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.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
"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.
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.
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.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
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
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
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Interpretation of the 2nd Amendment
This must be my first post because firearms philosophy is created based off an individual's interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. First of all, what is the 2nd Amendment? And how do I interpret it and apply it to our modern society?
Quick Background Information
The Constitution was ratified in 1787 by the Constitutional Convention, replacing the Articles of Confederation. Americans, remembering the tyranny that was imposed on them by Great Britain, were worried about the new government abusing or taking advantage of its citizens, so the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. In fact, the 13 states only agreed to ratify the Constitution if and only if a bill of rights was made soon after ratification; it was that important to the new Americans. The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 Amendments to the US Constitution and they detail and expressively prohibit certain actions the government cannot do against its citizens while also granting certain rights to citizens that cannot be taken away or obstructed.
The 2nd Amendment Itself
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
-2nd Amendment, Bill of Rights, United States Constitution
What does that all mean? Well we have several problems from the start:
1) It was written in an older style of English writing, so there is a slight gap between modern and 18th Century English.
2) The punctuation of the sentence is called into question, why does this one sentence require three commas?
3) Its only one sentence! Why was such an important topic handled with just one quick sentence?
Three Statements Being Made?
I believe that we have something at work in this text that is not apparent from a quick glance. I believe these three statements are being made:
"A well regulated Militia,"
1) States and groups of citizens have the right to organize and operate their own militias. They must be well-run/well-trained.
"being necessary to the security of a free State,"
Ending statement one: These militias must be well-run and effective in order to provide for the protection of a free nation. Beginning statement two: In order to maintain a free country the people must be allowed to own and possess firearms.
"the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,"
2) Individual citizens must be allowed to own and possess firearms.
"shall not be infringed."
3) These rights shall not be violated or obstructed.
How Did I Come Up With All Of That From Just One Sentence?
"A well regulated Militia,"
1) "Well regulated" doesn't mean today what it meant then. With an 18th Century context, "regulated" means ["well"] trained, experienced, or maintained. The actual text does not say who is allowed or not allowed to organize or operate a militia, nor does it say what a "militia" actually is. To fill this gap I look at the example of the Founding Fathers, who employed both state-run and local community-run militias. Note that the Founding Fathers employed many different militias from all 13 colonies and countless local communities, yet the actual word in the text is singular, not plural. Again, apply the context and the word "militia" is not referring to just one single militia but rather a corps of militias across the country. Also, this same issue was brought up with the creation of the first national bank. Alexander Hamilton argued that the Constitution didn't expressively disallow or allow such a thing, and so the bank was created on the grounds that it was not forbidden and if it had been something that the Founding Fathers wanted forbidden, it would have been strictly forbidden in the text.
"being necessary to the security of a free State,"
I see this clause as the end of one statement and the beginning of another, and the commas allow for the ending and beginning of two separate ideals in one "sandwiched" conjunction clause. More simply put, this is what I believe it is saying:
Statement #1) A well-trained and maintained militia is necessary for the security of a free state.
Statement #2) For the security of a free state, individual citizens must be allowed to own and possess firearms.
What do we need security from? It’s in reference to security from both "foreign and domestic" threats. Foreign threats as in other nations attacking us and domestic threats as in internal threats such as our own government.
We're talking about men that defeated the most powerful military on earth, created a nation, invented electricity, the printing press, founded a college, and amassed countless important achievements. I think it's safe to say that they had the ability to make a compound sentence.
They knew from firsthand experience that threats can come from abroad and from their own government that has gone too far and become a threat itself.
"shall not be infringed."
3) This is probably the most straight-forward part of the 2nd Amendment itself. At least it should be. At first glance this seems like a water-tight statement that has no ambiguity, but questions emerge from this wording. What exactly does "infringe" mean? Do background checks and waiting periods "infringe" on our right to own firearms? What about a law that bans ammunition but allows citizens to own firearms? The questions are endless. I believe that the Founding Fathers in essence didn't want legislation or governmental red tape to get in the way of citizens owning firearms and being able to use them in self defense.
What about the National Guard as a Militia?
