Yahoo - Hollywood Reporter - Denzel Washington Recalls Experiences with Discrimination and N-Word Insults.
Mr. Washington was asked about filming in Boston and mentioned how 30 years ago he attended his wife's one woman show and was called a "nigger" and "boy". I was attending college in Boston at around the same time and lived in an apartment with some other students and they were all "liberal". One day one of the other students told me how he wasn't a bigot but always felt uncomfortable when he saw blacks who owned dogs. He couldn't see them in control.
A day or two after I wrote my last post about racism, I was telling an older friend of mine about what I had seen back in the 60s when a black man and his family were thrown out of a restaurant because it was for whites. My friend had lived during the Watts riots but said he had never seen white only restaurants. He may have and not noticed, he had no reason to lie to me, he is one of my dearest friends and the conversation was in relative privacy.
The thing is that people don't notice what they don't look for. A couple of years ago I was with a black female friend of mine, we were taking a short business trip and rented a room together. She is great fun to be around and we walked around San Diego talking business and people watching. We didn't get any strange looks or attitude. We walked past a couple of gay couples and they didn't seem to get any attitude; but, we had no way of knowing what people were thinking. This happened after my divorce and a couple of my children asked me why my friend and I didn't date. The truth is, we didn't want to ruin our friendship, she was more like a sister. She attended a black church and it was her church members who questioned her being with me. We were working on a business deal and one of our partners disagreed with a decision we were making and told her she should support him because he was black and I was not. She dropped him.
Things are not as bad as they were in the 60s; but, that doesn't mean that bigotry has gone away. We still have Nazis in America and Klansmen and we still have Louis Farrakhan; but, it is not as bad as it was. What we cannot forget is that just because it is not as bad does not mean bigotry has ended. Maybe people just hide it better.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Negroes and Faggots
I thought I would use a title that might get people's attention. I am getting ready to retire, I am officially old. I was born in the 50s. In 1964 I moved east to New England. We took route 66. Get your kicks on route 66. I don't remember most of the event; but, my mother told me that we went to a restaurant on "America's Highway" and stopped to get a meal. She told me that a black man came into the restaurant with his family to get a meal and one of the patrons complained and the man and his family were forced to leave the restaurant. Apparently the white man screamed and complained. It was in the Midwest, I would never live there.
My mother was not pleased. She would be considered liberal and an independent woman long before the woman's rights movement. My father was apparently not in agreement; but, did not complain. He saw blacks as different; but, in the end believed in making his own judgments. He also wanted to vote for George Wallace. Both changed their opinions over time. They didn't really believe in rocking the social order. I take after my mom and do not care about the social order. I think it needs a push every now and then.
I watched a episode of "Quantum Leap" tonight, it was about the Watts riots. I had moved back to Los Angeles by the time the riots hit and my father was a cop with the county or the city at the time. It wasn't until about 1971 that he went into federal law enforcement. In about 1965 or 66 my father took me to Watts with him. I don't remember why; but, he was acting as a cop at the time. It would have been a Sunday and he was probably serving a subpoena. He took me to a restaurant in Watts and I had a nice meal. It was strange being there surrounded by black people getting food at a restaurant when I was still in elementary school and the riots were still fresh in everyone's minds, including mine.
In 1992 we had another riot; but, I was an adult and came downtown during the riots with a 38 police special and it was loaded with very bad bullets, the kind that kill. Nobody tells me I am not allowed in Los Angeles without risking a lot. This is my home and it is that simple. To bad I became a pacifist.
I have a lot of black friends, they think I am crazy because of the jokes I tell. I don't know if they see me as white, I am not, I am Irish. In fact I am what is known as black Irish and it does not refer to my color mostly. I am as a white skinned as you can be; but, black hair (once upon a time), blue eyes and a particular look and home that is not influenced by Vikings. It is said that the Irish are the blacks of Europe and the black Irish, well, we were also considered different. I never forget that I am Irish and that 1/4 of my people were starved to death or that our home was stolen or that we were treated as criminals in our homes or that speaking our language or teaching our language was illegal in our own homes.
1965 and a young boy in Watts having lunch with his dad as his father issued a warrant or whatever. Nobody bothered us, nobody kicked us out of the restaurant and my father was not bothered about having his young son, who was still in elementary school with him in Watts when only a year before we had seen a black family kicked out of a restaurant. Wow.
