A Sinper and a French man

Toulouse gunman killed by sniper

If you follow current events any you probably hear about this. If not  to sum it up a 23 year old French citizen was shot by a sniper in Toulouse, France ending a standoff. He was the suspect in seven murders. At the time of him being shot he was attempting to flee the police after a shootout and siege that lasted thirty-two hours. Furthermore it seems that the shooter himself  claimed to have been trained by Al-Qaeda.  

I don't want to make light of this. The man is a suspect in seven cold blooded murders. Looking at what he is suspected of doing does not make for a peasant read. I do not want to get into to many details about the killings themselves. Horrible details have come up about the final moments of one of his victims that I will leave for the curious the google themselves.  

I have always found such things ghoulish, sicking, needless, and a invasion of privacy. I can only put myself in the victims shoes and think about how I would feel if it was me. I for one know that I would not want the whole world to know how I died in gory detail. I would not want everyone to know how my last fleeting moments of life where spent. Furthermore, that knowledge only helps build up the myth the murderer. A person that should be forgotten by all.

Above is an psychiatrists and Charlie Brooker's insightful perspective on news coverage's perpetuation of mass shooting that I feel applies here more then ever.

But that is not likely that this story is going to go away. It has all the hallmarks of a great news story. The final standoff plays out like the climax of an action movie with the suspect getting his blaze of glory and admitting to his crimes. Just before the supposed justice of a bullet found him. I have already rehashed it much here but the point is that is story has legs. Even American news outlets have made it a top story:

Fox News: Islamic Fanatic Dies in Shootout With French Cops. 

CNN: French terror suspect killed.

MSNBC: French school shooting suspect killed as raid ends standoff.

I point out that the media is calling this man a 'terrorist' since it appears that he, by his own admission, was  trained by Al-Qaeda. Thus allowing questions be asked like why did they not know about him. How could they have stopped him. It gives fuel to hate based politics allowing fear and hate to be spoken about publicly for a whole group of people. Look some right wing in America now has one more talking point. It allows for a message of fear to be seen a message of unity. "We stand with our French allies in this dark time and we will do all we can to put an end to terrorist." Also someone will say "Are there lone wolves in American and what can be done to stop them." This proves that the threat is real and radical Islam is out to get us.

Just one isolate event in France is going to set off a firestorm. I know that I am helping I am talking about it. That is the heart of the matter.

The point of Terrorism is to have people talk about it. Terrorist use fear and murder to get powers to react. Terrorist know that they can not fight a nation like another nation. There is no pitched battles no generals looks over points on a map trying to find the best course of action.

By this mans actions Al-Qaeda gets talked about. Al-Qaeda once again becomes seen as a real threat and power. Al-Qaeda will get recruits because of this. A group that Governments keep claiming to have delivered a death blow can now be said to be a force once more.

If you really want curve the force that is terrorism do not talk about it. Do not give it the space or the time. Call this man what he is another misguided murder and leave it at that. Because at the end of the day that is all he is and all he should ever be.       
 

Pastor Dennis Terry of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church

Rick Santorum was introduce by this lovely man. For those you can't or won't watch the video I will give you a short overview. Basically the man speaking is one Pastor Dennis Terry of  Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. It starts out with him ranting about how he doesn't care what the 'liberals say' and reaches back to the myth that America was founded as a Christian nation.

Sigh... I have heard this myth countless times. As a student of history and politics I would like to point out some facts. 

It is not remotely true to say that America was founded as a Christian nation. America is a federal constitutional republic. In reality America was founded with Enlightenment principles and a healthy respect for the Roman Republic. United States Constitution defines the system of Government that runs America. Guess what, it makes no appeal to any God or Gods even Jesus is overlooked. The Constitution goes out of its way even to point out in the 1st Amendment that:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech"

What I fail to understand how the founders went out of their way to make that point and yet this Pastor fails to find it. 

But come on everyone knows that and it doesn't matter. Because America was founded by all those Puritans and Pilgrims that came over. Is that not proof that America was founded by Christian and based on their ideology?

Again no. 

