Rant

I've been quiet for some time now on a lot of issues. Not only have these been issues of the heart, but others as well (i.e. religion, politics, personal freedom, moral issues) and it's time for me to break the silence and do a little ranting on all of these.

I just got off the phone with my sis who is an outspoken advocate for a majority of the religious right. Last night she attended a prayer meeting with some close friends and prayed to God in such a way that would be immediately deemed as sac religious and an abomination to so many in the modern day Christian church. She took Muslim prayer practices and placed them side by side with her own beliefs. Why does this bother so many? Have Christians become so rigid in their own belief system that they can't readily accept people from different backgrounds (and religions) merely for who they are and not what they model their lives after?

Have we become a society that's willing to turn a blind eye toward people who invest time (and taxpayer dollars) to fund an ongoing war that not only pads the pockets of already wealthy and esteemed buisness men and politicians who's only concern is for a written agenda with one person in mind...themselves? Yet, in the same breath will openly defend a political candidate based on their stance against gay marriage and abortion without ever having solid evidence that they have the best interests of our country in mind. The thought causes rolling blackouts in my mind.

We use the terms "Republican" and "Democrat" as a thermostat for turning up the political heat around election time and pick these candidates apart based on trivial issues that aren't focused around the good of society. When will people de-program and stop listening to the oppressive nature of a pastor in a pulpit trying to swing your vote based upon a limited amount of issues...i.e. Ted Haggart.

Furthermore, I find it increasingly hard to listen to political anylists from either side that talk over people and refuse to hear the words of people who don't share the same viewpoint as themselves.

Can this nation change from the downward spiral course that it's on and rely on bare facts, free of political agendas and face the REAL elephants in the room that have been taking up too much space for far too long. Think for yourself, make your own decisions. Don't allow a political sway to swing you from left to right. Judge for yourself and draw up your own conclusions. Say things that aren't popular, if you truly believe in them. We're not called to judge, just decide.

Take the Tape Off

Censorship has plagued our society for centuries. People have been losing their lives, their dignity and basic rights to freedom under the guise of speaking their mind.
When did Freedom of Speech and One Nation Under God become so trivialized by a government who searches for new ways to quiet those who don't say what is deemed appropriate?

Case in point:

Last week there was a Q&A Forum involving the 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry at the University of Florida. Here's what happened as quoted from the Fox online news source:

"Andrew Meyer, a journalism student, trying repeatedly and heatedly to ask Kerry why he conceded the 2004 election after multiple reports of disenfranchisement of black voters and rigged electronic-voting machines.

Click here to watch the video of Meyer's arrest from MyFOXNewYork.

Meyer was asked to leave the microphone after his allotted time was up but he refused. Campus police officers responded and tried to pull Meyer away in a struggle that lasted several seconds."

When I first saw this video, it reminded me of every "end of days" movie I've ever seen. Perhaps maybe even a throwback to the "government conspiracy" flicks that I used to roll my eyes at as if to say "I wonder if that REALLY happens". More and more I'm starting to see that....IT DOES!

A couple of weeks back, Sally Field was censored in her Emmy speech because of her take on this war we are in. Her words were simply opinion and should never have been taken from her. Watch it below.

">Sally Field

What did she say that dozens of political anylists don't say every day? Why CAN'T she say what she wants to say?

A few months back, one of my favorite bands, Pearl Jam, were a victim of just such censorship when they played live via the internet for an AT&T special event. They blasted through their set and during an extended portion of the song ">"Daughter", they had something else to say about their feelings on the war and the current administration. Rather than uphold our constitution, the network decided to shut them down. They have always been a band who has done nothing but stick behind their beliefs and move forward as a culture and society.

Last Friday, the Colorado State University newspaper "Rocky Mountain Collegian" published an article that said "Taser This....Fuck Bush!!!". Personally, I think that there are better ways to communicate your disdain for this administration, but it doesn't mean that their opinion shouldn't be heard.

Break down the communication barriers! We all have differing opinions and that's what makes us great as a nation....our ability to have differing opinions without oppression....but are we living that? I think the real question here is...are YOU living that? Do YOU respect other people's opinions even though they may not be congruent with your own even if they don't respect yours?

Ponder. Think. Choose for yourself.