Last time I checked you're not supposed to announce rfc1918 addresses...
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Not so proud to be an American
So I meant to post this a while ago, but got sidetracked and forgot... Anyway here it is:
As I watch the Olympics and see the US winning medals, I'm finding myself feeling not very proud of my country. Before anyone accuses me of hating America allow me to say I love my country. I was born here and have lived my whole life here. Let me also say I am very proud of the athletes, they are some of the best in the world. They worked and trained hard, and deserve their accolades. That's not why I feel this way.
It's what happened in Wisconsin and in Aurora.
This almost never happens in any other country.
When it does people run out and buy more guns while saying guns don't kill. People do. They then wish someone with a gun was there to "put two in his chest". I guess it's un-american to not want a shootout. Or to not want every person to have a 44 on their hip. Let me be clear, the absolute last thing anyone wants in case they're in a situation like that is some moron who thinks he's Dirty Harry. If you don't know who that is, let me Google that for you.
After all, if it's not guns, it must be Americans. Right? I got asked about that many times when I was in Ireland, and had no answer to give other than to feel embarrassed. The only person who understood was a Norwegian man I meet who, as you might recall, had a similar event in his country. Of choose that was just once, and not every few months, or so it seems.
Any attempt to discuss a gun control here is greeted with scorn and criticism. How can I love the US and not want every idiot to have a gun is how it's phrased by friends of mine. After all It's our god given right to have gun shows and even a 2 week waiting period is considered excessive to buy an assault rifle. The Constitution says so. Listen folks, and I mean the NRA, the founding fathers never EVER imagined that people would own weapons like we do.
The problem as I see it is the combination of guns and Americans, and that's why I'm not so proud of my country right now. So until we start a serious dialogue on how to stop these senseless mass killings we deserve the scorn the rest of the world gives us over our obsession with guns, the ease with which Americans can obtain them, and the mayhem people cause with them.
No guns can't kill alone, but then again, I can't kill anyone by throwing a 9mm bullet at them.
As I watch the Olympics and see the US winning medals, I'm finding myself feeling not very proud of my country. Before anyone accuses me of hating America allow me to say I love my country. I was born here and have lived my whole life here. Let me also say I am very proud of the athletes, they are some of the best in the world. They worked and trained hard, and deserve their accolades. That's not why I feel this way.
It's what happened in Wisconsin and in Aurora.
This almost never happens in any other country.
When it does people run out and buy more guns while saying guns don't kill. People do. They then wish someone with a gun was there to "put two in his chest". I guess it's un-american to not want a shootout. Or to not want every person to have a 44 on their hip. Let me be clear, the absolute last thing anyone wants in case they're in a situation like that is some moron who thinks he's Dirty Harry. If you don't know who that is, let me Google that for you.
After all, if it's not guns, it must be Americans. Right? I got asked about that many times when I was in Ireland, and had no answer to give other than to feel embarrassed. The only person who understood was a Norwegian man I meet who, as you might recall, had a similar event in his country. Of choose that was just once, and not every few months, or so it seems.
Any attempt to discuss a gun control here is greeted with scorn and criticism. How can I love the US and not want every idiot to have a gun is how it's phrased by friends of mine. After all It's our god given right to have gun shows and even a 2 week waiting period is considered excessive to buy an assault rifle. The Constitution says so. Listen folks, and I mean the NRA, the founding fathers never EVER imagined that people would own weapons like we do.
The problem as I see it is the combination of guns and Americans, and that's why I'm not so proud of my country right now. So until we start a serious dialogue on how to stop these senseless mass killings we deserve the scorn the rest of the world gives us over our obsession with guns, the ease with which Americans can obtain them, and the mayhem people cause with them.
No guns can't kill alone, but then again, I can't kill anyone by throwing a 9mm bullet at them.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Thank you google...
For this: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/14/us-protests-google-idUSBRE88D1MD20120914
At least one major company here in the US believes in the first amendment, no matter how stupid the content.
At least one major company here in the US believes in the first amendment, no matter how stupid the content.
Friday, September 14, 2012
More on the muslim "uprising"
So this editorial/article appeared on CNN today. It talks about how most middle-eastern muslims are unaware that our government didnt condone the "movie" and how some people are intolerant.
Wake up dude. This is more than a "few" people, and yes many muslims are intolerant of a lot of things. Ironically, he's calling for a muslim reformation, which is something I've believed was necessary for Islam to be able to participate in the modern, western world.
What's missing though, is any sort of recrimination for the belief that rioting and murder and other criminal acts are acceptable.
To quote his article "Little wonder, then, that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy has called for the prosecution by the U.S government of the filmmakers, and Egypt's top cleric, Mufti Ali Goma, has called on the United Nations to forbid denigration of faiths." proves that point.
He seems to be willing to blithely accept this behaviour simply because people don't "know better", and wait until they learn about freedom.
Really? Are you fucking serious?
A top cleric wants to forbid denigrations of faith? Why because we can't count on muslims not to riot over a movie, or god forbid a fucking cartoon? I really don't care if it's "haram" in islam, I'm not a muslim and never will be.
Get a clue...
At least Fareed Zakaria gets it, although I think it's more than "a few hundred" people
And for the record, yes I believe the individual responsible for the movie is a "crude bigot" too.
