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“Objectivity is Not Something to Throw Away!”

 Those that read my words usually feel one of two ways, agreement or revulsion.  My question to you is how much time elapses before you have made a judgment:    One minute, half hour or an hour.  A nanosecond is the more likely answer.  We already have formed a mindset and in many ways have lost all objectivity.
 
                                                                                                                               
How for instance can everything one political party espouses be completely correct and the other so wrong?   For many it is impossible to understand how the other party derived their opinion.  I would like to add that it is one thing to disagree, which is a respectful position.  It is another to condemn those who would advocate a different viewpoint.
 
 
How did we go from being civil to one another to calling each other traitors, mentally ill, or just suggesting that those of whom we disagree should commit suicide?  My guess is that we have all too some extent been played… taken advantage of by those who control our information.  Does anyone really think that we could survive as a country if there was not an opposing view?  Without dialog how can improvement occur?
 
 
Here is a hypothetical to ponder:  Suppose you are the captain of a ship running in dense fog, your rudder is broken, and you do not trust the compass.  Meanwhile if everyone on board is telling you what a great job you are doing, is it true that you’re doing a great job?  Would you not want someone to have a voice that says, “Hey we’re turning in circles?” 
 
 
With a loss of objectivity, that person is no longer available.  You see, in a society that always vilifies that opposition you may find yourself going nowhere.  Transformative learning involves being able to examine all facets of an issue, not just those of which you agree. 
 
 

Michelle

Hate Crimes Against Muslims On the Rise?

Red paint on steps of Pittsburgh mosque

You have to wonder if all of the hate and intolerance that was dredged up by Sarah Palin during the 2008 election is still brewing out there.  On late Thursday or early Friday, vandals splashed red paint on the steps of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh according to WTAE.  Since Muslims worship on Friday, some assume that the act of vandalism was intended to send a message before the usual 1,ooo members came to worship.  

The neighbors of the Mosque appear to be supportive at least.  ”One woman, who asked not to be identified said others who live in the area are sickened by the red paint splashed outside the mosque.”  

There was also the recent incident where Air Tran kicked a Muslim family off of a plane on New year’s day and refused to book them on another despite the fact that FBI agents had cleared them of any wrongdoing.  How does that happen?  Surely the people on the ground were in touch with the company’s general counsel and other top executives.  What does that say about that company?  When a company not only succumbs to the mob mentality, but also condones it, you have to wonder about they type of people running it and the corporate culture that they promote.

Even the apology, delivered well after the incident, was reall only lip service, claiming that the safety of passengers is paramount.  The FBI had cleared them?  How was that promoting anything?

The statement was an abrupt about-face for the airline, which three hours earlier had issued a press release with an unapologetic description of the incident.

In that statement, the airline said it did not re-book the family only because the security concern had not been resolved, and because one member of the group “became irate and made inappropriate comments.”

That account differed from accounts from the family and the FBI. The FBI said agents interviewed the family, resolved the security concerns and then tried to help re-schedule the flight with the airline. The FBI ultimately helped the family book a flight on US Airways. 

So, Air Tran went with the mob ostensibly out of security reasons, but then as a company refused to book the family on another flight and then lied about the reasons for not re-booking them.  Then, knowing that the FBI knew that was a lie, they changed their story and issued a truly conditional apology if I ever saw one.   Family member, Kashif, Irfan said he was grateful for the unexpected apolgy.  That was really very nice,  Air trans doesn’t deserve the family’s gratitude for finally doing  the right thing. 

“People are outraged and shocked about it because this is a very close community and we consider the people of the Islamic Center to be part of our community. The neighbors are supportive,” she said.

There has been only 1 other act of vandalism in the Center’s 15 year history, according to the Mosque’s Imam, who said, ”We’re still baffled as to what actually is going on.”

In yet another example, a UPS man recently signed a package to be delivered to a Sikh as “Terrorist.”  Sikhs differ from Muslims, but I guess that doesn’t matter to some.

This type of behavior is not OK and does not resolve anything.  Is it any wonder then that Muslims are trying to start a nationwide program to educate those among us who are so ignorant to punish every Muslim for the works of a few extremists?

Muslim bashing and discrimination is not the answer.  A government that will address the real issue of the extremists who threaten our country is the solution.  I hope that with Barack Obama that we finally have that because this behavior is America at its lowest and I think we are better than this as a people.

Food co-op hit by SWAT raid fights back

When I first read this article……I thought why is this happening in America? What’s wrong with selling your fresh produce, milk or pasture raised beef and chickens to people in your community ? We see that done daily in rural Tennessee. This is an unbelievable story here.  A lawsuit has been filed by Buckeye Institute’s 1851 Center for Constitutional Law. I’m including an article by them below the Worldnet Daily article and a video from You Tube of the Stowers family (quote block turned off to conserve space).

Food co-op hit by SWAT raid fights back
Government basically engaged in intimidation’

By Bob Unruh

A LaGrange, Ohio, family whose food co-op connecting local consumers with local farmers was raided by sheriff’s deputies is fighting back with the help of two organizations aimed at protecting the basic rights of Americans.

“We hope that the Lorrain County Court of Common Pleas recognizes that government is overreaching in this case and is basically engaged in intimidation tactics to frighten people into believing that they cannot provide food for themselves,” said Pete Kennedy, a spokesman for the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.

The organization, which is intended to protect and defend the rights of farmers and consumers to have direct commerce, has announced it is working with the Center for Constitutional Law at the Buckeye Institute, which has filed a court complaint alleging authorities “made a haphazard unannounced entry into the property with guns drawn, as other officers surrounded the property, with guns drawn,” then “confiscated the family’s personal food supply, personal computers, and personal cell phones.”

