Thoughts, Prayers, and Nothing.

Thoughts, Prayers, and Nothing.

A political Rant. You have been warned.

Another day, another mass shooting. 50+ dead, 500+ injured. Let that sink in for a bit. Yep, you read that right. This has turned into the new normal.

Starting in a day or two will be the first of the funerals. Are you ready for that? Soon you will be hearing and seeing the names and faces of the dead and the stories of the living. Are you ready for that? Already, the great “thinkers,” from their bunkers, are saying that this a huge Government cover-up to take their guns. Ready for that? Are you ready to hear some politicians, spokesmen, or lobbyist say that these deaths and injuries are just the price we must pay for “freedom?” ‘Merica!

But let’s get to the feels and put these numbers in a context to help you. The average High School classroom has 25-30 kids in it. That’s two classrooms full of the dead. An NFL team has 53 players. For the military minded, a Platoon of solders is 42 men. The Boring 777 carries 451 people, while the Airbus A380 carries 525. This is just a comparison. The exact numbers of dead and injured won’t be known for days.

But it doesn’t matter, does it? They are just images on a screen, not anybody you know. You didn’t get upset when 20 kindergarteners where slaughtered, 50+ country music fans mean nothing. And at this point I will start hearing, “But that’s not fair. It’s not the same. You don’t know what you are talking about. “ But you see that is where you are wrong. I know just as much as you, maybe more because I have been paying attention. Have you?

So, now we start to talk about the problem. Both sides will harden there points of view. Pro-gun folks will talk about the Second Amendment and the “Good guy with a gun” myth. The Gun control folks will talk about too many guns and the ease upon which to get them. And neither will listen to the other side and admit that there might be something to be learned from the other.

I’m on the Gun control side. Yes, there are too many guns (113 guns per 100 people). And the ease of access? Terrorist experts are saying that this is a national security crisis. But I will admit the others have a point too. When people buy them legally and get training, I have no problem. I don’t want your guns. Here’s something to blow your mind. This libel has fired different types of guns and likes it.

Here is the question I ask all the time to my pro-gun friends: How do we stop the bad guys from getting them? I will get an answer about there is no way, because they will steal them or buy them on the Black Market. But, they won’t really provide an answer and just this will prove my point doesn’t it?

And of course, we are getting the politicians and people on social media offering their “Thoughts and prayers” to the families and injured. Which just says, “I don’t want to do anything or talk about it. I’m beholden to a special interest (Left or Right).” All this does is give a false sense of caring and lets the sawyer feel good about themselves. But, it just shows a great level of Hypocrisy.

So, what can done? I have given my ideas on multiple occasions. You know my thoughts. But, here is the thing you and I both know. Nothing is going to happen. People on both sides will yell and scream their talking points. It will be in the national media for a week, at most (longer in the local press), and we will all forget about it moving to the crisis. Of course, it will be brought up after the next mass shooting. But, will that be the one where you or someone close to you is shot? Who knows?

As the Writer/Blogger Jim Wright has stated: “You want a better country, be better citizens.” I couldn’t agree more.

Congressional Math (Part 2)

Dear Mr. President,

Today, I saw you talk to the press. You claimed that you had the votes to pass the Healthcare repeal. You further claimed that one of your members was in the hospital.

Please allow me to make some corrections and help you with math. First, Senator Cochran (R-Mississippi) was not hospitalized. He was home and could travel. Secondly, I know math is hard. So, let me help you.

You needed a minimum of 50 votes on the Senate. Senators Cruz, McCain, and Collins said they will be voting "No." Let me do the math for you. 52 Senators minus 3 Senators equals 49 Senators. That is less than the 50 votes needed.
See easy

Signed,
An Informed Citizen.

Russians and Social Media

Dear President Trump,

I'm sorry to inform you, but the Russians did indeed buy ads on Facebook. Facebook and Zuckerberg are about to turn over the evidence to the Congress. Twitter is talking Congress and their investors next week. This is not some bizarre liberal plot.

Today, the government informed 21 states that the Russians tried hacking into their election systems. If your own government and intelligent agencies are saying it happened, you might want to listen. These are the professionals that are providing you with the intelligence on North Korea. So, are they lying about one thing but not another?

Mr. President, this is a very serious matter. Even a hint of this goes to the route of the American system. And yet you continue to not take this seriously. During the election you asked the Russians to find Hillary's "missing" emails. Shortly after taking office, you stated you were going to create a joint cyber investigation team with the very country accused of causing the problems. (Then you stated that you were joking)

Yes Mr. President, I know you are nervous about the investigations. But it is time for you to be a leader of this country, not some businessman looking out for his own self interests. Be the great leader you keep claiming you are.

