I've had issue with people and the idea of respect for religion. It occurred to me when there was the heinous massacre of the French publishers who made cartoons of Mohammed. There were people saying that they shouldn't have made the cartoons because they should respect Muslims. It occurred to me that was a misapplication of the word respect.
Respect is defined as, and I agree with this definition:
re·spect rəˈspekt/noun
1.a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
It occurs to me that I do not respect any religion. I believe they are all bogus, so how could I respect them? Then certain Muslims say that people must respect their religion, or else. One can not force another to respect anything. People have to have good reason to respect something. Just like people we don't know personally. We really don't respect them at all. That respect, more often than not, has to be earned. If that person or thing does things that are radical or unseemly, normally we don't start respecting them. We start distancing ourselves from them.
That's not to say we should treat people and things we don't know badly. Normally we treat people we don't know with a respect for their rights as an individual. But that is only an acknowledgment of those rights, and is not the same as respecting the person. That persons rights have earned respect, but the person has yet to earn it.
If all the Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or whatever other fundamentalists terrorists stopped going around bombing and killing, and instead did all that is good, they might start to foster respect. Right now they only foster fear and anger. Right now they only cause others to want retribution.
Why else would people pick out someone from a crowd. Someone who has on the badge of their religion and persecute them? There are always going to be bad people in any group. You know how it goes with people though. If a few do something bad, the many will suffer for it. When Muslim extremists cause harm, ignorant people pick out the entire group, not just the harmful ones.
I see a lot of Muslims getting on the defensive when any bad thing some terrorist does happens. I've heard it with my own ears. "No one says a word about Christian terrorists", they say. I say, forget all that. I say don't get on the defense, and just criticize the harmful ones. Don't respect them, or make any excuse for their behavior. How else are you going to gain any respect?
I remember a lady saying a woman has to work twice as hard in the office because of men's attitudes. Sure it shouldn't be that way. But humans are still a savage and primitive species. The same could be said of Muslims. They have to work twice as hard because of ignorant attitudes. The ignorance of terror, and of non-Muslims. Even though things shouldn't be that way, that is the way things are. Now is the time that our progeny will look back on. Like the first coming out of the fog of unenlightened thought, or the sinking into the quagmire. It is up to this generation to make the right decisions for the future of humanity.
So remember that respect is not the same as fear. Respect must be earned, not forced.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Ted Cruz Plus James Inhofe Equals Disaster for the Climate
It looks like the good old Republican Party is being true to form. Ted Cruz, a longtime foe of NASA and science, will oversee NASA and science in new congress. I'm not surprised one little bit. NASA has for a long time collected data on global warming and climate change. So we may as well have a climate change denier in charge of NASA. With Mr. Cruz overseeing NASA and James Inhofe, another climate change denier, chairing the United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Oversight we may as well just say screw it all.
Ted Cruz, Longtime Foe Of NASA And Science, Will Oversee NASA And Science In New Congress
That's what we'll have when these two guys get done. We'll all get screwed. All you people who keep voting for these guys are going to be sorry. I never wanted to be one of the people who said "I told you so", but I see that day coming.
Look at the record. Cruz is believed to be a major force behind the U.S. government shutdown in 2013. On September 24, 2013, Cruz began a speech on the floor of the Senate promising to keep speaking until he was "no longer able to stand". Cruz yielded the floor at noon the following day for the start of the proceeding legislative session after twenty-one hours nineteen minutes. He did that failed effort in an attempt to defund Obama care. Cruz stated Obamacare is causing "enormous harm" to the economy. Cruz said that he "didn't threaten to shut down the government" and blamed the shutdown on President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid.
Apparently people don't care if he is a liar. Remember the Meadows letter to Boehner and Cantor encouraging them to defund Obama care? I remember it, and I remember that Mr. Cruz was a signer to it. He was part and parcel to the shutdown. They encouraged tacking defunding Obamacare onto any spending bill even after they tried 50 odd time to defund and failed.
Okay, so that has nothing to do with climate, but it tells tons about character. Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who appeared on "State of the Union" said "These are crazy ideas from the far right," Dean said, calling Cruz "a slick spokesman." "God help us if he gets to be anything more than the senator from Texas," he added. Well, now he is more than a senator from Texas. NASA is on his table now, and they provide data on climate. Ted Cruz is in thrall to big oil. They are doing everything in their power to refute human caused climate change because of big oil.
Ted Cruz: Though Cruz was born in Canada, his parents met at a Texas oil company. The junior senator from the Lone Star State has shown his loyalty to the family biz by proposing to end the ban on offshore drilling, allow unrestricted fracking, abolish the Energy Department, slash corporate taxes, and block cap-and-trade.
Then you throw Jim Inhofe being Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee, you may as well get ready for global warming on an unrestricted scale. James Inhofe received $434,950 dollars from the oil and gas industry from 2009-2014. He famously said in the Senate that global warming is a hoax, has invited contrarians to testify in Committee hearings, and spread his views both via the Committee website run by Marc Morano, and through his access to conservative media such as Fox News. In 2012, Inhofe's The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future was published by WorldNetDaily Books, presenting his global warming conspiracy theory. He said that, because "God's still up there", the "arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is to me outrageous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Inhofe#Environmental_issues
So now we have two of the biggest climate change deniers on the planet in control of two committees who are instrumental to the efforts to monitor, and do something about carbon dioxide emissions. That doesn't paint a pretty picture for the future of humans on this planet. They probably don't care even if they really did believe humans are causing global warming. They will be sitting all comfortable in air conditioned comfort while poor people have to struggle with an ever increasing hostile environment. Let's hope people will wake up before they do to much damage.
Ted Cruz, Longtime Foe Of NASA And Science, Will Oversee NASA And Science In New Congress
That's what we'll have when these two guys get done. We'll all get screwed. All you people who keep voting for these guys are going to be sorry. I never wanted to be one of the people who said "I told you so", but I see that day coming.
Look at the record. Cruz is believed to be a major force behind the U.S. government shutdown in 2013. On September 24, 2013, Cruz began a speech on the floor of the Senate promising to keep speaking until he was "no longer able to stand". Cruz yielded the floor at noon the following day for the start of the proceeding legislative session after twenty-one hours nineteen minutes. He did that failed effort in an attempt to defund Obama care. Cruz stated Obamacare is causing "enormous harm" to the economy. Cruz said that he "didn't threaten to shut down the government" and blamed the shutdown on President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid.
Apparently people don't care if he is a liar. Remember the Meadows letter to Boehner and Cantor encouraging them to defund Obama care? I remember it, and I remember that Mr. Cruz was a signer to it. He was part and parcel to the shutdown. They encouraged tacking defunding Obamacare onto any spending bill even after they tried 50 odd time to defund and failed.
Okay, so that has nothing to do with climate, but it tells tons about character. Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who appeared on "State of the Union" said "These are crazy ideas from the far right," Dean said, calling Cruz "a slick spokesman." "God help us if he gets to be anything more than the senator from Texas," he added. Well, now he is more than a senator from Texas. NASA is on his table now, and they provide data on climate. Ted Cruz is in thrall to big oil. They are doing everything in their power to refute human caused climate change because of big oil.
Ted Cruz: Though Cruz was born in Canada, his parents met at a Texas oil company. The junior senator from the Lone Star State has shown his loyalty to the family biz by proposing to end the ban on offshore drilling, allow unrestricted fracking, abolish the Energy Department, slash corporate taxes, and block cap-and-trade.