My father used to call black people negroes. That was considered polite as the word whites used most was "nigger". I don't use profanity on this site as a rule; but, that was what white people called blacks and we should remember that. It is offensive and obscene and dismissive and I hate it. Lets not forget that white people in America used to call black people that because they treated them as second class citizens. Lets remember our whole history so that we do not repeat. Oops, too late. Now we still think it is okay to call gays "fags" or "queers". Lets not forget it.
I think well of Pastor Daniels and was disappointed to see that the church she was a member of believes that the worst thing in the world is to be gay rather than kill people as a soldier. I hope a member of Pastor Daniels family reads this and repeats it to her church. It has value. People will tell me that race is not a choice; but, that being gay is. That may or not be true; but, what does it matter? What if people chose to be black or female, would it then be okay to treat them as less than fully human? What is the crime in being black, female or gay? I am saddened when I see black people treat gays as sub-humans or women as sub-humans. I am equally sad when I see whites do the same, it means they haven't learned either.
When I was in Junior High my school was "integrated". That means that black kids from Watts were bused into white areas. It was one of the first schools to be involved in what was called bussing. Two black kids from the Watts area were bussed into my school and robbed me and threatened me, that did not go well for them in the end. One of them was accidently electrocuted and I watched without helping him. I was cold little boy and had planned on shooting him; but, he left and it became irrelevant. I was not a nice Pimpernel at the time and was busy dealing with my own threats, one more meant nothing to me and the color of the person was irrelevant compared to the threat. This was during the time when I almost choked a white person to death for pushing me to far. He never tried it again and neither did anyone else.
I have a lot of friends that are black and a lot of friends that are gay. I also have a lot of female friends. Oddly enough I have few friends that are white males. I think more about character then I do about color or sexuality or gender or nationality. These are our bigotries that we allow us, people, to be divided by while we have our future stolen by people with power. When we give up hate and bigotry, we destroy power, the power of the world. That is the message that Jesus brought us.
Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. You never know what joy you might find. The love of my life was half Mexican and all woman. Think of all the insults that people might have used against her. Mexicans were still called "wetbacks" in California and women were still called "bitches" and gays were still called "fags". I fell in love with her in 1971 when blacks and Mexicans were still trying to get the right to buy houses in "white" areas. It never occurred to me to think about her color, her nationality or anything other than the fact that she was the sweetest, gentlest and kindest woman that I have ever met in my life. I never considered what others might think, I only cared what her parents thought about me.
I remember the moment I met her, it was in 6th grade and she had skipped a grade. She was really smart. I was too; but, my parents (mother) would not listen to the teachers and let me skip grades. She wanted me to learn to deal with people my own age, people period. My mother wanted me to have empathy for others and I didn't have any at the time. I did not see black or white, everyone was an idiot in my mind, even the teachers. LOL. I didn't even feel part of the human race, I was my own freak and that I met her. ROFL.
I had to stand at the door and greet every student as I entered 6th grade at a school I had never attended before, knew no one at and would only be at for a year and then be in Junior High. I don't remember meeting any of them other than her. Then the teacher asked them all to ask me a question so they could get to know me as I was the outsider once again. All the questions I was asked were superficial and irrelevant except hers. She asked me a two part question and put me on notice that I wasn't the only smart one in the room. She let me know that she saw through me and challenged me and that is when I fell in love, a soulmate.
I couldn't see her well at the time as my eyes had been damaged in an accident and I had not yet received my first pair of glasses. I knew she was female as I had met her at the door; but, she could have been anyone except for the questions she asked me. That was what made me fall in love with her, her questions and her personality that caused her to ask the questions. She asked the questions to let me know that she was watching me and it was not okay if I destroyed everyone else. I fell in love with a soul, not a sex; but she was very female and that is when I learned how important women were because if she was one then they had to be special. I have never considered being gay because she is my love and she is the most I can love another.
If we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, what is the limit and what becomes narcissism? The moment others are not us; but, are instead our neighbors then we must love people that are different than us while still loving ourselves. That means everyone should be loved by us. Our preferences are just that, preferences.
My mother was not pleased. She would be considered liberal and an independent woman long before the woman's rights movement. My father was apparently not in agreement; but, did not complain. He saw blacks as different; but, in the end believed in making his own judgments. He also wanted to vote for George Wallace. Both changed their opinions over time. They didn't really believe in rocking the social order. I take after my mom and do not care about the social order. I think it needs a push every now and then.
