Cold As Ice

 There have been many events recently, in the world, the nation, the state, my city that constantly remind me of a quote from one of my favorite books: “…nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change…” - Douglas Adams, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish

With that, why can’t we actually just not be shitty to one another? I was sitting in a church today with my family listening to the readings. The overwhelming theme of the readings today boiled down to “Love thy neighbor as you love yourself.” I cannot help but to look over in the bench and see someone that I happen to know for a fact is a racist bigot and I just sigh in exasperation, because that person thinks they are a legitimately good person. 

Many things have happened locally this week. ICE has been very active in my city this last week. One of my best friends told me on Thursday that ICE took their dad earlier in the week. Yes, they released him later on in the day, but that doesn’t change the fact that they did it. My understanding of the situation based on what I’ve read is thus: A woman (the woman in question said this while being interviewed) that she noticed ICE following her as she pulled out of her driveway in a painter’s van. She stopped for gas. They saw my friend’s father and took him instead. Is there more to the story? Maybe so, maybe no. But that is my understanding.

So summary? Literally grabbed him off the street. No checks, no nothing. Hispanic? Yes. Legally here? Also yes. Presumed reason based on what I‘ve read? Looking Hispanic may have been enough. From what I read about the situation, they were actually following someone else in a painter’s van. She stopped somewhere, they saw him and decided to grab him. Based (presumably) on appearance alone.

                                                 Racial Profiling - A government or law enforcement activity that targets a suspect or group of suspects based solely on their race.

Again, is there more? Maybe so, maybe no. Imagine going to work and being followed based solely on what you are driving. Imagine (in this case) watching someone else get picked up after you stop, or even getting picked up yourself. Again, based on what you are driving. Just because your work vehicle puts you on someone’s radar. Why does a construction-oriented van do that? Statistics. And here's the part that really gets me: my friend's father wasn't driving a work van. He was trying to put gas in something like a blue sedan from a Korean manufacturer. You know, that thing that's a dime a dozen.

This grabbing people off the street based on how they look, well…That’s racial profiling to me.  That bothers me. That bothers me a lot. My friend is here legally. Has a legal status of some sort, but is terrified to leave their home in order to do things like go to work, go to the grocery store, make sure their child is taken care of. I learned a lot this week. Among the things that I learned is that “there’s an app for that.” An app to show where ICE activity is.

As I said to my friend, “I love that there is an app and it is helpful, I hate that we live in a world where that app needs to exist.” 

That doesn’t change the fact that my friend is scared to leave the house to live their life though. How does a country that purports “…liberty and justice for all!” end up in this situation? I realize that nothing about this country was ever perfect, and I realize that “liberty and justice for some” is what it always meant. I realize that we’ve made great progress getting closer to “for all” rather than “for some.” I understand that we still have a long way to go. I also think that there are too many people who think that our current capitalistic society and so called democratic government are stumbling blocks in that path. But are they really? Or is it just people (like myself, I’ll admit) that are sitting on the sidelines being silently outraged. I guess standing on the curb, filming and posting on social media in the hopes that their video will bring justice, or at least a clearer picture of events is at least attempting to do something.

Who is actually out here doing the work? Abbie Hoffman is gone. I don’t think there are many people these days in the mold of ‘60s and ‘70s activists that are willing to get their hands dirty? Typing into the void that is social media only goes so far. Even using ALL CAPS WHEN YOU TYPE ONLY GOES SO FAR, to be honest. I don’t know how the ICE protesting actually goes, but it SEEMS LIKE every time one of those makes the news, it ends up with some form of gun violence in the street. Sometimes the protesters are portrayed to be doing something foolish, other times not so much. I realize this is what the information age has morphed into…A constant stream of always on opinion pieces. I also understand that this is an opinion piece.

I hate that I am surrounded with people who think that immigration of all sorts, legal or otherwise, should be outlawed in all its forms.

I wish the system was much more fair to everyone. I wish that ICE wouldn’t just grab people off the street based on how they look. They should work within the actual rules set of the rest of the criminal justice system. Stop for an issue, check ID, run legit information, make a decision based on actual, established facts. Are there bad people that are crossing the borders? Yes. Do the good outweigh the bad? I’m going to venture to say also yes. But here’s the thing…We live in a world where the only things we hear about are the bad.

Why is that? Are there no good people coming to the country in a legal way? Are the good ones just quiet and not noteworthy? Are the bad ones only being used to push an agenda? My friend is a good person who appears to be here legally, so I know that part is true. My friend and their family appear to be quiet people who don’t want to make trouble. I don’t know. I wish there was a more modern and streamlined process for citizenship but I suspect that won’t even matter in the end if you still look like what they are looking for.