Then you throw Jim Inhofe being Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee, you may as well get ready for global warming on an unrestricted scale. James Inhofe received $434,950 dollars from the oil and gas industry from 2009-2014. He famously said in the Senate that global warming is a hoax, has invited contrarians to testify in Committee hearings, and spread his views both via the Committee website run by Marc Morano, and through his access to conservative media such as Fox News. In 2012, Inhofe's The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future was published by WorldNetDaily Books, presenting his global warming conspiracy theory. He said that, because "God's still up there", the "arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is to me outrageous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Inhofe#Environmental_issues
So now we have two of the biggest climate change deniers on the planet in control of two committees who are instrumental to the efforts to monitor, and do something about carbon dioxide emissions. That doesn't paint a pretty picture for the future of humans on this planet. They probably don't care even if they really did believe humans are causing global warming. They will be sitting all comfortable in air conditioned comfort while poor people have to struggle with an ever increasing hostile environment. Let's hope people will wake up before they do to much damage.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
I Don't Buy the Argument Against Marijuana Legalization
The fight begins in earnest over whether to legalize cannabis begins. January 25, 2015 The following article was posted to the Indianapolis Star News, Don’t fall for marijuana legalization. It was written by Dr. Dick Huber, a retired doctor of Greenwood, Indiana.
Firstly, cigarettes and alcohol are far more damaging to society than marijuana. Cigarettes are normally the first drug a person is exposed to, and is the real gateway. As for people moving on to cocaine, the reason this happens is because the user of marijuana is exposed to black market drug dealers, who never ask for I.D., and they are the ones who expose people to cocaine. In other words, if marijuana were legal, people would buy the product from shops who do check for I.D. and do not push cocaine. Furthermore, all this going on about the concern for a persons welfare before the age of 25 is smoke and mirrors. If there were real concern, we would not be putting guns into the hands of persons under the age of 25 and sending them off to fight in wars overseas. Nor would we allow them to vote, or to drive, because their brains haven't fully developed. Having marijuana listed as a scheduled I narcotic doesn't help matters for the young people in our society. When we have such a comparatively harmless drug as marijuana listed besides meth, and heroin the young people may get the idea after using marijuana that meth and such are not so harmful, then decide to dive into that quagmire. Dr. Huber's testimony is flawed, and grounded in the same old reefer madness hype we all know is not true.
I would advise any person of reason view this testimony by Dr. Jon Gettman. He is an Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. Dr. Jon Gettman is also testifying before the Indiana Senate Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee July 28th, 2011. He presents a logical argument, filled with real data and statistics. He presents a valid argument for the legalization of marijuana. He mentioned a seizure of $500,000 worth of marijuana from a California man during a traffic stop in Indiana. He went on to say that every time the media mentions the value of marijuana seized that people are motivated to get into this lucrative trade. I had never thought of it in those terms before, but that sounds logical to me.
I'm not going to go over every single point he makes in this write up. He speaks longer, and makes a heck of a lot more sense that Dr. Huber's weak testimony. So I'll just provide you the links, then you can hear and make up your own mind.
IN Sen. Marijuana Study Committee 2011: Dr. Jon GettmanPart 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
I believe that the legalization of marijuana is the prudent thing to do for Indiana, and the entire nation. The arguments against legalization have time after time been proven to be unwarranted and illogical.
Notice how they try to make it look Evil?
Dr. Huber has spoken to the Indiana legislature before on the topic of marijuana. He testified before the Indiana Senate Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee July 28th, 2011. Several times he mentioned the idea of "gateway drugs", and that the brain of a person is not fully developed until the age of 25. He says pretty much the same thing in the Star article. He mentioned that a user of cannabis is more likely to move on to cocaine. I believe he is misguided.I would advise any person of reason view this testimony by Dr. Jon Gettman. He is an Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. Dr. Jon Gettman is also testifying before the Indiana Senate Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee July 28th, 2011. He presents a logical argument, filled with real data and statistics. He presents a valid argument for the legalization of marijuana. He mentioned a seizure of $500,000 worth of marijuana from a California man during a traffic stop in Indiana. He went on to say that every time the media mentions the value of marijuana seized that people are motivated to get into this lucrative trade. I had never thought of it in those terms before, but that sounds logical to me.
I'm not going to go over every single point he makes in this write up. He speaks longer, and makes a heck of a lot more sense that Dr. Huber's weak testimony. So I'll just provide you the links, then you can hear and make up your own mind.
IN Sen. Marijuana Study Committee 2011: Dr. Jon GettmanPart 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
I believe that the legalization of marijuana is the prudent thing to do for Indiana, and the entire nation. The arguments against legalization have time after time been proven to be unwarranted and illogical.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Marijuana: to Carry on This Farce is ludicrous
I've been watching this TV Show called "Weed Country". They show different aspects of the marijuana question from actual persons involved point of view. Of course they sensationalize everything to make it as interesting as possible. Some times a bit misleading.
Once there were cops going on a raid. The scene kept switching back and forth. Focusing on the cops sneaking up on the farm, then to the grower's dog barking at something and the grower looking out his window with a worried face. By the time they got to the climax you find they weren't going after the guy with the barking dog at all. The cops found the grow they were sneaking up on. The dog was only barking at the grower's neighbor. I thought that was misleading.
I can't help to think the fact that marijuana is illegal anywhere is pure hypocrisy and overbearing government intrusion into persons private business. There will be some grower peacefully growing a crop, then armed thugs start casing the joint. People in army gear sneaking around with machine guns! Really I'm shocked! People sitting around smoking weed or growing weed are not a threat to anybody. The only time there is a danger to the public is when guns get into hands, and people come to threaten with violence. That is the way the government, which was created to serve us, regard us. They choose to barge into our private lives, and threaten, and to confine us, and for what? For a big fat lie!
We all know that reefer madness crap is nothing but lies. We all know the score! Why the government wishes to carry on this farce is ludicrous. Go ahead and buy a gallon of vodka and kill yourself, or smoke tobacco until your lungs look like a tar pit, but don't you dare smoke any pot or "We'll throw your ass in jail and find the crap out of you". Give me a damn break, get the f*** out of here. In my way of thinking, that shows we live on the Bazarro World. I love Democracy, but I don't like the way some of my fellows have used it as a tool to oppress. That's what happens sometimes. With Democracy you can get your civil rights voted right away from you. That's what has happened with cannabis. Humans with good intentions doing the wrong thing.
I support Indiana's SB-284 that will make legal for the use of cannabis for medicinal reasons. I will not rest until cannabis is legal for recreational purposes too! That will only be a matter of time. The people on capitol hill see all that money. Right now we're spending a hell of a lot of money on marijuana interdiction. The marijuana is still around, always has been and it always will be. The government can make it illegal all they want, but that don't matter because they'll never stop all marijuana consumption. Our government may as well make a profit off it instead. When I see Colorado rake in $60 million in taxes that gets my attention. I could see that money going to schools, or some other worthy program. The state and federal government bitch about can't do this or that because they don't have enough money. Okay then, here is a whole butt load of money. Make legal, and tax MARIJUANA you people.
Sorry, I get carried away some times, but the stupidity of the whole thing just peeves me. Let's get this thing done. Let's make cannabis legal again.
Once there were cops going on a raid. The scene kept switching back and forth. Focusing on the cops sneaking up on the farm, then to the grower's dog barking at something and the grower looking out his window with a worried face. By the time they got to the climax you find they weren't going after the guy with the barking dog at all. The cops found the grow they were sneaking up on. The dog was only barking at the grower's neighbor. I thought that was misleading.
I can't help to think the fact that marijuana is illegal anywhere is pure hypocrisy and overbearing government intrusion into persons private business. There will be some grower peacefully growing a crop, then armed thugs start casing the joint. People in army gear sneaking around with machine guns! Really I'm shocked! People sitting around smoking weed or growing weed are not a threat to anybody. The only time there is a danger to the public is when guns get into hands, and people come to threaten with violence. That is the way the government, which was created to serve us, regard us. They choose to barge into our private lives, and threaten, and to confine us, and for what? For a big fat lie!
We all know that reefer madness crap is nothing but lies. We all know the score! Why the government wishes to carry on this farce is ludicrous. Go ahead and buy a gallon of vodka and kill yourself, or smoke tobacco until your lungs look like a tar pit, but don't you dare smoke any pot or "We'll throw your ass in jail and find the crap out of you". Give me a damn break, get the f*** out of here. In my way of thinking, that shows we live on the Bazarro World. I love Democracy, but I don't like the way some of my fellows have used it as a tool to oppress. That's what happens sometimes. With Democracy you can get your civil rights voted right away from you. That's what has happened with cannabis. Humans with good intentions doing the wrong thing.
