I grew up in a household filled with people who didn't really for politics. My mother and my grandmother, in line with their religious beliefs, do not partake in the voting system and are just fine by it. As such, I was raised in neither a Republican nor a Democratic household. So lucky for me, when I got older, I was able to explore and educate myself on our political system and was able to make decisions on my own, free of any previous bias or brainwashing on behalf of my family. This will be the second Presidential election I will be voting in and let me tell you, to be a truly educated voter, there is a lot of work involved.
I tend to shy away from watching televised news programs because lets be honest, they are clearly biased. How can I learn anything remotely true about what is going on in our country if I am partaking in some form of "selective learning"? That being said, I also tend to stay away from biased websites (i.e. foxnews.com, msnbc.com etc) because, well, same problem. This leaves me with two things: What each Presidential candidate says and the independent fact checkers. So yes, there is a lot of work to be done if I want to make the best decision with what I am being presented.
In 2008 I voted for Obama. Why? It was a simple choice...I mean...look at the opposition...Sarah Palin was on the ticket. What a shame to all women who would run for such a high position! But that's another story for another day. So now its 2012 and I am faced with another decision. Do I vote for the person I voted for last time? Or this new candidate? Of course it's hard not to be biased because I already voted for Obama once, but I was curious to see if his opponent would have better ideas than what Obama's campaign promises to run on. Do I think Romney was the best candidate to put up against Obama? Yes, because everyone else Romney ran again was even worse. I can admit he was the best out of the bunch. That being said, is he the best candidate against Obama? I am not sure. Here's why...
Fundamentally speaking, Republicans like to think that they are the "Christian party" mostly due to their stance on abortion and gay rights. But I am here to tell you that in my honest opinion they are most certainly not of good Christian morals or values at their core. What do I mean at their core? Let me explain.
If Jesus were walking around and he came across a man who was poor, perhaps starving, willing to work but maybe he just isn't getting enough to get by. This man's neighbor is a rich man, with more than enough to eat, all the video game consuls you can dream of, a big house, one or two cars and a great family. Let's say the local government wants this wealthier man to give just a bit more in various taxes or programs in order to help people like his neighbor live a decent life. The way of the Republican would say "I work hard! I should keep my money! You just need to work harder! I'm not giving anything to help you!". Do I think Jesus would just nod in agreement with this? No I don't. I think He would want those who have more than enough (millionaires, billionaires etc) to pay more to help those of us who don't have as much! Maybe that means they don't buy a new private jet, or spend $500 on their next dinner, but these people have more than enough! Of course the Republicans run on the "trickle down" idea which means if we charge millionaires and CEOs more in taxes, they will cut jobs to us middle class folk! So we need to give them tax breaks! Oh really? Couldn't possibly be that people are greedy by nature, and if they can have more money without having to hire more people they are going to just put that money in their pockets, can it? That method does not work! It didn't work in the 8 years under Bush and it won't work under Romney either.
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." - Matthew 19:24
In my opinion, what the Republicans believe, and the way they look down upon those who use government assistance is appalling and disgusting. Sure, there may be a handful of people who abuse the system. But does that mean we cut off funding for the hundreds of thousands of other families that this helps? Should it not be in our Christian nature to give? You think you have it rough? Are you able t sit at home and talk o your iPhone? Play on an iPad? Have a big tv? Maybe 3 computers, PS3, Xbox or whatever else? Then no, you don't have it as hard as you think you do. You may just not be as rich as you'd like to be.
It disgusts me that so many think that just because someone is on disability, unemployment or welfare means that they are lazy and are just getting "handouts." Let me tell you something. People in my family are on welfare and they are embarrassed. They want to do more, work more, contribute more. But they have just been given a hard life and though they work, they just can't make enough. Are they proud? No. But at least they can keep a roof over their heads. When my boyfriend was injured recently and he had to take disability they gave him hardly anything. He was dying to go back to work after the first week. When he got his check, he told me it was the saddest check he's even been given. It broke my heart. He wasn't proud. He wasn't happy. But there was a system in place to help him when he needed it. Why would I want to take this away from people who are struggling just as much or harder than the people I know and love? I don't. And I would gladly pay into a system where I knew I was helping others because I may need that help one day too.