Many people of the opposing view argue that the National Guard is what the Founding Fathers were talking about when they were using the word "militia" in the text of the Amendment. Time to pull out the good old history book:
2nd Amendment: Ratified with the rest of the Bill of Rights in 1791
The National Guard: Officially organized as the "National Guard" in 1903
How can someone say that the word "militia" from a 1791 document is referencing a to something created in 1903? In their defense, the Congressional act was named the "Militia Act of 1903." But what did it do? It officially put the non-uniform state militias under Federal regulation and control. That's going in the opposite direction, wouldn't that be an Army? What if the Crown had enacted similar legislation on the Colonists leading up to the Revolutionary War? The same militias and citizens that were fighting the British would have been under control of the Crown. This doesn't make any sense. Militias protect their communities, not get deployed to foreign battlefields and fight nationally-headed wars. I believe part of this misconception comes from the lack of understanding with Americans today about what exactly a home guard is all about. In the Revolutionary War era communities and colonies had to worry about Indian attacks and other threats on their own soil, and many of the men of every town owned their own firearms and had to be part of the militia to answer the call in case their community was under threat. These men were ordered to have personally-owned firearms by the way.
AK47s To Go Hunting?
Many opponents of the 2nd Amendment argue that you don't need an AK47 or AR15 to hunt deer. I would agree with them completely. An AK47 isn't very accurate, the AR15 shoots a weak round, and both have 30 rounds of ammunition in one magazine; way more than required for one deer that doesn't even shoot back. But hold the phone for a second...
The 2nd Amendment wasn't put in our nation's Constitution so we could go hunting! It was put in there because the Founding Fathers wanted to ensure future Americans had the means to take down a tyrannical government, exactly like our Founding Fathers did themselves. It wasn't just the Founding Fathers that believed in this, it was all 13 states, as I said before the states WOULD NOT sign off on the Constitution unless this was written into the Constitution. Remember the context of history, we are talking about a nation that just fought its way out of oppression under the grip of tyranny and governmental abuse, these people admittedly wanted to make sure that future Americans had the ability to rise above tyranny in the future, should it exist like it had existed over them.
My favorite argument in this regard is 2nd Amendment opponents saying 'these guns belong on a foreign battlefield, not in our own streets.' What are they supposed to do when the battlefield IS in our own streets? During the LA riots people were running out to gun stores to buy guns to defend themselves against suburban anarchy and chaos. The problem was that California had passed a waiting period, which meant a gun purchaser had to wait over a week from the purchase date to actually pick up the firearm. More simply put, these people were screwed. This draws back to my belief that Americans have lost the concept of self defense and personal responsibility and have taken for granted the security and tranquil domestic life of America today. Americans today take for granted that there will always be electricity to power their house, gas (although expensive) to fuel our cars, food in the grocery stores to buy whenever we please, and we will never get shot at while just trying to run daily errands around town. Most Americans today have no concept of how the most anarchic and chaos-ridden corners of the world are forced to live, and have become complacent and narrow-minded because of our own tranquil lives.
So to end this part of it, you don't need an AK47 to hunt deer but it would come in handy if you needed to defend your own life and/or family from riots or some other threat. This "life or death" threat is rarely experienced in modern American society. An exemption from this is the Hurricane Katrina situation.
Hurricane Katrina
Overnight, whole neighborhoods were flooded and cutoff from all authority, medical services, and aid for weeks at a time. It was complete anarchy, and that in itself is a shameful understatement. It was Hell on earth. Imagine for a second;
The hurricane has passed; your neighborhood is under water. The bottom half of the first floor of your house is under water, all of your neighbors are taking refuge upstairs on the roofs of their houses. You don't have many supplies, food is going to run out in several days, and you have almost no water. Stagnate water that has flooded everything is full of dead bodies and polluted with fuel and toxins and is of no drinking use, it burns your skin to even touch it. There is no electricity, no utilities, and no help or law enforcement. And there are thousands of people in your area, and these people all need supplies to survive. When the water subsides, looting and rape gangs roam throughout the nights, taking advantage of whomever they want with whatever weapons they can get their hands on. The weak and defenseless are pillaged, raped, and left for dead. This is Hell on earth, there's no mistake about it. This is the kind of situation a militia and armed citizens are for. And in fact that's exactly what happened. Citizens that owned guns banded together and formed local home guard brigades who rationed supplies, helped those in need, and stood watch day and night to protect their fellow citizens until law and order had been restored. Those are the true Americans, and that's the kind of situation we have the 2nd Amendment for. Yes, it's an extraordinary situation, but it happens, even in our modern day.
You see, what I just described is the shattering of this modern American idea that our safety and tranquility is guaranteed, and our personal protection is the responsibility of someone else. WE are responsible for our own self defense and protection, not the police or the government. WE are the first line of defense at protecting our own lives. WE were afforded the ability to own firearms in the Bill of Rights to enable us to carry out these things we know (and our Founding Fathers knew all too well) to be true.
