It's the end of another year. As is custom, we spend this time looking back at the year that was and ahead to the possibilities. Much to the chagrin of a few of my former students, the world did not end this year. Shocking, I know, but here we are. Since the Mayans have proven that not finishing something is not the end of the world, I am certain that there some out there who are not sure how to proceed.
As I look back at 2012, I am reminded of so many fond memories. Of course, the best moment was the birth of my beloved little Barbara. In addition to the joys of parenthood, I enjoyed the arrival of penguins at Calgary Zoo, attending the baby blessings of the newest Oler and Swendsen boys, watching my students graduate in June, moving to a bigger (and much closer) location for work, and reading the novel my big sister published. I reconnected with my Trekkie roots by attending not only the Comic Expo in Calgary, but Spock Days in Vulcan where I picked up autographs from seven Trek stars. I was pleasantly surprised to see the PC party win the last provincial election, especially my old bishop David Dorward winning his first seat in Edmonton. I am very happy for him on that accomplishment as he is very deserving and is doing much good for his constituents. I saw the Arrogant Worms in concert (I've lost count as to how many times), spent time with just about every member of the extended family, and enjoyed good times with many friends. In the new school year I was fortunate to have two great student teachers who really made a difference in my classes. I saw The Hobbit, The Avengers, and The Dark Knight Rises in the theatre, and enjoyed them all very much. Other than my daughter, having the Calgary Temple dedicated this year has been the highlight of 2012. It is so nice to have a fee evening and spend it at the temple. It is getting me a good opportunity to get the ever growing numbers of ancestral temple work done (650 names and counting).
There were some down sides to the year. I said goodbye to the Barber family in October as they moved back to B.C. They are a great family, and I miss their friendship greatly. My good buddy Ricardo left for Arizona to attend dentistry school. His wisdom and testimony are sorely missed. In my world of Muppets, we said good-bye to original Muppeteer Jerry Nelson, who voiced the Count, Harry Monster, Snuffy, Gobo Fraggle, Floyd Pepper, and Kermit's nephew Robin. at school, my principal took a sabbatical to get the course work for his PhD. done. We are doing fine in his absence, but I do miss his wisdom, compassion, and almost daily presence. I know work teams are always changing from year to year, but sometimes you just miss working with special people. And, on a slightly less serious note, my favourite on-line game, City of Heroes, shut down in November. I know it seems silly, but I really miss that game. I had many hours of fun patrolling the streets of Paragon City with some great characters I made, including Darion Hawkwing, Scrappy Lil' Manits, Dr, Sleet, and my favourite, the Guilt Ridden Manits. It's too bad Dayton and I will not be able to get the Arcane Tank and Doc Holiday up to level 50 together, but I enjoyed the time we had. I am looking for another game to fill the void, but have not found it yet.
As I look ahead to the new year, I think of the great things in store. If all goes properly, we will see little Barbara take her first steps, hear her speak her first words, and continue to grow into a beautiful little girl. Matt Harker and I are planning a trip to Las Vegas for the huge Trek convention they have there (and it looks like the wives are wanting to come along with us). Speaking of Trek, the new Star Trek movie is due out next summer, along with Iron Man 3, Wolverine, and Thor 2, as well as the second Hobbit film next Christmas. Yes, not a whole lot of originality, but I like good story telling, and these franchises have often been entertaining for me. Many trips to the temple are expected, and that means lots of ancestry work will be done.
So, on to my last Top Ten list for 2012. I present...
The Top Ten Things from 2012 I Hope Will Go Away in 2013
10. The statement "It is what it is". I really hate this saying. It bugs to me to no end. It almost seems like a cop out response that is so cliche. I want to have good conversations and debates without hearing this once.
9. LOL. I did not mind it too much, but this is the year when I actually heard a few teenagers (one of them being Dayton) saying "Lol" (pronounced "Lawl") instead of laughing. I worry that the English language is being destroyed as we text... er, speak.
8. Honey Boo Boo. Who is this kid? Why is she popular? Just another example of how having so many cable channels is giving us more garbage to watch. I worry what this show is going to to this kid.
7. Hating celebrities because they are successful. I know that this may seem a bit odd to say after my #8, but there is a distinction (in my opinion, at least). I don't like the show Honey Boo Boo, and don't watch it, and I leave it at that. I am not trolling the Internet and spewing hate at every article, video, and posting about her. Now, you take artists like Taylor Swift, Nickelback, Justin Beiber, etc. They have loyal fans and they have some talent Yes, there may be better talent out there, but to say that they are talentless is petty. These artists make huge amounts of money because people like their music. What is weird is that there are about as many haters who seem to have such a depressing life that their only fulfillment is to go out and find every news article on Yahoo and video on YouTube and say the most disgusting and vile things about them. To quote William Shatner, these haters need to "get a life".
