Flashback Friday: Vietnam War Protests - - This post haved 0 comments

The Vietnam war was the most deadly war in the history of the world. The hippie movement sprung from the womb of Peace Protesters in the late 1960's. These images of long haired rebels attempting to stop the bloodshed are some of the most powerful in circulation. I only want to show images of peace, I will not be using images of violence.

Overkill - - This post haved 0 comments

*I do not claim to be a lawyer!

We all mourn for the loss of Trayvon Martin and feel sympathy for his family. A young man was gunned down by the hands of George Zimmerman. Yesterday Zimmerman was acquitted of his 2nd Degree murder crime. Many people are questioning the decision made by the jury (made up of 6 females, 5 white and 1 hispanic) and many are appalled by the conclusion of such a public trial. I feel like I did in the wake of the Caylee Anthony case. For a moment you could hear a pin drop, then all hell broke loose.

"Race" has been flaunted in this cases from the beginning. A stray black boy wanders into a gated community and is shot by the racially motivated neighborhood watch. The prosecution sprang on the theory and ran with it through the whole case. Zimmerman's reputation as an outstanding member of society was drug through the mud as he was continuously labeled a racist.. I would hate to be in the shoes of these two families. Zimmerman is definitely a murderer, there was a 17yo killed by the gun fired by this man. I don't see any racial motive other than the general stereotype of the "black man". Intentional racism and subconscious racism are two different evils. I believe Zimmerman would have shot at anyone, despite race, under the same circumstances. We don't know anything this man was thinking at the time. However, I believe in the moment Zimmerman was overreacting to a stranger.

Despite the fact he was found innocent, I want to briefly discuss why I think the "black male" stereotype was so pronounced during this case. It is hard to deny that many equal rights and African American organizations joined together to declare their hatred for Zimmerman. Trayvon was black, out past curfew and bringing attention to himself. Racism and the fear of black men leads many people to be suspicious of all black men. As with any man, black men vary in cognitive ability, sexual prowess, size, physical ability, criminal tendency, and drive. No stereotype is based in scientific fact, they are socially constructed by ideas of what something could be not what something is.

Zimmerman was probably subconsciously afraid of Martin because of the color of his skin causing him to overreact to the situation. He wasn't being judged on his racial prejudices, racism is legal in America, he was accused of murder. Did Zimmerman murder Trayvon? Yes. Yet he was still found not guilty. This reinforces racism by saying that Zimmerman's claim of self defense (aka "he was being attacked by a black man") were substantial. Continue to be afraid of black man shooting you, while in fact they are not all carrying a weapon. While Trayvon was attacking Zimmerman, Zimmerman over reacted by pulling his gun and firing. George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman used excessive force while defending himself. This should still qualify him for murder.

Now he is free to be released back into society. What if he shoots another person while he is inserting himself into another dangerous situation? Being on neigborhood watch is not an easy position, there is an expectation of criminal activity. He already killed a young boy, and unless he is kept under close watch, it could probably happen again. The jury should have recognized the future outcome of their decision, instead of trying to deny their racial subconscious.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmermans-attorney-wishes-jury-diverse/story?id=19555739#.UeRTlY3ryBU http://radio.foxnews.com/2013/07/15/trayvon-was-not-innocent/

Same Sex Marriage Accepted Under Federal Law - - This post haved 0 comments

Today the LGBTQ community hit a home run. The Supreme Court was set to rule over the cases of the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California initiate Proposition 8. DOMA is designed to restrict the federal government from accepting same sex marriages.

It's clear that this does not apply to states decisions on same sex marriage. Same sex marriage began in California in 2008. It has been one of the hottest topics in mainstream media and social media since then. DOMA was put in place as a religious tool of restricting civil rights of same sex couples.

There are a lot of further questions resonating around the decision. President Obama said the Department of Justice will be deciding on the future of this decision. Will there be executive actions signed by President Obama?

Proposition 8 stopped marriage in the state of California. This is not a national ban but was accepted into the Supreme Court for ruling. California claims Prop 8 is unconstitutional and takes away the rights of LGBTQ citizens for no reason other than moral differences.  Today's decision was critical in the acceptance of same sex marriage resuming in California.

