Things I Think
1. I think I’m so bleeping tired of constant crises that I’m having a hard time caring about any of them…
2. If you want to guarantee another four years of the current administration, keep using the most inflammatory and imprecise language possible to describe the changes you desire…”defund the police” ain’t gonna fly for most of us…
3. If you want to guarantee another four years of the current administration, keep telling people of the importance of social distancing, unless you’re in a protest march…
4. If you want to guarantee another four years of the current administration, prevent people from attending the funerals of their loved ones, but have thousands attend funerals for George Floyd…
5. If you really want a civil war keep up all of the above along with the concurrent spike in gun sales to people who never owned guns before…
6. If you’re going to post on your social media that “Jesus is the answer” at least frame a proper question…
7. Good luck shutting down again if we get the expected coronavirus surge…that genie left the bottle, then broke it…
8. You can have really important things to say, but how you say them will determine whether or not they’re heard…
9. I forgot one…if you really want to guarantee another four years of the current administration, limit the number of people in churches, but not the streets…
10. Finally, I’ve found that most people are open to persuasion, but coercion will start a fight…make your own application…
Ten tweets that will fly
#5 … While i believe that the private citizen’s right to own a gun(s) makes sense, i think no one should do so that hasn’t gone through testing to make sure that you know what you’re doing, i.e. safety procedures as well as how to shoot…
FWIW
Thanks, BD…you have helped me think some things through…
Em,
I agree…but business is booming (so to speak) around here…
We are likely going to see 200,000 deaths by the end of the summer. That this seems no longer to be of importance says something, but I’m not sure what…
#1 – Even before the current crises it seems there’s always crisis thanks to 24/7 media, not to mention what goes on in our personal lives. I don’t think we are meant to take in so much info. The serenity prayer seems applicable in times like this. And taking a break to listen to birds. 🙂
I think people have reached the point where they’d rather have the Virus than stay cooped up for another month. I have sort of become indifferent to the whole thing. I put on my mask, which I personally think is useless but I’m a good citizen, and go to church, the store, etc and scarcely give it a second thought. It is silly to say I am tired of it, like a petulant child who keeps asking from the back seat “are we there yet?” but I am tired of it. Tired of the confusion. If there was some kind of consistency coming from believable authorities perhaps I would be willing to cooperate with a bit more vigor, but I don’t believe any of the people currently in authority and I lack the ability to know who is credible. Since this has been going on for three months now, I am losing focus. Every morning I get an update from Monterey County telling me the new numbers, and I think they are *increasing at an alarming rate,* yet now all the shops are opening and the streets have been full of (around here, anyway) peaceful protesters so what gives? We’ve had some examples of what I am now calling urban chaos here, two separate (but probably ultimately related) cases of people shooting at policemen. And a sheriff was murdered (ambushed) up in our old stomping grounds in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I see 4 problems : (1) The Virus, which is not alleviating; (2) Unfair treatment of black people; (3) Terrorists/Rioters taking over cities [Seattle]; and (4) Local governments completely caving to Antifa [Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis, for example].
Michael is right. As long as the left overplay their hand, it’ll be four more years of Trump and it’s hard to blame people.
You can only scare people for so long before they begin to ignore you.
Has there ever been a time in this nation where an honest, brave man, or woman perhaps, puts on the uniform of an officer of the law and knows that it represents a target to twisted minds with illegally acquired guns? How awful for the folks who know and love these people, most of whom are people of character, regardless of skin shade….
Isn’t this prejudice of the highest order?
Sigh…..
IMV & FWIW racial prejudice is few amd far between in this nation today… What we are dealing with is political and intentional exploitation and neglect
Xenia – You forgot#5: Murder hornets, but I digress… 🙂
Duane,
We as a group of family and friends are doubling down on caution…I’m more worried about Covid19 now than I have been since it started.
Xenia,
Well said…and I think you are speaking for a whole lot of people…
JoelG,
I shut everything off and read a comic book…
“, I’ve found that most people are open to persuasion, but coercion will start a fight”
Solid gold.
“You can’t go to church but you can set one on fire.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBExi73gLhC/?igshid=3gk86plrafc0
Janny, I did forget about the hornets. Here in my garden, it’s cabbage looper butterflies that are the enemy.
guns in the hands of the gullible is the scariest scenario. In my town recently, a (false) report on social media alerted residents that outside protesters were coming on buses ( should have been their first clue) to burn the gigantic American flag that dominates the south side of the city. 200 heavily armed red-necks showed up ( including a 50 cal. machine gun mounted on the roll bar of a Polaris side-by-side) to insure that there would be massive bloodshed had those fools ever shown up…
gullible + guns + patriotism (or is it nationalism?) = massive problems
Oh, and by the way, before anyone gets their drawers in a bundle, I own a few boom sticks too.
