Many of us watched the Oscar's last night, and myself included mainly because there was nothing else on. It was going ok, keep in mind award shows bore me to tears, until the performance of "Glory." That was a beautiful song, minus some of the rapping by Common. Once they went up to accept the award my opinion of Legend changed a bit; after all I was thrilled about his comments regarding Kayne West's remarks about Beck from the Grammy's. Here is a transcript of his acceptance speech from this year's Oscars:
Thank you. Nina Simone said it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times
in which we live. We wrote this song for a film that was based on events
that were 50 years ago, but we say Selma is now, because the struggle
for justice is right now. We know that the voting rights, the act that
they fought for 50 years ago is being compromised right now in this
country today. We know that right now the struggle for freedom and
justice is real. We live in the most incarcerated country in the world.
There are more black men under correctional control today than were
under slavery in 1850. When people are marching with our song, we want
to tell you that we are with you, we see you, we love you, and march on.
I'm not going to comment about any kind of struggle, because there isn't one of the magnitude going on today that happened when MLK was alive and fighting the good fight for equal rights. I'm sure that if MLK were alive to hear that, he would have been insulted beyond comprehension. On a side note, however, were any of MLK's family in attendance last night? I actually remember there being a little hustle and bustle because MLK's speeches were licensed to ANOTHER project and not this one. Interesting, right?
The sentence where he said that voting rights fought for in the past are now being compromised..... THAT had me seeing red. Explain that to me Mr. Legend. How is that even remotely possible when the past few presidential elections have seen RECORD breaking numbers of African Americans voting? How is it even possible when there are, and were, people on both sides of the aisle setting up places in various locations to help aid in the registering of people to vote? There were celebrities getting the word out as well to make sure people registered to vote. I stood in lines for both elections and did not see anyone of any ethnicity being discouraged to vote. I ask of you to not insult my intelligence and that of the American people in spreading those lies. If requiring someone to hold an ID to vote is "compromising" the system, then I ask of you and other people who share your view points, to allow people into the White House with no ID or background check. Allow people at your concerts to have alcohol just based on their good merit of saying they are of legal age. Please, let's try that.
This whole thing about more African American people in jail today then there were slaves... well, now. How do I even begin to say that there are choices we all make? I, for example, choose to obey the law. I choose to not speed, to pay my bills with legally obtained funds. I choose to not dabble in drugs, I choose not to murder animals with illegal fighting rings, or any other kind of activity that is declared illegal by state and federal law. I do this every single day because I do not want to have my freedom taken away from me and I want to be able to have the choice to lay out my destiny. If people are in jail, more than likely they broke the law. Please note that I do know our justice system is imperfect and there people in there who are innocent. The vast majority of them in there though, they did it to themselves because they choose to act and/or do certain things that put them there.
If you really want to get to the heart of it, look at some of the other entertainers you associate yourself with. Most allegedly do drugs, or have sold drugs, brag about it. Most have expensive cars that they claim to drive after drinking and again brag about it through their music or random interviews. Some vandalize hotel rooms or other properties that are not their own and, yes, get away with it. Why is this? Well, these celebrities have highly paid defense attorneys that can get them off with lax community service or nothing at all. Are these consequences rapped about to these young impressionable youths? NO. All these kids see are these celebrities wildly partying with all kinds of drugs at their disposal and being filthy rich for doing something that doesn't require any book smarts, or the most part, and they want to emulate what they see. It's really that simple. Everyone desires wealth and fame, and the entertainment field is seen as easy street for these kids who are their fans.