6. Zombies. Not sure when this became the flavour of the month in pop culture, but the obsession with vampires (thank you Twilight Saga) has given way to the hordes of the more mindless undead. Mind you, when I see the number of people who are addicted to their smart phones, I can understand how many people feel a kinship towards these mindless corpses shambling along aimlessly.
5. The "Click Like and Type...and see what happens" Facebook postings. This is something I have only noticed recently, but I want it to stop. Someone came up with the idea of posting a picture or something, then tells you to click "Like", type something in the comment section, and "see what happens!" Well, guess what happens. NOTHING! I figured that out at the get go. Now I have a bunch of FB friends that are wanting to trick people the way they were tricked and posting these all over Facebook. I really want this to die quickly.
4. Political Polarization. It is big in the US, and getting bad in Canada, but the middle ground is almost completely gone. People are being forced to the extremes to get what they want politically, and it is bringing out the worst in people. I have actually had to restrict some friends and what they or I can see on Facebook because all of a sudden everyone is an expert on political parties. Everyone has a secret agenda, and nobody that is a part of a different party can possibly have anything positive or god to contribute. Nope. If you voted Wildrose for the last provincial election, then everyone else was an idiot. If you voted PC, same thing. Nobody is allowed to think that both Obama and Romney would have made good presidents if the United States, because that is just unnatural (heavy sarcasm font used here). Right wingers are calling those on the left communists. Left wingers are calling those on the right Nazi fascists. Neither group really understands what the communists and Nazis were about otherwise they would not be using such insults. I think that calling Stephen Harper a Nazi is not only insulting to Canada but is disrespectful to the millions of innocents slaughtered by Hitler's regime. I think calling Jack Layton a communist like Stalin is not only rude to the deceased, but slaps those who fought for freedom from a communist rule right in the face. Disagree if you must, but stop the pettiness.
3. Less talk, more action. My last post addressed what I feel about the gun violence in the US and what should be done about it. Apparently that and some of my FB comments have offended some people because of my stand on the use of semi-automatic and automatic weapons with high bullet capacity. Sorry, but I stand by my statements. What I feared would happen is indeed happening: a lot of people got talking, and then things started boiling down to political posturing and arguing, and nothing real seems to be happening. I know the "guns don't kill people" and "Constitutional Right" arguments, and at one time I believed them, but I just do not feel that way anymore. We are past the point of debate. We need to take action. Yes, I know that gun laws will not solve the problem, but there is a need to include it in the solution. There needs to be more attention and treatment given to mental illness. There needs to be more general 'niceness" in our society in general. I just want action to be taken before another Newtown or Columbine happens.
2. Too Blind to See. This ties into #3 and #4. On many topics, people are too unwilling to see the other side of the argument. There is a difference between conviction and close-mindedness. I think my stand on gun laws is conviction. I understand the other side, and disagree without stooping to name calling and insults. When people hurl insults at the opposition to make their points, then we have close-mindedness, and that is when they are choosing to be blind to the issues. I know some may call "Hypocrite' on my saying this, and so be it. I have always tried to present my sides without much mud flinging. Sometimes I fail, and I apologize for when I do, but each of us should try to see what the other side is saying and why they are saying it, and then allow them their opinion.
1. Doomsday/Apocalypse fears. Yes, 2012 is done, and no end of the world. I survived Y2K 12 years ago, and who knows how many near end of the world stuff in between, but I hope that junk will end next year. I know it will resurface eventually, but regardless of what happens, let us move on with our lives and plan for a future but love like there is no tomorrow.
Happy New Year everyone.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
When Will The Madness Stop
I do not often use my blog to address current event topics, but this past Friday in Newtwon Conneticut, a gunmen walked into the local elementary school where he proceeded to kill his own mother, 5 other adults, and 20 elementary school aged children. This is the most horrendous act of evil that one can commit in my opinion, and I need to say something about it.
As with Columbine, Virginia Tech, and other senseless killings, we as a culture and society debate the pros and cons of gun control, the effects of violence in the media, and the state of mental health. And after a lengthy debate and much posturing, we go back to our lives. Nothing truly changes, and we have yet another senseless mass killing. We take our positions again, and we repeat the process. Once more, no real change.