I support Indiana's SB-284 that will make legal for the use of cannabis for medicinal reasons. I will not rest until cannabis is legal for recreational purposes too! That will only be a matter of time. The people on capitol hill see all that money. Right now we're spending a hell of a lot of money on marijuana interdiction. The marijuana is still around, always has been and it always will be. The government can make it illegal all they want, but that don't matter because they'll never stop all marijuana consumption. Our government may as well make a profit off it instead. When I see Colorado rake in $60 million in taxes that gets my attention. I could see that money going to schools, or some other worthy program. The state and federal government bitch about can't do this or that because they don't have enough money. Okay then, here is a whole butt load of money. Make legal, and tax MARIJUANA you people.
Sorry, I get carried away some times, but the stupidity of the whole thing just peeves me. Let's get this thing done. Let's make cannabis legal again.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Smart People Believe Dumb Things: Climate Change Deniers
Then you get a bunch of Rush Limbaugh followers, who otherwise seem like intelligent persons saying all of it is a hoax. People who seem to have more than half a brain chiming in with the same old denier false bunk. I am really having a hard time understanding why they keep it up with the climate change hoax mantra. Not the people in charge, mind you. I know why they would deny human made climate change. They are making money off the denial. It is the other people who stand to gain nothing but misery from climate change denial. It is as if they take science and throw it all out the window on the word of shysters. I wonder their motives. They personally have nothing to gain from claiming climate change is a hoax, but have everything to lose if they are wrong.
Is it because they are Christians and believe God wouldn't allow such a thing? Are they scientists and have found proof of a hoax? Could they be getting pay-offs from big oil to say climate change is a hoax? Well I just don't know. I just hope they all come around to the facts before the damage is done. I guess damage has already been done, so I'll just say before it gets any worse.
Climate Change Deniers Have been Fooled
I've been seeing a lot of stuff on Facebook claiming that human climate change is not real, or is a hoax. Ever since the State of the Union speech the climate change deniers have been more active. I am going to post a series showing that human climate change is real, and that the deniers have been lied to.
This first post shows glacier retreat in Glacier National Park. I think it is hard for many persons to relate because they haven't seen these things with their own eyes, or maybe never seen this stuff at all. Even though I haven't personally been to all of these places, I'v been to some of them. So I am able to relate because of real images I've seen with my own eyes.
Follow the link to see 36 side by side photos of retreating glaciers. These pictures span the time frame of late 1800's to early 2000's. Yes, I have been to Glacier National park.
Last thing I would like to relate here today is something someone told me. It was said to me several times by several persons. You may have heard it yourself. Concerning God, "I would rather go through life believing in God than not believe and die to find out there is one." I think the same logic could be applied to human caused global climate change. If we don't believe climate change is real, and don't do anything about it, we humans will suffer greatly. "I would rather go through life believing in climate change, than to not believe and find out later it is real."
I don't really go by such logic. I believe if the evidence is overwhelming, and it is. Greater than 90% of the science experts agree, human made climate change is real, and if we don't stop it there will be trouble.
This first post shows glacier retreat in Glacier National Park. I think it is hard for many persons to relate because they haven't seen these things with their own eyes, or maybe never seen this stuff at all. Even though I haven't personally been to all of these places, I'v been to some of them. So I am able to relate because of real images I've seen with my own eyes.
Follow the link to see 36 side by side photos of retreating glaciers. These pictures span the time frame of late 1800's to early 2000's. Yes, I have been to Glacier National park.
Glacier National Park Thunderbird Glacier
I don't really go by such logic. I believe if the evidence is overwhelming, and it is. Greater than 90% of the science experts agree, human made climate change is real, and if we don't stop it there will be trouble.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Indiana Considers Legalized Medical Cannabis
I am pleasantly surprised! The state of Indiana is considering the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes. Way to go Indiana! Or really credit goes to Senator Karen Tallian who submitted Senate Bill 284, and State Senator Pat Miller Chairperson to the Committee on Health and Provider Services.
I wrote in support of this bill. The email address is provided below. I hope you write or email the senator. Email her and ask for support of this important bill. Here is the text of my message to the senitor Pat Miller and her reply. Thanks for getting behind this. I know we can do it!
```````````````````````````` Letter ````````````````````````````````````
to: senator.miller@iga.in.govGreetings Senator Patricia Miller,
My name is James E. Parks Jr. and I am a cancer survivor. I also am a hepatitis C (HCV) survivor. I was cured of both diseases thanks to the Veterans Administration Health Care System in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Also I give thanks to the State of New Mexico because of their policy of legalized Medicinal Cannabis. I was a licensed user and also had license to cultivate cannabis for personal use by the state. I believe the use of cannabis was partly responsible for helping me to pull through the extremely harsh chemotherapy and radiation treatments I endured to rid myself of both HCV and cancer.
During my time fighting neck cancer, I lost all function of my taste buds and my appetite was extremely impaired. I started our weighing 165 lbs, and by the time I was through I was down to less than 130 lbs. Cannabis helped me to fight the extreme nausea and loss of appetite caused by the chemo. The radiation therapy I endured damaged the brachial plexus in my left shoulder leaving my arm severely disabled to this very day. I also am left with neuropathy in both my hands and feet. Cannabis was a great help in reducing the pain I have every single day from that condition.
I moved to Muncie Indiana last year so I could be close to family. I was extremely distressed to learn that Indiana was not even considering the legalizing of medicinal cannabis at the time. Now that I live in this state, I can tell that my neuropathy pain has increased. I am still under doctors care, and monitored for recurrence of the neck cancer. I fear the day that if the cancer returns I might have to go through chemotherapy without the benefit of cannabis to help me get through it. Honestly, as bad as it was with the help of cannabis, I really don't know if I could make it through that again without the help I know cannabis can give.
Please give the bill SB 284 a hearing. I urge you to support the legalization of this beneficial drug so that Hoosiers can have the proper care they need to fight debilitating diseases like cancer, HCV and neuropathic pain. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this important legislation.
James E Parks Jr.
Muncie, In.
```````````````````````````` Reply ````````````````````````````````````
Dear James,Thank you for contacting me regarding Senate Bill 284, which would legalize medicinal marijuana. Your thoughts and opinions are an important part of the legislative process, and I respect your comments.
I appreciate your position on this issue. The legalization of marijuana, in one form or another, has been a growing issue in recent years and it will be discussed again this year. In order to be considered by the full Senate, a bill must first be heard and approved by the committee to which it is assigned. Senate Bill 284 has been assigned to the Committee on Health and Provider Services, of which I am the Chairperson. However, since I just received this bill, I have yet to have the opportunity to read it. I plan to speak with the bills author, Senator Karen Tallian, in the near future to discuss the bill in-depth.
Thank you again for your message. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Pat Miller
State Senator
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Islam and Christian: All Humans are the Same No Matter the Culture
I'm from the south. I was born and mostly raised in north Florida. That got me to see prejudice from both sides of the fence. When I was in the 3rd grade my family moved to Milwaukee. I had a pretty good accent and the other kids picked up on it quick. "Hillbilly Goat, Hillbilly Goat" they would call and tease. I got into a lot of fights because of it. Then in 1967 riots broke out there. When it was over my family decided to move back to Florida.
When I was in the 7th grade in Jacksonville Florida, we lived in a poor neighborhood. The school I went to had mostly black kids in attendance. Every day there was trouble between the few white kids and the black kids. I remember walking down the hall and a black kid said to me "Give me a nickel". I replied "Try and take it". Then the fight began.
My point is, north or south, prejudiced was rampant then, and it is just as rampant now. The only difference now is what I call "closet bigotry". The Republican Party is guilty of it. It shows in the way they have fought President Obama every step of the way ever since he became President. It is a part and parcel of the Tea Party too, and a lot of Southern Fundamentalists Christian thought. I know this is true because of the adults I was exposed to as a child in the deep south. I remember going to George Wallace rallies, and churches where people fell onto the floor in convulsive trance. I know that the north is no better too because of a black friend I had in Long Island who had a bottle smashed against his head, just because of the color of his skin.
