How far we've come

The world we are in, currently is in an info war. I am not saying I believe in every crack pot conspiracy theory. I am saying, that all theories need to be thoroughly checked by all the data available. This is true for the far fetched, and the very likely.

The current problem in this country is not that conspiracy theorists are all crazy, but, that the same scrutiny that they take, is not applied to the official media created story. Both sides over look massive points of data. Often you see the internet find something the media missed. That data often hurts the media theory, and all the media does is brush it off as outlandish, and, crazy or faulty. This is common place and accepted. Why in the world would we not want to beat every theory to death, to see if it can stand? Why would we not want to make it so only the strongest theories, backed by solid evidence remain? I watch the show Sherlock, and I must say it really tells you something interesting about how slow we are. To love a show like that, without applying Sherlock’s brand of thinking. He will believe anything, given the correct amount of data. We will only believe the easiest story that is reasonable or obvious, with small amounts of data. This is a problem both for the mainstream and the internet conspiracy nuts. The internet nuts want to always believe it is something not obvious, even if the data doesn’t support that idea. So in the end they have the same problem. Neither side act like journalists.

My point? Well it is a question. Why? Why not apply real journalistic principles to our mysteries? Knowledge of the truth should be our highest want, in the execution of justice. So again WHY?

So it has happened. A terrorist has been given enough credence to shut down an entire city for one day. A 19 year old with pressure cooker bombs and a semi-auto brought us to our knees. Good job America, you have shown yourself to be just as spineless as your own foreign policy. The fact is we are just getting used to the terror we inflict on other nations. I am not saying the bombers were justified in what they did. By that same point this country is not free of the blood of innocents in the middle east.

The scariest part of having a city more or less taken over by the government for a day, is the part where we are not more outraged. We act as if it was the only way to catch this man. This is not true. We have caught people without shutting down a city before. I mean there are dangerous people running around all the time: Murders, rapists, and gangsters. You dont see us looking door to door for them. As we move forward be ready for more armed guards and military involvement. Also I know many people read this and just say that it is all good we caught the guy. What is the price?

So I have a question? Are you like me, tired of watching the news to the point where you don’t do it? Are you angry at bias and ignorance? Well then why don’t you do something about it? At Margret Thatcher’s funeral her granddaughter read scripture that did not so much remember the life of a fallen hero and warrior, but telling us all to suite up for the fight ahead.

This pushed me over the edge. I have for along time debated in my mind if I would ever truly become politically active outside of my private life, Margret Thatcher’s funeral answered that question for me. We cannot expect for champions to always show themselves and fight for us. We have to be those champions. We have to fight that fight. I mean really we live in the time to do it. We live in an age where knowledge is everywhere we just have to take the time and find it.

There is a time for caution and a time for others to fight for us but I am sure that this time is not that time. We must be active in the coming years. I am a teenager. All I have heard from adults in politics for years that they are gonna figure out the problems our generation is going to face. I never believed them.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end. - Ephesians 6:10-18a
 

So will you stand?

So I am a Christian, and often talk with unbelievers about various things including my own religion. The most common argument against the Bible I hear used is that it was written for a different society. I hear this argument from Christians who are in favor of allowing gay marriage in the Church as well ones who question the Bible as the infallible word. The whole argument got me thinking about society then vs now. While the ancient world certainly did not have the same social issues, humans were very much the same socially.

The last time humans were different socially was at the Tower of Babel, when we could all speak to each other and were in everyone’s mind the same. When God broke us up by making us use different languages that was the start of what we have now. Tribalism. We still have it. Christianity is unique that exists to over come that. We exist to show Christ’s love by loving all and inviting them to join us in fellowship. Humans are all about groups and divisions, which is fine to a point, but often we make to big a deal out of it.

Humans have also really never stopped acting the same way. There is no difference between the elders in the Gospel and the corrupt priests of the reformation. Their environment may change and the issues’ names may shift, but fundamentally the human thought process and sin have not changed in the slightest. The Bible was written with humans in mind not the society it was set in. Though that certainly had an effect on the subject matter. The best example of this being obvious is in Proverbs. Almost if not all of the wisdom in that book is still relevant to now.  

