How to get an unbiased viewpoint...

Anyone that ever tries to say, "this source is unbiased" is not lying, they just don't realize that every organization carries anywhere from a small amount to an overly visible bias.  Take FoxNews and MSNBC, both represent opposite ends of the spectrum.  On the left, you have MSNBC, depending on the political climate CNN can be center-right or center-left, and FoxNews is obviously on the right.  So, how do you truly find a source that offers very little in the way of opinion?

Usually you must find a source out of a location where American politics aren't really a priority.

This means these sources can be used:
BBC, NHK, RT, Al Jazerra English

If someone on the right wants to gather the TRUE Liberal opinion, don't watch FoxNews or listen to "Rush" to get it.  Actually watch "Liberal media" as you call it.  If you are strong enough in your convictions, watching it will only do one thing, let you hear the unfiltered liberal positions to base your arguments on.  When I hear about a controversial, to liberals, issue that Republicans are pushing, I watch FoxNews to get their perspective.  Next I seek an outside source, like the BBC, to get as much "Fact" on it as possible, as being biased either right or left kills the trust needed to accept facts from the likes of FoxNews and MSNBC.

I think anyone that says "Conservative" or "Liberal" media is useless needs to step back and look at its possible benefits instead of only focusing on negatives.
I am confident enough to say that Obama has his problems, as everyone does, Romney included, but my faith in him is through his acts, which I have referenced and cross-checked to verify the truth.  Republicans like to fact check Democrats and vice versa; however, rarely though does one do an in-depth study on the candidate their party stands behind.  How many of you have honestly used the great resources of the internet or a public library and studied Mitt Romney?

I think if you are standing behind someone, you should know everything about that man.  If you are liberal, you should do the exact same with Obama.  Go study him, listen to every viewpoint and disseminate the truth through the "facts" that are repeated over and over in different places.  Don't take the word of a solitary source.

Nuff Said

The reasons you should meet more people..

  The reason people dislike homosexuals is because of church dogma and what other people like themselves say about them.  Hardly ANYONE that actually knows one personally and has seen their homes/life would know that they are not deserving of the negativity that is poured their way.  Get to know one before you make grand statements about their lives.

 The reason people place so much distrust in African-Americans is due to the fact that they might have NEVER gotten to properly know one.  Working with one is completely different than hanging out, eating dinner at their house and letting your kids play with theirs.  I once had my misgivings about them, as most whites do(be honest with yourselves), but I was invited over for dinner once, then twice, now..many times.  I can safely say that I trust them as much as any other person I know.

  The primary reason people dislike Arabians and Muslims is because of what they hear over the news.  Muslim stories always make big news with Americans, as many of believe that to be Muslim instantly makes one a terrorist.  I have gotten to know many over the years and most have a little more serious approach to the typical, after seeing their lives, LAZY American.  They take any chance possible to get ahead, whether it be accepting no social life to study to be a doctor or work 18 hours a day running a store by themselves, saving everything.  The reason you see them purchase so much is because they SAVE everything.  Here in Texas, they always chose the cheapest places to live, drive crap, and have maybe a few scant pieces of furniture, with $250,000 in the bank.  If more Americans did this, we'd be doing great as a nation..

To Conservatives, each of these types are evil or untrustworthy, but to me, each gives a wonderful chance to learn about someone different and to grow as a person.

Conservatives Need to Understand Liberals..

Conservatives view Liberals worse than we view them. People want to say we are facists? Do you even know the definition of half the terms you throw at us? Facists are comparable to Adolf Hitler, a madman who killed millions. I don't see anyone on the side of Liberalism going out and killing innocent monks at a temple. You sure do on the right though! 

People say Liberals are Marxist and Communist, but have any of you actually taken the time to familiarize yourself with either concept outside of what Rush Limbaugh says. If you don't want to sound uneducated, then go read Karl Marx's "Communist Manifesto" and no, it's not traitorous to read it, as anyone that wants to understand the "do's and don'ts" of government needs to examine it. 

People say Liberals are lazy and unemployed. I'm sorry, but I don't see alot of Liberals stuffing the trailer parks of Texas, I see Conservatives. A great deal of those in the food stamp line or getting government benefits will proudly say "Fuck Obama" or something derogatory about the party.(I did a story at my college paper on that, and found it to be the opposite of what I had originally thought). I do see Liberals in college, seeking higher education while working sometimes two to three side jobs to stay afloat. Most of the Conservative college kids get picked up by mommy and daddy each day so that they can debunk all that was said by the "Liberal Professors".. 

I see Conservatives seeing ONE Liberal acting afoul, or they see the Occupy Wall Street movement and think that embodies ALL Liberals. It does not. I myself consider myself to be a mix of both Conservative and Liberal, but I identify with the latter. I live in Texas; thus, some of what people believe here has rubbed off, or always been present. 

