Category: Political Rants

Every year Pearland seems to drag out the worst of the bigots and reward them with an office.

Where do you stand? Alongside our Black brothers and sisters, defending their rights, or so you stand with the forces of oppression that have too long dehumanized and murdered without regard for their rights? Protests are happening around the world, and people are being shot, maimed, and murdered. We have proposal by Letitia Plummer that will begin to address the impunity with which HPD operates. Will you make calls and send emails? Will you call out the conditions that protesters are being held in?

The choice is yours.

In order to get this proposal passed, we the people must contact City Council and make a demand for it!

To those who are trying to learn what you can do to become a better ally, this is an action you can take NOW.

To those who have been marching, protesting, and/or been arrested over the last week, this proposal is a direct response to the power of your voice. Call our Council Members and let them know you support this. Don’t stop fighting. It’s working. ✊🏿✊🏼✊🏾✊🏻✊🏽

▪️CONTACT AT-LARGE 1
Council Member Mike Knox
Phone: 832.393.3014
E-Mail: atlarge1@houstontx.gov

▪️ CONTACT AT-LARGE 2
Council Member David W. Robinson
Phone: 832.393.3013
E-Mail: atlarge2@houstontx.gov

▪️ CONTACT AT-LARGE 3
Council Member Michael Kubosh
Phone: 832.393.3005
E-Mail: atlarge3@houstontx.gov

▪️ CONTACT AT-LARGE 5
Council Member Sallie Alcorn
Phone: 832.393.3017
E-Mail: atlarge5@houstontx.gov

🔹 And finally, call Council Member Letitia Plummer (At-Large 4) to thank her for her work and to let her know you support her.

Phone: 832.393.3012
E-Mail: atlarge4@houstontx.gov

Memorial day is a US federal holiday that was established in 1971 that is dedicated to honoring our soldiers that have passed away while serving in the US military. A moment of silence is held at 3pm local time throughout the country. Please join me in observing this moment of silence and in honoring our honored dead.

This year, with the world in the midst of a Pandemic, it is important that every citizen remembers why these brave service people sacrificed their lives, and it’s essential that we all do what we can to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain. We must all do what we can to safeguard ourselves, our families, and our communities.

The simplest definition of Herd Immunity , Per Merriam-Webster is :  a reduction in the risk of infection with a specific communicable disease (such as measles or influenza) that occurs when a significant proportion of the population has become immune to infection (as because of previous exposure or vaccination) so that susceptible individuals are much less likely to come in contact with infected individuals. I’m going to give you two additional definitions:

Eugenics:  the practice or advocacy of controlled selective breeding of human populations (as by sterilization) to improve the population’s genetic composition
And
Genocide: the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group

More on those two in a bit. Now the commentary coming from members of the GOP, and the domestic terrorists trying to force the early opening of state and local governments is that the only way to get past the COVID-19 crisis is by applying a type of herd immunity by ensuring that a large part of the population are exposed to COVID-19, comparing it to the Flu, and trying to offer lives as a sacrifice to the alter of capitalism.

Johns Hopkins, as well as several other scientific and medical institutions and journals have addressed how much more devastating COVID-19 is. It is at least ten times as deadly as the common flu, and it is several times more transmissible than the flu. The virus, thus far, seems to have far reaching and long lasting impact on several aspects of the body. This is not the flu.

In order to reach herd immunity without a vaccine, we need to ensure that at least 70-90 percent of the population is infected. The population of the United States is roughly 328 Million people. So to reach 75% exposure that means roughly 246 million people need to be infected. Let’s look at the low end of the mortality rate (1-2 percent). That means 2,460,000 people will die if we try to reach herd immunity by exposure. What that figure doesn’t take into account is the fact that our healthcare system would be crippled dealing with these infections, meaning additional people will die due to lack of access to healthcare and other secondary causes.

This number will also leave us with an grotesque impact on all aspects of society. The economy would enter a large scale depression, leading to years, if not decades, of impact to common people. The fact that COVID-19 affects the poor and people of color dis-proportionally because of their lack to access to healthcare, leads to another grim scenario. The Flu, only has a .1 percent mortality rate. We also have a vaccine for the Flu that provides true herd immunity without the extreme loss of life (300,0000 deaths without the vaccine).

What people are screaming for is an inhumane cost in human lives. They know the statistics for who is more likely to be affected. They are talking about the “strength” of the immune systems for those that will survive. This mirrors discussions on Eugenics, breading out those that can’t survive the pandemic. This isn’t based on facts, COVID-19 can, and will affect the young, the rich, the poor, and people of all races.
What people are fighting for, when asking for social distancing and safety measures to be dropped, is the genocide of millions of Americans. We don’t have to let these people die. Politicians are choosing to allow these deaths, so that they can pander to greedy and heartless donors and supporters. We cannot allow this to happen. The mere suggestion of allowing this is traitorous and heartless.