When I look back, I find I am thankful I seen all that and experienced that first hand. It helped me gain prospective and become enlightened. I know first hand how low people can go. Even my own father used to brag about grandpa being a leader in the KKK. I never went to a rally, but I heard stories. Now I can relate and try to enlighten others as to why all this is primitive and destructive.
As an atheist I think I can have a prospective of one outside the box now. A person who was once inside the box, but some how was able to divorce myself from it. I've seen Islamic extremism and Christian extremism. I've seen white prejudice, and black prejudice. I have seen, and I think this is extremely important, Muslim, Christian, white, black and Arab, people of all races and cultures doing a lot of good too! That is the only thing that has kept humans from ripping civilization apart. Sadly, that goodness is being replace by fear.
Most people want to be friends. They want to go to work, raise a family, have fun and live in peace. The thing is, a few evil, power hungry, selfish persons sow fear and suspicion for their own gain. It isn't just white people, or black people or any other group or culture. Every race and culture has these elements of childish self interests. Hate mongering and fear spreading units inside of all of our peoples are at fault.
That is why I focus on just the human. Humans are all the same as far as I'm concerned. They all have the same basic needs and wants. The only difference is artificial constructs invented by them. Let me give an example of how people are basically the same and have build artificial constructs called culture. If I go to any person on the planet. Even a person who lives in the jungles of South America, who has never met a person from a high tech society, and I smiled at them, they would immediately know what that meant. It doesn't matter the culture, the race, or any of that, every person on the planet has that basic communication. A frown is a frown, and a smile is a smile, and ALL humans know what it means.
Every other aspect of human society and culture was built from the primitive. Have you ever seen a baby take something from another? Adults are no better. In human past when resources ran low, raiding parties were formed and they would take from the next village over. In order to get past that basic understanding of a smile, or the look of fear, culture is dragged into it. "They don't have the same culture. I don't understand it so it must be bad. If it is bad it is okay to kill and take.". These things tell me that prejudice in any form is a primitive mind set, dragged into our culture from our remote past. It is unenlightened thought, fostered and nurtured with fear. Fear raising to destroy the inhibition to harm one another. Persons manipulating other persons for their own gain, be it ego or material.
All this is one of the reasons I do not endorse religion of any kind. Even though I support them who practice faith in gods peacefully, I think it is all to easy to use it, and to become influenced by it to harm other humans. It is another thing that is an artificial construct invented by humans. Like I said before, all humans know what a smile is, but all humans do not know what Jesus, Allah, Buddha or any of the rest is.
If persons embraced logic, reason and knowledge the majority of human problems caused by prejudiced would disappear. Humans who are enlightened know there is no real differences in humans other than cultural, and those cultural differences are artificial. Like that wearing of a hijab, or the not wearing of it. Like the bishop with his uniform, or the pope with his. Or a nun with their habit, every last bit of it is added on artificial constructs invented by human culture. Every last bit of it doesn't mean beans compared to the human under it all, and that human is what people need to see. Every human needs to look deeper than the uniform. The reason being that all humans are the same.
When I was in the 7th grade in Jacksonville Florida, we lived in a poor neighborhood. The school I went to had mostly black kids in attendance. Every day there was trouble between the few white kids and the black kids. I remember walking down the hall and a black kid said to me "Give me a nickel". I replied "Try and take it". Then the fight began.
My point is, north or south, prejudiced was rampant then, and it is just as rampant now. The only difference now is what I call "closet bigotry". The Republican Party is guilty of it. It shows in the way they have fought President Obama every step of the way ever since he became President. It is a part and parcel of the Tea Party too, and a lot of Southern Fundamentalists Christian thought. I know this is true because of the adults I was exposed to as a child in the deep south. I remember going to George Wallace rallies, and churches where people fell onto the floor in convulsive trance. I know that the north is no better too because of a black friend I had in Long Island who had a bottle smashed against his head, just because of the color of his skin.
When I look back, I find I am thankful I seen all that and experienced that first hand. It helped me gain prospective and become enlightened. I know first hand how low people can go. Even my own father used to brag about grandpa being a leader in the KKK. I never went to a rally, but I heard stories. Now I can relate and try to enlighten others as to why all this is primitive and destructive.
As an atheist I think I can have a prospective of one outside the box now. A person who was once inside the box, but some how was able to divorce myself from it. I've seen Islamic extremism and Christian extremism. I've seen white prejudice, and black prejudice. I have seen, and I think this is extremely important, Muslim, Christian, white, black and Arab, people of all races and cultures doing a lot of good too! That is the only thing that has kept humans from ripping civilization apart. Sadly, that goodness is being replace by fear.
Most people want to be friends. They want to go to work, raise a family, have fun and live in peace. The thing is, a few evil, power hungry, selfish persons sow fear and suspicion for their own gain. It isn't just white people, or black people or any other group or culture. Every race and culture has these elements of childish self interests. Hate mongering and fear spreading units inside of all of our peoples are at fault.
That is why I focus on just the human. Humans are all the same as far as I'm concerned. They all have the same basic needs and wants. The only difference is artificial constructs invented by them. Let me give an example of how people are basically the same and have build artificial constructs called culture. If I go to any person on the planet. Even a person who lives in the jungles of South America, who has never met a person from a high tech society, and I smiled at them, they would immediately know what that meant. It doesn't matter the culture, the race, or any of that, every person on the planet has that basic communication. A frown is a frown, and a smile is a smile, and ALL humans know what it means.
Every other aspect of human society and culture was built from the primitive. Have you ever seen a baby take something from another? Adults are no better. In human past when resources ran low, raiding parties were formed and they would take from the next village over. In order to get past that basic understanding of a smile, or the look of fear, culture is dragged into it. "They don't have the same culture. I don't understand it so it must be bad. If it is bad it is okay to kill and take.". These things tell me that prejudice in any form is a primitive mind set, dragged into our culture from our remote past. It is unenlightened thought, fostered and nurtured with fear. Fear raising to destroy the inhibition to harm one another. Persons manipulating other persons for their own gain, be it ego or material.
All this is one of the reasons I do not endorse religion of any kind. Even though I support them who practice faith in gods peacefully, I think it is all to easy to use it, and to become influenced by it to harm other humans. It is another thing that is an artificial construct invented by humans. Like I said before, all humans know what a smile is, but all humans do not know what Jesus, Allah, Buddha or any of the rest is.
If persons embraced logic, reason and knowledge the majority of human problems caused by prejudiced would disappear. Humans who are enlightened know there is no real differences in humans other than cultural, and those cultural differences are artificial. Like that wearing of a hijab, or the not wearing of it. Like the bishop with his uniform, or the pope with his. Or a nun with their habit, every last bit of it is added on artificial constructs invented by human culture. Every last bit of it doesn't mean beans compared to the human under it all, and that human is what people need to see. Every human needs to look deeper than the uniform. The reason being that all humans are the same.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Pakistan Cleric Holds Funerals for the Criminal Kouachi Brothers
This morning I found this article posted on the NBC News web site. To my understanding it shows the utter failure of Islamic extremist ideology. What it does not show me is why the persons who embrace such a hate filled ideology refuse to recognize the failure, and in the face of such failure why they would continue to support it.
I'm going to go point by point.
"Today we feel so proud to attend the funeral of our brothers," said cleric Allama Pir Mohammad Chishti after leading the funeral in absentia in the city of Peshawar. "They are heroes of Islam. They laid down their lives but eliminated those published caricatures of our Prophet Muhammad."
First thought here is that they eliminated nothing of the sort! What they did eliminate was the lives of 12 nonviolent persons, and their own lives. They all died for nothing. They died in vain. The proof is that Charlie Hebdo continues to function as a business, and continues to exercise free speech by publishing cartoons of Muhammad. If anything they served to solidify the resistance against such barbaric acts of mayhem. They brought Muslim, Jew, Christian and Atheist together in solidarity, by the thousands, all across the world. All of them shouting "We are Charlie Hebdo".