Filbertz,
That whole scenario was played out all over the valley as you know…it’s by the grace if God something horrible didn’t happen…
200 heavily armed red necks? My daughter kinda sorta wants us to move to the Gold Beach ares – that’s a good reason not to do so….. up here we don got no red necks… Guns yes, but none of them thar red necks…. Mobs with guns will lead to dictators in government
IMV, of course
The agents of chaos are spreading rumors to keep everyone on edge. The town next door to us ramped up security because of a rumor that their downtown was targeted. So this didn’t cost the AoC (Agents of Chaos) any blood or money, but had the effect of terrorizing the store owners. Cheap and effective.
Agents of chaos… hmmm.. Another daughter on city council in a Seattle suburb has had a horrendous week as they coped with being ready for mobs… instead they experienced a peaceful demonstration…. was that because they were prepared to take on a mob such as hit Seattle? Dunno….
Mobs with guns scare the hell out of dictators in government, which is why they call for “sensible” gun laws.
Michael, I am intrigued – which comic books do you read?
Owen,
Mostly ones I started reading when I was three and four years old.
Big on Batman…Avengers…I don’t have time for much,but I still enjoy them…too much.
I get them for free through the Hoopla app…
I’ve only ever read a little Batman, used to read a lot of Superman, though..
Nice to go back and read stories from a time where the line between right and wrong was pretty much undisputed….
I gotta say I’m a bit concerned about the conversation taking place here. We may be losing the forest for the trees…we white folks are concerned about…the left and their overreaching that is causing us inconveniences? Our black brothers and sisters are concerned tonight that their loved one will be killed by some bad apple cop with a testoserone obsession. Or concerned they’ll lose a loved one to rioting nutcases people like to call Antifa (personally, I don’t even believe “Antifa” as an organizational entity even exists. It’s a “boogie man” created by the right wing, but I’m mentally ill, so…) Or they’re concerned because their families and people are disproportionately infected by the virus. Really? Are we that tone deaf to what’s happening to an entire race of our fellow human beings? Do we as believers really care more about whether we can meet up in a building we call church than fellow persons created by God in His Image being railroaded in our “justice system” that demonstrably abuses them and unjustly imprisons them? And also, why have we completely and totally forgotten about our fellow humans being caged and their children being taken away from them? And why are we not concerned at all about the horrific emotional and psychological damage being done to these children and their parents? Damage that is permanent. They will endure it until they go into the ground. I have a question I do not know the answer to. It’s an honest question. Are there any black folks on this blog?
It is my fervent hope that the DNC has learned a big lesson.
You can’t win an election with just Hollywood, college kids and their profs.
If they can’t connect with Mom and Pop America, and persuade the multitude of good and decent people who voted the current administration in to vote otherwise this time round’…
Well then, it’s pretty academic isn’t it?
Mike E,
Their is no doubt that racism is alive and well in America.
I support the peaceful protests.
I would support significant fundamental changes in our institutions to rid us of it.
As well, I am extremely pragmatic.
In social debates one does not have to persuade those who already agree.
You must speak and act so that those who you wish to persuade can hear.
The major voting and power block in this country is white and over fifty.
When you start burning buildings and threatening to abolish police departments, they don’t listen…they go buy another shotgun.
The changes required require all of us…and that’s what I’m trying to say.
Yes, there are black people that read here…
“And also, why have we completely and totally forgotten about our fellow humans being caged and their children being taken away from them? ”
Because most people really never gave a hoot in hell to begin with…it was the political fight de jour…and this will be too if the opportunity isn’t taken for real change.
“In social debates one does not have to persuade those who already agree.
You must speak and act so that those who you wish to persuade can hear.”
Why is it the responsibility of the oppressed to “tailor” their message so old white people who’ve lived in a white dominated society all their many years will listen? They’re never going to listen. They never have, in 245 years. So it doesn’t matter one wit how you present it to them. They don’t care. Period. And why should they? They’ve benefited from the corrupt racist system all their lives. So, why can’t you black folks stop screaming at us and be nice to us? Why should they? Has it ever worked for them before?
The major voting and power block in this country is white and over fifty.
When you start burning buildings and threatening to abolish police departments, they don’t listen…they go buy another shotgun.
MikeE,
I disagree.
