Survival/Disaster Situation

Something I don't think many Americans think about is a "without law situation" (WLS). I'm not talking about zombies or aliens attacking, I'm talking about natural disasters, like what we've seen at Japan and what we've experienced in our own country during Katrina. The basic situation is when all utilities and signs of civilization are down, nothing works, nobody is open (assuming there's even shops and buildings still standing), and it's every man for himself. Some may call me paranoid for thinking about these things, but wake up and look at our world. We are this is "bubble" of safety here in America, do you think that'll always last forever all the time? Katrina, the '94 quake, and countless other examples prove otherwise. Here's my main concerns:

-Huge natural disaster

-Loss of electricity for extended amounts of time

-Terrorist EMP device knocking out the power grid and all electronics over a huge area

-NBC (Nuclear, biological, chemical) threat via a dirty bomb, virus, or actual nuclear device

-Although highly unlikely, nuclear power plant suffers from a violent meltdown; radiation threat

WHAT YOU NEED

I think in any of those situations, there's a couple things you need. This is not an exhaustive list, the list really could go on, but these are six things I think are critical in any survival situation.

1) Water

It's the essential necessity of life. You can only survive an average of 3 days without it, give or take a day or two depending on your body, conditions, and exertion. Water also needs to be pure because if it has bacterias or cultures in it then you will become sick, which just make things worse. It also has to be free of radiation, which is a problem we're seeing in Japan, and it can't be tainted with chemicals and cannot be filled with salt like the ocean. Just think about how specific that water needs to be for safe human consumption. It's not a bad idea to stock up on bottled water or other form of stored, properly sealed water. It's not a bad idea to invest on water purification tablets either, I have enough to last for 60 days of purifying my own water. That's more than enough for myself, or just enough to support a sizable group of survivors. Another thing that can be done is to get water from the cleanest natural source possible and purify it by filtering it and boiling it to kill off anything in the water that could harm you.

Examples: During hurricane Katrina, the water was completely polluted because of all the oil, fuel, dead bodies, chemicals, and sewage contaminating it. Many survivors said it actually burned them to stand in it or get wet in due to all the diesel fuel and other toxins in the water. Also, in Japan, it's been realized that radioactive iodine has contaminated the water, and has even reached unsafe levels of consumption for toddlers and babies. Ingesting radiation is never a good thing. This goes to show that you may not be able to trust the natural water sources around you because they may not be secure, so stocking up on a sizable water supply is wise.

2) Food

You can go much longer without food than you can without water, but you need both. Food will give you energy, provide strength, and in many instances of survival has proven to be a source of motivation and happiness. It's always a good idea to stock up on canned food items and other sealed, preserved foodstuffs. Just like with water, you cannot always trust in the local food sources to support you. Investing in military-grade MREs is also not a bad idea, they are high-calorie meal systems that are perfect for this kind of situation. MREs and other sealed foods are perfect, and it doesn't hurt to have a good amount of preserved food in case you need to help out your neighbors and others. I remember as a child during the '94 quake, In N Out sent out their mobile teams everywhere and began making free In N Out for anyone and everyone. They just wanted to supply the areas with food and they didn't care about the costs. We cannot always count on peoples' goodwill and charity in the event everything goes to hell. On the contrast, I remember going to the grocery store and a store worker, standing there with an apron and assault rifle, was standing out front. Looting was a serious thing to be worried about. Either way, don't take food for granted, stock up on your own.

3) Firearms

After all this is the blog of an American Rifleman. And this is America. And we are humans. I won't go crazy with this topic, but there have been many instances in American history where self defense was paramount, just look at the founding of our country.

Survival is a fight against the elements, against not having usual amount of supplies, not having solid resources, and can even be a fight against your fellow man. Why be only concerned about things such as food and water, while not being concerned about mankind?

Examples: During Katrina, "rape and loot" gangs banded together and roamed the parts of the city they could get to. Neighborhoods and areas were cut off from police and law and order for weeks at a time. They had nobody to count on besides themselves. Nobody was out there looking out for their safety, they had to take care of themselves. Neighborhoods banded together and formed militias of good law-abiding citizens, who stood watch day and night protecting their neighborhood and helping distribute and ration supplies till help arrived. And yes, they were armed with their own guns. There are a number of people that wouldn't be alive today if it were not for their use of guns to preserve their life and the lives of others.

You don't need to have a crazy arsenal of dozens of guns or a whole basement full of ammunition, that's not the point. You just need a trusty gun and a box or two of ammunition and that'll get you through the day. In a situation like this, I wouldn't anticipate getting into any firefights or battles, firearms would serve a self defense purpose. Most of the time, when somebody has to draw their gun to defend themselves, they never have to fire a shot. Just the presentation of the gun is enough to ward off a rapist, attacker, or killer. Pulling the trigger is the absolute last and worst-case scenario, but being able and capable of doing so is paramount to survival anywhere.

I kind of view this like getting drunk at a party full of strangers. It is highly unwise to get drunk at a party with a lot of strangers on many different levels. You are basically putting your safety and well-being in the hands of whoever happens to be around you. So you can either hope the people around you are good people, or you can just not get drunk to ensure you are in control of your own situation and no one else is. You don't know who is out there in the world and what their intentions are, life is too important to leave it up to whoever is around you. Take an active role in your own protection and preservation, especially in a disaster situation.

Besides protection against human intruders, you should also keep the animal threat in mind depending on the disaster and your location. Some areas have high concentrations of animals that could harm you. Even with that aside, you could still use your gun to hunt and get your own dinner if the food supplies run out. Firearms serve many purposes in a survival situation, they are truly an instrument of survival in every respect of the word.

4) Survival Attitude

There have been many times and instances when hikers or travelers have been stranded and had to rely on their own perseverance and skill to survive. Sometimes rescuers have found stranded people still alive in conditions where there was no reason they should have survived. Some people have been put in hard survival situations, where they had no supplies, no hope, and no chance of survival, but they still survived. And rescuers have also found people that had plenty of supplies and a great chance of survival but they still died. What's the difference? What's the point? It's the survival attitude. When you're in a survival situation, failure doesn't mean a bad grade on a test or getting grounded, it means dying. Death. You need to believe, with every fiber in your being, that failure is not an option you are willing to entertain. Survivors are fighters, they take a proactive and resolute approach in securing their safety. Pessimists and downers almost never make it out. If there's no survival mindset then there is survival nowhere.

