Thursday, September 28, 2006

If a tree falls in the forest...

If a blog isn't read, does it even exist? On some level it must, because here I am updating it. Not to mention the fact that it is wasting someone's memory and even clogging bandwidth every time I update. Yes, it has been a week since I last blogged, but it doesn't seem too many have noticed. It's also a bit hard to type while blowing one's nose- boogers all over the keys isn't a very good or sanitary thought. Keep checking back, though...one of these days you might miss out on some good reading if you don't stick around!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

To blog or not to blog...

Sometimes things are invented for their own sake. I have in mind the web log or blog. Here I am blogging in my own blog about how blogs were created just to have blogs. Do we really get much more out of blogs? You could say that blogs bring you another point of view on certain events or issues, but isn’t there enough of that with all of the other media? I don’t really want to read one million opinions on what color of sand looks best in a Minnesota playground. Having said as much, I doubt that most blogs are read by more than a few close friends of the blogger, if at all. From experience I know that the world of blogging can be a lonely way of life. But I am determined to make the best of it, somehow.

Democrat or Republican?

I couldn't sleep so I thought what would put me to sleep the quickest? Figuring out if I'm a republican or a democrat, of course! Click here for a link to the first and only website I checked out. Since it was the first result on Google, it must be the most correct website regarding this subject, right? Below are 12 issues/topics taken from the website, along with both side's views on each. I have included my opinion as well.

1. Abortion
Democrats: Abortion is a woman’s right and should be legal
Republicans: Abortion should be illegal and restricted by government
Me: Abortion is murder and should only occur in rare cases (Yes, I am not speficially stating in which cases on purpose)

2. Flag Burning
Democrats: Flag burning is political speech and is protected by the Constitution
Republicans: Protect the flag from burning by a constitutional amendment
Me: I agree with the Democrats on this one

3. Gun Control
Democrats: Favor/Gun control is needed
Republicans: Oppose/Gun control is unconstitutional
Me: I tend to side with the republicans in that the people from whom we are trying to keep guns away are the type of people who get them illegally anyway; however, I can see this turning into a comparison of why we should legalize marijuana...

4. Natural Environment
Democrats: Strong regulations are needed to protect the environment
Republicans: Strong environmental laws harm the economy
Me: I can see both sides: on one hand, we need to take care of this world so that future generations can still exist; on the other, I don't think we should live like cavemen to do it...a happy medium needs to exist

5. Race Relations
Democrats: Strong anti-discrimination laws are needed
Republicans: People and businesses can be trusted not to discriminate
Me: I think discrimination is wrong, but so is reverse discrimination. Quotas and laws to ensure minorities are in the workplace don't seem right to me. Let the best person for the job have it, whether it be a man or a woman, someone with yellow or brown skin, a Jew or a Muslim, etc. If the best person for the job cannot be hired because a quota needs to be filled, well then, I think something is screwed up. It is very cliche, but still rings true, "Can't we all just get along?"

6. Minimum Wage
Democrats: Favor/Increase the minimum wage to help workers
Republicans: Oppose/Do not raise the minimum wage because it hurts businesses
Me: I side with republicans on this, not necessarily because it hurts businesses, but because in the long run it raises prices on everything else and helps increase inflation.

7. Healthcare
Democrats: Government should require universal access to healthcare
Republicans: Private insurers are preferable to government mandates
Me: I agree with the democrats here

8. Taxes
Democrats: Increase taxes on the wealthy to pay for public programs
Republicans: Cutting taxes for everyone helps the economy
Me: Agree with the republicans, sort of. Why punish someone for working hard to achieve the American dream? I'm for a flat tax, you make more you pay more, but it's still the same percentage. Obviously the IRS will still be in town and people will still find loopholes and all that, but I feel it would be more equal, which is what everyone (especially democrats) want, isn't it? Liberté, equalité, fraternité.

9. Military
Democrats: Cut military spending; expand veteran’s benefits; act in concert with other nations and/or with support from NATO and the UN
Republicans: Increase military spending; cut veteran’s benefits; don’t be constrained by other nations or by NATO and the UN
Me: Why can't we leave spending where it is and still expand veteran's benefits? Right now our armed forces are stretched thin and could use some help. As for all the vets, they fought and sacrificed for us so that we could sit in our comfortable homes and enjoy watching them on CNN...why can't we give up a little to help them out?