It should be pointed out that driving force was like with all things money:

"England's success at colonizing what would become the United States was due in large part to its use of charter companies... prosperity resulted from trapping and trading in furs. In addition, fishing."

Moreover: "Economic considerations were undoubtedly the most effective in promoting colonization."

So there is that myth debunked. Oh yes Christian came over in very small number compared to other migrations: "From 1630 through 1640 approximately 20,000 colonists came to New England. Much less than the number of English citizens who emigrated to Ireland and the Caribbean during this time."

But again that is not point. What matters is that America has a holy heroic past that needs to be reclaimed. A past that will led to a brighter future.

Okay that covers the first 10 seconds of the clip.

Next the Pastor calls out to the "God of the of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is only one God and his name is Jesus!" I kid you not. That guy claims that Jews worshiped Jesus. I suppose he is referring to Acts 3:13: "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go." But that passage tends to have a dark history of getting Jews killed for killing Jesus.

And everyone stands up and starts clapping. It should be noted just how old the crowd is. 

Then the man goes to say just how hard it is as Christian. Because everyone is saying that you can't voice your beliefs publicly. Christians only make up the majority of Americans and only hold just about every public office local, state, and federal. 

Only in America can the majority with all the power and numbers still claim to be persecuted. It is silly you can pray anywhere you want to whatever you want. A Christian can talk to anyone about their faith.

But hey whatever Christians are  persecuted cause "students are not allowed to lead the audience over the loudspeaker in student-written prayers at football games" now all you can do never mind that "legally, you have the right to voluntarily pray with your teammates as long as you are not leading the audience in a scheduled event. However, school officials, coaches, etc. can not lead the prayer or make participation mandatory. You are free to pray at sporting events either aloud or in private and others may join you."

The utter horror.

Around 58 seconds he tells everyone that has a problem with America to get out. Doesn't that mean that he should because he is  persecuted and wants Rick Santorum elected to fix the problems with America. I mean he just pointed out problems with America like 15 seconds ago in the video. So if he wants to leave that would be great. He does sound kind of like a dick.    

So lets get to 1:10 into this video. Here we find the Pastor saying the following:

"We don't worship Buddha, Muhammad, we don't worship Allah. We worship God, we worship God!"

I suppose he is speaking to those in the Christian Church he is in. So I guess he is just trying to be helpful pointing out what they don't believe. Which makes sense. But then again he does seem to have a hard time understand other peoples faiths.

Because no one worships  Buddha, Muhammad. But hey I called him a dick before he could just be trying to be help. So I guess he is making a good point as to the fact that Buddhist don't worship Buddha and that Muslims don't worship Muhammad.

It is confusing that he says we don't worship Allah. Because in Arabic Allah, the word means simply "the God". But hey maybe he is a secret Atheist or something. 

Part two coming later

Occupy

The Occupy movement has caught my eye again. I have been wondering 'why'. Why it is going on and Why the powers that be are treating it in such a way.

The Occupy is not likely to go anywhere anytime soon. With spring coming and summer break looming for my college  students it very likely to just keep growing. Granted the movement is not just made up of college students but it should be expected that with coming months off the movements ranks will swell. Also, with it being spring and summer it is a lot easier to spend your time outside. 

Sure as spring the NYPD is using heavy handed tactics on the protesters. Mainly just beating them. Now this should not come as shock to anyone. The Police always tend to overact to peaceful protests if they get large enough. Before we started I feel that it is needed to point that I am not saying that police are bad or that they are violent in nature. Or that the Police 'hate' anyone. The Police are human beings just like you and me. People are not necessarily bad nor violent in nature. 

We are however it is fair to that humans are fearful beings. I would hesitate to call it human nature but history teaches us that whenever authority meets an vocal outsider, one of two things happen. They join the movement such as in the case of the Arab Spring, Russian revolution, etc. Or they use their force to stamp out the outsiders. Such as in the case of the American Civil Rights movement, Tiananmen Square Massacre, etc. They do this often out of fear. Fear that they will be left behind if the movement carries on without them. Or fearful that if action is not taken now the movement will 'win'.