My friends, we must make a stand. I say this as a former university student who was horrified when 12 students and one teacher were ruthlessly gunned down and killed in their high school and another 21 were injured. I say this as a new father who wants his little girl to go to school without the fear of being hurt. I say this as a teacher who, like the brave men and women at the Sandy Hook Elementary School this past Friday would gladly put myself in the path of bullets to protect my students. I say this as a 37 year old man who wants the maddness to end. During religious services the following weekend, there were threats of violence towards mourners as they sought healing from their religious beliefs and practices. People debate this on the internet and insult each other on a varied list of irrelevant issues. At the end of it all, I just want to see some real change.
I will not mention the name of the gunman. He does not deserve my publicity. Instead, I will work on forgiveness. I will not list the names of the fallen. I have read them, and it broke my heart. I cannot reprint them, but I will honor them. I will thank the Lord for the example that those brave staff members gave by shielding and protecting the little ones they cared for. I will pray for the families who will have one less precious soul this Holiday season. I will ask my Father in Heaven to give a hug for the 20 precious young, innocent souls who were taken so early from this world, and a hug for the 6 adults who did what they could. I will pray for peace to the souls of all men, women, and children who were affected by this tragedy. I will weep for the loss and resolve to make real change.
I will call upon the elected officials of my country for tougher gun laws, increased funding to mental health issues, and real punishments for offenders. I will encourage citizens of the United States of America to call for the ban of needless assault rifles, whose sole purpose in manufacturing is to kill people. I will call upon media to be responsible in their portrayal of violence. I will encourage others to do likewise. I do not say that gun laws and mental health awareness will prevent all future problems, but can anyone tell me how these measures will hurt the future of our children? I do not delude myself with the idea that I can single handly change things for the better for the whole world, but that is not an excuse to not try to make the world around me a little bit nicer. I ask those that read this to do likewise.
This issue is not a gun control issue, nor a mental health issue. This is not about violent video games and movies. This is not about the place of God and religion in our society. This is not an issue of any one of those things in isolation, but as parts of the bigger issue. This is about the idea that violence is OK until it affects us directly. This is about the idea that it is more important to win than it is to be fair. This is about the belief that one can't change the world with a law, so why bother. This is not about arguing over who is right but over what is right. This is about allowing people to vote for the candidates and parties without mocking them. This is about allowing people to believe in God as they choose, which includes not believing in H(h)im at all. This is about one person deciding that he or she is going to be a bit better at living along side others, and then encouraging others to do the same. This is about tolerance in the truest definition of the word. This is about reaching out to the ostracized, the down trodden, and the lonely. This is about not responding in anger when someone offends, but to express your offense with the goal of forgiveness for the offender. This is not about letting people walk over you, but neither is it about beating down those you see as your opponents. This is about living the idea that we should love our neighbours as ourselves, and not worry about whether this was said by the Son of God or not. It is still a good philosophy! This is not about pushing religion on anyone, but sharing what we think is good and wholesome without offense. This is about 20 new angels that joined the heavenly throngs on Friday, and the countless other children who have either joined them since them or welcomed them home. This is about asking us to stop debating about the right to bear arms and ask for the right to let our children go to school in safety! This is about being more than just the commentator on the internet, but being the change in your part of the world. This is about putting aside our differences and coming together and being better people.
Yes, there will always be criminals that will kill and destroy. There will always be the greedy who will by hook or by crook do what they want to get gain. There will always be evil in the world that will prey upon innocents. It is when we decide that we can live with that as the norm that we have truly lost the war. It is when we say that we are powerless to stand up to evil that evil truly wins. It does not matter if it is guns that kill people or people that kill people or people with guns that kill people, it does not change the fact that PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED! CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED! We must stop thinking that we are powerless to stop it.
My friends, I have never asked for this before of anyone, but please pass the link on to this posting. Once you have done that, please think about how you can be nicer to those around you. Please ask yourself if it is necessary to resort to insults when faced with someone who politically, culturally, or spiritually is different from you. Ask yourself if giving some food to the begger on the street is something that you can do instead of ignoring them. Ask yourself if, at this time of Christmas you could find one person that you can reach out to that you have never reached out to before. The wrongs of the world will still be there, but we should not just let these things happen. The time is now, or we will just have this debate the next time a derranged soul decides to massacre another group of innocent children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZrb45SeJXE&feature=share&list=LLQqsD2ix9x4kFYD45NJtKHQ
As with Columbine, Virginia Tech, and other senseless killings, we as a culture and society debate the pros and cons of gun control, the effects of violence in the media, and the state of mental health. And after a lengthy debate and much posturing, we go back to our lives. Nothing truly changes, and we have yet another senseless mass killing. We take our positions again, and we repeat the process. Once more, no real change.