SOURCES:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herd%20immunity

https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/achieving-herd-immunity-with-covid19.html

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eugenics

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rethinking-herd-immunity/

I’m not self isolating and wearing masks because I’m afraid. I have spent years as a community organizer and activist. I work towards empowering and elevating those that are marginalized or vulnerable. I do this work because I believe every person is precious. I’m not personally afraid of COVID-19, but I take precautions because I don’t want a single person to got through the disease because I was careless. I don’t want to see healthcare workers over whelmed.

I want to shorten the impact of this disease, and the only way we can do that is by isolating and preventing further spread of this virus. Ignoring the advice of doctors and scientists will only lengthen the impact of COVID-19, costing lives and expanding the damage to people’s livelihoods. This isn’t a politically motivated statement, it’s one based on facts, supported by research.

There is rhetoric out there that pushes conspiracy theories and accused those of us listening to experts of being afraid. It’s empty partisan postering. It’s dangerous and will lead to more deaths and long term impact that can’t be swept under the rug or ignored.

These safety measures will only seem like they are overblown because they are working. That’s the point. We are trying to prevent the spread of the disease and it’s horrible impact.

Lives cannot be replaced. Stay home, save lives. If you have to be out, adhere to social distancing and wear a mask. Do it to save others, and don’t let charlatans goad you into ignorant and destructive actions.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 shows the power of pathogens and the lack of preparedness humanity has in our ability to mount a rapid response to the spread of previously unknown pathogens. The financial toll to the world’s economies will be enormous, but the impact in lives, and long term mental health will be even greater.
Here in the US we have lost vital weeks of proactive action because of the fear of financial impact and the result of anti-science narrative from people in power.
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1AWr6AHz24s5w3gJ0pjFcOmAem4FjZrg6bBcky6pb7Uf1vnvfyYfZ5c9w

This case study from the Imperial College in the UK goes into extreme detail of why it is necessary to undergo suppression strategy. This is particularly true in the US where we don’t have extra capacity in critical care units, and where our medical professionals, support staff, and infrastructure are already taxed.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/interview-francis-collins-nih/608221/?fbclid=IwAR3JBm8VzTEzkFNg5E5g9U_HUcB7s0gJE4Il21DwFs3pFp6Hl1L1SxHBzoQ

What does this all mean? If we want to avoid the worst case scenario, of 4-6 million Americans dying from allowing the virus to run its course, then we must implement stringent isolation strategies for the population. Per Francis Collins, in his interview with the Atlantic posted above:

““That means we all need to take responsibility, even if we are thinking of ourselves as relatively impervious to this illness.  It would be easy for a young person to look at the data and go, ‘Well, you know, what if I get it? I’m probably going to be fine.’ But you have to think of yourself also as a vessel for other vulnerable people.  Even if you don’t think you need to do this kind of isolation for your own good, you’re doing it for the rest of the country—and particularly for your grandparents and other people who are in a vulnerable state.”

And Collins also offered a big-picture perspective for Americans. “I think people need to be prepared that we are going to be in this space for more time than they will like,” he said. “In many ways, the best sign that we’re making progress will be that the duration of the epidemic goes on a little longer. That’s what flattening the curve means.”

We don’t have time to wait for our leaders to order a mandatory lockdown, we should all be self-isolating and saving our resources and efforts into protecting our neighbors, families and communities. Doing anything otherwise would be irresponsible and heartless. We are taxing our medical professionals, who will also start getting sick. We are taxing our infrastructure, and we are causing permanent harm to society by risking additional deaths. Yes, this pandemic will likely extend for many months. We need to make sure it does so we don’t see countless millions die needlessly.

We must push our elected officials to mandate the closure of all public spaces except for essential services. We must ensure this because if we lose our front line healthcare workers this gets much, much worse. We must do this because it is the morally right thing to do, to defend the lives of our communities by flattening the curve.

The science behind this is sound. We must act now if we wish to save lives. We live in a time of technology that allows us to carry on work and school remotely, where we don’t need to expose others to the dangers of this pathogen. The only thing stopping us is our own hubris and ignorance.

When it comes to preparing for a major health crisis I tend to listen to scientists, and medical professionals and not someone known for pandering to conspiracy theories, and who’s own ability to do a proper google search leaves his sentience in doubt.

Greg Travis and KTRH radio are working hard to politicize and issue that should be common sense. The world is facing a pandemic, and the most vulnerable populations will suffer greatly if they ignore the advice of actual experts, while listening to the verbal vomit coming from those that are motivated only by what the stock market drop means for their bottom line. The COVID-19 virus will affect everyone regardless of political affiliation, and it’s important to get ahead of this and work proactively instead of reactively.
Reactive measures are always costly and inefficient. When talking about a pandemic the cost will not just be financial, it’ll be in lives.

Quarantining people now will save lives, and that’ should be the primary focus of our elected leaders, not pushing easily disproven right wing conspiracies.
It’s ironic that Greg Travis mentions the zombie apocalypse. That scenario is exactly what epidemiologists use to plan responses for a pandemic, and it’s something that he should read further into.

Thank you to Mayor Turner and Judge Hidalgo for putting lives over other considerations. That’s a sign of proper leadership!