That's It
I think you all know where I stand on the 2nd Amendment. It wasn't a misguided rambling talking about a government's right to defend itself from its citizens (that doesn't even pass the 'laugh test'). It was the underlying principle that the Founding Fathers understood was paramount, insomuch that it's 2nd in order out of the 10 Amendments to the Bill of Rights, second only to the basic human right of self expression. The 2nd Amendment is the shadow watchdog of the other 9 Amendments. Corrupt and tyrannical governments don't crumble from lobbyists, demonstrators, protesters, politicians, or reporters. They come to an end by their own citizens coming together as patriots and realizing enough is enough. I am not advocating for the toppling of our government or any other, I am advocating for the remembrance of our own history and recognition as to why we have the things we have today. I love my country, "I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American." God Bless America.
Quick Background Information
The Constitution was ratified in 1787 by the Constitutional Convention, replacing the Articles of Confederation. Americans, remembering the tyranny that was imposed on them by Great Britain, were worried about the new government abusing or taking advantage of its citizens, so the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. In fact, the 13 states only agreed to ratify the Constitution if and only if a bill of rights was made soon after ratification; it was that important to the new Americans. The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 Amendments to the US Constitution and they detail and expressively prohibit certain actions the government cannot do against its citizens while also granting certain rights to citizens that cannot be taken away or obstructed.
The 2nd Amendment Itself
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
-2nd Amendment, Bill of Rights, United States Constitution
What does that all mean? Well we have several problems from the start:
1) It was written in an older style of English writing, so there is a slight gap between modern and 18th Century English.
2) The punctuation of the sentence is called into question, why does this one sentence require three commas?
3) Its only one sentence! Why was such an important topic handled with just one quick sentence?
Three Statements Being Made?
I believe that we have something at work in this text that is not apparent from a quick glance. I believe these three statements are being made:
"A well regulated Militia,"
1) States and groups of citizens have the right to organize and operate their own militias. They must be well-run/well-trained.
"being necessary to the security of a free State,"
Ending statement one: These militias must be well-run and effective in order to provide for the protection of a free nation. Beginning statement two: In order to maintain a free country the people must be allowed to own and possess firearms.
"the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,"
2) Individual citizens must be allowed to own and possess firearms.
"shall not be infringed."
3) These rights shall not be violated or obstructed.
How Did I Come Up With All Of That From Just One Sentence?
"A well regulated Militia,"
1) "Well regulated" doesn't mean today what it meant then. With an 18th Century context, "regulated" means ["well"] trained, experienced, or maintained. The actual text does not say who is allowed or not allowed to organize or operate a militia, nor does it say what a "militia" actually is. To fill this gap I look at the example of the Founding Fathers, who employed both state-run and local community-run militias. Note that the Founding Fathers employed many different militias from all 13 colonies and countless local communities, yet the actual word in the text is singular, not plural. Again, apply the context and the word "militia" is not referring to just one single militia but rather a corps of militias across the country. Also, this same issue was brought up with the creation of the first national bank. Alexander Hamilton argued that the Constitution didn't expressively disallow or allow such a thing, and so the bank was created on the grounds that it was not forbidden and if it had been something that the Founding Fathers wanted forbidden, it would have been strictly forbidden in the text.
"being necessary to the security of a free State,"
I see this clause as the end of one statement and the beginning of another, and the commas allow for the ending and beginning of two separate ideals in one "sandwiched" conjunction clause. More simply put, this is what I believe it is saying:
Statement #1) A well-trained and maintained militia is necessary for the security of a free state.
Statement #2) For the security of a free state, individual citizens must be allowed to own and possess firearms.
What do we need security from? It’s in reference to security from both "foreign and domestic" threats. Foreign threats as in other nations attacking us and domestic threats as in internal threats such as our own government.
We're talking about men that defeated the most powerful military on earth, created a nation, invented electricity, the printing press, founded a college, and amassed countless important achievements. I think it's safe to say that they had the ability to make a compound sentence.
They knew from firsthand experience that threats can come from abroad and from their own government that has gone too far and become a threat itself.
"shall not be infringed."
3) This is probably the most straight-forward part of the 2nd Amendment itself. At least it should be. At first glance this seems like a water-tight statement that has no ambiguity, but questions emerge from this wording. What exactly does "infringe" mean? Do background checks and waiting periods "infringe" on our right to own firearms? What about a law that bans ammunition but allows citizens to own firearms? The questions are endless. I believe that the Founding Fathers in essence didn't want legislation or governmental red tape to get in the way of citizens owning firearms and being able to use them in self defense.