If you really want to get to know the TRUE Liberal opinion, watch our talk shows. The only reason you wouldn't is because you think it might MAKE you a Liberal. If your mind is that weak, then I guess there's no hope for you either way. 

Critical Thinking Texans..

Usually, if something gets off the ground in the great conservative bastion of Texas, it spreads to other like minded states. What could be the reason that Rick Perry would attempt to wipe Philosophy and critical thinking oriented classes off the curriculum other than to suppress peoples ability to question "authority" figures. 

What a ploy like that stinks of is a theologically totalitarian government... Something that I see secretly hiding in not all, but a few conservatives. I have heard, "Christianity should be the only allowed religion, and those that don't like it can go home." (I live in the western areas of Fort Worth, Tx....Verrrrrrry Conservative) 

Another thing this smells of is the dark ages, where the church had absolute authority and anyone that questioned it must be a heretic(see modern Liberal). 

If there is no philosophy, there is no progress, as every single branch of the scientific world started with a philosopher wondering, "why does this work, how does it do it, can I duplicate this.." People should always emulate the child in their insatiable curiosity. Too often now, both Liberals and Conservatives alike hear a passing news story about the opposition, blow it out of proportion, and get into an immature bicker fest for which there really are no winners, only loosers. You need to keep asking, "Why? How can I trust this news source? How often do they publish erroneous reports? How often have they been accused of stretching the facts?" Once you answer this, go in search of new sources and compare the stories from one agency to the next. Absorb their views, but do not emulate it. Listen to both Liberals and Conservatives. 

I am a Liberal, and just spent the past two hours reading the headlines in the politics forum of FoxNews and Breitbart, the two most conservative forces on the web. I do this so I can understand my opponents and their motivations. I believe conservatives really should do the same, but don't turn on MSNBC with the intention to insult everything, just watch, listen, absorb their side of things, then make a calculated decision based on both sides. 

If we all did this, I think we'd have a bit more peace when a Conservative speaks about Liberals, and vice versa. 
(-= 

The Mitt Romney Problem

The Mitt Romney Problem

Does anyone here realize that the personality that Mitt Romney portrays is by far the worst example the GOP has produced over the past 20 years? George Bush, while toxic to liberals like myself, was far more likable than Mitt; who, at times has his nose pointed a bit too high. Mitt loves to use every excuse possible for why he hides the past ten years of tax documents. Showing the public this would go a long way in establishing trust between him and those that sit in the middle. Unfortunately, we all know that he hides them due to their potential to destroy his entire campaign. Do you really want a man that hides details of his life to run this country? A job like the Presidency requires complete transparency on all matters, as it helps form an image about how this person will run things. Currently, it appears that Romney is going to make every backdoor deal possible to strengthen his bottom line, at the expense of the entire nation. The Republican agenda to eliminate the EPA will open the doors to companies polluting where they desire once again; which, in the end will hurt citizens while strengthening the bottom lines of all those that supported this agency's exit.

Mitt Romney is a problem. One we cannot afford. With Obama, we know what to expect. His actions, while some feel as though they are not in our best interests, have always been geared to help the average joe, not their wealthy employer. People have been brainwashed into believing that he is destroying America, when in reality, the man has immense compassion in his heart; if not for that, we would have never seen Obamacare, the green investments, or the focus on helping the underprivileged. When we look back on this 30 years down the line, we may finally realize just how great life was under my President, Mr. Barack Obama. 

Death, Facebook, and Maturity

It has been quite some times since I have thought to update this blog, as I have had to deal with the death of my grandmother, Carmella Deane Thompson.  Since the death of my mother nearly 13 years ago, my grandmother stepped in as the primary person I could go to and tell anything without fear of judgement.  She was my chaplain, mother, best friend and confidant; which, means that there is really no person I can tell everything, unless I am ready for some kind of leak to the rest of civilization, as there is no one I honestly can trust on the same level as her.  I found this out firsthand when dumping my feelings on Facebook, from which I have since retired, only to have those reflected with more stress through people's need for dramatics.

It was a very upsetting day when I decided to rid myself of Facebook, as first, I noticed two people had stolen some of my photography and posted it as their own.  Next, when I confronted them about it, they feigned ignorance in an attempt to circumvent my discovery.  Lastly, to hide their guilt, they both blocked me; thus, I thought, "why not."  I went to the account screen and chose to de-activate my account.  I really never liked the whole idea of Myspace or Facebook for they are not places where honesty is accepted; rather, ego stroking is the law of the land, either like it, or stay silent.  When I decided to comment in an honest manner, I was branded as being intolerably evil and attempting to destroy a friendship.  The truth was I was giving a critique on a photo and not aiming any of it towards the photographer; instead, focusing the context of my entire passage to the photograph itself.  

