Saturday, June 29, 2013

Deep in the Heart of Texas and other Stories.


Well it finally happened, the shit hit the fan in Texas this past week when the state tried to pass one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in this great land.  Well, what transpired made me have hope that the lone star state isn't entirely doomed and filled with those who are overly compensating.  Wendy Davis, a democrat senator from the Fort Worth area showed she has some pretty big ovaries when she took on those who want to dictate how women care for themselves and by her side, hundreds of Texans who support her filled the capitol.  Davis stood on her feet, without food, water,  a bathroom break, as well as not being allowed to sit OR lean on her desk and filibustered.  She did what was right, standing up to those (mostly men) who think they know what's best women.  Opponents tried several times to try and stop it, they even tried to force a vote AFTER midnight AND changed the date so their precious bill could get through, but the bill died...or so we thought.  Mr. Dipshit himself, Governor Rick Perry, has called for a special session to try and pass the bill, hopefully the democrats and citizens of Texas can mobilize again and stop it.   Now here's my comments on this subject-  I AM SICK AND TIRED of the constant attacks being made towards women, women's rights and women's health issues.  Enough is enough.   Instead of moving forward on women's issues we've taken several steps back.  Vaginal probes for no reason, debate on birth control, shaming rape victims, and just flat out making comments that are way way off the grid and show how stupid those holding government offices really are.   I couldn't of guessed that in 2013 women would still be treated like second class citizens.   Restricting how women take care of their bodies is shameful and the lies being told to combat abortion are as well. Abortion isn't an easy decision and a woman cannot simply walk into a clinic and demand one, there's certain steps that have to be made before hand and not all abortions are voluntary.  Rape/incest victims should not be forced to carry their attackers child and contrary to popular belief those of us who support a woman's right to choose don't chastise women who choose to carry to term if they were raped, again it's her decision.  I have been meaning to hit up my local Planned Parenthood to ask those who stand out in front with their signs about ectopic pregnancies.  Should the woman be forced to carry until her fallopian tube bursts and she bleeds internally to death?  Why do a group of cells out weigh that of the woman?  What if the woman is diagnosed with cancer? Should she forgo treatment?  What if a woman is raped by a boyfriend/husband and is abused? Should she be forced to bring a child into that world?  If she isn't financially secure are YOU going to pay for that child's healthcare?  What if the woman is bi-polar, or has some other form of mental illness, should she be forced to raise a child in an unstable environment?  All of those questions and more seem to escape the minds of those who linger outside women's health clinics.  With late-term abortions it where the fun really begins, and like I stated above you cannot just walk into a clinic and demand and abortion, especially a late-term one.  There has to be substantial complications to warrant a late-term abortion. These people lack proper education and cloud themselves with bullshit statistics.  Instead of handing out pamphlets that talk about how abortions increase the risk of breast cancer and suicide and how a majority of women regret their abortions maybe they should focus their time in making sure young women AND men know how to use contraception properly and not back abstinence only education.  Maybe they shouldn't elect those who railroad every piece of legislation that makes it easier for low-income families to afford adequate birth control, victim shame, and refuse to look into the science of things.  Rick Perry and the other doofuses that are trying to cram these pieces of legislation through, and not just in Texas, claim to be pro-women, pro-family, and lastly pro-life yet, this week Perry proudly signed off on the states 500th execution.  What is even more disturbing is when women lawmakers come out and say things that are untrue and harm women's right to reproductive health.  Jodie Laubenberg, a representative from Texas and sponsor of the draconian bill stood up at a podium and claimed that rape kits "can clean out" a woman.  What?!  Why are these people allowed to make laws?  Now I can go on and on and on and on and on about all the fucked up things republicans have said about women and women's health issues but I'm not.  Woman have had to battle constantly for their reproductive rights and our reproductive rights are almost always on the chopping block.  Instead of attacking each other we need to get together and stop this madness, and that we're fully capable of making decisions by ourselves and don't need a bunch of old men dictating how we should treat our bodies. 




