Thousands sign petitions to secede from the UNITED States? Really?

This was originally going to be a facebook post, but I think I am going to make a concerted effort to keep my more long-winded posts off there.  Instead I'll try to post my thoughts here, more thoroughly and then include a link or two, maybe three on facebook. So here goes.

This specific picture was posted on Facebook by a family member, and though it may appear to be extreme, I wouldn't doubt that it might have a ring of truth. I'm going to do something a little bit different this time. Instead of just posting my very long post in text for you to read, I am going to make a video that will include everything I am writing below this paragraph. The video is to address the context of this specific picture, not others similar to it. Hopefully video will be easier and less time consuming for those of us who don't care to read that much. Plus, I think you can get more from seeing and hearing what I am trying to convey, than what comes across in just text. Be forewarned, I am not a great reader, and stumble on my words and thoughts occasionally. I also can get emotional about things that are very important to me. I may need to pause at times to compose myself. 

Here is my video post of the text below: I have edited it to remove some pauses and verbal diarrhea. Please do not make rude comments about my facial appearance.  The nerves on one side of face do not work well because of a previous head injury. 

Let's first set aside the fact that this is coming straight from FOX News, and by all my accounts is far from being unbiased. Let's also set aside the fact that thousands of Americans is far from being a large portion of the more than 314 million Americans in population in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Now let's move on to my thoughts concerning this and the ever seeming separation of the old "Red state" "Blue state" Americans.

In my Opinion, some of our country has been going this way for years. They (being primarily Republican conservatives vs. Democrat liberals) don't agree with the other side on many issues. So rather than trying to work with them and compromise for the good of our country they continue to push the other-half away, demonize any other views, and alienate half the country. (This is an observation of generalization by the way, and does not apply to everyone.)

As bad as many seem to accuse president Obama of being, I guarantee many of us from the other side of this spectrum felt complete anxiety and maybe even terror at the direction our country was going under the second Bush (I say many of us, not all, and maybe not even most, but I do wonder). This was a heavy weight and burden on our conscience especially after Bush II was reelected. For people that hold toward liberal views (which are not bad, unchristian, or evil, just different than conservative), many of the things that were happening and being pushed by the Bush ADMINISTRATION seemed like they were being pushed through with no opposition, and all Republicans walked lock step with every decision, while some Democrats followed, either because they leaned conservative, were afraid to push away conservative voters, or because they chose to compromise (something the other side seems to see as disloyal breaking of ranks and tradition, on their side). I know I felt like his policies were terrible for our country, our economy, our people, and our soldiers. Yet if anyone or any groups made any attempt to speak out on anything, they were mislabeled as un-American, un-Christian, Evil, and dismissed as extremists. Massive changes were pushed through, with no struggle, because the side with so much power at the time could get away with it. In the end, the two major wars of that time seemed to go on with no hope of ending, assault weapons ban was ignored so it would lapse knowing that conservatives wouldn't dare cross the NRA, economy took a free-fall that did not slow until well into the next term after Bush was gone, personal freedoms and security of those freedoms massively deteriorated (in the name of security),  the rich grew ever richer while the middle class were told it would help them (yet it did the opposite), we were all given a tax credit in return found incredible hikes in prices, rates, and fees of almost everything (which far outpaced any rise in income. {Yeah right, rise in income, what a joke!}) Even with all the tragedy that seemed to befall our country during the Bush years, somehow we still made it out as a country, divided but still a country. You can say that Obama is destroying our country, but as far as I can tell, we have been destroying and dividing our country for decades. Conservatives are pissed off about a healthcare plan and that the economy hasn’t bounced back as much as our “hope and change” idealism had hoped.  Sorry, but that does not hold a candle to the massive issues that liberals felt were weighted on our countries shoulders, during the “fun times” of the Bush II administration. Which we felt, was every bit as horrendous as conservatives feel Obama has been, for our country. I personally hate that people try to dismiss our anger and frustration with the Bush administration, simply because they say it is in the past. Well that past, has continued to influence the negative direction of this country, and we certainly should not ignore it, and brush it aside, just because this is a different administration and a different time. We have every right to look at history in order to try to learn from our past mistakes, and improve our countries future.