Wake up dude. This is more than a "few" people, and yes many muslims are intolerant of a lot of things. Ironically, he's calling for a muslim reformation, which is something I've believed was necessary for Islam to be able to participate in the modern, western world.
What's missing though, is any sort of recrimination for the belief that rioting and murder and other criminal acts are acceptable.
To quote his article "Little wonder, then, that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy has called for the prosecution by the U.S government of the filmmakers, and Egypt's top cleric, Mufti Ali Goma, has called on the United Nations to forbid denigration of faiths." proves that point.
He seems to be willing to blithely accept this behaviour simply because people don't "know better", and wait until they learn about freedom.
Really? Are you fucking serious?
A top cleric wants to forbid denigrations of faith? Why because we can't count on muslims not to riot over a movie, or god forbid a fucking cartoon? I really don't care if it's "haram" in islam, I'm not a muslim and never will be.
Get a clue...
At least Fareed Zakaria gets it, although I think it's more than "a few hundred" people
And for the record, yes I believe the individual responsible for the movie is a "crude bigot" too.
Why Americans don't trust Muslims
First off, apologies for not posting, but I've been busy with new job, and I doubt anyone reads this other than me... I was going to re-post my comments on the iPhone 5, but this seems a bit more pressing.
Recently I read this article which describes how muslims life in fear in the US since 9/11. It's a well thought defense of Islam. It goes on about how Islam is a religion of peace etc... and the 9/11 terrorists don't represent Islam. Fine, we've heard this before, and yes there is some truth here.
What I don't get, is how so *many* muslims themselves don't understand Islam, and are willing to be jihadists? Really lady, how about we talk about that? There seems to be a never ending supply of young people willing to blow themselves up in the name of Islam. And honestly, why publish this on 9/11/12? I'm sorry you live in fear, but you know what? A lot of Americans do too. Some are still afraid to fly, some worry that there will be another attack and we won't know when/where it will come from. How about we talk about that?
However, what really pissed me off about this article, is that shortly after, the US embassy was stormed, and our ambassador to Libya was murdered.
Why?
In case you haven't heard/read/seen, there is some film that is being produced that makes fun of Mohammed. Yeah that's it. A stupid movie, that most people had never heard of justified riots and murder. Here is a story from CNN this morning about more uprisings in other countries.
The initial response from the Egyptian president was to condemn the movie, not the rioters.
Are you fucking kidding me?
Some movie makes fun of a religion, which happens to be protected under the US constitution, and the muslim world goes mad? What part of "Your religion is practiced by a large number of fucking dimwit nutbags" don't *you* get? I never heard of this movie, would have never taken it seriously had i did, and probably would have never watched it until this crazy shit happened in Libya. Then I made a point to watch it, and honestly I feel like buying a web server and hosting it forever now. Of course if I did, I'd probably have to go into hiding because someone might murder me for insulting their religion, despite the fact that it's legal in MY country. All while feeling free to insult my country, my beliefs etc...
Free speech is a *key* part of the US constitution. As is freedom of religion. Somehow it seems that we're supposed to abandon that to prevent pissing off muslims. I think not. Am I to believe that all of these people don't understand Islam? Perhaps all those muslims should be re-educated about Islam's basic tenets, instead of worrying about Americans.
So I ask YOU Sumbal Ali-Karamali, do you really wonder why Americans don't trust muslims?
Recently I read this article which describes how muslims life in fear in the US since 9/11. It's a well thought defense of Islam. It goes on about how Islam is a religion of peace etc... and the 9/11 terrorists don't represent Islam. Fine, we've heard this before, and yes there is some truth here.
What I don't get, is how so *many* muslims themselves don't understand Islam, and are willing to be jihadists? Really lady, how about we talk about that? There seems to be a never ending supply of young people willing to blow themselves up in the name of Islam. And honestly, why publish this on 9/11/12? I'm sorry you live in fear, but you know what? A lot of Americans do too. Some are still afraid to fly, some worry that there will be another attack and we won't know when/where it will come from. How about we talk about that?
However, what really pissed me off about this article, is that shortly after, the US embassy was stormed, and our ambassador to Libya was murdered.
Why?
In case you haven't heard/read/seen, there is some film that is being produced that makes fun of Mohammed. Yeah that's it. A stupid movie, that most people had never heard of justified riots and murder. Here is a story from CNN this morning about more uprisings in other countries.
The initial response from the Egyptian president was to condemn the movie, not the rioters.
Are you fucking kidding me?
Some movie makes fun of a religion, which happens to be protected under the US constitution, and the muslim world goes mad? What part of "Your religion is practiced by a large number of fucking dimwit nutbags" don't *you* get? I never heard of this movie, would have never taken it seriously had i did, and probably would have never watched it until this crazy shit happened in Libya. Then I made a point to watch it, and honestly I feel like buying a web server and hosting it forever now. Of course if I did, I'd probably have to go into hiding because someone might murder me for insulting their religion, despite the fact that it's legal in MY country. All while feeling free to insult my country, my beliefs etc...
Free speech is a *key* part of the US constitution. As is freedom of religion. Somehow it seems that we're supposed to abandon that to prevent pissing off muslims. I think not. Am I to believe that all of these people don't understand Islam? Perhaps all those muslims should be re-educated about Islam's basic tenets, instead of worrying about Americans.
So I ask YOU Sumbal Ali-Karamali, do you really wonder why Americans don't trust muslims?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)