And that’s really the crux of it, isn’t it? 

What you look like.

How does the phrase go? You can’t judge a book by looking at the cover?

I could keep going, but I probably shouldn’t. I will say that my political views tend to lean more toward center of the road common sense. Please keep the guns and drugs out of my neighborhood (without turning it into a race war). If you’re going to take my money in the form of taxes, please give me decent roads to drive on. But we can’t even do that.

Oh mommy
I ain't no commie
I'm just doing what I can to live the good all American...Way
It says right there in the constitution
It's really A ok to have a revolution
When the leaders that you choose
Really don't fit the shoes

But here we are. I’m not preaching revolution or overthrowing the government, but I would venture to say that the system needs an overhaul. Across the board.
 

Who You're Gonna Love By Your Lover

I am surrounded by extremes.

From a political standpoint, at any rate. 

I hate it.

Xenophobic racists on one side, America hating Americans on another.

Me in the middle.

When did this country become a country of extremists for one side or the other? Answer: I really don't think it is. I think we are just seeing online what the content driving algorithms feed us. When I was younger, I felt like most people were l basically, politically anyway, in the middle. I feel like the parties catered to that. Now there are extremists all over social media, algorithms are driving traffic, and a few seconds spent trying to decide what fresh he'll turns into a view. Then a hundred, then a thousand, than a million. Someone sees that and says 4 million views? This is what the people like, so let's shift to the other end of the spectrum.

Blah.

In The End It's Right

I had plans. I had the vague outline of an post laid out in my head, but I've since forgotten what it was to be about.

Possibly digital fish or a pink unicorn.

Could have been shoes or ships or sealing wax.

Might have been a General.

Or cabbages and kings.

Kings...I think it had something to do with the State of the Union, but i don't remember. Something about wishing someone would admit to breaking it so we can go about fixing it.

But I really cannot remember. 

We Won't Get Fooled Again

When The Leaders That You Choose Really Don't Fit The Shoes

Happy Election Day!  Here is the last (hopefully, but unlikely) of the political posts for the season.  This does, however, make the end of the stuff out of America: The Book.

It's Really A Ok To Have A Revolution

Okay kids, time to review what we have learned about elections!

 

It Says Right There In The Constitution

Part two of the elections chapter from America: The Book:

 

I'm Just Doing What I Can To Live The Good All American...Way

It Says Right There In The Constitution That It's Really A Ok To Have A Revolution...

You know, it's interesting.

All of the school shootings that have happened recently.  It is hard to turn a blind eye to it, regardless of where you are, but it is even harder when it happens so very close to home.

Does something need to be done to curb this?  Yes. Most certainly yes. Have we hit on the right answer yet? Unlikely.

I know that the answer lies somewhere between "a polite sign" and "federalize the National Guard, and post armed soldiers in every school and federal building" to "ban all guns...Ban them right now!"

This is the United States we live in. We have this wonderful(ish?) government that is supposed to roll with the will of the people.  Problem is the people don't actually do a lot of voting for the offices that actually matter so we end up with, for lack of a better term, lifers who are in it for the money.

That is a problem.  A problem that only we can change!

They Asked Us To Stay For Tea And Have Some Fun

With regard to my last post. I did not vote for the man. Nor did I vote for Hillary or Gary. I voted for the person who I felt was best for the job that was actually running. I was fully aware that my candidate of choice was not going to win. I was tired of the "a vote for a 3rd party is a vote for Hillary" rhetoric from the one side and "a vote for a 3rd party is a vote for Trump" rhetoric on the other. I feel that a vote for one of the two main candidtates just to keep the other out of office is a wasted vote. I also feel that a vote for a candidate that you do not feel is ideal for the job is a wasted vote. Is he my ideal president? No. But you are not going to see me chanting and protesting about it. You're not going to see me moving to Canada or Mexico or anywhere. I am not disparaging anyone for who they voted for. I am glad if your guy won, I am sorry if your gal/guy lost. That is what should make our system work. Diversity. We are a diverse nation, and we deserve a diverse government, but we'll see what happens. I, for one, will wait patiently for the next election and hope that America has woken up enough to be truly outraged and present the 2020 election with several outstanding, well qualified candidates. You will see me holding out hope for that day, but you probably won't see me holding my breath.

Look Man, Come Down Here

How does a vote for a 3rd party equal a vote for Hillary if voting for a 3rd party equals a vote for Trump at the same time? I feel like a vote for a candidate I cannot fathom trusting is a wasted vote. Because by that logic voting for a 3rd party means my vote is doubled and I voted twice? I don't get it.But I guess that is none of my business?