In the end, the Supreme Court decided to remand the case and send it back to the state of California. Ruling on jurisdiction, a private group can not take such matters to a national level. Same sex marriage should resume in California while the time line is not clear. There will probably be a 30 day waiting period for marriages after the ban is lifted. Extra staff is needed, and has been brought in, to handle the influx of applications.

Hundreds of people gathered in San Francisco and thousands around the nation. Gay Pride begins this week in San Francisco. While the Proposition 8 ruling was a waste of time, it is nice to see that the nation now accepts same sex couples under the law.

Attitudes toward same sex marriage has shifted since 2008 when Proposition 8 was overturned the first time. With growing acceptance, and the DOMA overturn, we should expect to see same sex marriage legalized across the nation within a matter of years.

Sexy Fish Sandwich - - This post haved 0 comments

It's nothing new to see sexuality used to sell products. It's also no surprise that Hardees (AKA Carl Jrs) uses over sexualized commercials to sell their sandwiches. From the infamous commercial of Paris Hilton washing a car in a bikini and eating her hamburger to the newest sexy Hardess commercial featuring a bikini clad beach bunny simulating oral sex on a straw.

It's disappointing to say the least. Exposure to overly sexual material leaves little to the imagination. It also makes companies appear overly desperate to sell their worthless product. If the burger was really that good, I wouldn't need a body to tell me so. Seeing too much flesh, at inappropriate times, causes us to lose appreciation for the real deal.

Where do we draw the line? Our society attempts to push the boundaries of every aspect in life, it's important to change and evolve. It is clear that sex sells products, it's cliche. Using sexuality to churn marketing is an attempt to grab your attention at whatever cost. We've seen scantly clad women (and men) used in movies, clothing ads and even car ads. Sexuality touches many aspects of American culture. One place I thought it could be avoided was in the fast food chains.

It's not very surprising that a fast food chain would hop on the bandwagon. You expect to see kid friendly places like McDonald's avoid such antics. However, Hardees leans more toward the adult demographic. Their commercials have always been racy and it's hard to find one that doesn't make your stomach turn. (Check out this article.)

I would love to see sexuality banned from commercials. I love racy, dirty movies and support adult decisions to consume such media. However, I believe these commercials are desensitizing our children and a population as a whole. It is unnecessary to show a woman bent over in a bikini sucking on a straw and making moaning sounds. Especially during the middle of the day when most families are at home trying to enjoy a good sitcom. It also seems shallow and dumb to buy into such marketing strategies. If you like the burger (or product) then by all means enjoy. But don't be naive to think that just because a company is trying to get your attention with such disrespectful tactics that their product is going to be worth your money or attention. Vote with your wallet.

Don't want to give Hardees any attention but I'll let the evidence speak for itself.

Life Without Facebook - - This post haved 2 comments

It's been nearly a week since I deactivated my Facebook account. "Why would you do such a thing?" is the question I've received most frequently since I made the decision. There are plenty of reasons to enjoy the famous social networking site; but I find that the habit forming, sometimes privacy destroying website is better off left out of my daily routine.

I don't need to be updated every 10 minutes about what my friends, family, and acquaintances are doing. I think it's become ingrained in our psyches, since the launch of the site, to over indulge in what others are doing. Especially the non-since and personal updates that have no effect on my life. It also seems since-less to share 'every' aspect of my life with people that I hardly know. It leaves nothing special and sacred to myself and my immediate family. Facebook has become an acceptable form of bragging and boasting, and usually about trivial things.

"Facebook has frequently changed its privacy settings in the past and will do so again, always in favor of less privacy."

Facebook is also a complete time sink. The average person spends at least 6 hours on Facebook every week. With some people, including myself, having Facebook active on their computers or cellphones 95% of the time. When we detach ourselves from Facebook, it is easy to see how people put more of their time and emotion into their cyberlives than their real lives.

You can argue that all internet activity (blogging, Pinterest, surfing Google) is a waste of time. But these options allow people time to self reflect, create and inspire themselves. While Facebook generally offers insight to other people's lives. You find yourself stalking people, looking at pictures of friends you haven't seen in years and generally sacrificing your precious time on people that you only know through Facebook. Of course I am not, nor would I ever, advocating anti-social behavior. Many people see Facebook as their only means of social interaction, that is where the problem stems. Being social means (should mean) having real conversations, face to face, and experiencing life for yourself. Not living vicariously through someone else, through a computer screen.