"The ceremony was delayed by about an hour and attended by only around 40 people despite many entreaties via loudspeaker."
"Mohammad Rasheed Ahmad, a student at the madrassa, said he was disappointed so few came out to honor the Kouachis."
"We saw tens of thousands of people gathered in France to show solidarity with their slain men, but Muslims didn't come to take part in the funeral of the two heroes who did this great job," he said.
"Pakistanis are often the victims of religious extremism, with more than 50,000 dying in bomb explosions and suicide attacks since 2002."
Get a clue! Read the writing on the wall. If tens of thousands of people march in condemnation of murderous acts, and only 40 people rally behind the murderers, I think that sends a pretty strong message. It sends the message that the acts of violence perpetrated by the murderers Chérif and Saïd Kouachi was not acceptable. It sends a message that their heinous acts were not a "great job". It says that they are not heroes. They are only dead murders who have damaged the reputation of the religion of Islam. Deservedly or not, the fact remains that Muslims around the world will suffer unjustly for the actions of these two fools.
Mr. Mohammad Rasheed Ahmad should reflect and not be disappointed in the turnout for his farce funeral. He, and any other person who supports repressive barbarism should be disappointed in themselves for not realizing they are supporting a primitive mind set. A mind set with roots in humanities remote past. They support an archaic line of thought that is fading from our world, and if they do not keep up they will fade with it.
With 50,000 Pakistanis dying because of misguided zeal in a failed philosophy, no wonder only 40 people showed up for your idiotic funeral for dead criminals. I think Muslims around the world and in Pakistan would rather not die in bomb attacks, or have their reputation tarnished by repressive tactics of power mongers like Mr. Mohammad Rasheed Ahmad.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Romney No Show for Presidential Inauguration and Early Show for 2016
Do you remember the inauguration of President Obama after he had won the election in 2012? Do you remember who showed up for the ceremony? I remember one prominent person who failed to make an appearance. Mr. Mitt Romney, presidential contender and loser extraordinaire.
I wrote this piece January 21, 2013 to make note of his stellar <cough> loser <cough> non-appearance. please take note of it because this person is again talking of throwing his hat into the ring in 2016. This person is a dangerous person, driven by personal self interests, and fringe theocratic ideology. Please don't support this person for any public office.
Now remember...
January 21, 2013 Mitt Romney fails to show for Presidential Inauguration.
I was wondering something. Where was Mitt Romney today? I didn't see hide nor hair of him all day! I didn't even hear his name mentioned until I got to wondering about him. Did he and Ann plan to watch the ceremonies? “Doubtful,” an aide told NBC. MSNBC reported that this makes him the first losing candidate not to attend an inauguration since another Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis, didn’t attend the swearing-in of George H.W. Bush.
Mitt Romney
I've got a bad feeling about Mr. Romney. I doubt we've heard the last of him. I worry about this man because of his beliefs and back ground. He is a faithful LDS elder, and donates millions of dollars to that church. People like that do believe they are doing the work of God. Some of them have a strong belief that their doctrine is the only way, and would go to great lengths to advance their agenda.The LDS have a disturbing belief held by other Christian sects. They believe that Jesus Christ will return to the Earth after the temple is rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. At this time, the Dome of the Rock sits on this spot, as it has since 691 CE. The Dome of the Rock is in the center of a greater Muslim shrine, known as the Haram ash Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), which Muslims believe commemorates Muhammad's miraculous Night Journey into heaven. Even so these groups are bent on restoring the Jewish Temple in order to bring about the second coming.
-Aerial-Jerusalem-Temple_Mount-Temple_Mount_(south_exposure).jpg)
Haram ash Sharif
Mr. Romney was defeated soundly in the election, and his tone and actions tell of a vindictive man. I think he may have thought it was ordained by God that he would be President of the United States. He may still believe that, and that is what worries me.His church, the LDS, and its leadership may have wanted badly for Mr. Romney to become President so they could further their so called "Holy Cause". All the things we don't know about this man, and all the things we do know about this man, sends up a massive amount of red flags. So many red flags in fact, I wouldn't mind it if the Secret Service kept close tabs on him.
He is a powerful, devoutly religious person who subscribes to a fringe religious cult. We have experience with such persons in our past. Jim Jones comes to mind, as does the Branch Davidians. We know to what lengths these people can go.
The Christian Right in the United States supported him, even though previously they had considered the LDS a cult. But because his religious beliefs were similar, and even more importantly, because Mr. Romney was the opponent of Obama they set all their differences aside in hopes of wresting power away from Obama.
I've got a bad feeling about Mitt Romney. I some how feel like we haven't seen the last of him. I hope I am wrong about him. Sometimes we get that gut feeling, and when we do we have to consider it. Anything else would be a betrayal of self.
Sorry to say, we better keep an eye on this one.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Charlie Hebdo is French World Trade Center: Enough is Enough
You know that movie "Independence Day"? I was watching it on TV when they showed a view of the New York skyline. Featured in the scene was the World Trade Center Twin Towers. When I seen it, I automatically said to myself, "They are gone. You motherf***ers.", (National Traumatic Stress Syndrome?) referring to the terrorists. Then it hit me.
Every time I see a movie with the WTC towers in it, I say the same thing. I guess it got burned into my mind when I sat there that fateful morning watching as the events unfolded. Now the people of France may have such a memory every time they pass by or see Charlie Hebdo. That makes me sad for the French people.
It makes me further enraged at the extremists, fascist murders. It is bad enough I have such bad memories burned into my psyche, let alone it being further perpetrated upon others. I want forceful action taken to wipe these creeps off the face of our planet. Enough is enough.
I was an aircraft mechanic at the time of 9/11. Every aircraft in the United States was grounded. I lost my job 3 days later. It took 6 months before things recovered enough before I found another aircraft contract. My damages were small compared to some. Very small indeed. The thing is, how much are we going to allow ourselves to suffer these jerks? Full scale invasion and eradication of ISIS and Boko Haram, AlQueda on a scale not seen since WWII would suite me fine.
They want to make themselves a terror unto us? They don't know the meaning of the word terror. We haven't unleashed the dogs of war. Not even close. We have the means to unleash true terror, and we should be that to our enemies.
They act with impunity. They should tremble with fear at free people's might and rage over tyranny.
I sat there watching the news from start to finish. I seen the tower fall unexpectedly behind the lady news reporter. I seen the bodies fall live on the TV. NO MORE DAMN IT. All these pin prick bombings will never kill all them creeps. We have to do to them as we did to the Nazis. Wipe them out from top to bottom, building to building. Root them out and kill them all with extreme prejudiced, every last one.
Every time I see a movie with the WTC towers in it, I say the same thing. I guess it got burned into my mind when I sat there that fateful morning watching as the events unfolded. Now the people of France may have such a memory every time they pass by or see Charlie Hebdo. That makes me sad for the French people.
It makes me further enraged at the extremists, fascist murders. It is bad enough I have such bad memories burned into my psyche, let alone it being further perpetrated upon others. I want forceful action taken to wipe these creeps off the face of our planet. Enough is enough.
I was an aircraft mechanic at the time of 9/11. Every aircraft in the United States was grounded. I lost my job 3 days later. It took 6 months before things recovered enough before I found another aircraft contract. My damages were small compared to some. Very small indeed. The thing is, how much are we going to allow ourselves to suffer these jerks? Full scale invasion and eradication of ISIS and Boko Haram, AlQueda on a scale not seen since WWII would suite me fine.
They want to make themselves a terror unto us? They don't know the meaning of the word terror. We haven't unleashed the dogs of war. Not even close. We have the means to unleash true terror, and we should be that to our enemies.
They act with impunity. They should tremble with fear at free people's might and rage over tyranny.