Be hopeful, be diligent, and work hard at taking a proactive approach to getting rescued or surviving the disaster. It also helps to have a sense of humor and play. Survival is not all business. Keeping a cool, calm, and relaxed demeanor is vital. Don't be afraid to make jokes, have fun, or even play a game or have fun if you can spare the energy. Most likely you'll have a lot of time on your hands, so you should fill it up with something progressive, fun, entertaining, or mentally engaging. Don't just lay around all day and mope around, get involved in doing something that will keep you busy and keep your mind well away from worry. Help who you can too. We can get great joy from helping people and serving others, so do that as much as you can afford. In an absolute desperate situation, this may not be possible, but for most survival situations you can get involved in helping others without risking your supplies or safety.

5) Friends

There have been some survival instances in which people were stranded by themselves for extended periods of time. Friends are not totally essential but they help a great deal. As humans, we are social animals. We rely on other human interaction not just for entertainment but for companionship and even development. It's very important to keep that human interaction alive and strong during a survival situation. If you're caught in a survival situation by yourself, you need to keep up this social behavior somehow. If you've ever seen the movie "Castaway" with Tom Hanks, you know that he made a human surrogate from a volley ball with a face on it. He talked to his "friend" Wilson. Obviously Wilson didn't talk back, he was just a ball with a face painted on it. But the key thing here is the human emotional needs of social interaction and attachment were being fulfilled. Talking to yourself, outlining the survival plan, debating a topic of interest, doing basic math in the dirt/sand, or remembering and discussing your favorite books or public figures also helps. If I were to make my own "Wilson" ball, start talking to myself, and doing all those things right now I would probably be labeled as crazy or insane because I probably would be. These kinds of measures are only necessary when human interaction is not possible for extended periods of time. You'd be surprised what a couple simple things could do to improve and maintain your mental health in a survival situation.

6) Shelter

Having a secure shelter is also critical. You need a place that you can survive out of for extended periods of time. Sometimes, like in the '94 quake, houses were so damaged (like ours) that living inside them was no longer a safe option. Pitching a tent or sleeping in a car was the safe plan of action. The overall theme behind this is you want a shelter that can keep you from the elements so you don't freeze, get sunburned, etc. It's a place where you can operate out of and it needs to be secure. There are many different types of hasty shelters and things like that, but in all honesty the sky is the limit. If you're in one area for an extended amount of time, then make sure you make plans of where the latrine is. Keep it away from where you eat, your food, your water, and keep it away from your shelter in general. The best thing to do is either bury or burn human waste, but whatever you do make sure you keep it far enough away from where you live and where/what you eat and drink.

Now, depending on the situation, you may have to be on the move. In the worst types of situations, you make have to be on the move or stationary all while trying to lay low under the radar and live undetected. Covering your tracks, cleaning up after yourself, and leaving things the way you found it are crucial. This is when we encounter the difference between open survival and closed survival. In open survival, you want to be rescued. You purposely find bright-colored objects and mark your position or arrange lettering to let people know from the sky that you are alive. You may burn a huge fire to put up smoke, or make noise, or do whatever you can think of to draw attention to yourself. In closed survival, it may be critical to hang low and go unnoticed. The only thing that comes to mind is something like "Red Dawn" in which an invading Army takes over territory on our own soil, and a resistance army of fighters needed to hang low and undetected to continue fighting the enemy. This type of survival may not be as common but is still something to think about.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER

Here's a list of things to think about:

-Where am I going to sleep?

-What am I going to eat?

-Where can I find water around here?

-Am I under a human threat?

-Am I under an animal threat?

-With what I have on hand, how long could this last me?

-Does anyone need help in my area?

-Do I have anything to mark my area to let people know I'm here?

-Who knows I'm out here?

-Do I want to make my position obvious or is there a threat that prevents me from doing so?

-In other words, is this "open" or "closed" survival?

-What are my biggest problems/concerns?

-What am I going to do to solve them?

-What is the overall plan of action?

The list could go on about other things just as important, but these are the most basic ones I can think of.

PACK-RAT/MOBILITY CONCEPT

Something that should be noted is what I call the pack-rat/mobility concept. This all depends on what type of situation it is. In a Katrina-type situation, people took a stand in their homes and operated and survived out of their homes. In a situation like that, it would be wise to stock up on supplies and consolidate it in your home. You know you aren't leaving that same location for a long while, so consolidation and acquisition of resources is paramount. The main disadvantages to this is that everyone knows you are living there, so if anyone wants to steal your stuff they know where to go for supplies.

Some situations are not always like that though, you may have to be on the move. A situation like this would be like a nuclear plant nearby has suffered great problems, and you have to constantly be on the move as far away from it as possible. Or the even less plausible but still possible situation of a "Red Dawn"-like invasion. In this case, every ounce of weight on your person should be thoroughly scrutinized and thought over. You should only pack what you absolutely need because the more weight you carry the more energy you exert to carry it, and the more tired you will get. It will also hamper your mobility if you're weighed down very heavily, especially if you have to cover rough terrain to stay "off the beaten path." In this case I'd only take once firearm and it'd be a gun that shoots a common caliber that I could acquire anywhere easily. It'd have to be light so I could easily carry it without it dragging me down. I'd also carry basic provisions and a good amount of water, but I'd mainly carry purification tablets to deal with the problem in a long-term way. Rather than fill up my pack with lots of food, I'd carry a little more ammunition to hunt with, but just enough for basic hunting and defense, I'd have to scrounge more ammo later. It's good to have a whole basement full of guns, ammo, water, food, and supplies, but none of that is going to be worth anything if you have to evacuate and get out of there, you will only be able to take whatever you can carry, so whatever you decide to carry needs to be absolutely valuable and vital to the mission of survival.

