Accountability

Everyone in a position of authority must be held accountable by someone.
Ideally by the people they have authority over.

Social Justice in my mind

There is no true equality in the world. Some have advantages over others.
Physical, mental, social
Some given, some inherited, some paid for, some worked for
Instant or over time

Regardless
There should be Equal Opportunity in all areas.

Communities should ensure those within have their basic needs met.
Affordable access to safe shelter, healthy food, adequate health care, transportation.
Participation in creating and enforcing laws.
These things ensure the health of a society. If a group of people don't have these things, they negatively affect the rest of society.

Power

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Power is the ability to get people to do things they wouldn't choose to do on their own do.

Confucius said...there is peace in the world

When things are investigated, then true knowledge is achieved;
When true knowledge is achieved, then the will becomes sincere;
When the will is sincere, then the heart is set right;
When the heart is set right, then the personal life is cultivated;
When the personal life is cultivated, then the family life is regulated;
When the family life is regulated, then the national life is orderly;
And when the national life is orderly, then there is peace in the world.

All Lives Matter?

Imperialism
The tool of imperialism is divide and conquer.
Those in power only remain in control when the oppressed are in fear of each other.
When the oppressed justify the oppression of others.

When everyone in America sees themselves in a person killed by the police, we will know justice.
When people stop making excuses for those who kill others.
When people stop justifying the murder of others.
We will unite.

All Lives Will Matter When We All Act Like It

Deep Thought

Culture is a spectre
when communities are falling apart
Who knows their neighbor?
Who supports their neighbor?
Rites of passage that bring children into adulthood
that give them purpose amongst their people

interdependent.
The reality that harms us all or lifts us all

Deep Thought

Culture is a spectre
when communities are falling apart
Who knows their neighbor?
Who supports their neighbor?
Rites of passage that bring children into adulthood
that give them purpose amongst their people

interdependent.
The reality that harms us all or lifts us all

The World Is Ours

Society

Every generation must ask 

how do we interact with each other 

What must we prevent

What is sacred
How do we share information

what consequences do we face when we break contracts

cause suffering 

how do we prevent harm to ourselves and one another 

these questions cannot be answered by previous generations

How do we organize ourselves

How do we use resources

How do we live together

How do we support each other

There is always a better way

Always room for improvement

We have come so far technologically 

Yet we can't resolve conflict without taking lives

We can do better

Letter to My Representatives

Gun Control for Civilians and Law Enforcement.

I have served in the U.S. Navy. We are trained that Deadly Force is only justified in certain circumstances including self defense and the defense of others. Deadly force may only be used when lesser means cannot be reasonably employed or have failed and the risk of death or serious bodily harm to innocent persons is not increased by its use. We shall give an oral warning before using deadly force. I have been trained in less than lethal means of handling threats. 

We adhere to principles of threat assessment. We can not use deadly force against someone unless they show capability, opportunity and intent to cause death or serious bodily harm. We know that intent is the hardest thing to decipher, but merely possessing a weapon is not a show of intent. Especially in countries where weapon possession is legal. 

 We also adhere to the principle of disciplined restraint. We are aware of the implications of using deadly force in a foreign land against foreign military or civilians. We are training to assess a situation to use less than lethal methods even if deadly force is justified.

I do not understand how I, as a member of the military providing security in foreign lands, am more restricted in my use of deadly force than those in the United States providing law enforcement amongst our fellow citizens. From what I have read, U.S. law enforcement agents receive much of the same training military members do with regard to deadly force. Why is deadly force used before other less than lethal means? Why are people being shot if a police suspects they have a weapon, when having a weapon is supposed to be a right protected by the Bill of Rights and various state constitutions? Why is law enforcement so afraid of U.S. citizens to the point where they feel threatened enough to take someone’s life, even when that person did not have the capability, opportunity, or intent to harm them or anyone else?

The government, including law enforcement, should not be taking the lives of U.S. citizens. The right to Life should be held in highest regard by the government and citizens of the United States. Protected above all other rights. Even the lives of convicted criminals, the poor, those with mental health issues and even those who are committing crimes that are not capital offenses.

