I Hate To Post This Today, But Regarding The Newtown, Connecticut Shooting

**Disclaimers**
1. I didn't want to post this because I feel like I'm on some level furthering my idea using the current of the dreadful loss in Connecticut today (thereby making myself a hypocrite) My apologies to everyone, most especially the families of Newtown, Connecticut.
2. I am not getting into what we should do about guns in this nation. I'm just trying to shed some light on what happens when we argue about that topic, most especially when people use a recent tragedy such as this as an opportunity to voice their position on a hotly debated political issue.

I suppose now I will begin...

It's not about the guns themselves. Guns are just a fact. What bothers me is that we're trying to turn this into an argument against another group's views on gun control. We haven't gotten there yet, and we need to be patient. The nation is faced with an open wound. When you are wounded, your priorities are to treat the affected area, take care of it, and do whatever it can to help it heal on its own; retribution and conflict, as they are not vital, are at best secondary.

To dispel this notion, I haven't heard a single person who advocates removing the 2nd amendment. But what I have heard is countless people very vocal about defending it. Why be so defensive if there isn't opposition?

So let's consider the following then: We have an under-addressed issue in this nation with mental health. We haven't effectively been giving people with mental health issues the help they need, not only to prevent situations like this, but to help people suffering from mental health issues to live better lives. Guns, as I said are a fact. They're there. We have an indiscriminate set of people carrying guns whereas at the same time people on all sides of the argument would agree that there are some conditions under which it would be irresponsible to give someone a gun. This may include people with criminal intentions, people facing severe emotional hardships, pretty much anyone whose mental/emotional state is compromised by whatever personal factor that individual is facing to the extent that it negatively impacts their standing as a social being. Be ye conservative or liberal, there are invariably some people and some situations that would call you to say "Please, put the gun down"; if not, you are welcome to ignore the rest of this text as this may not apply to you.

Now I understand that those who don't advocate stricter gun control laws are looking out for the safety of those who would otherwise be defenseless. THE SAME WAY that people who do advocate stricter gun control laws are looking out for the safety of those who would otherwise be defenseless. These two notions only differ because they are TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT perceptions on the idea of "defense", BOTH OF WHICH are legitimate claims.
One argues that you wouldn't have a problem if you removed the common element. The other argues that you equalize the playing field if you make the element more common. So for an analogy, which of the following is the bad idea?: Removing a poison so that no one can drink it by mistake? Or increasing the contact so that the population builds an immunity so that they are in less danger should someone try to use it against them. Neither approach is perfect, both are still legitimate, and either way you're alive (most of the time). Now the only thing you have to address is who you have handling this poison, and in what frame of mind are they.

We have the tendency to allow our own perception of the world we see before us to so enthralled us that we find it difficult, painful, and frightening to step outside of it. Unfortunately, this breeds a lot of contempt... or, worse still, dismissal of people who also we do not yet realize share our same dreams and ambitions. Removed from the issues that appear to us as if they are the reality of the situation, we can see that the gun control arguments aren't about the guns themselves and should not be. That what we bypass when we even address this tragedy is the disturbing increase in mental health related violent acts. And that who we harm by not considering first are those whose lives were lost, and those whose lives have been ruined forever by a collective inattentive spirit. May they rest in peace, may God bless them all, and may those who remain with us feel from us as much love as they have lost today.

The ONLY Thing I'm Going To Say Regarding This Chick-Fil-A Ruckus

Forgive me if this doesn't make sense, because I am not very politically inclined:

Ok, I'm really, REALLY tired of hearing about Chick-Fil-A. Their views are not new. At all. Sooo many people have missed the point, and somehow it's becoming a political issue. Now there's conflict, A NATION DIVIDED, without any sort of understanding (or attempt to do so). Dialogue becomes a shouting match. Massive amounts of political energy and momentum is pouring into this, and away from conflicts that deserve it more; that need it more.