I watched a episode of "Quantum Leap" tonight, it was about the Watts riots. I had moved back to Los Angeles by the time the riots hit and my father was a cop with the county or the city at the time. It wasn't until about 1971 that he went into federal law enforcement. In about 1965 or 66 my father took me to Watts with him. I don't remember why; but, he was acting as a cop at the time. It would have been a Sunday and he was probably serving a subpoena. He took me to a restaurant in Watts and I had a nice meal. It was strange being there surrounded by black people getting food at a restaurant when I was still in elementary school and the riots were still fresh in everyone's minds, including mine.
In 1992 we had another riot; but, I was an adult and came downtown during the riots with a 38 police special and it was loaded with very bad bullets, the kind that kill. Nobody tells me I am not allowed in Los Angeles without risking a lot. This is my home and it is that simple. To bad I became a pacifist.
I have a lot of black friends, they think I am crazy because of the jokes I tell. I don't know if they see me as white, I am not, I am Irish. In fact I am what is known as black Irish and it does not refer to my color mostly. I am as a white skinned as you can be; but, black hair (once upon a time), blue eyes and a particular look and home that is not influenced by Vikings. It is said that the Irish are the blacks of Europe and the black Irish, well, we were also considered different. I never forget that I am Irish and that 1/4 of my people were starved to death or that our home was stolen or that we were treated as criminals in our homes or that speaking our language or teaching our language was illegal in our own homes.
1965 and a young boy in Watts having lunch with his dad as his father issued a warrant or whatever. Nobody bothered us, nobody kicked us out of the restaurant and my father was not bothered about having his young son, who was still in elementary school with him in Watts when only a year before we had seen a black family kicked out of a restaurant. Wow.
My father used to call black people negroes. That was considered polite as the word whites used most was "nigger". I don't use profanity on this site as a rule; but, that was what white people called blacks and we should remember that. It is offensive and obscene and dismissive and I hate it. Lets not forget that white people in America used to call black people that because they treated them as second class citizens. Lets remember our whole history so that we do not repeat. Oops, too late. Now we still think it is okay to call gays "fags" or "queers". Lets not forget it.
I think well of Pastor Daniels and was disappointed to see that the church she was a member of believes that the worst thing in the world is to be gay rather than kill people as a soldier. I hope a member of Pastor Daniels family reads this and repeats it to her church. It has value. People will tell me that race is not a choice; but, that being gay is. That may or not be true; but, what does it matter? What if people chose to be black or female, would it then be okay to treat them as less than fully human? What is the crime in being black, female or gay? I am saddened when I see black people treat gays as sub-humans or women as sub-humans. I am equally sad when I see whites do the same, it means they haven't learned either.
When I was in Junior High my school was "integrated". That means that black kids from Watts were bused into white areas. It was one of the first schools to be involved in what was called bussing. Two black kids from the Watts area were bussed into my school and robbed me and threatened me, that did not go well for them in the end. One of them was accidently electrocuted and I watched without helping him. I was cold little boy and had planned on shooting him; but, he left and it became irrelevant. I was not a nice Pimpernel at the time and was busy dealing with my own threats, one more meant nothing to me and the color of the person was irrelevant compared to the threat. This was during the time when I almost choked a white person to death for pushing me to far. He never tried it again and neither did anyone else.
I have a lot of friends that are black and a lot of friends that are gay. I also have a lot of female friends. Oddly enough I have few friends that are white males. I think more about character then I do about color or sexuality or gender or nationality. These are our bigotries that we allow us, people, to be divided by while we have our future stolen by people with power. When we give up hate and bigotry, we destroy power, the power of the world. That is the message that Jesus brought us.
Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. You never know what joy you might find. The love of my life was half Mexican and all woman. Think of all the insults that people might have used against her. Mexicans were still called "wetbacks" in California and women were still called "bitches" and gays were still called "fags". I fell in love with her in 1971 when blacks and Mexicans were still trying to get the right to buy houses in "white" areas. It never occurred to me to think about her color, her nationality or anything other than the fact that she was the sweetest, gentlest and kindest woman that I have ever met in my life. I never considered what others might think, I only cared what her parents thought about me.
I remember the moment I met her, it was in 6th grade and she had skipped a grade. She was really smart. I was too; but, my parents (mother) would not listen to the teachers and let me skip grades. She wanted me to learn to deal with people my own age, people period. My mother wanted me to have empathy for others and I didn't have any at the time. I did not see black or white, everyone was an idiot in my mind, even the teachers. LOL. I didn't even feel part of the human race, I was my own freak and that I met her. ROFL.
