Mike's Random Thoughts of the Day.

[J-Ro]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

In other news, back to people and their lack of manners or common sense. I am so tired of people not using their blinkers. That stalk on the steering wheel column is there for a reason. Use it, especially in bumper to bumper city traffic. I almost got nailed by an Acura SUV three times in under a minute, because she failed to look to see where I was, and started making a lane change without her blinker. I advocate making the misuse or non-use of a blinker a felony, punishable by death.

Damn right. That and people speeding up when you go to pass them. Both of those drive me up the wall.

[Special Ringpop]

September 26th, 2007
Of Wars and Morals

I got home from my night class (Comparative Genders and Sexualities) and I did a quick scan of my favorite news reporting websites, and I hear that General Pace is at it again with his moral expectations.

Back in March, Pace told the Chicago Tribune that he thinks homosexuality is immoral, and that the United States is not well served by a policy that says it is okay to be immoral in any way.

Senator Tom Harkin wanted to give General Pace a chance to "amend" his public figure before his retirement next week, but it seems Pace didn't feel he did or said anything wrong.

Here are a few quotes that I find particularly intriguing:

"We need to be very precise then, about what I said wearing my stars and being very conscious of it," he added. "And that is, very simply, that we should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law."

So, what he's saying is that you can fight and die for the country, while protecting our "freedom", but don't expect us to acknowledge something very basic about you. That's great that his upbringing says it is counter to "God's" law, but when did a military general's upbringing and morals become the basis of what is considered moral and immoral in this country.

"I would be very willing and able and supportive" to changes to the policy "to continue to allow the homosexual community to contribute to the nation without condoning what I believe to be activity - whether it to be heterosexual or homosexual - that in my upbringing is not right."

So why are we condoning men to serve who are divorced? Why are we condoning men who cheat on their wife? I don't understand this moral argument. So because *** is the new "black", to quote a popular phrase, we have to make sure we define where immorality is, and that immorality is what two people do in their bedroom? I'm sorry, if I were serving, I wouldn't give a DAMN if the person next to me sleeps with men or women, as long as they were serving with all they could. Again with his upbringing: why is that even relevant? Why is ONE general's upbringing the basis for his response? There's a lot of people who would love to see GLBT folks fired from their jobs and evicted from their apartment, and were brought up the same way Pace was, but that doesn't mean we sanction such thing. Aren't we, in fact, condoning homosexuality in that we have hate crime laws on the books, or job/housing discrimination clauses included gays and lesbians?

To summarize, while I see a valid point in the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, I feel it is grossly unnecessary. Many people fear that "gays" will populate the military and force their lifestyle on their fellow troops. Think how *** people feel about their straight comrades boasting about their sexual escapades? While I don't condone it in either orientation, *** people are forced into a life of fear, fear that they will be outed in some witchhunt.

Our country has spend millions of taxpayer's dollars firing and dishonorably discharging openly *** individuals (many arabic translators) over the last decade, yet practically pleading people to join. Here we are, in a time of war, with recruitments at a low, and we're still under the asterisk policy:

Uncle Sam wants you*

*as long as you're straight or in the closet

Talk to any moderate, intelligent troop, and ask them if they know of any *** people in their unit, and if they care. Chances are they do, and chances are they don't care. Why do we need this policy. It's because of fear.

For those of you who consider me pushing my agenda, I'm not. This is a topic of intense importance to me, and should be to you, too. We're denying people the right to risk their lives for the country they love, because of who they privately sleep with. What kind of message are we hoping to send here?

So to finalize my thoughts: Happy retirement General Pace. So long and good riddence. Now for 2008 to come along...

[J-Ro]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

Back in March, Pace told the Chicago Tribune that he thinks homosexuality is immoral, and that the United States is not well served by a policy that says it is okay to be immoral in any way.

That right there is the fault in his argument. That's deductive reasoning, which works sometimes, but is very dangerous. Take the following example:

"A diet low in saturated fat may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Becel margarine is low in saturated fat."