And to my Christian brothers and sisters who feel like our faith is under attack; no; Please, no; sincerely, I beg. I doubt highly that God is even remotely interested in animosity we have created with each other, centered around a fast food restaurant. That's pretty much that only thing anyone can say on God's behalf. In fact this whole debate at its root has very little to do with God, but here we are again fighting blindly, as we've done for far too long. Also, the Bible is not a weapon to be used against the neighbor that God called on us to love. The Bible is only to strengthen the spirit with the word of God.

I do have a favor to ask to those who feel, or have felt offended by Christianity as well. Believe as you will. As a Christian I will not judge you because that is not what I've been called to do. I do ask though that if you have a problem with a Christian, please do not make it into "the problem you have with Christians". There is so much division even within our system of beliefs that some of us are marginalized in the process. If I were to dislike an individual who happens to be gay, I'm never going to say "I dislike gay people". I'd probably say, "What a jackass this individual turned out to be", and leave the issue with them as I disassociate myself with that particular jackass. This same logic can be applied to everyone, of any perceived race, creed, or ideology. Only cooperation and understanding can be universalized, not hate. This is a Kantian notion.

And it's not a first amendment issue either. I can understand why you would think so, but hear me out. The CEO of a fast food restaurant (as well as anyone else on Earth) can believe as they wish. No one is arguing that. However, if you would notice, the notion that people are protesting against beliefs is flashed EVERYWHERE as if it were the central issue. Speaking as objectively as I can, and from my understanding of the situation, people are putting in their resistant efforts to address that they don't agree with actions. That's it. Both conflicting sides are using their first amendment rights. The first amendment is not under attack. It is alive and well, and you can settle those fears with your loyalty and patriotism intact.

A lot of rubbish is being flung at you. Take a moment to settle the storm, and instead of seeing the manifestations you will discover the inner intricacies. I call upon you to do this so that we can MOVE PAST THIS! Every time a new delicate issue occurs in the world that could be addressed faster with civilian pressure, political attention is internalized and dispersed by drawing focus to lesser issues like this. Why not talk to each other, and find out why this issue concerns those with whom you do not agree? You may find that the argument is really quite simple, and you can respect each other enough to stand stronger and more proudly as a more united nation.

Regarding Troy Davis

Doubt arises from the presence of a minor truth in the presence, in spite of, and in opposition to a perceived greater overarching truth. Doubt causes tension and uncertainty because the nature of truth is such that it can not subsist alongside its opposite affirming the validity of each other. Minor truth is still a truth, and as long as it exists, as long as there is doubt, it can not and should not ever be ignored. If we are, through our understanding, to do justice to the concept of justice we must have the patience and the rational fortitude to address our doubts even when faced with the demand of action.

In particular, when a critical decision needs to be made, we must not succumb to impatience. And while our eyes may be blinded by the tears ever ready to fall, we must not let our hearts be clouded by the hatred for what brought those tears to fruition. Even for those who view life as currency it is foolish to spend it haphazardly. Once it turns hands there is no reciprocal exchange; there is only the hope that it was in fact worth its cost.

Tomorrow

Midnight is the asymptote for which time is the equation. X = today, and we never reach tomorrow. Tomorrow never gets here. We just look to it in want as the concept of it taunts us. Look forward to tomorrow and you'll just see a today that you haven't yet reach.

When we tire of today we awake to more of the same; tomorrow is a cruel irony. Today is a new day only because it is more today than it was before, and more today than it will be later.

Forget about tomorrow showing up; it will never arrive no matter how long you wait. It feeds on patience. After all, we created it with hope and maintained it with practicality.

To add integrity to honesty what we think is the end of today greets us when we think we've left it behind. At midnight it asserts itself, virile and permanent.

Yesterday grows fat with the remnants of our expectations.
And no, today is not yesterday's tomorrow.
Today is today's today.

What I've Learned About Trains

For one, it's never a good idea to ride any train to anywhere ever with anyone at anytime. You can and will die, but it won't even be one of those "yes, I'm ready to go" or "I have lived my life, and have no regrets" type of deaths. Think about it. YOU'RE ON A TRAIN! You never finished everything in life because YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY SOMEWHERE!!