Not only does Facebook alter (and in many cases destroy) our private and personal relationships, it's also a source of nagging idiocy. Too many people with too many opinions constantly nagging about their beliefs. I admit to my involvement and contribution to this dilemma. With the recent election, government issues and all other soap box preachers there is so much diversity that it becomes a competition. There is nothing evil about sharing your personal views of the world, as we do in blogs etc, the problem comes when we want to tell everyone how they are doing it wrong. Many people engage in harmless activism, but there is plenty to protect yourself against.

"Note to self: if you try to talk to bigots about their prejudices, you will be treated like an a stupid fool, either stop entering into these conversations, learn to let the argument go before you start feeling like a masochist banging their head against a brick wall, or remember that it is futile trying to change people." source

Deleting my Facebook has been a relief. I have more time for myself, my family, and other things in life besides the drama involving my "peers".  I feel my brain beginning to regenerate since Facebook has caused it to rot and revolt. Occasionally I get a reminder of how "left out" I am from things on Facebook, but I have to remember what it is I'm missing out on. Drama. As far as loosing my friends, those that really care about me (or you for that matter) will take the time to get in touch with me outside of Facebook. The rest aren't really friends anyway. Maybe one day I will return to the cesspool that is Facebook, but for now (and for the foreseeable future) I think my life is just fine without this distraction.


http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/facebook%20arguments

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/18/tech/social-media/facebook-deactivation-ireport/index.html

Sexy Halloween | Taking Back Our Dignity - - This post haved 0 comments

Male Vs. Female Costumes

Every year, on the last day of October, ghosts and goblins come out to spook the living. It's also typical to see sexy bunnies, bumblebees and other miscellaneous mini skirt costumes. I've always believed that a person should wear what they are comfortable in, as long as it does not upset their morals and the natural flow of things. Wearing skimpy outfits on Halloween is a cry for sexual attention. Everyone is deserving attention. We are all worthy of expressing ourselves and being noticed. But what kind of attention are we looking for and why do we think we need to be noticed sexually?

When picking out a costume, the options are limited for women. Men have multiple costumes that aren't as sexually explicit. When a woman, who does not desire to be nearly naked, is looking for a costume her selection is diminished to outfits with the word "Sexy" in the title. Sexy Nemo, Sexy Batman and Sexy Kitty. Why can't women find costumes that don't make them appear to be desperate for sexual attention? Also, our young girls costumes are also growing sexier as the times change. The shorts are getting shorter and skin is popping through many different holes. This is not the way our children should dress and it is not a good example to be setting for our children.

This world has always been male dominated. And men want nothing more than to see tail on Halloween. If you choose to wear a sexy costume on Halloween, you are only giving in to the male desire. Some arguments can be made that NOT wearing a sexy costume is the same as giving up your rights because of male opinion. It's understandable to feel that way. But in reality, women who wear skimpy costumes ARE looking for the wrong kind of attention. They are looking for approval from males and the approval of other females that are looking for the same male approval.

There has to be a line drawn, however, so that we do not participate in slut shaming. Obviously, we are supportive of sexuality and sex. But it is important to realize that retailers and manufacturers are the guilty parties and that women are only acting on what they think they are "supposed" to do. While I do not aim to shame anyone for their sexuality, it is still important to have sexual dignity. Know your limits and don't wear something just because it's the only option on the shelf. We should not feel pressured to wear sexual outfits to satisfy sexual, male fantasies.

Halloween is about letting your hair down and expressing yourself in some creative way. Wearing the same Sexy Kitty costume as 15 other women is NOT creative. When did a scary kids holiday turn into a day of sexuality? Use your common since on Halloween, girls. If you wouldn't let your bits hang out on a regular day, don't demean yourself by doing it on Halloween. Use your imagination to come up with an amazing costume that still allows you keep you dignity in tact.

This Video Says It All

*As always, this is my opinion and I don't suspect everyone will agree.

