One of my regular rants is toward people who make the opponents of their opinions and political or religious views out to be evil villains. This is a sign of total ignorance and usually blatant hypocrisy as well. We hear a lot about “tolerance” which has become such a cliché that most of us cannot even tolerate the word, itself, anymore. Tolerance (just so we can start out on the same page) is defined as “a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one’s own.” It doesn’t mean agreeing with the opinions of others and it doesn’t mean that you cannot stand in opposition to the differing opinions and agendas of others. But it does mean that you allow and accept the fact that there will be those that disagree with you and they have a right to do so. I often wonder, has the Christian community that firmly believes that homosexuality is a sin, abandoned their principle of “love the sin, hate the sinner?” Or is it just that the homosexual community sees any opposition to their lifestyle (even a loving one) as equivalent to bigotry and hatred? I would say it is absolutely BOTH. The picture attached is a prime example of the ignorance and intolerance I speak of. A homosexual individual, one also claiming Christian faith, places a bumper sticker on his vehicle to express the fact that he abandoned his support of a (soon-to-be) president. Not because that president changed his position on homosexual issues but because he chose to associate with someone who disagrees with his position on homosexual issues, Pastor Rick Warren. Is it an appropriate response by one touting themself as “tolerant” to demonize (literally) what is supposedly his brother in Christ? We, as a people, are just so very wretched, ignorant and pathetic. And we are so blinded by our own views of the world that we cannot even see how pathetic and selfish we really are. We do not see truth and love as it is but rather our own distorted version of truth and love (which always places us at the center of our own universe)….and this coming from my view that love does not necessarily equal acceptance of all things.
The devil prays for a president…or something less dramatic. January 14, 2009
A question of accountability June 24, 2008
I was listening to the radio this morning. They were playing clips of Don Imus. They played his “Well, there you go” comment from him talking about Adam “Pacman” Jones; an NFL player that has been arrested numerous times for beating strippers, spitting on people, causing riots that injure people, drug charges etc. He asked Warner Wolf participating in this radio show conversation, “What color is he?” When Wolf’s response was given that Jones is “African-American”, Imus said, “Well, there you go.” For most listening that would be interpreted as Imus saying that his (Jones’) “blackness” explains his criminal behavior. The clip I heard this morning was Imus explaining that his comment was “sarcastic” as to say (paraphrase) “here is this guy who has been arrested so many times for no other reason than because he is black.”
I think, from what I have heard, there is little doubt that this Jones fellow is guilty. So from where I stand it looks like Imus is trying to cover up his verbal boo boo. Understandable. But the only punishment Jones has endured for his crimes is a one year suspension from the NFL. I ask, if Jones cannot or will not be held accountable for his crimes then why is society up in arms over Imus’ comments? I really don’t know much about Imus or his character and I do not listen to his radio show. Call me crazy, but I happen to think assuming someone’s race is an explanation for criminal behavior (while deplorable) is still not nearly as bad as what Jones has been accused of. As long as you are famous and you can make other people a lot of money it really doesn’t matter what you do or say because you’ll never have to play or be judged by the rules that the rest of us civilized people must adhere to. If the NFL thinks Jones is still worthy to play football despite his many sins then I guess Imus is still worthy to be a controversial radio host? Where is this line of accountability being drawn and for whom?
War Stories June 23, 2008
We hear a lot about the war. Everyone has their opinions on this war. I do believe that you can be against the war and still support the troops but this weekend I experienced a conversation that I found totally repulsive. And that feeling has stuck to me. I sat at a dinner party with a former US Marine who had served in Iraq. We were discussing all the things he experienced; just little stuff like the spiders, the heat and things of that nature. He told us a few things that I found very compelling; very touching human stories. He started by telling us about how things changed during the course of his time in Iraq. He recalled a time when he first got there and he accidently glanced at a woman for a split second. Women are not to be acknowledged and because he did so haphazardly glance toward her she was beaten in front of him because it was her fault that she had been acknowledged. He stood there not being able to do anything about it. Later, once women were given rights, he could intervene in that type of situation.
As the conversation continued he was talking about how the “enemy” did not engage in ethical warfare. He experienced having an injured individual surrender. Because he was injured they are required to render aid. So he tells another “Go cuff him so we can take him to a hospital. He is shot.” The other Marine goes to cuff him and the “surrendered” pulls a grenade killing them both.
The most compelling moment was him telling about people aiming at them with car bombs. They shoot once to tell the driver to stop and then they shoot to kill. Realizing that they do this, the driver would include his family in the car in order to cause hesitation in the Marine. He says, “I can see them through my scope. I can see a man driving full force at us and I can see his wife and kids screaming in the car. What do I do? Do I kill a family or do I let them blow us all up? What do I do?”