What I think makes me most upset is that there are people who will blindly agree with him without knowing the facts of what is happening in this nation right now. While these rappers and entertainers are calling for hands up, they have not once called on all of the violent protesters and rioters to stop. I'm sure none of these entertainers would pass up the revenue of one of their concert tickets or album so their fans could study and/or buy a literary novel classic. No, what was said was a response that would have been fitting during MLK's day. Perhaps they never left the movie set in their minds and remained in the times of MLK.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Let's Chip Away
Social program spending in the US are out of control. Our large deficit, currently, is due to social programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, food stamps, welfare, and with the growing amount of people unable to find work in today's economy, it's likely to continue to rise. Nearly 50% of our federal budget goes to entitlement programs, and that's not counting all of the wasteful spending we know happens on Capitol Hill. These are very scary times right now, in terms of everything going on and outside of our boarders. One would think the easiest thing to do would be to come up with a balanced budget, after-all it's what we do at our homes every single day. I have heard of states doing so and some even being able to carry surpluses, so why is it such a novel idea to ask congress to do the same is beyond my comprehension.
With taxes having been increased since Obama took office, since that is Democratic answer to every monetary problem we face nationally, we are facing a challenging road ahead. We are spending more than we are bringing in, and there has not been any evidence showing any improvement in the near future. Should we not demand that congress take this just as seriously as they do baseball players taking steroids? My rational thought would be to take a closer look at social programs and see where we can slim down the unnecessary spending. In today's modern times we are becoming a nation built around a mentality of, "what have you given me lately" kind of crowd or "I shouldn't have to pay for this" kind of people. There is a huge lack of responsibility not being taught to our youth. For every action you make, there are going to be consequences. Some of those consequences will be rewarding, while others will be costly. Those that are costly should not be placed on the burden of other American's trying to make their own way.
I'm sure you've seen the countless videos online of welfare recipients who we saying that they have never worked a day in their life, and they don't plan to, because they are having all of their needs taken care of by the government. Day after day you hear from families in your neighborhood who need to go on food stamps because they have lost their jobs due to businesses bringing job forces oversees due to the ObamaCare law. As one of the more advanced nations on this planet, we have more people on food stamps than North Korea, Canada and Kenya. What's more upsetting is that if we continue down this path, there will be more people becoming wholly dependent on government to supply them with their day to day needs. Welfare and food stamps were originated due to the Great Depression and were not ever intended to be a means by which people live, only something to use as a stepping stone. Sadly that is not what is happening, and what's more is the current administration is proud of the levels of people becoming more dependent on government handouts. As someone who wakes up 5 days out of the week, and leaves their family for 8 hours or more a day, why not require nation wide drug testing? Why this is even a hotly debated topic is beyond me. IF the people on this government program cannot find a job, then let's find something for them to do. Community service would be a place to start, should they not be able to find a job in a given period of time. This attitude of some that have been living on welfare for an extended period of time need to be required to do something to earn the money that others are taxed.
We need to examine all government programs and our ever increasing spending debt ceiling in the upcoming years, as more of the baby boomer generation is set to retire. While finding a real solution to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is more difficult than it appears, it is really important for those of us paying into the system to have it fully available once we reach retirement. There needs to be a discussion on the lawmakers on Capitol Hill and their earnings, and those who are in the government sector that make unnecessary bonuses. Perhaps if we chip away at the over used stepping stone programs, and over paid Congressmen, then we could perhaps rid the economy of the ever present weight to our nation's debt.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
The War on Men
For months now there has been a lie circulating that there is a war on women. This supposed "war" mainly circles around abortions, abortion funding and contraception. To which I say, please stop insulting me as a woman and think that these things are the only issues I care about. As far as I am concerned, women need to care more about the economy and/
or education than whether or not they will be able to have access to an abortion clinic. No, I think it is time to acknowledge what is really happening with this war on women, it's really masking a national war on men.
The news broke that Columbia University is now requiring all students to attend a rape workshop in order to graduate or to be able to register for classes. While maybe some need a reminder that non-consensual sex is deplorable act, it's odd that the all women's college affiliated with Columbia, Barnard College, is not required to take part in the same classes. Now why would that be? Any time an affiliated business should have a new policy, it is usually implicated across the board. Even business franchise's aren't exempt from a new policy, so what can we gather from this? I gather that this policy is implemented on Columbia's campus in order to target the male students because their administration gathers that their male students do not know any self control and think that rape is on the fore front of their minds every day. Perhaps Columbia would like to have all of its campuses and affiliates to have nothing but females students to lessen the risk of rape? Another story from the UVA campus where female sorority students were asked to shy away from frat parties during the "men's bid night" for their safety and well-being. These stories show that college males are biologically inclined to rape at any given time because they have no sense of knowing right or wrong. It also shows that women need to lock themselves in a safe house and arm themselves with poetry to be protected from the dangers of a society breeding rapists.
