This is more of a rant then anything else on how I feel about the topic of alcohol. America has a big alcoholic problem and that is really no debate and it is especially a problem among the young people. As a personal choice, I have chosen to abstain from these destructive habits including drugs and tobacco. However, I have also grown to see that what is for me, is not for everyone else so, I respect other people's decisions to engage in that activity.
I don't criticize anyone for drinking, but it is ridiculous that I am heckled for not drinking. I have never engaged in it and plan to never to do it. I have seen the destructiveness with my own eyes and wish no part. It seems that no one can have respect that I do not do it.
Today in one of my classes, the topic of alcohol was brought up and my professor along with others seemed to have no problem with underage drinking and/or to use of alcohol to socialize or to get drunk.
Here are some interesting and discouraging facts about alcoholism among young people:
- The average age when youth first try alcohol is 11 years for boys and 13 for girls. The average age at which Americans begin drinking regularly is 15.9 years old.
- It has been estimated that over three million teenagers are out-and-out alcoholics.
- The three leading causes of death for 15 to 24 year olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a leading factor in all three.
I am proud of myself for standing up in the face of temptation and sticking to my principles. And, even though I am one of few that does not engage in alcoholism, it is nice sometimes to be the few and strong.
In this week's Fort Wayne Reader Michael Summers wrote an article about the Seven Wonders of Fort Wayne which can be read here. It was very interesting to read some of the history behind some landmarks in Fort Wayne. However, I can not let something that disturbs me every time i read something of this sort, pass without bringing it up.
It is in regards to the Lincoln Museum, when he writes that, "In 1905, when a Fort Wayne life insurance company decided to call itself "Lincoln" after our 16th president, they knew what they were doing. What better representative for a life insurance company than someone who is an icon of honesty and integrity?"
Integrity? Lincoln had very little. He was a tyrant who was hellbent on keeping the Union together despite the Constitutional right to succeed from it. He denied the right of the South to leave and in thus, created a much bigger, centralized government and started a bloody war over it. Lincoln also suspended Habeas Corpus in the time of war. Sound familiar?
Lincoln did not free the slaves. Nor did he care to do so. The Civil War was not fought over the abolition of slavery, it was fought over the preservation of the Union. Lincoln did not care about the rights of slaves and the quotes below should show as significant evidence for my case."My paramount object, is to save the Union, and not either destroy or save slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing the slaves, I would do it. If I could save the Union by freeing some and leaving others in slavery, I would do it. If I could save it by freeing all, I would do that. What I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because it helps save the Union."
"I am not now, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social or political equality of the white and black races. I am not now nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor of intermarriages with white people. There is a physical difference between the white and the black races which will forever forbid the two races living together on social or political equality. There must be a position of superior and inferior, and I am in favor of assigning the superior position to the white man."It is sad that the real Lincoln is distorted by a Lincoln that we all like to believe -- one that freed the slaves and was for justice.
I am currently writing a paper for a history class in which I chose to watch the movie the Patriot. I am to examine and discuss a few issues at hand in the movie. I am going to write about [1] the role of the slave in the Revolutionary War, [2] British brutality in the Revolutionary War, and [3] what exactly defines a patriot and what the entitles.
I am very excited to get this opportunity and can not think of a better time than to use a Ron Paul quote in the paper that will greatly show what exactly a patriot is. The quote I am going to use is,"The true patriot is motivated by a sense of responsibility and out of self-interest for himself, his family, and the future of his country to resist government abuse of power. He rejects the notion that patriotism means obedience to the state. Resistance need not be violent, but the civil disobedience that might be required involves confrontation with the state and invites possible imprisonment."
Iranian President, Ahmadinejad, is heading to New York City to address the United Nations Assembly. However, he also is making a speech at Columbia University and is also wanting to visit Ground Zero to pay his respects.
Before I start, let me first say that in no way do I support comments made by Ahmadinejad regarding a lot of subjects. However, the President and city officials are planning on denying him access to visit Ground Zero, even though, according to his visa, he can visit anything within a 25 mile radius of the United Nations.
Why are we denying him a fundamental right that is given to every other American? If you visit America, you should be granted the same rights as if you lived here. It is not American to suppress people of their rights.
I can understand the emotion, even though Iran had nothing to do with 9/11. I can understand the frustration however, I do not believe it to be right. We have been told that all Iran does is propagandize, but what about the United States? Do we not use propaganda?
It is ignorant to believe that the United States can do no wrong. It is time we step back, review our recent actions concerning other nations, be understanding, and correct those mistakes.
The more and more I hear of Ron Paul, the more I see him speak, and the more I read his writings, the more I love this guy. He is, the Thomas Jefferson of our day.
While our government is seeking more power and all the while taking away our rights under the name of patriotism and safety, a quote comes to mind -- author unknown, "You are like men in a mist, seeking for freedom and know not what it is." The leaders of our day speak under the name of patriotism, calling descent of any kind unpatriotic. How quickly we fail to remember history. Not to mention, which I will write about in the next post, the president has established a new department which will participate in domestic spying using satellites which can peer into houses and use infrared to detect people and movements in houses.
I just watched a video on Ron Paul speaking about his faith. He points out that Jesus was a man of peace -- turn the other cheek, for example -- and the Christians of today fail to realize this or, if they do, don't understand and practice the text.
It is great that we still have freedom of speech to some extent, but it is fading and we better use it while we can to reverse this trend.
For those who do not know of Ron Paul, I encourage them to check him out at RonPaul2008.com
So I am in a bit of a rut and I probably won't be posting anything within the next few days, but who knows.
To save some the details, I have not had the best few days and it seems to be getting worse for me to handle. I know I need to get a grip on things and I am trying my best to do so. I can't bring myself to do anything, from school to even eating. I went to work today and came home sick -- low blood sugar, high blood pressure -- from not eating anything in the past few days.
Everything just came so sudden and completely unexpected and I hope things will turn out the way I want them in the future. I can't recall me ever being so upset about something, not even my parents divorce which still upsets me to this day. I know what I want from this, and I will continue my fight to win even though I face rejection again.
Encouraging words are always welcomed. It may not seem like much but it means a lot to me.
Hillary Clinton announced today her plan to introduce universal healthcare here in the United States. The presidential candidate claimed that her plan is not government-run however, it will cost the government (or, the American people) $110 billion a year to run. This $110 billion increase in the Federal budget will come from higher taxation among the wealthy, Clinton claims.
According to Clinton, individuals who receive their healthcare through their work will be allowed to continue to do so and businesses, on the other hand, will be forced to offer insurance to their employees or, pay taxes to a government-run healthcare pool for those who do not have healthcare.
I am not sure how this plan is not government-run. Sure, the individual can choose to keep their own healthcare, but everyone will be mandated to have insurance. Not to mention the force which will be used to ensure that businesses are giving their employees healthcare. It is not totally socialist but pretty damn close.
I do not understand the concept that the rich should be forced to pay for the poor. I do not understand why I am forced to pay for some other persons inability to provide for themselves. Health care is not a right, it is a privilege and, until we understand that, our medicine and hospitals will continue to decline in efficiency and productivity.
I do not welcome this idea at all. Government programs only create more problems and we should have learned this from other countries that have already tried and failed at socialized medicine. We should have learned that socialized anything will ultimately fail.
