Americanpolitics

Sarah Palin, Fox News, Fort Hood, Oath Keepers are they all signs of our times. If these are examples of where America is heading, we are definitely going down some dangerous roads leading to what could be the destruction of the United States of America.

Sarah Palin is a detriment to America with her lies, denials and attention seeking personality. Sarah Palin is a small town girl with the narcissistic desire to be in the lime light regardless of how she gets there. Once she gained national attention she was awe struck by the applause and at this point her need for that applause, that attention continues to grow.

While she posed for the picture recently posted on the cover of Newsweek, the original pictures were taken for another magazine called Runner’s World in August of 2009, noting the fact that she was a runner. Palin allowed herself to be posed with the American flag draped over a chair as she stands in spandex shorts with full insight of the way the media works after having been, according to her, “bashed” by the media in her run for vice-president.

Now she is in an uproar about Newsweek’s use of the photo in a discussion regarding her relevance as a political figure, calling it a sexist attack on her. As a “political figure” she should have known better than to pose for such a picture.

If she did not want the photos released, she should not have had them taken under any circumstances in light of her previous exposure in the media. She can not be that naive and if she is that naïve then is she a good candidate for President of the United States or any other public figure representative?

Fox News, not only under fire for its controversial anchors, the lies the station allows to be aired, but now, for the second time in less than two weeks they have been accused of airing misleading video.

In an attempt to give a recent protest, held in Washington, DC, more clout than it deserved, Hannity rolled a video shot of a previous rally. Bolstering the current rally as having a large turnout but showing footage from a previous rally where the turnout was impressive.

They were called on this misleading footage by The Daily show which noted the rapid change in seasons which was an indication that the footage being shown was not, as indicated by Fox News, current.

Less than two weeks later, they attempted to give the impression that the people lining up for Sarah Palin’s book signing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was huge by airing a segment of a 2008 McCain/Palin campaign rally indicating the turnout was for the book signing.

In both instances, Fox has apologized and cited a production error as the cause of the mistake, but was this another of Fox’s ploys, used deliberately to mislead the public? One mistake is understandable, two in less than two weeks is suspicious, to say the least. It has me wondering just how frequently this has happened in the past unbeknownst to the gullible, unsuspecting public.

The reluctance of the United States Government to confirm the attack on Fort Hood as a terroristic act amazes me. Just like Army personnel lived in denial regarding Hasan’s behavior, so too are they now attempting to put this horrific incident on “work place violence” alone. Yes, it is work place violence to the degree that it happened in the workplace but by the same token it is a terroristic act based on Hasan’s associations, rhetoric, beliefs and actions.

While you can not blame all Muslims for the acts of one individual, you can call the attack on Fort Hood what it is, a terroristic attack on United States soil in an effort to stop deployment of military personnel to join the fight against Muslim extremist, based on the facts that have been uncovered, the beliefs of the shooter, the contacts he made prior to the attack and the specific area he chose to attack.

Paranoia, hate, fear and ignorance are what fuels the militia group called The Oath Keepers. Founded in March of 2009, shortly after the inauguration of the first black president of the United States, they believe the worse threat this nation faces is not terrorists but it is the government of the United States.

Although they are in denial about what motivates them, they believe strongly that the mission of the United States government is to disarm them and vehemently proclaim “Not On My Watch” to those who think they will be able to deprive them of their constitutional right to bear arms.

Even though this is not the only threat they perceive the government guilty of, for they believe that the government oversteps many constitutional boundaries, their aim is to curb federal power and they pledge to prevent dictatorship in the United States.

I am left shaking my head in dismay and wondering, am I the only one in this country who sees the perilous road we are streaking down. Are we on a mission of deceit symbolized by our refusal to see things as they truly are for the sake of political correctness? Are we so confused by lies that truth is an allusion even when it is smacking you in the face?

Is it easier to believe a lie because we have been lied to for so long by those in power? It’s a sad state of affairs that I am viewing. While everyone keeps asking the question of how the Fort Hood incident could happen, my question becomes how could any of this confusion and madness be happening here in America. How can the lies be believed so easily? How could the intention to mislead take over so completely? How can we reach a positive outcome with so much negativity swirling around?