Body acceptance now is a big topic that is being thrown around women. Self-esteem building of knowing that no matter your shape and size you're perfect, and not to compare yourself to super models or to those on the big screen. Again, a great point that needs to be said, but what about when it comes to men? I think that the emergence of the "metro-sexual" male is where we need to examine the beginning of the trend to empower men to not only embrace their femininity but to ditch the things that traditionally made them men. There seems to be more of a push to forget the traditional male role models of men like John Wayne for a man who has an intensive moisturizing regime and no body hair. And it's this type of body image that is being accepted and prided. Women wanting men to be female versions of themselves, trying to change a man to fit into the mold they want. Why can't we as a society want a man to be a man? Why are we all about a woman being natural, but men have to change themselves? Now the new trend is for a man to have a beard. Ugh, insert eye roll here. If we are preaching body acceptance for women, we should do the same for men. After all feminism is all about equality, right?
There is no doubt that there was a time in which men were abusive and all authoritative of power. Women were without question viewed as a subservient piece of property, and women like Susan B. Anthony were a huge part in women's suffrage, but I challenge anyone to tell me that she would approve of today's anti-male feminist. It's ok for a woman to want to cook for her husband or significant other, just because a woman does that does not mean she has thrown away all the rights others have fought for. It's that kind of mentality that has women across the country saying they do not adhere to the feminist ideology. Cooking and cleaning, whether it be for a man or not, does not ruin progress nor does it show a lack of strength in the woman.
Instead of seeking equality, we are witnessing a movement where men are being demonized. Television commercials consistently portray men as morons who could not function unless there were women around to rescue them. Just because there is testosterone flowing throughout their bodies does not mean men are seeking to rape and subjugate a woman. This type of mentality is damning. There is nothing wrong with letting men be men, most of whom are an intelligent species, and just because men are men does not mean they are wired to rape.
or education than whether or not they will be able to have access to an abortion clinic. No, I think it is time to acknowledge what is really happening with this war on women, it's really masking a national war on men.
The news broke that Columbia University is now requiring all students to attend a rape workshop in order to graduate or to be able to register for classes. While maybe some need a reminder that non-consensual sex is deplorable act, it's odd that the all women's college affiliated with Columbia, Barnard College, is not required to take part in the same classes. Now why would that be? Any time an affiliated business should have a new policy, it is usually implicated across the board. Even business franchise's aren't exempt from a new policy, so what can we gather from this? I gather that this policy is implemented on Columbia's campus in order to target the male students because their administration gathers that their male students do not know any self control and think that rape is on the fore front of their minds every day. Perhaps Columbia would like to have all of its campuses and affiliates to have nothing but females students to lessen the risk of rape? Another story from the UVA campus where female sorority students were asked to shy away from frat parties during the "men's bid night" for their safety and well-being. These stories show that college males are biologically inclined to rape at any given time because they have no sense of knowing right or wrong. It also shows that women need to lock themselves in a safe house and arm themselves with poetry to be protected from the dangers of a society breeding rapists.
Body acceptance now is a big topic that is being thrown around women. Self-esteem building of knowing that no matter your shape and size you're perfect, and not to compare yourself to super models or to those on the big screen. Again, a great point that needs to be said, but what about when it comes to men? I think that the emergence of the "metro-sexual" male is where we need to examine the beginning of the trend to empower men to not only embrace their femininity but to ditch the things that traditionally made them men. There seems to be more of a push to forget the traditional male role models of men like John Wayne for a man who has an intensive moisturizing regime and no body hair. And it's this type of body image that is being accepted and prided. Women wanting men to be female versions of themselves, trying to change a man to fit into the mold they want. Why can't we as a society want a man to be a man? Why are we all about a woman being natural, but men have to change themselves? Now the new trend is for a man to have a beard. Ugh, insert eye roll here. If we are preaching body acceptance for women, we should do the same for men. After all feminism is all about equality, right?