The last thing I need to say is this. Often I hear Christians defend the gay marriage in the Church argument with saying it was old testament doctrine. This is untrue, Romans 1:26-27 shows that it is still current doctrine. While I think the State have no place in this issue the Church’s decision on the matter should be clear and it should be no.

Rand Paul recently completed a 12 hour filibuster of Brennan’s nomination to the head of the CIA. The biggest impact this had was it showed just how much the people in this country are tired of being treated like we are all terrorists. That is why Rand got so much support. He stood up for 12 hours to talk about how we are citizens who have a right to trial. How drones in our country are terrible and how the President has no business saying he may have to assassinate anyone of us.

The incredible thing with the filibuster that Rand did is, that he really showed that he does not care, that much about what the GOP think of him. He proved to be about the principles he holds and the people he represents. People like that, are who we need in Washington.

During Rand’s filibuster he talked about how Brennan had disdain for the senate and the American people, because of his lack of response to Paul’s email questions. He also said that the responses came only after the threat of stopping his nomination came up. This does not surprise me, but it certainly bothers me. The leaders Obama seems to appoint have a bit of a habit of ignoring the people who don’t threaten there paychecks. 

So what did this filibuster mean in the long haul? Not sure.Though Rand has more or less won my support for a good long while. I believe if he runs in 2016 for president I will be voting for him. And getting my support while very insignificant in the grand scheme is not an easy feat in the current world.

The issue of guns have been in the forefront of everyone’s mind, in the aftermath of the Newtown shooting. I am pro-gun. So the recent weeks have been trying for my patience. And the proposed gun laws are only partly responsible. The youth in this country have been treated very unfairly in all of this. Schools have been suspending children for everything from throwing non-existent grenades to eating pop tarts incorrectly. And in the latest stupidity, defending fellow students threatened by a armed student. WFTX reports:

“The student grappled the gun away from the 15-year-old suspect on the bus ride home Tuesday after witnesses say he aimed the weapon point blank at another student and threatened to shoot him. The student, who Fox 4 has agreed not to identify because he fears for his safety, says there’s ‘no doubt’ he saved a life by disarming the gunman… ‘I think he was really going to shoot him right then and there,’ the student said. ‘Not taking no pity.’ The student says he wrestled the .22 caliber RG-14 Revolver away from the suspect, a football player, who witnesses say threatened to shoot a teammate because he had been arguing with his friend. ‘No doubt,’ the student said, ‘he was going to shoot him point blank.’ The teen we spoke to and authorities both confirm the Revolver was loaded. According to the arrest report the suspect, who Fox 4 is not naming because he is a minor, was ‘pointing the gun directly’ at another student and ‘threatening to shoot him.”

And the brave boy who disarmed the gunman was suspended for 3 days…… REALLY? Last I checked defending ourselves was kinda a good thing but defending others who can’t is a great thing. My biggest fear in regards to the schools actions is what message is sends to other students. It seems to me that he has been punished for doing the right thing. For others who are less brave, doing the right thing is hard enough, but to take away all incentive to do so seems a bit crazy. All of this boils down to the idea guns are blanket bad. If that is true how does it make the situation any different? The young man saved someone’s life. Can anti-gun people explain to me how this is ok?

The biggest issue with FDA food labeling rules has to be the way it addresses the populace’s intelligence as well as its life choices. The reasoning for the regulation has to do with helping people make better food and health decisions. I am personally a bit indignant about this aspect of the bill. The idea that Government knows what is best for people is something I myself believe is very near impossible. The fact is that if this was an individual saying “Hey you could make better eating choices.” And then point out how you could, we would be fairly offended.

The lack of public outrage at the insult to the American people is disturbing. It just goes to show you how far we have gotten away from the ideas of small government and freedom. The big thing going  forward for people like me, who hate the current status of American politics and Government, is not being frightened in to yelling and making our anti government views known, but standing even when we stand alone and calmly explaining why we stand for freedom.