Secondly, should it be in our Christian nature to oppress and judge others more harshly than we judge ourselves? Why is it that Republicans want to point the finger at gays and talk about their sinful nature and how we shouldn't dare legalize it? Is our legal divorce system not a sin? Is our pornography that leads millions of men and women to commit adultery in their hearts, legal and sinful? What about drinking and smoking and tattoo parlors? Why focus on this one group!? Because its the ONE sin you may not be committing!? Is YOU sin any less of a sin than theirs? What is pointing the finger going to get you except classified as a hypocritical Christian?
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."- Matthew 7:1
This also applies to women's rights. Why should we allow a group of middle aged white men to decide what they can and can't do with their healthcare decisions!? If Republicans are so much against abortion, why are they fighting the Democrats policy of making birth control free to those who want it? If you don't want them getting abortions how about you start by making contraception more easily accessible!? It doesn't make sense to me. I, for one, find abortion to be wrong, but I would much rather a woman have the choice than to try to give herself one or even worse, having a child she doesn't want who is either mistreated or thrown into an already overpopulated adoption and foster care system.
As a nurse, I also find it ridiculous that Republicans want to overturn what they call "Obamacare" or as I like to call it, (and its real name) The Affordable Care act. This act, among many other things prohibits insurance companies from denying someone coverage due to "pre existing conditions" and no longer allowed insurance companies to charge women up to 50% more for their healthcare. Romney promises to overturn this. So God forbid, when I have a child, that he or she is born with a medical problem....because I will have a hell of a time trying to get them insured. God forbid your child gets sick or gets cancer, and you can no longer afford it and this healthcare system isn't in place. I bet the first thing you would do would be to praise God that other people, who had more than you did, were helping you pay for this situation because 'liking' a photo on Facebook isn't going to save a child's life. But good healthcare will. As a nurse, I don't want to have to stop treatment on a patient when it could be significantly increasing this person's quality of life. How can you work in healthcare and be okay with denying the care you promise to provide, to millions of people?
How is it of good Christian value to not want to pay into a system where we can help each other have what we should ALL be promised to have? A healthy body and good healthcare in case we don't. Should we let the elderly go back to paying tons of money for their prescriptions? Should we let the innocent sick children be denied potentially life saving procedures and care because their insurance companies no longer want to cover them? No! If we were good Christians, we would know that we should pay into something that will help others and may, one day, help us if we ever need it. We already do this with social security but I bet a lot of Republican's won't complain unless they can't recover that money when they retire. Why should this be any less important than that?
This is the word of God. No matter what Romney or Obama says, THIS is the truth. That being said. If you truly want to apply good Christian values to politics, which side do you think this falls on? In my case, the Democratic party seems to fall more in line with my personal Christian beliefs.
1 John 3:17 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him ? 1 John 3:18Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 1 John 3:19 Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God's side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.
Prov. 21:13 He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need
James 2:14 Dear brothers, what's the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren't proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? James 2:15 If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, James 2:16 and you say to him, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty," and then don't give him clothes or food, what good does that do? James 2:17 So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by good works is no faith at all--it is dead and useless. James 2:18 But someone may well argue, "You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can't prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act."James 2:19 Are there still some among you who hold that "only believing" is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too--so strongly that they tremble in terror!James 2:20 Fool! When will you ever learn that "believing" is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith.
In closing, I heard a lot of people talk the other night about how Obama kept his head down for much of the debate. How he hardly ever looked over at his opponent.A friend of mine made a statement today, saying that she noticed the pen in Obama's hand. He wasn't looking down in shame or embarrassment, but he was taking notes. With the way Romney has been flip flopping (as he made lots of statements during the debate that were contrary to what he's said on the campaign trail) Obama is going to need to be taking lots of notes. Obama may have hardly looked at Romney, but he took a lot of time to look into the camera, as US, the voters. He doesn't need to sell himself to Romney. He isn't important. But WE are. Romney barely looked into the camera the entire time. But I can admit, for a while I was hoping Obama would bite back but after a while I realized something. Maybe Obama is smarter than I give him credit for. Maybe he doesn't want to feed the trolls ;)
Be an Independent thinker. You don't have to believe what your parents raised you to believe because they do not have all the answers. They are not perfect people. They may not have always made the right decisions. Be YOU.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
The one about: Mercy
Since the horrific shooting in Colorado everyone has been having their own reaction to it. With human reaction comes a lot of mixed emotions and statements. A lot of which comes in some form of "Thank God i'm safe" or "Thank God for protecting me" which led me to beg the question...Is God really protecting you? Or are we at the mercy of the Devil?
There is something about those types of situations that bothers me.
