Middle aged musings from farm & hearth
Thank you for taking the time to read through my post yesterday regarding immigration reform. Any time you post your personal beliefs in public, it’s a risk. Almost impossible not to offend someone.
Jane left a very poignant comment at the end of yesterdays comments section, another side to the immigration issue that is very real and worth going back to read.
It’s a new day, all – lets make it a good one.
Facebook is a funny bird….. it can be a wonderful tool for keeping in touch with distant family and friends, posting events, sharing happy news, philosophies and photos. It’s also used and abused as a bitch session, rant platform, political war zone and advocacy area. Yep, you can really piss people off if you try.
I try to keep my facebook page light and entertaining and all in the spirit of sharing, good will and encouragement. Am I always successful? Ha! In all honesty I get tangled in others conversations now and then where my opinion is bold and most often in defense of something.
This morning it was about posting pics of animals in need. In all fairness the original poster was begging others to not post pictures of abused animals anymore. I should note that she is an animal advocate and has rescue dogs of her own. Her friends agreed that they want to see -happy- on FB, no sad and horrible stories of abuse that they can’t do anything about. And that’s where I chimed in. In essence my point was that I am in dog rescue and do post dogs in bad condition sometimes that need help. My view is that if you never see the negative images, you won’t know the need is there and you will definitely not be prompted to do something about it. ( I’m not talking about the horribly gruesome images.) If you are in a position to do something and my post prompted you to do so, mission accomplished. And, time and time again, those posts save dogs. So, I won’t apologize, although I limit it so I don’t bombard friends with sad circumstances.
There aren’t enough people in this world who give a damn about anything other than what is directly in front of them affecting their world directly and immediately. So I am definitely not quick to criticize anyone who is trying to make a difference for the greater good somewhere, regardless of the cause. Even if their way of doing it is posting on their FB feed a picture that might make me feel momentarily uncomfortable. – Did I just piss you off?
What does bother me? Those dead dear and game pics of proud hunters (sometimes kids!) with big smiles standing next to their bleeding, big eyed, tongue hanging out of mouth deer, bear, or whatever… I am not a vegetarian, so I have to admit this is probably hypocritical… but somehow seeing you standing so tall and proud next to an animal you killed for the joy of it is really disturbing. Oh, I know the argument stand that the deer/game will be eaten…but you’re not out there shooting deer because you can’t afford food from the grocery store. You’re doing it because you enjoy the hunt.. and kill. WE could also argue that the way this country treats animals raised for food in mass factory inhumane conditions is a lot less humane than the momentary shoot and kill of that deer. You’re right! Ah, it gets so complicated, doesn’t it. I do try to buy food labeled as humanely raised and I encourage all to do so. Have you seen FOOD, Inc? Ugh. a must see. But be prepared, it will offend you.
– Just sayin.
Let me start this post with a clear and honest statement. I believe strongly that I am not a racist. Racism in this day and age disgusts me. By now we should know better. We’ve got a long, ugly history behind us that tells us just how WRONG it is. It is my opinion, and perhaps with arrogance I believe it should be everyones opinion, that we are all human beings who deserve our life on this earth to begin and play out without prejudice and judgement that many still base on our ethnicity. If you are a religious person and you don’t agree, then you are at the very least, a hypocrite. God created all equally, right? He loves all his children? You believe everything on this planet is his creation, correct? Explain your view, please, if you are a racist but you believe in God. I’m not being sarcastic here.. I want to try to understand you, because I have trouble getting past that particularly irony.
All that being said, I’m bullsh*tting you if I don’t come clean and say that if you’re a big person wearing baggy gangsta style clothes that might or might not be concealing a weapon, with your pants half way down your ass, you’re staring me down with a dead look and a swagger that says –get out of my way, b*tch – as we walk toward each other on a deserted street, I’m getting out of your way, quickly. If that’s how you are presenting yourself, it’s reasonable to assume fear is what you’re trying to provoke, aggression and bullying is your MO, so you’ll get the reaction you were asking for. Notice I didn’t say, though, whether you are black or white. A big white dude presenting himself in the same way is going to get the same reaction from me. Maybe even a small white dude. Am I prejudice against big or small dudes dressed gangsta-like with attitude? No.. I’m cautious around someone exuding negative aggression, because I’d be stupid not to be.
