Hate Destroys!!!
August 05, 2012
A couple of weeks ago when the tragic shooting occured in Colorado, I saw it posted all over facebook. As well it should have been. Today, after the tragic shooting at the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, I have not noticed any friends and family commenting about this.
Is this less an atrocity than the shooting that affected mostly white Americans? I have waited and waited to post this because I am so angry and sad about the whole ordeal.
America has become a country of hate, alienating those different from what is considered the norm. America has always been a melting pot of peoples and cultures, that is what we are based upon. The Statue of Liberty welcoming immigrants to Ellis Island, says: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Have we forgotten that?
As long as there are hatemongers, politicians, the media and religious fundamentalism, spewing bigotry and hate and polarizing Americans, we cannot advance as a society. We no longer live in the Dark Ages, we live in the 21st century. Yet, here we are still afraid of other cultures, other peoples, other creeds, other ways of life. And this fear, fueled by the rhetoric of the GOP and religious fundamentalism promotes hate plain and simple.
These people murdered today were a peace loving people with the same wants and desires all of us have, they have been a part of the US for more than a hundred years and helped to build the railroads in the West.
From controversy of Chik fil a, another polarizing subject, we deduce that many people cannot stand the thought of anything other than what they think the Bible says. I believe in Chik fil a's owners right to say what he believes, I believe he has the right to donate to whom he chooses, but now that I know his bigoted beliefs he does not have the right to use my money to promote it.
What do Chik fil a and the shooting at the Sikh temple have in common? Bigotry and hate! Wake up North Americans, do not believe something just because you are told. We, as a planet, are all one, each one dependent on the other. How many years will it take until we realize we share a common humanity? How long will it take to erase hatred for those different than we are?
I am saddened, angered and embarrassed.
Posted by frederiqueroy70 on August 09, 2012
Glad you posted this. My crime isn't hate but ignorance. I didn't even know about the Sikh temple shooting, and I only heard of the Colorado shooting because of FB. I am like the ostridge with his head in the sand, but I do try in my own way to better the world by respecting others, looking people in the eye, and trying to be compassionate even when I don't understand others.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 09, 2012
Thanks so much fRed! Fortunately in Canada you have really strict laws about guns and it is not so much a part of the culture. I normally keep my head in the sand as well and feel much better. But just hearing about these things made me sick.
Posted by frederiqueroy70 on August 09, 2012
It's true. I have a lot of difficulty understanding "gun" culture, and feel very privileged to be Canadian.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 09, 2012
I have a lot of difficulty understanding it myself fRed, and you should feel privileged, I sometimes feel very embarrassed and what things have become.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 09, 2012
"at" what things have become
Posted by fotioszemenides on August 06, 2012
Just so that we are all on the same page, whether you are pro or anti gun all sides cannot deny that a firearm's ONLY purpose is to kill. Hunting, survival, war, self-defense . . .it does not matter in what context you use it in, it is designed to terminate life, its very existence and purpose is to destroy. Therefore logic dictates that it can in no way ever be defined as something positive. Just so we are all on the same page.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
I completely agree Foti. I hate the phrase people use in defense of weapons. "Guns dont kill people, People kill people." WTF? Of course guns kill people as you have so wonderfully stated, their sole purpose is to terminate life. And guns in the hands of an already mentally unstable, well what can you say? I read the gunman in the shooting at the Sikh temple legally owned a gun. Just goes to show how fucked up it all is.
Posted by lianne on August 06, 2012
All the guns in the Colorado shooting were purchased and owned legally too - though why it should be legal to own a semi-automatic AK-15 is beyond me. They are NOT hunting weapons - their only use is to kill other human beings.
Posted by fotioszemenides on August 06, 2012
Well I guess we can use them to repel Soviets. . .oh wait the Cold War is over. . .maybe Alien invaders? I forget which state it is (I assume Texas) where you can legally purchase anti tank weapons (rocket launcher), imagine hunting quail with that!
Posted by lianne on August 06, 2012
NO doubt TX - I'm sad to say I lived there for 20 years and never felt like I belonged. The day they passed the open carry law - 3 people were shot for no good reason - road rage was one. No one charged of course.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
Sheer senseless stupidity.
Posted by lianne on August 06, 2012
I applaud your honor and your courage to speak up Ramon. You know how much and how deeply I agree with you and how heavy my heart is about this latest example of hatred and bigotry. And in addressing Rosy's comment as well, the evidence is clear all over the civilized world that tough gun laws save lives. Look at Canada's stats. But we have powerful people and a very conservative dominant mindset that is determined to MISREAD the 2nd amendment just as they do the first!! And even if one agreed with that conservative view on gun ownership, there is nothing in the second amendment that precludes the government from restricting how many or what type of guns an individual might own. I fear for this country - given over to powerful, rich and very right wing interests.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
Thank you Lianne for such an eloquent statement of support. I too worry about our future as a nation and as a people.