Now onto story number dos!

On Wednesday June 26th the Supreme Court struck down two pieces of legislation, DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) and Prop. 8 (which made same-sex marriage in CA illegal).  Personally I am more than happy to know that they did the right thing ruling them unconstitutional because well, they are.   But now the fun really begins since all those who oppose same-sex marriage (and for that matter gay rights) are throwing tantrums like the ones my little brother and sister used to pull when they didn't get their way.  Opponents have called it a "tragedy", "miscarriage of justice" that the SCOTUS is "abandoning their duty" and have also stated that Jesus would cry and that the founding fathers are turning over in their graves.  Threats have also been made towards the justices who voted in favor of abolishing the measures by so called Christians.

My personal standing is this, I don't think same-sex marriage should even be an issue, marriage between two men or two women should've been an automatic thing, plain and simple, because well...that's what equality is all about.  But, why has the push for equality been such an uphill battle?  One word...religion.   The problem isn't with religion per-say the problem is that religious institutions want to play politics and dictate what rights people have based on a book.  Another problem is that those who oppose such things like gay rights are constantly bitching about being called bigots and judgmental when they claim not to be.  They feel it's ok to chastise whomever they want but once someone points out their intolerance and hypocrisy they're up in arms because they're being attacked for their beliefs....no.   You're not being "attacked" for your beliefs, you're being shown you have no basis whatsoever to not support equal rights for others AND you're being a complete dick about it.  Plus opponents have other reasons for not supporting equal rights- that it will lead to more child molestation, destroy 'traditional' marriage,  with bestiality and polygamy being next up for the SCOTUS to rule on.  Sorry kids but that's not so, first off there's a difference between being gay and being a pedophile (hell, there's even a difference between those who molest and pedophiles) see pedophiles don't target a specific gender, they're sexually attracted to pre-pubescent children and it's about sex.  This whole notion that gay men, in particular, are sexual deviants looking for little kids to sexually assault is wrong and a scare tactic.   Now onto the argument about how soon bestiality and polygamy is next on the plate. Let me put it to you this way- Fucking an animal like, lets say a goat, or sheep (the original stand by) or a pig (oink!) is COMPLETELY different that two men or two women having sex and that is FOR SURE and even though in essence we humans are in fact animals ourselves, it's still pretty messed up to assume gays would screw anything they could, and it has ALWAYS been easier to screw an animal than for two committed adults, that have been together for years and love each other very much and who also happen to be the same sex, to get married and that's a crying ass shame, and disturbing.  With polygamy...IT WILL NEVER BE decided by the supreme court, because like most Americans and well the world, it's frowned upon and not to get all conservative but when a man is a polygamist he's only legally married to one woman while the sister wives live off welfare (where's the outrage in that? Oh that's right they're straight so it's ok).  So I just destroyed those arguments against same-sex marriage pretty well and if you think I'm wrong well, you're intolerant and misinformed and need to get with the times.

My hopes for 2014 is that people vote for what's right and get rid of the disease that plagues our states.  We cannot afford to have those who block important bills/legislation for their own personal gain, nor can we afford those who are bigots or misogynists to run the government, it only makes us weaker.




























Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The Good and the Bad

Last week Edward Snowden tried to fall into the graces of whistleblowers like Peter Buxtun, Daniel Ellsberg, Mark Felt, Julian Assange, Bradley Manning, Coleen Rowley and Marsha Coleman-Adebayo (and many many more) but the difference is, is that this 'story' has many holes.  

Firstly I don't think Snowden's intentions were entirely pure.  As I was reading my Twitter feed I noticed someone called him a "grandiose narcissist", which makes a whole lot of sense.  The answers he gave about why he did it and what he hoped would happen as a result irked me.  He came off arrogant, naive, and even a little callous as if he did this for selfish reasons to get back at someone, not to protect American population from 'big brother'.  