Conservatives seem to attach their entire political views on a very small handful of issues. In this current case, the big ones seem to be the healthcare policy enacted by the Obama administration, a false premise that they will lose gun rights, and the never-ending view that lax moral laws (i.e. homosexual issues, abortion, birth control, corporal punishment, and use of the Christian religion in public) are deteriorating our country and society. I do not see democrats as being so nearsighted and one sided, but I am a democrat and certainly have my own bias. I feel like we try to consider many issues when we decide our political views. I hear so many conservatives make claims to the effect of, we are "just drinking the kool-aid", repeating democratic talking points, falling victim to political pandering, uneducated, ignorant, do no research, just don't get it, etc., etc., etc. Yet, that is almost the exact perception some of us have of many conservatives. In reality these claims do absolutely nothing to address the real issues, and the often real, valid, differences in opinion, values, perception, and views of what the differing sides hold. We tend to hold any hope of compromise or tying to understand our differing views hostage, by instead focusing on and attacking the claims I listed above. I will say that they are not important and not the real issue, though they may have some importance, and brake down any real attempt at compromise, they do not get to the real issues, they don't address the roots of our problems or differences. 

So as long as we work so hard to fight against each other, push so adamantly to demonize each-other refuse to really listen to our grievances and concerns on ALL sides (Not just these two major parties!), refuse to compromise or work together, and continue to address the claims I discussed above without working at our root problems and disagreements, this partisan divide will continue. This divide could become more prevalent, more extreme, and maybe even more persistent. Those thousands signing this horrible petition, could become millions, and this country that is so divided by ideology could become far more divided physically. Would seceding from the UNITED STATES of AMERICA help? I do not see this as any kind of help for any true American. It flies in the face of all our forefathers ever stood for and fought for in America! We are the UNITED STATES of America, and if we truly want to help or fix any of these real problems in our country, we need to work really hard on trying not to be the DIVIDED STATES of America. Instead, we need to be working together to improve our country, understand our reaching and diverse views (which are nothing new by the way.) and trying to address real issues, real root differences without jumping to demonizing tactics that do nothing to fix anything. We need to heal this country, and we cannot do it by going our separate ways, dismissing each side’s views, and shutting down when things don't go our way. I love my country, and so does every other democrat, republican, independent, religious, non religious, liberal, conservative, moderate, loving  hating, caring, and non caring American in this country. We are a very diverse country, with very diverse views, and we need to stop being so afraid of diversity. It is not a bad word, or a bad thing, until we make it one, and it is a beautiful thing that makes our country amazing, so amazing that countries around the world have looked up to our system, to our ways, and our countries basic characteristics as an example to emulate and reach for something better. We seem to be falling from those very characteristics that others have tried and succeeded in bringing to their own countries. In falling from who and what we were, we are also falling in prestige, opinion, power, education, and healthcare, sliding in ratings in may areas because we have disconnected ourselves from each-other, and told ourselves that "we" are right and "they" are wrong. Rather than being the United States of America, we are pushing ever harder to become the Divided states of what once was America.

This is NOT what I want for OUR country, and I hope it is not what you want for our country. If not, we have got to try harder to look past our petty differences, and work on understanding our real “BIG” differences, while trying to come up with win-win choices most of us can agree on, and working to compromise on some of those things we cannot seem to agree on. I personally would prefer to set aside any issue that we cannot come to any real agreement on, while only pushing hard on things we CAN come to an agreement on. That is not realistic though, and some of the issues we cannot agree on, will still need to be worked on, eventually. Nevertheless, wouldn’t it be nice to work primarily on things we can agree on, instead of focusing so hard on only the things, which we can’t seem to agree? I think that could be a very healing and refreshing process to follow most of the time.