The first question you have to ask yourself is, Do you believe God has the power to do anything? No 'ifs', 'ands' or 'buts'. If you hold the belief that God is all knowing and all powerful then the next question you have to ask is....What is His role in the tragedies of the world? By no means am I trying to be the person who says "Why did you take them from us God!!" because I think we all know God didn't go into that theater and kill people. So...when someone thanks God for protecting THEM or...thanking God that it WASN'T them makes me wonder if we aren't talking to the wrong person. Could God have stopped what happened Friday? Of course. Could he have stopped all the world wars and all the senseless murders of millions of people? Of course! But He didn't. Why not? God might have a reason for everything HE does. But murder and horribly death isn't part of His doing. So don't try to reason as to why these people are getting killed and think "hmm...God must've had a reason for letting that 6 year old girl die". I don't believe this is true at all.
God has let the Devil loose upon the world. This is something we *should* all know. The Devil is going around creating natural disasters that kill thousands, He is the one going around murdered millions of Jews, He is the one making people walk into malls, schools and theaters shooting people. Here is another question that I have...back when Hitler was in power, and millions of innocent people were being slaughtered, God didn't intervene. Or did God intervene when the WWII was won? We will never know. This is the world of man now. This is the world where the Devil has the freedom to go about and do what he wants. Without God stopping him. At least not yet. This is the world we live in. It's a hard pill to swallow but I refuse to believe God has single handedly "cured" anyone from cancer while letting the cancer patient in the next room to die. I don't believe he works like that. Either you believe God is picking and choosing who lives and dies or you believe He loves everyone equally.
If we can't blame God for what happens, does this mean we should be thanking Him for sparing our life? Or are we sitting at the mercy of the Devil at this point? Should we say "Thankfully the devil didn't get me yet"? Who knows. I don't have all the answers. I don't think anyone does. We will always fail when we try to assume what God is thinking. Or assume what God's intentions or plans are. I can tell you God *probably* doesn't have a reason for everything. Those with power hardly have to have reason to do what they want to do.So I wish people would stop either blaming God for not intervening or thanking Him for being safe. Stop forgetting that the Devil is playing a major role in this world right now. I think forgetting about that has led people to a lot of deception. The Devil is good. He knows Gods word well and he knows how to use it against you.
This is why I tend to stay away from organized religion. If I said one word of any of this they'd call me a Sadist and hang me from the nearest tree or burn me at the stake (which was such a Christian thing to do, wasn't it?). I am not trying to question God but I am questioning the people. Organized religion wants you to follow blindly. They make up some silly rules and you're supposed to abide by them. Even if it doesn't say anything about it in the Bible!! NO there are no other prophets than those described in the Bible. If you had to make your own book, chances are you're wrong. NO birth control isn't wrong, but you getting pregnant out of wedlock is. NO you don't have to do some silly ceremony and treat your pastor or Pope like he is Jesus himself!! It's all so ridiculous to me that people can make up their own denominations and people will follow them like sheep. Follow the ONE book that God gave us. Stop trying to interpret it to mean what you want it to mean!! Take it for what it is...and READ it for yourself! Don't allow some pastor to read it and interpret it for you. He is not responsible for your salvation. YOU ARE. When you start to question things, it leads you to look for answers, which leads you to the knowledge that God has been wanting you to seek. His word.
Yes, I love God. Yes, it is great to be thankful! It is great to thank God for a new day and for the blessings you have! But be smart about things people, please. God gave us brains and the power to think for ourselves for a reason. Use it.
Here is a quote from an article that I really enjoy...
You can find the rest of the article here
Example: A car accident. Two cars are involved in a head on collision. The person in Car A dies and the person in Car B is barely injured. The person in Car B says (or thinks) "Thank you God for protecting me!". This makes it seem that God had something to do with the person in Car A dying. As in "God didn't protect the person in Car A".
There is something about those types of situations that bothers me.
The first question you have to ask yourself is, Do you believe God has the power to do anything? No 'ifs', 'ands' or 'buts'. If you hold the belief that God is all knowing and all powerful then the next question you have to ask is....What is His role in the tragedies of the world? By no means am I trying to be the person who says "Why did you take them from us God!!" because I think we all know God didn't go into that theater and kill people. So...when someone thanks God for protecting THEM or...thanking God that it WASN'T them makes me wonder if we aren't talking to the wrong person. Could God have stopped what happened Friday? Of course. Could he have stopped all the world wars and all the senseless murders of millions of people? Of course! But He didn't. Why not? God might have a reason for everything HE does. But murder and horribly death isn't part of His doing. So don't try to reason as to why these people are getting killed and think "hmm...God must've had a reason for letting that 6 year old girl die". I don't believe this is true at all.