In order to carry a weapon in the U.S. military, I have to be qualified on that weapon. I have to complete various trainings for each weapon I carry. Semi-annually, I have to shoot that weapon in a controlled environment and meet minimum standards. I have to carry a weapon’s card stating what weapons I am qualified to carry. I have to sign documents stating I understand the use of these weapons in my duties to the United States and I have to adhere to the Lautenberg Amendment. There are other disqualifying factors such as mental health that would bar me from carrying a weapon. If I do not adhere to all of these requirements, I am not allowed to carry a weapon. 

I believe all U.S. citizens should have to meet these requirements and receive the training I have in order to carry a weapon. There is a greater responsibility that needs to be respected when carrying a weapon in public. I honestly don’t care what people do or have on their private property, but, when they enter public places with objects that are designed to kill, there should be minimum standards they must meet.

I would like to see an age requirement to have weapons in public. I would like to see written and practical tests and continuing education requirements. I believe weapons should be registered and people should be licensed to carry each type of weapon. I would also like to see an insurance requirement for possessing weapons in public.

I also understand the right to use deadly force for self defense and the defense of others. I understand the right to possess firearms for hunting. I do not understand civilians possessing fully automatic weapons for either of those purposes. Fully automatic weapons were designed for use by military forces, not for personal security or hunting.

Restrictions on automatic weapons will not prevent all gun violence; but, if the next incident reported 5 people being killed instead of 12, 27 or 49, that is a vast improvement.

If all lives matter, then we all need to start acting like it. Take active measures to protect the lives of ALL U.S. citizens.

The Way Of The World

Everyone on this planet has a place amongst each other.
Someone seeks to control us and we seek to control someone else.
This may be temporary to achieve a specific goal.
Or this could be permanent to maintain authority and power.
The tactics used to establish control.
Hegemony, fear, force, fraud, pseudoscience, religion.
Using people's physical attributes to establish some system of superiority.
Divide and conquer
Pitting people against each other

The Book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)
8:9
All this have I seen,
and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun
There is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt

The Way Of The World

Everyone on this planet has a place amongst each other.
Someone seeks to control us and we seek to control someone else.
This may be temporary to achieve a specific goal.
Or this could be permanent to maintain authority and power.
The tactics used to establish control.
Hegemony, fear, force, fraud, pseudoscience, religion.
Using people's physical attributes to establish some system of superiority.
Divide and conquer
Pitting people against each other

The Book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)
8:9
All this have I seen,
and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun
There is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt

Feminism

The idea that you can live your own life without anyone else's permission

Merriam-Webster 

\ˈfe-mə-ˌni-zəm\

noun

•  the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities
•  organized activity in support of women's rights and interests

• 1  the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
• 2  organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests

• 
  

First use: 1895

Live without outside Opinion, input or restrictions

Entertainment...

Our lives are constantly bombarded with fantasy.
We are made to believe the make believe.
We are fed illusions by the hour.
Made to believe it is true.

Who is real?
What is real?
How do these fantasy affect our real lives?

How can we get away from these fantasies?
simple. If it can be turned off, turn it off.
Go outside and play.
Talk with real people about real things. Like their lives. Their history.

Assume that anything you are not directly involved in is not true.

Hell, things you are involved in are subject to deception.

Why I Don't Trust Politicians

None of them represent the people they have control over

Elected officials play a game
Say what you need to say to voters
Make promises you never intended to keep
Then when you get into office
you do the bidding of those who are funding you.
Most times at the expense of the greater public you said you would represent.

All in all I don't trust anyone who wants control over other people's lives.

How I use Holy Texts

When I read the Bible, I think,
How can I use this to make my life better
Never, How can I impose this on others.

Disciplined Restraint

Why are the Rules of Engagement more restrictive for military security forces in foreign lands?
Why are police forces in the United States allowed to take life with more leisure than military security?

Use deadly force triangle
Capability
Opportunity
Intent
Only when these three criteria are met, are you allowed to use deadly force.
And then it is only when lesser means of restraint are not effective or not reasonable.