The complaint names the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Lorain County General Health District and the state’s attorney general. A spokeswoman at the Department of Agriculture said its officers were at the scene in an advisory role. A spokeswoman at the county health agency refused to comment except to explain it was a “licensing” issue regarding the family’s Manna Storehouse.

Kennedy said his organization works in support of allowing farmers and consumers to have “direct commerce with each other free from government interference and harassment.”

“This is an example where, once again, the government is trying to deny people their inalienable, fundamental right to produce and consume the foods of their choice,” said Gary Cox, general counsel for the FTCLDF. “The purpose of our complaint is to correct that wrong.”

The organizations have reported the raid came at Manna Storehouse, a private food cooperative run by John and Jacqueline Stowers. In a video posted both on YouTube and on the Buckeye Institute’s website, the couple explained how they just wanted to provide a resource for both farmers and consumers.

The complaint also seeks a preliminary injunction against the Department of Agriculture and declarations stipulating that Manna Storehouse and the Stowers are not a “retail food establishment” under Ohio’s Food Safety Code. As a private cooperative, Manna Storehouse is exempted from the Food Safety Code, the organizations said.

Officials with the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nutrition education non-profit, said several of its members had been participating in the co-op, but now their food supplies are disrupted.

The Buckete Institute’s spokesman, David Hansen, said, “The use of these police state tactics on a peaceful family in simply unacceptable.”

He described the situation, “Officers rushed into the Stowers’ home with guns drawn and held the family – including 10 young children – captive for six hours. This outrageous case of bureaucratic overreach must be addressed.”

Read the entire article here:

Raid on Family’s Home and Organic Food Co-Op Challenged

Columbus – The Buckeye Institute’s 1851 Center for Constitutional Law today took legal action against the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Lorain County Health Department for violating the constitutional rights of John and Jacqueline Stowers of LaGrange, Ohio. The Stowers operate an organic food cooperative called Manna Storehouse. ODA and Lorain County Health Department agents forcefully raided their home and unlawfully seized the family’s personal food supply, cell phones and personal computers. The legal center seeks to halt future similar raids. The complaint was filed in Lorain County Court of Common Pleas.

“The use of these police state tactics on a peaceful family is simply unacceptable,” Buckeye Institute President David Hansen said.  “Officers rushed into the Stowers’ home with guns drawn and held the family – including ten young children – captive for six hours. This outrageous case of bureaucratic overreach must be addressed.”

The Buckeye Institute argues the right to buy food directly from local farmers; distribute locally-grown food to neighbors; and pool resources to purchase food in bulk are rights that do not require a license. In addition, the right of peaceful citizens to be free from paramilitary police raids, searches and seizures is guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.

“The Stowers’ constitutional rights were violated over grass-fed cattle, pastured chickens and pesticide-free produce,” Buckeye Institute 1851 Center of Constitutional Law Director Maurice Thompson said. “Ohioans do not need a government permission slip to run a family farm and co-op, and should not be subjected to raids when they do not have one. This legal action will ensure the ODA understands and respects Ohioans’ rights.”

On the morning of December 1, 2008, law enforcement officers forcefully entered the Stowers’ residence, without first announcing they were police or stating the purpose of the visit. With guns drawn, officers swiftly and immediately moved to the upstairs of the home, finding ten children in the middle of a home-schooling lesson. Officers then moved Jacqueline Stowers and her children to their living room where they were held for more than six hours.

Such are raids are beyond the scope of the purely administrative authority delegated to ODA and county health departments. In enforcing licensure laws, these agencies are only permitted to contract for routine enforcement services. Forceful raids and sweeping searches and seizures are not routine, and exceed the authority granted to ODA and county health departments.

There has never been a complaint filed against Manna Storehouse or the Stowers related to the quality or healthfulness of the food distributed through the co-op.  The Buckeye Institute’s legal center will defend the Stowers from any criminal charges related to the raid.

Read the entire article @ buckeyeinstitute.org

Just Where Did Aids Come From?

I was doing what I do best, surfing for some facts for an article I was assisting another author with.  I ran across this video that gave me pause.  It was a simple statement, “Robert Gallo:  The Man That Created AIDS”  Hey, I was game.  I live in America where the government has no end in sight on how many criminal offenses it can commit against its people.

That was one fascinating video and it certainly did feed into my desire of distrust for a country that is still filled with so much hate towards ethnic groups.  I did what I do best.  I went trolling for information.  The first step was to read a fewbio’s regarding who Robert Gallo was, of course I knew damn well I would not be getting my hands on any contracts of him working with the government in bio-chemical warfare.  But I did take particular note that he had worked with some of the same important factors that would be vital to curing AIDS before AIDS would need a cure.

The next step was to look up the origin of AIDS.  That turned out to be very interesting.

Another video on this subject can be seen here.

The hepatitis B vaccine was not considered by this esteemed gathering. Suspiciously neglected, this vaccine was produced in chimpanzees during pilot testing conducted in New York City, among gay men, and Central African villagers between 1972 and 1974. This was precisely timed for the emergence of AIDS in these exact, demographically distinct, communities by the late 1970s. The fact that this fact was neglected proves shoddy science or gross negligence at best.

Importantly, among the most respected of all HIV/AIDS origin theorists, the U.S. Government’s chief DNA sequence analyst at the Los Alamos Laboratory in Dr. Gerald Myers, reported with his colleagues that the origin of HIV could not have begun with “cut hunters” or other single isolated cross species transmissions (called “zoonosis”). He reported that genetic sequencing studies provesome “punctuated origin of AIDS event” took place during the mid-1970s giving rise, virtually simultaneously, to at least ten different HIV “clades” (or genetic subtypes) associated with ten different distinguishable AIDS epidemics in Africa alone. The most likely cause of this widespread bizarrezoonosis was some man-made (i.e., iatrogenic) event involving chimpanzees.