The world of the not so typical

I was thinking about the reality that I use to write a lot of poetry, but I don't anymore. It struck me, that my writing was at it's peak when I was in the military and I was depressed. So why do I not write anymore? I do write, just not poetry. Could it be just because I'm older, have a family, and different priorities? I'm sure those are factors, but I would also contend that some of our best work comes from a time and place where we are not so typical. Let me explain my use of the word typical. This is a word we use often in the world of autism, to differentiate those with differences and those society considers "normal". Please don't harp on me about my use of "politically correct" terminology. I do this intentionally, because it is both used regularly in my field, and because it is more courteous then using some of the more disparaging words used to describe people with "differences" or "exceptionalities." While this may offend some or seem unimportant, it is my way of drawing a distinction between what some view as a problem and what others view as a difference. This distinction is very important because we too often assume that people with these differences are riddled with problems, or that they are defined by their disability or disorder. However, it is my belief that these things should not define a person, are not always problems, and are only a part of their total person. While none of us wants to be defined as our weakness or called our weakness, neither should we do that to others. Now, in the world of autism we use the word typical or neurotypical, to describe those without a neural disorder. The thinking here is that all too often things like autism or ADHD are considered a problem or a disability when some people do not feel they are a problem and/or do not consider it a disability. In fact, some traits that can come from ADHD and autism, are good or even "exceptional."

Back to my original point. Some of our best work comes from a time and place where we are not so typical. In my everyday, normal, humdrum life, I don't concern myself so much with writing down my deepest darkest thoughts. I go through day after day, worrying more about everyday events that probably aren't so very important. In fact, sometimes I may even go search out more interesting important topics to fill my need to feel involved, and to think and ponder matters of real importance. It is when things get tough, when my world isn't so typical that my need to create, and 'get out all the thoughts in my head' seems to really flourish. I suspect it is this way with many people. Do we do our best work when we are under pressure? I really think we see things differently and think differently when we are in the trenches, when the muck of life is really bearing down. Tragedy, depression, hardship, mental problems, and all those other things that can turn and alter our lives and our being seem to have a way of .... kicking us when we're down. Yet, sometimes such astonishing beauty, and amazing creation can come from the darkest times and places in our lives. Maybe it is a coping mechanism, maybe it's our way of really looking deep into the mess, while still feeling somewhat detached from it. I'm not sure, but I do think we create more, and create better when life isn't so normal, so typical. I don't miss it, or want it back, quite the contrary, but I do acknowledge that our darkest hours can produce the most amazing things. I would think that the key is, to find a way out of those places, before you drowned in misery and can't escape. Maybe if you're lucky, you can get back to the boring, humdrum, normal, typical life. Maybe not. Even so, if you can get yourself up from those dark times, pull yourself up with some help, dust yourself off, and not get lost forever, sucked into those terrible places, then all the better for you and the world. It's just too bad we lose some, who get lost and can't make their way out. That really sucks, yet it happens all to often.

Now enough of me talking such depressing stuff! It's time for me to be happy, at my wonderfully boring normal life. Though I will always be thankful, in some strange sort of way, for those dark times, but mostly for being able to escape.

"Legitimate rape," really?

Sometimes the media, politicians, or the public in general complain about the distractions that are intentionally used to take our focus off important matters. Matters that should be well covered in election campaigns. It seems to happen all the time. I would like to draw attention to one distraction that should be drawn, because it is very important for the present political environment. Usually I hate the distractions, but I see this as an important issue that needs to be brought out into the open. After one of the Republican Party faithful made an ignorant comment about rape, it set off a firestorm, detracting attention from the horrid economy. The issue is discussed in the video linked below. 

What the h*** did he just say?

I see this "distraction" as a way to get a very important issue out into the open, so there will be real discussion. Usually it would just be brushed under the carpet, like any other issue that politicians do not want to discuss. In my view, this should be taken out of the "distraction" category, and put in the "pressing issue of the day" category. 