This is the first time in my lifetime that I believe the whole country for the most part agreed that evil was among us.
It’s an opportunity…
In reality, most people want police departments, just not corrupt and racist ones.
If you combine a riot with threats of no police people will act out of insecurity and the opportunity will be lost.
And I agree with that statement, Michael. It is an opportunity. I just don’t believe the opportunity will be achieved by trying to convince old white guys. Rather, I see that as a waste of energy. But we’re friends. We can agree to disagree. Love and peace, brother. ❤️✌️
More people (including minorities and LEOs) have been murdered now through all of this than those unarmed killed by cops last year. I hope it’s worth it.
Michael,
I concur with your observation that the immigration issue went away when the hay-making moved on to another topic. But that very behavior is why so little has changed since slavery ended. Between reconstruction, Jim Crow, segregation, and civil rights movement–the majority has been content to let the sleeping dog lie. The “principles” our nation was founded on have proven to be idealistic at best, a myth more likely.
fil,
Agreed.
I do think it’s going to be a long, hot, summer…
long, hot summer indeed. My greatest concern locally is the disproportionate weight given the second amendment over the first. Gun ownership trumps (small t) free speech. Locally, three have been arrested for menacing and threatening protesters at gunpoint. One would think it wasn’t rocket science to understand the 2nd A. safeguards the others…
…and the constitution as a whole. Checks and balances…
fil,
I hear you…but I’m also reminded by carnage on Facebook tonight that being careful and moderate is a sin now.
The temptation to withdraw completely is getting pretty strong in me…
ah, Facebook. Farcebloke. Fecesbark. Factbroke. And so on.
I still believe this is a golden moment for those who identify as followers of Jesus, the Christ to truly follow Him, in word and deed; to clarify their identity as Christian before American.
fil,
It may be too late for that…but we’ll do it anyway…
maybe it’s just the death knell for the evangelical expression of christianity. No tears here.
fil,
It may be…and the collateral damage will include all of us.
Brionna Taylor’s boy friend was defending their domicile against armed intruders on a no-knock warrant. She paid the ultimate price. That 2nd Amendment types aren’t defending that travesty more vehemently is shameful. I don’t necessarily agree that her murder was racism, but rather the freedom of the empowered to shoot and kill with impunity. See Daniel Shaver’s murder, a white guy shot in the back by a cop who had ” You’re [effed]” laser engraved on the receiver of his AR-15.
2nd and 1st are intertwined.
A good piece in the Washington Post about differences between the white church and the black church in America. The black church has a much different ‘narrative’ when it comes
to Scriptural interpretation.
I remember when OJ Simpson’s verdict came down. The differences in perception, black vs. white, was startling. Totally flipped, depending on whether you were black or white.
Makes me think that we need to walk in the shoes of someone who doesn’t see things as we do. A hell of a lot more listening and a hell of a lot less bloviating. I think that might be the start of wisdom.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/african-american-christianity-demands-we-overturn-the-structures-of-injustice/2020/06/10/c1ed1dcc-ab51-11ea-9063-e69bd6520940_story.html
late to the party. It looks like the entire country has lost it’s mind. Shouldn’t really be of any surprise, it lost its collective conscience long ago. To think I gave the best years of my life in the service of this nation………..
“The major voting and power block in this country is white and over fifty.
When you start burning buildings and threatening to abolish police departments, they don’t listen…they go buy another shotgun.”
Yep. Who can blame them? Having my family victimized by a home invasion robbery that went bad changed my perspective of these things.
“the freedom of the empowered to shoot and kill with impunity”
Good analysis here. This is more about power and the perceived need to hold on to it. I find it interesting that when I have had encounters with cops and I am on my motorcycle in full leathers, that I am treated very differently, with much less respect, and more hostility than when I have been pulled over in my Honda automobile. Why? I am the same the person, acting the same way. It is their perceived threat from someone who they suspect might be an outlaw biker (that’s profiling , btw, and everyone does it) that threatens their sense of safety and their authority.
This is more about power and the perceived need to hold on to it.
pstrmike,
I believe this strongly. It’s gonna take a lot more than individuals changing themselves internally, though that’s important. Hopefully the coming election and actions of various city and town councils across the US will make some significant changes.
People are so focused on the Presidency (and lack of leadership from Confederate President #2) that it’s often forgotten that there are thousands of elected officials at the state and local levels who will exert a lot of influence on decisions on how to reform police departments.
Is it about power? If i look at Pelosi or Schumer, I’d agree and some other politicians….
