I don’t really get upset when a celebrity or well known person dies because after all that is life, but Aretha Franklin was a powerful and memorable artist who crossed many obstacles and boundaries and influenced many aspects of our lives today. The “Queen of Soul” will be missed!
#soul
#music
#iconic
#extraordinary
#BlackIconic
#CrossingBarriers
#Singer
#DefiningVoice
#ExtraordinaryPianist
#BlackIsBeautiful
#QueenOfSoul
Unfortunately a country or nation cannot refer to one’s past and pay reparations for “crimes against humanity” towards a single race of people that were enslaved nor can they punish the offending race that enslaved them. Slavery was about economics and domination of one culture by another (that could have been of another race or the same race) for the economic gain and development of that society. That in itself is indeed a heinous crime but all countries and cultures going back to biblical times and the romans have practiced it. We cannot undo our past nor can we continue to scream social injustice and perpetuate it and continually teach that a group of people are “owed” reparations for deeds of our country’s past. This perpetuates the division of races and cultures in our country and only continually festers the wounds of our past. We will never heal as a nation as long as we keep picking at these wounds. It’s time to remember our past for what it is, a point in time that can only serve our purpose today by using it as a tool to remember and teach going forward what we should not be doing and what steps can we take to grow as a society today to make sure it never happens again.
[03/13/18] Interesting piece on WOSU Ohio about White Lies: The Truth About Segregation in America a forum that was hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Club on March 7, 2018 and was being aired this morning as I happened to catch the close of it while channel surfing.
High points: Stratifications and policy and subconscious bias being passed on from generation to generation both by whites and blacks.
The panel included “The Color of Law” author Richard Rothstein who reveals the long history on federal, state and local governments role in segregation, and the long lasting consequences. Lawrence Funderburke, former OSU and NBA basketball star, and the author of “Sociopsychonomics”, and Noceeba Southern, administrative law judge, former state court judge and federal prosecutor.
I am going to try and read the book by Richard Rothstein.
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U.S. owes black people reparations for a history of ‘racial terrorism,’ says U.N. panel
By Ishaan Tharoor September 27, 2016, WorldViews, The Washington Post
The history of slavery in the United States justifies reparations for African Americans, argues a recent report by a U.N.-affiliated group based in Geneva.
This conclusion was part of a study by the United Nations’ Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, a body that reports to the international organization’s High Commissioner on Human Rights. The group of experts, which includes leading human rights lawyers from around the world, presented its findings to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday, pointing to the continuing link between present injustices and the dark chapters of American history………
There are many reasons why we have such a mass murder issue in our country but no matter how you look at it, it all starts with the human capacity to want to kill others. And whether you take away access to weapons this same capacity to kill others will still be here everyday along with the violent video games, prime time TV, movies, media, social media, and the streets we live on where taking and stealing for gain is becoming more and more a course of condition and a fact of life for many as our morals, social capacity, upbringing, culture, and mental state continue to degrade.
Wisconsin sheriff pens viral letter addressing the ‘root cause’ behind Parkland shooting
Mar 4, 2018 6:37 pm – TheBlaze
One Wisconsin sheriff believes the conversation in the wake of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14 is futile and will lead to no real solutions.
That debate has mostly centered on firearms — both for and against new regulations — and the National Rifle Association. There have been many reports about the failings of law enforcement ahead of the shooting, but the focus remains on the guns.
But Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt believes the root cause of the increased prevalence of mass shootings has yet to be thoroughly discussed. So he wrote a letter to his community addressing what he sees as the impetus of shootings like the one at MSD.
What did he say?
Schmidt began by pointing out that just a few decades ago, many high school students would have a hunting rifle in their vehicle in the school parking lot.
“So what has changed and more importantly how do we fix it?” Schmidt asked. “I think it is safe to say that there is no quick and easy solution.”
The sheriff stated the real solution is “obviously very complex,” but begins with “our youth lacking basic skills including respect for authority figures like parents and teachers, the ability to cope with conflict and the ability to handle rejection.”
“I believe it is imperative that we raise our children in a manner that instills respect for authority. While we all love our children, we need to get back to a society of parents who expect a level of respect toward both them and others in authority, including teachers,” Schmidt wrote. “Discipline needs to be reintegrated into our society. Parents, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t reasonably discipline your child in a non-abusive manner.”
“Teachers need to have the support of parents when they make disciplinary decisions and parents need to resist the urge of running to the defense of their children when a teacher feels the need to discipline. It undermines their authority and will likely be treated as an example for actions toward others in authority in the future,” he added.
The sheriff also pointed to the “participation trophy” culture as part of the root cause.
“While no one wants their child to ever be disappointed or upset, when they are young, they need to face conflict and disappointment and learn to resolve it appropriately under the guidance of adults. It is part of developing their personality and dealing with conflict in the future,” Schimdt explained.
He ended the letter by explaining that his intention in writing the letter was not to place blame on anyone. Instead, he wants to have a conversation about the real cause of the problem so that real solutions can be found and real progress made.
Read the full letter below:
Following every mass killing, I ask myself, what has happened to our society? I also wonder what the solution is to ensure our families do not become future victims.
Many have pointed out that years ago, people would go to school and have hunting rifles in their vehicles. Yet, mass violence in schools and other locations did not happen as in society today. It makes me think that there must be a root cause that we are not addressing that has led to this change.
So what has changed and more importantly how do we fix it? Media reports of school walk-outs and gun control discussions are becoming more prevalent than ever, all in an effort to find a quick and easy solution. I think it is safe to say that there is no quick and easy solution.
