Well here I am eating a king sized snickers bar and drinking a mountain dew. I have a little time on my hands and since I am properly wired I figured I would throw down some thoughts about how religion is covered by the main stream media.
I don't really watch alot of news on tv. I usually only tune in for the news if something locally has happened or if some knuckleheads decide to do something stupid and it makes a big mess somewhere.
A friend and co-worker of mine asked me yesterday if I had seen CNN's Special Report on the different religions? I hadn't. So he told me about what was being covered and what they were talking about and brought up some different points between Islam and Christianity. After listening for a few, I said that you cannot compare the two. About the only thing that compares is that there are alot of people on both sides that follow a belief..... Other than that it gets fuzzy very quickly.
I brought up the fact that these islamists that are killing in the name of allah cannot be compared to other religions just for their actions alone.
Of course then my friend brings up abortion clinic bombings that have been done in the past by "Christian" believers.
At first, I didnt even know how to respond to that. To be honest I had completely forgotten about those events. So having heard him say this I choose not to really respond with anything but a nod of the head. Later I had some time at home and thought about the difference between the islamists that kill in the name of allah and the "christians" that kill or blow up an abortion clinic in the name of God.
The thing that comes to my mind is the fact that: yes there have been abortion clinics that have been blown up and even a doctor or two that have been attacked or even killed because some person decides to be the bearer of judgement for God. Which in my opinion is a sad thing when this happens. In each and every case there has been an immediate response from the "Christian" community denouncing these acts and saying that "this is not who we are or what we stand for".
On the other side of the coin, we have islamic fundamentalists killing and attacking other religious people because they do not share the same belief as them. I have not heard any Imam or whatever it is they call their religious leaders denouncing these acts. Or how about when an islamist gets beat up by other islamists because they have broken some sharia law? Huh? Islam is a religion of peace? Huh? Who are you fooling?
I don't see any Christians running around with sticks beating up women in the street because they are wearing makeup in public or showing affection in public or wearing too revealing clothes. I could go on but I think I made my point.
They are not comparable and should not be compared to each other.
Stay Tuned.........
Friday, August 24, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
My letter to my Senator about Immigration
With the 2nd vote that happened today on the Immigration Bill today I was disappointed in how my Senator John Ensign voted. So I wrote him a letter expressing my dismay. Hopefully he takes the time to read it and will respond. I like him. He normally votes the way I feel but I just had to know why he voted the way he did. Maybe he knows something I don't.
So anyway, here it is...
Dear Sir,
I would like to know why you voted yes on today's Immigration Bill. Do you think that this bill would help us as a country by allowing over 12 million people who are here illegally to instantly have their "Z" status (Amnesty) and be able to use our programs and tap into the same services that I pay taxes for (and have for the past 20+ years of my life)?
Will these "Z" status individuals be able to collect Social Security even if they have not contributed enough to qualify for it? What about Food Stamps. Healthcare, or special low income housing? If so, that is not fair to those people who are legal and have been contributing as they should have. A few months ago Bank of America started their program offering illegals credit cards. I am a 39 year old Marine Corp veteran and I don't have very good credit. I don't have/ can't get a credit card because of this. This program was not offered to people like me. But yet BoA sees an opportunity to offer their services to illegals?!? I don't get it.
As I understand it, if you and the other Senators had voted no then the bill would have had to have been rewritten before coming up to vote again. Is that correct?
What is wrong with having a series of simple bills that address individual issues? Why does the the bill always have amendments that have to be added on. Why can't they just come before the Senate for example as " Bill to secure the border by building a fence" and then the Senate votes yes or no.
The most important thing for me about this Immigration is that I feel we are repeating ourselves as we did the 80's. We gave amensty to several million "illegals" and now we are doing the same thing only this time it is 12-15 million. What will it be in 20 years from now 20-30 million? I want to see our border secured. Can we do that first please!?! Stop the flood and then let us concentrate on what to do with the illegals that want to become legal and contribute to the Nation. Instead of trying to win the war in one fatal swoop can we concentrate on the small things first to get the job done correctly?
1. Get the border fence built and working correctly.
2. Get rid of illegals that are convicts in jail. We don't need to be spending our tax dollars on housing and feeding them. Send them back to where they came from.
3. Make it a felony to hire Illegals. That will stop that immediately. If they are here illegally and can't find work then they will leave on their own. We won't need to worry about them. They will take care of themselves.
4. Do not allow any illegals access to our gov't programs. They are not paying taxes to support them, they should not have access to them.
5. Do not allow them to vote until they have become full US Citizens.
The reasons why people have come here normally in the past has been to become a citizen and assimilate into our culture and take advantage of what we have to offer as a country. That is a good thing.