I had to stand at the door and greet every student as I entered 6th grade at a school I had never attended before, knew no one at and would only be at for a year and then be in Junior High. I don't remember meeting any of them other than her. Then the teacher asked them all to ask me a question so they could get to know me as I was the outsider once again. All the questions I was asked were superficial and irrelevant except hers. She asked me a two part question and put me on notice that I wasn't the only smart one in the room. She let me know that she saw through me and challenged me and that is when I fell in love, a soulmate.
I couldn't see her well at the time as my eyes had been damaged in an accident and I had not yet received my first pair of glasses. I knew she was female as I had met her at the door; but, she could have been anyone except for the questions she asked me. That was what made me fall in love with her, her questions and her personality that caused her to ask the questions. She asked the questions to let me know that she was watching me and it was not okay if I destroyed everyone else. I fell in love with a soul, not a sex; but she was very female and that is when I learned how important women were because if she was one then they had to be special. I have never considered being gay because she is my love and she is the most I can love another.
If we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, what is the limit and what becomes narcissism? The moment others are not us; but, are instead our neighbors then we must love people that are different than us while still loving ourselves. That means everyone should be loved by us. Our preferences are just that, preferences.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
New Technology for Pimpernel
I went out and bought a Nintendo WII U. I also got a Netflix account. It took two days to figure out how to use either. LOL. I have an IQ above 155 and I couldn't figure out how to program my tv to take HDMI from the video game. The tv didn't do it automatically because it is 7 years old. After figuring out how to play video games on my tv, I tried to set up my new laptop, it is a hybrid tablet. I have no idea how to use it. It took a day and calling tech support to use the laptop. It took a half day to figure out how to set up and use my new wireless scanner printer (I like it a lot).
It was a lot of technology to learn in a couple of days. The printer alone took an hour of my time just to download the files. I also bought some really nice speakers for my new tablet hybrid. I will try and post some interesting news stories in the next few days.
It was a lot of technology to learn in a couple of days. The printer alone took an hour of my time just to download the files. I also bought some really nice speakers for my new tablet hybrid. I will try and post some interesting news stories in the next few days.
Friday, August 29, 2014
What Sex Laws Should We Have?
For anyone reading this that has not followed the blog, lets list some simple facts. I preach, I have only been with one woman in my whole and have turned down plenty of opportunities, I have three daughters, am a pacifist and all of this can be easily seen by reading previous posts. I believe the most complete connection we can have with another, the chance to be one only occurs between a man and a woman; but, I don't think people go to hell for being gay and preach to gays without ever telling them to change. Don't think you know my beliefs or try and place your hangups or biases or bigotry on me and don't presume to know my opinion. Read what I have to say and think. That means to just listen.
Some people would say that we should not have laws about sex. That would mean that things like child molestation, necrophilia (if you don't know that word, you don't need to), bestiality and rape would all be legal. I don't believe in that, I think they should be illegal. I believe we can outlaw non-consensual sex, that is violence against another. I don't believe you should be allowed to force yourself on anyone or being that has not expressed consent or allowed things to proceed further. At some point you do have to say no or consent may have already been rightfully presumed. We have to figure out where that line might be.
I believe a man can rape a woman even if they are married. Yep, it has to be consensual. I don't believe that the rules of the game are the same when you are not married. There is a reason. My wife enjoyed sex with me and I enjoyed sex with her, for 25 years. If my wife had a complaint it was that we did not have enough sex. The Pimpernel does not tell stories or lie. My wife also liked waking up to sex and when I was rested enough I would wake her up sex, I would please her as she woke, as she was in that in-between place, in between dreaming and waking. I assure you, men enjoy waking the same way if their wives choose to so surprise them. Is that consensual sex? Heck, my wife and I had sex drunk after more than one party. Was that consensual on either of our parts? It felt good and the time and we both enjoyed it and neither ever complained.
I have no interest and am turned off with having sex with two women or entering a woman from behind. These things hold absolutely no attraction to me. A female friend of mine once asked me if I would engage in such activities if my wife had really wanted to experience them. The answer to two women is simple, NO. I would not do it. I am not interested in sex, I am interested in being with someone who attaches to me completely. That left one question and I still cannot answer that. Today, I think my answer would be yes. I would want to please my mate in whatever way I could without violating my own principles. Don't forget I am a pacifist.