Max Miller is affiliated with the Houston Pastor’s council, who worked with Rick Scarborough’s Vision for America to fight the HERO ordinance. He’s anti-trans, and here he is helping to fundraiser for Shawn Thierry. Not the first time Shawn has been affiliated with Max Miller. See the last two screenshots.

I will never understand why someone runs in a party that they have no alignment to. Well outside of a selfish desire to keep power.

Jerry Zimmerer is a politician through and through. He has run as a republican three different times, in 1994, and twice in 1996. He’s donated heavily to GOP causes as well.
That was in the past. He ran as a democrat recently, so all is well. People change, heck I’ve changed.

Well.. except recently he has sided with republicans on the bench instead of democrats. Most notably :

In Nguyen v. South by Southwest, Don Wade v Household Finance Copr. III, and Suzanne Elizabeth Wexler v The State of Texas.

In these cases Zimmerer is seen to protect corporate interests, and in the case of Wexler vs Texas he sided with officers that refused to read Miranda rights to a woman that was detained.

Zimmerer also voted in Republican primaries until 2014, when the changing demographics proved that running as a democrat would be a “winning” choice for him.

All of this is a matter of public record, his horrible rulings, his past support of the GOP.

He’s an opportunist. Don’t believe empty rhetoric, look at his actions.

Not all grassroots organizers will agree with each other on our endorsements. As I stated before, the endorsements I made were hard, for many reasons. I obviously don’t live in multiple congressional districts so obviously I’m an outsider looking in to other areas and making choices based on what information I can gather.
I live just outside Manvel, in CD22. I am in the boundaries of PISD. My endorsement here wasn’t taken lightly. It’s important for me to spell out that of the candidates, one of them stood out as someone that I cannot work with. Nyanza Moore has expressed some misogynistic, and anti-trans rhetoric. While I acknowledge that people can grow and learn, her latest actions prove to me that she isn’t apologetic regarding her views, but rather apologetic that she’s been caught expressing troubling views.

Some people have had different interactions with Nyanza. Whenever I’ve confronted her directly about her transphobic comments she has steadfastly refused to acknowledge that she even made them. When I presented video evidence, she’s ignored me.
It’s also important to note that Nyanza didn’t bother screaming with the GLBT Caucus for an endorsement. As she’s said publicly, she knows who her base is, and she doesn’t seem to care about reaching across to others.

In PISD we have a district led by a superintendent that is blatant in his prejudices and torment of Trans students. We cannot empower such hate by allowing Nyanza to be our Democratic candidate in 22.

I have posted about her hate rhetoric before. Here are the videos again. This is blatant hatred and ignorance. A public apology must be issued before I’ll reconsider this.

I have nothing but respect for everyone else who’s doing the work of vetting candidates. Thank you for all that you do!

I have serious concerns about the CD2 race, in particular Sima Ladjevardian, who I have brought up before.
Below are the receipts. Yes, she has given to democratic donors heavily, but I have seen some pretty shady donations, some as recent as 2015 to Republicans. Her 2015 donation was to Charles Boustany, who made the statement, in support of a fellow GOP seeking Louisiana’s senate seat “”Republicans who care about the future of our country need a Republican in the Senate who will work with Donald Trump to roll back the failed liberal policies of President Obama,” Boustany said. “I endorse John Kennedy and urge all my supporters to cast their vote for him.” In the Tribune article she plays off GOP endorsements by insinuating that it was a one time thing in deference to community elders. Except it happened a few times. People said “maybe they are friends” ok. So I backed off. However Looking more into her dealings I’m not liking what I am seeing.

 While Sima touts her pro-worker credentials at CPPP, and their unionizing, looking at tweets from workers, she was part of the management group that looked to suppress unionization. Sima got the AFL-CIO endorsement, however someone that was able to raise 200k quickly, and tout her Pro-Union chops didn’t bother with a union bug on her first batch of campaign material.

 She has ties to Amir Mireskandar, a former consultant for Kim Ogg. Former because he is under FBI investigation for trying to influence elected officials, like Ogg, and Ken Paxton, etc, while working for several Poker Houses seeking to expand and legitimize their businesses. He is also CEO and managing partner of Mires, Ran Clark and Associates, a consulting company that has Wayne Dolcefino listed as part of leadership in Media Consulting & Investigations. Dolcefino is a well known GOP operative.

We are eight days out from the Primary, and she still hasn’t filed her financial disclosure forms. She was supposed to do that on 2/2. So we now have no way to fully vet out a candidate that has started at least 2 businesses with a person that is under FBI investigation for trying to influence elected officials through donations.

In Comparison I have researched both Travis Olsen and Elisa Cardnell , neither of whom have significant ties to PACS or a history of donations above the mandatory reporting thresholds.

Below is a timeline of activity, and link to sources.

Timeline of activity:

2007 – Sima Ladjevardian makes max donation to Rudy Giuliani

2015 – Sima Ladjevardian makes last donation to Republican Candidate Charles Boustany.

2018 – Texas Progressive Executive Council Founded. Sima and Amir are listed as Co-Chairs in articles.