Our Financial Situation

Hello everyone,

I wanted to write today about our financial situation as Americans and on a global scale. It seems that everybody is having a rough time (well not "everybody") during these times. Our declared unemployment rate is at 17% and rising, and our national deficit is the highest it's ever been in our history as a nation. All around the world, there are riots due to loss of benefits, lower wages, and high unemployment rates. Some say the economy is going up, but the situation is getting worse in my opinion. I would consider myself an optimistic person -the best way to describe my outlook would be as a realist looking at the world through an optimistic lens. I hope things may happen and I work towards them, but I also know that there are limitations on what can be accomplished.

BENEFITS

With all of that said, I want to hit a couple points. The first is "Benefits." I hate the word "Benefits." I hate everything the word implies in our modern society. I hate what it does to people and I hate what people expect from "Benefits."

I remember in high school we had the great Californian grocery store strike. The grocery stores all decided that the times were getting tougher, financially speaking, and decided that the health insurance benefits that they were giving to all of their employees had to go. Grocery store employees had become so accustomed to receiving health insurance with their job that they all went on strike and blocked off the doors to the grocery stores.

Why did I mention all of that? I am tired of this notion that by simply performing an hourly job, that we are all entitled to benefits. Health insurance, dental, and all the works should come with an hourly job? If I work for an hourly rate at the grocery store or at Target or Wal*Mart, what am I doing for the company or my community that is so vital that I am deserving of benefits? If I'm a rocket scientist, or a teacher, or a fireman, or a soldier, or something that serves the community, I would believe that benefits would most likely be in order, but not for just an hourly job. And yes, it is job discrimination, I am discriminating which jobs serve our community verses the jobs that really just deserve having a full bill of benefits.

I believe in the age-old American "self-made" spirit, that we are not deserving of anything, we should just get as much education and training as we can and earn our way up the ladder of society. We shouldn't demand free hand outs or demand that somebody pay for our health bills and insurance, we should go out and earn it.

EARNING THINGS

It seems that the idea of actually earning something these days is dying away. I know it may be hard to contemplate and understand for those that feel that we are entitled to free things, but we must earn what we have and the "benefits" that we get. I believe that a great range of jobs should come with benefits for both the worker and their family, but there are also jobs that should not come with a full range of benefits. Working at the grocery store or as a cashier somewhere are two main examples I can think of. I am also not "ok" with McDonalds workers getting benefits either, but there are some that believe they are "entitled" to benefits because they flip burgers.

My Grandmother, like many other immigrants to this country, came through Ellis Island from England and was dumped off on the streets of Brooklyn with only $57 American dollars in her pocket and no connections. Through hard work, stead-fast determination, and an unwavering desire to succeed, my Grandmother and countless immigrants like her eventually earned success. She never demanded that somebody pay her health bills and neither should we. The Founding Fathers never felt that they were entitled to anything, in fact they believed they should be free from their host country to earn their own success and happiness on their own.

DEBT

Whoever controls the debt controls the power. Debt and the accumulation of debt has become a huge trend in today's society. Credit cards are the worst sources of debt for most Americans suffering with debt. I myself also have debt. I have no credit card debt, I don't even have a credit card, and I will never get one, no matter what happens. I have loan debt that I used to pay for my education, but the money I used was an investment for my future and do not see it in the same light as credit card debt. But regardless of the situation, I do have debt but I have a plan to pay it off and it is an investment for my future.

The way credit cards are supposed to work is you are supposed to use a credit card to buy things that you can actually afford by the end of the month. At the end of the month, when you gather all of your finances and pay checks, you use them to pay off whatever debt you gathered on your credit card for that month. You did not have the money at the time of purchase, but by the end of the month or by the time you get your paycheck, you pay off whatever you spent on the credit card and you are back to being debt-free.

Credit cards can also be used in time of emergency, an example would be if your car needs an expensive repair then you can put it on the card and work your way at paying it off over the course of several months or so, however fast you can pay it off.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS

What actually happens with most credit card users is completely different and worse. Some people charge all kinds of things on the card, letting the debt balance build up overtime to incredible amounts. It's so easy to charge things on the card and not worry about it till later. The problem is, by the time "later" rolls around, interest has compounded and the actual cost the buyer must pay to cover old expenses is much higher than it would have cost to just pay it upfront in the first place. With interest, the amount owed gets worse. Every month, credit card companies send a "suggested" bill of how much the consumer should pay. If the consumer listens to this "suggested" rate, then it will take quite a while to pay off the actual debt. The best thing to do in that situation would be to pay more than the suggested bill to get ahead and avoid paying more interest than you absolutely have to. I'm not an Econ and Business major, but I know enough about how this stuff works to believe in one principle:

PAY AS YOU GO

"Pay as you go" is not new to America or American politics. It is my personal philosophy in terms of my personal finances (besides college loans of course). I don't buy anything unless I have the money to buy it and extra money to cover unexpected charges that could occur (such as emergencies and such). I will go without for weeks on end to make sure I do not borrow credited money to pay for things. I am not the best with money, but this is my sacred rule and my "golden rule" in terms of spending.

I think that more people should adopt the "pay as you go" philosophy, and I think if more people were concerned about "pay as you go" instead of buying the latest and greatest "whatever" then we'd have a lot less debt. The problem is that nobody is perfect and not everybody is concerned about their finances. Not everyone is a financial consultant, not everyone knows what's best to do with their money, and people make mistakes. I think it's worse now because people are saving money as much as they can, so a lot of money is not out in the market it's sitting in banks or under mattresses. If it's not sitting in a bank then the bank is loaning it out to people, making the problem worse. When you deposit money into a bank the bank sends most of your deposit right back out by loaning it to someone for some type of loan. This way, the bank "invents" money and makes interest off of loaning out your money. In turn, the bank pays you some interest on a yearly rate to "compensate" you for your donation to their monetary revenue. Last I remember from Econ 101, banks must keep 10 to 15 percent of your deposit, the rest they can loan out (and they do), but it varies by law and location.

WHAT TO DO?