God has let the Devil loose upon the world. This is something we *should* all know. The Devil is going around creating natural disasters that kill thousands, He is the one going around murdered millions of Jews, He is the one making people walk into malls, schools and theaters shooting people. Here is another question that I have...back when Hitler was in power, and millions of innocent people were being slaughtered, God didn't intervene. Or did God intervene when the WWII was won? We will never know. This is the world of man now. This is the world where the Devil has the freedom to go about and do what he wants. Without God stopping him. At least not yet. This is the world we live in. It's a hard pill to swallow but I refuse to believe God has single handedly "cured" anyone from cancer while letting the cancer patient in the next room to die. I don't believe he works like that. Either you believe God is picking and choosing who lives and dies or you believe He loves everyone equally.
If we can't blame God for what happens, does this mean we should be thanking Him for sparing our life? Or are we sitting at the mercy of the Devil at this point? Should we say "Thankfully the devil didn't get me yet"? Who knows. I don't have all the answers. I don't think anyone does. We will always fail when we try to assume what God is thinking. Or assume what God's intentions or plans are. I can tell you God *probably* doesn't have a reason for everything. Those with power hardly have to have reason to do what they want to do.So I wish people would stop either blaming God for not intervening or thanking Him for being safe. Stop forgetting that the Devil is playing a major role in this world right now. I think forgetting about that has led people to a lot of deception. The Devil is good. He knows Gods word well and he knows how to use it against you.
This is why I tend to stay away from organized religion. If I said one word of any of this they'd call me a Sadist and hang me from the nearest tree or burn me at the stake (which was such a Christian thing to do, wasn't it?). I am not trying to question God but I am questioning the people. Organized religion wants you to follow blindly. They make up some silly rules and you're supposed to abide by them. Even if it doesn't say anything about it in the Bible!! NO there are no other prophets than those described in the Bible. If you had to make your own book, chances are you're wrong. NO birth control isn't wrong, but you getting pregnant out of wedlock is. NO you don't have to do some silly ceremony and treat your pastor or Pope like he is Jesus himself!! It's all so ridiculous to me that people can make up their own denominations and people will follow them like sheep. Follow the ONE book that God gave us. Stop trying to interpret it to mean what you want it to mean!! Take it for what it is...and READ it for yourself! Don't allow some pastor to read it and interpret it for you. He is not responsible for your salvation. YOU ARE. When you start to question things, it leads you to look for answers, which leads you to the knowledge that God has been wanting you to seek. His word.
Yes, I love God. Yes, it is great to be thankful! It is great to thank God for a new day and for the blessings you have! But be smart about things people, please. God gave us brains and the power to think for ourselves for a reason. Use it.
Here is a quote from an article that I really enjoy...
"My friend, how many times have you heard people describe to you their sicknesses, tragedies,
or misfortunes and then end the story with, "...but God must have done it for a reason." Or
"God is trying to teach me something." I am just as much to blame because I too remember years
ago putting the blame on God for different situations thinking that it was all for a reason.
But also remember that when we do have trials and tribulations in our life, God uses them
and turns them into something good as told in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
During this process we are drawn closer to God and learn of His awesome power and dominion over
the works of the devil, thus strengthening our walk with Him.
A good loving father would never put His child's hand over an open flame to teach him that fire burns!
Likewise, God is our Father and like any good Father, He only wants to teach us using good
instructional methods and to protect us from harm...not cause it! Matthew 7:11
It is not God we should be blaming, it is our adversary the devil or satan who causes these things.
For 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about
like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." And in John 10:10 it says
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may
have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
You can find the rest of the article here
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The One About: Video Games
Let me say this up front: I love video games. I met my boyfriend playing a video game and he moved halfway across the country to be with me. We play games together often and it is something that we have in common that some other couples don't. I do not believe that female gamers are as rare as a lot of people try to make them out to be and as a female gamer there are a lot of things about video games that really piss me off. Shall I begin to name a few?