Use of force continuum

Presence

Verbal commands

Bodily force

Less than lethal weapons

Police have this training. They have been trained to deescalate situations. There is no excuse.

Community Policing.

Being involved in the community they police. Getting to know the citizens of the community they police.

So that fear does not rule your actions. A person has a name. They are human. They are not a demon.

National institute of justice

Culture of destruction

Around the culture of Gun violence in America.
I used to say that guns are ingrained in our culture. They were a part of the American conquer. From Canada to the tip of Chile.
The second amendment protects the right to bear arms. State constitutions protect the right to bear arms to hunt and protect personal property.
Forces control our legislature through money. There is no way they will allow the ban of weapons.

I'd only hope to ask that automatic weapons would be restricted to the military and all weapons would be regulated like vehicles.

BUT, beyond all that, there is a deeper issue.
The lack of equanimity for life.
When particular humans are killed, the first thoughts of the public aren't of grief or dismay. They are wondering what the person did to deserve death. They are finding ways to justify the execution.
No one deserves to be killed. Killing another human being is only justified in self defense or the defense of others. Even in that case, that person did not deserve to die. You had no other option but to kill them.
As a people, we need to train ourselves to give ourselves more options

Where pro-life members want to stop at nothing to protect the life of an unborn child. Yet, they do not extend that passion to those living in poverty or prison.

Whose life is worth grieving?
What death is justified?

Notes on self defense

We should be clear about justifications of deadly force

Imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm

Use deadly force triangle
Capability
Opportunity
Intent

Understand that trying to get away from the situation or defuse the situation is the best form of self defense

Self defense is stopping the threat.

There is a line between self defense and retribution
If you have taken away a person's ability to harm you or their desire to harm you, you have successfully defended yourself.
If you continue to harm them after that fact, that is retribution

There should be no immunity for killing someone
All cases should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

overview of self defense

As a general rule, self-defense only justifies the use of force when it is used in response to an immediate threat.  The threat can be verbal, as long as it puts the intended victim in an immediate fear of physical harm.  Offensive words without an accompanying threat of immediate physical harm, however, do not justify the use of force in self-defense.

Moreover, the use of force in self-defense generally loses justification once the threat has ended.  For example, if an aggressor assaults a victim but then ends the assault and indicates that there is no longer any threat of violence, then the threat of danger has ended.  Any use of force by the victim against the assailant at that point would be considered retaliatory and not self-defense.

self-defense
n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or members of the family from bodily harm from the attack of an aggressor, if the defender has reason to believe he/she/they is/are in danger. Self-defense is a common defense by a person accused of assault, battery or homicide. The force used in self-defense may be sufficient for protection from apparent harm (not just an empty verbal threat) or to halt any danger from attack, but cannot be an excuse to continue the attack or use excessive force. Examples: an unarmed man punches Allen Alibi, who hits the attacker with a baseball bat. That is legitimate self-defense, but Alibi cannot chase after the attacker and shoot him or beat him senseless. If the attacker has a gun or a butcher knife and is verbally threatening, Alibi is probably warranted in shooting him. Basically, appropriate self-defense is judged on all the circumstances. Reasonable force can also be used to protect property from theft or destruction. Self-defense cannot include killing or great bodily harm to defend property, unless personal danger is also involved, as is the case in most burglaries, muggings or vandalism.

- See more at: http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics/self-defense-overview.html#sthash.SqNuIZvH.dpuf

Original 9/11/14
mar 28 2012

Weapon Control

Bill Of Rights
Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms


A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The definition of a well regulated Militia and it's relation to the right to bear arms could be argued.
Constitutions of individual states secure the right for people to bear arms for self defense and hunting purposes.
Is this a right with no boundaries, no restraints?

Is it feasible or desirable to take this right away? To ban arms?  
What about simple controls?

What if the car regulations were enacted on guns.
You have to be a certain age to have weapons in public. Do whatever you want on your private property.
You have to pass a test. Written and practical.
You have to register the weapon.
You have to have insurance.
You have to have a license. You have to have special licensing and increased insurance to keep certain weapons.
If you violate the law, you can have your weapon taken away from you.
Your penalty will be greater If you have not followed these guidelines and you harm someone.