But over the last few decades those reasons have changed. People are coming here to take advantage of an unsecure border and to make money and send it home to where their families live. We are seeing a trend that does not include becoming a citizen but of just working here and wanting people/Gov't to bend to their will. This can only lead to bad things when the citizens who are here legally get fed up with the one that are not here legally.
I hope that you take the time to read this and answer me back on my points directly because I would like to know what is it that you feel is important for us as a Nation.
Sincerely,
Jeff Lawrence
Husband, Father of 3
Former Marine/Desert Storm Vet 88-92
Hard working normal American.
If I do get a response I will post it here.
Stay Tuned...........
So anyway, here it is...
Dear Sir,
I would like to know why you voted yes on today's Immigration Bill. Do you think that this bill would help us as a country by allowing over 12 million people who are here illegally to instantly have their "Z" status (Amnesty) and be able to use our programs and tap into the same services that I pay taxes for (and have for the past 20+ years of my life)?
Will these "Z" status individuals be able to collect Social Security even if they have not contributed enough to qualify for it? What about Food Stamps. Healthcare, or special low income housing? If so, that is not fair to those people who are legal and have been contributing as they should have. A few months ago Bank of America started their program offering illegals credit cards. I am a 39 year old Marine Corp veteran and I don't have very good credit. I don't have/ can't get a credit card because of this. This program was not offered to people like me. But yet BoA sees an opportunity to offer their services to illegals?!? I don't get it.
As I understand it, if you and the other Senators had voted no then the bill would have had to have been rewritten before coming up to vote again. Is that correct?
What is wrong with having a series of simple bills that address individual issues? Why does the the bill always have amendments that have to be added on. Why can't they just come before the Senate for example as " Bill to secure the border by building a fence" and then the Senate votes yes or no.
The most important thing for me about this Immigration is that I feel we are repeating ourselves as we did the 80's. We gave amensty to several million "illegals" and now we are doing the same thing only this time it is 12-15 million. What will it be in 20 years from now 20-30 million? I want to see our border secured. Can we do that first please!?! Stop the flood and then let us concentrate on what to do with the illegals that want to become legal and contribute to the Nation. Instead of trying to win the war in one fatal swoop can we concentrate on the small things first to get the job done correctly?
1. Get the border fence built and working correctly.
2. Get rid of illegals that are convicts in jail. We don't need to be spending our tax dollars on housing and feeding them. Send them back to where they came from.
3. Make it a felony to hire Illegals. That will stop that immediately. If they are here illegally and can't find work then they will leave on their own. We won't need to worry about them. They will take care of themselves.
4. Do not allow any illegals access to our gov't programs. They are not paying taxes to support them, they should not have access to them.
5. Do not allow them to vote until they have become full US Citizens.
The reasons why people have come here normally in the past has been to become a citizen and assimilate into our culture and take advantage of what we have to offer as a country. That is a good thing.
But over the last few decades those reasons have changed. People are coming here to take advantage of an unsecure border and to make money and send it home to where their families live. We are seeing a trend that does not include becoming a citizen but of just working here and wanting people/Gov't to bend to their will. This can only lead to bad things when the citizens who are here legally get fed up with the one that are not here legally.
I hope that you take the time to read this and answer me back on my points directly because I would like to know what is it that you feel is important for us as a Nation.
Sincerely,
Jeff Lawrence
Husband, Father of 3
Former Marine/Desert Storm Vet 88-92
Hard working normal American.
If I do get a response I will post it here.
Stay Tuned...........
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Carbon Offset?
What does it take to be carbon neutral? I guess it depends on what kind of lifestyle you lead. If you are an Al Gore type or Paris Hilton type then I guess it would take quite a bit of either changing your lifestyle which I doubt would happen or it will cost alot of money to even become carbon neutral.
Personally, I believe that the planet goes through cycles. There are warm periods and cold periods. If you take a look through the history of the planet you will see that the ice caps were much larger than they are now. Canada and most of the Northern United States was completely covered with ice and snow year round. Why do you think there are skeletons of Wholly Mammoths in western United States? Because it used to be cold.
Now I know that it would be arrogant of us to think that we have not influenced the environment at all since we have been around on this planet. But to portray us as having been the downfall of the earths environment.... that is a huge stretch.
To me, there is not enough evidence over a long enough period of time to accurately know what is the real cause or even if there is a cause per se. It very well may be the natural order of things.
But where does that leave us. What if it takes us a thousand years for us to have enough information to really know what the story is? That really does not help us now. If you listen to some they say that is not good enough and that we need to do something now to help the environment. Ok. I'll go with you on that. If you want to help, buy some long life light bulbs, stop drinking water out of a bottle and use a filter and filter your tap water and use the same container over and over again. Plant trees and bushes in your yards.
