the troops over there so long that the carnage just increased exponentially. I may not believe in war but i Obama for finally giving me some closure. It did affect all of us but some in bigger ways than others. I may not have lost any family but those people who did die feel like family as do the soldier's who died. Family who died in what i feel was a pointlessly cruel attack and the bloodletting continued away from here for over a decade.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Is Nothing Sacred? 2 (The Phelps Strike Again)
First coming to the notice of the public when they picketed the funeral of Mathew Sheppard back in 1998, The Phelps continue to stomp on their first amendment rights and abuse the second by picketing the funerals of soldiers who may or may not be gay. The fact that these soldiers died to protect them meaning nothing to the added grief of the Bass' family and now the Snyder family. They even re-write words from Ozzy Ossbournes's Crazy Train and use them to spread their hate and evil. Ozzy and the family may be a bit crazy but they aren't hateful and the use of one of his signature songs for this purpose makes him "sick". It's hard to understand the Phelps especially since a documentary about them called "The Most Hated Family in the Country," didn't bother them at all except for the fact that it was "country" instead of "world". For how long will this family continue to add to the pain of families across the country. Maybe it's time for us to beat them at their own game and protest their protesting of such a sacred event. Perhaps that will ease the extra blow that these people, if you can call them that add to the surviving members of these honorable soldier's. All I know is that when someone's life choice matters more than what they sacrificed for all of us something is
horribly wrong and it needs to stop and be recified if not by the courts by the people.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093007243.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/10/08/2010-10-08_ozzy_osbourne_to_westboro_church_get_off_my_crazy_train.html
horribly wrong and it needs to stop and be recified if not by the courts by the people.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093007243.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/10/08/2010-10-08_ozzy_osbourne_to_westboro_church_get_off_my_crazy_train.html
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Just One More Reason I Miss NY (The Masshole Hit and Run Incident)
New Yorkers get a bad rap, and maybe there are a few people here and there who perpetuate that rep, but for the most part NYers are good people and if they hit you they stop unlike here in MA where Saturday afternoon I was the victim of a Hit and Run by shopping cart via big ass white pickup truck which I felt just as much as if I were moving. You shouldn't have to wear a seatbelt parked in a Stop n Shop parking
lot (in Quincy), but if I had maybe my bones wouldn't hurt with the shock as a female trying to go through the parking lane next to me drove her giant truck into a cart she could've avoided straight into my front side and then left me in shock as she looked at me and then drove away. I now know where the term Masshole comes from and I'm not saying all Bostonians are bad. My brother in-law is one and he'd never just drive away from such an incident. Still, I've had more incidents: 5 (4 of which were rear endings and none my fault) since I came up here ten years ago than I had in 16 years of driving in NY the first of which was less than 6 months after getting my liscense and the other a man trying to get his wife to work forgetting to stop for a light turning red. I'd just gotten my car a month earlier. NY drivers may drive too fast, come out of nowhere but the take atleast stop and have a yelling match with you about who's fault it is even when it's obviously their's.
To look in someone's eyes with an expression of "you were in my way" and then to leave is just irressponsible and cowardly, and is what upsets me most about the incident aside from whoever couldn't walk fifteen feet to get the cart into the proper place and the ache in my bones from the impact which though minimal felt more extreme. Seriously, do I have to wear a seatbelt even when I'm not moving!!! Now I wait to find out if the store caught it on tape or not. I know my chances of this are minimal but if nothing else I would like to give this woman a piece of my mind on just plain common decency. I don't think that's a lot to ask for, do you!?
lot (in Quincy), but if I had maybe my bones wouldn't hurt with the shock as a female trying to go through the parking lane next to me drove her giant truck into a cart she could've avoided straight into my front side and then left me in shock as she looked at me and then drove away. I now know where the term Masshole comes from and I'm not saying all Bostonians are bad. My brother in-law is one and he'd never just drive away from such an incident. Still, I've had more incidents: 5 (4 of which were rear endings and none my fault) since I came up here ten years ago than I had in 16 years of driving in NY the first of which was less than 6 months after getting my liscense and the other a man trying to get his wife to work forgetting to stop for a light turning red. I'd just gotten my car a month earlier. NY drivers may drive too fast, come out of nowhere but the take atleast stop and have a yelling match with you about who's fault it is even when it's obviously their's.