Now some might wonder why would a government do that to its people?  One need only look at the era the offense took place and who was in control of government, Nixon.  There is no need to validate the contempt that Black Americans were held in during that time, much less the total intolerance of the gay lifestyle.  It cannot and should not be above our intellects to surmise that during that time period that a consorted effort would be mounted to eliminate two viable groups of dissidents (Black Americans and Gay Americans) to purify the country. If that statement was too mind blowing, just think about Bush and his administration.

But like most things, once you let the genie out of the lamp there is just no controlling what that genie will do, such is the story with AIDS.  If it is man made then we need not look too far to discover which government would be so diabolical.

Bayer Knowingly Sold HIV-Contaminated Vaccines

The fact that this took place some time ago and no one involved (in America) has been prosecuted is typical and the normal procedure for how we allow major corporations (even if they are not of this country) to get away with all kinds of offenses in our society. Is this a disgusting thing to happen in America or what? Big Pharma getting away with selling tainted vaccines is par for the course in America and, of course, its because of their money!  Thank goodness for reporters like Mike Adams, Naturalnews.com, who’s one great reporter to keep reminding us that some crimes have not been paid for.

Here’s a little-known truth about Bayer that needs to be revisited. In 2006, it was discovered that Bayer found out a vaccine it was selling in the United States was accidentally contaminated with HIV.

In order to cover its tracks, say the journalists in this video (below), Bayer pulled the vaccines off the market and sold them to consumers in Japan, France, Spain and other countries, where hemophiliacs were then contaminated with HIV due to the vaccine.

And yet, despite these apparent crimes, no Bayer executives ever faced arrest or prosecution in the United States.

A Bayer spinmeister had this to say: “Bayer behaved responsibly, ethically and humanely… [and its actions] were consistent with regulations.” [Read the full article here]

Although the business end of  Bayer in America has not been prosecuted, the same can not be said for those found across the ocean.  Of course we all know when you commit a crime in America we like to give it color codes (white, blue, etc) to indicate its not as offensive as say killing someone.  Oops, that’s exactly what Bayer did.  They did it knowingly and for a profit.

The Bayer unit, Cutter Biological, introduced its safer medicine in late February 1984 as evidence mounted that the earlier version was infecting hemophiliacs with H.I.V. Yet for over a year, the company continued to sell the old medicine overseas, prompting a United States regulator to accuse Cutter of breaking its promise to stop selling the product.

Nearly two decades later, the precise human toll of these marketing decisions is difficult, if not impossible, to document. Many patient records are now unavailable, and because an AIDS test was not developed until later in the epidemic, it is difficult to pinpoint when foreign hemophiliacs were infected with H.I.V. — before Cutter began selling its safer medicine or afterward.

But in Hong Kong and Taiwan alone, more than 100 hemophiliacs got H.I.V. after using Cutter’s old medicine, according to records and interviews. Many have since died. Cutter also continued to sell the older product after February 1984 in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Argentina, records show. The Cutter documents, which were produced in connection with lawsuits filed by American hemophiliacs, went largely unnoticed until The Times began asking about them.

This is not the only time Bayer has been involved in criminal acts.  In 2004 Bayer was prosecuted and found guilty for fixing prices in the Rubber Chemicals market.  In that case Bayer was ordered to pay $66 million fine.  The fact that Bayer’s history extend during the days of Hitler gives us reason to dig even deeper.  It turns out that Bayer is the same company linked to Nazi German’s medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners and they have a long and dark history of being involved in manufacturing chemical weapons.  Hm…now we know where their ethnics come from.

“Check Your Attitude”

I was recently confronted with an ugly attitude in someone that I ‘thought’ was a friend. The remarks made to me, I found greatly offensive. There was no hesitation in me to point out the obvious misconceptions in his remarks.

White privilege contains a whole host of unexamined advantages that come your way because you’re born with white skin. This also has to do with the way others perceive you, access to resources within your community, the way you’re treated by authorities…not to mention represented in the media. There are immediate advantages afforded you due to you being born white. Just out of curiosity, how many of you were able to CHOOSE the color of your skin, into which family or nation you were born? I don’t know about any of you…but it had nothing to do with me at all.

Have you ever gone to the Drug Store to purchase band-aids? They are “flesh” color…BUT whose flesh color? When I was with my friend Carla, who happens to be African American…they certainly were not her “flesh” color. Truthfully, they weren’t even my “flesh” color. I’m white even for a white woman…and they simply don’t come that light.

There is a “noise ordinance” here. I have no idea if it’s like that in other areas of the country. Someone can actually be ticketed for being in their vehicle and playing their music “too loudly”. Whose making the ‘judgment’ of what is and what isn’t “too loud”??

When I drive, I like to turn it up! I may be a generation older than most of you reading this…but hey…I like my music not only loud enough to ‘hear’…but I like to ‘feel’ the vibration of it, too. I have never been arrested…but guess what? Here locally a young man (African American) did get arrested.

For years, I’ve heard people say, “My relatives never owned slaves. I’m innocent”. Innocence, literally, means, “Not knowing”. They don’t see that if they sit back and do nothing, they are part of the problem. Here’s a for instance: If Linda Smith is hurt by racism…then I would benefit from racism. Thus being said…racism connects us!

Perhaps, I’m over simplifying things. The thing that irritates me to no end is the fact that largely, people of color are suspected of desiring some kind of unearned advantage…yet, the white person (usually) accuses them of playing the “race card”. Yet, here’s another example and is my own personal observation…if a perceived wrong is committed against one of our African American citizens…and they question if this was due to race. It’s automatically assumed they are using the “race card”. On the other hand, if a white person questions a perceived wrong, you’re never accused of playing “the race card”…because you are white.