So if we do these things as a human race we will be doing our part in helping to reduce the bad evil air that we are putting into the atmosphere.
I think if the world goes through cycles there isn't a damn bit of anything that we can do to change what is going on. That is like trying to stop an earthquake, tornado, or hurricane from happening.
We have done some amazing things as a human race. Look at all of the things we have accomplished. But even to acknowledge all of those things, to say that we can change how the earth goes through its cycles is a little pompous of us.... Don't you think?
Stay Tuned...........
Personally, I believe that the planet goes through cycles. There are warm periods and cold periods. If you take a look through the history of the planet you will see that the ice caps were much larger than they are now. Canada and most of the Northern United States was completely covered with ice and snow year round. Why do you think there are skeletons of Wholly Mammoths in western United States? Because it used to be cold.
Now I know that it would be arrogant of us to think that we have not influenced the environment at all since we have been around on this planet. But to portray us as having been the downfall of the earths environment.... that is a huge stretch.
To me, there is not enough evidence over a long enough period of time to accurately know what is the real cause or even if there is a cause per se. It very well may be the natural order of things.
But where does that leave us. What if it takes us a thousand years for us to have enough information to really know what the story is? That really does not help us now. If you listen to some they say that is not good enough and that we need to do something now to help the environment. Ok. I'll go with you on that. If you want to help, buy some long life light bulbs, stop drinking water out of a bottle and use a filter and filter your tap water and use the same container over and over again. Plant trees and bushes in your yards.
So if we do these things as a human race we will be doing our part in helping to reduce the bad evil air that we are putting into the atmosphere.
I think if the world goes through cycles there isn't a damn bit of anything that we can do to change what is going on. That is like trying to stop an earthquake, tornado, or hurricane from happening.
We have done some amazing things as a human race. Look at all of the things we have accomplished. But even to acknowledge all of those things, to say that we can change how the earth goes through its cycles is a little pompous of us.... Don't you think?
Stay Tuned...........
Friday, June 8, 2007
We Blinked
Well I have heard recently now the United States is going to sit down with Sunni Leaders and work out agreements about about how Iraq should be run?!? What? So we are going to negotiate with the very same people that are killing innocent people because they are either helping us or just believe in something different than they do.
WOW.....
Stay Tuned.........
WOW.....
Stay Tuned.........
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Fashion?
Why would people wear their pants down around the crack of their ass revealing their nasty underwear? What is so cool about it? I see alot of people who are doing this and I have to wonder why?
Do these people understand where this practice came from? I doubt it. If they did, they would know that this practice started in the prisons. It was a way of saying that you were someones biatch, that you were spoken for and they should be left alone. It was also a way to keep them from getting away quickly since their drawers would be down around their knees.
Next time you see someone dressed like this ask them if they know what it really means to wear their clothes like that?
Stay tuned..........
Do these people understand where this practice came from? I doubt it. If they did, they would know that this practice started in the prisons. It was a way of saying that you were someones biatch, that you were spoken for and they should be left alone. It was also a way to keep them from getting away quickly since their drawers would be down around their knees.
Next time you see someone dressed like this ask them if they know what it really means to wear their clothes like that?
Stay tuned..........
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Treason?
At what point does the need for National Security and Free Speech part ways? ABC today released information from a Govt. leak about our plans to create insurrection over in Iran. Are you kidding me?!? Forget about how you may personally feel about the war or whether or not you think that the Govt. should or should not be creating ways to topple a regime somewhere. We as citizens can and should deal with that separately.
What should concern you I think is that ABC in this case has decided on it's own that the need to get information out has super-seeded the need to protect Americas security! I am appalled at the lack of respect and responsibility that ABC has shown the Govt. and it's people.
How would letting this information out to be broadcast around the world be helpful in anyway? It is none of the worlds business what we are doing when it comes to covert operations!
By leaking the information, ABC is putting into jeopardy personnel both here in the States and abroad. Thanks alot ABC! If you are so concerned about the loss of lives ABC, try keeping information to yourselves and NOT broadcasting it everyone from the mountaintop!
Stay tuned.....
Here is an update..... After a week after this story was put out by ABC I read that Iran has uncovered a spy ring..... coincidence?
What should concern you I think is that ABC in this case has decided on it's own that the need to get information out has super-seeded the need to protect Americas security! I am appalled at the lack of respect and responsibility that ABC has shown the Govt. and it's people.
How would letting this information out to be broadcast around the world be helpful in anyway? It is none of the worlds business what we are doing when it comes to covert operations!