2018 – Texas For Fairness and Justice PAC founded and lists Amir Mireskandar as Treasurer. Listed as a sister pac to the TPEC

July, 2019 – Ogg dismisses poker room cases, citing conflict with consultant and fundraiser, Amir Mreskandiari. The clubs are Post Oak Poker Club and Prime Social Poker Room.

August 24^th 2019 – Kim Ogg speaks about donations from Poker Houses to Adrian Garcia and Ken Paxton

December 2019 – CPPP is accused of anti-union tactics on Twitter despite statements to the contrary.

December 9^th, 2019 – Sima Ladjevardian files to run in Texas 2. She immediately raises 200k and garners the support of people such as Kim Ogg, Adrian Garcia, Etc, who all benefited from TPEC and Texas for Fairness and Justice PAC.

December 20^th 2019 – Sima’s campaign files for extension for Financial Disclosure form, listing a date of February 2^nd.

February 22^nd, 2019 – Sima’s Finanical disclosure form is now 20 days late. 10 days to primary.

Sources:

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/12/19/democratic-primary-challenge-us-rep-dan-crenshaw-gets-11th-hour-shakeu/

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Ogg-dismisses-poker-room-cases-citing-conflict-14100998.php

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-poker-club-DA-consultant-trade-14435780.php

http://miresran.com/leadership.php

https://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?tag=fundraising

https://www.corporationwiki.com/Texas/Houston/amir-mireskandari-P3253678.aspx

https://twitter.com/CpppUnited/status/1204918257553162240?s=20

https://tpec.us/harris-county-progressive-political-news/

https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00678136

https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/charles-boustany-endorses-john-kennedy-231418

Vet your candidates. Bloomberg has a history of problematic behavior. He’s given heavily to stop progressive candidates, and has blood on his hands.

I know it’s important for me to focus on my self,and on my mental health, but it’s damn near impossible right now. I’m an empathetic person, and for the last few years every day I just get a sense that more and more people are suffering. There are people that are being tortured, murdered, and erased while many of us fight an uphill battle.

Sometimes the sense of all the human suffering that is going on is overwhelming. I have no idea why we aren’t all in the streets demanding the removal of a treasonous and evil regime. I get frustrated that so many people reject the fact that they have power to change things if they would just listen and vote.

I will keep fighting, I will keep screaming, and I won’t forget or ignore the suffering of others. I know that there has to be balance, but right now, tonight, I’m feeling overwhelmed by it all. I’m sad for my fellow people, and I just want to find the spark that will help us all change what is happening.

Being an ally takes more than words. As a straight-Cis-Male, I have had to learn a lot about my desire to be a better feminist, and a better person. The first thing I’ve learned is, I have to listen, a lot. I have to swallow my over inflated ego, and listen. I’ve learned that my voice, is best utilized when it is elevating the voices of others. I’ve learned that being an activist and progressive is a lot more complex than I could ever expect. People that I wish to help are as multifaceted, as any other group. The different opinions and approaches are a maze to navigate.  It’s essential to find the place where I can do the most good, and stick to it.

I’ve learned that the work needs to be done, for the sake of the future. I will never see a day where all people are truly regarded as equals. I’ll never see a completely just society. I can help lay the foundation to it, and that’s the most important thing I can do as an individual. I don’t need accolades or recognition for the work I am doing, I simply need more people to realize that the change with need starts with them. Small things, a little at a time, are essential. This is no sprint, it’s not even a marathon. It’s a relay marathon, and we need everyone helping out.

A note to my fellow-men. We are all dripping with levels of toxic masculinity. A truly good man gives to others, because it is the right, and just, thing to do. We have grown up being told that we must take what we want. That to be a “man” we must hide our emotions, and defend each other at all cost. We fear showing weakness, because it’s not “manly”. We defend the patriarchy, because it gives us a default “special” place in society.
We have been taught wrong. Embracing our emotions makes us more powerful. We become wholly ourselves. We must treat everyone with the same respect, kindness, and nurturing, that we would love to have for ourselves. We must speak out against injustice, no matter who is committing it. We must earn our place in society, through our words and deeds.

Feminism is not a threat to masculinity. It is our salvation, should we learn to embrace it. I don’t expect to win the praise of my fellow-men with these words, and to be frank, I don’t care to. We are each on this journey alone, and we can choose to embrace ourselves fully, and help others, or we can continue down a lonely, hollow, path.  I choose to be wholly myself, and to be an ally to others. I can only hope that others do the same.

I’ve also realized that I am far from the perfect ally. My temper comes and goes. I am not as kind as I should be to those that love me the most. I have been damaged by the same elements in society that I seek to fight against. This is no excuse. I am in charge of my destiny and in control of my own actions. It is up to me to keep on changing for the better, and up to me to deal with the consequences of my shortcomings. I am ok with this, I own this. I take responsibility for my actions, and I will continue to try to be better. I will not always succeed, but I will not allow my fragility to excuse poor behavior.

For those that I have hurt, I am truly sorry, for those that I have helped, I don’t seek praise or recognition.  I simply ask you to pay it forward.
Much work is left to be done. I ask that no matter what our mutual experiences entail, that you work with me. Let us make the world a truly better place.