However, we are speaking about History for the most part these confrontations tend to be peaceful and dull with the authority simply watching while the outsider speaks its mind. There is a good reason for this public violence is hard to hide. More so now then ever before. With one google search of "police beating occupy wall street" yields about 9,120,000 results and About 1,160,000 videos on the subject.

I do not think that the police or any authority actively fears or hates the Occupy movement. The movement has no clear leadership and is offering up no clear alternative to the status quo. It is no real threat and the most part is overlooked by the national media.

Yet the police are beating protesters. That I fail to understand. You can say that their are a few 'bad eggs' that are overrating to the protesters. But that fails to explain why it keeps happening and not just in New York but in cities around America. Why is there so much unnecessary force? I can only think that it is because the Police feel that it is needed to once again put people back in their place. The funny thing is that whenever you see the police beating someone in the video links above you will notice that no one is really doing anything about it.     

It is almost like Americans are used to violence coming form the powers that be. However it is far more likely that Americans have ingrained in them a respect for the Police that leads to inaction even in plan slight of injustice. There is something distinctly American about 'putting people back in their place'. It is not so much hate or fear but the thought that this people need some sense beaten into them. There is a sense that violence is needed not for public order but for people to see their wrongs. It is tactic common now for American Police. American powers want to be bad asses but often just end up looking like asses.

Also, it has to be said that the Police may just dislike the Occupy movement and dislike the people involved. I imagine many Cops just want it to be over with. I can see how the cops could see those protesting as smug entitled ass holes that again need to put into their place. Not that it excuses their behavior. But what is often forgotten is that the police are humans. Humans that make mistakes and get enraged for dumb reasons.

I can only think that it speaks to the lack of professionalism that we are now finding in Police force. Americans have freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. It is the law. Police see order now are the most important part of their job now. Order means that everyone knows their place and society stays the same. The Police should not have attack protesters they should be better trained and react better. I do not think that anyone really understands why the Police are doing this.            

The Ads.

After have 100 views I thought I should get greedy and start running some ads on my blog. With the small and singular  hope, that after a year of doing so I could earn enough money to buy a six pack for myself.

However, I am starting to regret the move after seeing this.

And this ad sense:

How Jesus REALLY saves

Jesus saves, but not by "washing away sins" or "appeasing the Father

www.NewChurch.org

I can only say wow.

First of all. Lets sign a petition to end a necessary medical procedure because some people view getting pregnant as a tax on having sex outside of marriage. Never mind the life saving medical procedure. Lets sign a  petition and  run it underground so only the rich can afford a clean doctor. It is coat-hangers and the stairs for the rest of you sex havers women!

Right....

As for the other ad. 

While cults are fun.This guy just seems a little to self hating for me to give 10% of income over too.

Pastor: Rev. Eric Buss 

As can be seen that is Pastor but not just Pastor that is Pastor Reverend (to you mofos) Eric Buss. A trusted honkey. With the key to everlasting life and easy teeth whiting. Yes they will teach your children bullshit at reasonable rates! As they say "The Old Testament, New Testament, and Heavenly Doctrines are the Word of God and form the foundation for all that we do." Hey we can all own slaves and hate women with Old Testament values! Don't forget that it was started by some dude that thought tripping balls was a sign of God!     

This is a joke so don't take to hard and be sure to click on all the ads. I want to drink for free one night soon.

Bears Talk March 13, 2012

First of all thanks to everyone for reading this. I now have over 100 unique views. Which is wonderful having only been at this for a month or so now. Thanks again and Спасибо (I get lot hits form Russia for whatever reason.) 

On to the post.

NFL free agency is fun. It is fulled with hope and dreams. It is much better than the draft since these players have actually played the professional game before. All fans harbor dreams that every team will get that one player that will compete the team. The story lines follow better than most tales romance.

Today (yesterday by the time this was posted)  the Bears got two great players. Brandon Marshall and more importantly Jason Campbell. Yes, I am aware that the Bears have not had a true 'number one' wide receiver since Jay Cutler got to the windy city. However, I would like to make the point that while it is nice to have a number one the bears have not seemed to be hindered to much by in the past few seasons.