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

America The Last Best Hope 1

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Father Henry Willenborg, the blood father of Nathan Halbach who was conceived while Father Henry was a practicing priest. Nathan, a twenty something year old young man who is dying of brain cancer, who has had little contact with his “righteous” priest father during his entire life as the church sought to keep this indiscretion a secret and pay off the mother of Nathan in the guise of child support payments in exchange for a pledge of silence regarding the identity of Nathan’s true father.

Pedophiles, gay couplings, illegitimate births, molestation of under-aged children both boys and girls, accusations made, cover-ups, lies, deceit, payoffs, law suits and protection of the guilty – all have been acts the Catholic church, its priest and administrators have been guilty of yet, they are taking a strong stand against the health care/insurance reform as it relates to abortions.

After Representative Patrick Kennedy, of America’s favorite family Kennedy’s, questioned the stance the Church was taking against health care/insurance reform, as it relates to abortion, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin fired back in a radio interview stating that “If you freely choose to be a catholic, it means you believe certain things, you do certain things. If you cannot do all of that in conscience, then you should perhaps feel free to go somewhere else.”

Where was Bishop Tobin, during all of the perversions that were taking place with his priest and all of the cover-ups that followed? Why is it that those priests were not excommunicated from the Church or at the very least relieved of their duties as priests?

While abortion is a personal choice, a woman’s choice and an individual loss of an embryo that has yet developed into a thinking, feeling person, the crimes against impressionable, sometimes vulnerable, thinking, feeling people and in too many cases children, committed by “holy men” is a far bigger crime with lasting consequences that affects a lifetime of living.

For those of you, who think religion and politics are two separate entities, think again. Religion has always been part of politics and will continue to be a driving force in decision making as the Bishop calls upon the Catholic majority in the Senate to ban abortion in the health care/insurance reform legislation currently on the table.

The hypocrisy of the Catholic church is enough to make me recognize them for who they truly are – controlling dictators who feel they are exempt from the very Word they preach. In their arrogance they feel they can not only provide absolution, a gift only God can provide, but they feel empowered to judge as only God can judge.

It seems to me, that they have forgotten that they are merely messengers of the Word. On no level do they themselves meet the high standards of God yet, they feel powerful enough to dictate and demand higher standards from those who follow them. Jesus taught through example, the best way to teach, yet the example taught by the Catholic Church is “do as I say and not as I do, for I am the ‘father.’”

Even God does not attempt to take away free will, choice, so who gives the Catholic Church, the Senate, the Congress or any other human being this power that they consistently attempt to wield against others. In life, ultimately, I have but one father and that is the father up above.

The man responsible for my earthly presence was my dad, daddy, papa but my father is someone totally different and as the King James version of the Bible I read states “call no man father but he that is the creator” (not a direct quote but close enough to the true meaning) and I have therefore always questioned the Catholics for using that term to address its priest as I now question their righteous attitudes towards abortion in light of their condoning the scandalous sins of their priest.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

The SurfShelf - Treadmill Laptop Holder and Shelf

Photo courtesy of FANPix.net

Lou Dobbs said his good-byes to CNN and his viewers early this morning. For months now there has been a movement to get Lou removed from CNN and I can not help but to wonder if this movement has been successful, especially in light of the fact that his departure comes prior to his contract ending.

Lou Dobbs delivers the news with a slant that is based on his ideology and when people disagree he has a tendency to rudely interrupt or add his sarcasm, always with a beautiful smile, flashing his teeth, but the smile seems more sinister than comforting.

While he is usually very straightforward in his comments there are other times where you have to read between the lines, look behind the smile and read what is in his eyes in order to truly hear what he means. Either way, most times I am not in agreement with his perceptions but obviously, I am not the only one who views Lou Dobbs as a negative person.