Secondly, what do you people expect?  This IS the patriot act, SPYING is one of the main tenants of this garbage disguised as something that's supposed to protect us.   Surveillance operations were made public many years ago.  Where was all the outrage when it was being shoved through congress?  We were given these horrible scenarios of what would happen if it wasn't passed and we also got that sorry excuse for a warning system called The 'Homeland Security Advisory System'.  Where was the outrage when Facebook started to sell information?  Government surveillance is old news.  For 8 years we were fed fear and this is the result.  This is what happens when you live an apathetic lifestyle and fall asleep at the wheel.  

And lastly,  I am NOT by ANY means condoning what the NSA did or does and it's a little scary but we happen to live in an age where the vast majority of the world is connected by the internet, which is a huge threat to not just our national security but our allies and frenemies.  It's kinda like when that crackpot named Terry Jones down in Florida wanted to burn the Qur'an- if he would've went through with it, it would've put those in our military in danger but the guy didn't care because he wanted to do it for his own selfish reasons, just like Snowden or the soldiers who decided to piss on dead bodies of enemy combatants- not thinking clearly about the consequences it has on others.  I'm not saying we should lay down and let the government strip us of our civil liberties and maybe I'm backing off my deeply rooted socialist ties but some things are meant to be classified, yeah we have a right to know whether of not our phone records and internet searches are being seen and I think most people have nothing to hide but like I stated earlier, it's a different time and age, where a lot of chatter happens on the internet and that's where we find a lot of information on those hell bent on affecting our way of life. Also, I'm not 'one of those people' who thinks the government is going to turn tyrannical or 'we have to do what we have to do for the protection of this country' or whatever but maybe this will teach some to pay attention to what's happening and if you really don't want the government seeing what you do then don't go on Twitter, Facebook, or any other social networking site.   

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Buncha GOONS.

This may seem a little off subject from what I've tackled in the past but I have to address this because those who are speaking out against it are fucking goons.

The problem....

Jay-Z and Beyonce went to Cuba.   I know, the fucking humanity right?!

This whole situation has apparently put a very bad taste is the mouths of American government officials, something about an embargo and how Fidel Castro is a horrible horrible dictator and they can't be trusted, Marco Rubio (Senator from Florida, born to Cuban parents) even said that Jay-Z needs to "inform himself" about his Cuban buddies since Jay-Z is an apparent fan of Che Guevara.  Even though Obama has opened up some travel restrictions for those from Cuba and those who have family living in Cuba, travel for us "normal" Americans to the island is still a no-go because of the Embargo against them that started MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO!

I know why there was an embargo in the first place (I'm not an idiot) my parents grew up during that time, I know there's human rights violations, I've heard the stories and I don't think a lot of adults in my age group and younger really grasp just HOW close the world was to nuclear war, but....the United States needs let it ride.  It's been long enough.  Who is the embargo really hurting? Castro?  No.  It's hurting the people of that country - which is screwed, it's not their fault.

But wait a tick...the sole purpose of the embargo was to make the Cuban government treat their people better and stop corruption because as American's we're freedom lovers and want everyone else to have to same freedoms we have... right?  Well then, what the FUCK are we doing supporting and sending money to countries that have FAR WORSE human rights problems than Cuba?

China basically owns us, we get a lot of goods from them and they're also notorious for human rights violations - censorship, religious persecution...pollution (they know how bad their air is) to name a few.

In Egypt we supported Hosni Mubarak (A DICTATOR), Saudia Arabia where women aren't allowed to drive, Iraq but, they have oil so it's ok.

Then there's Afghanistan, Jamaica, various African countries and if anyone knows how to abuse human rights it's Africa

And you know what?  Even WE have human rights abuses.  

So all this hoopla about two American celebrities going to Cuba for a cultural excursion is ridiculous and those who oppose them going there and support the embargo need to take a good long look in the mirror.   The United States needs to get their shit together on who they support and for what reasons

Look, I'm not condoning how the people of Cuba are treated, and we've seen that in a lot of "communist" countries (in parentheses because communism doesn't work, if it was socialism MAYBE and yes there IS a difference between the two)  but enough is enough, like my Cuban co-worker told me the other day "The American government should allow its people to experience my country.  It's a beautiful place with beautiful people.  Forget the government it's the people who make the country!"  