For the past two seasons poor offense play can be squarely past at the door step of Mike Martz and poor offensive line. Both led to Mr.Cutler finding out what the various fields taste like. Even with a star WR it is hard to say that  Mr.Cutler's play would have been any better. The truth is until the running game was opened up more placing less presser on the line did the teams offensive truly start to hum.        

I am in minority but a star wide receiver is often a needless luxury. A good QB will always improve the play of any wide receiver. A good QB turns an okay WR into a pro bowler. I think that Mr.Cutler will break out this season and players like one Mr. Johnny Knox could have career seasons because of it. I respect Mr.Knox and the team would be lesser without him. However, I would doubt that many people would call him a star WR.

Anyway, getting back to Mr.Marshall. Mr.Cutler has played with  Mr.Marshall back in Denver. There both players had great seasons and where highly productive together. One can and should expect things to be not different in Chicago. If anything it should be better. It is very likely that Mr.Marshall will be back on top form with the whole of the off season to work with Mr.Cutler and Mike Tice. Also, it should never be understated the play of a player who has something to prove and know that they can.

Last point about the deal is that the Bears got true value for it. At the cost of just a number three daft pick this season and next. It is a good move to place a bet on known entity then to bank on later round draft picks. The move does not put the Bears at any real disadvantage. Even if things do not work out or are just simply mediocre the Bears still will not be caught holding the bucket as they say. Don't get me wrong I still think that it is a good move that will pan out in the long run.

As I wrote before I do see the Jason Campbell to be far more importance for the Bears. The Bears have gotten a starting QB that can lead a team into the playoffs as there back up. Even if he is just a middle of the road starter. Nevertheless, this is not hot air. Last season Mr.Campbell was on track to lead the Raiders to the playoffs in a weak AFC West. He was doing it with smart consistent play. The Raiders simply fell apart without him.

This is great for the Bears. Not even taking into account what happened last year with the issues of the Bears back up QBs. The Bears have a backup now that is a proven starter. The insight that he can offer to Mr.Tice can only be helpful. Also, Mr.Campbell will not be a distraction. You are not going to hear the fans chanting for the Bears to bring in Mr.Campbell.

More importantly the Bears do not seem to have a team with disunity. Even in the darkest of times in a season you always see the Bears players on message. There is sense of old school professionalism that the Bears offer. What happens in the locker rooms tends to stay in locker room. I can only see this a sign that the Bears are organization that respects its players and the players respect.

With that said I feel that Mr.Campbell can find his role on the sidelines as a great aid to the team as a whole. If he does not play at all this season I would think that Mr.Campbell would want to make an impact however he can. As I wrote before insight on sidelines as play is happening could only be helpful to Mr.Tice. Just another experienced set of eyes out there can only help the Bears.                

Thoughts on Christianity

I have come to notion that Christians do not understand what they believe in. Let me clarify what I mean by 'believe in'. I am not referring to Christians beliefs like Jesus is the Messiah. The son of God that died for everyone sins or that God is Good and made everything and everyone. 

What I am referring to is how Christians do not understand the imputations of those beliefs.

Christians claim that there is one God and that he had a son Jesus born of a virgin. God is all powerful and all knowing. Moreover he is Good, perfect in every way and loving. Jesus is the son that came to earth to save humanity. Most Christians believe that Jesus and God are the same thing. Also, they have idea of the holy spirit which acts something like the voice of God that speaks to people. This is also a part of God. This belief is called the trinity 'God the Father', 'God the Son' and 'God the Holy Spirit'. All one and same being. 

While this was not always the case. Arianism at one time was a very popular teaching. Arianism believed that Jesus was subordinate entity. Different form God the father. With  First Council of Nicaea the teaching became a heretical. Afterwards the leadership and followers where killed or exiled. While there was some holdouts over the years. Arianist slowed and died out. Thus the idea is that God and Jesus are same thing became Dogma. It is one of the basic and most important of Christian teachings. God came to earth as the son to die for our sins. 