In his slick way he has insulted the President of the United States with his continued comments on the “birth issue” but he also takes regular shots at Obama’s ability to run the country effectively. His views and statements on immigration have riled the Hispanic community in what they call his attempt to “spread lies and misinformation” about Hispanics.

His mindset conforms to conspiracy theories and divisions and it seems that on many levels he had difficulty drawing the line between truth and fiction even when it threatened the loss of a job he had held for years with CNN.

Even though Lou Dobbs will no longer be seen on CNN, I am sure we have not seen the last of him nor will his perceptions be altered by either his experience with CNN or the alleged attack on his home that he feels was precipitated by his views on illegal immigration and border security.

News should be delivered in a non-biased, informative way. CNN has been called “the most trusted name in news” and it has been my primary source of televised news, however with some of the comments made by Lou Dobbs this handle has been tarnished to say the least.

Lou’s contract was not set to end until 2011 and though his words implied that it was through mutual agreement that he was leaving CNN, it feels more like a push back from management at CNN. Mr. Independent, as Lou Dobbs was often introduced on CNN, had very outspoken opinions on taxpayer bailouts, illegal immigration, the citizenship of Obama, government processes as well as a number of other topics.

Now that he is no longer with CNN maybe he will become the same type of spokesman as Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck for I had long ago put him on the same level as the two of them, a closet racist, only Lou Dobbs is a tad bit more classy than Limbaugh or Beck and there is no denying that Lou Dobbs has a beautiful smile when his smile actually touches his eyes as well.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Paradoxes of Group Life: Understanding Conflict, Paralysis, and Movement in Group Dynamics

Photo courtesy of MSNBC (In Memory Of those lost at Ft. Hood)

In retrospect, disturbing information has been cited as known issues regarding Nidal Malik Hasan, issues that have been obvious for months. At least six months ago, Hasan was in the lime light of law enforcement for his comparisons of suicide bombings with a soldier giving his life for others by throwing himself on a grenade. His internet postings lead law enforcement agents to scrutinize him however, in the end, it was determined that his article was within the boundaries his job.

He earned his rank of Major nineteen months ago in April of 2008 and received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 1997. He was a devout Muslim and anyway you look at it, reality is that American’s have been and are killing Muslims. The truth is that as far back as his college days Hasan had issues with Americans interference with Muslim nations and as interference grew to occupation, Hasan’s inner conflicts grew as well.

As earlier as his college days Hasan showed signs that he was not mentally equipped to be in the military giving a classroom presentation at one point which justified suicide bombings. In his position as psychiatrist, hearing the inner most conflicts of those who had fought the “enemy” and survived, I’m sure he heard tales that disturbed him deeply, based on who he was and his beliefs as a Muslim.

Yet he climbed the ranks in the military and was about to be shipped off to fight against those he held dear to his heart. Clearly, not only was there a conflict raging inside of him but there is conflicting beliefs within the faith of practicing Muslims. Some say that violence is not part of the religion while others vehemently believe that violence is at the core of their beliefs – violence against non-believers.

While family members are saying that Nidal Hasan was a peaceful, loving and compassionate person who never committed an act of violence and was in fact incapable of this attack that he orchestrated with ease. Others have stated that over the past few months he had become so conflicted that on some levels he spoke at times incoherently.

Only a rational mind is able to discern between righteous violence (if there is such a thing) and violence that is based on the insanity of the jihad that Osama bin Laden calls for. Hasan showed signs of, as well as verbalized feelings of, persecution for simply being a devout Muslim, he was conflicted as to what he could tell his fellow Muslim servicemen in an effort to pacify any misgivings they might hold regarding fighting fellow Muslims but deep down inside, it appears he was the only one with true misgivings.

Those misgivings lead to him marching in to the very place that military personnel went to process out to Iraq/Afghanistan and attempting to killing as many of those who were preparing to leave as he could. No way is this a judgment but a statement of fact, it appears his violence was directed at those who would willing go off to war against his people.

This was an act that is being praised by some in the Muslim community as heroic. As I watched one Muslim, living in the United States, praise Osama bin Laden and relate how he holds bin Laden dear, in his heart, I had to ask myself is America missing the point.