Friday, January 18, 2013

Obama, Guns and Paranoia...OH MY!

There's been a couple of...issues that have been really chapping my ass lately (imagine that!).  The thing that has been getting my panties in a bunch more than anything is the whole gun debate (or debacle) and how paranoid people are in this country when it comes to their "right to bear arms".   BUT there is ONE part of this discussion that REALLY gets my blood boiling and that is when some claim that Hitler was for gun control and that Obama is a tyrant/dictator because he supports REASONABLE gun safety.  Along with not being able to read the constitution properly I guess people can't read history books properly because last time I checked Hitler (and many other REAL tyrants/dictators throughout history) WASN'T FOR GUN CONTROL, and if you think Obama is a dictator then you sir need to attend to that paranoia, because that's what all this is- paranoia. NO ONE is talking about TAKING GUNS AWAY.  The whole notion that "guns don't kill people, people kill people" is also bullshit and a stupid argument.  When there is a conflict in the world and the U.S. military mobilizes we don't send only soldiers- we send soldiers WITH guns and artillery (very large and powerful guns).  Another thing is, is  at this moment in time I don't think ANYONE needs to "protect" themselves from the government.  Obama isn't a dictator or tyrant that is going to come knocking on your door so....take some Xanax and relax it's going to be alright.  Look, I'm not anti gun I've even fired a gun and a shotgun or two and if the Zombie apocalypse happens shit is going to get real, but it's getting out of control.  I see people posting things on Facebook or Twitter about how the government is doing this so only those in power have guns so they can control the rest of us, again I urge you to take some Xanax or Ativan or maybe even a little dope to help you relax because THAT IS FUCKING NUTS, seriously.   You have nut jobs like Alex Jones who started a petition to get Piers Morgan deported because Morgan supports banning assault rifles, extensive background checks, and limiting ammunition (along with more than 50% of this country).  Jones then proceeded to scream about how "1776 will commence again" if President Blackenstein takes away the right to bear arms (which he never said he was going to do), then there were those who said that the executive orders were going to cause a civil war case in point James Yeager, a tactical weapons trainer from Tennessee, did what most irrational nuts do- he posted a video on YouTube about how he would be more than happy to fire the first shots of said war and he is "not letting his country be ruled by a dictator, I'm not letting anybody take my guns. If it goes one inch further I'm gonna start killing people", easy there cowboy, them is fightin' words and I'm sure he got a visit from the FBI but hopefully not while in the middle of masturbating into his many guns (Mr. Yeager has since had his gun permit yanked). Then you have king of right wing gun whores the Motor City Madman, The Nuge, and whatever-other-stupid-name-people-call-him, Ted Nugent.  I have to be honest I'm surprised this guy hasn't imploded or thrown a clot, like the two men I mentioned before him he spews bullshit he magically conjures up.  

The truth is this,  people refuse to believe the truth and want to get others riled up so they can all live in this fantasy about how the government is trying to take away our right to protect friends and family or they're going to stop you from saying what you want and that this is AMERICA fuck yeah!!! WE HAVE RIGHTS HERE! Not like those goofy countries where Obama is from! (sarcasm).  I could go into what the NRAs position is but frankly I think I've mentioned enough completely paranoid dimwitted nobodies.  The fact is, is that the United States has a militia, well a couple of them, called the Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, National Guard, Coast Guard and local police forces and if you need a firearm so bad, go to a recruitment center.   You may agree with their roles in society or not but that's the truth.  Another truth is that we don't NEED to have guns, the British aren't coming (Maybe they should, at least we would get healthcare) neither is Al Qaeda.  The 2nd Amendment is outdated and only gives more power to gun nuts.