There are 101 other particulars I could mention, but this is enough for now. I trust that as the title of this post suggests you “Check Your Attitude”. Simply put, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Sorry folks, but on this issue there is no middle ground.

President Elect Obama’s campaign slogan is “CHANGE”. How about letting that “change” begin with you?  Is it ever too late to do the right thing?

Michelle

Roland Burris, Racism and Harry Reid

For the most part I have not weighted in on the real issue regarding Governor Blagojevich (“Blago”)  selecting Roland Burris to fill President Obama’s senate seat, except to note that Burris would be a media target and had a some what inflated ego.  Unfortunately, I had the unpleasant experience of seeing Burris hold an interview where he implied that if the democrats did not allow him to fill the senate seat it would give “the appearance” of racism being the objective for barring him.  Oh… Really?  Why?

That particular  suggestion by Burris went way beyond the pale.  Granted, for Blago the appointment of Burris has all kinds of wonderful legal defense moves should the time come and Blago is prosecuted; but, for Burris, that statement is divisive at best and totally unacceptable.  Way before Blago picked Burris the democrats had, as a collective party, made it known that anyone Blago picked would be unacceptable, and I don’t recall any democratic leader tacking on the words “especially if that person is a Black American.”

At the press conference, Blagojevich brought more trouble, including the issue of race, to an already florid scandal. He announced that he was appointing a successor, former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, to Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat — a move that will continue to roil the political waters in Illinois and ensure a continuing distraction for the President-elect. By naming Burris, the governor blatantly ignored warnings by Senate majority leader Harry Reid that any Blagojevich appointee would not be seated by the Senate.

In fact, before Burris’s selection, the media was in agreement.  Now it seems they have decided to follow the path of a racist conspiracy.   Of course the whole affair has caused me to reexamine Burris.  The fact that he would travel down that particular path for his appointment seems to be some what underhanded.  The implied message is that if Burris is not seated he will start a race riot of some sort.

Considering the uncertain times we are going through it is totally unacceptable for any politician to play the race card, that is inclusive of Chip Saltsman.  To further Burris’s cause he is now accusing Harry Reid of being the target of propagating racism.  Sorry, but that’s just so wrong.  The fact that David Gregory, of Meet the Press, thought it necessary to force Reid to defend him self against such accusations only showed how shallow Gregory is as a reporter.   That race was not a factor before Burris was selected seems to be a forgotten truth in the world of the TV media.  Like starving wolves, some of the public is feeding off of this nonsense with a frenzy.

I can only say that it is with the greatest of pleasure that I do not live in Chicago and would find myself stuck with an ego filled, race baiting politician such as Burris.  He is not some one I would desire to represent me or my people.

Bill Richardson withdraws from Nomination for Commerce Secretary

So the casualties in the Obama administration has begun.  Bill Richardson withdrew his name for the position of the Commerce Secretary, due to a federal investigation.  The investigation is trying to determine whether a firm, CDR Financial Products, a California firm, was awarded lucrative contract from Richardson’s state due to the firms’ contributions of $110,000 to three political committees Richardson formed.

As such, Richardson had no choice but to bow out of the position for Commerce Secretary.  If — that’s a big if — Richardson was asked to, more or less, vacate from the position by the Obama administration, I applaud their effort for making the move swiftly.  There is more than enough political scandal going on with the Governor of Illinois, Blagojevich, regarding President Obama’s senate seat — which is currently being marketed in the media as a big enough distraction for the new administration.  Eliminating any further distractions would be the best choice for this new administration.

Now, what if Richardson had won the democratic nomination for president?  What if he had became president?  It is encouraging that President Obama did not let this one sleep until the senate hearings.  What a mess that would have been.  There is great hope that President Obama will continue to weed out any other nominee that could cause a perception of corruption.

Unfortunately for Richardson, there is just too many crisis on the American plate for this new administration to be fighting right now.  Hence, Richardson battle of corruption or non-corruption will have to be dealt with off the presidential playground, so speak.  It goes without saying that there is no logical reason for the Obama administration to start off as badly as the Bush administration back in 2001.

I’m sure the wing nut tribe is experiencing fits of ecstasy over the matter, with the unrealistic viewpoint that only democrats are corrupt.  They tend to forget  their own corrupt politicians.  Of course such investigations does leave one to wonder where the hell the feds where when Bush and Cheney were stumping all over the constitution right into the mud; much less, where were they regarding Cheney’s involvement in Halliburton.

I digress, what’s needed is a little reality.  Corruption is not isolated to party affiliation.  Of course everyone’s innocent until proved to be guilty.  Although being proved guilty has never stopped some of our politician for running for seats.  Nor is it a new concept to the American political scene.

President Obama issued the following statement regarding the matter.

It is with deep regret that I accept Governor Bill Richardson’s decision to withdraw his name for nomination as the next Secretary of Commerce.Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office. It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson’s decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.

“Religion and Politics”…A Toxic Mix

This post is a paraphrase of something I had recently read.  It was the most rational, well thought out viewpoint on religion & politics I had ever heard.  It is my desire that after you read this you, too, will come away with a more logical understanding.

Attempting to mix religion with politics is the wrong way to serve God and the people.  First because religion is a discipline of faith that has nothing to do with the material needs of a city and country, and politics is a science concerned with the objective reality of a people and not with their spiritual beliefs.

For some Christians this may sound like a good idea, but for the beneficiaries of this political ruse, it is nothing other than good business, something that does not necessarily favor the Christians.

Voting according to this religious orientation has cost the country more than three trillion dollars in an endless war in Iraq, the deaths of more then four thousand American soldiers (about 1000 more than died in Sept 11), and the almost complete collapse of its economy.  It has cost Iraq tens of thousands of lives and the destruction of the country and its future.