The point being that we are, on some levels, in danger on our own soil because with open arms, we have allowed the “enemy” to infiltrate our lands. With our freedoms of speech they are allowed to spout discontent, hatred and violence against the land they have run to in order to improve their lot in life and enjoy the freedoms they do not have in their own lands.

There seems to be a wide divide and a serious confliction of principle and ideas that has lead to the United States allowing of this behavior to flourish in our lands as we send our soldiers off to war in these lands. How could this have happened here? More importantly since it is not truly known, at any given moment in time, just what is churning in someone else’s mind, how can we, as a nation, be sure that a jihad is not being planned at this very moment within the United States of America.

As Obama decides whether to send more troops off to war, I wonder if we have not bitten off more than we can chew. Are we fighting a war that we can not win? Have we trusted the influx of people who mean us harm? Do we walk away now or continue the interference in situations that are doomed to be what they are?

I wonder if we are not setting ourselves up for more violence on our own soil. I wonder how effective a jihad would be if, simultaneously, those Muslims in the United States who idolize Osama bin Laden where called upon to act – and you should be wondering the same things.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!!

PC Tools Internet Security

Picture courtesy of AP

Thirteen people dead, 38 injured on Fort Hood Army Base and the question arises “how could this happen?” The obvious answer is that with the ease and availability of the purchase of firearms in America, anyone with the right credentials can walk into a store, buy a gun and Army Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, a psychiatrist, had the right credentials and his gun of choice is called a “cop killer” because of the ease in which the bullets penetrates body armor.

In the midst of attempting to find a psychological answer to the question of “how could this happen” a Florida man walks into an office where he had been fired two years ago and opens fire, killing one person and wounding five others while others attempt to imply that the Fort Hood tragedy may have been a result of repeated deployments to war zones.

While you can attach as much psycho babble to the cause of both of these deadly incidents, in an effort to explain why this happened, the real culprit is the fact that Americans feel strongly about their “fundamental right” to bear arms not caring that this fundamental right leads to mass homicide whenever someone gets angry enough to seek revenge, real or imagined, walk into a place where people are plentiful and simply open fire, killing indiscriminately.

Another question that has been posed is “were there signs that the Fort Hood Major was capable of this violent act?” The real truth of the matter is that you will never know exactly what is churning in someone else’s mind unless you are a proven mind reader and how many people carry this distinction of being a mind reader? Hindsight does not count and that’s the only thing you are left with after a tragedy like this happens.

Now that Maj. Hasan has committed this heinous crime, the look back has provided some indications that he may have had serious issues with being in the military, his first time deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan and based on the things being said, in his face, about his heritage, being of Jordanian descent, which I believe he did experience. The reality is that even if he were sent to Iraq/Afghanistan, he would not have been in battle but instead been part of the support services for combat soldiers.

The ugly thing about the negative things said about his heritage is that if someone talks about your weight, you can lose weight, if someone talks about how ugly you are, you can get plastic surgery, get a hair weave, wear some makeup and change your look. However, your religion and your race are “fundamental” parts of who you are.

While you may be able to change your religion, although your religious beliefs are the beliefs that guide you in life, you can never change your race, your heritage, the skin you were born in and if you are proud of the race you are and your religious beliefs the anger that builds when those things are criticized, cuts deep.

Now in no way am I condoning Hasan’s actions; he had options. He could have just as easily gone AWOL, fled to his Jordan or any other foreign country that he, as a Muslim, felt comfortable in. He could have sought psychological help since obviously he believed in the method of psycho analysis since that is the career field of his choice. He could have killed himself rather than killing others but instead he chose to take the lives of innocents.

Only in hindsight, which does not prevent an act, can you look upon the causes that may have lead to this incident because even though he showed signs of discontent, it was never so clear that he would actually go to the extremes that he went to in an attempt to be “heard.” Even as the video images of him in the neighborhood Convenience Store, chatting and smiling as he made his purchase did not allude to what was actually churning in his mind – several hours later he was shooting and killing those around him.

