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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Thoughtful Commentary by Jon Stewart
A Rant
OK, so I have my beliefs and you have yours. That's how it works, right? My beliefs don't hurt you, your beliefs don't hurt me. Guess what...I don't believe this anymore.
Growing up in the country, where you garden, farm and hunt to survive, believe in the sanctity of life and see enough people scraping by to make it who still choose to have children, yet are HAPPY due to the fact that their children have grown into decent adults, despite the trials of their childhoods, I'm having a VERY, VERY hard time with the current arguments in the media lately. In fact, it seems that both sides of the political spectrum are making very little sense, and well...it's driving me nuts.
There has been a lot of talk about gun control after the last politically driven shooting that has occurred. Because, you know, guns kill people. But guess what? So do cars, knives, airplanes, farm equipment, and late term abortions. Let's make those illegal too. But no, our government is fighting to subsidize all of those (except the knives, last time I checked--but I mean, c'mon, how else are we going to cut our food if the government doesn't pay for those, too?)
The 2nd Amendment--A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed--was written so that people could defend themselves from a tyrannical government. I'm not saying that our government is tyrannical right now, even though they do have this odd inability to actually do what voters ask them to do, or to represent the interests of the people above their own. However, to keep chipping away at rights that were given to Americans slowly takes away what America really is. Even if our government never becomes tyrannical, wouldn't our country be the perfect place to attack if we got rid of weapons in the general populace? I mean, considering how many of our troops are busy defending other countries right now, we'd be sitting ducks. You'd wish my fellow Idahoans had their guns then. If you haven't noticed, we a HUGE country. Does anyone else remember what happened to Rome when the citizens became all academic & dependent on the army, but the army got stretched too thin? Anyone?
Then there is the hypocrisy in the matter. Let me assure you I realize I have things I'm sure I'm ignorantly hypocritical about. And I'm sure there will be those that point it out to me--as there have been in the past. However, it seems to me that the groups that are arguing that we need to decrease deaths caused by guns (er, actually, people using guns, but I digress) aren't very good at statistics. Latest gun data available shows that
Number of people killed by guns in the United States in 2004: 29,569
Percentage breakdown by US gun deaths in 2004, by type:
* 16,750 suicides (56% of all U.S. gun deaths)
* 11,624 homicides (40%)
* 649 unintentional shootings, 311 from legal intervention and 235 from undetermined intent (4%).
According to http://www.car-accidents.com/pages/stats.html
2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes.
So, 81 (total, including suicides--and you know they could have used a knife or drugs) deaths caused by guns per day. 36 per day if we don't count suicide. 115 deaths caused by vehicles (why aren't we decreasing speed limits and limiting the number of cars on the road? Takers? Anyone?), and my favorite because it seems that those in favor of controlling guns are AGAINST controlling murdering unborn children (yes, that's how I see it--deal with it)--there are 1.3 MILLION abortions per year in the U.S. alone. Worldwide there are 43 million (even in countries without guns!), which amounts to (in the United States) 3,562 deaths per day. So, looking at this in a chart:
Guns (omitting suicide) : 36 per day
Autos: 115 per day
Abortion: 3,562 per day.
Just for the heck of it, I'll have you know that there are an average of 125 tractor deaths per year--folks farming your food are dying. Better quit eating.
Yes, it seems our government is concerned with preserving life to me!
Of course, averages and statistics lie--right? I mean, everyone has more than the average number of legs due to the fact that no one taken in the average has 3, and some have 0 or 1, so the average is around 1.9 legs, but most of us have 2. Still, I don't think you can argue with the numbers above.
Cute, but not what I want to hear at 3am
One recent morning, Payge woke up screaming for me. Usually she want a drink and will go back to sleep. This time, when I get to her she says "Daddy, I a tiger, rawrrrrr. I eat you." Guess who wasn't sleepy anymore that morning.
Friday, January 7, 2011
A short walk
We intended to go on a long walk, but didn't make it bast this low decorative wall at the entrance of our apartment complex. Chayce was being cute, but claimed she could walk no further. Pagye is trying to get away with spitting at me without getting into trouble. Zach is, well, seven and male. Its not his fault. It happens to nearly half the population. Seriously, though, he was very good that day about making sure both his sisters had fun on the walk. He just poses for pictures about as well as one of his male progenitors.
Small, small, small
The remains of our snow man from two weeks ago. The snow is gone, the winter coats are again unused.
Chayce: Nature art using math manipulatives
Notice the butterflies (black and brown) and the sun at top.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Searching For Simple
Well, maybe it's time.
I have a secret.
It's a confession.
I haven't been totally loyal to you.
I've been blogging somewhere else.
For about 20 posts now.
But I'm not ashamed. No, I will keep my head held high and perhaps even brag about it. Some of you, who have followed me for a long time, will recognize a few of the posts. Most are brand new. I'm trying to separate my blogs such that things about my family will remain on Regression, and everything else interesting I write about (like my opinions, recipes, odd projects, etc) will be posted on Searching for Simple. So, come join me! I've been having fun, and you just might, too.
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