What about the National Guard as a Militia?
Many people of the opposing view argue that the National Guard is what the Founding Fathers were talking about when they were using the word "militia" in the text of the Amendment. Time to pull out the good old history book:
2nd Amendment: Ratified with the rest of the Bill of Rights in 1791
The National Guard: Officially organized as the "National Guard" in 1903
How can someone say that the word "militia" from a 1791 document is referencing a to something created in 1903? In their defense, the Congressional act was named the "Militia Act of 1903." But what did it do? It officially put the non-uniform state militias under Federal regulation and control. That's going in the opposite direction, wouldn't that be an Army? What if the Crown had enacted similar legislation on the Colonists leading up to the Revolutionary War? The same militias and citizens that were fighting the British would have been under control of the Crown. This doesn't make any sense. Militias protect their communities, not get deployed to foreign battlefields and fight nationally-headed wars. I believe part of this misconception comes from the lack of understanding with Americans today about what exactly a home guard is all about. In the Revolutionary War era communities and colonies had to worry about Indian attacks and other threats on their own soil, and many of the men of every town owned their own firearms and had to be part of the militia to answer the call in case their community was under threat. These men were ordered to have personally-owned firearms by the way.
AK47s To Go Hunting?
Many opponents of the 2nd Amendment argue that you don't need an AK47 or AR15 to hunt deer. I would agree with them completely. An AK47 isn't very accurate, the AR15 shoots a weak round, and both have 30 rounds of ammunition in one magazine; way more than required for one deer that doesn't even shoot back. But hold the phone for a second...
The 2nd Amendment wasn't put in our nation's Constitution so we could go hunting! It was put in there because the Founding Fathers wanted to ensure future Americans had the means to take down a tyrannical government, exactly like our Founding Fathers did themselves. It wasn't just the Founding Fathers that believed in this, it was all 13 states, as I said before the states WOULD NOT sign off on the Constitution unless this was written into the Constitution. Remember the context of history, we are talking about a nation that just fought its way out of oppression under the grip of tyranny and governmental abuse, these people admittedly wanted to make sure that future Americans had the ability to rise above tyranny in the future, should it exist like it had existed over them.
My favorite argument in this regard is 2nd Amendment opponents saying 'these guns belong on a foreign battlefield, not in our own streets.' What are they supposed to do when the battlefield IS in our own streets? During the LA riots people were running out to gun stores to buy guns to defend themselves against suburban anarchy and chaos. The problem was that California had passed a waiting period, which meant a gun purchaser had to wait over a week from the purchase date to actually pick up the firearm. More simply put, these people were screwed. This draws back to my belief that Americans have lost the concept of self defense and personal responsibility and have taken for granted the security and tranquil domestic life of America today. Americans today take for granted that there will always be electricity to power their house, gas (although expensive) to fuel our cars, food in the grocery stores to buy whenever we please, and we will never get shot at while just trying to run daily errands around town. Most Americans today have no concept of how the most anarchic and chaos-ridden corners of the world are forced to live, and have become complacent and narrow-minded because of our own tranquil lives.
So to end this part of it, you don't need an AK47 to hunt deer but it would come in handy if you needed to defend your own life and/or family from riots or some other threat. This "life or death" threat is rarely experienced in modern American society. An exemption from this is the Hurricane Katrina situation.
Hurricane Katrina
Overnight, whole neighborhoods were flooded and cutoff from all authority, medical services, and aid for weeks at a time. It was complete anarchy, and that in itself is a shameful understatement. It was Hell on earth. Imagine for a second;
A family made a signal for airborne rescuers to let them know they were still alive. Can you image living like this for several weeks on end?
The hurricane has passed; your neighborhood is under water. The bottom half of the first floor of your house is under water, all of your neighbors are taking refuge upstairs on the roofs of their houses. You don't have many supplies, food is going to run out in several days, and you have almost no water. Stagnate water that has flooded everything is full of dead bodies and polluted with fuel and toxins and is of no drinking use, it burns your skin to even touch it. There is no electricity, no utilities, and no help or law enforcement. And there are thousands of people in your area, and these people all need supplies to survive. When the water subsides, looting and rape gangs roam throughout the nights, taking advantage of whomever they want with whatever weapons they can get their hands on. The weak and defenseless are pillaged, raped, and left for dead. This is Hell on earth, there's no mistake about it. This is the kind of situation a militia and armed citizens are for. And in fact that's exactly what happened. Citizens that owned guns banded together and formed local home guard brigades who rationed supplies, helped those in need, and stood watch day and night to protect their fellow citizens until law and order had been restored. Those are the true Americans, and that's the kind of situation we have the 2nd Amendment for. Yes, it's an extraordinary situation, but it happens, even in our modern day.