The bottom line is that you can label him crazy, punish him for his crimes but if he had not had easy access to the firepower, the guns that he carried, there is a bigger possibility that he would not have been able to commit this act of terrorism on the men and women of the United States Army regardless of what type of inner turmoil he was going through and even though he was on a military base where guns are plentiful.

The irrational saying that “guns don’t kill, people kill” used to justify this fundamental right to bear arms, has been proven time and time again to be an idiotic play on words that covers the real dangers of the “right to bear arms” being exercised here in America. Until you get to the core of the problem, these acts of violence will continue and increase and no amount of psycho babble will change this fact.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Based on a law from 1976, federal funds are restricted from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape; incest; or to ensure the life of the mother. However, earlier this year Democratic leaders allowed a provision that would give permission to people to use subsidies to buy insurance that cover abortion but implied that only funds from individuals or employer paid health care premiums could go towards paying for the abortion.

Subsequently, a large portion of Democrats are now against this wording because it puts responsibility on insurance companies to determine what is private money and what is government money, a simple task that could be performed by computer programming or data entry.

There is so much hypocrisy involved in the debates against the health care/insurance reform that it reeks of legislative obstruction based on nothing more than political posturing and support of the insurance industry, who in turn supports politicians.

First it was the cost of the health care reform, but in the same breath, politicians are willing to spend billions of dollars, which over time turn into trillions, on wars you have no possibility at “winning” even stooping to paying low level Taliban, the so called enemy, to switch sides and fight with you.

Second it was the “public option” where politicians kept the lie going that no one wanted the public option because no one wanted government involvement in health care decisions citing, as the main reason the fact that health care is a private decision between patient and doctor only. Yet, Republicans endorse a bill that would extend Medicare/Medicaid, a government run heath care/insurance mechanism, to millions of additional Americans.

Now if, as they so vehemently attempt to persuade the American public, government has no place in the decisions made between doctor and patient why is it now, a concern of theirs whether abortions are covered in the so called “public option” provision.

Abortion is a very private matter. It is a freedom of choice for a woman that has been interfered with for as long as I have been in the world and longer. The pursuit of abortion has lead to death, sterilization, pain and suffering for many who have had to seek abortion through black market, unscrupulous providers and abortions will continue to take place regardless of who pays for them.

However, the real bottom line is if I am forced, through mandate, to partake in medical coverage through insurance, paying my hard earned money, even if a portion of this mandated coverage is subsidized by the same government that forced me to become covered and on the one hand you resent government involvement but on the other hand you deny my right to abortion, which is a private decision made between my doctor and me, how hypocritical is that.

According to an article I read this morning on MSNBC News, even a majority of house Democrats are concerned that provisions in the health care legislation now on the table could lead to public funding of abortion. With Republicans opposing the bill based on the public option and the Democrats opposing the wording regarding abortions, the derailment of the bill seems to be a reality that sparks on both sides of the isle for different reasons.

It appears that while Democrats are smiling in your face in an effort to get you to believe they are on your side, they are secretly working just as hard as Republicans to keep the insurance companies making money off “we the people” by the obstruction of the passage of this legislation.

Abortions are going to happen regardless of how they are paid for. I could walk into a doctor’s office and lie about being raped or choose a doctor who is willing to do abortions. I could also find a person who, from past knowledge of the process, use the unsanitary method of a coat hanger to abort my baby or any other method they are using these days – you can not stop me if that is my goal, even if I have to pay for it myself so what is the point of the debate and what are you really preventing, nothing but the passage of the legislation.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

BJYK 12 inch Human Hair Weave (This whole health care debate is as phony as a weave but like a weave - it looks good)

The parallel universe of everyday life and politics has me wondering who is most crazy, me or the politicians.

I’m just saying, based on the desires of the politicians, we are spending billions of dollars annually supporting other countries (which over time equals trillions), yet they bitch and moan about supplying the people of America with reasonable costs for something as basic as health care on the basis of the expense.

