Let’s Stop Catering to Attention Whores

So now the asshole from Gainesville, Florida – the so-called pastor, who burned the Quran – is back in town to make trouble again. I’m not a violent person; in fact, I abhor violence. But I fear that I would feel nothing upon hearing that someone beat the hell out of Terry Jones, the idiot in question. How dare he come to Dearborn, the home of Michigan’s largest Arab population, to march and condemn Muslims during the Arab International Festival? What possible good can come of it?

The twisted pastor is here for one reason – his picture will be on the front pages of local newspapers, and that surely makes this attention whore’s private parts tingle. But it makes me absolutely ill. What’s wrong with us? We know how to stop people like Terry Jones - turn off the damned cameras! Attention whores wither and die when cameras and reporters disappear.

Everybody knows their game. We’ve all worked with them, people who have to be in the middle of everything all the time. And in every office or plant, there’s a rabble rouser – somebody who isn’t content unless they’re stirring up shit. They don’t worry about the consequences or who they hurt, they just thrive on the tension they create and the resulting attention they get. We have to stop feeding their narcissism.

We need to grow up and turn away from these walking human car wrecks. Don’t give them what they want. They’re ignorant malcontents who aren’t satisfied unless they’ve gotten everybody inflamed. Walk away! And don’t watch Fox News, master of distortion and leader of the attention whore media. Fox News loves the feeding frenzy. Ignore Terry Jones, and he’ll crawl back under the rock from which he slithered.

Photo by: M.V. Jantzen©
Title: Pastor in Black Leather
Location: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvjantzen/5495632992/
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

Let’s Stop Catering to Attention Whores

Happy New Year - Pull Out Those Guns!!

What’s happening to this country? I live in an upscale Detroit suburb, a neighborhood where, for the most part, neighbors coexist peacefully and life is good. In the 15 years that I’ve been in this house, there’s been only a smattering of guns fired on New Year’s Eve. I used to think it was a few drunken idiots doing what idiots do. But last night made my blood run cold. I heard so many guns firing that our sub could’ve competed with the worst areas of Detroit. It made me sick. I wouldn’t even let the dog out until 1:00 a.m., fearing she’d get shot. WTF?!

This country is alone in the industrialized world in promoting the widespread ownership of firearms. I won’t even talk about the gun lobby, because I’m not a violent person, but my wishes for those twisted people are definitely from my dark side. We are going to regret caving in to them 100 times over. Just think about what’s going on here.

I’m constantly hearing how just about anyone can buy a gun. There are exposes on TV shows about how individuals get caught selling guns to people without permits, or in one case that I saw recently, without even a driver’s license. Individuals apparently don’t have to do background checks, so any nut case can get a gun.

And what’s a typical gun buyer like? The NRA would tell you it’s a law-abiding citizen trying to protect his or her property. Bull shit! Have you gone into a gun shop or sporting goods store to see what kind of people are looking at guns? I’d love to see detailed stats on gun buyers, because I believe they’re largely uneducated people, many of whom surely have personality issues (anger, obsessive-compulsive, paranoia, post traumatic stress disorder from the horrors of war, etc., etc.). Are those the people you want walking around with guns? Spend a little time at a gun counter, especially one in a more rural location. It’ll open your eyes.

Of course, the typical gun owner is male, although plenty of women are succumbing to the gun lobby’s scare tactics. To a lot of men, guns are power. And it’s the best ever phallic symbol. Hell, if you have a gun, you don’t need any enhancements, if you know what I mean. It gives some of them that “mine’s bigger than yours” warm and cozy feeling. And it allows them to be the shoot ‘em up cowboy of their childhood whenever they feel the urge.

I know of people who have three guns within reach at all times in their homes. And they live in decent neighborhoods. What in hell are they preparing for? If they’re going to get robbed, it’s most likely to be when they’re not at home. And guess what’ll end up stolen – yep, their weapons, so that the thieves can use them to commit other crimes.

Obviously, most of these guns aren’t for hunting – they’re strictly intended to use on people. That’s not to say I think hunting is fine. For me, unless your family doesn’t have enough food, and you’re hunting to put meat on the table, it’s wrong. Some Christians say that God put animals on earth for us to use. So he created bears, so that you can mount a bear head on your wall? Yeah, that makes sense to me. I wonder how your God will judge you for killing his creatures because you think blowing them away is a “sport.” I’d love to hear that conversation.