To look in someone's eyes with an expression of "you were in my way" and then to leave is just irressponsible and cowardly, and is what upsets me most about the incident aside from whoever couldn't walk fifteen feet to get the cart into the proper place and the ache in my bones from the impact which though minimal felt more extreme. Seriously, do I have to wear a seatbelt even when I'm not moving!!! Now I wait to find out if the store caught it on tape or not. I know my chances of this are minimal but if nothing else I would like to give this woman a piece of my mind on just plain common decency. I don't think that's a lot to ask for, do you!?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Self-Segregation in Schools: Is it Healthy?
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Self-Segregation in Schools: Is it Healthy?
I was shocked when I read an article in The Boston Globe about self-segregation at UMass of Amherst. The residence halls even have nicknames. such as "Chinatown" because of it's large Asian population, and "the Projects," due to a great concentration of African-American students. There is also a cluster for Native Americans, and one for those "seeking multi-cultural
experience."
This profound separation of different types of people it seems was not soley a decision made by the students but by school policy. The policy having been put in place, "as a means of providing comfort and comradeship on an overwhelmingly white campus."Officials can't say just when it began but did say that racial tensions escalated "after the beating in 1986 of Yancey Robinson, an African-American student from Springfield, after a World Series game."
Now however, the school wants to change things and make the living arrangements more integrated, and so as of the 2006 fall semester students will no longer be able to choose to live with other students based on race, or ethnicity. They can though, "choose to live with others who share their academic interests."
"There's nothing healthy about segregation,' said Michael Gargano, vice chancellor of student affairs and campus life. 'Students who come to the university need to be exposed to different opinions and ideas. When you have segregated pockets in our residence halls, we are allowing students to shut themselves off, and then they are missing out." And not only was it the residence halls but up until five years ago the school held "seperate orientations for minorities" and they were assigned "to separate academic advising offices."
What is the students reaction to this change? Some gain comfort from being with those who can best relate to them. "We are like family!, said Nisha Mungroo, a sophmore who added, "You come here and find comfort in your community. Then you find comfort at UMass."
Another student, Anton Pires, a freshman lived in "the Projects" for a semester but then moved to another residence wanting to gain some diversity in his living situation. "It can be good to be with people who have had the same struggles as you, people you can be more open with,' said Pires, a native of Cape Verde. ' But I didn't want to close myself off to people. I wanted to get a different feel."
Kerri-Ann Eldridge, a white freshman said, "Things would be better here if people were more mixed" She added, "Society is mixed, this school should be mixed." Her friend Josh Clark, an Asian-American student, didn't see things the same way and responded to her comment by saying, "You're just saying that because you're white!" He then continued, "The school doesn't tell anyone where to live - it gives students the option. And some students need that. It's comforting."
Come September their comfort will be gone and the question will be how they deal with it. Perhaps, they'll learn now to mix but if not once they are out in the real world they will no longer have a choice. Real life is about mixing and hopefully those that now are so vehmenent about keeping their comfort will allow themselves to be pleasantly surprised that people don't have to have the same color skin, or ethnicity to find common ground or comfort.
*Quotes are taken from The Boston Globe article, "Out of the comfort zone", dated March 12, 2006, and written by Sarah Schweitzer
Self-Segregation in Schools: Is it Healthy?
I was shocked when I read an article in The Boston Globe about self-segregation at UMass of Amherst. The residence halls even have nicknames. such as "Chinatown" because of it's large Asian population, and "the Projects," due to a great concentration of African-American students. There is also a cluster for Native Americans, and one for those "seeking multi-cultural
experience."
This profound separation of different types of people it seems was not soley a decision made by the students but by school policy. The policy having been put in place, "as a means of providing comfort and comradeship on an overwhelmingly white campus."Officials can't say just when it began but did say that racial tensions escalated "after the beating in 1986 of Yancey Robinson, an African-American student from Springfield, after a World Series game."
Now however, the school wants to change things and make the living arrangements more integrated, and so as of the 2006 fall semester students will no longer be able to choose to live with other students based on race, or ethnicity. They can though, "choose to live with others who share their academic interests."