Let the politicians tell it, we where successful in our efforts in Iraq when we paid low level Taliban to switch sides and fight on our side against the Taliban. Yet, people are still dying, car bombs and suicide bombs are still going off in areas that are “protected” by security check-points that allow bomb carrying individuals to enter guarded areas. This is a clear indication that these vehicles and people are not being adequately checked before entering any given area – what’s the point of having the check-points.

More to the point, who are the people charged with the responsibility of searches at these check-points? Could it be the same people who where paid to “be on our side” in the battle against the Taliban?

Leaving the war in the Middle East behind, as we should be doing in reality, and looking at health care/insurance reform, the parallel universe becomes even more obvious. Over and over again Republicans are saying “no” to government’s “involvement” in health care yet, their suggestion to the problem is to expand the government program of Medicare/Medicaid as a means of covering those individuals without medical coverage.

Also included in their plan was a stipulation that would make it mandatory for you, the citizen, to be covered. In some instances subsidies would be provided, by the “government,” to help cover the cost of the insurance coverage you choose.

All this “government involvement,” in covering the cost of insuring those who are uninsured, while choosing co-ops as an alternative to public options, none of which lends to the idea of lowering the basic costs of insurance but, instead puts the government on the accounts receivable ledgers of insurance companies.

Now Republicans and some Democrats, as well, who are all politicians are saying these things with a straight face and possibly a straight lie, that the public option that is on the table would give government too much control over your medical experience while they, themselves, attempt to use government money to pay the expensive premiums to the insurance companies.

On the other hand, the public option, to my understanding, allows the government to negotiate lower premiums with certain insurance companies, thereby setting up a competitive edge in the insurance business. This, according to my understanding would be the only involvement the government would have in the public option.

Even though at this point, I am unclear how they would negotiate these lower premiums or why those against the public option have the idea that this involves a “government takeover” of insurance companies, I say at face value the public option has more ability at achieving the goal of coverage and competition.

I do have to ask would the negotiations sacrifice services for lower prices or would the lower prices come as a result of group coverage alone, as is the case with most coverage coming from job situations at this time? My impressions are that this is not the case, that services would not be compromised however this is the case being made by those opposing the public option.

I feel as though what the Republicans are offering is the insurance version of the old bait and switch con game. I feel they show more love to foreigners than they do to their own people, who they were hired to protect and serve. I feel they are intentionally confusing the issues with only their best interests at heart. I feel “we the people” are being duped with a word game played by politicians that think they are smarter than us.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

WebWatcher Computer Monitoring Software

Over the next five years, the United States Legislation has committed $1.5 billion PER YEAR, in nonmilitary aid to Pakistan. This outrageous amount is viewed by Pakistani citizens as compromising their country’s sovereignty even though President Asif Ali Zardari, of Pakistan, has agreed to the stipulations in the Kerry-Lugar bill.

In Afghanistan, America is considering paying Afghan citizens to side with America in the fight against the Taliban, citing the fact that this method of bribing citizens worked in the war efforts in Iraq.

American still believes that anybody can be bought because this is the American way and while they throw money to Iraqis, Afghanis and Pakistanis the war in these countries against America and their intruding principles, rages on.

This morning on CNN I saw a reporter interviewing what appeared to be young, college age Pakistanis who clearly view the United State’s involvement in their country as an intrusion.

With the rising incidences of violence in Pakistan, fast forward to a point in time where these college students lose a parent, a favorite aunt or uncle, a brother or sister, as a result of the violence that is growing in that country based on the needs of America and you have the makings of a militant, a Taliban or al-Qaeda operative.

In Palestine, according to Amnesty International (AI), Israel deprives Palestinians of something as basic as drinking water. Amnesty International, a human rights group, states that Israel is pumping disproportionate amounts of drinking water from an aquifer it controls in the West Bank while blocking infrastructure projects that would improve existing water supplies to Palestinians.