There is no doubt that there was a time in which men were abusive and all authoritative of power. Women were without question viewed as a subservient piece of property, and women like Susan B. Anthony were a huge part in women's suffrage, but I challenge anyone to tell me that she would approve of today's anti-male feminist. It's ok for a woman to want to cook for her husband or significant other, just because a woman does that does not mean she has thrown away all the rights others have fought for. It's that kind of mentality that has women across the country saying they do not adhere to the feminist ideology. Cooking and cleaning, whether it be for a man or not, does not ruin progress nor does it show a lack of strength in the woman.
Instead of seeking equality, we are witnessing a movement where men are being demonized. Television commercials consistently portray men as morons who could not function unless there were women around to rescue them. Just because there is testosterone flowing throughout their bodies does not mean men are seeking to rape and subjugate a woman. This type of mentality is damning. There is nothing wrong with letting men be men, most of whom are an intelligent species, and just because men are men does not mean they are wired to rape.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Global Warming, NO wait! Climate Change. What DO We Do?
Being a member of the human species in today's world is hard. You're being pulled in every different direction: from your health, to work, to education, money woes, safety.... Yikes. It's a wonder we're all still here with all the stresses we put on ourselves daily. Now comes reports about Global Warming... no, now it's climate change and how it's all our fault and we're just bad, evil people. NO stress there, right?
Al Gore was one of the first "whistle blowers" on this subject. His documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, is a bible to those who tout the undeniable "evidence" of global warming/climate change. In this documentary, Gore presents that CO2 levels have a direct correlation with the rising of sea levels, hotter summers, and decline in the arctic ice. Scary, scary stuff. One of his pet projects to come from this documentary was the Kyoto Protocol. This called for nations to reduce their carbon imprint by reducing green house gases, but died under Clinton's presidency because it was too lenient on China and India. According to an article written by
Al Gore was one of the first "whistle blowers" on this subject. His documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, is a bible to those who tout the undeniable "evidence" of global warming/climate change. In this documentary, Gore presents that CO2 levels have a direct correlation with the rising of sea levels, hotter summers, and decline in the arctic ice. Scary, scary stuff. One of his pet projects to come from this documentary was the Kyoto Protocol. This called for nations to reduce their carbon imprint by reducing green house gases, but died under Clinton's presidency because it was too lenient on China and India. According to an article written by
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Decline of America: Part 1
Where have we as a society gone wrong? What message are we sending to our children that their education takes a back seat to being able to sing or excel in athletics?
Long gone are the days where children are held responsible for their lack of performance in the classroom. Now any failure is the mistake of the teacher. Extra curricular activities have taken the forefront in our measurement of a child's performance, as we have strayed away from the very basics of education. If you don't believe me, take a look at the video from this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, where Jimmy Kimmel's Lie Witness News shed some scary light on our educational system.
I am beyond 100% positive that if I were to go survey a handful of people, I bet that all of them would know who Tina Fey, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Michael Jordon, Tom Brady, and George Clooney are. If I were to ask those same people who Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere,Walt Whitman, or Benedict Arnold were, I would not receive as many knowledgeable responses. This makes me ask myself where all of this started.
I think we first have to point to technology. We are so connected with everyone and everything at any moment time. Case in point, we are all able to be connected to out favorite celebrity or athlete through social media. Looking at Twitter, the top 100 of the most followed people, nearly 95% of them are entertainers who have millions of followers. In today's world, those people with the most social media following are influencing our youth and society in ways never before. Every day, millions of people can see how these celebrities are living their lives and mold themselves around what foods they are buying, their dress and where they stand on current events. Make no mistake about it, today's celebrity is far more powerful than the President.