NO one can sell you a weapon unless you meet these guidelines.

Of course, 'guns don't kill people, people kill people'. BUT, clear guidelines can reduce the amount of people killed by other people.

Deep Thought

These reasonings are unconnected: 

 "I am richer than you, therefore I am better";

 "I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better." 

The connection is rather this:

 "I am richer than you, therefore my property is greater than yours;"

 "I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style is better than yours."

 But you, after all, are neither property nor style. 

Epicurus

Endearment

Words of the day

noun
a word or phrase expressing love or affection.


Nigger
a contemptuous term for a black or dark-skinned person.

Bitch
informal, derogatory a spiteful or unpleasant woman.
• black slang a woman.
• a person who is completely subservient to another

whore
noun derogatory
a prostitute.
• a promiscuous woman.

slut
noun
a slovenly or promiscuous woman.

Cunt
noun, Slang: Vulgar.
The vulva or vagina
Extremely Disparaging and Offensive
a contemptuous term used to refer to a woman
a term used to refer to a contemptible person


Insult
verb
speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse

Disparage
verb
regard or represent as being of little worth

Degrade
verb
treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect

Derogatory
adjective
showing a critical or disrespectful attitude

Why are you saying it?
Why do you feel the need to say it?
Who is it directed to?
What do you want to convey to them?
Are you repeating what you heard?
Do you understand the context?
Why are you so eager to insult someone?

If you change it to bish, what are you saying?
If you change it to nigga, what are you saying?

Why do you want to insult others?
Why do you seek permission to insult people?
Why do you want to use insults to address your friends or those you love?

If you ain't got nothing nice to say...

repost from Jun 20, 2012

Identity, Behavior, Attraction

Identity, behavior, attraction, and orientation are not the same.
Granted, about 80% of people in Western nations will identify as straight, be solely attracted to the opposite sex and only have sexual contact with the opposite sex.
That percentage drops dramatically when surveying teens, to around 40-50%.
That leaves 20% of the population who hold some sort of same sex attraction but their identity range from straight to gay; and that identity might change throughout their lifetime. Not to mention same sex behavior, however it is motivated.



CDC 2013 study published in 2016

Table 2. women aged 18-44
81% were only attracted to the opposite sex and
0.8% were only attracted to the same sex.
1.2% weren't sure.
The rest (16.9) were attracted to both in some degree.

Table 3. women aged 18-44
92.3% identified as heterosexual,
1.3% identified as lesbian, gay, or homosexual.
5.5% identified as bisexual,
0.9% didn't report.
 as something else was dropped from the survey.

As usual, when you narrow the age to younger women (18-24),
reported same sex attraction increases (22.4) and
heterosexual identity drops (89.5%).

2013 CDC study
They only questioned sexual identity
which I think is a shame. The study should be as comprehensive, if not more, than the last study.
Among all U.S. adults aged 18 and over,
96.6% identified as straight,
1.6% identified as gay or lesbian,
and 0.7% identified as bisexual.
The remaining 1.1% of adults chose:
‘‘something else’’ (0.2%),
selected ‘‘I don’t know the answer’’ (0.4%),
or refused to provide an answer (0.6%).
They threw out the 1.1% and the numbers changed, As shown in the study provided.

There is a 2013 Pew Research survey
That only surveys LGB identified people (1,197 people).
The discrepancies between identity and attraction still exists
People wonder why most Bisexual people in this survey have partners of the opposite sex (84%)
It's partially in the numbers,
For bisexual women,
13% report being mostly attracted to the opposite sex
34% report being attracted to the opposite sex more
31% report being attracted to the sexes equally.
That's at least 47% that are geared towards the opposite sex
78% that could easily be in relationships with the opposite sex.
6% who chose the opposite sex for whatever reason.

For the record, only 78% of the lesbians surveyed were mostly attracted to the same sex.

CDC national health report
In the cdc report.