Posted by rosyjenirosehall on August 05, 2012
***emphasis mine*** sorry hit return too soon
Posted by rosyjenirosehall on August 05, 2012
Both passionate and coherent. All I can say is that I am so very glad that carrying hand guns (and any other kind unless one is a farmer or grazier) is against the law in Australia. The proof is in the pudding as we say - there are very very few gun shot deaths in Australia and when one does occur there is stunned shock - Thank God, for once the Government got it right! ("From 1996 to 2003, the total number of gun deaths ***each year*** fell from 521 to 289" that was with the destruction of 700,000 privately owned firearms, usually by landowners). As for bigotry, beyond my understanding as is racism... I just don't get it!
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
Rosy, thanks so much for sharing your point of view and the differences between the two countries. Its a striking difference
Posted by rosyjenirosehall on August 06, 2012
Gun wise Ramon yes, as for bigotry and racism, sadly not so much difference I'm afraid. The worst kind of racism and bigotry is when it's taken out on children. Then I waver between rage and heartbreak.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
Yes bigotry and hatred seem to be a global problem. I fear we will never advance as a species
Posted by fotioszemenides on August 05, 2012
The British axiom of Divide and Conqueror is what is at play here. Corporate America can only rule by keeping the masses weak by encouraging division. Money is power and power corrupts. it all comes down to that. Capitalism and its demands of exploitation for profit's sake have run amok and everyone forgets that. 9/11 was a result of one group's demented reaction towards the unabaited exploitation they felt by those they percieved rule the world via greed.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 05, 2012
You hit the nail on the head there. The fear keeps us under their thumbs and so much easier to control us. People have forgotten what patriotism is. A good patriot in the past could question his leaders decisions and speak out about it. Try that now and you are immediately labled un patriotic and Un-American. The founding fathers would be appalled at the state of the US today.
Posted by fotioszemenides on August 06, 2012
Fear also feeds off this distrust of the "other" (which should no longer exist in the post DNA universe) that seems to grow with religious fundamentalism and ethnic nationalism. There is a ridiculous amount of insecurity world wide post 9-11, this is coupled this false idea of "Political Correctness" (that was started by Reagan) which stifles anyone from saying anything without someone taking offense. The should not be such a thing as "Politically Correct" you either say something that is right or wrong. At the same token opinions should be allowed to be spoken without lashing out. Both sides are so guilty of it, however I will stand firm in the observation the the left overwhelmingly backs up their opinions with rational explaination and analysis, whereas the right simply huffs, puffs and never tries to quantify or qualify their point of view with any logic other than "It's in the Bible."
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
Any chance we could hire you to clean up our government? Your voice of reason and your passion for humanity rings clear. Would that we as a minority of people who believe in less government intervention in our lives and less religious influence in law making could unite enough to be heard and make the necessary changes. The government was created to protect us and to not have such a convoluted involvement in our daily lives. Now, all the government seems bent on, is to rape and pillage the middle and lower classes to fill the pockets of corporate
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
America
Posted by fotioszemenides on August 06, 2012
HA! Thanks for the vote of confidence my friend, but I have been involved in the political process far too long in my life to ever elect to run for ANY form of government! It is a dirty and difficult game and I have seen far too many genuine and good hearted people either broken down or corrupted. Without lobby and campaign finance reform, nothing will ever change. When less than half the population in the US even votes and not even a third of them participate in the political system in general, we are fighting a fruitless battle. People are more concerned with the Kardasians, box office tallys, drive thru availability, smart phone apps and their local sports heroes than the things that really matter. Total side note, the NASA rover touched down successfully on Mars today, this was the single most complicated space mission in human history and other than NPR & PBS it barely got any coverage in the media.
Posted by fotioszemenides on August 06, 2012
PS it is not government which is bad or intrusive- it is bureacracy which screws everything up. All institutions fall prey to the same issues, academic, military, government, religious, the bureacrats are the one who make the machines run.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 06, 2012
Ohhhhh Foti, I didnt mean elect you to an office, I wouldnt do that to my worst enemy. I just meant have you go in and put things in order like it should be. Geez, I had to look up to see what a Kardashian was. Hehehe. Living here in CR, I dont keep up with pop culture and very little news as I usually end up livid about that I read. Such great news about the Rover. Wooo hoooo another point for science. BTW there could never have been life on Mars, the bible would have told us so. So just money wasted.
Posted by aashton on August 05, 2012
Sad for the the killings, those who have been a bigot only God knows who searching the hearts. Personally I believe every word of the bible but I respect all beliefs even if I disagree with them. About Chick-fil-A. I saw this link. [url]http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38314[/url] Even if you don't agree with the article it is another point of view and I believe as much information we know the better.
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 05, 2012
Thanks for your comment Alli, as I said elsewhere, I support his right to say what he wants. I will not condone nor give my money to a company that donates to anti gay, anti jewish, anti black, anti woman. When people or companies donate to such organizations they are promoting intolerance and that intolerance will destroy.
Posted by aashton on August 05, 2012
I do appreciate your fiery passion, Ramon!!
Posted by ramonfernandez on August 05, 2012
Hahahha, thank you Alli, Ive really been upset by the shootings, not just todays but last weeks as well. This is what happens when an already mentally unstable person is inundated false information.