Finally, Michigan’s become known for its crack-pot militia groups. Have you ever read or watched an interview with any of those people? That’ll keep you awake nights. Yes, we’re going to regret that the gun lobby has prevailed, when the original right to bear arms was because we lived in a newly-settled and uncivilized land. Back then, the guns protected and fed the settlers. Now the citizens need to be protected from the guns. God help us.

Happy New Year - Pull Out Those Guns!!

Another Confused State of Michigan Employee

I just watched The View and came away incensed, only this time it wasn’t because of the incredibly irritating Elisabeth Hasselbeck. No, it was my home state, Michigan, that made me crazy today. First we have an Assistant Attorney General, Andrew Shervill, who stalked and harassed a university student leader simply because he’s gay. (Incredibly, Shervill has not been fired to date.) And now, mere weeks after the Shervill debacle, another brilliant State employee, Tyra Kahn, has surfaced.

One of the “Hot Topics” on The View was about a woman in Ann Arbor who advertised on her church’s bulletin board for a “Christian roommate.” As a result, Tyra Kahn, an obvious brain trust in Michigan’s Department of Civil Rights, actually filed a complaint, citing this woman for discrimination. WTF?!

Apparently, Kahn doesn’t know that the federal housing laws have absolutely nothing to do with selecting a roommate. Wake up woman! A roommate is in your home, in your face! You have the right to choose with whom you live. And because it’s your home, you can put whatever restrictions you want on the prospective roommate.

Would someone please give Ms. Kahn a job she can handle? These days, I’m almost ashamed to say I’m from Michigan. Maybe the State should start requiring intelligence tests and psychological evaluations for all new hires. And, while the HR people are at it, they should examine a lot of the existing employees, as well. We don’t need any more ridiculous crap like this.

Another Confused State of Michigan Employee

A RWNJ is trying to take Michigan’s 9th Congressional District

Watch out, Michigan! There’s a right wing nut job trying to unseat Gary Peters in the 9th Congressional District in November. His name is Rocky Raczkowski. At least, that’s his name now – it used to be Andrew Edward Raczkowski. But it appears he wants to look like a prize fight contender, so I guess he thought Rocky would be more appropriate.

This is a guy who’s so right wing that he got Bat Shit Crazy Phyllis Schlafly to speak at a recent fundraiser. Remember her – the woman who chastised other women in the ‘70s for wanting jobs, while she worked as an attorney? Phyllis Schlafly has been the object of my utter disgust ever since. Having her speak at his fundraiser tells me all I need to know about good old Rocky. Makes him sound more like Bullwinkle.

But wait, there’s more. Rocky ‘s a Birther! According to the Rochester Citizen, this is what he said about the President’s citizenship at a forum in June:

“You have a president that seems to be, um … well … I don’t know if he even has been born in the United States, but … until I see a birth certificate.” Here’s a link to the story:

http://bit.ly/drqeqd

Well, his English just qualified him for the TeaKlan, even though he appears to have all his teeth. Have you been born in the United States, Rocky? And what about your wife – has she been born here, too? (What kind of name is Amalia Kaddo, anyway, Rocky? Is she here legally?)

The forum was sponsored by a Tea Party group. Now there’s a surprise – another arrogant scammer leading the gullible TeaSheep around by their noses. We don’t need him representing our interests.

A RWNJ is trying to take Michigan’s 9th Congressional District

My EMail to Bart Stupak

On 3/20/10, I went to Bart Stupak’s website and angrily sent the following email, which I admit could’ve been better written:

“So rather than allow a woman to abort an unwanted fetus, you prefer to see an unwanted baby born addicted and then neglected and abused? How does that make any sense at all?

Nobody likes abortion, but it must remain an option. I don't see right-wing control freaks stepping up and adopting those at-risk babies from the mothers who didn't want them to begin with and don't love them once they're born. How many have you brought home?

How many people, who are already alive and suffering, will die if you and others like you defeat health care reform? And how is that not on your conscience? Do you think that sits well with your God? How dare you sentence so many people to suffering and premature death?

I'm not in your district, thank God. But I'll do everything I can to help those who will prevent you from being re-elected. You will pay for deciding when poor people should die."

My EMail to Bart Stupak