What if I really wanted to have sex from behind and my wife did too. Would it be wrong to do such a thing? Should that be illegal? Mutual consent for something that can be done safely? At what point in time do we deem consensual acts to be illegal? Sex with children is easy to put aside, consent requires understanding and a 5 year old does not understand what sex means. They cannot give consent. A corpse cannot give consent, an animal cannot give consent, a person in a coma cannot give consent; but, a person who consents to have drunk sex in advance of getting drunk can give consent.
My wife and I got drunk on our honeymoon night and had sex. Would you wish to jail me because she was drunk? A college girl who is not engaged who gets drunk and a young man who wobbles her to his room and then sleeps with her while she is asleep is not sleeping with the woman in a consensual situation. He is a criminal. He has no idea as to what she expects from him, she is passed out. I had a right to expect more from the woman I married and had children by. I already knew what she liked and what we had come to expect from one another over time. She liked it when I woke her up with sex.
The issue I am discussing is called "informed" consent. It means more than saying yes or no. It refers to reasonableness of exceptions. Let us consider an extreme example of factual situations that might occur. Let us assume that the douche bag, Stephan Hawking, was with a woman. Let us say that he typed out, "Lets have sex" to the woman and it took 20 minutes for him to write it out. Now, let us assume that she said yes, undressed him; put him on the bed and made love to him. If he got back in his chair and typed out, "No, I changed my mind, lets not have sex" after they slept together, would she be guilty of rape?
Now lets talk about how the media manipulates the truth to get you to react.
Some people would say that we should not have laws about sex. That would mean that things like child molestation, necrophilia (if you don't know that word, you don't need to), bestiality and rape would all be legal. I don't believe in that, I think they should be illegal. I believe we can outlaw non-consensual sex, that is violence against another. I don't believe you should be allowed to force yourself on anyone or being that has not expressed consent or allowed things to proceed further. At some point you do have to say no or consent may have already been rightfully presumed. We have to figure out where that line might be.
I believe a man can rape a woman even if they are married. Yep, it has to be consensual. I don't believe that the rules of the game are the same when you are not married. There is a reason. My wife enjoyed sex with me and I enjoyed sex with her, for 25 years. If my wife had a complaint it was that we did not have enough sex. The Pimpernel does not tell stories or lie. My wife also liked waking up to sex and when I was rested enough I would wake her up sex, I would please her as she woke, as she was in that in-between place, in between dreaming and waking. I assure you, men enjoy waking the same way if their wives choose to so surprise them. Is that consensual sex? Heck, my wife and I had sex drunk after more than one party. Was that consensual on either of our parts? It felt good and the time and we both enjoyed it and neither ever complained.
I have no interest and am turned off with having sex with two women or entering a woman from behind. These things hold absolutely no attraction to me. A female friend of mine once asked me if I would engage in such activities if my wife had really wanted to experience them. The answer to two women is simple, NO. I would not do it. I am not interested in sex, I am interested in being with someone who attaches to me completely. That left one question and I still cannot answer that. Today, I think my answer would be yes. I would want to please my mate in whatever way I could without violating my own principles. Don't forget I am a pacifist.
What if I really wanted to have sex from behind and my wife did too. Would it be wrong to do such a thing? Should that be illegal? Mutual consent for something that can be done safely? At what point in time do we deem consensual acts to be illegal? Sex with children is easy to put aside, consent requires understanding and a 5 year old does not understand what sex means. They cannot give consent. A corpse cannot give consent, an animal cannot give consent, a person in a coma cannot give consent; but, a person who consents to have drunk sex in advance of getting drunk can give consent.
My wife and I got drunk on our honeymoon night and had sex. Would you wish to jail me because she was drunk? A college girl who is not engaged who gets drunk and a young man who wobbles her to his room and then sleeps with her while she is asleep is not sleeping with the woman in a consensual situation. He is a criminal. He has no idea as to what she expects from him, she is passed out. I had a right to expect more from the woman I married and had children by. I already knew what she liked and what we had come to expect from one another over time. She liked it when I woke her up with sex.
The issue I am discussing is called "informed" consent. It means more than saying yes or no. It refers to reasonableness of exceptions. Let us consider an extreme example of factual situations that might occur. Let us assume that the douche bag, Stephan Hawking, was with a woman. Let us say that he typed out, "Lets have sex" to the woman and it took 20 minutes for him to write it out. Now, let us assume that she said yes, undressed him; put him on the bed and made love to him. If he got back in his chair and typed out, "No, I changed my mind, lets not have sex" after they slept together, would she be guilty of rape?