So how can we fix this decline? How can we fix a culture that bases their ideologies on today's celebrity? First it's important to teach all of our children that just because someone is on TV, or on stage, does not mean that these people hold more value than that of someone who is not. More importantly, just because someone is a celebrity does not mean their ideas are the solution for the world's ails. Let's start awarding academic accomplishments more than that of anything else in school, and cease the non-sense of giving everyone a ribbon for attending. We are only harming our children by sparing their feelings if they did not win. Defeat can lead to great innovations!
Long gone are the days where children are held responsible for their lack of performance in the classroom. Now any failure is the mistake of the teacher. Extra curricular activities have taken the forefront in our measurement of a child's performance, as we have strayed away from the very basics of education. If you don't believe me, take a look at the video from this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, where Jimmy Kimmel's Lie Witness News shed some scary light on our educational system.
I am beyond 100% positive that if I were to go survey a handful of people, I bet that all of them would know who Tina Fey, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Michael Jordon, Tom Brady, and George Clooney are. If I were to ask those same people who Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere,Walt Whitman, or Benedict Arnold were, I would not receive as many knowledgeable responses. This makes me ask myself where all of this started.
I think we first have to point to technology. We are so connected with everyone and everything at any moment time. Case in point, we are all able to be connected to out favorite celebrity or athlete through social media. Looking at Twitter, the top 100 of the most followed people, nearly 95% of them are entertainers who have millions of followers. In today's world, those people with the most social media following are influencing our youth and society in ways never before. Every day, millions of people can see how these celebrities are living their lives and mold themselves around what foods they are buying, their dress and where they stand on current events. Make no mistake about it, today's celebrity is far more powerful than the President.
So how can we fix this decline? How can we fix a culture that bases their ideologies on today's celebrity? First it's important to teach all of our children that just because someone is on TV, or on stage, does not mean that these people hold more value than that of someone who is not. More importantly, just because someone is a celebrity does not mean their ideas are the solution for the world's ails. Let's start awarding academic accomplishments more than that of anything else in school, and cease the non-sense of giving everyone a ribbon for attending. We are only harming our children by sparing their feelings if they did not win. Defeat can lead to great innovations!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
My Open Letter to our President
Hello D.C.
Election season is over, and now that the dust has settled it's time to go full throttle and work.
Ever since the Democrats have had control of all three branches, this country has been in a never ending race to see how much they can alter the culture of America. These changes that have happened have NOT been for the betterment of our society.
Let's begin with Obamacare. Anyone who is supposed to be a leader in our government that would just allow anything to be passed without reading the entire bill should be automatically removed from office, and not able to run for any sort of office again in their lifetime. Was it too much to read? A GREAT and reasonable excuse. Not that I think reading it would have changed the voting outcome, but the laziness that it shows is inexcusable and sickening. I am in the group of the American populous who believes that every elected official and their family, staff, etc. be subjected to the new rules of Obamacare. Maybe then we'll see a change. Isn't it part of being an American that gives us the freedom to not have health insurance? Most of those who did not before this law was passed did so because they could not afford it, and I dare you to tell me this made it more affordable for my family. None of the plans offered now are affordable in any sense of the word, and these plans don't start kicking in until you have spent at least $5,000 or more out of pocket to begin with. Instead of being worried about your legacy, you were better off doing nothing Mr. Obama... Or how much of your own law did you actually read?
Can we please stop putting on this front that you know what you're doing when it comes to foreign relations? The only reason I can even think of why you refuse to call what happened in Paris, or with some of the attacks in the U.S., terrorism is because you're frightened. You must be scared out of your mind about these people who are willing to murder in the name of their religion. However, I could be critically wrong in thinking that you and your cabinet are sitting in the White House shaking in your boots on a daily basis. You could actually think that these acts are not terrorism, and you could actually think that these people are peaceful. If that is the case, then go there without a security detail. If these people's actions are purely out of a peaceful place in their soul, go to Syria to prove us all wrong.