Apparently it is just as useful for my female character to have her T&A hanging out of her armor as it is for her male counterpart to be completely covered up wearing his 50lbs of gear. I understand I am not the first person (or the last) to complain about this, but it really puts me off. Why yes, if I am to go on an assassination mission, of COURSE i want my skin tight suit to have my boobs hanging out of it. It's not like any of my vital organs are near my boobs, right?
There is a great article written about this here: Video games and Male Gaze - are we men or boys? In which the author, who happens to be male, argues against this blatant sexism in video games. Is it necessary to have these characters have sex scenes like in Mass Effect and Farcry 3 (during which actual boobs are shown). Do men really wonder why women don't like to play games much? I wouldn't doubt a lot of it has to do with how obviously male oriented video games are. I'm sorry, sometimes I get tired of seeing half naked women running around in these games for no other reason than to excite the male consumer. I will end this argument here because honestly that article says more than I could've hoped to put into words myself. It is a good read if you have the time. The bottom line is: There is a way to make female characters 'sexy' without making them into whores.
Secondly, I absolutely cannot stand war simulation video games. At all. Here's my reason for that. War isn't something we should glorify. I've recently been watching a documentary on Netflix entitled WWII in HD. It shows tons of actual footage of WWII, including lots and lots of dead bodies. Not just dead...but blow apart, burnt, shot, bloated and floating in water, limbs missing and all. I have a military history in my family and I have a ton of respect for our military. That being said, I cannot see how so many people can enjoy these games like CoD, MW, etc. Not after seeing what I have. Since when is it something to cheer about when someone gets their face torn off by a mortar? Since when is it something to cheer about when a soldier dies instantly with a bullet to the brain? Am I supposed to say, "It's just a video game. It isn't real life"?
Isn't it though? Do we not have thousands of bodies being returned to the US in coffins from being killed overseas? By roadside bombs, beheadings and torture? Is it supposed to be okay because it's the "other guys"? To me that type of murder is never okay. These men who go off and fight our wars, from WWI up though this current war in Iraq and Afghanistan are brave. They are heroes. They paid the ultimate sacrifice. Even if they didn't die, we have thousands of men coming back missing limbs, disabled, psychotically messed up for the rest of their lives. But some pimple faced kid or some man with something to prove gets to stay at home, play these games and curse at each other over a headset because someone died one too many times to headshots and they're pissed off about it? They're a bunch of cowards. Have some respect. I despise that this has become such a popular industry of which we have bought into as a nation.
There is a difference between being proud of what our soldiers accomplish and glorifying the horrors that is war. These men don't get to respawn and try again. Death is permanent. Anything else is a disgrace to those men and women's husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children. They will never see their loved ones again. And for what? For you to sit at home and pretend to do what they go out and do day in and day out. What a shame.
"War is a horrible, nasty business and to say otherwise is to do a disservice to those who died."
Apparently it is just as useful for my female character to have her T&A hanging out of her armor as it is for her male counterpart to be completely covered up wearing his 50lbs of gear. I understand I am not the first person (or the last) to complain about this, but it really puts me off. Why yes, if I am to go on an assassination mission, of COURSE i want my skin tight suit to have my boobs hanging out of it. It's not like any of my vital organs are near my boobs, right?
There is a great article written about this here: Video games and Male Gaze - are we men or boys? In which the author, who happens to be male, argues against this blatant sexism in video games. Is it necessary to have these characters have sex scenes like in Mass Effect and Farcry 3 (during which actual boobs are shown). Do men really wonder why women don't like to play games much? I wouldn't doubt a lot of it has to do with how obviously male oriented video games are. I'm sorry, sometimes I get tired of seeing half naked women running around in these games for no other reason than to excite the male consumer. I will end this argument here because honestly that article says more than I could've hoped to put into words myself. It is a good read if you have the time. The bottom line is: There is a way to make female characters 'sexy' without making them into whores.
Secondly, I absolutely cannot stand war simulation video games. At all. Here's my reason for that. War isn't something we should glorify. I've recently been watching a documentary on Netflix entitled WWII in HD. It shows tons of actual footage of WWII, including lots and lots of dead bodies. Not just dead...but blow apart, burnt, shot, bloated and floating in water, limbs missing and all. I have a military history in my family and I have a ton of respect for our military. That being said, I cannot see how so many people can enjoy these games like CoD, MW, etc. Not after seeing what I have. Since when is it something to cheer about when someone gets their face torn off by a mortar? Since when is it something to cheer about when a soldier dies instantly with a bullet to the brain? Am I supposed to say, "It's just a video game. It isn't real life"?