We all read about the Trayv*n Martin case, and now the Micha*L Brown story. Both losses are tragic. Neither young men were armed. I don’t believe we will ever know the exact sequence of events, emotions, knee-jerk reaction? responses – appropriate or inappropriate that occurred in either of those stories. We have to rely on eye-witness accounts that are tainted with emotions, with prejudices of their own. If it was all clear in a video surveillance camera, we wouldn’t have to trust an eye witness. But most often we don’t have that clarity and so those other factors come in to play… emotion… prejudice, fear.
Regarding this newest case – This is what we know for sure. MB was a young black man. He was unarmed. He had just acted like a bully and shoved a convenience store clerk around with threatening behavior as he robbed him of a $50 box of cigars. Then he ambled down a public street, blocking traffic, which is what prompted the officer to approach him. Another bully behavior. Clearly his mindset at that time was that of defiance and aggression. Did he deserve to die because of it? Absolutely not.
Lets talk about the police officer, who now has the terrible burden of knowing he shot and killed a young unarmed man. The guy had a solid six year record, no disciplinary issues. What we know for sure – the young man in question was acting defiantly. He was behaving in the way that dangerous and armed people typically behave… with arrogance, breaking the law. Given this scenario, the officer is now on high alert for any other signs of something about to go wrong. He is trained to do so. Experience has taught him that things can go horribly wrong in an instant. The officer says the young man, when questioned and asked to stop walking down the center of the road, blocking traffic, tried to grab his gun. If this is true, really really stupid move on the young mans part. I call that extreme aggression and the officer had a right to assume the young man was going to try to shoot him with his own gun. The officers life is just as valuable as the young mans and he has a right to protect it. If it’s not true, and the officer was attempting to pull the kid into his car – (friend of victim, eyewitness claim)… and then the young man just backed up and was shot at repeatedly as his hands were up…. then the officers response was grossly -wrong-.
Why do we assume the outcome of this tussle would have been different if the young man was white? Or the officer was black? Well, statics show that this type of shooting death by an officer occurs much more often when the perp is black. Is it because there are more blacks doing these type of crimes or does racism play a roll? I keep wanting to take the color out of the question. Seems that simple to me.. just take the color out of the question. But I am a white woman who has not had to warn her children that the color of their skin might make them targets of unwarranted bigotry and hate. That reality exists.
What makes sense to you? In this case – Why would the officer pull the young man INTO his car window and start shooting…and then keep shooting as the victim backs away. Keep in mind.. at this time the officer had no idea he was looking at the guy who had just robbed the store. His reaction was based on however that young man presented himself at that very moment. Just backing away with hands up??? The eyewitness to all this was the victims friend… and accomplice in the robbery at the convenience store earlier. He’s not going to defend the cop’s judgement and betray his dead friend and implicate himself for that matter in threatening behavior. But… there stands his statement that the kid was just walking along innocently, the officer in question stopped to question him and then just opened fire as he put his hands up, killing him with repeated shots. I find that last scenario very had to believe. And it’s not because the young man was black. When analyzing this picture… it should have nothing to do with his color. It has everything to do with his known behavior and state of mind before this tragedy occurred. The officers reputation has to count for something too.
Regardless of what anyone believes, it’s a horrible tragedy all around. The pain and loss MBs family is suffering should never have come to be. A young man is dead who may have needed some discipline but did not deserve to die, and a police officer has killed someone and will have to live with that outcome for the rest of his natural life. I can’t tell you whether racism played a roll. You can’t either. But as long as we all keep fueling that fire, it’s going to burn long and strong. The people of Fergus*n who are looting among the protesters are only adding more fuel to that fire.
-Just sayin
You’re looking anyway, aren’t ya.
I warned you!
OK, ladies… let’s talk about bras for a minute, shall we? I hate ’em. And I’m not all that big chested. I cannot imagine how you women who are well endowed manage that weight and the bras that support you year after year. In my younger years I envied you, truth be told. All that attention from the boys on the beach… it wasn’t me they admired with my beanpole figure.. no, it was Lisa or Bonnie standing next to me with their double D’s. But as I get older I really have no tolerance for an uncomfortable bra and now I’m sort of grateful for my smaller bust size, especially because those serious bras are seriously uncomfortable, even in my size.