Republicans like to say that democrats are just trying to distract us from the important matters of the tanked economy. The funny thing is they did not seem to be very concerned about the economy, outside the elections. Members of the Republican Party nationwide ran in 2010 on job creation, improving the ailing economy, and cutting spending. Yet they have focused, instead, on stripping women’s rights, cutting family planning funding, and other reproductive issues.  If the economy, and jobs were so vital for them, than surely they would have busted there rumps trying to fix these things. That has not happened at all. They have done anything they could to stonewall any legislation from the other side, on these issues. They have insisted on pushing legislation they know the other side will not agree on, and offer no real compromise. This tactic has intentionally barred any improvements from being made. That is why it is called stonewalling! 

So if they have done nothing to fix the economy, jobs, or anything like that, and have done everything to stop these very things, then what have they been doing? They had to be putting that energy into something, working towards some sort of accomplishments. Though you may believe that their only accomplishment has been to stop anything from coming through from the Democratic Party, you would be wrong. They have been working very hard, but not on what they claim the focus in this race (and the last race) should be on! They have been working at unprecedented rates on implementing, bills, legislation, and laws that strip rights women have worked long and hard to gain. Check this link to see some of the handy work in this issue. You can also take a look here, at this short article written back in April. Imagine how it is four months later! They have also worked very hard to de-fund and erode programs for family planning. So, while I do believe the economy and job creation are vital to getting our country back on its feet, I also believe we must take this issue, of the erosion of women's rights, very seriously! The comments that came out of Akin's mouth are reflective of the ideas and beliefs that are driving this push to erode reproductive rights. This issue is very important and needs to be discussed and brought out, in all its ugliness and all its distorted views. This is truly a necessary distraction!

If you want to comment, please do. There should be a link below that says, 1 comment, or something similar. I would like it to be easier to see all topic comments, but I haven't found an option on blogger to improve that. 

Sikh temple massacre

Today I was watching a Democracy Now video clip. It was about the person that recently committed the Sikh temple massacre. It also discussed his involvement in the white supremacist movement while in the military, and after leaving the military ranks. 

Here's a link: Sikh Temple Massacre is the Outgrowth of Pervasive White Supremacism in Military Ranks.

In the video, journalist Matt Kennard, plus academic and author Pete Semi, speak to Amy Goodman about the influence of the white supremacy movement within the military. I was not in the military during the war on terror, but I do not recall a lot being done to discipline or discourage this involvement in white supremacy, even absent active wars. I do remember seeing allot more skinheads when I was stationed in Korea than I did when I was stationed in Fort Lewis WA. I knew of several skinheads that were in tanker units, and other combat units, while in Korea. When I was stationed in Fort Lewis I was almost always around other soldiers in communications, which was our line of work. So it makes sense that I did not see a lot of skin heads while state-side, if they tend to be in a different line of work. 

Korea was my first duty station right after basic training and AIT. It was also my first time out of the country. The first time I met any skinheads in Korea, I will admit that I was a bit intimidated. I wasn't scared, mind you, just a little intimidated. After hanging out with a couple of them  for a while, I got over my intimidation. I will never agree with their kind of extreme mentality, insistence that we are somehow superior to others, and exclusion of anyone not like us. I remember having a discussion with a skinhead from the local tanker unit on Camp Hovey. We all went down range that evening and came back in a group of about five. We had been drinking. After we all got back on post the others went "home." I had been talking to, I believe, the only skinhead in the group that night. We kept walking and talking, I think he had a lot on his drunk mind. I don't remember all of our discussion, but I remember he tried to convince me of the importance of keeping our race "pure" and that minorities were taking over. He didn't exactly use those words, but that was the idea. I speak my mind, it's just how I am, so I explained my disagreements as tactfully as I knew how. At some point he asked me, an obviously pointed hypothetical. "What if, some day after you have kids, your beautiful daughter tells you she's in love with a "ni**ar?" My reply, "So what if she does?" "What does it matter, if they love each other and care for each other?" He tried to convince me of the error of my thinking, but I don't care. I know who I am, I know what I believe, and I know how I feel. 