I would recommend adopting "pay as you go" as your personal philosophy. Don't be in anyone's debt because whoever controls the debt has the power. They have power over your decisions and their power is enormous on a global scale. If you must be in debt, only do so as an investment for something greater down the road, and make sure you have a legitimate plan for paying off said investment. Try to save a little money in case your car does break down or there are emergencies. On the other hand though, don't be afraid to put money back into our economy. I shop at "mom and pop" shops whenever I can to help their businesses and put money back in our community's economy. Also, don't be afraid to put money in the bank. Some people save money under their mattress or in a closet or something, but if the house burns down then the money goes with it. Most banks are FDIC insured against things such as robbery up to $250,000 per an account, so that's plenty of guaranteed security for your money. Also, talk to a financial consultant. Most banks offer them for free, just be careful because they also are trying to suggest bank-supplied services, but beyond the advertising they do have sound advice to offer.

In terms of parenthood, don't have a million kids. I was reading about a family that just had their 20th child. The parents aren't rich but they aren't poor either, they have as many kids as they can financially support. I think it's irresponsible to bring a child into this world if you know you cannot financially handle them. Stuff does happen, but ultimately we control the act that causes pregnancy and if you don't want or can't afford children then abstain from sex, it's that important.

I'm not an expert, but I think if we all just take some responsibility and not buy things we can't afford, then I believe we will have less debt and ultimately help the economy.

A Couple Words on Race

It seems like today everyone in our society is worried about being "politically correct." What does the term "politically correct" mean? In short, it means phrasing things or doing things that are all-accomidating and non-specific as to make sure that no group of people or subject gets singled out.

To be frank, I'm tired of the obsession with political correctness that has overtaken our politicians and the media. Everyone is so worried about offending other people that they silence themselves and don't say what should be said (in some situations).

With that said I want to take a moment to discuss race in this country. Where are we at with race? How far have "we come" in terms of race relations?

First I want to start with the election of President Obama. I think we have moved on in our society to a point where it is acceptable for many Americans to have a black President. And yes, I use the word "black" and not "African American" because they are Americans. My family is from England, but that doesn't mean I should be referenced as an "English American."

First off, why is President Obama considered "black?" He's half white and half black, yet he is unquestionably and immediately called "black." Why can't he choose what he wants to be referred as? It's almost as if the ethnicity of "black" is being treated as something infectious or corrupting to something or someone that would otherwise be considered "white."

Personally, I would consider the Commander in Chief in fact black, at least genetically and ethnicity-wise, I just believe that these are questions we should be asking about our society.

This brings me to the great "double negative." It's okay for blacks to have a "Black Student Union," "Black History Month," "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People," a "United Negro College Fund," and so on. But what about whites? What do you think would happen in our society if a white student wanted to make a "White Student Union?" What do you think would happen if somebody wanted to initiate "White History Month?" What do you think would happen if whites had an association designed for the advancement of only white people? What would happen if we had a college fund that only awarded whites financial aid for college?

The truth is that it wouldn't happen, at least not in this society. And why? Because any of those initiatives would automatically and quickly be labeled as "racist" organizations. And who would be making those accusations? The National Association for the Advancement of COLORED PEOPLE. How does this make any sense? Why is it that the only group that still calls black people "colored people" is supposedly fighting for racial equality?

I would argue that they are not. I would argue that things such as the NAACP, Black History Month, Black Student Unions, and black-only organizations are actually getting in the way of racial equality. If we are on this grand American quest to make every race equal, then why do we have legalized separations between the races? Why do we have affirmative action, in which students with high grades will get declined to go to college due to their spots being filled by minority students with lower grades? I'm not saying that all minority students have low grades, I'm simply stating what affirmative action does. And it is LEGAL to discriminate. It's almost better to do worse!

I am no fan of affirmative action. Personally, I believe that college applications should be sent in without gender or race, just grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. The college selection boards shouldn't even be allowed to see the names of those applying, because names can give away both gender and race. After they have made their selections, then both gender and race should be revealed to the college acceptance boards. That way, colleges will get students with good work ethics and proven past success.

But how does it actually work? You submit your gender and ethnicity and colleges are given Federal-mandated quotas as to how many "multi-cultural" students they should enroll. Some colleges want the appearance of a "multi-cultural" school and will purposely accept students of ethnic backgrounds. In some cases, a low-transcript black or mexican female student will have a much better chance than a straight-A male white student.

Do you see what's happening in our society today? We are so worried about minorities getting oppressed that we have actually bounced backwards in the opposite direction. It is my belief that whites are beginning to be oppressed in some areas of this country. Making a statement like that would automatically make me a "racist." By simply saying how I feel about what is going on in our society, something I believe is actually happening, some would label me as a racist.

This anti-white symptom has gone so far that even defending myself against racial attack will make me a "racist." A person of another race can call me all kinds of racist "white names" but the moment I call a black man the "n-word" I will be called a racist. I'm not arguing that I should be allowing to call anyone the "n-word," I'm arguing that nobody should doing anything in the first place.

I believe that this obsession with making sure minorities are not oppressed has gone so far that whites are now being discriminated against. I believe that it's gotten to the point where we can be attacked with racist motives, yet we cannot respond or defend ourselves because we will then be labeled racists.

Back to affirmative action: what message is that sending to our kids? The Federal Government has made affirmative action legal, it's been that way for a while now. To me, affirmative action is sending a message that minorities are not "up to standard." That minorities are not as good as white people, so the Federal Government has to come in and give minorities a "leg-up" or a "crutch" to get on-par with whites. That's the message affirmative action is sending, and I think it's totally racist and discriminatory. That's in line with my belief that the organizations or initiatives that claim they are working towards the majestic dream of "racial equality" are actually working against it. For example, as I already stated, why does the NAACP claim they are for racial equality when they are the only people that still use the term "colored people?"

One of my most favorite actors, Morgan Freeman, has his own opinions about Black History Month. The truth is that Freeman despises Black History Month and has made the argument himself that he believes there should be a "White History Month" if there is a Black History Month. He believes that things such as Black History Month are actually getting in the way of racial equality, and I couldn't agree more.