By leaking the information, ABC is putting into jeopardy personnel both here in the States and abroad. Thanks alot ABC! If you are so concerned about the loss of lives ABC, try keeping information to yourselves and NOT broadcasting it everyone from the mountaintop!
Stay tuned.....
Here is an update..... After a week after this story was put out by ABC I read that Iran has uncovered a spy ring..... coincidence?
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
When will we say enough is enough......and do something?
We have 12 - 15 million illegals in our country with more crossing every day and breaking our laws by being here everyday. Our elected persons in Congress and Senate are playing games with each other while nothing gets done. I am tired of it. The Senate sits there wasting OUR money trying to pass weak bills that have no teeth in them and expect us to say o.k.. This is wrong.
What I would like to see is a real Bill with some teeth to it. Something that stops the flow of Illegals and will set up some sort of punishment for those who have purposefully pissed on our Sovereignty as a Country by crossing our borders. And PROTECTS OUR BORDERS!
I don't care who you are or where you are from. If you come to this country, come LEGALLY and we have no problems. Contribute to the livelihood of our country by your skills and enjoy the pursuit of happiness.
Should there be a mass deportation? I don't think so. Should we deport people who have arrived ILLEGALLY and believe the idea that we as a Country owe them something just for being here? Yes.
Should illegal immigrants be given legal status? They should over time. I think if they have shown that they are contributing lawfully to OUR society and have shown that they are not here just to leech off of our economy and claim benefits that should not be theirs, and send the money back to where they are from without having to pay taxes? Absolutely NOT.
So while our elected officials have a pissing match to see who has the biggest sack, we have real issues as a Country to deal with.
I live in Nevada. While I love living here, our school system is horrible. I am sure that this state would benefit greatly from investing in our future by hiring qualified experienced teachers. That would be great. Currently, we are ranked 48th or 49 in the country for schooling our young ones. That is terrible! Especially when our great states representative is the MAJORITY LEADER.
How much time and money has been wasted over the last few months paying the salary and benefits of our elected leaders so they can puff out their chests and try to strong-arm the Executive Branch?
If they truly cared about what is going on they would try to put together a bill that would benefit the COUNTRY and not their own political agenda. Stop trying to take care of the special interest groups. We all have special interests and things that we would like to see happen. I think though, and I hope that you agree with me that sometimes you need to set those aside and look at the bigger picture and realize that before we can work on those we need to handle the main special interest of everyone concerned as one country.
If, our elected officials cannot do this then we as a country need to send them a message that this will not be tolerated and we will not give them the authority to represent us as individuals.
They need to be voted out and fresh blood needs to have a crack at it. We give them the honor and the responsibility to govern. If they cannot or will not then, we have the duty as citizens to find someone that will.
Stay tuned........
What I would like to see is a real Bill with some teeth to it. Something that stops the flow of Illegals and will set up some sort of punishment for those who have purposefully pissed on our Sovereignty as a Country by crossing our borders. And PROTECTS OUR BORDERS!
I don't care who you are or where you are from. If you come to this country, come LEGALLY and we have no problems. Contribute to the livelihood of our country by your skills and enjoy the pursuit of happiness.
Should there be a mass deportation? I don't think so. Should we deport people who have arrived ILLEGALLY and believe the idea that we as a Country owe them something just for being here? Yes.
Should illegal immigrants be given legal status? They should over time. I think if they have shown that they are contributing lawfully to OUR society and have shown that they are not here just to leech off of our economy and claim benefits that should not be theirs, and send the money back to where they are from without having to pay taxes? Absolutely NOT.
So while our elected officials have a pissing match to see who has the biggest sack, we have real issues as a Country to deal with.
I live in Nevada. While I love living here, our school system is horrible. I am sure that this state would benefit greatly from investing in our future by hiring qualified experienced teachers. That would be great. Currently, we are ranked 48th or 49 in the country for schooling our young ones. That is terrible! Especially when our great states representative is the MAJORITY LEADER.
How much time and money has been wasted over the last few months paying the salary and benefits of our elected leaders so they can puff out their chests and try to strong-arm the Executive Branch?
If they truly cared about what is going on they would try to put together a bill that would benefit the COUNTRY and not their own political agenda. Stop trying to take care of the special interest groups. We all have special interests and things that we would like to see happen. I think though, and I hope that you agree with me that sometimes you need to set those aside and look at the bigger picture and realize that before we can work on those we need to handle the main special interest of everyone concerned as one country.
If, our elected officials cannot do this then we as a country need to send them a message that this will not be tolerated and we will not give them the authority to represent us as individuals.
They need to be voted out and fresh blood needs to have a crack at it. We give them the honor and the responsibility to govern. If they cannot or will not then, we have the duty as citizens to find someone that will.
Stay tuned........
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