I sat there watching the news from start to finish. I seen the tower fall unexpectedly behind the lady news reporter. I seen the bodies fall live on the TV. NO MORE DAMN IT. All these pin prick bombings will never kill all them creeps. We have to do to them as we did to the Nazis. Wipe them out from top to bottom, building to building. Root them out and kill them all with extreme prejudiced, every last one.
Friday, January 9, 2015
All Muslims Are Not Terrorists!
BLAME THE TERRORISTS
The problem isn't the word. It isn't the culture. It is the stereotypes. People form stereotypes based on preconceived notions, and public perceptions. Muslims are not the only victims of such unenlightened thought.I have heard many times people say that atheists have no moral base because morals can only be derived from the belief in a god. Then I hear of terrorist Christians giving notes, or messages to teachers threatening death if they teach evolution. I've never heard of an Atheist threatening Christians for teaching Creationist theory. I'm not saying it never happens. I just haven't heard of it. If they did, I would call them terrorists.
Human beings in general are still an unenlightened species. Baser instincts and childish self interest rules most. People let other people feed them thought. That thought dictated by self interests. Like Rush Limbaugh, and the people who devour his hate mongering. He does it for money, and personal satisfaction.
I understand this young man's point, but think it is a problem that goes much deeper than just the labeling of all Muslims as terrorists. It is a problem of making stereotypes. I can think of many that are so idiotic.
All black persons are crooks.
All whites are prejudiced.
All Muslims are terrorists.
All Christians are anti-knowledge.
All Atheists are immoral.
All pit bull dogs are dangerous.
The list goes on, and on, and on. We all probably are guilty of behavior and thought like that. That is because we are all humans. Primitive of thought and action. Problems solved by punitive action first. Lashing out at that which we do not understand because of primitive fear.
Keep working to destroy the notion that Muslims are death dealing, intolerant ideologues. Do it from without and most importantly from within. Persons committing murderous acts then yelling "Allahu Akbar" don't help matters. Imams saying that it is proper to put a person to death for blasphemy doesn't help matters. Perhaps a stronger anti-violence stand is called for. The actions by the reasonable, peaceful Muslims doesn't seem to be enough to counter the radical thought of persons like Rush Limbaugh or Fox News, or who ever else has such a narrow point of view as to call all Muslims terrorists.
Limbaugh targets Muslim faith
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Charlie Hebdo Massacre Shows Logic and Reason Must Rule
Logic and reason must rule in the end. Feelings being hurt because of something said, or disagreement of thought is not good reason to do violence against persons. People doing violence in reaction to those things are displaying some of the most primitive human behaviors. It is illogical to act in such a manner, and does not promote the advancement of human kind. Anything that does not promote the advancement, happiness or well being of humans and their environment is immoral.
It seems like every time anything like this comes up, some people will try to blame all Islam for the actions of a few. Sometimes people who follow Islam will try to use the attitude of hateful Christians as an excuse for their own violence or to justify heinous acts. There are intolerant, primitive mind sets on both sides of the isle. Let me give you an example.
In Texas there was a school board who tried to get creationist text books into the biology class claiming they were an alternative theory to evolution. They call it "Intelligent Design". There was opposition to this because it was clear that it was a repackaging of Christian creation theology. Because of that opposition, some persons sent death threats to teachers and school board members warning them to not oppose the teaching of "Intelligent Design".
This is the very same kind of mind set displayed by the persons who attacked Charlie Hebdo, and killed persons expressing their free thought. It is the very same mind set and tactic used by groups like ISIS, or the KKK, the Spanish Inquisition or any other enemies of free will, and expression.
As an atheist, I find it refreshing to know that there are people of faith who are willing to live side by side, and peacefully with people who don't share their beliefs. I really do think the protectors of free thought, regardless of the religion they hold, do out number the oppressors. If that were not true we would still be worshiping the gods of 10,000 years ago. Christianity or Islam would not exist today without that most basic freedom.
| Freedom of thought and speech must be protected. Those two things are basic to the advancement of humanity. If humans did not tolerate free thought and speech, we would still be worshiping Baal, or any number of the thousands of gods humans have invented. We might even still be living in the harsh environment of our pre-technological past. |  |
It seems like every time anything like this comes up, some people will try to blame all Islam for the actions of a few. Sometimes people who follow Islam will try to use the attitude of hateful Christians as an excuse for their own violence or to justify heinous acts. There are intolerant, primitive mind sets on both sides of the isle. Let me give you an example.
In Texas there was a school board who tried to get creationist text books into the biology class claiming they were an alternative theory to evolution. They call it "Intelligent Design". There was opposition to this because it was clear that it was a repackaging of Christian creation theology. Because of that opposition, some persons sent death threats to teachers and school board members warning them to not oppose the teaching of "Intelligent Design".
This is the very same kind of mind set displayed by the persons who attacked Charlie Hebdo, and killed persons expressing their free thought. It is the very same mind set and tactic used by groups like ISIS, or the KKK, the Spanish Inquisition or any other enemies of free will, and expression.
As an atheist, I find it refreshing to know that there are people of faith who are willing to live side by side, and peacefully with people who don't share their beliefs. I really do think the protectors of free thought, regardless of the religion they hold, do out number the oppressors. If that were not true we would still be worshiping the gods of 10,000 years ago. Christianity or Islam would not exist today without that most basic freedom.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
100 Trillion Light Years Away a Duplicate Earth a Duplicate Life
Okay, There is a spooky interaction between particles that has been observed. I use the word spooky because Einstein called it that. Scientists have made quantum connections between photons giving two the same spin. When one photon is effected the other one reacts in the same manner as the one who has this spooky connection. This is entirely independent of distance between the two. They could be one foot, or one light year, or a billion light years apart, give one a left spin, and the other will take on the same trait immediately. Information seemingly going faster than the speed of light. That's why Einstein called it spooky. The scientific community calls it "Quantum Entanglement".
Anyway, it has been theorized that for every particle in the universe there is a quantum connection with a duplicate, somewhere. Because of that duplicate, it has also been theorized that this trait could cause whole duplicate objects on a macroscopic scale. Like for instance an entire duplicate Earth. Now because of random chance, and the fact that if something is possible in the universe, given enough time, that something will happen. Also because the universe is infinite, if you travel say 100 trillion light years away you might find a duplicate Earth. One with a duplicate me, and a duplicate you, and all the rest.
Hubble Ultra-Deep Field
Now to travel 100 trillion light years away even at the speed of light would take far longer than the universe has even been in existence. We could never travel that far away to find the duplicate. But what about 100 trillion years into the future time, instead of distance away? Since this spooky connection between particles is independent of distance, and it happens faster than the speed of light could it be independent of time as well? What if that means there are duplicate Earths in the far distant future 100 trillion years away?
What if when you see that light at the end of the tunnel when you die, what you see is the opening of the same vagina you already emerged from, except a quantum duplicate 100 trillion years into the future? Then you would live the life again, never knowing of the previous one you have lived countless times before. You would live the same life countless times into the far, far future, forever.
That brings up another point for me. A real reason to try my best to live an honorable, and good life. If I am stuck with living the same life over and again, forever, I want that forever to be a pleasant one. Or at least as pleasant as I can make it. I should try to make other people's lives pleasant too, because they are stuck with the same fate as everyone else, to live the same life over and again. Could you imagine what it must be like for evil people going around causing death and mayhem? Doing the same things over and over forever? To me that sounds like some kind of hell I would like to avoid.
I'll avoid that possible hell by living in peace. By doing good to them around me, forever. That sounds like some kind of heaven, one might say.
What if when you see that light at the end of the tunnel when you die, what you see is the opening of the same vagina you already emerged from, except a quantum duplicate 100 trillion years into the future? Then you would live the life again, never knowing of the previous one you have lived countless times before. You would live the same life countless times into the far, far future, forever.
That brings up another point for me. A real reason to try my best to live an honorable, and good life. If I am stuck with living the same life over and again, forever, I want that forever to be a pleasant one. Or at least as pleasant as I can make it. I should try to make other people's lives pleasant too, because they are stuck with the same fate as everyone else, to live the same life over and again. Could you imagine what it must be like for evil people going around causing death and mayhem? Doing the same things over and over forever? To me that sounds like some kind of hell I would like to avoid.
