What I Believe

Today I thought I would take a slightly different approach to my blog. Instead of having my thoughts and ramblings followed by a Top Ten list, I thought I would make this post a Top Ten List in it of itself. Quick update, and then the list. Yesterday at the Comic Expo, I met some great people. Old friend Levi Godfrey, Star Trek's Walter Koenig and Wil Wheaton, and my long time hero Weird Al Yankovic! More later.

Today's post has to deal with some thoughts that have come out of many tragic events over the last several months. I hope that any who read this will take it with the respect that it was intended with.

Top 10 Questions I would like to answer and not have to apologize for.

10. How can you believe in a God without there being any proof?

I get thrown this question often my atheists, and unfortunately there is no answer that I can offer that seems to satisfy the majority of them. I simply put it as my belief that there are things in this world that cannot be proven yet. I cannot prove to anyone that God exists, nor would I want to. I will say that I am skeptical of some who seek proof, for if God were to provide that proof, they would simply try to find an explanation explain how that proof was not really proof. A belief in God is something that is personal and is based on faith. Faith does not require proof, but for me it led to my own personal proof. Does that make me naïve? For some, yes it does. For me, not at all.

9. How can God allow bad things to happen?

In all fairness, whenever I am asked this question, I have to ask them one in return: what would you have Him do? Shelter us and protect us from every bad thing that happens or could happen? How often have we, growing up, wished our parents would give us some more freedom and opportunity? If the alternative is to have God take away all the bad, how can we fully enjoy all the good? Most of the trials I face are things that allow me to grow. This includes the death of loved ones to disease, loss of job, loss of marriage, etc. yes, God could have taken away all of those trials, made it so that I did not have to endure them, but where would my growth be? I would not be the person I am today, and I would not give up what I have learned for the easy road. Besides, I do not see this life as the only thing we have.  I believe that this is but an act in a grander play, and by doing my best to stay on God’s good side I feel that I am setting myself up for a happy ending. If someone were to murder me tomorrow, then so be it. I don’t want to die, but I don’t want God to interfere in everything.

8. Where was God when happened?

This is closely related to #9. The difference in this question is that often it is accepted that God won’t stop bad things from happening, but that He should be there when they do. Well, my answer is simple: He was there. He was there when all bad things happened, but usually in ways that we cannot easily perceive. He is there in the form of others, usually. He is there in the form of a friend who calls you out of the blue to see how things are, in the EMT who arrives at the scene of an accident, or the hug from a stranger to you when all hope is gone. He is there in the knowledge that prayers and thoughts from others are with you, which does give you relief and comfort. God is there. I would counter with why you don’t see him.

7. Why do so many people do such evil things in the name of God?

Inquisitions, terrorist attacks, genocides, wars, suicides, and persecutions have all been used in the name of God by one group of people or another throughout time. I find a bit of a paradox in this question. Quite often this is a reason why people choose not to believe in God, or at least follow religion in general. For those who do not believe in God, I find it amusing that they choose not to believe in a supreme being because He takes away our right to choose for ourselves (see question #6), and yet in the next sentence they take away all accountability for those who commit these atrocities and say “They did it in the name of God, so it is God’s fault that these things happen!”. I look at what the major religions of the world teach, and nowhere do I see justification for these acts of wickedness. If someone blows up a building, kills and wounds hundreds of people, and then says “I did this in the name of Bryan Andrews!” does that automatically make me the one responsible? If I have not done or said anything to condone this, or if people choose to misinterpret my words to excuse their acts of violence, then am I culpable? Not in any court of law that I am aware of. The moment that you start blaming God for these actions you are acknowledging His existence.

6. Why does God want to take away our freedoms with so many rules?

God does not take away our freedom with His rules and commandments. Instead, He is simply telling us what actions will make us the happiest, and which actions will bring us the most pain. He tells us what we should or shouldn’t do, and then allows us to choose for ourselves. If we touch a hot stove, then we get burnt. If we take someone else’s life in murder, then we lose a bit of our goodness. In my particular religion we are instructed to not consume alcohol, coffee, or tobacco products. Does this mean that I have no freedom? Nope. I choose whether or not I partake. I choose to abstain or indulge. The way I see it, addiction is a loss of freedom. People who cannot function without a cup of coffee in the morning or a cigarette every two hours do not show me freedom. My religion also teaches us to abstain from sexual activity outside of the bonds of marriage. My wife and I believed that this was important. We have great joy in our intimacy at all levels. By waiting, we entered into our marriage without the threat of STDs and we did not have to worry about altering my wife’s wedding dress to fit her pregnant belly. We did not have the regrets of past one-night stands with people we would not want to be intimate with. So often I hear regret from people’s sexual encounters. By avoiding such regret, does that make me a slave to my God? Does it make me a square? So what? I am happy with my choice.