Later I was talking with another dinner guest who overheard this conversation. He says, “I couldn’t stand listening to that Marine talk all heroic about the war.” And I literally became sick to my stomach. Here there is this guy who was there, lived it, saw it first hand and was talking about his life experiences; very profound life experiences. This other guy was so self-righteous in his anti-war stance that he couldn’t even understand the value of such a human experience. He had no respect for this man who went over there and laid his life on the line day after day, had to deal with gut-wrenching moral dilemmas, and watched his friends get blown up before his eyes. Not to mention the lasting mental/emotional effects that would have on a person.
I really could not believe my ears that someone who probably sits behind a desk with a computer and AC all day could speak with such complete and total disdain in their voice regarding someone who had the guts to serve their country. I was completely disgusted. Despite my sarcasm I am generally all roses and sunshine in my outlook on life. But ever since then all I can think is how terrible this world is and how wretched we all really are.
MySpace sexual propositioning June 18, 2008
I got his on MySpace this morning. I responded for my own personal amusement. What the hell has happened to the world? I know there is nothing new under the sun but the fact that this crap is so commonplace really repulses me. Is there anyone left that cannot be categorized as “low character” anymore?!? Anybody? Hello?!?
My MySpace proposition:
So…I know this is probably a long shot or seem like I’m kidding, but I’m not. haha. Anyway, I’m just ready to do something fun this summer and want to find a girl that is clean, fun, and smart and is up for a DISCRETE, fun summer hook up. Nothing complicated or weird. Just fun for both of us, and no strings need be attached if that’s an issue for you.
Anyway, I’m 6′2″ 195 lbs, athletic build, dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, cute. I’m 26/m in Arlington, TX. I’m pretty easy going and like talking about just about anything. I’ve got a naughty side if you’re interested. 
But I don’t let that out very often.
You are definitely cute, so write me back if you’re interested and we can exchange some more pics and talk and see what we think. Hope to hear from you!
signed: name removed
My Response:
Hey, Name removed,
I would like to assume that you are joking, but incase this is a serious proposition; let me give you a few pieces of advice.
1) A girl that will hook up with you over MySpace will never be “clean” or “smart”
2) As you can see if you read my profile I am married so I have all the built-in, naughty, summer fun I could want.
3) If you’re advertising your “naughty side” to perfect strangers on MySpace then that cannot qualify as “I don’t let that out very often”
4) If you are “6′2″ 195 lbs, athletic build, dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, cute.” then you should have a perfectly fine time finding a “clean, smart, and fun” girl willing to listen to you “talk about just about anything” and you might even convince her to explore that naughty side you have. But as soon as she finds out you’re whoring yourself out over MySpace I would image if she is “clean” or smart” she will hit the road.
5) Please understand that your sexual fantasies will NEVER EVER, EVER happen in real life the way they play out in your head. The world just doesn’t work that way.
Good luck in your romantic pursuits!
one great mom is not the new dad April 5, 2008
Okay. I know! stop it with the newspaper websites already. I have yet another rant today. Busy day!
What is with this idea that dad’s are just a bonus if not completely unnecessary? I’m not saying you cannot raise a happy healthy kid without one AND it is a strong woman who can raise a child alone WHEN the father dies or doesn’t care about being in the kids life but this CRAP that they are unnecessary ANNOYS ME!
Like the episode of Friends where they all know Rachel is pregnant but don’t know who the father is. They are talking about how the guy will respond when he finds out. Rachel makes the statement that “Oh, you guys. No. This father can be involved or not involved as he wants to be” WHAT?!
Now I am about to make the following statement. Let me state that I continue to watch friends daily. Rachel is my favorite character and I love me some Jennifer Anniston. But what an arrogant bitch…Let’s not bother with what the child might need…let’s just make parenting convenient and if the dad wants to be involved (and the dad was Ross so PA-LEASE!) then great and if not then we didn’t really need him anyway…
Why do women (I know I am picking on women today but they do have their head in their ass a lot of the time and then want to wear a medal for it) think that they are good enough?
Kids need dads too. They might be fine, happy well adjusted kids with a good male role model but they will still long for their father. I once had a friend tell me that she never missed her father until she was married with kids. Her husband was swinging her daughter through the parking lot and she realized she had never had that.
NO emails please. I am not criticizing those making the best of a situation when the father abandons a child. What I am addressing is this ridiculous women’s lib bull-crap that thinks that dad’s are irrelevant and cannot offer anything a mother can’t.
Where is this coming from, you ask? Below is a link from a cartoon. I know the implication is that two moms can be better parents than a “traditional” home. But I cannot help but think it implies that men are drunken-buffoons and that moms are more important….and I think that is crap!
http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/wpopu
People having a different oppinion than you doesn’t make you a victim April 5, 2008
I’m not sure what to label this rant. I’ve been reading news articles this morning and I am just annoyed at the world in general. The thoughts below are not meant to side for or against any particular issue or people group. I am simply annoyed at the back and forth that goes on between these groups.
My first complaint is
1. Let’s define what it means to be open minded. Now this was not taken from a dictionary. it is simply what I expect people to mean when they use the term.
Being open minded means listening to all views, considering those views, weighing them against what you know to be true and finally making a decision based on having as much information as possible. Being “open-minded” should not be a synonym for accepting any and all things.
2.labeling people who disagree with you. People have this clever way of vilifying anyone who is not on their side. I personally have more respect for a person who fights for what they think is right even if I don’t agree with their cause than I do for someone like minded who is complacent. Let’s use some hot button issues.
Illegal Immigration: I don’t care what side you are on. Believe what you think is right. BUT please stop using the word racism unless someone specifically states that they don’t want Mexicans here b/c they hate them or believe them to be lesser people. I say this b/c racism is a serious term that people throw about flippantly, taking all meaning away form the word.
There are more things to consider than whether or not someone from South of the border is trying to help their family. Illegal immigration effects education, taxes, crime etc. etc. so when a thinking person opposes open borders and advocates punishment for breaking EXISTING laws…lets not use the term racism
3.Equality issues.
People AREN’T the same. They should have equal opportunity, equal protection and equal rights. and this goes BOTH ways on ALL issues.
To the women: women who are qualified should have the same opportunities to advance as a man. They should be treated with the same respect etc. I know that this is not always the case (heck, I went into school for film. I know all too well that women do NOT get the same opportunities) HOWEVER the world is not perfect, it never will be. Consider your challenges a blessing b/c they make you work harder and therefore make you better.
BUT WOMEN PLEASE stop suing b/c some old stodgy men’s club doesn’t want you sitting in their leather chairs and smoking cigars with them. You don’t have to be a part of everything a freaking man does. Stop bitching and start your own DAMN club.
Race relations: again, all people should be given the same chance. BUT when people are given a chance and they are dumbasses…well then it’s okay to say so. AND I have no tolerance for the double standard. If it is wrong it is wrong. either way. This is too sensitive a subject to discuss in a short my space bulletin so we will just leave it.
Homosexual groups: Again, all people deserve the same right AND the same protection under the law. BUT people are allowed to disagree with you. This situation is just like the word racism. Please don’t throw the word homophobic around b/c people don’t agree with you. AND like the women thing. Don’t sue E-Harmony b/c they don’t help homosexual couples find relationships when you know damn good and well there are like hundreds of services that do that and exclude heterosexuals.
All this ranting to say that I am so sick of polarized politics. I am sick of people always being the victim and being babies about everything and complaining anytime someone doesn’t support everything they do, 100%. People disagree, they have a right to disagree and they have a right to fight for their views on BOTH SIDES of any given issues. I should PROBABLY stop reading news articles unless it involves some stupid story about a celebrity but I’m sure I can rant about that too….
cramps and the insane overdramatization of a chiropractor April 5, 2008
SO you know I have terrible back problems, right? Remember a couple of years ago when I was asking for any chiro recommendations? I quit mine b/c they were over dramatic and over sold the product in ways that made me distrust them. ..:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />
For example, they were having me come in five days a week for a month, then 3 days a week a month. They told me I looked like I was in a really bad accident. The only thing I could come up with is once I fell REALLY hard out of a stunt in cheerleading BUT that was like 10 years ago and I had been to the chiropractor after that.
Plus, they would have these trivia things on the wall like, “what has this, and that and cows blood in it?” So, I asked. The answer: pain killers. So, again, I asked, “why the cow’s blood?” She said, “I don’t know.” That was it. It annoyed me b/c I felt that she was trying to scare people put of Tylenol so they would come in and have an adjustment. I mean, if you don’t know why they have it in there then maybe there is a health restoring protein in cow’s blood and it is beneficial…plus she would always get on to me about taking Midol for cramps. She could adjust me.
Let me explain cramps to you for those of you who don’t suffer from them. First you get a pain (like gas cramps) which increasingly becomes worse, then nausea sets in, then I brake out into a cold sweat. Every pore in my body starts producing sweat but I am clammy. Then a wave of pain comes over you that can only be described as a thousand tiny razors scrapping against raw skin on my insides. You feel like either a) you’re dying or b) if you’re not dying you wouldn’t mind if it put you out of this misery. And I have the least severe cramps of the family. Once a school called an ambulance for my sister, despite her many objections. SO when this happens you go running for the Midol, heating pad or, heck, a frying pain over your own head if it will stop this pain. I can tell you that I would not hop in my car, drive across town and pay $20 bucks for an adjustment. I wonder how that Dr. would feel about hearing the story of my mom (who had cramps so bad that childbirth was a breeze in comparison) taking paragarc (a gum numbing medication back in the day) and one of her dad’s heart attack pills so that she could cause herself to pass out to avoid anymore pain.
Well, yesterday I went to a new doctor. It was $45 with insurance. Yikes! The other place was $30 without. I did not intend to go back, certainly if they were going to tell me I needed to come in 3 times a week or more. But the lady did not over dramatize. She felt my back, adjusted me, gave me some exercises to do at home and said she might need to see me 5-6 more times and then I can just go back to maintenance. She didn’t tell me if I didn’t come in everyday I would have poor quality of life several years down the road….which the other place did, by the way
I think I’ve found a new chiropractor.