10. Death Penalty
Democrats: Oppose/It is not a deterrent and innocent people are in jeopardy
Republicans: Favor/The death penalty is necessary and effective
Me: I don't necessarily think the death penalty is a huge deterrent, but I do feel it is the right punishment for certain crimes.

11. Gay Rights
Democrats: Favor/Gays rights and marriage are civil rights
Republicans: Oppose/Marriage is a sacred trust between a man and woman
Me: I feel homosexuals are people just like everyone else and deserve rights; however, those rights should not infringe on the rights of others. Supposedly (as noted in an earlier post), this country should be "for the people, of the people, by the people," though it can't accomplish this by siding with the minority. As a moral issue, I don't like the idea of homosexual marriage. I agree with the saying, "hate the sin, love the sinner."

12. Prayer in School
Democrats: Oppose/Violation of the separation between church and state
Republicans: Favor/It is a religious right and our Judeo-Christian heritage
Me: We should be allowed to pray or perform other religious acts where appropriate and without it infringing on the rights of others. Me praying in school is not forcing others to acknowlegde my God as the only true God. I do not force them to pray to my God. All they have to do is sit there. If it's that big of a deal, I will keep my eyes open and not bow my head, then I can just call it free speech.

So, they way I scored it, 70% of my answers favored the republicans on the end result, not necessarily the reasoning behind it.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Comfortably Numb

Have you ever noticed how emotions manifest themselves physically as well as, well, emotionally? All the adrenaline, dopamine, hormones and other chemicals are part of the homeostatic mechanisms in our bodies. Everything in our body occurs as part of a chemical process...isn't that interesting? People try to alter these natural processes with other chemicals (illicit drugs) or through other physical activities. The heroin.org website says that "pain, itself, elicits pain relief, and does so through 'reward' pathway." This pleasure system of pain may explain some things, but still... Alcoholics, though their lives are chaos when sober, drown their sorrows and pain, only temporarily. Though we would like to think we can rid ourselves of this anguish, sadness, and pain more permanently, it will never happen in this life. Part of being mortal is passing through bitterness to recognize happiness, learning lessons from the trials through which we pass. Having hope helps, but I don't think it is enough. Faith helps, but I don't think it is enough either, even when combined with hope. God doesn't delight in inflicting pain on His children, does He? He isn't sadistic, but loving and caring, right? He permits horrible events to transpire to innocent people, simply to teach a lesson? How is that showing compassion on His children? Where is the mercy in genocide? Where is the love in war? Did God delight in taking my mother away from us? For most of us, life is a struggle, a fight, but what are we fighting to win? The chance to be in Heaven? What is Heaven without the ones you love? What is the prize with no one there with whom to share it? Dinners alone are dreary and depressing. Dinners with loved ones are feasts.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Hmm

There are no perfect crimes, only imperfect investigations.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Penance

One tear is enough as all others would simply be redundant. Staring into the darkness I feel a solitary tear slip from my blinkless eye and slowly travel down my lonesome cheek. Mistakes are lessons. Pain is an horrific teacher. Saline is used as a cleanser, a purifier whether in medicine or in the soul, but one's will must allow the liquid to perform its duties otherwise all is wasted. One tear begins the process but healing a broken heart takes more than just a tear. The heart cannot be mended easily, although dashing it to pieces can be attained with a single word. The chasm beneath my feet widens and the tear falls from my face into the void. As it falls I hear it crying for action, for peace, for unity, for penance. Forgiveness may never come. It is neither mine to give nor mine to request but for me to seek. Sorrow does not bring forth solace. Restlessness does not generate laughter. Time cannot be reversed and actions cannot be deleted. Has my tear fallen in vain? Carrying on with life never was and never will be easy; the question is, will it be worth it?

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research has the potential for myriad beneficial uses to aid ailing patients that, as of now, have no hope but that death will come quickly and painlessly. I agree that stem cell research is needed and should go forward; however, this development should not be at the cost of a human embryo. Human life is precious and until we can find a way to harvest stem cells without using human embryos, I do not feel the ends justify the means. See this CNN Article.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Part IV: Immigration