5. Why do you believe you have to convert everyone else?

Easy answer! I don’t believe that. Did I serve a two year mission for my church? Yes. I did not do it to convince everybody in what I believe, but instead to share what I have found to bring me such love and happiness with others. Do I feel disappointed when I am turned down? Yes, but not because I feel that I failed. Do I feel hurt by some of the rejections? Sometimes, but again, not because I have failed but instead because of how the other person reacted. I often wonder why people are so upset with me for sharing what I believe in with others. One person told me “Why do you think I care about what you believe in?” My response was “I didn’t know if you cared or not, so I thought I would give you the chance.” Please don’t be mad at us for wanting to share. Now, if the person becomes pushy and won’t take no for an answer, then I understand your frustration. I feel the same thing when I meet an atheist who continues to hound me for believing in a fictional God.

4. Why are religious people so hypocritical?

I love this question. When I first heard it, I will admit that my initial response was “we’re not!” or “Not all of us!” lately, however, my tune has changed. Yes, we are hypocritical people. I go to church on Sunday, and then during the week I do things I know I shouldn’t do and don’t do things I know I should do. So yes, I am a hypocrite. That is why I go to church. Church and religion is not meant for people who are morally perfect. It is meant for all of us who are not perfect, who make mistakes, to help us do better. Yes, some of the hypocrisy is frustrating, such as when a person makes a big deal about being a good person at church, and then deliberately does some pretty awful things, but then that person has a pride problem. Where is the best place to go if we are struggling with a pride problem? How about church!

3. Why would anyone ever want to raise children in this terrible world?

In light of the recent bombings in Boston and the many tragic events that have occurred involving horrific acts of a few individuals against innocents, I have seen the question asked again as to why anyone would want to raise children in such a world. Upon thoughtful reflection, I looked at my little girl this morning and couldn't help but think that the world needs every precious child it can get..., for in them is such sweet innocence and love. My daughter's innocent love inspires me to be a better person. This world needs her, and it needs me to raise her to rise above the hate and the evil that frightens so many of us. It needs me to raise her to be loving, compassionate, forgiving, and caring. Why raise a child in this world? Because this world needs that hope and love that my daughter offers.

2. Why are your beliefs so intolerant of others who are “different” from yourself?

My beliefs are not about people, they are about actions and behaviours. I believe that there are actions called sins. I do believe that people are inherently good. While I do see certain actions as sinful, I do not use that to judge the person. I believe that people will be judged accordingly. I have been taught to love the sinner and hate the sin. I too am a sinner, and my sins are many, therefore I see those who sin to be no different than myself. Having said this, I cannot simply say that certain actions and behaviours are not sin. This does not make me intolerant. The definition of tolerance is to accept the existence of something that is contrary to ones beliefs. When people say that by believing something is a sin makes me intolerant, they forget that to tolerate something means that there must be opposition to it. Quite often, I find those that demand tolerance are among the most intolerant people. This does not excuse the hatred and persecution that some who believe in God inflict upon those who do not believe. I believe that one can separate their love for a person from their actions without compromising their beliefs.

1. Do you have a problem with those who do not believe as you do?

This is the one question that I actually hear in many different ways. It comes from those who do not believe as I believe as well those who do not believe in God at all. It is also a question that often comes with sincerity as opposed to the other questions, which are more often accompanied with s touch of scorn or sarcasm. Basically, the answer is simply “no”. Sometimes, I do feel frustration when others cannot or will not see things the way that I do. I admit it that if everyone shared my beliefs, it would be easier, but in all honesty, it will never happen, and I am fine with that. I appreciate anyone who is true to their beliefs to the best of their abilities, as this is often the way that good people are. What I do have a problem with are those that choose to not respect my beliefs as I try to respect the beliefs of others.

Greetings from Utah

Today I write from cloudy yet warm Riverton Utah. We are staying with Anika Ferguson and her family. Anika and Heather are really close friends, and their family seems like an extension of ours. While we have been here, we have seen the Family History Library (where I found some information on some of my great grandparents), shop a little, walk around Temple Square, visit the Brigham City and Jordan River temples (just took some pictures on the outside), and visit the Living Planet Aquarium. It has been a nice break so far, and we are looking forward to seeing the Hogle Zoo, visit Chad Robinson (an old mission companion), and do a live session at the Salt Lake City temple. Barbara has been loving the Fegusons. She acts as if they have always been there. Incidentally, today is Barbie's 9 month mark! She has developed very nicely. No crawling yet, but lots of scooting and rolling to get herself around. She has a great sense of humor and is loving to eat "real" food. She is becoming quite the little person, and we are loving every minute we have with her.

Back home things are fine. Annie is getting older, and I often am reminded that the day is soon coming that my faithful companion will pass on. It is sad, but it will not be the first beloved pet I will have lost. Work is going well, and I have another student teacher who is doing a phenomenal job. Last week we had the annual ski trip for the school, and it was an absolute blast. Even though I do not ski, I had a lot of fun and relaxation at the lodge.