Watching the Vice videos, I’m utterly disgusted at all the things that White Supremacists and Nazis say. The whole concept of racially superiority is such a joke. Racial purity is as well. Throughout the history of humanity, there has been once constant, humanity’s constant curiosity. We have explored, traveled, and spread throughout the Earth. The constant migration patterns of people have ensured there is no such thing as racial purity. Even the Germanic people of Western Europe can trace their lineage to migrations from Asia.

Let me say this to all the “geek” men that feel the need to belittle and harass women for the crime of having a cool job. Fuck off. Take your vile misogyny, and shove it up your ass and die. You’re not geeks, nor men. You are vile sacks of shit that need to go back under the rock you came from. All this woman is guilty off is enjoying some time with coworkers. She’s not a “fake geek” you are. I’ve lived my entire life being a nerd/geek whatever term you wish to use. I grew up being mocked, for the simple crime of liking things that weren’t mainstream. I’m sick of the bullshit “gamer” talk, the attacks I see on others for enjoying the same things. Comics, Sci-fi, science, etc, are not the exclusive domain of men. I sure as hell don’t see you douche canoes mocking women dressed in cosplay. Maybe that’s because you are a bunch of losers that enjoy creeping on women from a distance, because you subconsciously realize that your foul personalities are kryptonite to the other sex. Maybe it’s just because you have mommy issues, I Don’t give a fuck. You are assholes. You give geeks a bad name, and you deserve to get dragged through the mud, in public, for your vile statements. I promise you one thing, if I ever find out about one of you cretins trying to get a job where I work, I will shut that shit down. You’ll be stuck in your parent’s basement, with your hateful rhetoric, and your box of tissues.

https://www.themarysue.com/marvel-editor-harassed-for-selfie/

When I talk about how frustrated I am, let me explain why. The US has never been perfect. It’s had many, deep flaws. The history of the US is fraught with favoritism and deep seeded bigotry. That said, it was a nation full of people who fought. We fought to make the nation better for all people. In my short life, I have seen women, LGBTQ, and other minority groups gain ground in their pursuit of equality and justice. Under Obama, we saw a shimmering light of progress, not full equality, but more progress than had ever been witnessed. Now this push for equality saw an equal, harder push towards stopping any further progress.

Hatred stewed, and a narrative formed, trying to explain how the work of progressives would “take away” from others. How does asking for equality take away from others? There was no pursuit to remove religious freedoms from Christians. They were free to worship in their churches and prayer houses in peace. We simply asked that the more radical adherents not be allowed to discriminate against others. Pushing for the end of a for-profit prison system, and equal treatment under the law, for minorities, wasn’t taking away the privileges of White America. We simply asked that others be able to enjoy the same freedoms. Legalizing same-sex marriage was not an assault on heterosexual, or religious people. We asked they be treated with the same protections that any couple that is in love be treated with.

People demonize “illegal immigrants” for the same crime that Columbus, and America’s very founding fathers participated in. The pursuit of something better. They mock environmental protections and deny science, in order for profit. We can’t drink money, breathe it, or eat it. This is foolishness at its height.

The pursuit of science and education is laughed at, as if it was something to be ashamed of. The pursuit of knowledge is tantamount for a healthy democracy. We should not speak of intellectualism as if it were something to be avoided. Our very nation depends on scientists and engineers, but also, musicians, and artists.

The radical right is so busy, finding fault in others pursuit of equality, that they have allowed treason to go unanswered. People scream of wars against Christianity, or against white america. No, there are no wars against these things, except the war being fought by those that would see others deported, mistreated, or ignored, simply so that a subsection of America can sleep at night with the belief that they are “better”, all while surrounded by poverty, disease, and pollution.
All of the good that the US stood for, and the good that could have been, are now threatened by the arrogant actions of a small minority of people. They fight to destroy anything that doesn’t fit into their narrow viewpoint. They would take away our freedoms, all while screaming patriotic epitaphs that no longer have any meaning.

If you are a patriot, you will fight for the rights of others. You will pledge your lives, your fortunes, your sacred honor, in order to defend the dream, so easily afforded to a few, and so hard-fought for so many others. Demonizing your friends, neighbors, fellow residents, because they seek to live a life as free as yours, in true equality, is not the mark of a patriot, or a “conservative”. It is the deepest form of treason.

This is why I’m frustrated. This is why I get angry, and fired up. There is nothing wrong with me, I just see what is so horribly wrong with so many others.

This is not a joke. This is not an over reaction. I wish to see America fully live up to its full potential. That will never happen until we fully embrace the words All People are Created Equal.

I’ve been contemplating this. Please read fully before attacking me.
I’ve noticed a lot of statements regarding people being to easily “offended” by things. That may be true, but that statement is being used to dismiss actual dialogue in many situations. It’s ok to be offended by certain things, and to bring it up in a rational way. That’s how conversations are started, and how people learn to understand. It’s also ok to say “that comes across as a bit racist” or “That can be mistakenly viewed as a racist statement.”
Those words are meant to bring light to a situation. It’s ok to ask “How so?” and it’s ok to discuss it. For my White friends, I know you are all good people. Most of you are not “racists” but some of you may be ignorant of certain things. You have some prejudices, so do I. It’s something I work to get over and to improve on constantly. Please don’t get “offended” by the statement, but seek dialogue.
Here are some situations, and my views on them. These views apply to some people, and not to others.