On Facebook, if you do not give a positive comment, it is deleted and the replies never make any sense once it's gone.  Then you either, A. Look like a fool or B. Look like a fool talking BS to rile people up.  When I try to explain myself, people do not want to hear it and delete your message before reading it, then send you a vile, disgusting remark that is going on the thought that your message was doing the very same.  Honestly, I was finally fed up with that; so, I have moved on to merely updating my blogs, mastering photography, and talking to people via text or on the phone; as for the friends list on Facebook, I am happy to see people disappear, pass the horizon and never appear again; however, if they do find me, I will be more than happy to share a cup of coffee, instead of sharing comments on a picture of a dog.

The Road to Equality

                 Destiny never comes as a kind word to some, as their futures hold very little promise of an equal path toward goals that are usually shared by all.  Walking this dreary path changes an otherwise enlightened soul into one who separates himself from others based upon reasons that most would like to forget, as the many “ethnic” communities prove by simply existing.  Usually, when one tries to voice an idea that could possibly break down the walls guarding such distrust between people that are only different on the outside, they are met by strong resistance.  Color, that which has historically been the strongest reason to distance  one group from another, is still a common divisor; however, other divisions can be made for all manner of reasons including age, sexual orientation, background, nationality, religious affiliations, and even  financial standing.  Most simply accept this separation as a basic part of society; which, if left alone, will continue into futures that even the simple minded can predict.

            After several social movements that held the promise of reaching a stage of equality which was felt as  an inevitable outcome,  the work of men with hatred in their hearts and justifications based upon “common knowledge,” proved that the walls were not only unscathed, but actually strengthened.  Now, many live in areas where their education attempts to erase any idea that one person receives less than the next, or is subject to stricter rules which others do not need subscribe.   It is not a difficult task to see that many people are simply looked at as almost sub-human, and as such, are thought of as guilty even before an act could take place.  Even children, our donations to humanity’s future, wake up each day facing trials that destroy their innocence and cement society’s perception of where they should be.

            For the world to truly change, a revolution must occur, one which is not to be led by those underneath, but from those that offer the strongest divisions.  This means that to fix the problems plaguing the many minorities within our society, one from the majority will have to accept that, for some time, his actions may lower him below those he seeks to assist.  However, one cannot come from the top and expect their words to resonate with all without a deep understanding of the trials faced by such minorities.  Only by clothing oneself in the apparel of the minority, walking without fear in their communities, and living as if equality was an alien concept, will one understand.  Equality is a word that has truthfully never found a situation in which it could be applied without question.  Despite what the common man believes, there has never been an equally shared concept that anyone can take part in, other than death itself.

            How does this change begin?  This question has likely been asked by every man of color, every homosexual, every reformed criminal, and every person seen as outside the “in” crowd.  Answering this question, as one can imagine, is exceptionally difficult, as the idea has been tossed around by many with good intentions; however, they usually lack the knowledge necessary to structure it into a narrative.  To throw a message into the wild, without a name to blame, or a target to be had, means that even if the answer is correct, no one will give it a second thought.  If though, a man throws his message and his life into the public arena without fear or prejudice, the road will begin to look passable, even if it has the promise of death for the first to raise the issue. Fear, the greatest enemy to all who walk the earth, must be the first target eliminated for equality to even have a chance of survival in the long term.

            If one walks without fear, then the “common knowledge” that the dark man will do you harm will not be considered before initiating contact with him.  Fear of being attacked, robbed, or having one’s community polluted by color fuels the hatred which is continuously inherited by the next generation; one which, if left alone, creates an assortment of negative imagery which is next to impossible to remove without exposure to the original fear.  Unfortunately, fear is a basic part of the human experience and without a proper education, there is nothing to alleviate it.  Thus, those that seek enlightenment through increasing their knowledge of the world stand the greatest chance of accepting the concept of equality.  Once, the thought of absolute equality promoted a fear that saw the nation fight a bitterly cold war against an enemy that simply had an opposing philosophy for how to structure a society.  

            While the communist ideals will forever find damnation here, the idea of being equal, at least in an interpersonal capacity, is the point this narrative and the life mission of its author.  If ever we are to stand together, truly united against the storm that life continuously throws at us all, we must see the person, not the exterior.  The old phrase, “never judge a book by its cover,” is one of the greatest lessons a person can apply to their lives; furthermore, “never judging a corn cob by a single bad kernel,” would be more appropriate, as society is guilty of making too many generalizations about a particular group, based upon the actions of a single person or the very few.   Without fear, the strong, well educated man will greet the Arabian without assuming he will hail from a terrorist cell; he will hire the black man without fear of being robbed blind, and associate with the homosexual who seeks to simply coexist, not promote his own lifestyle upon others.   The future has arrived, but have we?