Along with work comes the latest news from the government that they are freezing the salaries of teachers in the non-charter public system for the next three years. That seems a bit of a problem, but I must admit that this time around, government cuts do not worry me as much. The last time that there were cuts in Alberta, I ended up in Radville for three years. Then there were cuts again and I was at Thunderchild for another two before heading back to Alberta. Each time that there were cuts, the province was actually doing well financially. This time around, money is definitely tight. I am OK with the idea of having my salary frozen, if that is what will happen with FFCA. The way that I see it is that my school board has been absolutely wonderful to us teachers ever since I arrived here. They have always worked hard at getting us the best salary possible. They know many of us by name and vice versa. We are more like a family, so if they are to say that they cannot find it in the budget to give us a raise this year, then I know that they truly cannot. During hard times it is important for everyone to pull together. I know that I am not speaking for all teachers or even all teachers within FFCA, but I can say that this budget I am perfectly fine with the economic shortfalls. I feel safe in my job and I am happy where I am.

Today's Top Ten List: Things I Wish I Could Change But Know I Cannot
10. Ads on the radio. Too many dumb and boring ones. Makes me switch to the I-Pod.
9. R-Rated movies. There are so many really good looking movies that when I check the rating on them find out that the F-bomb has been dropped too many times, or there is a sex scene that is nowhere close to necessary for the story's plot line.
8. Students who will not see the value in pushing themselves or challenge themselves. Not all are like this, thankfully, but there are too many who honestly do not push themselves. They are content with mediocrity and less than their potential. Sad.
7. Ads at the beginning of a movie. I like going to movies so I don't have to sit through 15 minutes of commercials in an hour. Well, movie theatres are no longer solace from such advertising. They hit you all at once at the beginning. Of course, the upside is that you can now be 15 minutes late for the movie and have not missed anything important (except possibly a good seat)
6. Drivers in Calgary. There are so many nuts and nitwits on the road it drives me crazy! People who think that speed limits are suggestions and then glare at you for driving the limit.
5. Olives. I HATE OLIVES!
4. Pets getting old. See above for my thoughts on Annie.
3. Ads on Youtube videos. Really? I have to wait 30 seconds to see my silly cat video and sit through a car commercial? Yes, ads bug me a lot these days.
2. Politicians, or more precisely, political parties that will never cooperate with each other. I have often felt nauseated by politics because they will only criticize each other. Opposition parties rarely seem to offer anything of substance to each other.
1. Uninformed opinions. Yes, I know that some would point out that all I have to do is inform these people and their opinions can change. Trouble is that all too often these opinions are so deeply entrenched that there is no informing them. For example, a person is dead set against any type of gun control. No matter how well you may argue a point, they refuse to even consider your different position.

Insane to Complain

OK, I need to vent a bit here. Yesterday was the Super Bowl, and Baltimore won (I think), and the biggest things I am hearing about it are the power outage, that it was a close game (which I think is good), and that there was a "racist" Super Bowl ad for Volkswagon. The add in question? Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H0xPWAtaa8

So, now that you watched it, you can understand my venting a little bit better.

As far as I can see, a white guy is talking with a Jamaican accent, turning anything that is negative into something that is positive. So, where is the "racism"? Is it the fact that it is a white man speaking with a Jamaican accent? Is that racist? Only black people can use that accent? So, by that reckoning, only white men in kilts can speak with a Scottish accent. Really? Is it the idea that it stereotypes Jamaicans as being fun-loving, happy people? Does this mean that I can no longer say that Chinese respect their ancestors, or that First Nations people care about the environment because it is racist? It boggles my mind a bit to think that people are so uptight about being politically correct about things that some harmless fun needs to be analysed beyond sanity?

When Valkswagon was asked about the ad, their representatives said that the ad was screened in front of hundreds of people, including 100 Jamaicans, and not a single complaint was made. The country of Jamaica seem to be cool with the ad, and people all over the internet are typing their frustrations at the insane complaints and accusations of racism for this ad. So I decided to get to the bottom of this and find out why it was deemed racist by some. Believe me, I am strong in my views against racism and all other sorts of prejudiced attitudes that infects our culture, so I wanted to research the other side before weighing in.

Guess what? When I searched for the ad on Google, it was very difficult for me to find any of the sources of the people who think that this is racist. Instead, I found people of all creeds and colour as flabbergasted as I am about the supposed controversy. So it gets me wondering where the outcries are coming from, and what the true motivation is. The conspiracy theorists out there might place the blame on VW themselves for cooking up or embellishing the controversy to further advertising effectiveness (the ad cost them $8 million to air during the Super Bowl, and this debate is getting them countless free advertising). The cynic is likely stating that this is the act of some narrow-minded party poopers who are only looking to get attention. Still, when someone says "controversial", it gets people talking. No, this ad is not racist. Some may be offended or uncomfortable, but maybe they just need to stop thinking about it, and then they just might realize that this is by far a non-issue. VW will sell some cars, get some publicity, and then we will move on to the next big non-issue.

My Top 10 list comes from Flickchart, a site I discovered a week ago where you can rank your favourite movies. According to their rankings based on my choices, my Top 10 Favourite Movies of All Time are:
10. