Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Yes, I've heard you say it ...yet, you often are the very ones talking about it.

So, are you really saying you hate it when others talk 

about it?? 


Politics is actually the goings-on of government.

And government is the workings of the business, affairs, or concerns of men and women.  You know ...of the people, by the people, and for the people.

And yes, sometimes the people of government should stay out of certain affairs ...or it could be said that the people should stay out of the people's business. Isn't that like everyone minding their own business?? Am I advocating that??

Not at all ...

Wouldn't this be a form of anarchy??

It could be ...but, not necessarily. It is not good for society to be void of government.

My friend Steve's first year-round job was at a Mental Institution.  He said a small group of teenagers decided they wanted to have anarchy ...and readily expressed this.  Steve told them that anarchy doesn't work.  I was disappointed to hear this because I thought I was going to hear a good mutiny story ...but, I listened because I wanted to hear what Steve had to say.  He is a relative of mine, and I wanted to hear what he relatively had to say.

Steve said that inevitably, what people may want will somehow be in conflict or opposition to what other people want. And he'd told those teenagers in the Mental Institution, "If there was anarchy here, things wouldn't change that much anyway ...things would stay the same, as they are now."

This got their attention, and they insisted, "No, things would be much different!"


Steve calmly insisted, "No, they wouldn't ...because I'm bigger than you, and I like the way things are, so things would stay the same as they are now."


I laughed, but Steve went on to explain that this is only healthy, of course, when ---which was in his case ---people are concerned for the welfare of others.


I knew this was going to be a boring story, but I did understand Steve's point ...once I removed the plank from my own eye.  Those who commit crimes are not for the welfare of others ...as was mostly the case of those in the Mental Institution, who were not laregely mentally ill, but more so ---socially ill.


No lack of compassion for those feisty little fellows ...but, admittedly they were delinquent.  And that delinquency, if not curbed, leads to much confrontation. There is a difference between circus people and pirates like myself ...who may leave home to find a place among a more peaceful crowd. 


You may ask how a pirate finds peace when they are normally considered the torment of the seas. Well, there is much play-acting that goes on ...than actual piracy.  If a pirate wants longevity ...its best to be a friendly pirate, or no pirate at all.  Might be a bit of acceptance you are looking for ...or a little more freedom, an excuse to travel.  You don't need to trim your hair, and bathing is a matter of trickery ...where one laughs at the sport of one falling overboard. But, what fun is there really in trying to uphold the image that many street gangs fight for??


No, that's not for me ...where families or neighborhoods are rather much like anarchy ...and where confrontation is around every corner, always having to watch your back, and where confrontation usually leads to violence.


Steve's wife goes on dog walks where many people congregate with their dogs, walking together ---dogs and people. And there has never been a case of what anyone would call violence.  Yet, I have a friend who said he was walking his dog on a leash, and a pit bull (off leash) attacked his dog at the throat. He pulled out his knife and stabbed the pit bull's throat. Of course, the owner was much more than a little bit unhappy, but my friend said that the pit bull would have killed his dog if he had done nothing.


Of course, mostly no one admits they even have a pit bull, and are very creative with the breeds they claim ...while also claiming no responsibility of their dog's part, or theirs.


Now, there is a similar situation that occurs with people.  And families should not keep a literal leash on any person ...but they should often be restrained or kept in check.  And just like dogs aren't very often violent, those that are must be dealt with. Dogs should be kept in check by their owners, but if they are allowed to run in packs, it would be not that much different than some street gangs. People don't have owners, yet they have parents who should have concern enough to teach them to keep themselves in check.


A police officer's job is difficult ...but their greatest asset to their character is also restraint. To put a leash on themselves, to use discretion is the better part of valor. Anyone who doesn't understand this ...should not be a police officer.  On the other hand, no government should expect their officers to maintain law and order without supporting the very serious need to have at their disposal the necessary plan of action to humanly carry this out.

 

There are many important issues closely related to this one.  All can't be addressed at once, so we are going to move about a bit. 

For many years now, psychologists have debated over

whether certain magazines, movies, or video games help to alleviate the inner drive to act on what they may be fantasizing about ...and the most horrific of these seems to somehow be stemmed from sex or violence, or a combination of the two.  

For one, to what degree do we feel someone needs help with their fantasies ...and wouldn't the addition of maladaptive behaviors increase the preoccupation of the mind, and lead to possible acting on things that otherwise would possibly only be a brief moment in the mind, or a passing thought??  


And here we are to address video games.  The worst aspect with these games is the fact that the person is to take on the role, not merely be a passive observer.

As a pirate knows, there has to be constant caution as to who you can trust ...and a part of that is because the pirate himself knows he can't be trusted.  It brings a sort of unique focus, with tested loyalties ...having to prove you are as bad as the next guy, but your badness has a sort of camaraderie survival aspect to it, making loyalties a sort of mutual benefit. 


Back to the subject of video games ...various of these popular video games rely heavily on war and violence. But, for this to work, there has to be those who work together ...after all, wars are not engaged in by solitary individuals. And this is where loyalties come to play. Yet, the play is serious business ...and it could be said, that they play you, or play on your mind.

There are countless of these video games ...though it can 

serve a point to present an example, rather than present

an entire exhaustive list.  Here is one example that will do:

"Seeing Where Your Loyalties Lie - Quest - World of Warcraft"

There are the anti-war group, and closely aligned to those are the anti-gun group. Whether it be the simplest of weapons, there can be grave harm done ...through the use, or more accurately, misuse, of said weapons. And since weapons are being mentioned, it should be perhaps also mentioned that one of the most dangerous weapons is the tongue. And the combined damage done by all the other weapons ...does not cause a fraction of the harm the tongue does.

Speaking of fractions, what purpose or meaning do some of them carry?? 

What Does It Mean to “Take the Fifth?”

In criminal law, “taking the Fifth,” also called “pleading the Fifth,” is when you refuse to testify under oath because your answers could later be used as evidence against you.
This right is similar to the right to remain silent when being questioned by police officers and comes from the same amendment – the Fifth Amendment in the Bill of Rights, which says that a person can’t “be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.”

How Does It Work?

Typically, you would plead the Fifth when you’re called to testify in a trial or when being deposed. Generally, you can’t refuse to answer any relevant question, unless the answer incriminates you. If your answers to the questions could be used to convict you of a crime, you can assert this right.

The Fifth Amendment generally only protects you against matters that may later incriminate you.  However, in some instances, the spousal privilege, protects you against incriminating statements against your spouse as well.

Monday, September 28, 2015

And this brings me back to the thought of loyalty. There is much to be said on that subject. And one of those conditions of commitment and loyalty is towards one's spouse. 

It also is evidenced in parent-child relationships. There's a certain admiration we often have for love. Sometimes it can be seen as beneficial, and sometimes not so much so. But, who can fault the love that is found in a parent's defense of their child. Yet, some parents do it to a degree where they cross that sometimes fine line of accountability and leadership, ignoring too many wrong actions and avoiding confrontation at all expense ...which arguably could be said is not love.

Ultimately, we can argue almost any point ...yet, it seems to me very difficult to ignore that love comes from God.

And of course, I realize the quick answer to that is that there are many ways that we see God (speaking to His character, not actually seeing Him). But, it can also be said that way too often we see Him incorrectly ...and not to be ignorant to the fact that each differing view could claim that each opposing view sees Him incorrectly.

That is why I don't rely on my own emotions ...but, on the Book. And of course, I realize there are many books and versions of books ...yet, the one I feel speaks of God, and of Jesus in a genuine fashion, is the Bible.

So, when we speak of loyalty, commitment, and guidelines of right & wrong ---yes, things like that ---that is when the Bible is critically important for the survival of these things we should hold dear.

I realize that if I needed a critical operation done on my brain, it would not be as important to me what the acclaimed Doctor believed in ...other than the fact that he believed he could save my life, and had a strong unbending commitment to do so.

Yet, I think it is at this time that I should mention that society has been operating on our brain for some time now. And society often offers disclaimers ...directed towards the One who can save us, and it (society) seems to have an unbending commitment to not only bend us, but to break us.

Therefore, though my physical well-being may be under the care of someone who would not be my first choice to run our country ...on the other hand, it may just be that the capable hands of that person may be the best choice to guide our nation.

I'm speaking of Benjamin Carson. He does not have the political experience of many who are running for President ...yet, is that not rather overstated. Personally, I often feel a bit uncomfortable when someone has lots of experience ...because I question what quality of experience that is. I don't want someone who is experienced at deceiving the public, caving in to special interests groups (which should be labeled, self-interest groups), and compromising the values that made this country strong just so a few feathers aren't ruffled and they can get re-elected.

Yes, I would rather not so much that the leader has so much experience ...as I would that he or she could use sound discretion in choosing those who have the correct kind of leadership skills in the various departments of government. In short, that such a leader could surround themselves with the right people.

When asked whether he would support a Muslim, he did not answer the way that most of the media made it out to be. They mostly left out the part of him saying he would have no problem with them if they denounced Sharia.

Now, I know several people who did not vote for Mitt Romney because they feared he would turn our country into a Mormon country. I feel that was more than a bit far-fetched ...but, I did not rip them for having that point of view. Did they feel Mitt would appoint a bunch of Mormons into the government ...and if so, what would be their vision on how the government would then change?? Or what would be the view of those who would envision us having Muslim leadership?

Truthfully, we already do have many making decisions with much Muslim sympathies ...not allowing them to even mention that the extremists may just be more dangerous than climate change. And under Muslim leadership, wouldn't that negate the right for women to vote? And how would they treat the LGBT? But, clearly, how could they actually call themselves Muslim if they differed from Muslim beliefs?? And if claiming still to be Muslim, where would their loyalties lie?? It seems to me to be just another on a long list of unfair questions ...while avoiding the fair questions.

My loyalties are where it seems Ben Carson's loyalties are. I believe that we should not be accused of supporting today what happened in the Old Testament. I understand why it happened the way it did in the Old Testament ...but, I also believe it's clear the direction Jesus has pointed us in the New Testament, that we should be living by today.

God promised us in the Old Testament what He fulfilled in the New Testament with sending Jesus, and ultimately leading to His death by crucifixion.

Prior to that, Jesus said, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."



Yes, Jesus referred to us in a very special way ...with the loyalty that should exist, which is supposed to exist in marriage.  And I guess it could be said that we have spousal privilege. And we are protected against incriminating evidence that the enemy may attempt to present against us.

Yes, I am a believer ...or as most reference, a Christian.

How is me being a Christian viewed by you ...and is your view any different than how I am seen by a Muslim?? And if you are a Muslim, how does it make you feel when someone says, "Death to the Jews!" "Death to the Christian!" or "Death to America!" ???

I am moved by hearing of such blessed reports ...not death to, but, life to ---eternal life, through Jesus.  As a Christian, I love it when I hear reports of Muslims having dreams and visions of Jesus, revealing the truth to them.  We all should celebrate in our heart, "Salvation to them ...through Jesus!!" 

I am not asking you to support me for public office, but can you support ---or join me, in spirit ---for the joy of those who adhere to the true love of God??  Or do you now consider me as one of those who are a danger to our society which is doing so well in going in the wrong direction, and doesn't need to hear my voice in opposition to that??

And I see many of like mind who are supporting those ideas which are being stressed by people like Ben Carson. We've had plenty of people who've caused us stress ...now, let's stress what is important.  

And neither would I support anyone who would think contrary to God. The only outcome I've seen from those who are proponents of moving further away from God ...those, history seems to show, lead quickly to communist dictatorships. And I certainly do not support that kind of government.  I don't think many of us do, though too many don't see it coming.


As far as the Second Coming goes, many don't see that coming either.

Yet, it certainly will ....