Colin Kaepernick

NFL quarterback Colin Kapernick recently came under scrutiny for refusing to stand during the national anthem before a football game.  People have come out of the woodwork to lambast this man.  People burned his jerseys, executives say they won't sign him, other players attacked him, and there are rumors that he may never play in the NFL again if he gets cut by his current team.  Heck, even his own birth mother (who gave him up for adoption, by the way) turned against him.

All this because he refused to sign a song and salute a piece of cloth.  Not to be disrespectful, but at the end of the day, the national anthem is just a song.  It won't get offended if you don't sing it.  Likewise, the flag is just a piece of cloth that doesn't care if you salute it or not.  Also, it is his American right to not stand and sing.  It doesn't make him any less patrioitic than the guy who salutes the flag every morning after putting on his red, white, and blue underwear.

If you look hard, you can find videos of people burning the flag or even wiping their buttocks with it.  Somehow, these people are only exercising their rights, but not standing for the flag is a bridge too far.  Think about that.  We're saying that destroying the flag isn't as bad as doing nothing as all.  Maybe this writer doesn't understand, but that is some seriously twisted logic.  Flag burners don't get fired from their jobs, but one guy doesn't stand up for the national anthem and it's off with his head?  That is some serious bull stuff.

Looking even further into the matter, you'll find that the NFL doesn't require its players to stand for the national anthem.  Yep, you read right.  This player is being condemned despite not breaking any of his job's rules or any of his government's laws.  He was well within his right to stand or not.  If he didn't do anything wrong at any level, why is he being treated like the worst thing since Osama bin Laden?  This writer is doing the math and it doesn't add up.

This writer isn't saying that he doesn't have the right to protest or that other's don't have the right to protest against his protest.  This writer is simply wondering if this is something that should make him an outcast.  As stated before, others have done much worse to symbols of America.  If we can clamp down on this guy, surely we can clamp down on those other guys?  If we can ignore the other guys and pass it off as exercising their American rights, can't we give this guy that same leeway?

At the end of the day, he didn't blow up any skyscrappers or speak badly about America.  All he did was refuse to stand for a song and a flag.  He did the most American thing you can do and that's stand (or sit, in this case) for what he believed in.  Looking at it that way, can you really find anything un-American about what he did?

Until next time...

Legend Preston

Forgive this writer's lateness on this story, but this wasn't national news and as such, this writer only just found out.  Recently a Newark boy was chase by police with drawn guns.  This boy, ten-year old Legend Preston, was just playing basketball when the incident happened.

What's the excuse the police used to justify this?  He looked someone.  Yep.  Ripped straight out of the handbook of racist terms, that's what they went with.  To be fair, they actually were chasing someone.  For the sake of comparison, let's see just how much a like this boy looks compared to the man they were chasing.  Legend is on the left and the suspect is on the right.

As you can see, they are practically twins.  Total bull stuff.  The suspect is twice his age and has dreadlocks.  Legend is big for his age, but he's not nearly as big as the guy they were chasing.  When police can't tell the difference between a suspect and an innocent boy that looks nothing like him, there's a problem.

If you dig deep enough into this pile, there is some good that came from this.  The neighborhood came to Legend's aid, bravely shielding him from the police.  They weren't going to watch as another innocent person was possibly gunned down.  This writer commends these people, whoever they are.

Until next time...

The Laundromat

You know it, you hate it, you don't want to use it.  It's the laundromat.  Now this writer won't deny that this is a useful building for those who don't have a wash and dryer.  Or perhaps your washer and/or dryer is broken and you're in a pinch.  But like the bus, if you don't have to use it, don't.

What's so bad about the laundromat?  Quite a few things.  First, you have the journey there.  You have to pack up all your laundry leave your house.  If you have a car, or at least a wagon, this is the easy part.  If you're like this writer and don't have a car, you're kind of up a creek.  You either have to hike up the road with a bag of clothes as heavy as you, like Christian from Pilgrim's Progess carrying his burden.  You get sweat and your body aches.  That doesn't include bleach and detergent, which might add another ten or so pounds to this 'burden'.  Your other option is to swallow your pride and (sigh) catch the bus.  This is the only time this writer will recommend the bus, so that you tell you something about how much these bags can weigh.

Then, after you get there, pray you can find a machine right away.  If not, you might have to wait as long as a half an hour.  Not good when you're sweat, hurting, and angry.  When it does upen up, you'd better be quick, becase you're likely, not the only one waiting.  If you're too slow, get ready to wait some more.