This invasion is everywhere in our society. There is an all-black American pageant, only open to black women. In the American pageant, the contest is open to all women. God forbid anyone try to make a "white American pageant," everyone would go crazy.

I think this all comes down to the roots of the situation. For centuries in the past, whites have controlled, owned, and used blacks and other minorities. Whites were in control and the blacks were the slaves, even in our own country this was legal at one time. And now that we have progressed since these times, it has become a tidal wave. Everyone is so afraid of the slightest stench of whites over-powering minorities that they go out of their way to over-accommodate blacks and other minorities. And what's the end product of that? Whites are beginning to become oppressed and discriminated against.

A black rapper can use the "n-word" in his songs, yet the moment a white rapper or artist tries to use the "n-word" he would get killed. That hateful word took years of hard work and change through open minds and the efforts of people like Martin King, and it's a shame to see black people using the "n-word" without regard to how much suffering their previous ancestors endured in the hopes of getting rid of that word in our society.

I'm also tired of minorities claiming that it is the whites that create all the violence against blacks and other minorities, why are the "ghettos" the most dangerous places to be then? Most especially dangerous for whites to be in, there are parts of Los Angeles that you better not be in if you're white after the sun goes down or period.

I think the solution to racial equality is time and change. Change these initiatives and organizations, if we have the Federal Government handing out free money and assistance but only to certain races, then that's sending a message to our kids. If we have only black student unions and a black history month, then what is that saying to our kids? If we only have Cesar Chavez Day and Martin King Day, then what is that saying to our kids?

When Governor McDonnell was elected as the new governor of Virginia, one of the first things he did was declare April "Confederate Heritage Month." And of course he got massacred by the media onslaught of blacks and minorities going ape shit over the whole thing. Anyone that thinks the Civil War was only about slavery is too ignorant to even help or save. There was a lot behind that war, and many Virginians gave up their lives for their homeland of Virginia and their sacrifice should not be forgotten, even if they didn't win the war. History is written by the victors and the assassins, and if the Confederacy had won we would have had Confederate Heritage Month a long time ago, but that's a whole other topic.

So what am I saying after all of this? I'm saying that we are too concerned about offending people in this society and that we are so concerned about making sure that minorities aren't oppressed, that we end up oppressing whites in the end. I'm advocating for neither, I want us to all be equal. I don't want there to be associations that use the term "Colored People" or "Negro." I believe they are just getting in the way of achieving racial equality. I don't want associations that are for the advancement of only blacks, and if you happen to be white well then you can just take a hike, because they only advance blacks in society. That's fine, it's an interest group, they have the freedom to make a private group exclusive to certain people, let's just make our own then. Oh wait, we cannot, because if we did exactly what they did then we'd get destroyed by the media and cursed as racists. I could not make the "National Association for the Advancement of Honkeys." That just sounds absurd, doesn't it? That's exactly what the NAACP is, except for blacks. Don't believe it? Then wake up and smell the coffee.

I want racial equality, I want students to be accepted to colleges based off their merits and not their race, I want people to be hired or not hired based off their merits and not their race. I want racial equality, I just believe that there are many special interest groups out there that are getting in the way of accomplishing this. And the ironic thing is that the groups that are in the way of progress and change are the very same groups that claim to be in support of racial equality. They are only making it worse.

If you believe I am a racist after all of this, then the point just flew over your head. That WAS the point. To confront our race issue head-on and not sweep in under the carpet and take it sitting down. I'm tired of not being able to make a white student union or a white history month. I have no desire to do such things, but I am tired of living in a society where that is not possible because of the one-sided backlash that would occur. To be more direct, I am tired of living in a society WITH a Black History Month and WITH the NAACP and WITH affirmative action and WITH all the other obstacles that are in the way of progress and equality.

Hopefully this gave you something to think about. The next time you see anything racially-involved in the news, take a second look at it. Filter what you hear and think on your own. Question everything, even my blogs, don't take anything to heart without looking into it and making sure it is what it is said to be. Look at these organizations that claim to be for something, and you'll be surprised to find that in the end they are actually against what they say they are for, whether they intend it to be so or not.

America Today

Hello Everyone,

I think there's a topic we all think about every now and then but rarely discuss with each other, and I believe this topic needs some attention. Where are we going as a country today?

The answer isn't simple and it varies from person to person, but I'll offer what I believe is going on with America. I was prompted to write this blog from a conversation my history professor and I had. He said "some people study the past so much they get stuck there, and then they begin to believe that the only good things are things that have passed."

His statement got me thinking about a lot of things. The first main theme I began to think about was the good things I wish we still had in this country.

SCRAP METAL AND GREASE

During World War II kids would walk around the streets and neighborhoods with their red ryder wagons, they were not playing, they were collecting scrap metal. Families were growing "Victory Gardens" in hopes of limiting the amount of goods bought to conserve on foodstuffs and supplies. Women put down the dishes, took off the aprons, and put on leather gloves, overalls, and welders masks and began making munitions and weaponry for their men abroad. When they cooked they would save their fats because the fats in left over kitchen grease can be used to make glycerin, a key component in bombs and explosives. Junkyards were overhalled and piles of metal were taken against the will of the owners to make equipment. People made do with old, bald, and worn tires to save on rubber production. The list goes on but the point I'm making is that during the war Americans did everything they could to conserve on everything possible. They did it not to save money (although it was a nice by-product), but they did these things as their patriotic duty. They saw it as their patriotic duty to pay taxes, buy war bonds, conserve, and go without.

WORKING AT TARGET

I used to be a cashier at Target and I began to get disgusted with people as I worked this job. I would scan items so people could buy them, and these were cartloads of items these people didn't need. Who needs a fashionable-looking toothbrush holder when a basic one could do? What about making one yourself, what happened to that? What happened to just sucking it up and putting your toothbrush in a holder or in a drawer? I got fed up with people who didn't seem to care that there was a war on and wives going on a spending binge always telling me very often "my husband is going to kill me." The women aren't just to blame, what about the guys buying all the electronics and clothes they know they'll never wear?

