Gays and Bigotry

big·ot - a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance


I hear this term thrown around a lot in regards to people who don't support gay marriage or gay lifestyles.  It's a cop-out by people who can't have a reasonable conversation and reduce themselves to name calling.  A bigot, according to the Marriam-Webster dictionary, is someone who treats members of a group of people with hatred or intolerance.  This does NOT describe the anti-gay marriage groups that I know.  There are several types of anti-gay marriage people that I know...

1. Supports the gay lifestyle, but thinks marriage is between a man and a woman.
2. Believes that the gay lifestyle is wrong and unnatural, but supports their rights as individuals to live their life the way they want to.
3. Doesn't support homosexuality and thinks it is wrong and damaging to society.
4. Hates homosexuality and anyone who supports it.

For the most part, the people that I know are #1 and #2.  I am aware of some #3s, but none of these are technically 'bigots'.  The only people that can be classified as bigots in the list above are #4s.  These people refuse to listen to reason, as the definition states, and choose to hate.

So next time someone says that they don't support gay marriage, try to listen to their reason for it instead of reducing yourself to childish name calling.  It shows your ignorance.

Defending Yourself and Your Family

In Lavaca County, Texas a man found the most horrific scene that I think I could imagine.  A man was raping his child.  This rapist had been invited to the father's home and took advantage of his sweet, innocent child.  The father, enraged by what he had seen, threw the man off of his daughter and began beating him in the head and neck.  When he stopped, he realized that the rapist may die and he called 911, frantically begging for help.  He had no intention of killing him, and yet the rapist died.


I think most of us would agree with the grand jury, in that the father was not at fault.  He was not charged and was found that he was just in defending his daughter.  You can read the story here.


This is a perfect example of defending your family.  You have the right to defend yourself and your family.  Any judge or jury in their right mind, and without alternative motives, would understand and defend that.  As disappointing as it is that a life is lost, they made that choice.  You did not force them to attack you or your family.  They are deciding to take the chance of losing their life.

“Home intruders are terrorists without a political agenda.” SGT Sanford Strong

The Me Culture

We live in a world of instant gratification, trophies and awards for everyone, and very few take responsibility for their actions.  This culture is one in which everyone thinks they are owed something.  I deserve to be a music star, I deserve to be rich, I deserve a better spouse, I deserve a nicer car, and so on.  No, you don't.  If you deserved it, then you would have it.  You have to work for what you have and you haven't done enough, obviously.


The video below is a teacher at a high school giving a speech at graduation.  It is a perfect speech that all high school students should have to listen to.  You are NOT special.  Get over it and make something of yourself.

Independence

"Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing." - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead

The quote above sums up my beliefs on independence and I think it would be a great message to drive home to our children.  I'll break down this quote into 3 parts to explain what each means to me...

To Ask Nothing

If you are truly independent than you don't need to ask for help.  This includes help from the Government, parents, friends, etc.  There are way too many people in this country that just ask, ask, ask, and ask for more.  "Give me health care!" "Give us food!" "Give us money!"  This is a very dangerous way of thinking and will be our demise.

To Expect Nothing

This supports the first statement in that not only do you not ask for anything, you don't expect it either.  Live your life and be yourself!  Stop waiting on someone else to come along and fix your problems!  Get out there and make something for yourself!

To Depend On Nothing

Dependence is for children and those who physically cannot care for themselves.  It's OK for those to be dependent.  It is NOT OK for you to be dependent if you are physically capable of working.  Get off your lazy butt, decide that you are going to be your own person, and go make something of yourself.

Celebrate independence by BEING independent!

Guns and Gun Control

"...Any gun in the hands of a bad man is a bad thing..." -Charleton Heston

Another one of my favorite sayings is "guns don't kill people".  There has been a political movement for years that has tried to put the blame for gun violence on guns, instead of the people carrying out the violence.  This has always baffled me and made absolutely no sense.  Do they want to be more European?  Is this in an effort to hurt gun makers?

If guns are to blame, then why not blame knives, hands, bats, cars, or any other tools that are used as a murder weapon?  Is it because guns are the most popular tool used in a murder?

Let's say the Government did take away your rights to bear arms.  What would happen?  Some would give up there guns to obey the new law.  Some would rebel and keep their guns.  Some wouldn't be affected because they never owned a gun to begin with.  But what about the "bad" people?  What about those people that are planning to kill, steal, rape, etc?  Do you think that they will obey the new law?  Do you think that they will think "I'm gonna rob someone at knife point from now on since guns are illegal"?  But what about the "good" people that are being killed, stolen from, or raped?  The Government took away their means of protection.  So now the possibility of being killed by an armed robber just increased.

My point is that blaming guns for violence is like blaming a fork for getting food into your mouth. It's just a tool and if you don't get it then you're a tool too.

Greed

"Greed is good." - Gordon Gekko

The world has gone crazy with the notion that the "rich" are somehow taking all of the money that is left.  This never has been and never will be the case.  One of the things that I love about this country is that every man has the power to be who and what he wants to be.

If you want to be a greedy business man, then there's a place for you.  If you want to be a philanthropist, then there's a place for you.  If you want to be a common man without much to call your own other than your home and family, then there's definitely a place for you.

You see, America is a place where you have the opportunity to be yourself.  Start a business, partner with someone to start a business, work your way to a manager's position, be a professional athlete, be an actor, and much more!  The possibilities are endless!  Why?  Because in a capitalistic nation, the possibilities will always be there.  Need a car?  Need a house?  Need food?  Need clothing?  Need a job?  Capitalism provides ALL of this without punishing anyone.  Yes, we all pay taxes, but that is for a different post.  Taxes are necessary, but can be used to put a strangle on innovation, moral, excellence, drive, etc.

When you go to work, school, church, the park, or wherever you travel, look around you.  That was built, not by the government, but by capitalism, innovation, and a drive for excellence.  Be thankful.

The Greatest Generation

The Greatest Generation is a term, penned by Tom Brokaw, that describes the generation that was born in the early 1900s.  They were the greatest generation because they were faced with the seemingly impossible challenge of fighting a global war in Europe and the Pacific.  The enemy was clear.  The goal was clear.  The sacrifices were clear.  They stepped up to the plate in a way that few, if any, generations have ever done.

A great example of this generation are my grandparents.  My grandfather on my dad's side served in WW2 and my grandfather on my mom's side served in the national guard several years later.  My grandfather on my dad's side was a cook in the air force.  He met my grandmother before going off to war and married her when he returned.  Both of these men are the kindest, gentlest, wisest men you may ever meet.  They are real men.  They tell it how it is and they don't believe in being politically correct.  They can identify a goal and stick to it until it's done.  They love their families and will do anything for them.