The point of my post today is to shout out to all of you, jubilantly, that I found an incredibly
comfortable no-wire bra at TARGET of all places. The shoulders are comfortable. The midsection is comfortable. And it does hold your boobs where you want them to sit. (If you’re still reading, guys, it’s no ones fault but your own). The thing is… this bra is supposedly a NURSING bra, although I don’t get it. There is no pocket for nursing pads, no extra anything.. just what you see below. Maybe it’s an easy access thing…
ANYWAY… wow is this a great bra for summer.. easily worn under a sundress or tank top or t-shirt and gives enough support if you’re not super sized to exercise in. I LOVE IT!
Bought at Target, the company name on the bra is Gilligan & O’Malley. They come in pairs and in several different colors.
If you’ve got a favorite bra that you think is super comfortable,
feel free to share a link in the comments section below.
I knew she couldn’t keep it to herself. How long was the only question. All these years later…. like 16 or so? …. here we go again with the Lewinsky Clinton Circus. She’s finally writing her book, telling her story. Don’t we all know every single sordid stupid detail already? The Tripp tapes? The blue dress? Revolting Cigar use in the oval office?… blah blah blah blah blah.
She says now that while it was a consensual relationship, she was definitely taken advantage of. I beg to differ, Monica. Yes, our President was stupid beyond belief at that particular point in time and I will not try to defend him here. However, you were in full control of keeping your blue dress clean and your reputation unshattered if you had just had the respect to keep yourself away from the married President of the United States, regardless of his own ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLY ASININE POOR DECISION MAKING abilities at the time. I mean, really, Bill… WTF, a 21 year old intern? And you thought it wouldn’t leak out? Like she would keep screwing the President of the United States to herself??? You couldn’t wait till you were NOT the President of the US before doing something so stupid? I had faith in you. I still think you had some greatness in you, but you f-ed it up big time, Dude. BIG.
Anyway, I … will not…. be buying…. a book from THAT woman.
We were all saturated in every sordid detail of that ridiculous circus and I doubt there are any revelations worthy of our attention. As for all the Hilary haters who like to blame her for some part in that, or keeping Bill around afterwards.. well, she had no control over the proverbial cigar and she paid a very high price for two other people’s stupidity… You may have your opinions, but the truth is none of us knows all the details in their marriage or anyone else’s for that matter. In my opinion she handled that situation with more class and restraint than a lot of us are capable of, me included.
Please, Monica, just shut up and stop playing the victim. Your 15 minutes of fame were up a looooong time ago. Just..go.
Did you have a subject in grade school called “Current Events”? While I was mucking stalls this morning, gazing out over foggy fields and mulling over the days headlines, a fond memory floated in. Me..clipping articles out of the Staten Island Advance for my “current events” assignments in Mr. Rowans and Mr. Fiores class. I can still smell the white sticky paste with the accompanying brush I used to put the clippings in my marble notebook. I loved that part of our school day, because we were talking about the stuff that was occurring right outside in the real world. To this day I know for certain I should have been a journalist. Not the kind that sensationalizes or falsifies to -get a story- that will sell. But one who uncovers truths and helps set things right, brings attention to issues that need the attention, etc.
Anyway, we’ve got all kinds of news out there right now, controversy everywhere. Want to discuss? Hang on tight, I’ll ramble here a little and you let me know what you’re thinking on one or more of the subjects if you’re so inclined. You don’t have to agree with me or any others, but please keep it respectful.
Don Sterling… Congratulations to the NBA for making a strong statement – racism will not be tolerated in their league. They said it as strongly as the law will allow, and I applaud the decision. Racism should be a thing of our shameful past, and yet it still exists. I’m glad one more assh*le has been called out on it and will pay a dear price, even though he’s 120 years old and won’t really feel it for very long. Especially since he stand to gain approximately $500 million in the forced sale of his beloved mostly black team. Ironic, isn’t it?… that his mistress is of african american and hispanic heritage. And he chose to own a team in a sport that is predominantly black and has made much money off the efforts of his hard working team. This is filed under the category of – Things that make you go Hmmm…… – That being said, perhaps it is a bit disconcerting that we can be recorded and judged by things we say in our own home, in what we believe is a private conversation. I struggle between the two issues, because what he had to say, his attitude, was so vile to my ears I love to see the guy suffer publicly. I don’t like to think we have lost another right to privacy. It was also said by a friend of mine that people like Al Sharpton get away with racist crap all the time, and I agree! However, THIS guy was called out on it, and I feel every ass that is caught and exposed is one more ass that didn’t ‘get away with it. Better than nothing.