The point I'm trying to make is that I would behind my counter and scan items for people who bought things in this little world we all existed in, for just a moment, in which it seemed there was no such thing as world hunger or a war where people were dying every day. They'd buy their expensive crap they didn't need, pack it in their lexus or BMW vehicles (I lived in Southern California for a time), then drive off to their expensive town house or home and decorate it with their junk. So what am I getting at? Would I like us to be more conscience about the money we spend and the decisions we make? Yes, absolutely. Do I wish we had more concern about what was going on in the world? Yes of course.

PATRIOTISM

I think we are so caught in our free-entreprise system that we forget that we are all in it together as one nation. There are still many patriotic Americans in this country, but I just wish there were many more. Maybe I'm a rare case, but I love my country more than I've ever loved anything in my life, including family, friends, and girlfriends. I love America to death, and I would face death to save her. I would face death if she asked it of me, and I would do so with others behind, next to, and in front of me. We have never been perfect, America does have many issues, but I believe in what we are doing as a country. I believe that we are, as President Reagan said, 'the last bastion of freedom' in this world. I believe in the American dream, I believe in it and think of it everyday. Start with nothing and through hard work, dedication, and raw assertion you can "be whatever you resolve to be by the grace of God." My grandmother came through Elis Island with her mother from England, then got dumped off in Brooklyn with $54 to their name with no connections whatsoever. They started with nothing and ended up with everything, and by everything I mean financial stability, something to be proud of, and family. Work hard, pay your dues, keep your eye on the prize, and keep your self and you will make it. That's what I believe in, and I just wish more Americans did too.

THE CONDITIONS

I think through the decades leading into the 21st Century we have lost some of our age-old American spirit of the "self-made man/woman." People are easily able to blame their own problems on other sources, sue people at the drop of a hat, and complain if things aren't exactly right to their liking. I'm not a fan of people believing that every little accomidation should be given to them in this world. I believe you must react to the world, not it to you. As I write this I know that there are many Americans that still believe that nothing is handed to them and that they don't deserve to think for even a second that the world revolves around them. They work hard, most especially when no one is watching, and they fight for every last penny to pay for the food or books or whatever they or their family needs to survive. Part of the American experience, in my opinion, should be hard. I believe we all need to have a point in our lives when we think it could not possibly get worse. I believe we all need to experience absolute Hell. I believe we need this because it will make us stronger and show us that the world is not sugar coated and happy all the time. As Winston Churchill said, 'when you're in hell, keep going.' It teaches us to push through. When you reach an obstacle, beat the hell out of it, shove it out of the way, kick it in the ass, or destroy it, but NEVER let it get in your way of achieving your dreams, whatever they may be. We have the right to pursue our happiness but we must supply our own ammunition in securing that right.

SO WHAT ABOUT IT?

I believe this country is still full of a lot of great Americans that are willing to put a lot on the line for the better of the country. I believe there are still millions of Americans with the "get it done" mindset, that don't have time for bickering or complaining and just get it done. I believe Americans are competitive people, in the words of General Patton we "don't tolerate a loser." If we want something we make it happen and don't care what people think, we just get it done. We have a natural distrust for anything acting in the "interest for our safety and happiness." As Americans we believe we have unalienable rights that nobody can take away. We believe we are doing good for the world and we believe we have the capacity and ability to WIN and do what's right. I believe these things, without a doubt. It's how I live. It's who I am.

CHANGES

I am suspicious of dramatic, quick change, yes I'll admit it. I do believe some things that are gone were good and should still be in place. I am also glad some themes from our past are dead and gone. I am glad a black man can sit at the same table I can at a bar or use the same drinking fountain I can. I am glad a woman can vote. Although I did not vote for our current President and I do not favor most of his decisions, I am enthralled and elated that we have reached the point where a black man can not only get the nomination for the US Presidency, but he can WIN. I am glad that we have more equality in this country than we have ever had at any point in our history. I am glad that not only do we talk the talk of "all men created equal," but we are more and more closer to walking the walk every day.

IN THE END

In the end, I am proud to be an American. I love my country and I may not agree with all the things happening within it but I realize that we have something unique here people. In this country we have what no other country has. We have such a diverse population with diverse culutral aspects, and I believe this diversity and equal appreciation is what makes us strong. It's why we do so well in the Olympics, it's why we are responsible for many uncountable influencial inventions, and it's why we don't give up. "Give me your poor, you're tired, and your weak" and we will provide the conditions for them to become anything. Yes, that is my country, and in the words of Daniel Webster "I was born and American, I shall live as an American, and I will die as an American!" I love this country so much and I ask that you do what you can to better it. No contribution is too small, no effort is pointless. I believe before we make our millions and start our American dream, we should give back to the country and its people that make it possible.

CLOSING COMMENTS

I urge you all to keep the fire burning. What was it you wanted to be when you were a kid? What did you want to do with your life? What do you want to do with your life? Who or what do you wish you could be? A job is not what we do, it's who we are. BE who you want to be. Don't put up with the norm, don't let life fly by with nothing to say for yourself. Don't be content with the usual, the mundane, and the simple. Be who you want to be and strive to better your situation. Live each day like you've got none left. I ask myself every night that if I passed away in the night, would I be content with my life so far? I have never answered "yes." Keep dreaming, keep living, but most importantly KEEP FIGHTING. God Bless America.

Sheep, Wovles, and Sheep Dogs

I finally turned 21 last month, and one of the first orders of business was getting my concealed carry permit (after going to the local watering hole of course).

The course I took is offered every moth at Gander Mountain near Roanoke by a certified and licensed trainer. She's an older lady but she knew a lot and taught the class well. Even if you don't want to get your concealed carry permit, I recomend going to this class.