Here are some things you should remember if you are to find yourself on one of these death traps, from personal experience

1. It will always smell like a hospital bathroom. There is nothing good you can do about it.

2. The food on board is not filling. In relation to #1, bear in mind that with all the people on board eating, you still can't smell the food. Any food that does not either emit or cover up a scent is not going to have any bit of a profound impact on you.

...OK, let me go off on a little tangent here about the food. When you have to pay 2 dollars for A CAN of Pepsi or Coke (same thing) you should go ahead and aim directly for a bush, then jump out. They serve chips and pizza. BIG Whoop! Too bad you can either test the patience of your digestive tract with these minuscule vittles, or pay tuition. Your choice. And yes, surely it's hard to complain when there are people lacking both the means and the availability of food, but it is hard to donate money to their aid when it's all gone like a fart in the wind. For real though, I thought movie theatres were bad when a soda and popcorn cost me $10, but I walked on a train and truly understood what they meant by "crack prices".

3. They do not like when you play music or any sort of electronic anything without headphones. I don't know why though, because if I turned my laptop up to the max with the earphones plugged in, not only do you hear everything you heard when I had it playing quietly, but now with a scratchy tone attached. What's weird to me is that as long as the headphones are in they don't mind...?

4. Always ride with an odd number of friends that you are okay sitting next to, because the seats are not roomy enough for you to be polite and considerate. It is especially uncomfortable if you are tall, big, or awkward.

Now this is what movies have taught me about trains:

4. Always sit in one of the middle cars. If you've ever seen a movie involving a train you'll know that the front car is most likely to get hijacked, whereas the last car will undergo some sort of explosion. If the train you're on only has 2 cars, then you are on the WRONG TRAIN.

5. Get off the train if you see Tom Cruise; it will blow up. Get off the train if you see Wesney Snipes; you will get shot even if it's not by his gun (same goes for Harrison Ford). Never sit in the same car as Daniel Radcliff; dude's got some wierd things going on. Denzel Washington will save you somehow. I don't know what it is with that dude and trains, but I'm not getting in the middle of it.

6. Do not fall asleep.

7. You are only safe if there is only 1 man on board with a suit OR if there are 3 men aboard with suits. If there are 2, or 4+ only move when all of them do. Otherwise don't even blink too loudly.



Ok, yes this was stupid. If at least one person laughed I've been successful. Also trains aren't as unsafe as movies make them out to seem. Pretty decent costs too as long as you eat before you get on there.

My Ancient Philosophy Final

would rather do the following than write this ancient philosophy paper:
1. Punt a baby
2. Open the windows and turn the heat off
3. Drink the hemlock
4. Joan Rivers
5. Re-watch "The Last Airbender"
6. Purchase and listen to "Souja Boy's Greatest Hits"
7. Father a kid and have to pay child support
8. Lose the ability to dance
9. Break a most FURIOUS wind in the face of the girl I'm interested in
10. Handwash the underwear of the girls from Jersey Shore
11. Develop and Self-Test Habanero flavored Visine eye drops
12. Run naked through a machete and sharp paper manufacturing factory.
13. Videotape my hair growing
14. Listen to a teenage girl talk about her first .
15. Look a puppy in the eye as it gets neutered
16. Get neutered
17. Pay for MP3's
18. Be hospitalized for some embarrassing injury involving ice, celery, an electrical outlet and a hamster
19. Gain a third shoulder and injure that one as well
20. Die

...freakin' hate this paper >:^(

Lovely Couple

Imagine if you will an old couple that's strolling on a beach when the young kids come to have their fun. The old couple doesn't like it very much, so they move away when a kid wants to ask them a question. He keeps walking towards them trying not to frighten them, but truly finds them interesting. Every time he takes one step, they take 20. Eventually the kid figures they just don't like him, so he leaves them be. These birds were that old couple.

...All I wanted was one close up shot.