Isn't it though? Do we not have thousands of bodies being returned to the US in coffins from being killed overseas? By roadside bombs, beheadings and torture? Is it supposed to be okay because it's the "other guys"? To me that type of murder is never okay. These men who go off and fight our wars, from WWI up though this current war in Iraq and Afghanistan are brave. They are heroes. They paid the ultimate sacrifice. Even if they didn't die, we have thousands of men coming back missing limbs, disabled, psychotically messed up for the rest of their lives. But some pimple faced kid or some man with something to prove gets to stay at home, play these games and curse at each other over a headset because someone died one too many times to headshots and they're pissed off about it? They're a bunch of cowards. Have some respect. I despise that this has become such a popular industry of which we have bought into as a nation.
There is a difference between being proud of what our soldiers accomplish and glorifying the horrors that is war. These men don't get to respawn and try again. Death is permanent. Anything else is a disgrace to those men and women's husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children. They will never see their loved ones again. And for what? For you to sit at home and pretend to do what they go out and do day in and day out. What a shame.
"War is a horrible, nasty business and to say otherwise is to do a disservice to those who died."
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The one about: Factoids
I had a good idea earlier in the day about something else I can make a long rant about. But instead I decided to just throw out a list of things that piss me off because I don't feel like writing an entire entry on each of them. What can I say? I'm lazy sometimes.
* People who drive under the speed limit. Especially while on the expressway. Really? If you aren't willing to go at least 55MPH stick to the roads!
* People who like to think that turn signals are optional. Especially when they are turning.
* People who over generalize. (I.E. "All men are horndogs" or "All blondes are whores" or even better "All mexicans drive a Honda civic".)
* People who put ketchup on their hotdogs.
* People who don't know the difference between their, there and they're. (Also too, to, your, you're.)
* Men who call women c*nts, make "get in the kitchen" jokes, etc. I see this a lot when i am playing video games. (And men wonder why women don't play video games? Maybe because a lot of them act like complete douchebags to us when we do?)
* People who have more than 5 sexual partners by the time they are 21. And more than 10 in a lifetime.
* Women who wear low cut shirts and get mad when people are staring at their chest instead of their face. (Because you TOTALLY wore that to NOT get attention, right?)
* Overly judgmental Christians
* Racists
* People who tan too much and look like a traffic cone
* People who make unnecessary noise when they eat. This includes slurping soups, cereal, etc. Loud chewing, etc.
* Women who complain about not looking like a fashion model but are lucky to be free from cancer and disease. Count your blessings.
* Women who don't eat. Let's be honest. I'm from the midwest and we know how to eat here. I can't stand women who eat like birds and eat rabbit food all day. You can still eat food with flavor and be healthy and lose weight. Just don't eat 4 freaking helpings of it. There is too much good food out there for me not to eat it. Sorry. I'll take a chicken taco over a nasty protein drink any day. I am of the idea that dieting doesn't work. After so long of being deprived you fall off the wagon hard. Just be smart about what you eat people. There is nothing in the world that in the right amount, you can't have. Enjoy life! It's too short not to!
* And along these lines, skinny girls who call themselves fat. GTFO.
* Men who think it's their mission in life to sleep with as many women as possible.
*Ungrateful children
*Certain religions such as strict Catholics and Mormons. I read and hear a lot about what their religion is based on and I think...Really? People believe this crap? Well heck, sign me up and mark me as a prophet! I bet I can get a group of people to believe me too!
*Unfit parents
* New York, New Jersey and Boston accents. I'd rather go to a Rebecca Black concert every day for a year than listen to those people talk.
* People who are constantly on their phones. Especially at the dinner table.
* Mitt Romney
I am sure there are many more I could add to this list but this is all I could come up with off the top of my head. Sure does feel good to get it off my chest though.
* People who drive under the speed limit. Especially while on the expressway. Really? If you aren't willing to go at least 55MPH stick to the roads!
* People who like to think that turn signals are optional. Especially when they are turning.
* People who over generalize. (I.E. "All men are horndogs" or "All blondes are whores" or even better "All mexicans drive a Honda civic".)
* People who put ketchup on their hotdogs.
* People who don't know the difference between their, there and they're. (Also too, to, your, you're.)
* Men who call women c*nts, make "get in the kitchen" jokes, etc. I see this a lot when i am playing video games. (And men wonder why women don't play video games? Maybe because a lot of them act like complete douchebags to us when we do?)