Historically, one of the causes of the Arab nations’ misfortunes is precisely the mixing of politics and Islam.  They have tried to run their countries with the teachings of Mohammad, at times administering their faith with political interest, which degenerates into an eventual plundering of the public purse, and in other instances administering their political interests using the Islamic faith, which has led to fanaticism and backwardness.

Americans should understand that a politician is not elected as president in order to lead a church or to impart doctrines of faith.  A politician is elected in order to govern, and governing means managing the administrative apparatus of the State to meet the material needs of its citizens, while the spiritual leaders of the country are purely religious leaders.  Those who are good Christians are not necessarily good at governing, and those who govern well are not necessarily good Christians.

I hope that the USA will not fall into the same trap as some of the Arab nations.

It appears that all the bickering back and forth has done exactly what it’s intended to accomplish…create chaos, suspicion and mistrust within our own camp.   As long as people are caught up with trying to “one up each other”…nothing will change. Nobody can drive forward while looking in the rear view mirror.

Michelle

The Myth of Gun Control — Another View On Gun Control

Before I dwell into my story let me first state that I do not allow any political party to influence my thoughts.  Especially opinions that I feel are important to me and directly affect me personally.  I try to use common sense when approaching all issues.  Let me stated also that I am in agreement with the position that both Fox News and the Republican Party has towards gun control.  Even though I am in agreement with them that doesn’t mean I believe in their every stance and/or position.  In fact, in most cases I find both Fox News and the Republican Party are both full of crap and are in bed together way too much.

There is a serious need to have a critical discussion regarding gun ownership in the US.  Just because I might agree with the statement a certain media or a political party might make doesn’t mean that I am wrong or the issue is receiving fair treatment.  In my opinion, the media is portraying the issue of gun control lopsided and one dimensional.  Taking arms away can only move this nation closer to a dictatorship.  The picture the media paints is one that generally relays the message that there are no American citizens competent enough to use a gun (the exception being in the Military or working in law enforcement).  Yes there are tragedies that do involve guns and children. I also agree that it shouldn’t be happening. Any death by any means, accidental or on purpose, is a tragedy.  However, I would like to expose the other side of this issue for a healthy discourse for the reason why having the right to bare arms is necessary.

There is much debate going on in regard to the second amendment, as well as the interpretation of that amendment.  A little common sense and facts are needed to cut to the chase.  There are many of unheard laws that people who own guns must abide by.  Unfortunately, the laws for gun ownership by far out number the stories the media produces on gun violence.  Most of those whom I have personally come into contact with that own guns own them for one or more of the reasons listed below.

1. personal protection
2. shoot as a hobby
3. hunting
4. advocate of the second amendment rights

First off we must accept an undeniable fact that guns are not going away any time soon.  Even if guns were banned or the government made owning guns illegal, guns will not be going away. Secondly, there will always be unnecessary deaths due to misuse and fools using them in foolish manners.  Compiling more regulation on the lawful use of fire arms is not always the answer.

Today there are gun controls in place that ban convicted felons to use or own a gun. In fact there are regulations that ban people convicted of certain misdemeanors from owning guns. More regulations are in place to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally unstable.  There are many places now that ban any weapons on their property.  You have to be at least 18 years old to own a gun.  To get a concealed carry permit (in Ohio for example), one must go through a week long class on personal protection and fire arms safety, including training at a shooting range. Then you must complete a detailed application for the sheriff for approval.

To show how regulations really don’t work, to this date there is no state in America that allows for a person to own fully automatic weapons, but are they used to commit crimes?  Indeed they are. For example one must remember the bank robbery in Holloywood several years ago and fully automatic weapons were used in the commission of that crime.  Statistics show that there are millions of people owning fully automatic weapons in America.

The untold story of the failure for controlling the criminal and misuse of guns is evident in the lack of courts to prosecute such cases.  Way too often gun violations are dropped over the preference to prosecute drug convictions.  The failed war on drugs often takes precedence over crimes committed with guns.  Sentencing is disproportionately heavier for drug charges than for gun violence.  That is happening on a wide scale and has had no media coverage.

So would tighter gun controls be affective?  Statistics are against that idea.  Cities in America, such as Chicago and others have an out right ban on semi-automatic and hand guns.  But in reality, crimes committed with guns have spiraled.  Making it harder for the citizens of America to own guns will discourage gun ownership and leave the guns in the hands of only law enforcement and criminals.  In effect should that become the case, law abiding citizens will become either a subject or a victim.  God help us if the government, law enforcement and criminals become the only ones allowed to carry guns.  If it were not for certain groups who stood up against the evil in this country and carried guns even illegally, we might be in worse shape.  It brings to mind the Black Panther organization in the 60′s and 70′s.  I am most glad that they had a hand in fighting the evil of racism against the government and against groups such as the KKK of that day.  The truth is that hate is still alive.  It is perpetrated by various local governments and many of the citizens.

I would ask that the readers of this article use a little common sense when it comes to approaching the important issues regarding gun regulations and gun ownership.  Slanted and opinionated reporting by the mainstream media is running rampant on this particular topic.  Common sense should dictate that gun control is necessary, but banning guns would be unconstitutional.  In my reading of President Obama positions regarding gun ownership he supports it and, thankfully, is not for more regulation.

Gun control is a method that is being used to impose the prevention of widespread civil unrest that is currently erupting in America over the whole issue.  People on both sides of the gun control issue know that is what is really going on.  Both sides are in denial.  You have the enraged gun owning group waiting and yet determined to hold on to their guns and are forced to deny gun control, because to deny it is to ignore that owning a gun might become a criminal act.  Then the group that is trying to confiscate the guns to immobilize potential revolt, deny it because talking about the issue both would reveal their agenda and might lead to an articulate clarification that could become a motivating rallying point that would draw substantial new members to the prerevolutionary condition.

The condition of angry dissatisfaction and political unrest is such that the government can no longer allow people to own guns while it continues to impose the reasons for that dissatisfaction.