We need peace in our nation and you are not doing anything to help. Not once have you actually stepped up and told the rioters to stop there nonsense in Ferguson. Not once have you told those in the country illegally that they need to show respect for our laws and go through the naturalization process. Not once have you come up with a taxing system to be anything better than those who came before you. Not once have any of your policies helped to create jobs in the U.S. Not once have I heard that you care about the American people. All that I have seen from you is a continuous blame game on those who came before. All I have noticed when you travel to foreign country is how you bow down to their leader and apologize for all the wrongs we as a nation have done to them. All I ever see is you on late night TV trying to show how hip you are with the nation's young people. All I ever notice is how many vacations you take.
I implore you to do SOMETHING that helps our country for the better. I beg you to stop borrowing money from foreign powers, to end government handouts that have long become known as entitlement handouts. I ask that in your address to our nation this coming week, that you put your ego aside and make Washington work. Stop endangering our national security and take a powerful stand against terrorism and tell me HOW you will make this happen.
If you cannot start acting like the President of the United States of America, then I ask that you relinquish control of the Presidency and go play golf.
Election season is over, and now that the dust has settled it's time to go full throttle and work.
Ever since the Democrats have had control of all three branches, this country has been in a never ending race to see how much they can alter the culture of America. These changes that have happened have NOT been for the betterment of our society.
Let's begin with Obamacare. Anyone who is supposed to be a leader in our government that would just allow anything to be passed without reading the entire bill should be automatically removed from office, and not able to run for any sort of office again in their lifetime. Was it too much to read? A GREAT and reasonable excuse. Not that I think reading it would have changed the voting outcome, but the laziness that it shows is inexcusable and sickening. I am in the group of the American populous who believes that every elected official and their family, staff, etc. be subjected to the new rules of Obamacare. Maybe then we'll see a change. Isn't it part of being an American that gives us the freedom to not have health insurance? Most of those who did not before this law was passed did so because they could not afford it, and I dare you to tell me this made it more affordable for my family. None of the plans offered now are affordable in any sense of the word, and these plans don't start kicking in until you have spent at least $5,000 or more out of pocket to begin with. Instead of being worried about your legacy, you were better off doing nothing Mr. Obama... Or how much of your own law did you actually read?
Can we please stop putting on this front that you know what you're doing when it comes to foreign relations? The only reason I can even think of why you refuse to call what happened in Paris, or with some of the attacks in the U.S., terrorism is because you're frightened. You must be scared out of your mind about these people who are willing to murder in the name of their religion. However, I could be critically wrong in thinking that you and your cabinet are sitting in the White House shaking in your boots on a daily basis. You could actually think that these acts are not terrorism, and you could actually think that these people are peaceful. If that is the case, then go there without a security detail. If these people's actions are purely out of a peaceful place in their soul, go to Syria to prove us all wrong.
We need peace in our nation and you are not doing anything to help. Not once have you actually stepped up and told the rioters to stop there nonsense in Ferguson. Not once have you told those in the country illegally that they need to show respect for our laws and go through the naturalization process. Not once have you come up with a taxing system to be anything better than those who came before you. Not once have any of your policies helped to create jobs in the U.S. Not once have I heard that you care about the American people. All that I have seen from you is a continuous blame game on those who came before. All I have noticed when you travel to foreign country is how you bow down to their leader and apologize for all the wrongs we as a nation have done to them. All I ever see is you on late night TV trying to show how hip you are with the nation's young people. All I ever notice is how many vacations you take.
I implore you to do SOMETHING that helps our country for the better. I beg you to stop borrowing money from foreign powers, to end government handouts that have long become known as entitlement handouts. I ask that in your address to our nation this coming week, that you put your ego aside and make Washington work. Stop endangering our national security and take a powerful stand against terrorism and tell me HOW you will make this happen.