1. I have heard the statement “They are taking our jobs” from people in regards to immigrants. Let’s analyze that. Many of the people being accused of this are migrant workers, earning less than minimum wage. We currently have an unemployment rate of about 5.5 to 6%. If migrant workers are “taking” these jobs, it’s because those 19 million Americans are either A. unqualified,C. unwilling to do those jobs, or C. Being passed over because those hiring are trying to circumvent labor laws. The solutions would be to put more money to education and the enforcement of labor laws. Hold companies accountable for hiring undocumented people instead of demonizing those coming over and looking for an opportunity.

2. I’ve seen people offended that minorities bring up stories of injustices to them. Statements are made like “I would never do that” or “I’ve never seen that happen”. Congrats, we aren’t talking about you, and you live in a wonderful area where people aren’t outwardly racist. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen in other places, or when you aren’t around. Listen, think. How would you feel if you walked into a mall and were followed around all day by a Police officer? This happened to me, I was in slacks and a button up shirt, and I was shopping, and paying for stuff. He profiled me because I “don’t fit in”. That was wrong, on his part. I didn’t do anything stupid, I kept calm and I was annoyed and offended.

3. Asking for bad police officers to be held accountable for breaking the law, or abusing their power, doesn’t mean people don’t support law enforcement. Most police officers are hard working, good people. Just like most people of any ethnic, religious, or political group tend to be good people. Holding bad people accountable for their actions is part of making sure everyone has justice.

4. Being Pro-Choice doesn’t mean being pro-abortion. It means that I let women, and their doctors, make their own medical decisions. I have my personal views, I keep them to myself. There are medical reasons, and ethical reasons, for abortion. Every situation is different.

5. Don’t cheer the death of anyone. The loss of any life is tragic. It doesn’t matter what they looked like, or what they did, we should learn to treat each other with respect. The taking of any life is a serious thing, and something that shouldn’t be done callously.

6. Corporations aren’t people, but since they are being treated that way, they should pay their fair share of taxes. If they choose to offshore their headquarters, in an attempt to bypass tax laws, then they should have tariffs levied against them. If they want to contribute to the political process, then they need to pay up like the rest of us. Same for Churches.

Stop demonizing groups of people. Realize that assholes exist in all groups. Listen to each other. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

You are welcome to disagree with me. I encourage it. Keep it civil though, let’s have discussions. I will delete any post that attacks me, or someone else. We need to talk TO each other, not AT each other.

When I was in Elementary school, I went to a school that didn’t have many Asians in it. I remember being in 2nd grade and having some kid say something about his uncle fighting the Vietnamese in Vietnam. He made fun of me because I had to be one of them. I’m not Vietnamese, but to that kid, and his parents, all Asians had to be Vietnamese and were not “welcome”. As I grew older I learned about the Japanese internment camps, and how Japanese Americans were distrusted, just because of their heritage. I asked why German and Italian Americans weren’t placed in camps too. I learned that many were discriminated upon, but mostly they could blend in and assimilate.
I saw racism focus on anyone that looked “Arabic” during the first Gulf war, and then after 9-11. Even Indian friends faced racism because bigoted Americans couldn’t tell the difference. I know Koreans faced the same kinds of Racism during the Korean War, and the Chinese were mistreated during the 1800’s because of the influx of immigrants. I now see Latinos being targeted for the same reasons.
All these groups face racism for one reason. They don’t “look” American. I’ve been the victim of such racism. I often times talk about Americans as if I wasn’t one. I was born here, I’ve only ever lived in the U.S. I’ve been called out for talking about Americans because I am one so why don’t I always claim it? I now realize I meant “white” people when I talked about “Americans”. That’s wrong, I’m an American I’m proud to be one. I claim it proudly, and I hold no ill will. I love this country.
I grew up feeling like I didn’t belong because I didn’t “look” right. That feeling is something that evolved from the casual racism that young children are exposed to. It’s something we must all stop from happening.
Let’s all take a moment to realize that most of us are descended from immigrants. We all have ancestors that probably fought each other. We are all here for the same reasons. The promise of opportunity. Stop pointing out differences and start looking at each other’s humanity. No child should grow up feeling like an outcast in a nation of immigrants.

What is it going to take? 74 school shootings since Newtown, and we have had 0 action on anything that makes sense. Our politicians, ON BOTH SIDES, are busy courting favor with gun manufacturers and ignoring the pleas of reasonable people all across the country.
We hear extremist right wing puppets talk about “good guys with guns” but we sit helpless as even our POLICE are being killed by extremists with guns. Morons now show up to stores, armed for battle with their imaginary foes, with no more training, or common sense than the average half wit can get in a 4 hour course.
We sit by as the “liberals” in our government ignore, and hide from controversy because “it’s an election year”. WE NEED LEADERSHIP, we need STATESMEN and STATESWOMEN that will do what is right, “not because it is easy, but because it is hard!”
Our leaders have failed us, and we are busy arguing about petty topics. GET IT TOGETHER, call, scream, yell, MARCH, do anything to make them hear us!

http://everytown.org/article/schoolshootings/

I often find myself wondering why there is so much suffering in a world full of people with such a capacity for love.  Even in the most violent, desperate environments you’ll find small acts of kindness.