Gun control is dangerous for a number of serious reasons.  The imposition of gun control in America would be a dangerous acceptance of the irrational arguments demanding its imposition, further creating a society where reality is displaced by irrationality and hysteria. That’s an unwise idea.

Gun control is dangerous for the same reasons gun control advocates say it is necessary. As a statistical fact, in the last 35 years America has become a land filled with violence and madness. As a further statistical fact, by far the predominant amount of that violence is not committed with guns.  The absolute prohibition of guns would not eliminate the violence, but would only render victims incapable of defense.

Perhaps most importantly, gun control is used:

• To hide an existent condition of madness in America;
• To hide a condition of imposed pervasive madness in America;
• To repress the consequences of imposing an agenda of increased pervasive madness in America, while simultaneously prohibiting all reactive options except acquiescent compliant desperation and conformity.

The gun problem in America is not a problem with guns, but with madness and disrespect for other people.

The gun ownership issue should be removed from the political arena as the abortion issue also should.  There is no debate.  The government of a so called free society has no rights in disarming law abiding citizens.  Just as it has no right to dictate with laws what a woman can do with her body when it comes to the right to have an abortion.

 written by:  chamay0 and ggita56:  for “The Last Post of Sanity”

Marines and California Highway Patrol in Violation of Posse Comitatus

This is my attempt to get the truth out to the public because, as can be expected, I don’t see our mainstream media (“MSM’) doing that anymore. I believe the MSM have failed the citizens of America miserably. I am also a strict Constitutionalist and believe in the “original intent” of our founding fathers when they first drafted the constitution. I believe they were men with wisdom far exceeding their time and for that reason I have chosen an article which I posted a couple of weeks ago, that concerns me very much and should others as well.

What is the Posse Comitatus and the rule of law that the Bush administration is always touting? It has a lot to do with the Military intermingling with the police force. Now it seems it has become common practice for us to just let the military do law enforcements work for us. It’s all a matter of getting us accustomed to seeing the military’s presence in America.

This is 180 degrees from what this nation was established on. Marines pulling people out of their cars at check points in America? How much of this are we going to accept in America? The Posse Comitatus Act was established in 1878 because the Union Army was abusing it’s authority in the south and harassing citizens. Why do people today think the same thing won’t happen in modern day America? Remember “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those who give up essential liberty for a little safety deserve neither.” I understand this statement by him more and more each day.

In addition to the Military Commissions Act of 2006, a 1994 U.S. Defense Department Directive (DODD 3025) allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic situations. A recent report by the U.S. Army War College discusses the possibility of Pentagon resources and troops being used in the event of civil unrest due to the economic crisis, “such as protests against businesses and government or runs on beleaguered banks,” according to the Phoenix Business Journal. The U.S. Army War College report, entitled Known Unknowns: Unconventional Strategic Shocks in Defense Strategy Development details, “Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order and human security.” [Ret.] Lt. Col. Nathan Freir wrote for the U.S. Army War College that “Deliberate employment of weapons of mass destruction or other catastrophic capabilities, unforeseen economic collapse, loss of functioning political and legal order, purposeful domestic resistance or insurgency, pervasive public health emergencies, and catastrophic natural and human disasters are all paths to disruptive domestic shock.”

I will add at this time that the founding fathers enacted The Insurrection Act for the same reason.

Marines Establish Military Presence in California

Branson Hunter, writing for the Big Bear Observation Post blog, reports that the Marine Corps Air and Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) and the local California Highway Patrol will be working together over the holiday “in a joint effort to reduce accidents and drinking and driving” in San Bernardino County.

At the end of this video from CNN the Army Times denies that they will be involved in civil unrest, but that is what was on their website before the citizens of San Bernardino County cried out, at which time the MCAGCC removed it from their site.

Gary Daigneault, Talk Back Show, 107.7 F.M, discussed the ramifications of this joint effort today. Mr. Daigneault and his callers seemed to be very concerned. On its face, one may think this is a good idea. But further study of the implications of the mixing of Arm forces and the police shows it’s not a good idea. I personally agree with Mr. Daigneault and his callers. The callers mostly seemed to think that this was a very bad idea. Mr. Daigneault contacted a Constitutional Law expert, and the attorney informed him this is absolutely unconstitutional. It’s NOT permitted under the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, 8 U.S.C. § 1385. It’s also my understanding that the Constitutional Law expert said that CHP officers could be arrested since working with the Military Police is a felony.

Many of his Mr. Daigneault callers vocalized that this joint effort or mutual cooperation between the military and the CHP is going to be very intimidating. They (as I) are very concerned that CHP is going through with this action anyway. At this time, it’s not really clear what the specific role the Military Police will be taking part in. Their contribution could be to assist; or to observe; or to train; or to make a strong military presence; or to take charge of military offenders detained by the CHP? Nevertheless, whatever the Military Police capacity will be, it’s unconstitutional and it’s a felony.

I contacted the Morongo CHP office. The dispatcher said the program will be in effect tonight. When I asked where was it going to be taking place. She responded by telling me to call back tonight after 7:00 P.M. I politely protested since DUI check stops are suppose to be public. She then informed me that I had to speak with the CHP Public Affairs officer after seven. A call to the CHP Public Affairs Officer’s number after seven got a recorded message to call from 9-5 during business hours. Query: Now why was I told to call at 7:00 pm?

By the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, 20 Stat. 152, 18 U.S.C. § 1385, it was provided that “it shall NOT (emphasis added) be lawful to employ any part of the Army of the United States, as a posse comitatus, or otherwise, for the purpose of executing the laws, except in such cases and under such circumstances as such employment of said force may be expressly authorized by the Constitution or by act of Congress.” The effect of this prohibition, however, was largely nullified by a ruling of the Attorney General “that by Revised Statutes 5298 and 5300 [10 U.S.C. §§ 332, 334] the military forces, under the direction of the President, could be used to assist a marshal. 16 Ops. Atty. Gen. 162.” B. RICH, THE PRESIDENTS AND CIVIL DISORDER 196 n.21 (1941).