"There's nothing healthy about segregation,' said Michael Gargano, vice chancellor of student affairs and campus life. 'Students who come to the university need to be exposed to different opinions and ideas. When you have segregated pockets in our residence halls, we are allowing students to shut themselves off, and then they are missing out." And not only was it the residence halls but up until five years ago the school held "seperate orientations for minorities" and they were assigned "to separate academic advising offices."
What is the students reaction to this change? Some gain comfort from being with those who can best relate to them. "We are like family!, said Nisha Mungroo, a sophmore who added, "You come here and find comfort in your community. Then you find comfort at UMass."
Another student, Anton Pires, a freshman lived in "the Projects" for a semester but then moved to another residence wanting to gain some diversity in his living situation. "It can be good to be with people who have had the same struggles as you, people you can be more open with,' said Pires, a native of Cape Verde. ' But I didn't want to close myself off to people. I wanted to get a different feel."
Kerri-Ann Eldridge, a white freshman said, "Things would be better here if people were more mixed" She added, "Society is mixed, this school should be mixed." Her friend Josh Clark, an Asian-American student, didn't see things the same way and responded to her comment by saying, "You're just saying that because you're white!" He then continued, "The school doesn't tell anyone where to live - it gives students the option. And some students need that. It's comforting."
Come September their comfort will be gone and the question will be how they deal with it. Perhaps, they'll learn now to mix but if not once they are out in the real world they will no longer have a choice. Real life is about mixing and hopefully those that now are so vehmenent about keeping their comfort will allow themselves to be pleasantly surprised that people don't have to have the same color skin, or ethnicity to find common ground or comfort.
*Quotes are taken from The Boston Globe article, "Out of the comfort zone", dated March 12, 2006, and written by Sarah Schweitzer
Is Nothing Sacred?
Monday, April 17, 2006
Is Nothing Sacred?
The congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church took it upon themselves at the April 2nd funeral service of Cpl. David A. Bass, a 20 year-old marine killed in Iraq, to picket the service adding to the grief of his loved ones and out-right leaving others at a loss for a word that sufficiently expressed this blatant showing of disrespect. All the while, they hid behind their First Amendment rights to speak their mind as they carried signs saying "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," and voiced to the bereaved and anyone else who'd listen that "God is killing soldiers to punish America for condoning homosexuality." The small fundamentalist group has since last summer been sending contingents of six to twenty members to funerals just like that of Cpl. Bass.
The reaction by many is that this is "cruel and unpatriotic", and has set off a feeling of outrage in the grass-roots community and a "flurry of laws seeking to restrict demonstrations at funerals and burials." Indiana Republican representative Steve Buyer who is among those trying to get such a Congressional bill passed said, "Repugnant, outrageous, despicable, do not adequetly describe what I feel they do to these families," and then added that, "They have a right to freedom of speech. But someone also has a right to bury a loved one in peace."
Recently nine states including Indiana have passed such a law, and twenty-three more will soon be voting on similar bills. In the case of Congress, they will be addressing the legislation in May.
So as to not impede anyone's first amendment rights the state bills and laws have been carefully worded. On average they seek to keep demonstrators one hundred to five hundred feet from the entrance of the funeral home or cemetary, and allow the protests but only one hour before the service and one hour after it has concluded. "A funeral home seems high on the list of places where people legitimately could be or should be protected from unwanted messages," said Michael C. Dorf who teaches constitutional law at Columbia University.
The church headed by Rev. Fred Phelps, which "is not affliated with the mainstream Baptist church" first gained public notice in Wyoming at the 1998 funeral of Matthew Sheppard
The congregation is small with most of it's seventy-five memebers being of relation to Rev. Phelps, and has been demonstrating for the last decade outside office buildings and by going to gay funerals. Right or wrong those were tolerated. However, since members began appearing at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan last year The Southern Poverty Law Center, has put it on it's watch list."
The church takes the bible in an extremely literal manner. "God is punishing this nation with a grievous, smiting blow, killing our children, sending them home dead to help you connect the dots," said Shirley Roper-Phelps who concluded her statement saying, "This is a nation that has forgotten God and leads a filthy manner of life." Meanwhile, Johnathan Anstey a close friend of Bass's tried to reign in his anger. "It's hurtful and it's taking alot of willpower not to go down there and stomp their heads in. But I know that David is looking down and seeing me and he would not want to see that."