That hasn't got much to do with these horrifying murders, it's just a little I remember of one person I knew, who was a skinhead. That conversation will always stick in my mind, unlike much of the rest of my tour in Korea. Wade Michael Page brutally killed several innocent people out of sheer hatred. I don't know if I can ever understand that kind of hatred. It so totally feels like sheer ignorance, total complete ignorance. Than again maybe people like this are missing any real sense of love, kindness, or compassion. I don't know, What do you think? Watch the video if you can find the time, it discusses some very important matters. Post in the comments section if you like.

Retention or progress

Right before summer, I got the news that Sebastian would be retained in 1st grade. I knew it could happen, but I always held out hope that he would scrape by and make it into the next grade.

You see, Sebastian has struggled with reading and writing the last two grades. At the last quarter of school this year, we received notice, on his report card, that he may not meet the reading standard for placement in 2nd grade. It did not leave much time to work on this. Sebastian is a smart kid, but is also very shy and has trouble requesting help when needed. The teachers also reported noticing lack of response when in group-discussions, and when being called on.

We had been working on this throughout the year, and he had also been identified to get help through Response To Intervention services. Therefore, I thought he would get the help he needs and be fine. We even requested evaluation for possible special needs. We worked to help him more, trying extra reading, tutoring, me coming in to help in class, and so on. At the end of the year, his reading had improved and good grades were coming in, especially the last couple of weeks. I had hoped that was enough, but I guess not.

The last report card came out and said he did not meet requirements to advance to 2nd grade. The teachers even said that his reading had improved, but not enough, and that his writing was too deficient. The writing was not news to us, but it was never written as a possible reason for him to be retained. There was no discussion with us, no meetings, or conference, just the final decision that he would be retained.

This whole summer this has weighed heavy on my mind. I do not feel retention is appropriate for moderate struggles. I also feel that much of his problems are not for lack of ability, but more for extreme shyness and lack of a real voice. The fact that we, the parents, were not included in the decision is really upsetting. The more I thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. What could be done? I mean the school already made their decision. There is no unfailing once you fail a school year. His Ex. Ed. Evaluation was not finished. There is no summer school to help him advance. Even with tutoring, that was not provided as an option for possible advancement, nothing was provided except retention.

The only options I could see were just to accept the retention and continue to support my child, or pull him out of school and home school him while I continue to support my child. I also work at the school, so I cannot just pull him out, I would have to quit also.

When my husband found out what I was considering, the clash was not pretty. He made it pretty clear, "I do not like the idea of homeschooling!”, and "I really do not like the idea of homeschooling!" This was followed by a lively discussion (argument) about the fault off him not catching up being my inability to help him as much as he needed. We all know that when s*it hits the fan it really hits the fan!

In the end of our angry heated discussion, I think I regained some reputation of ability to provide the help and support a mom needs to provide her children. I at least got an admission that hubby is willing to support whatever I decide. He also convinced me to at least call and discuss our disagreements concerning Sebastian's retention with the school principal.

7/11/2012

Now this is where we are. I have informed the principal of some of our issues with the retention, and thoughts of homeschooling him. We have an appointment with her on Tuesday to discuss this further. I have been researching homeschooling so I can be prepared if I choose that path. Sebastian has an ex Ed Evaluation on Wednesday. I am also looking into options for possible income if I choose to stay home.

I have tried to keep this hush-hush until we make a real decision. I know opinions on homeschooling are as vast and volatile as opinions on religion, so I do not want to tamper with those dynamics until I know what we will do. In fact, I will not publish this until a decision of some manner has been made.