The Hunt For Flight 370. Is this getting utterly ridiculous now, or what? They hear pings, they don’t hear pings, they get satellite recordings, they don’t have satellite recordings. There is some oil slick discovery, it’s not an oil slick discovery. There are pieces of what might be a plane on sonar, it’s not pieces of a plane on sonar. Another plane discovered possibly, but not that one. There might be some wreckage from the flight, it’s not wreckage from the flight. The search narrows, the search expands, the search changes direction, the search continues… and continues… and continues. I feel so badly for the families who would really like some answers, but I want to tell them to please not look at the ridiculous news coverage anymore, it must be driving them crazy, quite literally. It seems bizarre that in this age of so many ways to track something, we have no f-ing clue what happened to that plane and it’s people or where it might be located.
A Botched Execution . Well, what to say here. I believe in the death sentence for violent criminals with a long history with the law who commit horrible crimes such as rape and subsequent murder. The Boston bomber? No remorse even?… give it to him. The most recent botched execution involves a man who no doubt died a miserable death, but his victim did too… raped and buried alive, therefore murdered. Her killer didn’t worry about being humane when he brutalized her. So how much concern should I have for his death being humane? But again, I’m conflicted, because two wrongs don’t make a right. And I find it hard to believe that we can’t figure out how to humanely euthanize our Death-Sentence citizens if we’ve decided we are indeed going to execute them. Is it really that hard?
The Weather Whew! Safe topic. I hope you are all staying warm and dry – looks like the sun is trying to burn through the fog here and the rain has stopped. We have flooding in low lying areas and my husband is cursing prolifically this moring as he makes his way around the job sites witnessing the water distruction and work that will need to be redone, repairs to be made. Prayers to those who have been affected in a big way and have suffered terrible losses due to the tornado and flood issues across the states… scarey deal, this extreme weather trend in recent years. Makes you wonder how far it will go.
It’s a new day, all. Try not to say anything offensive in your private conversations because your soon to be ex or 50 years younger mistress or boyfriend might be exacting their revenge. Try to be in range of a storm cellar at all times if you can help it, be on the lookout for plane wreckage wherever you may be, and steer clear of any criminal activity that might land you in the execution chair, because they don’t know what they’re doing yet and it might get a little ugly, apparently.
*sigh* – Just sayin.
*sigh*
Another story in yesterdays news… a 93 year old woman was bitten by a pit-mix, says the media, while out walking in her neighborhood. Ofcourse what follows is an ugly comment war between pit bull haters and pit bull supporters, and I’m sure you guessed it ……. you-know-who just can’t help but interject.
Here’s my stance. I think pit bulls have gotten a really bad reputation, unjustly so. Are they capable of inflicting BIG harm to a person? You betcha. Anything with teeth is capable. Any breed of DOG is capable of attack and biting. My seven lb. dachsund bit a UPS Driver with the ferocity and intention to lay that sucker down! What has to happen is, anyone who owns a dog needs to be responsible for their proper treatment, care, socialization. If you’ve got a big dog, you need to have it under your control at all times and if you’re not ready for that responsibility, then it’s not for you.
Here’s a truth – Pits have a powerful jaw and they can do serious damage, even causing death in some circumstances. Another truth – There has been mauling and death with other breeds as well, it is not just a pit bull thing. At the hands of certain ill-intending groups of people, The PIT bull, however, has been exploited and bred and trained to fight and kill, earning it the most feared and ugly reputation in the dog world. Those particular dogs have issues, as would any abused soul, and need rehabilitation if they are rescued. Some are beyond help after being so horribly abused, tortured, maimed. That’s a sad fact too.
Years ago, when I was young, it was the rottweiler, not the pit, who had the bad rap. I’ve raised two of those with my children, never was there a moment that I couldn’t trust them with my kids or even strangers, but I was denied homeowners insurance because we had a rotti in the house.
