Salvete.
You know what I love about Thanksgiving? The giving of thanks to God, the communion with family, the history behind the day, the football, and, of course, the pumpkin pie.
As the years go by, it seems like Thanksgiving is becoming more and more "modern." Honestly, who gives thanks to God? Society is trying to put a big, black tarp between us and God, and atheists are multiplying by the second. It's no longer cool or smart to be a Christian. To society, religion has become a fad, like a sign of the zodiac or favorite color. It should be shameful to see God's reputation on Earth get dragged through the mud.
Family's going out of the picture too. What film in recent years has not put parents under the bus? Teenagers are being taught that your parents know little to nothing about you, and that the best thing for you to do is to cut all ties with them- except, of course, for your use of their insurance and car. Online communication has rapidly replaced in-person communication. The family unit has all but dissolved.
Then there's the problem with history. It used to be that pilgrims lived in peace and harmony with the Indians, and the Thanksgiving feast was a symbol of the good times they had. Now, the story goes that greedy, imperialist pilgrims came over, trashed the landscape, and wiped out the Native Americans with their biggest weapon, smallpox. My, how the times have changed.
Has anybody heard about the most recent news in football? I can't expect a single answer; there's just been too much news. Football players are becoming Kim Kardashians: political, easily offended, and gossipy. It's not that I don't like watching football; it's just that I want football, not some sort of extraneous garbage. No profession should be like this.
So what's left of Thanksgiving? A meaningless day off, kind of like Cesar Chavez Day. All of the good stuff has been sucked out. No wonder people start talking about Christmas weeks before Thanksgiving. That's the reason why there is Black Friday.
Well, at least there's pumpkin pie.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Offending People: Part 1
Salvete.
A couple Sundays ago I was attending church like I usually do. Every week there is a "get to know you," question, That day, the sermon topic was the environment, and the question was "What would you like to see out your window?" Most people wrote answers like Yosemite or some other nature/hobby place. Being the stereotypical conservative I was, I put down "coal mining facilities" as a joke. I got lectured to, and I eventually threw the nametag away. It got me thinking: why should offensive things be social faux pas? Our Constitution allows us to say whatever we want, but that doesn't stop American society from running over anyone with an offensive comment. What's the matter with our nation? What good is there with shutting people up? There is no difference in the eyes of justice between offensive speech and pacified speech, so why should there be any social difference?
It frustates me when I want to voice my opinion. Either I cannot because "it's not the time" (it's never the time for politics), or I get drowned out if I do. People say that they merely don't like politics, and the conversation ends as quickly as it started. The only political debates that are acceptable are linked with Democratic Party lines: gay rights, for instance. Guess what? I don't want for people to be gay. I can't express my opinion, however, because I'm shut out if I do. How dare you, America. You're better than this.
A couple Sundays ago I was attending church like I usually do. Every week there is a "get to know you," question, That day, the sermon topic was the environment, and the question was "What would you like to see out your window?" Most people wrote answers like Yosemite or some other nature/hobby place. Being the stereotypical conservative I was, I put down "coal mining facilities" as a joke. I got lectured to, and I eventually threw the nametag away. It got me thinking: why should offensive things be social faux pas? Our Constitution allows us to say whatever we want, but that doesn't stop American society from running over anyone with an offensive comment. What's the matter with our nation? What good is there with shutting people up? There is no difference in the eyes of justice between offensive speech and pacified speech, so why should there be any social difference?
It frustates me when I want to voice my opinion. Either I cannot because "it's not the time" (it's never the time for politics), or I get drowned out if I do. People say that they merely don't like politics, and the conversation ends as quickly as it started. The only political debates that are acceptable are linked with Democratic Party lines: gay rights, for instance. Guess what? I don't want for people to be gay. I can't express my opinion, however, because I'm shut out if I do. How dare you, America. You're better than this.
Nuke 'Em: The Nuclear Option and What It Means
Salvete. Yes, it is a little late, but the nuclear option is something I believe we should discuss for weeks, well past Thanksgiving.
So why is the nuclear option important? Well, in essence, it prevents the 51% from rolling over the 49%. People are saying that, while this is supported and passed by a Democrat base, the big change would promote the Republican Party, and so the Democrats are doing Republicans a huge favor and blah, blah, blah.
It seems like nobody is realizing the big picture. Sure, Republicans could win the next election, but in the long run? The deal is far better for the Democratic Party, especially since they have historically been more likely to cheat to the top. Even if it's true, this debate shows that Republicans will side with the Constitution and traditional laws, even if it means that the party is worse off. That is the true mark of a representative.
I hope people start to see this. Oh wait, Thanksgiving's in two days. Great.
So why is the nuclear option important? Well, in essence, it prevents the 51% from rolling over the 49%. People are saying that, while this is supported and passed by a Democrat base, the big change would promote the Republican Party, and so the Democrats are doing Republicans a huge favor and blah, blah, blah.
It seems like nobody is realizing the big picture. Sure, Republicans could win the next election, but in the long run? The deal is far better for the Democratic Party, especially since they have historically been more likely to cheat to the top. Even if it's true, this debate shows that Republicans will side with the Constitution and traditional laws, even if it means that the party is worse off. That is the true mark of a representative.
I hope people start to see this. Oh wait, Thanksgiving's in two days. Great.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
South Ossetia and Palestine: Compare and Contrast
Salvete. I could talk (and was planning to talk) about many different things, but they can wait for another day. Let's talk about a topic that absolutely no one talks about: South Ossetia.