While the Israel government vehemently denies these allegations, I say Israel’s track record of dealing with the Palestinians speaks volumes to the truths of the suffering of 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza and therefore, for me, these allegations ring true. I believe that Israel would, as a means to maintain control through their inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people, deny them the basics of drinking water. Yet, America continues to support Israel in the lack of compassion it shows towards 2.3 million souls.

Headlines today read: 93 killed in blast at Pakistan market; Afghan militants hit U.N. guest house – 12 dead as gunmen target U.N. staff in Kabul; Baghdad attacks stir fears of Sunni violence.

Violence in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq continues and America refuses to take their blinders off to see what their occupation in these lands is accomplishing – not a damn thing!!! America continues to throw billions of dollars at the governments and citizens of these countries yet fail to see that this is wasted money.

The thing that continues to anger me the most is that it is one thing for the United States to be ignorant and blinded by ego in their belief that they can win, on any level, in their dealings with the Middle East. It is unbelievable that so much money is being donated to so many Middle Eastern countries, but it is another thing to send innocent children off to do your ignorant bidding, losing life, spirit, friends and in some cases losing their minds.

Open your eyes to see, your ears to hear and recognize this: Just because the United States Senate and all those who have trustingly been given the task of governing and serving “we the people” but instead have shown us how easily they can be bought, paid off, to doing the bidding, not for what is in the best interest of we the people but, for big business or the highest bidder does not mean that those in the Middle East will be so willing to jump on the bandwagon of our immoral principles and sell out their own people based on America’s need to control and intrude.

As a United Nations human rights investigator warns the United States that its use of unmanned warplanes, called drones, used to carry out targeted executions may violate international laws, I say recognize that as much as you attempt to convince yourselves that you are winning the war on terrorism in these countries, preventing attacks on American soil and promoting the “democratic” way throughout the world you are doing nothing more than creating more animosity, more hatred and a burning desire for revenge while supplying financial assistance to the goal of destroying America.

I say it is time for America to get a grip on reality – we are no better than the way in which we view Hamas, the Taliban or al-Qaeda, in these foreign lands, we are no better than Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and as these militant groups get stronger with the new recruits that emerge from our interference and their pockets bulge from the money we are donating, I say what we perpetrate we perpetuate and the ugliness will come back to us eventually.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Psychology and Life

If Iraq is such an excellent example of what a military surge can do for Afghanistan, then how could 160 people be dead as a result of not one but two suicide bombings that took place on Sunday in Baghdad.

As Iraqis mourn the death toll from the worst bombing in years, Americans need to be asking themselves if we are fooling ourselves into believing we have truly served a purpose in Iraq after six years of fighting.

Believe me I am not criticizing the American effort because I am proud of our troops but I am questioning the strength of the Iraqi people to sustain the security of their country just as I question Afghanistan as well as Pakistan to get a handle on the insurgents in their areas.

I think it is time for America to put aside ego and recognize that these insurgents, both Taliban and al-Qaeda, are not simply going to run for cover at the sight of the United States of America. If anything, I see them as playing a deadly game with Americans, a game that is encouraged by more troops in their lands and truth be told while America may be winning the battles, I see America losing the war.

Some here in America believe that Obama is showing the “enemy” a level of weakness in his thoughtful hesitation to send more troops to Afghanistan but I see sending more troops as a form of weakness in not being able to admit you are fighting a losing battle.

The bombings in Baghdad are proof that the Iraqi government is either still lacking in skills or still corrupted to the point of allowing this type of situation to flourish in their lands. More to the point, can they really stop the madness even if they truly wanted to?

It would seem that the people, that is the citizens of Iraq should become more involved in passing on any and all threats of violence they hear about, allowing the government the eyes and ears they apparently do not have, in an effort to diminish the raw violence that ends the lives of so many at one time.

Someone there has to know the plans of these insurgents, yet no one reports the plans and the violence continues. Psychologically this has to be taking a toll on the people of Iraq. Psychologically there has to be a sense of extreme fear, hopelessness and defeat in the hearts and minds of the people, which will not let them move beyond where they are and this is exactly what the insurgents have in mind, to control the will of the people through horrific violence, destruction and death.