Table 5. women aged 15-44.
12.5(0.8)% have had same sex contact with another woman.
The highest was women aged 20-24 at 15.8(1.8)%

Table 11. women aged 18-44.
83.3(1.1)% were only attracted to the opposite sex and
0.8(0.2)% were only attracted to the same sex.
 0.7(0.1)% weren't sure.
The rest (15.3%) were attracted to both in some degree.

women aged 20-24.
only 77.6(2.3)% were only attracted to the opposite sex and
0.8(0.3)% were only attracted to the same sex.
0.4(0.2)% weren't sure.
The rest (21.2%) were attracted to both in some degree

Table 12. women aged 18-44.
93.7(0.5)% identified as heterosexual,
1.1(0.2)% identified as lesbian, gay, or homosexual.
3.5(0.3)% identified as bisexual,
 0.6(0.1)% as something else, and
 1.1 (0.2)% didn't report.

women aged 20-24.
6.3 (1.1)% identified as bisexual

Table 14. women aged 18-44.
4.6(0.6)% of women who said they were only attracted to the opposite sex still had sexual contact with the same sex.
9.0(0.7)% of Women who identified as heterosexual still had sexual contact with the same sex.


Even this study is skewed because same sex behavior For females, includes oral sex or any sexual experience,
For males, includes oral or anal sex with male partners.

This study, the most comprehensive and the one with the highest sample size (56,032), shows a discrepancy in identity and attraction.

how many people are lgbt

how students identify

UK Research report 35: Sexual orientation explored

british kinsey scale study

discrepancies in adolescents
a study done in Quebec of 1,951 students

Twelve percent of adolescents (n=237) endorsed at least one measure of nonexclusive heterosexuality.
A total of 3.4% reported gay/lesbian or bisexual (GLB) identity
(another 3.4% were unsure),
9.0% reported same-gender attraction, and
4.0% same-gender behavior.
There was no consistent pattern of overlap between the three measures, and no single dimension effectively captured this population.
The question about attraction identified 71%;
identity identified 52%; and
behavior only 31%.
In raw numbers, more heterosexually identified students reported same-gender attraction (n=95) or same-gender behavior (n=33) than
GLB-identified students (n=44 and 29, respectively).

And other scholars see a distinction too.

"...I use the term "sexual orientation" to mean a consistent, enduring pattern of sexual desire for individuals of the same sex, the other sex, or both sexes, regardless of whether this pattern of desire is manifested in sexual behavior. A woman can have a lesbian orientation but never have a same-sex relationship, just as she can have a heterosexual orientation and still pursue multiple samesex affairs. Most scientists consider desire, not behavior, the marker of sexual orientation. "Sexual identity" refers to a culturally organized conception of the self, usually "lesbian/gay," "bisexual," or "heterosexual." As with sexual orientation, we cannot presume that these identities correspond to particular patterns of behavior. Nor can we presume that they correspond to particular patterns of desire. Because sexual identities represent self-concepts, they depend on individuals' own notions about the most important aspects of their sexual selves. These notions, as we will see, can vary quite a bit from individual to individual. Moreover, some people—particularly women—reject conventional lesbian/gay/bisexual identity labels in favor of alternative labels such as "queer," "questioning," or "pansexual." Others reject all identity labels in order to make room for a broad range of sexual possibilities, as well as to acknowledge the fact that all labels are somewhat arbitrary"- Lisa Diamond

Side note, Here is the conclusion of Lisa Diamond's study:

Female bisexuality from adolescence to adulthood: Results from a 10-year longitudinal study:

The findings of this research suggest that there are, in fact, appreciable boundaries between the long-term developmental trajectories of lesbian, bisexual, and unlabeled women, but these boundaries are relatively fluid. 

Hence, the present study supports the notion of bisexuality as a third type of sexual orientation and also supports the notion of bisexuality as a capacity for context-specific flexibility in erotic response. In contrast, the findings are inconsistent with the long-debated notion of bisexuality as a transitional stage or “phase.” 