I'm a big fan of little-known countries, as you could probably tell from my love of Estonia. As I was researching various topics, I came across the country of South Ossetia. After some research, this is what I found.
Georgia has two insurgent factions: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, The two factions sought independence. Georgia, of course, was against the struggle, but Russia, out for revenge, took the side of the insurgents and stopped a force sent by Georgia to crush the rebels. South Ossetians were able to maintain their "independence" but weren't recognized by any major power except Russia (a few minor factions do recognize their sovereignty, like Venezuela, but they aren't strong enough to back the claim with force).
The catch is that South Ossetia (and the Russian counterpart North Ossetia) are a hop, skip, and a jump from Chechnya, the renowned terrorist home base.
At this point, the similarities between Palestine and South Ossetia should be fairly clear. The two sides are vying for independence due to nationalist ideals, and there is a definite possibility that either side could get out of hand. Both countries have been recognized by some UN states but not all.
So what, in my opinion, is the difference between Palestine and South Ossetia? For one, Palestine is generally solidly against the state of Israel. In the eyes of many, there is not enough space in the region for both of them. South Ossetia merely wants independence; there is nothing stopping Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Georgia from living in harmony. Also, there are heavy religious and ethnic motivations behind the conflict in Israel, while there is little motivation in the war for independence in South Ossetia but political and loyalty reasons.
As for myself, I support South Ossetian independence, but I can easily make a case for either side. I am, however, firmly against Palestinian independence primarily because I support a united and strong Israel as the beacon of the West in the Middle East. I welcome any arguments otherwise, and I would love to listen to comments on the topic.
I'm a big fan of little-known countries, as you could probably tell from my love of Estonia. As I was researching various topics, I came across the country of South Ossetia. After some research, this is what I found.
Georgia has two insurgent factions: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, The two factions sought independence. Georgia, of course, was against the struggle, but Russia, out for revenge, took the side of the insurgents and stopped a force sent by Georgia to crush the rebels. South Ossetians were able to maintain their "independence" but weren't recognized by any major power except Russia (a few minor factions do recognize their sovereignty, like Venezuela, but they aren't strong enough to back the claim with force).
The catch is that South Ossetia (and the Russian counterpart North Ossetia) are a hop, skip, and a jump from Chechnya, the renowned terrorist home base.
At this point, the similarities between Palestine and South Ossetia should be fairly clear. The two sides are vying for independence due to nationalist ideals, and there is a definite possibility that either side could get out of hand. Both countries have been recognized by some UN states but not all.
So what, in my opinion, is the difference between Palestine and South Ossetia? For one, Palestine is generally solidly against the state of Israel. In the eyes of many, there is not enough space in the region for both of them. South Ossetia merely wants independence; there is nothing stopping Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Georgia from living in harmony. Also, there are heavy religious and ethnic motivations behind the conflict in Israel, while there is little motivation in the war for independence in South Ossetia but political and loyalty reasons.
As for myself, I support South Ossetian independence, but I can easily make a case for either side. I am, however, firmly against Palestinian independence primarily because I support a united and strong Israel as the beacon of the West in the Middle East. I welcome any arguments otherwise, and I would love to listen to comments on the topic.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Halloween Afterthoughts
Salvete.
I hung out with my dad for Halloween, and we were both equally shocked at the utter lack of children in the streets. There was practically nobody. After all of the hype about Halloween and all, I was shocked to find the utter lack of trick-or-treaters. Dad told me of the time when he was a kid and the streets were sprawling on Halloween, and we talked about the change from the past to the present.
What's the difference? Fear. Fear that their kids might get shot or kidnapped or God knows what else in the streets. Some fears are valid, but most fears (especially the ones in my area or places not ridden with crime) are invalid and even unnecessary. Parents now accompany their children to protect them from everything.
But fear can't stop everything. Is fear the only factor? No. There is also a general lack of friendliness. When was the last time anyone said "Hello" as they passed by a stranger? Chances are one in a thousand that they're anyone with ill intentions, and it surely wouldn't hurt. When was the last time you did a random act of kindness for anyone? It's not sacrificing too much. We no longer go out of our way to meet strangers, to do nice things, to live in a world beyond the cell phone screen and our personal bubble. That is precisely why the percentage of American church-going people is at an all time low. That is precisely why there are no people in the streets on Halloween. We've sacrificed our acquaintanceship to fear, comfortability, and society. How dare we.
I hung out with my dad for Halloween, and we were both equally shocked at the utter lack of children in the streets. There was practically nobody. After all of the hype about Halloween and all, I was shocked to find the utter lack of trick-or-treaters. Dad told me of the time when he was a kid and the streets were sprawling on Halloween, and we talked about the change from the past to the present.
What's the difference? Fear. Fear that their kids might get shot or kidnapped or God knows what else in the streets. Some fears are valid, but most fears (especially the ones in my area or places not ridden with crime) are invalid and even unnecessary. Parents now accompany their children to protect them from everything.
But fear can't stop everything. Is fear the only factor? No. There is also a general lack of friendliness. When was the last time anyone said "Hello" as they passed by a stranger? Chances are one in a thousand that they're anyone with ill intentions, and it surely wouldn't hurt. When was the last time you did a random act of kindness for anyone? It's not sacrificing too much. We no longer go out of our way to meet strangers, to do nice things, to live in a world beyond the cell phone screen and our personal bubble. That is precisely why the percentage of American church-going people is at an all time low. That is precisely why there are no people in the streets on Halloween. We've sacrificed our acquaintanceship to fear, comfortability, and society. How dare we.
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