I'll avoid that possible hell by living in peace. By doing good to them around me, forever. That sounds like some kind of heaven, one might say.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Why We Should Legalize Marijuana in 2015
I live in Indiana so I'm going to focus on that state. This could apply to any state in the nation though, so just replace the word "Indiana" with your own state.
So why should Indiana legalize cannabis? What is the use of it? We'll compare Colorado's legalization with Indiana's non-legal status. First let's look at the current Indiana law dealing with marijuana. The text of these laws can be found at the following link. I'll be condensing it down as much as possible without taking away the meaning.
Lets look at the penalties involved with these laws.
Class A infraction = Sec. 4. (a) A judgment of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) may be entered for a violation constituting a Class A infraction.
According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, 12,850 people were arrested on marijuana possession charges in Indiana in 2010. (2010 is the latest figures I could find so far) That's 35 people hauled into the Indiana Court system every single day for something that would otherwise be legal in Colorado. All that costs the tax payers of Indiana a lot of money. Money that could be used for things like schools. It makes a drain on critical police resources that could be otherwise be used to fight the epidemic murder rate in places like Indianapolis. I can't turn on the evening news without a report of another murder almost every single day. Wouldn't our police and court system better serve the citizens by working on bringing violent offenders to justice rather than arresting peaceful pot smokers? Couldn't the vast amount of tax dollars our good citizens pay every year in taxes be better used to fight property crimes and real damage from real criminal activity? It is a huge waste of tax payer resources arresting, running them through the court system and housing in prisons persons involved with marijuana.
Marijuana Policy Project
On the first day of sales in Colorado, about half of the customers waiting in lengthy, orderly lines came from out-of-state. An online travel site noted that tourism to Denver is up about 10 percent
So why should Indiana legalize cannabis? What is the use of it? We'll compare Colorado's legalization with Indiana's non-legal status. First let's look at the current Indiana law dealing with marijuana. The text of these laws can be found at the following link. I'll be condensing it down as much as possible without taking away the meaning.
IC 35-48-4 Chapter 4. Offenses Relating to Controlled Substances
Currently under (IC = Indiana Code) IC 35-48-4-8.5 Version b, Dealing in paraphernalia effective 7-1-2014, Any person who keeps for sale, offers for sale, delivers, or finances the delivery of a raw material, an instrument, a device, or other object that is intended to be or that is designed or marketed to be used primarily for ingesting, inhaling marijuana, or otherwise introducing into the human body marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, a synthetic drug, or a controlled substance, or testing the strength, effectiveness, or purity of, or enhancing the effect of marijuana, or manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, or preparing marijuana, or diluting or adulterating marijuana commits a Class A infraction for dealing in paraphernalia. However, the offense is a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated judgment or conviction under this section.
Take note that this does not apply to: (2) Items marketed for or historically and customarily used in connection with the planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, or inhaling of tobacco or any other lawful substance.
Current law IC 35-48-4-10 Version b, Dealing in marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug effective 7-1-2014. Any person who knowingly or intentionally, manufactures, finances the manufacture of, delivers or finances the delivery of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, pure or adulterated, or possesses with intent to manufacture, finance the manufacture of, deliver, or finance the delivery of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, pure or adulterated commits dealing in marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, a Class A misdemeanor. The offense is a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior conviction for a drug offense and the amount of the drug involved is less than thirty (30) grams of marijuana, or less than two (2) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, or the amount of the drug involved is at least thirty (30) grams but less than ten (10) pounds of marijuana, or at least two (2) grams but less than three hundred (300) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug. The offense is a Level 5 felony if the person has a prior conviction for a drug dealing offense and the amount of the drug involved is at least thirty (30) grams but less than ten (10) pounds of marijuana, or at least two (2) grams but less than three hundred (300) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, or
the amount of the drug involved is at least ten (10) pounds of marijuana, or at least three hundred (300) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, or offense involved a sale to a minor.
Current law IC 35-48-4-11 Version b, Possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug effective 7-1-2014. Any person who knowingly or intentionally possesses (pure or adulterated) marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug knowingly or intentionally grows or cultivates marijuana, or knowing that marijuana is growing on the person's premises, fails to destroy the marijuana plants, commits possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, a Class B misdemeanor. The offense described in subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor if the person has a prior conviction for a drug offense. The offense described in subsection (a) is a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior conviction for a drug offense and the person possesses at least thirty (30) grams of marijuana, or at least two (2) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug.
Current law IC 35-48-4-10 Version b, Dealing in marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug effective 7-1-2014. Any person who knowingly or intentionally, manufactures, finances the manufacture of, delivers or finances the delivery of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, pure or adulterated, or possesses with intent to manufacture, finance the manufacture of, deliver, or finance the delivery of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, pure or adulterated commits dealing in marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, a Class A misdemeanor. The offense is a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior conviction for a drug offense and the amount of the drug involved is less than thirty (30) grams of marijuana, or less than two (2) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, or the amount of the drug involved is at least thirty (30) grams but less than ten (10) pounds of marijuana, or at least two (2) grams but less than three hundred (300) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug. The offense is a Level 5 felony if the person has a prior conviction for a drug dealing offense and the amount of the drug involved is at least thirty (30) grams but less than ten (10) pounds of marijuana, or at least two (2) grams but less than three hundred (300) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, or
the amount of the drug involved is at least ten (10) pounds of marijuana, or at least three hundred (300) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, or offense involved a sale to a minor.
Current law IC 35-48-4-11 Version b, Possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug effective 7-1-2014. Any person who knowingly or intentionally possesses (pure or adulterated) marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug knowingly or intentionally grows or cultivates marijuana, or knowing that marijuana is growing on the person's premises, fails to destroy the marijuana plants, commits possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug, a Class B misdemeanor. The offense described in subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor if the person has a prior conviction for a drug offense. The offense described in subsection (a) is a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior conviction for a drug offense and the person possesses at least thirty (30) grams of marijuana, or at least two (2) grams of hash oil, hashish, salvia, or a synthetic drug.
Lets look at the penalties involved with these laws.
Class A infraction = Sec. 4. (a) A judgment of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) may be entered for a violation constituting a Class A infraction.
Class A misdemeanor = IC 35-50-3-2 Class A misdemeanor
Sec. 2. A person who commits a Class A misdemeanor shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of not more than one (1) year; in addition, he may be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.8. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.124.
Sec. 2. A person who commits a Class A misdemeanor shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of not more than one (1) year; in addition, he may be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.8. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.124.
Level 5 felony = IC 35-50-2-6 Version b Class C felony; Level 5 felony
(c) A person who commits a Level 5 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of between one (1) and six (6) years, with the advisory sentence being two (2) years. In addition, the person may be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Level 6 felony = IC 35-50-2-7 Version c Class D felony; Level 6 felony
(b) A person who commits a Level 6 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of between six (6) months and two and one-half (2 1/2) years, with the advisory sentence being one (1) year. In addition, the person may be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Okay there you have it. All this law and penalties for possession, distribution, manufacturing and use of a substance that if you went to Colorado the police would turn there heads as you've not broken the law. The way I understand the Indiana law, if I even took pencil and paper and drew a picture of a devise I might build for using marijuana it would be against the law. If there was 50 acres of wild marijuana growing on my property, and I knew about it, and did not destroy it I could be charged. It would cost a lot of money to destroy that much marijuana growing. Perhaps if something like that did happen I should weigh the costs of destroying verses being convicted.
"Full on legalization would be like giving up the fight, said Sheriff Eric Williams. But he said putting people in jail automatically for every minor drug offense is not the answer either."
I think this line of thought is incorrect. Full on legalization would be more like admitting the total failure of a policy born from deceit and prejudice. I see nothing wrong with turning around and going the other way when one realizes they were incorrect. In my mind that stands out as honorable.
