Peace With The Police

    I'm not one for conspiracies. I am easily annoyed with the 9/11 "truth" movement. It irks me when I hear people talk about the "Illuminati" and "Global Government." Don't even get me started with "reptilian" conspiracy.

    However, there is something very concerning about the divide between us, the ordinary American people, and the police officers that are supposed to protect us. What is even more concerning is the battle between the two.
    A few days ago, Erica Garner posted the address of the officers that killed her father, Eric. While it may not have been the right thing to do, you can't help but feel her pain. The right wing media has condemned her actions as irresponsible. The thing is, the girl just wants justice. What happened in the courtroom wasn't justice. Anybody that has seen that video will recognize that.
    Today, at Officer Ramos' funeral, NYPD officers turned their backs Mayor de Blasio as he gave his eulogy. Was it very professional or necessary? Not at all. However, you can't help but feel their frustration as he, a public official, has shown support of the riots that caused the death of their comrade.
     Now, I hate straddling the grey area. In this kind of situation, I find that it is necessary to pick a side. However, I think that there are better ways that violent outbursts to protest. I understand the frustration. of the people. I've seen police brutality. I'm sick of the lethal force used. I understand that there is a time when it is necessary. But, it seems like officers a little more trigger happy these days. And, they aren't being punished for it. I'm not calling for the death penalty on these officers. However, I'm not supportive of just letting them slide.
     When an ordinary citizen kills another person, they are usually punished for it. Whether it is self defense or not, the ordinary citizen is charged with murder. Meanwhile, if a cop kills someone, they are rarely reprimanded for it. They are usually acquitted of the charges, and if you shoot a black guy, you're always acquitted. All I'm asking for is that there be justice. Let's treat all of these murders the same.
     It isn't like there isn't an alternative to a shot to the chest. Officers have been given equipment to slow someone down. But, whether it's an unarmed 18 year old or a 12 year old with a toy, they go straight for they chest. That just isn't cool. That isn't justice. That is reckless.
     Not all cops are bad. Not all of them deserve the retaliation that they are receiving. Many of them are trying to do the right thing and help us. The warrior attitude is what needs to be attacked. The egotistical, self righteous, power abusing attitude needs to be abolished. We, the people, pay their salary with our tax dollars. They should be protecting us, not playing hero and killing us. This is a not a John Wayne movie, and these cops need to recognize that.
     However, this issue shouldn't be solved with violence. It needs to be solved with love. It needs to be solved with forgiveness. It needs to be solved with understanding. I'm all for taking it to the streets and protesting peacefully. That is what this country, this world, needs. Peaceful protesting shows those that are in charge that no matter what they throw at us, no matter how much they push us down, we are always going to get back up. We shouldn't fight them back with violence. That will only make things worse. But, our words and our hearts can make a difference. Call me a peace-loving hippie, but I really think it can work. It definitely beats another Civil War, which is something that the US just might be on the verge of if it continues in this direction.
     So, let's come together. Let's be unified. Let's change the world and stop the violence. I'm sick of the warrior cop just as much as the next guy. But, calling for their heads isn't the right way to go. As the old adage goes, "The pen is mightier than the sword." Maybe the boys in blue will understand that as we show them. 

The War On ISIS

             In 2011, US soldiers left Iraq. Prime Minister al-Maliki assured President Obama that Iraq was able to stand on its own two feet and didn’t need American assistance any longer. While visiting D.C., al-Maliki heard a rumored assassination plot. Due to an intense paranoia of a Sunni uprising, he put away a few bodyguards of another official. They were tortured in prison, so the validity of their confession is debatable. Al-Maliki continued his persecution of Sunnis and continued to exclude them from political affairs.