God died for our sins. It is an odd thought 'sin' or that a God died. Sin is taken to be anything that people do that is 'bad' while the bible points to certain things that are sinful. Within the faiths sin simply means bad things that people do. Thought or actions. But the concept of sin goes beyond just doing or thinking bad. Christianity has the notion of original sin hanging as a specter over it. Original sin is the idea that the first man and woman disobeyed God thus sinned. Due to that every human has been cursed with sin since. All people are born sinful. Meaning all people are born bad. 

Basically original sin explains why the world is that way it is. Because of the actions of the first humans the whole of humanity has been cursed with an evil world. Why do bad things happen to go people. Its simple humanity is bad, it is a 'fallen' race. It explains away why a loving God allows for evil. It is not his fault but that of his creation. 

So God killed himself because people are bad. It is a puzzling idea. God is the creator all knowing and all powerful. So he knew that humans would sin. So to remedy this he killed him by having the Romans do it for him. A blood sacrifice. I fail to understand why this was needed. I understand to concept it is an act of love. People are bad God died to fix this and if you believe it happened when you die you will go and be with God forever.

All very strange ideas. When I think about this I cannot help but to think it all very arrogant and cruel.

You see if you claim that Jesus is God. Then say that by dying Jesus saved us form the sins of our forefathers. All you need to is believe and be faithful to God. So that when you die you will life forever.

This is the system that God made and it is cruel. Instead of ending the pain and suffering with the world with the death of Jesus. God instead made it carry on but with the kicker being that you just had to have faith in him. Oh yeah Jesus healed some blind people, turned water into wine, and brought a dead man back to life. But he didn't end all illness nor did he stop blindness form ever happening again. Outside of a handful of miracles he left the world the way he found it.

The system God has is cruel. It cannot be said enough. Because of the actions of people that no one living has ever known. God damned all of humanity. He did not give those living the same choice that he gave Adam and Eve. No they failed, but he already knew that was going to happen because he is all knowing. Even if he did not know right then and there that it was going to happen, free will and all, he could have ended right there and tried again. He did not have to kill Adam and Eve but he could have made sure that they never had children that would forever be cursed. No, but he still loves us. 

Getting back to Jesus. God was man will all the feeling and pains that comes with that. Because of that would he not better understand the pains and cruelty of the world. He could have right there and then put a stop to it. At lest God could have made a better effort to write something down by his own hand while he was here on earth. So that no human error could later be made. But that did not happen. There is no book of Jesus written by Jesus. No God thought it better to wait awhile, just a few hundred years, to then have people write about what he did.   

But I must not get it. It is all apart of the plan. A plan that convoluted and above my simple mind. But that is the arrogance of God. He already knows everything and everyone. He already knew that I was going to write this. But what I cannot get over is that God has never nor will ever risk anything for his creation or for any other reason.

He the master of everything there is nothing more powerful then him. He creates reality and guides it as he see fit. Without any risk to himself. Really it does not matter what happens to his creation. Yes he still may love us. But it is a one sided abusive relationship. God holds all the cards and is beyond the touch of anything.

The faithful many say I am misrepresenting Christianity or that I do not understand it. But I beg to differ. This is only the tip of the iceberg. But think about it. Think about the being that Christians believe in. The idea that God died 2000 odd years ago just so that when believers die they will live forever. Think what says of a loving God that while on this Earth left behind no record so that the faithful will clearly known what he expects out of them. Moreover think about the idea that this is the system God made and has the power to change at anytime but does not out of love.

This is what I mean by Christians do not understand what they believe in. 

America Part 3 Some Porblems and One Plan

Dogma: "The established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers. Although it generally refers to religious beliefs that are accepted without reason or evidence, they can refer to acceptable opinions of philosophers or philosophical schools, public decrees, or issued decisions of political authorities."

Dogma is the last line of defense for any argument or movement. There is no two side to dogma nor is there any affective counter argument to those that competently believe in it. When it comes to American leadership the political 'right' uses this far more than the left. While that is no great revelation, it is still worth pointing out.