When you a machine, you'd better hope it's clean.  No joke.  This writer has seen a multitude of disgusting things in washer.  Candy, candy wrappers, hair or weave, combs, hair clip, and dried feces, among other things.  Then, the machine may not work right.  This writer has watched as quarters were eaten or machine stopping mid-wash.

The dryers aren't as dirty as the washers, but the wait can be excruciating.  This writer has literally seen five people using thirty dryers.  They'll have one dryer full, while another will have just a pair of socks.  If only this writer was exaggerating.  All this time, you'll be waiting.  Ugh!

Much like with the washers, you'd better hope you get a good machine.  Some machines will dry your clothes with just three quarters, others won't dry with any less than seven.  Get a bad dryer and you'll be pissing money right down the toilet.

Then, there are kids running around out of control.  They dart around, throw toys, screw with machines, and stare like morons.  Yeah, good times.

Once the clothes are dry, it's time to pack up your 'burden' and schlep it back home, unless buses are still running.  After you get you clothes back home, you do feel a sense of accomplishment, but was it worth it.  Give this writer a house with a washer and dryer any day.

Until next time...

You Don't Have a Girlfriend, So You Must Be Gay

In the Public Schools post, this writer talked about how people start focusing on sex as kids.  One of the things this writer pointed out is the idea the if you are screwing, you're gay.  Where did this mindset come from?  Who knows?

This writer remembers a girl in high school was obviously showing an interest in him.  She was fat and ugly, so being the shallow person he is, this writer politely rejected her advance.  The girl responded by calling this writer gay.  This writer didn't understand because there's no way this girl could have know that with any certainty.  No, this writer didn't have a girl on each arm, but he didn't have a boy on each arm either.

What this writer deduced is that this girl wasn't popular with the guys and that this writer was her last resort.  This writer also deduced that simply having standards meant he was gay.  The fact that he wouldn't just lay down with any old girl was enough to brand him a homosexual.  It didn't no matter if she was ugly, or stupid, or just an crappy person.

The point of such a tactic is to shame you out of your standards so that you'll settle for someone you aren't interested in.  This writer sees the results all the time.  You'll see this buff, good-looking guy with this sloppy, out shape woman and you say to yourself, "something about this doesn't look right."  Those guys were probably called gay and shamed out of their standards.  Then, to prove they are straight, they'll take that woman as theirs.  This writer hates to say it, but it's true.

This tactic is even utilized by family members.  For a whole years, this writer's uncle asked him him if he had a girlfriend.  When this writer said no, the uncle said, "You must be gay," or, "You gay?"  To an extent, this writer understands why an outsider might say something like that.  They are trying to get something.  But what would a family member get from seeing this writer with a woman?

On another note, this proves that while gay life is being pushed by the media, gays as a whole are still outcasts.  Why else would the word be used as an insult?  Just an observation from a straight male.

Until next time...

Public Schools

Every city has these cesspools.  There is a good chance that, like this writer, you've gone to one.  Public schools try to pass themselves off as eduactional facilities, but nothing could be further from the truth.  In reality, they are nothing more than dens of fighting, lust, and unfair treatment.  Oh, the stories this writer could tell.

This writer remembers elementary school, mainly because of the fights and near-fights.  For whatever reason, this writer had a bullseye on him and everyone lined up to take their shots.  This is when this writer learned he had to fight if he was going to survive, because the grown ups didn't care.  Teachers did the least least they could to prevent a situation.  It was only after the fight started that they decided to intervene.  Violent 3rd graders and teachers that hate their jobs don't make for a pleasant educational experience.

In middle school, sex came into play.  It was all about who could have been gay or who was screwing who.  To this writer, it was like they were speaking Russian.  This writer didn't know what busting a cherry meant or what a cherry boy was until after graduating high school.  Looking back, this writer can't believe children actually spoke like that.  This writer doesn't even spoke like that as a grown man.  At the time, this writer was enjoying being a kid and getting the best grades he could, not thinking about which girl he wanted to plow, so the enviroment was quiet uncomfortable.

In high school, the sex and violence ratcheted up.  There was a fight every week and while this writer never had to physical fight in those four years, there were MANY near-fights and being targeted by cliques.  Sexuality was at an all-time high, as if you hadn't had sex yet, you were considered gay.  Nobody took into account that some people didn't want to have sex because they were happen being a virgin, saving themselves for marriage, or just had more important things to do (If you can believe any of that).