If you cannot start acting like the President of the United States of America, then I ask that you relinquish control of the Presidency and go play golf.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
The Call for Radical Change since the emergence of Radical Islam
Thomas Jefferson, one of our nation's most iconic Founding Fathers, was the first American President to have to lead the military in our nation's first foreign conflict known as the First Barbary War. The Ottoman territories of Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers were seizing American merchant ships and enslaving the crew. These states demanded a yearly "tribute" be given to them in exchange for the attacks on American ships and their crew to cease which consisted of one-sixth of the U.S. budget. Previous Presidents had paid this tribute to keep the peace on the waterways, however, in 1801 Jefferson refused to pay the sum of $225,000 to Yusuf Karamanli who then went to declare war on the U.S. Why was it that these Barbary states demanded payment from a newly established America? As the Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman told Jefferson and John Adams at their meeting in London, there was a belief that all "nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it
was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave." Today this would be called "radical Islam" and these people who breed and foster hate are the ones we are at war with.
The events that unfolded this past week in Paris at the hands of more radical Islamists raises the question of just how much violence is enough that we need to expect and take all in the name of a religion. How much more of these terrorist attacks are we as a nation, and the world over, are we going to except? Egypt's President, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, called on all Muslim clerics to modernize the faith with a religious revolution. His powerful statement to the Muslim clerics stated that interpretations developed over time have made the Muslim world a "source of worry, danger, killing and destruction in the whole world." How has it taken this long for someone to publicly voice this idea to the clerics? More importantly, we should be asking why do we even need to? Why do we need to call upon people to declare that murder is wrong no matter the circumstance? How is it a difficult concept to instill in human decency that no God would ever demand you to kill?
One also can't help to wonder why the American leaders of today are slow and reluctant to lead in the fight against terrorism and radical Islam? The United States has long been at odds with those who have adopted the radical Islamic ideology and it's time we adopt a page from Jefferson's model of not giving in to terrorism. Never once have I heard any sort of passion being uttered from our own President Obama in regards to stopping these radicals. Never once have I heard Obama passionately declare that human life has a priceless value and that he will go to all lengths to defend the American way of life and its citizens. The only passionate declaration I have heard being muttered from the President's lips is that of a defending rhetoric of the Muslim religion and its followers. Is it because he is frightened like those Presidents before Jefferson? Does he believe that if he cowers and quake in fear of those who follow the radical ideology of the Muslim religion that he is somehow saving American soil from being targeted?
Surely it is a worry for all that one day we could be a target of one of these individuals who are taught this radical view of their religion, but this fear should not deter our way of life nor our way of defending our citizens. The President of Egypt calling on all clerics to help guide their followers from this dangerous road of terror is a glorious change of pace from our own "leaders" and their lack of firm solidarity against those who order and carry out acts of violence. The United States is walking a fine line of being respectful of the Muslim religion and being a coward. It's time to call on our nation's leaders to call a spade a spade when it presents itself. Not to label the Fort Hood killings as work place violence. To glance over the beheadings of journalists. Acts of terror are just that, acts of terror and we need to stop skirting the issue, to be afraid to call these actions exactly what they are.
Saudi journalist Mshari al-Thaydi and Sheikh Ashraf Saad engaged in an open conversation this week. Sheikh Ashraf Saad did condemn extremists, however, he went on to say that "we must also condemn these freedoms that have reached the point of insulting the prophet." To which Mshari al-Thaydi countered with: "the question is, why is it Muslims who get so angry and kill and blow things up? The French magazine insulted the pope, the Dalai Lama. ... Why do we express our anger in this way?" That question from Mshari al-Thaydi is so moving, it should be a strong calling to all. Why do some think the only way to get their point across is through violence?
Khalid Samad said, "obviously the act of terrorism is a far greater evil that the question of satirical comments," in response to the terrorist attack in Paris this week. Another wonderful show of support for those lost was the cartoon of the pen standing up to the gun in support of Ahmed Merabet, the Muslim policeman killed by the attackers. "I am Ahmed the dead cop. Charlie ridiculed my faith and culture and I died defending his right to do so." Maybe what we all need now is to put our pride aside, come together in a mindset of peaceful understanding. Let's stand together against all who would try to do others harm, whether it be in the name of religion, or something else. Let us come together, Eastern and Western civilizations, and find middle ground in our understanding of religion and human freedom. Let us all stand together in solidarity against terrorism so every human life can realize it's true potential, because that is why we are all on this planet.