Now lets talk about how the media manipulates the truth to get you to react.
Yahoo - Reuters - California passes 'yes-means-yes' campus sexual assault bill.
The media portrays this as a competition between two sides, the sides that say everything is rape and those who say everything is legal so long as there is not a complaint. Is that true, is that really the question, is the question that simple?
Let me ask this question. A woman goes to a frat party and someone slips her ecstasy, she approaches a man who has no idea that she is high and she starts rubbing him and he gets turned on and starts making out with her, they end up in bed and she has sex with him, is he guilty of rape when he didn't know she had been drugged?
None of this is or will ever be an issue in my life. It is still worthy or consideration when looking at the bigger question, consent. Where is the point of no return? Or what must someone do to indicate that they have reached that point or changed their mind?
Look beyond the headlines and emotions, ask yourself the deeper questions. Agree, disagree with me; but, don't simplify the issues, address them and I will posts responses that are not foul.
My Ever Changing Surroundings
For a little more than four years I have had people living with me that needed a place to stay. One is a younger man that needed a start and I helped him to find his start. He is now engaged and about to move out. I am both sad and happy. We have had plenty of good times and I exposed him to many new restaurants and flavors. As we both like to cook this has been fun for me. I am thrilled that he has found a good job with real career opportunities and a chance to have a decent life. Tonight he thanked me for all that I had done. He is the last of the many people who lived with me in my home.
For the past seven years I have housed so many people that I have lost count and they are all in better situations today. I guess it is only right that as I prepare to retire, they all go their ways. I guess I am feeling empty nest syndrome. My children grew and moved out, the people I helped with a place to stay have all moved out and the people I mentored in business are all now pursuing their careers (and quite well if I may say so).
This last young man was different. I didn't know him at all when I let him move into my house. He was a friend of a friend of one of my daughters and had just lost the couch that he was sleeping on at another home. He was trying to correct a DUI that he had gotten. We took care of that problem. He was a little confused at first, I don't think anyone had ever given him a chance like I did.
At first when he moved into my house we used to talk and listen to music and comedy sketches on my laptop. Later he brought in one friend and then another. Two of them did not have living fathers or strong father figures. Another young man that lived with me for awhile along with his girlfriend did not have strong father figures to look to. I sort of became a dad to these young people.
All these young people watched what I did and how. If I would have done other than my word they have noticed; but, I think I lived my word whether you agree with my beliefs or not. The media doesn't seem to believe that good older male figures (father figures) are important anymore. It is. It is very important. My dad was a great dad and I have always believed that if I could be as good a role model as him, I would have achieved the world.
Sometimes when I do something new and well, I want to call my dad and tell him or ask him how he would deal with a particular situation. Unfortunately my father passed away a few years ago. I am fortunate, I have an older male friend who I can call and bounce ideas off of. He used to be my boss and is retired and now I am about to retire and I still need to have him around.
You might ask yourself what I get in return for mentoring or helping others. It is pretty simple. When one of the young people I helped gets further ahead and tells me how something I did was helpful to them in making the right decision. I feel fantastic, it means I spent my time well helping another. Heck, one of my greatest work achievements was mentoring a young man who is kicking butt and taking names and for the right reasons. He is also now mentoring a young man that had a rough beginning and no good father figure. The young man I mentored is now older and is mentoring another, he already had a fantastic father; but, I taught him the world. I think I was like an older brother to him. I love him like a younger brother.
Anyways, I am sad tonight to see the last of them go. I am sad to see this young man go; but, I am also glad. He is off to make his journey and that is why I help young men, to see them make their journey. I do not have any boys, I have three daughters and I love them all and am proud of them all. I also have two son in laws; but, they both have their own fathers.
I am proud to see young people grow up that were part of my extended family; but, am sad that our time together is over. When I was young my job was to learn. When I became a young adult, my job was to show what I could do. As I became middle aged my job was to see how far I could take it all and how much of my integrity I could retain. I am retiring and will have a new job. I wish I could call my dad and ask what that new job is.
For the past seven years I have housed so many people that I have lost count and they are all in better situations today. I guess it is only right that as I prepare to retire, they all go their ways. I guess I am feeling empty nest syndrome. My children grew and moved out, the people I helped with a place to stay have all moved out and the people I mentored in business are all now pursuing their careers (and quite well if I may say so).