You see, what I just described is the shattering of this modern American idea that our safety and tranquility is guaranteed, and our personal protection is the responsibility of someone else. WE are responsible for our own self defense and protection, not the police or the government. WE are the first line of defense at protecting our own lives. WE were afforded the ability to own firearms in the Bill of Rights to enable us to carry out these things we know (and our Founding Fathers knew all too well) to be true.
That's It
I think you all know where I stand on the 2nd Amendment. It wasn't a misguided rambling talking about a government's right to defend itself from its citizens (that doesn't even pass the 'laugh test'). It was the underlying principle that the Founding Fathers understood was paramount, insomuch that it's 2nd in order out of the 10 Amendments to the Bill of Rights, second only to the basic human right of self expression. The 2nd Amendment is the shadow watchdog of the other 9 Amendments. Corrupt and tyrannical governments don't crumble from lobbyists, demonstrators, protesters, politicians, or reporters. They come to an end by their own citizens coming together as patriots and realizing enough is enough. I am not advocating for the toppling of our government or any other, I am advocating for the remembrance of our own history and recognition as to why we have the things we have today. I love my country, "I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American." God Bless America.
The Overview
Hello everyone, welcome to the Blog of an American Rifleman. I am a Soldier, self-described Patriot, and Cadet at the Virginia Military Institute. I am a proud American and I believe there are certain things in the world worth defending and fighting for and against.
I am also a student of the doctrine and ideals of the Founding Fathers of our country and I am also interested in the interpretations and commentary on the U.S. Constitution. I believe the founding of our country was a unique event in the history of human civilization, unlike anything that has ever occurred before or since. I believe that every person has unalienable rights that are (or should be) self-evident, that every person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I also vehemently believe that every person has the right to defend these rights against those that would take them away.
I believe that the ability of a citizenry to "keep and bear arms" is the true mark of a free society. When all ability to resist tyranny and defend freedom has been taken away, there is none. I am a member of the National Rifle Association and I am proud of it. They work hard to fend off and shut down those that have tried, are trying, and will try to take our rights away and I will always support the NRA for this reason.
I promote and endorse responsible firearms ownership and firearms-related activities. I want to stress to people that owning a firearm does mean that a person is "crazy" or a threat to a peaceful society. Firearms ownership is an American tradition, a sport, a hobby, part of our heritage, and an individual right imbued within the very fabric of our nation itself.
I align myself with neither Democrat or Republican party, I am a traditionalist viewing the world with a modernized lens. I view the world as it is and look up to what I'd like it to be and try to make it so. I do not believe in voting for the unpopular "middle of the road" candidates, so I do pick a side between the two and vote accordingly and I do this because I vote for results and not for making statements.
Much of my description of myself sounds propagandist and rhetorical but I truly love my country and firmly believe every individual has the right to firearms ownership. God Bless America!
I am also a student of the doctrine and ideals of the Founding Fathers of our country and I am also interested in the interpretations and commentary on the U.S. Constitution. I believe the founding of our country was a unique event in the history of human civilization, unlike anything that has ever occurred before or since. I believe that every person has unalienable rights that are (or should be) self-evident, that every person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I also vehemently believe that every person has the right to defend these rights against those that would take them away.
I believe that the ability of a citizenry to "keep and bear arms" is the true mark of a free society. When all ability to resist tyranny and defend freedom has been taken away, there is none. I am a member of the National Rifle Association and I am proud of it. They work hard to fend off and shut down those that have tried, are trying, and will try to take our rights away and I will always support the NRA for this reason.
I promote and endorse responsible firearms ownership and firearms-related activities. I want to stress to people that owning a firearm does mean that a person is "crazy" or a threat to a peaceful society. Firearms ownership is an American tradition, a sport, a hobby, part of our heritage, and an individual right imbued within the very fabric of our nation itself.
I align myself with neither Democrat or Republican party, I am a traditionalist viewing the world with a modernized lens. I view the world as it is and look up to what I'd like it to be and try to make it so. I do not believe in voting for the unpopular "middle of the road" candidates, so I do pick a side between the two and vote accordingly and I do this because I vote for results and not for making statements.
Much of my description of myself sounds propagandist and rhetorical but I truly love my country and firmly believe every individual has the right to firearms ownership. God Bless America!
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