Its little encroachments like this that undermines the Constitution. One day you wake up, and your rights are gone. I can see numerous scenarios during those DUI check stops. To name a few: The Military Police go to the aid of the CHP to take down a civilian bad guy, a drunken teen, unruly tweakers. Will the Military Police be armed? Do they have any sort orders of engagements?

Dispatching Marines on California highways is an obvious violation of the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 16, 1878. The Act prohibits members of the federal uniformed services, including military police, from working with state and local police and law enforcement.

However, since September 11, 2001, the federal government has increasingly ignored Posse Comitatus. On October 1, 2008, the U.S. Army announced its 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team will be under the day-to-day control of the Northern Command, ostensibly “on call” to respond to emergencies and disasters.

It is not explained how assisting in traffic accidents falls within the purview of Homeland Security and the military. It appears that the Marines are using this very pretense in San Bernardino County to cut down of traffic accidents, a task normally reserved for local law enforcement.

On December 1, the Washington Post reported that the “U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed [rapid reaction] troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials. The Pentagon admitted that this move represented a long-planned shift in the Defense Department’s role in homeland security. Never mind the obvious violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. But the Bush administration and some in Congress have pushed for a heightened homeland military role since the middle of this decade, saying the greatest domestic threat is terrorists exploiting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The Marines, supposedly assisting the California Highway Patrol, is part of this effort as well and is designed by the Pentagon and Homeland Security to get citizens accustomed to seeing the military presence out there on the street. It dovetails with FEMA’s so-called Clergy Response Teams trained by the federal government to quell dissent and pacify citizens to obey the government after a declaration of martial law (see Feds Train Clergy To “Quell Dissent” During Martial Law). Hurricane Katrina played a part in this emerging long-standing plan when police and National Guard patrols forced home owners to hand over their legally owned firearms at gunpoint.

You can read the entire article here.

Coal Company in Australia Needed to Let Me Know…

Some organizations have no shame what so ever. This is not a joke or made up story. I posted about the coal industry spilling 5.2 millions tons of coal in TN and the effects such spillage would cause and I got a reply from the damn Coal Industry in Australia. See it here since I approved it just to show I’m not crazy.

They are pushing how clean coal will help us. That point is still debatable since currently we have no clean coal. But the audacity to attach that message to a post about an environmental disaster? What the hell were they thinking? This is like when AIG contacted me about a post they didn’t appreciate.

Who the hell is working in these people’s marketing/IT departments? Do they shoot up their drugs, smoke them or just snort them? Crazy has a name and it’s now known as big business.

more about “Coal to Liquids – Gas to Liquids – Li…“, posted with vodpod

“When Words Are Inadequate”

This is my first post on this site.  I was invited by the web hosts to be a contributing author.  To simply say “Thank You” for their trust is an understatement of vast proportions.  It’s an honor to be part of such a relevant site.

The post below is something I’d written several months ago.  However, the content is timeless.  It also allows the reader a glimpse from behind my eyes.  Your feedback is most welcome.

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The photo above is an accurate depiction of the way I view my heart…broken and pieces of it scattered within the nations I was privileged to work.  I look around myself and see so much selfishness.  It’s all about “me, me, me”.  What happened to caring about those that are less fortunate?  Each time upon returning to the USA…it was, literally, like landing on a different planet.  Then there is the severe lack of necessities for many of our own citizens.   Yet, those “that have”…seemingly care nothing about “those that have not”.  What’s wrong with this picture?

The waste of so many natural resources was the biggest disappointment.  There are still days when I go into a fruit market, and break down in tears.  I know whole groups of people that have never even seen an orange or a lemon.  The swollen tummies due to malnutrition of those I saw in so many places… flash before my eyes…and I wonder if those shopping around me are even aware of what is taking place beyond their own borders.

The times I stand in front of the huge fountain not far from my home is gorgeous…and a sight to behold.  Yet, it is a reminder of all the places I have been where people do not even have clean drinking water.  I have seen disease ravage whole villages due to the lack of clean water.

Then there are those of our own nation that cannot even afford to get the medical help they need…while the rich captains of industry make billions of dollars of profit in 90 days.  What’s wrong with this picture?

Our own nation is suffering due to many natural disasters.  The state I reside is one of the states that were hit hard with the flooding.  The governor called for the National Guard to help.  Well…guess what?  The number of National Guard that was needed was NOT available.  They are in Iraq & Afghanistan.  What’s wrong with this picture?

Why are so many victims of Hurricane Katrina still suffering?  Where is the media coverage for this ongoing tragedy?  Do we just forget about them since they are not in the news every day?  What’s wrong with this picture?

Our citizens cannot get affordable medications.  We were told not to go over the border into Canada to purchase these medications, as they may not be safe.  Yet, China produces large quantities of medications that have created havoc in the lives of many…, as there were huge recalls.  What’s wrong with this picture?

Why are so many of our jobs being outsourced?  Why are these companies given tax breaks?  Many that I know had pets that died due to contaminated pet food from China.  I also know children that had gotten ill due to the lead contained within the toys that were manufactured in China.  Did you know that parts of our US Passports are now being outsourced?  What’s wrong with this picture?

The greed in the lending institutions appears to be the worst of all…as so many are losing the very roof over their heads.  I cannot close this article without letting you know of what I have observed in numerous “churches”.  Many cannot afford to feed their families.  Many “churches” have food pantries.