We often find ourselves being told to “hate” another person or group for their differences in beliefs, but how different are we all really?  We all need food, shelter, and love to survive.  If only we could learn to love the differences in others, the world would be a much happier, positive place.  Why can’t we all just learn to let go of the past and look forward to a future where we all live, and work, for each other?  We are one family, one large, complex, family.  When we can all realize that, the world will be the place we deserve it to be.

No, I’m not innocent in acting out in anger, or being upset at groups of people for one reason or another.  I do realize that my reactions are misguided, and I refuse to let a small subset of people tear my birthright away.  I deserve to appreciate and love everyone as much as possible.  I just need to keep reminding myself that everyone has potential, everyone needs a good example, and I need to start living my life as a positive example for others.  I may stumble, and that’s ok.  That’s part of being human too, and I have to learn to forgive myself for my inadequacies as I learn to forgive others.

I’m not happy with the Zimmerman outcome.  I’ll come out and say that I just don’t understand why some asshat can get away with murdering someone else because he “suspected” that they were up to no good.  I’ll leave race out of my explanation.

The facts that I care about.  Zimmerman was following a “suspicious” person.  Zimmerman called 911 and the operator advised him not to follow, he chose to ignore that advise.  That’s my first problem.  I’ve been in situations before where suspicious people were knocking on all of my neighbors door.  They looked like they were selling something, but usually door to door salespeople avoid doing so at night.  It looks creepy.  I carry a CHL, and one of these people tried to follow me to my garage, I told them to back off.  I was loud, and firm, and they backed off.  I then called 911, from inside my house, and warned my neighbors.  These people were robbing houses in the area, and they got picked up.  Total wait time, 5 minutes.  Why did I not shoot them?  Mainly because I don’t want to kill anyone, but mostly because I didn’t know if they were armed as well, and it was dark, anything could happen that would result in a tragic accident.  It was common sense, and if I want to play hero, I’ll go volunteer at the food bank.

Second issue, people saying that “Travon was a thug and deserved it”.  He was a kid.  He may have skipped class, gotten expelled for non-violent reasons, he may have smoked pot.  I don’t care.  Hell, he could have sacrificed children to Satan, that’s not the point.  The point is he was walking home that night, with skittles.  Zimmerman is just a regular, annoying,person.  He didn’t have a report on Travon’s activities.  He’s not a detective, he’s an asshole that just needed to call 911 and back the fuck off.  It wasn’t his job to follow anyone, and it sure as hell wasn’t his job to shoot anyone.  That’s why we pay for police, and we make sure they are trained.

Seriously, bite me if you think anyone deserves to die.  The same people saying that Travon deserved to be dead are the same assholes pushing abortion restrictions on women.  You hypocrites can just go to hell.

Yeah, I know this is a line from a shitty movie, but let me explain.

This is a link to the most restrictive abortion law in the country:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=831&Bill=SB5

https://twitter.com/AntDeRosa/status/349767750576644096/photo/1

It passed AFTER the deadline.  That doesn’t matter, because Texas is no longer a democracy, the GOP decided to play by fascist rules today.

http://www.wendydavisforsenate.com/

That is Wendy Davis, donate to her, she started a 13 hour filibuster, but was cut off by the cheating GOP when she discussed non-germane topics.  Apparently the GOP feel that in a Filibuster of a restrictive abortion law, sonograms and Roe Vs. Wade are “not germane”.  See, if you can’t play fair, just cheat.

This set the stage for some other heroes like  John Whitmire and Kirk Watson to try and stop a vote.  At the end, the GOP rammed their agenda through, and about ten minutes from the deadline, the people in the gallery started screaming.  They cheered, they yelled, and they chanted.  THE PEOPLE DECIDED TO ACT! They bought the necessary ten minutes, and the GOP CHEATED!

So ends democracy in Texas, yes, there were cheers, but those were the cheers of men and women, fighting to stop an unjust group of people from STEALING their rights.  I’m disgusted at the GOP and their fascism   I can’t be prouder of the Texans fighting for their rights.

You won this battle GOP, but remember, this is TEXAS.  Sure, some battles are lost, but  we don’t give up on just causes. The war has just begun! Instead of destroying morale, you just increased our resolve.  Thanks GOP, you just gave us something else to “REMEMBER”.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/father-tsa-officer-humiliated-my-daughter/-/1637132/20615110/-/l31u61z/-/index.html–

Read that article, and then the comments.  You should feel outrage.  Outrage for this poor little girl who was just minding her own business, and got a verbal thrashing at the hands of some half rate – Barney Fife wannabe TSA agent.  No, her attire is none of your business, if you can’t do your job and keep your misguided moral opinion to yourself, perhaps you should consider a career in politics.