We are here to make a change for the betterment of our society, not to cause harm to one another.
The events that unfolded this past week in Paris at the hands of more radical Islamists raises the question of just how much violence is enough that we need to expect and take all in the name of a religion. How much more of these terrorist attacks are we as a nation, and the world over, are we going to except? Egypt's President, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, called on all Muslim clerics to modernize the faith with a religious revolution. His powerful statement to the Muslim clerics stated that interpretations developed over time have made the Muslim world a "source of worry, danger, killing and destruction in the whole world." How has it taken this long for someone to publicly voice this idea to the clerics? More importantly, we should be asking why do we even need to? Why do we need to call upon people to declare that murder is wrong no matter the circumstance? How is it a difficult concept to instill in human decency that no God would ever demand you to kill?
One also can't help to wonder why the American leaders of today are slow and reluctant to lead in the fight against terrorism and radical Islam? The United States has long been at odds with those who have adopted the radical Islamic ideology and it's time we adopt a page from Jefferson's model of not giving in to terrorism. Never once have I heard any sort of passion being uttered from our own President Obama in regards to stopping these radicals. Never once have I heard Obama passionately declare that human life has a priceless value and that he will go to all lengths to defend the American way of life and its citizens. The only passionate declaration I have heard being muttered from the President's lips is that of a defending rhetoric of the Muslim religion and its followers. Is it because he is frightened like those Presidents before Jefferson? Does he believe that if he cowers and quake in fear of those who follow the radical ideology of the Muslim religion that he is somehow saving American soil from being targeted?
Surely it is a worry for all that one day we could be a target of one of these individuals who are taught this radical view of their religion, but this fear should not deter our way of life nor our way of defending our citizens. The President of Egypt calling on all clerics to help guide their followers from this dangerous road of terror is a glorious change of pace from our own "leaders" and their lack of firm solidarity against those who order and carry out acts of violence. The United States is walking a fine line of being respectful of the Muslim religion and being a coward. It's time to call on our nation's leaders to call a spade a spade when it presents itself. Not to label the Fort Hood killings as work place violence. To glance over the beheadings of journalists. Acts of terror are just that, acts of terror and we need to stop skirting the issue, to be afraid to call these actions exactly what they are.
Saudi journalist Mshari al-Thaydi and Sheikh Ashraf Saad engaged in an open conversation this week. Sheikh Ashraf Saad did condemn extremists, however, he went on to say that "we must also condemn these freedoms that have reached the point of insulting the prophet." To which Mshari al-Thaydi countered with: "the question is, why is it Muslims who get so angry and kill and blow things up? The French magazine insulted the pope, the Dalai Lama. ... Why do we express our anger in this way?" That question from Mshari al-Thaydi is so moving, it should be a strong calling to all. Why do some think the only way to get their point across is through violence?
Khalid Samad said, "obviously the act of terrorism is a far greater evil that the question of satirical comments," in response to the terrorist attack in Paris this week. Another wonderful show of support for those lost was the cartoon of the pen standing up to the gun in support of Ahmed Merabet, the Muslim policeman killed by the attackers. "I am Ahmed the dead cop. Charlie ridiculed my faith and culture and I died defending his right to do so." Maybe what we all need now is to put our pride aside, come together in a mindset of peaceful understanding. Let's stand together against all who would try to do others harm, whether it be in the name of religion, or something else. Let us come together, Eastern and Western civilizations, and find middle ground in our understanding of religion and human freedom. Let us all stand together in solidarity against terrorism so every human life can realize it's true potential, because that is why we are all on this planet.
We are here to make a change for the betterment of our society, not to cause harm to one another.
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