This country is the land of opportunity and vast majority of our ancestors are from other continents. What would this country be had it not been for the immigrants? Many of the jobs in which the haughty ‘Americans’ don’t want to be employed, yet require are performed by immigrants yearning to create a better life for their families. The American dream should be alive and well and available for all those who want it. Doing so legally can only help this country grow. That being said, it is not right for those who came here illegally to be granted amnesty. Yes, it would be unfair to all those who came through legal means, but on a more basic level, it was wrong. They broke the law and entered the country dishonestly. If illegal immigrants want the same rights as everyone else, they should go through the proper channels, means, paperwork, and lines required of them. If this process includes deportation, so be it. However, prospectively, I do not understand why quotas should be so low. Yes, we should try to keep terrorists and other threats to our country out, but what threat is posed to America by a hungry father trying to earn a living to provide for his poor family? Let them come, but let them come legally. See this CNN Article.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Troisième

Though not the case for everyone on welfare, many people have children and remain unemployed simply to live off the government’s generosity, however small the handout may be. In such cases, the children are unloved and unwanted, living conditions are deplorable, and most of the welfare check received is used for drugs. To combat this unethical and dishonest behavior, the government should provide basic essential services (e.g., housing, food, utilities, etc.) instead of money. In return for these services, the person receiving welfare would be required to perform work for the government such as working at a food distribution center, homeless shelter, or other such related entity. Also, the welfare receiver would be assigned a case worker who will help in search for employment. After a predetermined period, the welfare receiver will be required to have employment, or he/she will be ineligible to receive welfare assistance.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Series Part II

Continuation of the series began August 25:

Healthcare

Having private insurance companies in the United States appears to have led us down the path of the capitalists, which is to maximize profit for stakeholders at any cost. Primary services such as healthcare should not be in such custody. Everyone deserves to be healthy and should be entitled to the same treatment opportunities, regardless of income. Government run healthcare seems to be working well in Canada and in Europe. Instead of raising taxes, the United States can simply nationalize the private insurance companies and employees pay premiums (though the premium per person will be the same for everyone) to the government healthcare system instead of to a private insurance company.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Para pensar

La consideración que se da a la supuesta importancia del papel oficial asignado al gobierno durante épocas de paz se choca con la responsabilidad del ciudadano durante épocas de guerra. Si no se encuentra reconcilación alguna, la esencia del universo se volverá corrupta y cesaremos de existir. Por lo tanto, es preciso que todos nosotros comamos bien los vegetales y que dormamos bien cada noche.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Gone

A second passes and she is not here. An eternity passes. Her absence lingers and I see that the eternity was only another second. Her memory lives, survives through the ever increasing passage of time that has passed since she left. Her intense eyes caught the light of the stars, increasing the luster and brightness to that of the sun. I yearn to see the moonlight caress her skin. My nose craves the perfume of her hair while my lips ache to taste her in my mouth. Though she is light-years away, the warmth of her body still surrounds me, the music of her voice still rings in my ears. Death cannot be worse than life without her. Agony wrenches my heart, demanding her presence, if for one final moment. In that moment, eternity will live again and I will have my love. For that one moment, as short as it may be, she will know…How could she forget? With each beat my heart calls out my love to her expecting no response, no echo. Finding nothing, I fight through the darkness and frigid air, struggling to find a reason to live. She loved me once, did she not? Is not that enough? It is. If she only loved me for a second, I will have more than enough joy to last a thousand lives, enough warmth to heat a thousand earths. Let me revel in her memory, let me savor my dream, let me love her in her absence.

Lost

Solutions to problems and answers to questions. When found these gems provide us with truth and hope- ingenuity as mentioned previously by someone close to me. What do you do when the answer is out there, but the means to find it is not? What if the question has no answer? How do you live with doubt and confusion clouding your judgment? If your life is based on certain blocks and those blocks suddenly are taken away, it's difficult to remain standing. Getting up after the fall may not be too strenuous, though after standing again, finding other blocks, other solid ground on which to build may not be possible. Inadequacy and solitude are not the best companions.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Moral Hypocrites

Other than stupid people, one of my pet peeves are those who claim to be religious, moral, spiritual Christians. You know those of who I am speaking: they preach about the Good Samaritan, but then prohibit their children from playing with the Hindu children next door because they are not of the same faith. Supposedly the good paople next door are evil, even if they have higher standards. Personally, I think world peace is something we should all work for instead of just talking about.

There are many people who believe tolerance is the answer. To a degree tolerance works, but only as a start. It's ok to believe differently than others, it's ok to agree to disagree, but when tolerance is the answer, much is still lacking. Understanding, compassion, empathy, and friendship are not based on tolerance. Neither do they require the same religion, skin color, zip code, income, or hair style. Small children should be our examples of welcoming and being friends to all. They are untouched by social paradigms, inncoent and open, ready to live those famous words, "Can't we all just get along?"