This last young man was different. I didn't know him at all when I let him move into my house. He was a friend of a friend of one of my daughters and had just lost the couch that he was sleeping on at another home. He was trying to correct a DUI that he had gotten. We took care of that problem. He was a little confused at first, I don't think anyone had ever given him a chance like I did.
At first when he moved into my house we used to talk and listen to music and comedy sketches on my laptop. Later he brought in one friend and then another. Two of them did not have living fathers or strong father figures. Another young man that lived with me for awhile along with his girlfriend did not have strong father figures to look to. I sort of became a dad to these young people.
All these young people watched what I did and how. If I would have done other than my word they have noticed; but, I think I lived my word whether you agree with my beliefs or not. The media doesn't seem to believe that good older male figures (father figures) are important anymore. It is. It is very important. My dad was a great dad and I have always believed that if I could be as good a role model as him, I would have achieved the world.
Sometimes when I do something new and well, I want to call my dad and tell him or ask him how he would deal with a particular situation. Unfortunately my father passed away a few years ago. I am fortunate, I have an older male friend who I can call and bounce ideas off of. He used to be my boss and is retired and now I am about to retire and I still need to have him around.
You might ask yourself what I get in return for mentoring or helping others. It is pretty simple. When one of the young people I helped gets further ahead and tells me how something I did was helpful to them in making the right decision. I feel fantastic, it means I spent my time well helping another. Heck, one of my greatest work achievements was mentoring a young man who is kicking butt and taking names and for the right reasons. He is also now mentoring a young man that had a rough beginning and no good father figure. The young man I mentored is now older and is mentoring another, he already had a fantastic father; but, I taught him the world. I think I was like an older brother to him. I love him like a younger brother.
Anyways, I am sad tonight to see the last of them go. I am sad to see this young man go; but, I am also glad. He is off to make his journey and that is why I help young men, to see them make their journey. I do not have any boys, I have three daughters and I love them all and am proud of them all. I also have two son in laws; but, they both have their own fathers.
I am proud to see young people grow up that were part of my extended family; but, am sad that our time together is over. When I was young my job was to learn. When I became a young adult, my job was to show what I could do. As I became middle aged my job was to see how far I could take it all and how much of my integrity I could retain. I am retiring and will have a new job. I wish I could call my dad and ask what that new job is.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Robin Williams and a Movie You Didn't See and Stuff
My favorite comedian that was also an actor is Don Rickles. In all my years as a stage manager the only person I knew willing to deliver standup was me and I am far from great at it, I just like talking before crowds. Comedy is hard and standup is the hardest. You have to believe in every joke and when one fails you fear they all will fail. At least when I am preaching I don't have to worry if the joke fails as the point is always more important.
When I am preaching, the humor is meant to expose a truth. The Jews asked for rules and God them the ten commandments. They did not go into exile for having gays, they stoned them to death. They went into exile and lost everything because they violated the ten commandments. Jesus reinforced this thought in that when they asked him which was the most important commandment he told them it was to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. When I preach I have told gay people that they didn't even make the top ten of sins and Jesus never bothered mentioning them. That "top ten" reference is done in the form of a joke to highlight a point.
Our biggest problem is not that their are homosexuals in America or that if the government approves them being together they can get a tax break and inherit from one another. Our biggest problem is that we have ignored the top ten and the one that Jesus chose. What if we stopped killing one another or stealing from one another (that is aimed at JP Morgan, our financial system and a government that supports the financial system stealing from us) and cheating on one another, breaking our agreements which is lying. It was the institutional (society wide and accepting corruption) that destroyed Israel, not homosexuals.
The effective use of humor is to make a point that people will remember. Often comedy comes from pain. One of my best jokes was told during my colonoscopy with a camera 6 feet up my 5 foot, 8 inch frame. The best story teller with a point was probably George Carlin or for those of you in England, a Texan named Bill Hicks. They told stories and tried to help us see how silly this world is organized.
Robin Williams did improv and was great at it; but, he was even better when he was making a point in a movie, it gave him a point to steer towards. He got a number of awards for his acting and one of the films he made was called "The Best of Times". It is supposedly a comedy; but, is really a film about mistakes, regret and redemption. I am providing you a link to Hulu of the movie.
Hulu - The Best of Times
Now a couple of strange news items.