I think perhaps we are not evaluating the true root cause which is obviously very complex. We must make efforts to change our society as a whole. It’s my belief that the root cause starts with our youth lacking basic skills including respect for authority figures like parents and teachers, the ability to cope with conflict and the ability to handle rejection. Further issues like mental health and alcohol/drug use also play a role, but column length restrictions limit my ability to cover all aspects of the root cause today.
I believe it is imperative that we raise our children in a manner that instills respect for authority. While we all love our children, we need to get back to a society of parents who expect a level of respect toward both them and others in authority, including teachers. Discipline needs to be reintegrated into our society. Parents, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t reasonably discipline your child in a non-abusive manner. Teachers need to have the support of parents when they make disciplinary decisions and parents need to resist the urge of running to the defense of their children when a teacher feels the need to discipline. It undermines their authority and will likely be treated as an example for actions toward others in authority in the future.
What about inability to cope or handle rejection? For years we have watched as competition has been replaced by participation awards that are given to make children feel good. While no one wants their child to ever be disappointed or upset, when they are young, they need to face conflict and disappointment and learn to resolve it appropriately under the guidance of adults. It is part of developing their personality and dealing with conflict in the future. When youth are not taught how to handle difficult situations, they must find their own way to cope, which without guidance may be result in unhealthy or even dangerous future behavior. I am no expert and am merely giving an opinion of what I have seen in my own experience, but I feel that my opinions have merit as I have witnessed people dealing with difficult situations at the worst times of their lives.
My point in writing this is not to place blame but rather to start conversations on what truly is the root cause of violence in society. Many have strong opinions about gun control but realistically gun control will do nothing more than place a very small band aid on a much bigger problem. It is imperative that we have serious discussions on what we can do to change the norms of our society and positively impact the decisions our youth make. It’s time to refocus our energy to affect long lasting change so that we can keep Dodge County a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and visit.
Sheriff Dale J. Schmidt
A good read. I like to read varying viewpoints and although not quite on board as to what the writer has to say his point is spot on in that why would any citizen need an AR-15 but we will continue to have these “tools” or “toys” until we get our legislators to come up with a clear and concise definition of the “right to bear arms”. I disagree that the constitution is a malleable document, it is a document that takes a process, a process that starts with the people going to their state representatives and demanding that they make a change on this entire gun control issue. The process needs to be carried forward and either an amendment is presented to address what we all shall consider as a viable definition for today’s society. Until that time, passing gun control laws will only be an article coded on paper because the real issue is these guns will always be readily available in our American society and until we can all digest and truly try to figure out why we as Americans crave this desire, we will continue to have a free flow of guns available to people wanting to do kill people.
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“Fuck you, I like guns.”
Posted on February 15, 2018
Wordpress: Engineering, Parenthood, and a Solid Attempt at Adult Status
https://agingmillennialengineer.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/fuck-you-i-like-guns-2/
Five decades ago, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated because they thought that bullet would silence his words. Well he hasn’t been silenced and although there is still disparity among races, cultures and religion, we must remember that using violence to promote equality does not carry long and will ultimately divide us further. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself believed in the use of peaceful demonstrations, acting with love and calm.
Myself when I look at you for the first time, yes I see your color, yes I see how you dress, yes I see your body language, and yes I see you making the same observations of me. I converse with you next and my beliefs, values, upbringing, and perceptions linger in the background. I listen to you, I learn about you, we find common ground, we communicate, our color fades, our perceptions fade, we find we are the same, we find similar but separate paths, we share, we compare – we converse. This is what I always bring to the table. Most times I am successful, sometimes not. I don’t get upset because I believe, I believe that we all at our core believe in “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
Make it a practice to converse with someone outside your “click” and comfort zone. This is how I was brought up and is my take as a white man on what Martin Luther King Jr believed in that all are created equal and all should be treated with respect, dignity, and without hate or bias. – SETII 01/15/2018
DACA – We should not penalize these now adults holding jobs, owning homes, raising families, productive members of our country just because their parents brought them illegally into our country. Former President Obama was compassionate and realized the value these people have since contributed to our country when he passed the executive order allowing them to stay.
But we must not forget the wording of this order and that it does specifically state deferred action for a period of two years subject to renewal and does not provide lawful status.
As usual and typical of our government we do things half ass and although our former President had good intentions he only prolonged the inevitable.
What Is DACA:
On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful status.
I think that the statement is true. If we are going to be about that abortion is wrong and that all children should be born, then let’s step forward and see how those children are going to be cared for. We have many unwanted births in the world with many tools to prevent conception in the first place and even tools to terminate the pregnancy with in a reasonable time. Our culture and spiritual beliefs are dated at best and need to be explored as we continue to populate our world. Especially when we are basically at the verge of our food capacity as we speak. I for one thinking globally, will not sacrifice the quality of my life going forward to be sure that we conceive and populate at every possible moment. We have tools and resources and they need to be used as well as identifying how we as a species are going to continue to live on the small planet that we are on within the current resources we have to sustain ourselves.
Regarding food production: There is waste in all food production from home cooking up the chain but let’s really explore why we are having bacteria and such in our food production and the fact that we are living more and more on genetically altered foods in order to increase food production. We already live in a world where the more privileged can populate with comfort while millions in the world populate without. Discussion can go on but I like the statement that we have many choices in bringing a child into the world and those choices should include the thought of how that child is going to be raised. At the end, one shouldn’t be having children because they biologically can, but rather they should have children because they are prepared to do so.
Menschheit: A prospective from Stanley E Thornburgh II 