My friends, we must make a stand. I say this as a former university student who was horrified when 12 students and one teacher were ruthlessly gunned down and killed in their high school and another 21 were injured. I say this as a new father who wants his little girl to go to school without the fear of being hurt. I say this as a teacher who, like the brave men and women at the Sandy Hook Elementary School this past Friday would gladly put myself in the path of bullets to protect my students. I say this as a 37 year old man who wants the maddness to end. During religious services the following weekend, there were threats of violence towards mourners as they sought healing from their religious beliefs and practices. People debate this on the internet and insult each other on a varied list of irrelevant issues. At the end of it all, I just want to see some real change.
I will not mention the name of the gunman. He does not deserve my publicity. Instead, I will work on forgiveness. I will not list the names of the fallen. I have read them, and it broke my heart. I cannot reprint them, but I will honor them. I will thank the Lord for the example that those brave staff members gave by shielding and protecting the little ones they cared for. I will pray for the families who will have one less precious soul this Holiday season. I will ask my Father in Heaven to give a hug for the 20 precious young, innocent souls who were taken so early from this world, and a hug for the 6 adults who did what they could. I will pray for peace to the souls of all men, women, and children who were affected by this tragedy. I will weep for the loss and resolve to make real change.
I will call upon the elected officials of my country for tougher gun laws, increased funding to mental health issues, and real punishments for offenders. I will encourage citizens of the United States of America to call for the ban of needless assault rifles, whose sole purpose in manufacturing is to kill people. I will call upon media to be responsible in their portrayal of violence. I will encourage others to do likewise. I do not say that gun laws and mental health awareness will prevent all future problems, but can anyone tell me how these measures will hurt the future of our children? I do not delude myself with the idea that I can single handly change things for the better for the whole world, but that is not an excuse to not try to make the world around me a little bit nicer. I ask those that read this to do likewise.
This issue is not a gun control issue, nor a mental health issue. This is not about violent video games and movies. This is not about the place of God and religion in our society. This is not an issue of any one of those things in isolation, but as parts of the bigger issue. This is about the idea that violence is OK until it affects us directly. This is about the idea that it is more important to win than it is to be fair. This is about the belief that one can't change the world with a law, so why bother. This is not about arguing over who is right but over what is right. This is about allowing people to vote for the candidates and parties without mocking them. This is about allowing people to believe in God as they choose, which includes not believing in H(h)im at all. This is about one person deciding that he or she is going to be a bit better at living along side others, and then encouraging others to do the same. This is about tolerance in the truest definition of the word. This is about reaching out to the ostracized, the down trodden, and the lonely. This is about not responding in anger when someone offends, but to express your offense with the goal of forgiveness for the offender. This is not about letting people walk over you, but neither is it about beating down those you see as your opponents. This is about living the idea that we should love our neighbours as ourselves, and not worry about whether this was said by the Son of God or not. It is still a good philosophy! This is not about pushing religion on anyone, but sharing what we think is good and wholesome without offense. This is about 20 new angels that joined the heavenly throngs on Friday, and the countless other children who have either joined them since them or welcomed them home. This is about asking us to stop debating about the right to bear arms and ask for the right to let our children go to school in safety! This is about being more than just the commentator on the internet, but being the change in your part of the world. This is about putting aside our differences and coming together and being better people.
Yes, there will always be criminals that will kill and destroy. There will always be the greedy who will by hook or by crook do what they want to get gain. There will always be evil in the world that will prey upon innocents. It is when we decide that we can live with that as the norm that we have truly lost the war. It is when we say that we are powerless to stand up to evil that evil truly wins. It does not matter if it is guns that kill people or people that kill people or people with guns that kill people, it does not change the fact that PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED! CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED! We must stop thinking that we are powerless to stop it.
My friends, I have never asked for this before of anyone, but please pass the link on to this posting. Once you have done that, please think about how you can be nicer to those around you. Please ask yourself if it is necessary to resort to insults when faced with someone who politically, culturally, or spiritually is different from you. Ask yourself if giving some food to the begger on the street is something that you can do instead of ignoring them. Ask yourself if, at this time of Christmas you could find one person that you can reach out to that you have never reached out to before. The wrongs of the world will still be there, but we should not just let these things happen. The time is now, or we will just have this debate the next time a derranged soul decides to massacre another group of innocent children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZrb45SeJXE&feature=share&list=LLQqsD2ix9x4kFYD45NJtKHQ
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