The sex in high school isn't just limited to the students either.  The teachers would get involved.  Whether it was about who the teacher screwed or who wanted to screw the teacher, you heard things which were sometimes confirmed by the teacher losing their job or going to jail.  This writer will go so far as to say the reason some of these people became teachers is solely to have access to your children.  The children aren't innocent either, flirting with and offering themselves to these teachers.  The whole situation was unsettling.

However, the most prevailing theme across all grades is what you're wearing.  Everyday, it was about how lame your shoes were or how your pants were to tight because they didn't sag.  Honestly, this writer often felt he was going to an all-girls school, because it was all about shoes and clothes.  Much like sex talk, it was like they were speaking Russian to this writer.  This writer wasn't worry about whether he wore Nike's (God, Jordan's are ugly) or wearing sagging pants (which is what gay people do in jail to let you know they're gay).  It was weird.

So to wrap thing up, this writer recommends against public schools.  Private schools and home schooling are where it's at.  That's what this writer is going to do with his kids if he ever has any.  If this post has any teenage or pre-teen readers, beg your parents to send you to private school.  You (probably) won't regret it.  However, if you like fighting, promiscuous classmates, and predator teachers, public school is for you.

Until next time...

Thieves

Imagine you just got a brand new whatever.  You worked for days, weeks, months, or even years to get it.  You come to like it, love it or perhaps even idolize it.  At the very least you need it.  Then someone comes around and takes it like they own it.  Just like that, all your work and/or money is all for naught.  Enter thieves, the bane of this writer's existence.

As kids, we all heard of Robin Hood.  He was supposedly an honorable thief.  He was brave and bold and all that crap.  We got behind him because he rose up against iniquity and injustice imposed on the people by an unfair government.  If only real thieves were that noble.

Anyone who's had to deal with thieves knows how it really feels to be stolen from.  It sucks.  This writer has lost roughly seven bikes to thieves.  They were cheap bikes, but that doesn't matter.  The money I invested went swirling right down the crapper.  That's the point.  Thieves take things without any consideration with what you my have invested or whether you need it.  That, friends, is bull stuff.

This writer has lived with people who have stolen from him while he was at work or in the shower.  This writer has literally lost hundred of dollars of food to these cravens. What's worse is that the whole house was filled with these immoral devils, so this writer didn't even know which person to get mad at.  As said before, they don't consider your need for what they take (Good thing this writer is done with those people).

You might be able to deduce that this writer doesn't like thieves.  Thieves are the second worst people in the world, just barely ahead of pedophiles in terms of morals.  What give them the right to take what you had to work for?  This writer doesn't care how badly they may need what they take.  If you can work for what you have, why can't they?  We all have enough trouble in this world without someone coming around and getting fat off our work.

The N-Word

Karlie Hay, the new Ms. Teen USA, recently her past social media history exposed.  In that past, it was exposed that she heavily used the N-Word.  She gave some lame apology, but does that really excuse what she did?  In this writer's opinion, it does not.  What it does do is expose that the racism that was supposed to die with this new generation is stronger than ever before.

It seems like ever since the election of President Barack Obama people shout this word from the rooftops, as if to get revenge on black people for having the nerve to vote.  This writer has seen many Youtube videos where people have openly said the word.  Justin Bieber (yes, the world-famous singer) and the SAE kids from Oklahoma University, among others seem to enjoy using that word.  On the news the other day, a man in Wyoming, Michigan was caught saying it.  What is it about that word where people just have to say it?

Part of this is the fault of the rap industry.  Rappers spew that word repeatedly, accompanied by the lie that they are taking the power back.  As a result, the word became okay to use no matter how it was intend.  This writer does understand to an extent.  Rappers were paid by record producers to keep the word alive and the money was too good to resist.  Literally, without the use of the N-word, most rappers wouldn't even have a career.  This writer doesn't like it, but does somewhat understand.  They are getting something out of it, at least.

What this writer doesn't understand is why anyone who's done any history or has an ounce of intellect would want to use the word, especially if they aren't being paid to do so.  What are they getting out of it?  Satisfaction?  Power?  Friends?

Of course, this writer isn't a fool.  The word never went anywhere.  It's use is simply more public, thanks to the internet and social media.  What disturbs this writer is why it's so public.  The answer is simple; there's no penalty for saying it.  It's the only slur you can say and not lose your job or your reputation.  In fact, more often than not, people are rewarded or get sympathy from the public at large.  Justin Bieber's (and rappers in general) record sales didn't drop off after he was exposed.  Karlee Hay wasn't stripped of her crown.  The SAE kids will go on to have good paying jobs and long careers in powerful positions.  Just knowing this shows this writer how far intelligence has declined in America.

Until next time...