* People who have more than 5 sexual partners by the time they are 21. And more than 10 in a lifetime.
* Women who wear low cut shirts and get mad when people are staring at their chest instead of their face. (Because you TOTALLY wore that to NOT get attention, right?)
* Overly judgmental Christians
* Racists
* People who tan too much and look like a traffic cone
* People who make unnecessary noise when they eat. This includes slurping soups, cereal, etc. Loud chewing, etc.
* Women who complain about not looking like a fashion model but are lucky to be free from cancer and disease. Count your blessings.
* Women who don't eat. Let's be honest. I'm from the midwest and we know how to eat here. I can't stand women who eat like birds and eat rabbit food all day. You can still eat food with flavor and be healthy and lose weight. Just don't eat 4 freaking helpings of it. There is too much good food out there for me not to eat it. Sorry. I'll take a chicken taco over a nasty protein drink any day. I am of the idea that dieting doesn't work. After so long of being deprived you fall off the wagon hard. Just be smart about what you eat people. There is nothing in the world that in the right amount, you can't have. Enjoy life! It's too short not to!
* And along these lines, skinny girls who call themselves fat. GTFO.
* Men who think it's their mission in life to sleep with as many women as possible.
*Ungrateful children
*Certain religions such as strict Catholics and Mormons. I read and hear a lot about what their religion is based on and I think...Really? People believe this crap? Well heck, sign me up and mark me as a prophet! I bet I can get a group of people to believe me too!
*Unfit parents
* New York, New Jersey and Boston accents. I'd rather go to a Rebecca Black concert every day for a year than listen to those people talk.
* People who are constantly on their phones. Especially at the dinner table.
* Mitt Romney
I am sure there are many more I could add to this list but this is all I could come up with off the top of my head. Sure does feel good to get it off my chest though.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The One About: Civil Rights
Nothing seems to get me more heated than a discussion on civil rights and liberties. For my own sake I am going to try to stay as far away from topical politics as I can and simply deliver my opinion on the matters of civil rights surrounding us today.
Here we are, in the year 2012 and we are still arguing about who should have the right to do what in this country. I'm a Christian, yes. I usually vote Democratic, sure. I've lived my life in one of the biggest cities in the country my entire life, fact. I say this because I believe this to be one of the biggest influences on the way that I think and form opinions.
Why is it that most major cities vote blue? And little out of the way cities and states vote red? Political history? Perhaps. But what I have come to believe is that a majority has to do with what people have seen in their lifetime. Someone in a small town in southern Illinois, who has lived in a town with a few thousand people their entire life has not seen what someone living in Chicago has seen. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but it no doubt effects their belief system. Someone who has not seen the poverty and oppression of blacks and hispanics will not have the same connection or sense of obligation to do something about it as someone who has lived on 79th and Blue Island in Chicago might. Someone who has never even met or talked to a gay person in their life may not be as willing to accept the fact that this group is in fact made up of people. People who just want the right to do what everyone else gets to do.
That being said, let me move onto something else. Southerners are known to be somewhat "bible thumpers". This can either be a good or bad thing depending on to who and how they are thumping that Bible around. But along with that, they are strong believers in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They often like to quote various amendments that give them the right to say what they want, publish what they want, and the right to shoot someone who comes onto their property expectantly. All of this is fine, but...what happened to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? Should gays not also have this right? And why is it that a lot of Christians just LOVE to throw out the verse in Leviticus about homosexuality yet they don't live their lives in accordance with the rest of the Bible? Oh, you have a tattoo of a cross on your arm? I'm sure God will love that, seeing as how tattoos are forbidden in Leviticus only a few verses after the infamous homosexuality verse. You're going to go watch Game of Thorns or some other porny crap? I'm sure God's word regarding lust and tearing out your eye if it causes you to sin because..."So if your eye--even your good eye--causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." (Matthew 5:29) Why do Christians like to use the Bible to point out things someone else is doing wrong and make it seem like it is the most important thing in the Bible? It isn't. I'd love it if they took that kind of scrutiny and apply it to their own lives. No one is perfect and no one understands this better than I do .But nothing irritates me more than someones own self-righteousness.