Of course, this study is limited by its reliance on a small (79), exclusively female, disproportionately White and middle-class sample, and future research on larger and more diverse samples of sexual-minority women and men is important for determining the generalizability of the findings.

 Nonetheless, the results have important social and scientific implications. They contribute to researchers' emerging scientific understanding of the basic nature and longitudinal development of female sexual orientation, and they provide critically important information for educators and clinicians attempting to understand the distinct challenges and meet the unique needs of bisexual individuals over the life course.

I've seen this study used to draw conclusions about female sexuality in broader populations, that is a misuse of the data. The sample size is too small and narrow to draw any broader conclusions. This data just shows that Bisexuality is not a phase.

Reading is Fundamental

revised from 1/30/12

Deep Thought

Can't help but worry about people who are afraid of/hate people they've never even met. 

But maybe I shouldn't worry about people I haven't met. 

Deep Thought

'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.'

No good or evil

No them

No enemy

Only us

We are capable of every good

And every evil

Only we can destroy ourselves 

Only we can save ourselves 

Agnostic Christian

I'm Christian concerning my conduct. 

I'm agnostic concerning other people's conduct. 

My Christianity guides my own purpose and actions. 

Reason guides how I view other people. 

Word of the Day

(Mis)Appropriation

Say you had a family member who was a mentor to you.
They were very talented, artistic.
They made clothing or whatever.
Say they taught you everything they know and the special meaning that exists in creating it.
Say they learned it from their parents. It's a time honored tradition in your family.
Then they die.
You carry on their creation
Let's say you wear the clothes to school/work.
Your colleagues laugh at you. Say you look stupid.
Call you a slut or the like. Tell you you can't wear it around them.
All kinds of grief.
Forward say a year later. One of your colleagues shows up wearing the same thing.
Your colleagues applaud him. Copy him. Your colleague claims they are the ones who created it.
Then, they put the design up for sale and make money.
Your time honored tradition for profit.
While they shamed you.
This is (mis)appropriation.
Not because someone just says so.
Because this has happened numerous times to numerous peoples.

Now, everything is not (mis)appropriation.
If one has permission to wear, use, or profit from something not their own, then so be it.
It it is sold/given to you by the people of that culture, then so be it.
Humans have created similar cultural products independent of each other. Hair styles included. Before you accuse others of (mis)appropriation, you may want to take a look back into their history to see if their culture had those traits.
It's hard to tell and deserves further investigation not just assumptions.

BUT,
if you are going to wear or use something that is not your own, and don't want to seem like an asshole.
do some research,
Find out what it means, who originated it, where it came from, its significance to its origin culture.

noun

1 the action of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission

• often derogatory the artistic practice or technique of reworking images from well-known paintings, photographs, etc., in one's own work.

Who controls the world

Political independence does not necessarily mean economic independence.
In the case of developing and least developed countries, it is the opposite.

When people complain that African countries can't get their shit together, well that's bullshit because those countries don't have any shit to get together.

When Europe allowed independence after colonialism, they ensured those new governors were subservient.
They ensured the resources were already held by foreign interests.
They then gave out loans under the guise of helping those nations improve their lot.
These are loans that can never be paid because of interest and no plan to actually help create the capital to pay those loans and provide for themselves.
Nothing of worth in these countries is owned by the native people.

The sole purpose of these countries is to provide labor and resources for developed nations.
It's like these countries are in debt bondage to the developed countries.

No sex in your violence

Why does culture value violence over sex?
Why is sex taboo yet people hurt each other for public entertainment?

What if our society treated sex as they do violence?
What if the issues were switched?
What if sex was openly enjoyed and violence made taboo?

Of course some christians abhor violence; but you don't see them protesting it to the degree that they do for sex.

Of course there are christians who fully support violence for entertainment.

If you are attracted to someone and the attraction is mutual, why resist?
If sex is consensual, what are valid barriers?
Other than one or both being in exclusive relationships.

Why does sex have to be exclusive to a married couple,
yet consensual violence between anyone is fine?

Deep Thought

No one is immune from bullshit

Speaking it or believing it. 

Deep Thought

Being celibate is like being vegan...