            Meanwhile, in the desert, Sadaam Hussein’s sympathizers and the last few remaining members of al-Quieda were plotting a rebellion on the current Iraqi government, which was basically in a Shia state. They gained sympathizers among the oppressed Sunni’s, gradually building. They really gained their stride after assisting rebels in Syria. After gaining support and sympathizers there, they quickly began to take over Iraq, freeing prisoners, many of them prisoners of war. They would destroy anybody that opposed them.

            The U.S. stayed out the situation, until ISIS began to move in on cities that were “of interest” (justification word for oil) to us. America warned ISIS that if they continued to attack, we will attack. If al-Maliki stepped down from his position, ISIS would stop. Al-Maliki stepped down, ISIS didn’t attack for like an hour, and the good ol’ red, white, and blue rained bombs on them. That’s when ISIS started killing journalists and other Americans that happened to be in Iraq. President Obama is still unwilling to send soldiers on foot there, even though he’s been advised to. That’s not stopping the killing, though. ISIS is calling for jihadist sympathizers to assist them in their attack, gaining support online from people even in America. And, Obama is also sending drone attacks over there. With all due respect, Mr. President, killing some with a robot is just as bad as killing someone with your own gun.

            My first issue, before anything else, is that we created ISIS. Why were we even in Iraq to begin with? Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11. He didn’t have weapons of mass destruction. We were there to have more control of oil. At the end of the day, that is the reason why we are back over there. O. I. L. It bugs the heck out of me that people are dying for oil. Even if you go the democratic route, claiming that the US wasn’t there for oil, but was there to establish democracy, that still isn’t a valid reason to be over there. They didn’t want us. Even though we were fed propaganda that said we were wanted there because they wanted a similar government to ours, they really didn’t. Our soldiers weren’t greeted with cheers. They were greeted with indifference.

            So, why did we feel it necessary to change their way of life? That’s kind of egotistical if you ask me. It’s like saying, “Oh, you don’t like carrots? You hate them, actually? It gives you the runs? Well, tough crap. You have to eat carrots. It’s the only way that you should get Vitamin A. Apricots have Vitamin A? You want apricots? Screw apricots! Eat some dang carrots!”

            I personally think that we just need to mind our own business. We have oil here. Plus, oil is contributing to global warming. Do we really want to continue to contribute to the destruction of the planet? We can ride a bike and start walking for once. Maybe we won’t be the fattest country on the planet if we did.  If we would be honest with ourselves for once, maybe we would fight that war. Truthfully, that’s really the war that needs to be fought—a war on pollution and obesity. Those are bigger threats than a radical Islamic group halfway across the world, at least for now. But, I have a feeling that if we just back off a tad, they will ease up, too.

The Need For Change

  A few years ago, I thought I was a conservative republican. After looking at their views on abortion, track record with civil rights, and views on gun control, I changed my mind. Plus, everybody in that party is filthy rich. There's no way they can relate to a poor guy like me.

  About two years ago, I thought that I was a liberal democrat. After all, these guys seemed to fight for the poor kids. Civil rights seem to be their forte. They want stricter laws on guns and to do things that are right for the environment. I can dig that. But, too many of them are overly sensitive. And, some of them are very vocal about banning guns. I'm not a big gun guy, but I don't like that idea. It just doesn't seem right.

  For about a month or two, I studied socialism and communism. They are great ideas, Americans aren't ready for that kind of governing system. In fact, most of the world isn't ready for that system. Any time you give a government that kind of power, there is potential for oppression of the citizens. 

   Now, I only know one thing about my political stance: I hate politicians and large government.
   When I came to that realization, I also decided that I will not vote. Until there is a candidate that is representative of my beliefs, I see no purpose in voting. 

  A few people I know say, "Well, if you don't vote, you have no right to an opinion." I respectfully disagree with that notion. I do, however, propose this logic: If you are informed, you have a right to an opinion. Never follow someone blindly. If you do, then you are a part of the problem. 

  The problem is that the government has too much power. Corporations have too much power. It once was a race issue. Now, it's a class issue. 

  Are you ready for change?