Thursday the House and Senate unanimously approved the bill and it now only needs the signature of the Governor to make it illegal for demonstrators to be within five hundred feet of a memorial, burial or funeral service. Perhaps not much comfort for the Bass' but for those in the future it's a chance to mourn their loved ones without the additional pain such demonstrators inflict. After reading about this I had to wonder about the old "if the shoe was on the other foot" proverb. How would they feel if another hate group targeted the funerals of their loved ones. Would it open their eyes at all or would they just refuse to see it as the same thing that they do to others. I'm no fan of the war or any war for that matter, but if someone gives their life for me whether for reasons I agree with or not they should be honored and respected. Some things are sacred and should not be muddied by ignorance, bigotry, or hatefullness.
*Quotes are from The New York Times article "Outrage at Funeral Protests Pushes Lawmakers to Act" dated April 17, 2006 and written by Lizette Alvarez
Is Nothing Sacred?
The congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church took it upon themselves at the April 2nd funeral service of Cpl. David A. Bass, a 20 year-old marine killed in Iraq, to picket the service adding to the grief of his loved ones and out-right leaving others at a loss for a word that sufficiently expressed this blatant showing of disrespect. All the while, they hid behind their First Amendment rights to speak their mind as they carried signs saying "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," and voiced to the bereaved and anyone else who'd listen that "God is killing soldiers to punish America for condoning homosexuality." The small fundamentalist group has since last summer been sending contingents of six to twenty members to funerals just like that of Cpl. Bass.
The reaction by many is that this is "cruel and unpatriotic", and has set off a feeling of outrage in the grass-roots community and a "flurry of laws seeking to restrict demonstrations at funerals and burials." Indiana Republican representative Steve Buyer who is among those trying to get such a Congressional bill passed said, "Repugnant, outrageous, despicable, do not adequetly describe what I feel they do to these families," and then added that, "They have a right to freedom of speech. But someone also has a right to bury a loved one in peace."
Recently nine states including Indiana have passed such a law, and twenty-three more will soon be voting on similar bills. In the case of Congress, they will be addressing the legislation in May.
So as to not impede anyone's first amendment rights the state bills and laws have been carefully worded. On average they seek to keep demonstrators one hundred to five hundred feet from the entrance of the funeral home or cemetary, and allow the protests but only one hour before the service and one hour after it has concluded. "A funeral home seems high on the list of places where people legitimately could be or should be protected from unwanted messages," said Michael C. Dorf who teaches constitutional law at Columbia University.
The church headed by Rev. Fred Phelps, which "is not affliated with the mainstream Baptist church" first gained public notice in Wyoming at the 1998 funeral of Matthew Sheppard
The congregation is small with most of it's seventy-five memebers being of relation to Rev. Phelps, and has been demonstrating for the last decade outside office buildings and by going to gay funerals. Right or wrong those were tolerated. However, since members began appearing at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan last year The Southern Poverty Law Center, has put it on it's watch list."
The church takes the bible in an extremely literal manner. "God is punishing this nation with a grievous, smiting blow, killing our children, sending them home dead to help you connect the dots," said Shirley Roper-Phelps who concluded her statement saying, "This is a nation that has forgotten God and leads a filthy manner of life." Meanwhile, Johnathan Anstey a close friend of Bass's tried to reign in his anger. "It's hurtful and it's taking alot of willpower not to go down there and stomp their heads in. But I know that David is looking down and seeing me and he would not want to see that."
Thursday the House and Senate unanimously approved the bill and it now only needs the signature of the Governor to make it illegal for demonstrators to be within five hundred feet of a memorial, burial or funeral service. Perhaps not much comfort for the Bass' but for those in the future it's a chance to mourn their loved ones without the additional pain such demonstrators inflict. After reading about this I had to wonder about the old "if the shoe was on the other foot" proverb. How would they feel if another hate group targeted the funerals of their loved ones. Would it open their eyes at all or would they just refuse to see it as the same thing that they do to others. I'm no fan of the war or any war for that matter, but if someone gives their life for me whether for reasons I agree with or not they should be honored and respected. Some things are sacred and should not be muddied by ignorance, bigotry, or hatefullness.