Signed,
An Informed Citizen.

Superman and politics

Apparently in a Action Comics 987, Supes saves a group of illegal immigrants from a gun wielding white nationalist. A number of conservative commentators (especially those on FOX) are railing that Superman should not be political or that this was an un-American message.

One twitter user even angrily commented that people should have read comics. His assertion was that Supes was a legal alien and legally adopted. This was in response to comments about Superman's legal status.... (Superman is indeed an illegal alien and never legally adopted by the Kents) Kal-El (Superman's birth name) is in fact every bit a Dreamer.

So, why bring this up? Large number of television shows and comic books are making political comments. From diversity to immigration, sexual orientation to freedom of speech, or gun control to religion. And this is making a number of people mad. They seem to think that their entertainment should be free of political or social commentary. They are wrong. Let me tell you why.

The best stories that you love are always making an statement. Some of them are obvious and timeless. Others have lost their original point due the passage of time. New ones are added by audiences when the original are lost. Even that mindless action film you watched last night is making making a statement.

Why does Superman matter, then? Superman was created in 1938 by two Midwestern Jewish boys. The reasons and the psychology of his creation have been written and discussed extensively by numerous authors and psychologist. So I won't repeat it here. But what is of note is how this character has been used over the years.

In the 1940s, he, Wonder Woman, and Batman were used to sell war bonds and promote the war effort. In the late 1940s, the Superman radio show took on the Klu Klux Klan and help to successfully alert the public dangers of that organization. In the 70s and 80s, it was child abuse, drugs, and world hunger. Fictional characters are always used to discuss political issues. Many find that is an easier discussion and has less personal pain than discussing what is really happening in the real world.

In a roundabout way, my point is this: Superman has always leaned left. The Man of Steel has been portrayed as a liberal since the moment of his Inception. Most conservatives have not looked beyond the whole " Truth, Justice, and the American way" headline.

War Rhetoric

Dear President Trump,

Would you please shut-up? You currently have a major troop deployment in Afghanistan, military action against ISIS, and you have been ramping up the tension with North Korea. And today you are threatening military action for the issues in Venezuela. Shooting your mouth off is not helping.

Our military is stretched thin. Guam is getting civil defense warnings. You have cut the State department to the point that is now useless. Heck, we don't even have an ambassador in South Korea. It is time to tone it back.

You have been critical of the generals in Afghanistan. You have failed to understand that the war going on there is complex and hard. This not some Hollywood movie.

Your words have weight throughout the world. Our allies are starting to think of you as a laughing stock. Some would even say that you already are. Why? You shoot from the hip, spout lies, and seem to have no desire to learn the facts.

Currently, there are 250,000 American citizens being threaten. The Seventh fleet is in Guam. Millions of innocent people in Korea would die if things spiral out of control.

You need to stop talking. Stop Tweeting. Let the diplomats do their jobs. Stop trying to be a war president. It does not always give you a great spot in history. Especially if you start the war that ends the world. So, just stop. For the sake of my child, your children, and the world.

Signed,
An Informed Citizen.

Gorka and Diplomacy

Dear Mr. Gorka (Deputy Assistant to the President),

It is obvious that you have no idea how government or the military works. But let me mansplain it to you.

War is supposed to the last option of diplomacy. This is what every officer in the United States military is taught. This also how wars are prevented.

The Secretary of State is indeed the Chief Diplomat of the United States. But before we go to war the Smart Country and Leadership explore every option but military actions. And in the art of diplomacy one of the things that a diplomat must do is calm people down so that cooler heads can prevail. Only a fool goes the war without trying to negotiate a solution first.

You sir, are the deputy assistant to the President that puts you four steps down in the pecking order. Even Kellyanne Conway is higher than you. Finally, you need to be aware that when people have a recording of you making a stupid statement, trying to deny it only makes you and your president look stupid. As my father used to tell me, it's time to engage the Brain before wagging the tongue.

Signed,
An Informed Citizen.

Sports broadcasts length

Dear NBC Sports Network,

For the past 21 days, you have been airing the Tour de France. I understand that other sporting events can and do run long. However, when an event is over, we don't need to all the stupid little interviews with every single member of the winning team (20-30 people). How about a big honking message at the bottom of the screen. You practically cover the screen with messages about other events and stats.

I cannot and will not stay up until 2AM to watch the big finish. (Top 3 riders were 29 seconds apart) I know that Car Racing brings in bigger ratings, but have some respect for this of us that have been with you for the long haul.

Singed,
A Disappointed Viewer.