Another truth – because I am in dog rescue, I see many pits around here. I have yet to come across one that is aggressive. Strong, energy packed ? Thick headed with training sometimes? Absolutely, and any adopter thinking of becoming a pit owner should know they have an athlete on their hands. But they are also incredible family members and children and grandchildren are raised with them. Pitbull ownership isn’t for everyone…. I’d tell you the same about my Dane, Ben. At 190 lbs., he weighs more than me and is stronger. I keep that in mind whenever I take him in public and I do not let strangers approach, just because it’s smart to do so. Common sense. There it is.
The hysteria and hyperventilating and name calling and accusations that fly in the comments of that story today are awful. It’s not just the cries to euthanize all pits because they are dangerous, or the nasty name calling and sarcasm and opinions not based on fact.. it’s the way we talk to each other when we don’t agree. How can there possibly be a solution if we can’t be civil in discussing a problem or crisis or issue or claim? And Lord, when will prejudice not be a word in our vocabulary?
*sigh* Just…. sayin.
The New York Jets have signed with Michael Vick, the NFL quarterback widely known for his participation in dog fighting and countless acts of cruelty by his own hands to his dogs. Here’s a pic… and I didn’t warn in my post header of the graphic nature of this post because we have to stop looking away from uncomfortable things.
This was posted on a friends FB page this morning…
Question…. First off, I’m not a Jets fan
and I am a huge animal lover. My question is this…hasn’t Michael
Vick paid for his crime and made amends or has he not? I don’t really
follow the story. I know how horrific it was fighting dogs, but I
wonder what all the hating is going to serve. Can anyone forgive?
Sorry if I upset anyone, just wondering and thinking that he is human
and has a mother, etc… Any thoughts? Perhaps he’s not sorry, like
I said, I don’t follow him, so I’m curious. I’d hate to hear Vick
bashing and Jets bashing all season. I hope this doesn’t start a big
nasty debate.
My Response on her post… I
can’t forgive a man who shoved dogs in a bathtub and electrocuted them
for fun. My opinion is that someone who could do that is made up of
stuff that I can never understand or forgive. This isn’t about a bad
mistake made.. this was a choice made over and over again to be horribly
inhumane, and this was after he was already making millions, was an adult and should have known better. Why
should we glorify him and make him a multi millionaire? What does that
say about our society as a whole? Nothing good, I think that’s safe to
say. He only stopped doing it because he was caught and shamed and will
be watched closely to be sure he doesn’t participate again. Here’s my
question… do you really feel he deserves forgiveness? Some people
are not worthy when the crime is that cruel.
What would your response have been? As Diana had stated, I hope it doesn’t start a nasty debate, but ignoring these issues because they are unpleasant does not solve any problems, right any wrongs, bring us any closer to our supposed humanity. We owe it to each other to discuss and take action and to eradicate hate, cruelty and abuse on any level.
And I feel I have to say this because I am what I am…. When religious beliefs dictate that all should find forgiveness, I can’t abide with certain instances. There are some crimes too heinous and there are those who are unworthy. Who am I to judge who is worthy and who is not?.. you might say. I say anyone who can take another beings life and torture it, abuse, maim and kill.. all for the sport of it, for the fun of it…again and again and again…. IS NOT WORTHY.
Giving up sugar is a really really really hard thing to do. Really.
I try to stick to the truth here, so in the spirit of being honest, I am both passionate and opinionated. Occasionally I see something that raises the hair on my neck and I’m probably going to spew it out here in my little corner of the public eye.
Many people shy away from talking about controversial issues on their blog space and I understand why one would choose to do so. When people feel passionate about an issue, especially emotionally fraught subjects such rights, religion and equality…..emotion, more often than not, mires what could be a constructive conversation. We all know this to be true, and yet it is so damned difficult to stick to the facts, Ma’am. Just the facts. I can tell you it’s never my intention when I bring up a sticky subject to find someone who opposes me so I can argue the point or belittle them. I am genuinely interested in all perspectives.. sometimes it sheds some light. And sometimes it just tangles the web even more.
That being said, I will continue to bring up topics now and again that I think are worth taking the risk to “discuss”. I welcome all points of view, as long as we are decent to each other in the discussion. I can’t help it if you don’t like what I have to say, and I’m not always going to like your ideas either. I try to be diplomatic and I don’t always succeed. Running away from things just because they can become uncomfortable never solves anything. That’s the nature of life. It’s how we deal with these differences that say a lot about who we are and whether we can be part of the solution or add to the problem, regardless of viewpoint.