But i think the average citizen with a few generations of history in this nation is more concerned about preserving what so many spent and sacrificed to build – like the kid on the living room floor building something amazing with his Legos. He doesn’t want his mean, entitled brother to come and kick it apart. I remember when President Eisenhower added under God to our pledge of allegiance, i wasn’t a believer and it seemed awkward and unnecessary… Well, i think differently now…. We do have more to build, to course correct, but this nation has always moved in toward better things.
Question is, can we do so without an overarching sense of answering to God? by that i mean a respect for the God Who sent us His only begotten Son – the Redeemer of souls.
Depends on which God you’re talking about.
I don’t recognize the Jesus of current American folk religion and the “court evangelicals” as the one I worship and follow.
Frankly, that “Jesus” appears to me to be an anti-Christ whoring for power and influence.
I thank God everyday that I have the freedom of religion to reject this parody of my faith.
I’ll give you this…the Founding Fathers were an odd mix of deists and Christians …but they did have a sense of accountability.
That…is nowhere to be seen today.
On a separate but I think related note —
I see that the 75-year old Catholic peace guy in Buffalo has sustained a brain injury after being knocked down by Buffalo police. How very sad.
Words aren’t enough.
Then to have our 2nd Confederate president tweet ugly, baldfaced lies about you…I mean no disrespect, but he’s really not well.
https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2020/06/75-year-old-man-smeared-by-trump-after-being-shoved-to-the-ground-by-buffalo-cops-has-suffered-brain-injury/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4763
At this point, I don’t see any leaders standing up in any way that will get us through our multiple crises.
The church as a public institution is corrupted and I daily wonder which side of the aisle is the more insane.
I think the best course of action is to keep ones head down, mouth closed, hands washed, and learn the back roads.
I’m not in a good mood, so I’ll head for the woods…
Yes there is a misleading definition of God being preached today – a God of “roses and lollipops ” it is sad for the sheep who aren’t receiving sound principles of our Faith, but i believe its main support comes from people who just want religion without humility…. God hates that and i can’t help but wonder if we are on the verge of repeating Noah’s world….
Wondering, not declaring… 😏
God keep the Phx peep. (sorry bout my rhyme attack)
Michael, ” This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done…. . Jesus Who died shall be satisfied and earth and heavn be one. ”
Hang on to what we know: He IS the way, truth and life, eh?
Enjoy the walk in the woods, but watch out for the meat eaters out there
Went out to get in the car and saw a wire spike sticking out of one of my tires…and on this car if you replace one you have to replace four…waiting to see if it’s repairable.
Praying it is repairable… hope it wasn’t vandalism…
Stay safe, platitudinous granny Em here
It wasn’t repairable, it was vandalism.
Knowing how hard this hits me, I really feel for those folks who lost property in the rioting and looting…
The New Victor,
ar15.com>general discussion. “2nd Amendment types” might not be who you think they are.
Not an endorsement from me, but you might find it enlightening regarding their view of no-knock murders.
Jim
Please expand…
Duane,
TNV said this-“Brionna Taylor’s boy friend was defending their domicile against armed intruders on a no-knock warrant. She paid the ultimate price. That 2nd Amendment types aren’t defending that travesty more vehemently is shameful. I don’t necessarily agree that her murder was racism, but rather the freedom of the empowered to shoot and kill with impunity. ”
My question is, where does one hear the voice of the “2A types”? Perhaps on the largest gun forum on the planet? If one takes a quick look, they’ll find that “2A types” do not believe in qualified immunity, no-knock raids, the drug war, or the militarization of the police.
The “2A types” I know online and off just want to be left alone.
(Language warning)
https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/Rand-Paul-Bill-to-end-No-Knock-warrants-/5-2337747/
Jim
I’d like to reflect on this. Many thanks…
Michael (and everyone else),
The language on the site I linked is highly obscene, and there are many, many comments I disagree with. The site is excellent for serious hobbyists, but the general discussion forum is a dumpster fire.
Most should probably avoid it, and I sincerely apologize to anyone who might have gone there unaware.
Michael, I should have asked your permission and if received, posted a strong warning. I apologize, and won’t mind at all if you take the link down. It might be the right thing to do.
Jim,
It’s not a problem.
I trust there was info there to compensate for any offense.
Thank you for helping care for the site…
Good to know, Jim. Hard to rally together given other political disagreements, not to mention the media. It’s like when I told a high school chum that OWS and the Tea Party actually had some common ground. He was clueless because he demonized the TP to begin with. We don’t need the media or Putin dividing us, we do it ourselves.