Consumerism: I Shop Therefore I Am - - This post haved 0 comments

Consumer culture has bombarded American society and fed into our every greedy desire. The media swamps us with ads and contributes to our purchase identity. We are told what we should have and to obtain mass quantities of products we shouldn't even need. Our interests have turned to luxurious spending on luxury items. We have blurred the line between necessity and luxury. Society has created the desire to own, and that desire has manifest into crisis level spending.

Half of the world lives on $2 a day while America accounts for over half of the world's private consumption spending. We are told to believe if we spend more our economy will thrive. What does it say about our country, when people are knee deep in credit card debt yet still continues to contribute to the problem by spending more than they make? There is a bottomless hole in some of our pockets, and endless need to posses and own.

Consumption and ownership is only natural. It's the lengths that we take it to that are obscene. In 2009 American's reportedly owned 500 million cars. That's 1 car for every 12 people. Yet America is still not the worst. New Zeland, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy all beat out America when comparing the number of cars owned. North America and Europe have more cars combine than in the rest of the world put together. It is understandable that we will want to have cars, it is human nature to make our lives easier, it's understandable that we would use a lot of products that make our lives simpler.

The problem evolves when we begin to over consume and take more than our fair share. We begin purchasing things that we will never even use, for that "just in case" moment. Every new cell phone, 10 grey tshirts, 40 pair of shoes... and the list goes on. How many forks are in your house, how many do you actually need. We all have possessions, it's when we loose the value of those possessions that we begin to corrupt ourselves and our consumerist nature.

How do we avoid becoming obsessive consumers? First we have to analyze our individual and social spending habits. Are we spending more than we are making or saving? Where is our money going?  Second we have to accept that we do not need possessions to enjoy our lives or to make us happy. We should learn that value is subjective when it comes to possessions, but the value we find in ourselves and our fellow humans is important to our life's fulfillment. If you can't feel it in your heart or if you can't justify needing it, you shouldn't assume it will improve the quality of your life.  You have to learn to suppress your desire to own and possess, focus your interests on what really makes your soul rejoice.

PEACE - - This post haved 0 comments

What is peace? That momentary feeling when everything is aligned and secure. Tranquility of mind, body, and soul. Harmony in our hearts. Freedom from social unrest.

Peace has value, it has been sought after for centuries, each generation attempting to rid the world (and their selves) of turmoil and discontent. It is often believed that peace is intangible and unattainable. It is believed that the world will never unionize and start working together, instead of against each other. Many people refuse this notion. It seems that the only people to refuse the concept of peace are warmongers themselves.

Activists around the globe have fought for peace in many ways. Pacifism is the concept of rejecting any form of violence or war. It is the belief that any disputes can be resolved peacefully, without inflicting harm on anyone or any group. The idea is to end any and all wars by any peaceful means.

Common types of non-violent activism include (but is not limited to):

• Non-violent resistance ("Sit Ins" or "Be Ins")
• Diplomacy
• Boycotts
• Moral Purchasing
• Supporting anti-war political candidates
• Demonstration
• Lobbying to create legislation

What are you doing to find peace? Actively protesting, boycotting Chick-fil-A, or spending time meditating on your inner peace? If we all had a change of heart, we could certainly secure a peaceful future.

Protesting: Being Active Not an Asshole - - This post haved 0 comments

Protesters, advocates, rebels, radicals - the world couldn't survive or evolve without the effort of courageous groups fighting for their beliefs. I've been to a few rallies. I walked the streets of Asheville topless with the "Go Topless" tribe last summer. I've also been to multiple Pride parades and random protests throughout the area. They are always fun, always liberating and always disputed. When participating in a protests - whether large or small - it's important to accept that you will be faced by other groups that are protesting your protest.
The worst feeling is being faced by oppressors. The old preacher who's damning you to hell for enjoying gay sex. You're out there, speaking your mind, exercising your right to free speech. And so are they. There is a great divide between the liberal and conservative view points. Where acceptance and tolerance are ridiculed and exclusivity is deemed necessary.

You're getting your point across. Don't be an asshole while you are doing it. Obviously there is no need for violence in American protests. We can hold up enough signs and sing loud enough, that violence just doesn't seem necessary. Respect the authorities that are there to protect everyone, from the assholes. And go into the situation with a heartfelt purpose and the goal of promoting your ideas. People can be convinced to see your side, but only if you are rational and respectful with your delivery.