It first started with her walking in wearing a jacket... in the middle of summer. She stared at all of us for several minutes and it was real quiet. I still had sweat dripping down my forehead from the heat outside, but she was cool, calm, and collected. She finally spoke. "In life there are the sheep. They sit around, they eat, they sleep, they shit everywhere in the field and they don't give a damn what happens. They just float through life and go on with their business. They don't care much about anything beyond their own concerns or affairs." We all just at there and were wondering where this was going. "And there are the wolves. Whenever the wolves come around, and they will... the wolves hunt and attack the sheep. They do this for food, for gain, or just for fun. They do this because they want something from the sheep, and they have the means to do it." We all just sat there, but at this point we realized she was talking about the innocent people of society (the sheep) and the criminals, murderers, and rapists of society (the wolves). She continued, "and then there are the sheep dogs. The sheep dogs protect the sheep, whether or not the sheep know they are there. The burden and responsiblity of defense and protection is theirs to bear. They are pacifistic and calm, until the wolves come around. When the wolves come around to attack the sheep, the sheep dog is the most violent, agressive, destructive son a' bitch on the field. Ladies and gentlemen, you are training to become a sheep dog."

After that kind of opening, she showed us the various different ways you can carry different kinds of handguns on your person. She had about five to six handguns on her person and in her jacket, ranging from a small Ruger LCP to a 1911 .45 ACP her husband used at Inchon. To be frank, this lady was from the badassery department. We were paying attention.

She discussed the levels of alertness:

UNAWARE
-headphones in, listening to music, or distracted. Reading a paper while not paying attention to what's going on around you. Day dreaming or not paying attention, somebody could come up and attack you easily if you're in a hidden place or away from others.

AWARE
-You know what's happening around you, you aren't distracted with texting, listening to music, or reading, you know what's happening around you, you have situational awareness.

ALERT
-You are AWARE, but you realize there is a potentially dangerous situation that could develope. Your heart rate may pick up a little bit, you may get nervous. Somebody looks sketchy or looks like they are about to try to pull something. You realize there is possible danger that could be on the horizon very shortly.

ALARMED
-Danger is for sure present. Whether you want it or not, danger is upon you, and you must now act accordingly. You are not comfortable, you may be nervous, your heart rate is racing, and you probably have to make some serious decisions. In fact, most likely if you do not act by either tacking a stand and being an active responder, or by fleeing, you probably risk danger to yourself or others.

As a concealed carry permit holder, you must NEVER be UNAWARE, and you must ALWAYS try to avoid being in the ALARMED state, you must avoid placing yourself in dangerous situations, but sometimes danger comes to us no matter how much we try to prevent it, hence the concealed carry permit.

How do you prevent putting yourself in danger?

Try not to park in dark parking lots that are far away from the store or place you want to visit. Don't travel alone late at night. If you are going to a bad part of town, try to do it during the day and bring a friend. Always have your cell phone charged and on, in case you ever have to dial 911 to prevent or report something, I learned that one myself the hard way. If threatened or confronted by a criminal, don't try to be the hero, just give them what they want and call 911 after they go unless they are being violent and you don't think they'll leave you be and may be interested in kidnapping or harming you. Always be aware, never be in the "unaware" state.

"The Patriot"

I have the great fortune to have an exchange roommate from the Lithuanian Military Academy, and we have taken him under our wing this semester to show him what "Badass American culture" is all about. His name is Tomas Mecelis, and part of his American experience comes from us selecting and showing certain "Badass crazy movies of America" to him to show him the movies we like to watch. He had never seen "Saving Private Ryan," so needless to say we had some work to do.

Tomas and I on a field exercise, we were also given the privilege of being in the same squad for FTX.

One of these movies we showed him was Mel Gibson's "The Patriot." For those that aren't familiar with "The Patriot," it is the story of a man's fight against Great Britain as a militia Colonel while also trying to juggle being a father during the war for our independence. I had a truly remarkable moment when Tom asked me during the movie "where do these guys get the guns from?" I instantly knew what Tom was asking. In Lithuania, the citizens are not allowed to own guns and in order to even go hunting they must go through strict, thorough, and almost impossible government red tape to be authorized to use a firearm for any reason, let alone own one.

Tom was asking where the people were allowed to get their guns from, and I told Tom the truth. In the early days of this nation, right up till we were actually a "nation," our Founding Fathers and other colonists possessed and used personally-owned firearms for protection and as a means to provide food. Firearms were a common part of everyday life, and I didn't realize it until now but in "The Patriot" you can see traces of this fact in the movie. In the movie, colonists are always carrying firearms or have one by their side, even in non-military situations. From standing watch on the porch at night, to driving a carriage into town to go to church, you can see right away that firearms were a common part of everyday life. In fact, Thomas Jefferson once remarked that whenever he went for a walk he packed a pistol for personal protection to keep his mind at ease. Firearms were regarded as protection devices and tools, and used correctly they could save your life or provide for it.

This brings me back to Tom's original question. Tom was amazed that the citizens were able to resist their tyrannical government and he was especially surprised that the citizens all had guns. Obviously "The Patriot" is a movie, but even with the special effects and dramatic plot line I believe the movie captured the concept of firearms and the citizenry. Not only did our Founding Fathers have guns, they used them against their tyrannical government to earn something greater than themselves: FREEDOM. This all sounds like patriotic rhetoric, but ladies and gentlemen we cannot forget what has been done for us so that we may live.

We have firearms so that we can protect ourselves from any threat or threats that would try to take our freedoms, our safety, or our lives from us. I am always amazed that people debate whether the 2nd Amendment was intended for private citizens to own firearms, do those people not know the history of this country?

I love my country and I am proud of our history. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a unique history unlike the history of any nation on earth. No joke. For the first time in all recorded human history, men came together and agreed on how to be governed, and they decided to be governed by themselves. No aristocracy, no king, no queen, no divine right, no monarchy. FREEDOM. We have something to be proud of fellow Americans, remember our history.

I rarely bring God into anything political, but I do have several key beliefs with God in terms of this great country. A group of colonists got together, took a stand against tyranny, and went to war with the most powerful nation on earth at the time. We had almost no chances of success whatsoever. As much as we all claim to hate the French, we undoubtedly could not have survived the fight without France. At the time, France was a rival with Great Britain in terms of military superiority and power, and at the time they assisted us with supplies, material, and personnel so that we could win. But with the tenacity and resolve of freedom-deprived colonists and French support, I believe there was also something else at work during the American Revolutionary War.