This is why I am a libertarian in many ways. The statists and anti-Constitutionalists on both TEAM RED and TEAM BLUE both hate me. The Kool-Aid Drinkers do not appreciate when I say the 2016 and 2020 elections are a choice between a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich. This why when looking through the lens of our form of government, the BOR, the Constitutional roles of FedGov, federalism, etc. I am OK with both Obergefell v. Hodges AND Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission decisions.
Jim,
I am a 2A type who believed the QA needs to be abolished, along with no-knock warrants, a demilitarization of the police, etc. In short, what this article suggests:
https://reason.com/2020/06/05/5-ways-to-curtail-police-violence-and-prevent-more-deaths-like-george-floyds/
Reason.com is one of my go-to sites for stuff.
CM
Thank you for the posts and links. I believe most if not all people who watch the video do so in horror and shock. No matter what the issue was the man was murdered by the Police officer. I can’t help to wonder, why did the others not say “stop!”
As I watch this video and the many videos from the protests, and associated violence, I keep seeing a fundamental problem. No one steps into to help or protect the weak. Certainly not the one holding the camera, he or she has a much greater calling, don’t they?
Where is our true compassion for our fellow humanity? If we ignore the brutality and do nothing (BTW marching in a protest is something) are we not complicit with such brutality?
There is one problem and danger when we decide to become activist for change, at some point all revolutions cross a line and become the very thing they want to change. And what is their justification? I think we have all heard the rhetoric.
Why can’t we apply the 10 simple statements God gave to the people at the base of the mountain? Why can’t we do the things Jesus did and greater, He saved lives, didn’t He?
As a follower of Jesus how do we not lose our minds and become like those whom we hate. Yes we hate the other side, sometimes we try to veil it with political statements, platitudes and political personalities. In the end it is simply just passionate and vial hate.
Maybe we could start by memorizing those ten statements from God, you know the ones given to define a nation of people, and then look for application.
I’m just a ranter, not a PhD, looking for ways to do what He taught.
MM,
A very well thought out post and gets right to the heart. Even more so, the problem is Sin. Sin is the reason for the murder of George Floyd, sin is the reason for the looters, and so on.
Sin is what distorts and corrupts our view of God, ourselves, and our fellow man, and taints everything in this universe. All humans are Imago Dei, and because of sin, (namely racism in this case) that Truth escapes them.
Jim
I’ve had a bit of time to reflect after looking at that thread. Knowing the people I know, I’m not terribly surprised. The whole issue seems to revolve around government overreach – whether in executing no knock warrants or perceived infringements of the second amendment. There is a consistent libertarian approach to both. For me, I see no contradiction in opposing no knock warrants and being desirous of sensible gun control measures as I perceive both as being in the public interest and consistent with public safety. I think most of us try to build our views in a manner that, at least to ourselves, seems consistent. The problem is holding a position, but having respect and/or regard for those who hold another position.
Duane,
The thing is a more libertarian approach would also be anathema to the Social Conservatives and the “Law and Order” conservatives. So it is not just the 2A. Case point. Gay marriage. What the state defines as marriage and the church defines as marriage are 2 different things since they really have nothing to do with each other really. If one searches one’s ancestry, there are no marriage licenses or certificates if you go back a couple of hundred years. Marriage was something that was done between families, the local community/village, and whatever religious institution. If the state kept its involvement to strictly dealing with contract law and not for tax purposes, the outcome in Obergefell would not happened.
A more consisten libertarian belief would be that you supported both the Obergefell AND Masterpiece SCOTUS decisions.
Duane,
It’s easy for me to respect those with other political opinions, as my opinions are waaaay out on the fringe. My son is a Bernie bro, and if he wants to argue, I just tell him that he’ll have the county he wants. My views are philosophical and not pragmatic. America will be what Bernie wants (and more), and I’ll still love it here. My only hang up is when those with opposing views are dishonest or horribly ignorant, but I get over that pretty quickly as well.
” My only hang up is when those with opposing views are dishonest or horribly ignorant. . .”
I’m glad you get over it quickly. I think it makes the ice thinner.
This clip from the movie Easy Rider said it well then, and speaks of today.
Here is an interesting article:
https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/god-save-america-from-fearful-christians?r=1aunp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&utm_source=twitter
pstrmike,
That was awesome and accurate. I live in a Florida condo with over 200 units. 5 of my neighbors know what I believe and that I own firearms, because they are like minded. Being infested with owners from the NE tri-state area, I’m concerned with being red-flagged, so I’m a grey man.
Works fine for me-no political arguments in my life.