*Quotes are from The New York Times article "Outrage at Funeral Protests Pushes Lawmakers to Act" dated April 17, 2006 and written by Lizette Alvarez
Will This Banner Get It's Chance To Wave
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Will This Banner Get It's Chance To Wave
The United First Parish Church, in the heart of Quincy, MA wants to hang a 34 foot by 4 foot banner from it's columns saying, "People of Faith for Marriage Equality". However, the idea was "nixed" by the town's historical district committe. Not due to bias against lesbians and gays according to reports but because they say it would take away the beauty of the structure. The vote within the committee was a very close 3-2, and the church intends to now take it's case to the city's zoning board of appeals as the size is a major factor in the decision to not allow it to be hanged. Anthony Ricci, a member of the Historic commission "suggested hanging the banner in the portico of the church, a spot that could be easily seen from the street but wouldn't be hanging from the church's columns." (1)
It seems the banner issue here isn't a new one as last year a number of The United Church of Christ congregations in the south shore region, "hung streamers and banners as part of the national denomination’s ‘‘God is still speaking’’ outreach campaign." (2)
"The project drew wider attention when some TV networks refused to air an ad that featured a gay couple along with minorities, youths, the elderly and heterosexual couples. Local UCC churches have taken their banners down. "(2)
Other comments made about the current banner from those in the clergy outside of Quincy bely the ideas that; first they shouldn't be political, and also that people have alot of opinions but that isn't a reason to put that opinion on a banner.
Yet, in a very political stance one temple did put up a banner last year. The congregation, "erected their pro-Israel banner in much the same spirit as the UCC project, as ‘an open yet important statement’ that liberal and conservative members could agree on."(2)
It will be intersting to see what happens with the zoning committee, and the church can take this to court if it so chooses.
Paul Wilczynski, one of the parishioners at the meeting on the issue said, "I'd hate to leave this room tonight feeling that our ability to send a faith-based message will be impeded by the fat that we're in a historical building."(1)
(1)http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/02/28/
news/news01.txt
(2) http://www.patriotledger.com/articles/2006/03/02/
news/news04.txt
Will This Banner Get It's Chance To Wave
The United First Parish Church, in the heart of Quincy, MA wants to hang a 34 foot by 4 foot banner from it's columns saying, "People of Faith for Marriage Equality". However, the idea was "nixed" by the town's historical district committe. Not due to bias against lesbians and gays according to reports but because they say it would take away the beauty of the structure. The vote within the committee was a very close 3-2, and the church intends to now take it's case to the city's zoning board of appeals as the size is a major factor in the decision to not allow it to be hanged. Anthony Ricci, a member of the Historic commission "suggested hanging the banner in the portico of the church, a spot that could be easily seen from the street but wouldn't be hanging from the church's columns." (1)
It seems the banner issue here isn't a new one as last year a number of The United Church of Christ congregations in the south shore region, "hung streamers and banners as part of the national denomination’s ‘‘God is still speaking’’ outreach campaign." (2)
"The project drew wider attention when some TV networks refused to air an ad that featured a gay couple along with minorities, youths, the elderly and heterosexual couples. Local UCC churches have taken their banners down. "(2)
Other comments made about the current banner from those in the clergy outside of Quincy bely the ideas that; first they shouldn't be political, and also that people have alot of opinions but that isn't a reason to put that opinion on a banner.
Yet, in a very political stance one temple did put up a banner last year. The congregation, "erected their pro-Israel banner in much the same spirit as the UCC project, as ‘an open yet important statement’ that liberal and conservative members could agree on."(2)
It will be intersting to see what happens with the zoning committee, and the church can take this to court if it so chooses.
Paul Wilczynski, one of the parishioners at the meeting on the issue said, "I'd hate to leave this room tonight feeling that our ability to send a faith-based message will be impeded by the fat that we're in a historical building."(1)
(1)http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/02/28/
news/news01.txt
(2) http://www.patriotledger.com/articles/2006/03/02/
news/news04.txt
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