There is a better way to do things in Indiana. Indiana should just admit the failure of the current mind set concerning marijuana. Every person of reason would applaud the legislature for abandoning the short sighted, 20th century vendetta against this product. A vendetta that has cost our nation hundreds of billions of dollars in wasted resources and lost revenue.
Let's look at Colorado and see what benefits have been obtained by the citizens of that state by their legalization of marijuana for adult consumption. This data is from the Marijuana policy Project. All data and references can be found here.
Economic Impacts of Colorado’s State-Legal Marijuana Industry
Marijuana Policy Project
P.O. Box 77492
Washington DC 20013
(202)462-5747
Info@mpp.org
www.mpp.org
Marijuana has been legal in Colorado for adults 21 and older to use, possess, and cultivate since voters approved Amendment 64 in November 2012. This policy change has already significantly reduced the law enforcement resources required to enforce marijuana laws. Between 2012 and 2013, in Colorado, the number of marijuana cases filed in state courts plummeted 77%. The number of petty marijuana possession charges fell 81%.
However, the most dramatic effects of Amendment 64 did not appear until January 1, 2014, when the first legal, licensed, recreational marijuana stores opened their doors. On the first day alone, with only two-dozen stores open, the industry reported profits of more than $1 million. Within the first week, those profits had risen to nearly $5 million. The first three months of adult marijuana sales netted Colorado approximately $7.3 million in taxes with tax revenues increasing monthly.
Monthly revenues have been far lower than what were expected with new stores ramping up. A total of 197 stores have been granted state licenses, but several of them are not able to open yet because they are awaiting local approval, or because they do not have a sufficient supply of marijuana. Several stores that are open reported rationing marijuana to meet demand. Despite this, the total state tax revenue from medical and retail marijuana sales in FY 2014 is projected to total about $100 million.
The legislation to tax and regulate marijuana being debated in the Rhode Island Legislature has a different tax structure than the measure passed in Colorado. The Marijuana Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act proposes excise taxes of $50 per ounce on marijuana flowers and $10 per ounce on stems and leaves sold at the wholesale level. In Colorado, that tax is 15% per ounce. The static excise tax allows for more predictable revenue because it is not dependent on price. For example, an ounce in Colorado is currently sold for anywhere between $280-5608 and continues to fluctuate as the market adjusts to the demand.
In addition to tax revenue, the regulated marijuana industry in Colorado is boosting the local economy by creating jobs, both directly related to the industry and in ancillary sectors. As of May 1, 2014, the Marijuana Enforcement Division had issued 9,641 employee badges, which are required for everyone directly handling marijuana. These positions include retail assistants at dispensaries and trimmers and growers at cultivation facilities. New marijuana businesses also require lawyers, accountants, construction workers, electricians, landlords, security, insurance, transportation, and growing equipment suppliers.
since January 1. Increased tourism and the newly legal status of marijuana certainly are not hurting real estate, either. PricewaterhouseCoopers recently ranked Denver one of the top commercial real estate markets nationwide. In fact, more families are moving to the Denver metro area, leading to a record-breaking number of single-family homes sold in 2013 (more than during the housing boom). Even former opponents of legalization, such as the Denver Chamber of Commerce, have conceded that the legal marijuana industry has been an economic boon.
Finally, a recent study by the University of Colorado – Denver, which had hypothesized that dispensaries would change the neighborhoods surrounding them for the worse and create more crime, actually found that medical marijuana dispensaries impacted neighborhoods no more than coffee shops. An older study from California found that crime actually decreases around medical marijuana centers, in part due to the increased security camera surveillance, as well as security guards at some shops. In fact, overall property crime rates for the four months since marijuana businesses began selling to adults 21 and over in Denver were down 11.4% from where they were during the same period last year; violent crime rates are down 5.6%.
In conclusion, the legal marijuana market has already had a positive impact on Colorado by reducing the number of marijuana-related arrests, generating tens of millions in tax revenue in the first year alone, and boosting direct and collateral economic sectors.
Finally, a recent study by the University of Colorado – Denver, which had hypothesized that dispensaries would change the neighborhoods surrounding them for the worse and create more crime, actually found that medical marijuana dispensaries impacted neighborhoods no more than coffee shops. An older study from California found that crime actually decreases around medical marijuana centers, in part due to the increased security camera surveillance, as well as security guards at some shops. In fact, overall property crime rates for the four months since marijuana businesses began selling to adults 21 and over in Denver were down 11.4% from where they were during the same period last year; violent crime rates are down 5.6%.
In conclusion, the legal marijuana market has already had a positive impact on Colorado by reducing the number of marijuana-related arrests, generating tens of millions in tax revenue in the first year alone, and boosting direct and collateral economic sectors.
Indiana could use some of that kind of economic growth. I see houses all over the place in Indiana that have been sitting around unsold for years. Prime example is Gary Indiana. That place has turned into a crime infested, crumbling place of abandonment ever since the steel industry went belly up. There are no jobs there. Why not legalize marijuana and turn it into a tourist mecca? Look at all the jobs that would create. Instead of urban flight, there would be urban renewal.
I think Colorado has taught our nation an important lesson. That being that there is no good to come from marijuana criminalization. That there are many benefits from the legalization and taxation of cannabis. One of the benefits would be that people would quit looking at Indiana as some kind of backwards, corn fed Hicksville. You should know that is the impression a lot of people nation wide have of our state. People Say that marijuana will be legalized in Indiana one day, but we will be the last state to do it. Now that is just messed up. That sounds like stubborn hard-headedness that doesn't have to be.
Let 2015 be the year Indiana turns this around so all or our citizens can reap the rewards of a progressive policy concerning marijuana. Let Indiana not be the backwater state who comes in last in the realization of these bountiful harvests. Get on board with this. Write your legislature, and tell them you want marijuana legal in the state of Indiana and nation wide.
95-Year-Old Newlywed Dies After Wife Taken Away
This is so sweet: <3
“He lived for her, and she lived for him. It's the love story of the century,” Wright said, recalling how they would dance, take walks and care for each other."
...and enraging at the same time.
"Another of Hill's daughters, Patricia Barber, contested the marriage, saying it would complicate the eventual distribution of Hill's estate."
Two people in the last years of their lives finding happiness, and all anyone cares about is money. They didn't care about these two people in love. They only cared about themselves. They didn't look towards these two sweet persons happiness. They only looked for their death. :(
I tell you what. If I ever get that old, and if I ever find love again, I hope people will love me enough to let it be. I hope I have nothing of value if that ever comes. Then they won't have anything to fight over. Then the vultures won't care, and will let it be.
“He lived for her, and she lived for him. It's the love story of the century,” Wright said, recalling how they would dance, take walks and care for each other."
...and enraging at the same time.
"Another of Hill's daughters, Patricia Barber, contested the marriage, saying it would complicate the eventual distribution of Hill's estate."
Two people in the last years of their lives finding happiness, and all anyone cares about is money. They didn't care about these two people in love. They only cared about themselves. They didn't look towards these two sweet persons happiness. They only looked for their death. :(
I tell you what. If I ever get that old, and if I ever find love again, I hope people will love me enough to let it be. I hope I have nothing of value if that ever comes. Then they won't have anything to fight over. Then the vultures won't care, and will let it be.
NBC Link 95-Year-Old Newlywed Dies After Wife Taken Away
Happy New Year Humans 2015
| Happy New Year Humans. I am James Parks Jr, author of the Humans blog. Thanks for reading my blog. I'll try to keep offering up interesting commentary, and to look at issues with a different eye than most. My only agenda is that which advances the human condition. Anything other than that is of questionable value. I'll try to keep the fog of ignorance at bay, mine and theirs. |  |
Now we've got a whole new year to make the best of. I'll just keep on trying my human best. Living and loving, and all the other wide spectrum of what it means to be a human being. I'll embrace the good, and try hard to recognize the bad so I can maybe change that. I don't have any power except that of words. Hopefully that will be enough for all of us. A wise man once said that the pen is mightier than the sword. I hope I don't run out of ink. The ink of logic and reason. I value those two things most.
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