Just Repeat To Yourself It's Just A Show

 

This totally needs to happen.

Haters Gonna Hate

Seriously now America, how did we get so far off course that our "mainstream" presidental candidates are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? I heard Kanye is looking for a presidential bid in 2020, just on the off chance that we don't figure it out before then. No. Wait. Don't answer that.

Haven’t You Heard It’s A Battle Of Words

Dear Founding Fathers, I apologize for the mess we have made of all your hard work and sacrifice. I sincerely hope that the force of you all spinning in your graves does not mess up the orbit or rotation of our planet. This is going to get long and rambley now and I don't really apologize for it. Let us start with the difficult one first: Pro Choice. The belief that it is okay to end a human life no matter what the age simply because it inconveniences you as a result of not being responsible for your actions. Keep in mind you are making the choice to deprive another human of THAT EXACT SAME RIGHT. To which I ask: What gives you the right to make that decision. I am not singling out women. It does take two people to make a baby. This is a thing that there is no question about. Why is it so hard to be responsible for our actions and be responsible for the consequences if we mess something up? I realize there are times where bad decisions are made by only one party (i.e. rape), and I know that the aftermath is a truly horrible thing to endure. I have met victims, I have heard about how terrible it is, but by the same token isn't depriving another human being the right to exist based simply on who his or her parents are just as much of a crime? There is help out there and we should not be ashamed to seek it out if we need it. Part of the problem comes with how we raise our children to behave and respect themselves and others. Part of the problem is not holding ourselves accountable for our actions. What do we need to do to make America great again? Vote for a loud man in a trucker hat? Vote for a socialist who makes ten times as much money as I do but pays five percent less taxes on it (while riding on a motto that everyone pays their fair share!)? Vote for a woman who basically says four more years of status quo? Remember. The president is not a magical being who can make your life better simply by getting elected. I'm still super stoked about working for a small business that does not employ enough people to A-Be required to offer health insurance and B-Not be able to do it affordability if they did, therefore I get fined $300+ for being too poor to procure it myself, but go team America. This is what we signed up for 8 years ago. What do we need to do to make America great again? We need to vote for lawmakers who actually make sense. Congressmen and Senators who will stick to the principles they are elected on, not the principles of whoever slides a briefcase full of cash under a table at dinner one evening. The idea that our president is elected from a wide open field of...Two people every four years? Whatever happened to the dream that anyone can grow up to be president? Why do we feel the need to believe that all human opinion and belief falls under a two color rainbow? What happened to common sense? Seriously America...I think we all need to go sit in a corner and think about what we did for a little while.

Forward He Cried From The Rear

This seems pertinent more so now than ever...

It’s Not What We Would Choose To Do

I work for a small business that cannot afford to contribute to any sort of health insurance for their employees and I do not make enough money to afford any sort of crappy coverage on my own. So here is a rhetorical question: Why is it going to cost me over $800 in fines to be a poor small business employee? Seriously. I want someone to explain this to me in a logical sort of way. Preferably with facts (not opinions) to back this up.

We Are Marching

Socialism is on my mind right now... I realize how this is going to make me look, but is this really what is best for America? I started thinking about this after seeing the CNN video where they asked 3 Bernie Sanders supporters to define Socialism. I understand that it was 3 people, and CNN is putting the spin on it that they want to, but the lesson I'm taking from this is that the majority of Americans these days don't think, they just go with what sounds good. I know that after November someone will be making and posting a meme of Padme from Star Wars using her line "So this is how liberty dies...With thunderous applause." So here we go, America... Let's prove that we have common sense. I challenge us all (myself included) to actually understand the candidates who are running for office. Understand what they stand for. Understand what they are trying to accomplish. Understand the office itself. I'm not telling you who to vote for. I never will. I just hope we all make informed decisions. *Edit* Here are two lists. Added to help with the decision making process. What the President CAN do: make treaties with the approval of the Senate. veto bills and sign bills. represent our nation in talks with foreign countries. enforce the laws that Congress passes. act as Commander-in-Chief during a war. call out troops to protect our nation against an attack. make suggestions about things that should be new laws. lead his political party. entertain foreign guests. recognize foreign countries. grant pardons. nominate Cabinet members and Supreme Court Justices and other high officials. appoint ambassadors. talk directly to the people about problems. represent the best interest of all the people What the President CANNOT do: make laws. declare war. decide how federal money will be spent. interpret laws. choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval. This was taken from the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/teacher_lessons/3branches/17.htm Also, I have included the Merriam-Webster definition of "Socialism" below, so you can not sound like a fool if CNN decides to ask you to define socialism too!