That being said...I've lived in Chicago my entire life. I've seen many unpleasant, unfair and unfortunate things. In a city with 9 millions people, how can you not? I've seen gay friends get beat up because they are gay. I've seen and heard my minority friends being harassed and treated differently than me. I've become sensitive to the plight of others. My personal conviction may be that homosexuality is a sin. But I don't agree with discrimination. And the ones who harp about the "sanctity of marriage"...marriage is a civil ceremony. You don't even have to get married in a fancy church or have a priest marry you. The divorce rate is 50% in this country. Celebrities are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th marriages but you won't let Tim and John who may have been together for 10 years get married because it's a sin? Divorce is a sin. Most of what we do and say on a daily basis is a sin. Get over yourselves.
Yes I will vote democratic as long as the GOP wants to discriminate. That's just how it is for me. The dems aren't perfect, but they stand for a bit more of what I want than the GOP does.
It isn't the lonely farmers fault that he doesn't get to witness the problems of the world around him. It isn't the small town family's fault that they live in their own utopia far away from the problems of certain groups. But it doesn't excuse hate and discrimination. It doesn't excuse willful ignorance. Get out there. See things. Experience the unpleasant. It will change your life.
Someone once said, "If it isn't happening in your own back yard you don't believe it." This is true for many and sad for all.
Here we are, in the year 2012 and we are still arguing about who should have the right to do what in this country. I'm a Christian, yes. I usually vote Democratic, sure. I've lived my life in one of the biggest cities in the country my entire life, fact. I say this because I believe this to be one of the biggest influences on the way that I think and form opinions.
Why is it that most major cities vote blue? And little out of the way cities and states vote red? Political history? Perhaps. But what I have come to believe is that a majority has to do with what people have seen in their lifetime. Someone in a small town in southern Illinois, who has lived in a town with a few thousand people their entire life has not seen what someone living in Chicago has seen. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but it no doubt effects their belief system. Someone who has not seen the poverty and oppression of blacks and hispanics will not have the same connection or sense of obligation to do something about it as someone who has lived on 79th and Blue Island in Chicago might. Someone who has never even met or talked to a gay person in their life may not be as willing to accept the fact that this group is in fact made up of people. People who just want the right to do what everyone else gets to do.
That being said, let me move onto something else. Southerners are known to be somewhat "bible thumpers". This can either be a good or bad thing depending on to who and how they are thumping that Bible around. But along with that, they are strong believers in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They often like to quote various amendments that give them the right to say what they want, publish what they want, and the right to shoot someone who comes onto their property expectantly. All of this is fine, but...what happened to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? Should gays not also have this right? And why is it that a lot of Christians just LOVE to throw out the verse in Leviticus about homosexuality yet they don't live their lives in accordance with the rest of the Bible? Oh, you have a tattoo of a cross on your arm? I'm sure God will love that, seeing as how tattoos are forbidden in Leviticus only a few verses after the infamous homosexuality verse. You're going to go watch Game of Thorns or some other porny crap? I'm sure God's word regarding lust and tearing out your eye if it causes you to sin because..."So if your eye--even your good eye--causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." (Matthew 5:29) Why do Christians like to use the Bible to point out things someone else is doing wrong and make it seem like it is the most important thing in the Bible? It isn't. I'd love it if they took that kind of scrutiny and apply it to their own lives. No one is perfect and no one understands this better than I do .But nothing irritates me more than someones own self-righteousness.
That being said...I've lived in Chicago my entire life. I've seen many unpleasant, unfair and unfortunate things. In a city with 9 millions people, how can you not? I've seen gay friends get beat up because they are gay. I've seen and heard my minority friends being harassed and treated differently than me. I've become sensitive to the plight of others. My personal conviction may be that homosexuality is a sin. But I don't agree with discrimination. And the ones who harp about the "sanctity of marriage"...marriage is a civil ceremony. You don't even have to get married in a fancy church or have a priest marry you. The divorce rate is 50% in this country. Celebrities are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th marriages but you won't let Tim and John who may have been together for 10 years get married because it's a sin? Divorce is a sin. Most of what we do and say on a daily basis is a sin. Get over yourselves.
Yes I will vote democratic as long as the GOP wants to discriminate. That's just how it is for me. The dems aren't perfect, but they stand for a bit more of what I want than the GOP does.
It isn't the lonely farmers fault that he doesn't get to witness the problems of the world around him. It isn't the small town family's fault that they live in their own utopia far away from the problems of certain groups. But it doesn't excuse hate and discrimination. It doesn't excuse willful ignorance. Get out there. See things. Experience the unpleasant. It will change your life.
Someone once said, "If it isn't happening in your own back yard you don't believe it." This is true for many and sad for all.
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