7/18/2012

We had an appointment with the principal that went well. She set up an appointment to discuss more of a final decision, after test results are in, and after she has a chance to speak with his teachers. He has a Psych Evaluation tomorrow, and will take some academic tests next Monday. Then we go back to speak to the principal again, for a more final decision. It does sound as though she is leaning towards advancement to second grade, but we have to wait for her to weigh all the info.

7/25/2012

All is done. We talked to the principal. Testing was fine, teachers in agreement, and the plan now is to advance him to 2nd grade, keep working with him, and try to find ways to increase his courage. At the end of 2nd grade, we will see if he is ready for advancement to 3rd. I can still bring him to evening home school classes for supplement. This works for me. Now we have to keep on moving forward and see what the future holds.

Bus monitor bullied

There is a video on the internet that went viral last week. A sad and anger provoking video called "Making the bus monitor cry." Most likely you've heard of it and maybe watched it. The video shows just how rude, disrespectful, and disgraceful kids can be. Making matters worse, it displays this behavior from middle-school boys towards an elderly bus monitor. Most of us know, that you just don't go around disrespecting the elderly like that, but apparently these kids never got that in their unfabulous training. 

I have watched a lot of the video responses to this video, and read several written responses. People were genuinely hurt by the behavior of these children, and saddened to see a women that could have easily been anyone's grandma, harassed and bullied for 10 minutes straight. The biggest response ringing throughout many of the responses, is a general feeling that children in society today have grown to be completely lacking respect. Many posters, accusing parents of being at fault, and some insisting that had the children been spanked, this would never occur. I understand this response, people's feelings that society is losing its way, and their feelings that children have no respect or proper upbringing. However, I also like to look at the positive side of things when bad things occur. 


Consider this, many responses were from other young children and teens who were just as disgusted and revolted by the behavior of these boys as I was. Most of them spoke very well about the sadness, anger, and frustration they had at seeing other children treating another person this way. Almost all of them repeatedly stressed that you should never disrespect you elders like this. While some had a very hard time containing their temper, as did many of the adults, there where some who maintained their composure very well and spoke very eloquently about their genuine feelings on this matter. Several of them also spoke of the reality that the actions of children like this reflect very badly on their generation and society.


I know many of us want to lament about how proper and respectful children once were. They feel that poor parenting has destroyed the fabric of society, bringing rude disrespectful children that have no comprehension of responsibility. I see these children as one small sliver, creating havoc, wherever they go, and making others look bad. Yet, in many other children, there is a glimmer of hope, of graciousness, intelligence,  empathy, and true respect. If you look for it, if you pay attention, it shines through the brokenness and disrepair in our society. There is a light that comes from some of these children, and I think we need to help them and cultivate them to keep that light going strong. Not to squash them and squelch that light, while putting all our focus on the negative. 

We drain so much energy and emotion into what we feel is wrong with the world. I wonder what could happen if we put most of that energy and emotion into what is going well in this world. Don't we often say that children do bad things because they are looking for attention? Then we turn around and give them exactly what they are looking for, when they are doing the wrong things. Could we possibly give our attention to the good things happening every day, all around us? Could we put our energy, attention, hope, and care into the positive things that are going well? Children tend to learn by example; they live what they learn and learn what they live. So if they live and learn that we put our energy and attention into the good, awesome, positive things and people in this world, maybe being rude, disgraceful, and disrespectful wouldn't seem to be such a huge attention-getter. Still, I see far more light in this generation than many people will give them credit for. 

Ahhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!! My head hurts! Gotta get it out! There is so much stuff that goes on in my head. I need an outlet to get some of it out in the air. What's in my head? Who cares? I just need to vent, discuss, spew, whatever. My other blog is on my education journey, which limits topics I choose to talk about. This blog should, hopefully, provide an outlet for just about any topic. This can also give me some freedom to try out, and experiment with a variety of options for different types of blog posts. It shall be my learning and growing blog tool. I want to try out some video and audio. I will see how it goes. For now, however, I must head to bed.  Good night -_- sleep tight zzzzzzzz don't let the bedbugs bite!