However, some of these “churches” will not give the necessary food until the individual or family first sits through one of their services and commits to begin attending their church. This is not “giving” at all…its bribery!  This example was not about only one “church”…but several in this area.

You may not need help today…but none of us knows what tomorrow holds.  None of us had a say into which nation we were born, and none of us had a say into which family we were born.  You could just as well have been born in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Nepal, etc., etc., etc. I could, literally, give many other examples, yet, I’m sure you get my point.

Whether you believe it or not…it makes no difference to the FACT that “We are our brothers keeper”

Michelle

The US Needs Tight Gun Control Laws

The aftermath of the shooting

Wake up America!  We are a really violent nation.  Every Christmas I read these stories where children are given guns as some weird rite of passage.   Well, there is no frontier anymore and we don’t need the wild west in the cities.  How many Columbines and other needless deaths must there be before we have laws to protect people from children with guns and to protect children from having guns? 

This Christmas it happened again.  in Chandler, Oklahoma an 11 year old boy in the Fifth Grade, Michael, who had already been given a .22 caliber Rifle last year, was given a .22 pistol as a Christmas present.  Michael was playing with it with a friend when the gun went off  and a bullet hit him in the forehead.

The local paper quoted a neighbor as saying, “It is kind of a rite of passage growing up in the country to have a gun. I had my first gun when I was 9 or 10.” 

Michael and his friend were playing with the gun went it went off.  This is a personal tragedy for the parents that could easily have been avoided, but had Michael lived who knows how his life could have benefited society. Newspaper and TV accounts talk about what a great kid he was, now no one will ever know.

In a 1998 Associated Press article, 19 years ago, the US had the highest rate of gun deaths among the 36 richest nations.  That amounted to 14.24 per 100,000 people in 1994. “If you have a country saturated with guns – available to people when they are intoxicated, angry or depressed – it’s not unusual guns will be used more often,” said Rebecca Peters, a Johns Hopkins University fellow specializing in gun violence. “This has to be treated as a public health emergency.”  

If you look at the Centers for Disease Control website for the years 1999 – 2005, deaths from guns per 100,000 from newborns through 85+ years of age is a shocking 80,603. If you lower the age to newborn to age 18, it is 9,256. 1 death is too many.  Those numbers are obscene in a civilized society.

After Columbine, mothers banded together for million mom marches on Washington for tighter gun control laws. In advocating against gun control, not a an, but gun control for gun-related deaths involving children, Fox News made fun of the effort since it had essentially dwindled to nothing by 2001.  By all means, let’s demean an effort to avoid another Columbine. Good job, as usual, Fox News.

Why assault weapons are sold is beyond me.  Surely those weapons are not necessary for hunting?  

If you look at the news, there are numerous stories about the “skyrocketing” number of people purchasing guns, requesting concealed weapon permits and purchasing assault weapons. I hope that the Obama Administration brings some sanity to this issue.  Gun control is not a ban.  We should be setting an example instead of setting the “Pulp Fiction” example where men dressed as Santas gun down whole families and leave 10 children without parents and others shoot people in movie theaters because they talk.  

As a nation we are obsessed with guns and it is killing us.

The Equivalent of A Slap on the Wrist

Republican Party officials say they will try in January to pass a resolution accusing President George Bush and congressional Republican leaders of embracing socialist policies

Isn’t this just special.  The RNC wants to adopt a resolution declaring that President Bush and congressional republican leaders do not represent their ideology.   Of course they see this as the equivalent of a slap in the face.  Realistically, it is no more than an ineffectual slap on the wrist.

In what would amount to a slap in the face to a sitting Republican president and the party’s Senate and House leaders, national GOP officials, including the vice chairman of the Republican National Committee, are sponsoring a resolution opposing the resort to “socialist” means to save capitalism. [Read the full post here]

Needless to say, this is one of the sorriest attempt to try an establish a failed ideology — small government, free market and small taxes — as a viable strategy.  This will only further the cause that the GOP is in complete disarray and lack any form of true leadership.  This particular outcry would have had more weight if there had been any previous outcries against known failures such as the Iraq war, the mess of Katrina or the economic meltdown.  At those times the new town criers were obviously a sleep and saw no reason to draft up any resolutions to disassociate themselves from the (now) lame duck President.

The new resolution is more like a pity party then a real effort towards chastising the offending party.  More to the point, this does not change the fact that the RNC does not have a message that can be inclusive of all American people.  This is just another distraction.  Although the drafting and issuing of the resolution will make the RNC feel like they are taking steps to correcting their internal problems it will not serve as a magic bullet for drawing people to their party.

“Jim Bopp is the author of the no-bailout resolution because he wants to articulate our core principles now, not every four years when we have a presidential election,” said Mr. Yue, an Oregon member of the Committee. “This is based on the thinking that articulating political philosophy is equally important as applying it consistently.”

“Failing to do so, we have today’s identity crisis, which resulted in our losses in 2006 and 2008,” Mr. Yue said. “The bailout is a good example … In my view, if we are not going to address this, we will see more losses in 2010.”

Talk about living in a bubble?  It is shaming to say that our politicians could be wasting time proposing such nonsense for the beneift of ‘articulating our core principles’ and ‘identity crisis‘ as part of solving the RNC’s problems.  Can someone please go and remind them that while they are dabbling in self awareness our economy is tanking.  No one cares whether or not the RNC finds their zen.

“We have enough co-sponsors to take this to the RNC floor” at the party’s Jan. 28-31 annual winter meeting in Washington. “I will take it to the Resolutions Committee, but I intend to press this issue to the floor for decision.”

This is my favorite part.  While they are busy giving themselves balm — for their temper tantrum? — over the next 30 days for all the bad things that has happened to them, they will enact this resolution after Bush leaves office.  What, might I ask, is the real point?  Can’t they do like the rest of the psychotics in the world and just hire a shrink?