OBAMA APOLOGIZES FOR A VIDEO? DO WHAT?!

I am amazed that our current US executive administration has put the blame for the recent attacks on our embassy on a video that was made by one of our citizens. The video, as irresponsible as it was, was not the cause of the attacks. How dare President Obama not realize that this had a direct link to the anniversary of September 11^th and had been in the works for many months?! The video made by the man (who shall remain nameless for his own protection) was irrelevant. And to make matters worse, our current administration finally admits that it was a terror attack but yet spends almost $100,000 to make an apology video for the Middle East. Although the government was not involved in the making of the anti-Islamic video, there is no reason to apologize since the attacks (again) had nothing to do with it! I am ok with letting the Middle East no that our government had nothing to do with it, but to apologize for it is also irresponsible. Besides that, if you’re going to make a statement of separation from the maker of the anti-Islamic video, shouldn’t you also make it very clear that in our country, we believe in freedom of speech? Whether we agree with what someone says or not, each individual has the right to express his or her beliefs in whatever way they would like. For all of this, I say that this has been yet another failure of the Obama administration. Before you begin thinking I’m a far right Republican, Mitt Romney is not much better. Our choice in November is crucial though, and I believe that Romney is the best candidate we have since the establishment was moronic enough not to pick someone like Ron Paul, an excellent libertarian. At least Romney does not apologize for being the USA’s constitutional stances on issues like freedom of speech, and he does not try to appease terrorists. Epic fail, Obama!

PICTURE OF ME AND MY BROTHER WITH MY NIECE

THOUGHTS ON THE IMMORALITY OF PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL SIN

Many of my closest friends know of my struggle with pornography. Sexual sin has been my biggest struggle in my life. Some struggle with alcohol; some struggle with other drugs; some struggle with gossip; still others struggle with sexual sin. Pornography is included in sexual sin, and speaking from experience, a struggle with pornography, if not cut, can lead to bigger sexual issues. In fact, some are so opposed to pornography in any form that they support the illegalization of it. Should pornography be illegal? In my opinion, as with many other things, which are illegal, no. Should it be seen as morally wrong though? Yes. Pornography does many things to someone and causes problems in many respects. Besides the immorality of it, here are some reasons not to have anything to do with pornography.

1.       Pornography presents an unreal picture of sex. Most of the actors and actresses seen in pornography videos and models seen in photos are digitally enhanced in some way, or they have something surgically enhanced. This created an unrealistic view of sex.

2.       Pornography removes the intimacy from sex. It becomes so routine and common when addicted that sex begins to mean less and less to us. That is not how it is designed to be.

3.       Pornography wastes time and money. When I consider the amount of time and money I have spent in sexual sin, it amazes me what I could have accomplished if I was focused on my work and not on something immoral.

4.       Pornography disrespects yourself and your sexual partner. It causes people to become objects, especially your sexual partner, your spouse.

These are merely a few of the reasons pornography is wrong. While it should not be illegal, it should be seen by moral people as immoral. Many struggle with it, and it is by helping each other and holding each other accountable that we can make it.

WOULD AN APOCALYPSE BE A GOOD THING?

With all of the political rhetoric hitting the stage in recent days, I now wonder if there is anyone left in leadership who is decent. I like the Romney/Ryan ticket, but I even wonder if those two are corrupt as are many leaders in our country. The fact of the matter is that we live in a corrupt society. A new series is coming on NBC this fall called Revolution. It looks very good. The idea behind the show is a world after the power supply has gone out. It has made me wish that would happen in real life. The female star of the show said in the previews, “When the world’s power went out, I found mine.” I wonder how many people would fine their power and be better off if something apocalyptic happened. I certainly would. Could it be that what we need is a cleaning house? We live in such a corrupt society and country now that something like that might very well be beneficial to us. Until then, however, we must live as people trying to make the world a better place in hopes that one day it genuinely will be.

CHICK-FIL-A SITUATION

With the Chick-Fil-A controversy (that should not be a controversy might I add), I am yet again reminded of the fact that tolerance cannot simply be one-sided. Dan Cathy obviously has every right to say what he wants and publicly state his opinions on what he believes. He may not one day with the direction our country is going, but for now, he does. The protestors of Chick-Fil-A also have every right to act however or say whatever they want in response to his statement. What is distorted here is that Cathy, in no way, said anything against homosexuals. In fact, Chick-Fil-A often employs homosexuals. His statement was simply that he and Chick-Fil-A support heterosexual marriage because they believe that is biblical. This was not hateful or bigoted in any way. The problem here lies in that people want tolerance unless they have to be tolerant. To me, it seems as though the tolerant person here is Dan Cathy, not the protestors. People are allowed to have varying views. I personally, however, believe it to be wrong for someone to have a double-standard.

Another issues with Chick-Fil-A right now is the fact that three mayors (San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago) have all said that Chick-Fil-A is not welcome in their city. First of all, this is unconstitutional. One cannot stop commerce. This is where, just like the federal government, any government involvement in personal life, business, or education at all is bad.

I, for one, have beliefs and views that are vastly different from what a typical Christian believes. That is because I do not, at all, believe in creating laws based on morality. What you get is a theocracy if that happens. There are things that are illegal that I believe should be legal. However, simply because I support something legally (such as gay marriage) does not mean I believe it is morally ok. In the same way, those who are protesting Chick-Fil-A because of a moral stance on an issue should reexamine their own lives to see who the tolerant one in the situation is because it is definitely not them.

NEW LYRICS: THE QUEST

I wrote some lyrics today that could be the beginnings of a song. My lyrics have become deeper and more personally meaningful. However, to anyone else, they’re usually an enigma. Here are the new lyrics:

The battle’s finally settled and the black has turned to grey
Everyone has seen the captured tears and turned away
Do I In murky waters lurks below the one who traps the mind
And all the thoughts now passing through are running out of time Am I
The quest is all I see
No compromise in free
You cannot lie
Can I
You cannot die
Will I
The hands are turning over on a body made of sand
And all rights have been neglected and been taken from the land
Have mine
The sacred has forsaken us with a broken alibi
And all that was once standing has now fallen from the sky
Have I

PENN STATE PUNISHMENT

As I awoke this morning, I heard on the radio that Penn State has been handed down punishments for the child abuse scandal that shocked the nation last year. The punishments included 4 years of bowl game ineligibility, a $60,000,000 fine, and reversing wins coached under Joe Paterno after 1998 to losses, which now means that he is no longer the winningest college football coach. I strongly disagree with this decision for multiple reasons.

1.       This punishment should come against the school and its officials, not the students, and clearly this decision goes against the students. What the hell did they do to deserve this? Nothing!

2.       Joe Paterno followed university protocol when this incident took place. Again if the NCAA decides to punish the university, then do so, but it is solely the fault of the university for having questionable protocol.

3.       Penn State won those games whether the NCAA takes the wins away or not. I always question decisions to take wins away. It would be as if a third party decided to take the win away from Texas, revoked their independence, and made Mexico the ruler again. Penn State won.

If the NCAA wants to punish people in a fair way, it is the individuals involved that should be punished. This needs to take place on an individual level, not at an entire institution level. I believe this was an attempt to “look” tough on child abuse and to come out looking like a hero. Shame, NCAA! Shame!