Getting back the problem of lack of jobs it is worth pointing that it is often dogma that is holding back affective reform and improvement of the American labor market. A work can no longer count on the protection of Unions in the this nation. Almost half the States are right to work states, and the whole of the south is right to work. Unions have been undercut and effective marginalized by laws like this and the negative view that prevails throughout America.

As I stated in part 2 (or tried to anyway), is that the employers are not in business for the workers but for themselves. They are out to make money for the company not the workers. It the fundamental nature of capitalism to make money. Unions counteract this component of capitalism by forcing the employers to involve the workers more in their business plans. Mostly by ensuring that the workers get fair compensation for their labor and protect the workers form being fired at a whim. The idea of Unions is to make the workers an equal to the employers.

Granted Unions have their flaws. However, their is nothing else in American society whose objective is to protect the workers in the labor market. Yes, there is the Department of labor on the federal and state levels. But there focus is more on safety, minimum wage and hour standards, and unemployment benefits. They are not a substitute for Unions.

While in a better world the government would try to fill this role. It hints to much at communism for the orthodox church of American capitalism. Politically it is not likely to happen in the current political climate. That is the outcome of Dogma. No debate can ever happen because the purity of capitalism is far more important than the well being the of the workers.

The service sector is quickly becoming the only place that workers can find employment. While service sector jobs can be high paying with good benefits it is far form the the norm. With American having a higher number of working poor than other first world nations.

What is needed now more than ever is institutions to combat the almost hate of workers rights that taints this land. Education is the key to this.

As I wrote before education is not a surefire way to higher paying jobs. But it helps a lot. However with most workers being able to only find jobs in the service sector their education is often put to waste. As most service sector jobs do not call for nor need high levels of education. Leaving the worker with high debt levels for an education that is not called for the labor the worker is engaged in.

Moreover, the poverty is rooted in US Education System. Education reform is need now more than ever. America spends only 5.7% of its GDP on education placing it 37th on the international rankings. While GDP is not the best measure as America spends only 4.8% of its GDP on military expenditure. However it accounts for 1/5 national budget. Educational spending is hardly a factor on the federal level.

While the nation needs a defense it is sad that a country that is not in a state of declared war spends more money on the military than another. 2009 U.S. military budget accounts for approximately 40% of global arms spending.  Again Dogma often guides this as America is a nation without a clear foe. It is seen as weak to cut spending on the military. However with all this money being spent the military has to be used to justify the cost. Thus America is forever seeking a nail for its hammer. By vasts amounts America spends more and puts more effort into its military. More than all the other top military spenders put together. 

It the states and local governments that pay for the education of the nation. It varies state to sate and city to city. However what is clear is that poorer areas will always have less money to spend on education. Effecting the quality of the education. Poorer areas cannot pay teachers more, cannot afford to update books and technology. The building cannot be upgraded nor can more be build to meet the needs an increasing population.

The Government needs to look at what future workers are being thought and needs to create national and uniform education standards. It has to put the same effort that it puts in military spending in education reform. Our educational system can be compared to an outmoded Army. The American educational system is Army armed with flintlock rifles fighting a war in a world of smart bombs.    

Clear goals need to be defined. Highs schools should be creating future skilled laborers by teaching trades to students that do no want to go to college. Compete with credentials that prove this. There should no longer be testing. Students need to be taught how to think and how to find verifiable information in a digital age.

I will get more into educational reform later on.

Back to labor. A work needs to find a good job. The Government should create a national job registry that all citizens can opt in. It would create a database that job seekers can have their information made easily available to employers. A resume more or less that anyone can find. Also employers could comment on the laborer. As can laborers comment on what it is like to work for the employer. They would be oversight naturally. But it would be doable. A job seeker would not have to work to hard as they could search for employers that are seeking people with their skills.

A national job registry would not be a costly undertaking. We have the technology and it would need very many people to maintain it. Federal employees would watch over the registry and be held accountable for errors. While the private sector has job websites like this (hotjob, monster, etc.) None have to power of federal and state records. The laborer would not have to do much to have its name added and the information about them would be verifiable by government records. Giving a level of information about a workers that private sector simply does not have.