As far as Afghanistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said there is a strong likelihood that Hamid Karzai will remain in office even after the results of the run-off vote of November 7, 2009. Will this vote legitimize Karzai in the eyes of the world and if it does legitimize him what exactly does that mean for the war in Afghanistan? Karzai will be the same person he has always been so how does that help the effort?

Even if his opponent wins this run-off election what effect will he have on the violence of the Taliban in that area? Is America financially capable of war in Afghanistan/The Middle East for the next generation of years? Some truths that we, as a nation, hold need to be re-evaluated and one of those truths remains our perception of the “victory” achieved in Iraq.

As of this date, October 25, 2009, I see no real victory in Iraq, I see only the temporary retreat of the insurgents, I see only the grief in the faces of the mourners but more importantly I hear the voices of these radicals, shouting loudly that you have not removed us, in the violence perpetrated on Sunday, where 160 lives were senselessly lost and I can only hope that America heard the voices as well.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

God Provides Victory Through Gideon

The debate over legalizing marijuana heats up in California, a state that allows medicinal marijuana consumption. Since 1980, arrest for marijuana have increased substantially, some of these arrest have no doubt led to the over crowding of prisons in the state of California. Now that they are being forced to release a large portion of their inmate population maybe they are also taking a look at the crime of possession of marijuana.

Personally, when I was out and about in the world, I did not know many people who did not smoke marijuana. I remember working in a video store a few years ago, which in addition to movie rentals they sold products geared to cleaning your system in the event you were called in for a drug test at your job.

It always shocked and amazed me the people who would purchase this product. People who I would never guess as people using drugs; old people, young people, middle aged people, people from all walks of life and me and my nosey self had to ask the question “is this for your personal use” or another question I’d ask is, “does this really work?” I think you would be amazed at the people you know but did not know they got high.

Now, I grew up around druggies. As a teenager I watched friends shoot heroine, I cut school with people to ride with them to the drugstore to buy Robitussin, before it became a purchase “by prescription only,” I personally knew straight crack heads so I ended up with a sincere respect for drugs, what affect they could have on your life and I never ventured over the line to experience hard core drugs.

However, living single and appreciating socializing, I learned quickly that people will not show you who they are unless on some levels they feel you can relate to them. Marijuana was my way of finding out who people were. As long as you smoked weed, people felt comfortable allowing you to see them do their drugs and this allowed me to pick and choose just who I let around me for any length of time.

While I do not believe weed is for everybody, just like alcohol is not for everybody, I enjoyed the effects of marijuana. Although I was a late bloomer in my experience with marijuana, I did smoke weed for many years after I became an adult. I listened to the lies told about marijuana being the “gateway” drug and all the other lies people used to dissuade the use of marijuana but from my experience I would say marijuana is safer than alcohol.

Truth be told the only reason I stopped smoking is that I did not like the element it put me in contact with in my efforts to find weed. I use to know a lot of people and the availability was plentiful but the older I got, the less I hung out and as much as I moved around, I lost contact with dependable suppliers.

It got to the point that as old as I am, I still look good (if I do have to say so myself, but I don’t) and guys young enough to be my children would still be trying to hit on me. Guys around my age would try to hit on me, try to make it seem like I should be giving it up just because they were supplying me and get angry when I said no. I’m sorry I can’t do you unless I feel you.

For this reason, I wish they would not only legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes but for my purposes. Truth is I can see marijuana use for the effects cancer and cancer treatment has on an individual, to increase appetite, but on any other level I think this is just being used as a excuse to legalize it.

It’s been a while since I have smoked a joint but all this conversation and the special on the Columbian drug wars, with visuals of the drug dealers “cleaning” big piles of marijuana has made me want a joint right now, but I am too old to be on the prowl for marijuana so I will just have to wait and see if California legalizes it, then maybe I will be able to go to my local marijuana store to purchase what I want.

I am sitting here cracking up as I write this but for the most part I am serious. Legalizing marijuana could serve as a means to deplete the deficit.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

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