This is one of my most favorite paintings of all time. General Washington is praying at Valley Forge. I love this painting because it shows the inseparable marriage of God and the founding of our country along with possibly the greatest man of power to ever live.

Luckily through circumstance and what I recognize and believe to be divine intervention, we WON and not only did we defeat the most powerful military in the world, we set up a government ran by the people and for the people, and this country became the most powerful and charitable country on earth today. It is my profound belief that God ordained the creation of this country, to be the nation to carry his banner, to be the most-perfect country humanity could possibly create.

Now back to reality, I will admit we are not perfect. "One Nation under God" does not always seem so, especially in these times when everything must be politically correct. But I do believe that God had a hand in the creation of this country, the more I look into the desperate chances of success we had during the American Revolution, the more I believe it to be so. We have something special here, we have FREEDOM. I urge you to enjoy your freedoms, but also importantly I want you to remember the sacrifices made so that we can have these freedoms. All in all it is not a piece of paper that secures our freedoms, it is the sacrifices and horrific suffering of those that came before us that have allowed us to live as we do. Enjoy your freedoms, take pride in your country and citizenship, and GOD BLESS AMERICA.

The BS of the Week

Here at the blog of an American Rifleman, I will do a no-BS assessment of the biggest BS of the week. What's the BS for this week?

Here's the Bull Shit of the week.

The Situation:
A small group of Live Oak High School students decided to wear patriotic clothing on the 5th of May (2010) at their school in Morgan Valley, CA. Some had American flag shirts while everyone was dressed in red, white, and blue. They decided to do this because the 5th of May is Cinco de Mayo for Mexicans, it is a holiday celebrated by the Hispanic community across the nation.

What Happened:
The vice principal approached the students and told them they had to turn their flag shirt inside out and take the patriotic bandannas off their heads. The students refused, and were taken to the principal's office. The students were told their shirts were "incendiary" and could lead to fights because a great majority of the school is of Hispanic origin. They were told they could wear their patriotic clothing any other day, but not on the 5th of May because the large Hispanic student body at the school might take offense during "their" holiday. The students were sent home because they were told if they returned to class with their patriotic clothing, they'd be suspended.

The Bull Shit:
First of all, this is a violation of the 1st Amendment. The students have freedom of expression and can wear patriotic clothes to express their pride of being Americans. Any Constitutional lawyer could have a field day with this.

Second, we do not display and hide our patriotism depending on what day it is for the sake of others. We are AMERICANS. I encourage everyone to show their pride of America every day and we will not stand for being penalized for doing such.

Thirdly, some Hispanic students are outraged for the students' actions and are calling for an apology to be made to the Hispanic community. This is probably the biggest load of crap I've ever had to see.

Fourth, what exactly is a "sensitive day?" Using this slippery slope, the principal and his staff could decide that any day is a sensitive day to wear patriotic clothing, there is no limit to the restrictions that could be made. The worst case scenario is that the staff decides every day is too sensitive to broadcast one's patriotic ties.

Fifth, nobody asked this but what about "American days?" What about the 4th of July during summer school at Live Oak High School? Would a complaint be made if a bunch of Hispanic students wore Mexican paraphernalia on the 4th of July? I don't think so by any means.

Damage Control:
After nearly dying from a heart attack, the Morgan Hill Unified School District told the parents and the media that they do not agree with the actions of the Morgan High School administrative staff. This is great because it is unneeded confirmation for the students, their parents, and the rest of the world that what happened is in fact BULL SHIT.

What Can We Do?
We can write letters! Don't think that your letter does not count, because it does and the more they hear from Americans about this outrage the better the chance is that this will not happen again at Live Oak High School or any other school across the nation. To write a letter, here's the address: Nick Boden is the Principal.

Mr. Nick Boden
1505 East Main Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Leadership from the front
I'm not going to ask you to write a letter if I didn't write one myself, so here's my letter. If you choose to write a letter, please try to keep it somewhat respectful and please keep the swear words out of it. I hope you all got something out of this particular post, there is a point to where we as a society can get so liberal and concerned over every single unique person's feelings that we loose our own identity. In this case it wasn't only lost, it was punished. NEVER be ashamed to be an American, always be proud of who you are and what you are doing with your life. Speaking of "who you are," one of the patriotic students is of Hispanic-American descent. Thanks for looking, take care.

VMI Box 209
Lexington, VA 24450
6 May 2010

Mr. Nick Boden... See More
1505 East Main Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Mr. Boden:

My name is Ryan Buell and I am a native Californian and an Army ROTC Cadet at the Virginia Military Institute. Usually I look out for my home state in the news, but it is days like today I cannot be proud of my state. I just read the news reports of the incident that occurred on 5 May 2010 on your school campus and I could not be more angered and horrified. From what I understand, several students who were wearing shirts with American flags on them were asked to turn the shirts inside out or face suspension. This was asked of them by your administration staff, and the intent was to supposedly minimize the possibility for fighting or conflict on the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

I thought it would not be necessary but I believe your staff needs to be informed that this is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. We may cherish our colors whenever we please, and we do not hide our patriotism or suppress our freedom of expression on certain days to avoid offending certain cultures. I ask of you, what has happened to your school? What has happened to your administration? When I read the news reports I thought this was some sick joke but apparently that kind of un-Americanism does in fact exist, and in my native state! People have died so that we may express ourselves freely and that we may fly the flag and cherish its presence whenever we please. What happened on your campus is an outrage and a slap in the face to all those Americans that have given the ultimate sacrifice at the altar of freedom to secure our personal liberties. I am truly angered, outraged, and offended that such a thing occurred in my country.

It is my greatest hope that these supposed “qualified professionals” get relieved of duty. It is my sincerest wish that they will no longer be able to serve in the education field where their haphazard influence can infest and pollute the youth of our nation. I also hope that you had nothing to do with this and I write this to express my outrage over what has been committed under your leadership and those responsible under you. I don’t believe I will get a response back, I hope your school gets flooded with letters so that you cannot respond. Freedom is not free, and being proud to be an American SHOULD NEVER BE SUPPRESSED, most especially on our own soil.

With no respect for your administration,

Ryan Buell