My outrage goes further, read the comments yet?  I saw several instances of comparing this young child to “a prostitute” and “slut”.  Compounded with that were insults against Muslims.  Have you heard of the Taliban?  They are responsible for punishing women for not being “decent” or “moral”.  Forcing them to cover up, and be submissive to men.  Sound familiar?  If you commented in a disparaging way towards that girl you could join them.

I’m a bit sick and tired of asshats using centuries old “moral” judgments on people and then being offended when they are called out for being intolerant, racist, sexist, etc.  Don’t hide behind religion either, it’s not your religion that is making you a piece of human excrement, it’s your misguided logic.

Basically, STFU, and worry about why you suck at life.  If you spent less time being morally outraged at people for what they wear, or who they love, etc then maybe you would have more time to spend on personal growth.  You might even crack a book open and learn how to think critically someday.

The tornado in Oklahoma that took the lives of at least 24 people was devastating. My initial reaction was the usual numb distance I feel whenever I hear of something horrible.  This was followed by my reading of various articles describing the heroism of the Teachers and first responders that went to work saving lives.

The story of a teacher that lay on top of her students to keep them safe was heartwarming, you can read about it here :http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20702199,00.html

I can’t believe dealing with the kind of devastation that occurred in Oklahoma.  I felt my faith in humanity renewed after hearing the accounts of heroes.  Then I came across this photo:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=435525179877046&set=o.429456927083530&type=1&theater

So the teacher said a prayer, good for her.  No, that can’t be left alone though, can it?  Read the comments, about how if we had more prayer in school then things like this wouldn’t happen or comments like this:

Sherry Lynn Fahner It is a shame that we as americans have to change the way we have been doing things, and this is my opinion, because of all these foriegners and their beliefs if you don’t like the way we do things here in america go back to your own damn country prayer belongs in schools, maybe if it our children were learning prayers and about religion in school they wouldn’t be learning it later in life in jails and prisons~~~I commend this teacher~~well done!!

I love the arguments of “Life begins at conception” so we can’t allow abortion. It’s a really great argument, except for the fact that it is completely false. A good friend of mine reminded me of a statement that Carl Sagan had regarding abortion:

“Despite many claims to the contrary, life does not begin at conception: It is an unbroken chain that stretches back nearly to the origin of the Earth, 4.6 billion years ago. Nor does human life begin at conception: It is an unbroken chain dating back to the origin of our species, hundreds of thousands of years ago. Every human sperm and egg is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, alive. They are not human beings, of course. However, it could be argued that neither is a fertilized egg.
In some animals, an egg develops into a healthy adult without benefit of a sperm cell. But not, so far as we know, among humans. A sperm and an unfertilized egg jointly comprise the full genetic blueprint for a human being. Under certain circumstances, after fertilization, they can develop into a baby. But most fertilized eggs are spontaneously miscarried. Development into a baby is by no means guaranteed. Neither a sperm and egg separately, nor a fertilized egg, is more than a potential baby or a potential adult. So if a sperm and egg are as human as the fertilized egg produced by their union, and if it is murder to destroy a fertilized egg–despite the fact that it’s only potentially a baby–why isn’t it murder to destroy a sperm or an egg?”

The conversation came up in response to a discussion regarding someone who has used in-vitro fertilization to conceive, but is anti-abortion. For those that are unaware, the process of in-vitro fertilization includes the death of many embryos in an attempt to allow fertilization. In essence “abortion” according to the definition of many Pro-Live advocates. The response to this being pointed out was a statement “I believe life starts when an embryo is implanted in a uterine wall”.

As Carl Sagan pointed out so eloquently, Sperm and Egg cells are alive (as are most socks). They are living, so is a fertilized egg. It makes no sense to condemn a person for having an abortion based on the assumption that life begins at “fertilization” or “implantation” or even when a heartbeat can be determined. Perhaps a more logical assertion is at viability. Either way, what do you do if a fetus is found to be so horribly malformed that there is zero chance for it to be viable? Do you force a woman to have a stillborn child? Why does your Judeo-Christian definition trump common sense (It’s practically unheard of), free will, and science? Do we accuse someone who kills a spider to be a murderer (or a hero)? Perhaps that particular spider would sire a line of spiders that would go on to evolve into sentient life (or at least become a reality TV star). Perhaps this is a decision between the parents, or a decision that a woman must make on her own. To accuse someone of committing murder for aborting a non-viable fetus is the equivalent of accusing a man of committing genocide for masturbating; or accusing a woman of committing murder every time she goes through her menstrual cycle.

What should be the punishment for these acts? Have you thought this through? How do you prosecute a woman who has been raped and decides to have an illegal abortion?
http://www.upworthy.com/if-youre-holding-a-sign-with-an-aborted-fetus-on-it-you-better-be-able-to-answer?c=ufb1

Remember, every sperm is sacred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptTwi6-ii-s

http://www.honestgirlscouts.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HonestGirlScout

Look, we have a page dedicated to honesty…

No, it’s run by a guy that hates girl scouts.

The things you stumble upon during lunch. These guys were from several community organizations, protesting