When I am preaching, the humor is meant to expose a truth. The Jews asked for rules and God them the ten commandments. They did not go into exile for having gays, they stoned them to death. They went into exile and lost everything because they violated the ten commandments. Jesus reinforced this thought in that when they asked him which was the most important commandment he told them it was to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. When I preach I have told gay people that they didn't even make the top ten of sins and Jesus never bothered mentioning them. That "top ten" reference is done in the form of a joke to highlight a point.
Our biggest problem is not that their are homosexuals in America or that if the government approves them being together they can get a tax break and inherit from one another. Our biggest problem is that we have ignored the top ten and the one that Jesus chose. What if we stopped killing one another or stealing from one another (that is aimed at JP Morgan, our financial system and a government that supports the financial system stealing from us) and cheating on one another, breaking our agreements which is lying. It was the institutional (society wide and accepting corruption) that destroyed Israel, not homosexuals.
The effective use of humor is to make a point that people will remember. Often comedy comes from pain. One of my best jokes was told during my colonoscopy with a camera 6 feet up my 5 foot, 8 inch frame. The best story teller with a point was probably George Carlin or for those of you in England, a Texan named Bill Hicks. They told stories and tried to help us see how silly this world is organized.
Robin Williams did improv and was great at it; but, he was even better when he was making a point in a movie, it gave him a point to steer towards. He got a number of awards for his acting and one of the films he made was called "The Best of Times". It is supposedly a comedy; but, is really a film about mistakes, regret and redemption. I am providing you a link to Hulu of the movie.
Hulu - The Best of Times
Now a couple of strange news items.
Yahoo - Why more U.S. companies will flee to Canada. Not complicated, they are moving to Canada to avoid paying taxes. At the same time they want to claim that their jobs are in America. In fact, Burger King is one of the ones that wants to move to Canada and recently supported a change in the rules that now claims that assembling a hamburger should be treated as a manufacturing job. You can write your own joke; but, I assure you, the joke is on us.
Companies in America have asked to be treated as people. I actually believe in that; but, they must then be treated equally as people and pay taxes the same as other residents. In Canada the average person has a higher tax rate than their billion and multi-billion dollar fellow Canadians. The Canadians pay for universal healthcare and America does not. Yet did not Burger King complain about "Obamacare"? The minimum wage is higher in Canada; but, didn't the fast food companies complain about raising the minimum wage? Maybe these companies just love more social programs and don't feel the US is prepared to provide them. Maybe that's why we sent all of our manufacturing jobs to Communist China. I don't think so. The rise of Globalism and the fact that our political class sold us out to the special interests (wealthy that could promise them a return on their vote) means that we do need to reconsider how income tax is calculated.
I would recommend that income tax only be charged by the federal government. I would also eliminate all deductions and have a simple flat tax. For people that make below the poverty line, I would charge not income tax. It makes no sense to tax people on welfare when we pay for that. Lets say everyone, including companies were charged a flat 15% on all profits, inheritance and any manner of income.
Now some might want to ask about bank bailouts or corporate bailouts. As people, I would give them the same benefits as other people on welfare or disability. $300 a month in food subsidies and another $300 in expenses. I don't know what we gave JP Morgan or GM; but, I think it was a lot more, maybe billions. Think about that.
During the 80s and 90s "corporate raiders" bought stock in American companies and then sold the assets off to China. Keep that in mind. You see the companies were worth more for their parts than their regular income, even though they made a regular income. People stopped buying stock for the annual return (dividend or participation in the profit) and more for the stock value (short term valuations).
Educating Humanity - FBI Interrogates NBC Cameraman For Filming UFO - NBC News Report. I don't really care about the post by the blogger. I have no idea what was going on, I am much more interested in why the FBI interrogated a cameraman over what he filmed. Lets say it wasn't a UFO, okay, then what are they afraid it was that was captured on film and why give him a lie detector test? What did he film and more importantly, why give him a lie detector test?
Have a great week.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Getting Better
I did not get up till like 3 today and every muscle hurt; but, the fever has broken and that is valuable. I will continue to rest tomorrow and hopefully will be fully functional by Wednesday, or at least as functional as I usually am.
I am happy to report that four people have in fact met the ALS challenge that I made. I will not be posting all of the videos as this blog is still anonymous and I respect that. This blog is about 7 years old and I have never made a dime from it, requested a dime or given away peoples identities.
I am happy to report that four people have in fact met the ALS challenge that I made. I will not be posting all of the videos as this blog is still anonymous and I respect that. This blog is about 7 years old and I have never made a dime from it, requested a dime or given away peoples identities.
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