They want you to believe that Becel margarine lowers the risk of heart disease, but deductive reasoning is a "connect-the-dots" argument. Is Becel actually saying that their margarine directly lowers the risk of heart disease? No. Is that what they want you to believe? Absolutely.
Is Pace actually saying that homosexuality is immoral? No. Is that what he wants you to believe? Absolutely.

His argument reminds me a lot of Bush's "if you're not for us, you're against us" argument. It's completely illogical.

[J-Ro]

Bump for you, Mike

[Special Ringpop]

Thanks Jason!

[Special Ringpop]

I hate to generalize. Generalizing is a very bad habit, and never leads to good outcomes, but I seriously have to question whether there are any polite people left in the United States.

I went to Panera Bread this afternoon to pick up a Chipotle Chicken sandwich and a bowl of Broccoli-Cheddar soup, and I was shaking my head the entire time I was in the establishment.

I get in the extra busy, long line, and I am between the sitting area and the entrance area. I leave enough space to get through for those who need to get by. Several times I was bumped by people and not once was I told "excuse me" or "pardon me", let alone "sorry".

The beepers say "Put in basket when your order is called", yet people leave them on the counter anyways, taking space away from where the food is placed to order. People, instead of thorwing their garbage away, put their empty trays on the pick up counter, where NEW food is supposed to go.

Little things like that add up, but it just upsets me that people are so concerned and busy with their own lives, that they can't take a moment to read the signs or rules, and are more concerned with making sure they don't drop their cell phone (heaven forbid), than holding the door for the older woman who can hardly walk, let alone open the door.

Is this just a geographic thing, or are we in trouble here?

[CaliGuy]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

I hate to generalize. Generalizing is a very bad habit, and never leads to good outcomes, but I seriously have to question whether there are any polite people left in the United States.

I went to Panera Bread this afternoon to pick up a Chipotle Chicken sandwich and a bowl of Broccoli-Cheddar soup, and I was shaking my head the entire time I was in the establishment.

I get in the extra busy, long line, and I am between the sitting area and the entrance area. I leave enough space to get through for those who need to get by. Several times I was bumped by people and not once was I told "excuse me" or "pardon me", let alone "sorry".

The beepers say "Put in basket when your order is called", yet people leave them on the counter anyways, taking space away from where the food is placed to order. People, instead of thorwing their garbage away, put their empty trays on the pick up counter, where NEW food is supposed to go.

Little things like that add up, but it just upsets me that people are so concerned and busy with their own lives, that they can't take a moment to read the signs or rules, and are more concerned with making sure they don't drop their cell phone (heaven forbid), than holding the door for the older woman who can hardly walk, let alone open the door.

Is this just a geographic thing, or are we in trouble here?

Here, in my county people are not that rude. I mean, they drive like assholes (so do I--kinda have to), but they will say excuse me and what not...most of the time...

I agree, for the most part, manners have gone out the door. IDK, my parents raised me to be respectful to everyone, but especially the elderly.

I always say excuse me, I put the divider down behind my goods in the supermarket conveyor, I offer help to strangers (when appropriate), I always say please and thank you. It's funny, people will mention to others how I'm "so polite"...I just think...shit....that's normal...treat others how you want to be treated

[Special Ringpop]

Likewise. People always tell me I'm so courteous and respectful and polite and helpful, but I really just feel I'm doing what I'd expect someone to do for me.

[KingMarineM16a4]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

Okay, I've decided to start a new thread. Hopefully it'll catch on.

I'm not saying I judge people before getting to know them, but for someone who is planning on ultimately going into law, and majoring in Psychology and Sociology, there isn't a day that goes by for me where I don't have some kind of opinion or thought on something (usually) random that happened to me over the course of said day.

Everyone judges before you think, it's how we are built. What is different about people is allowing your control to control that judge to be changed before it permanently sticks in your head.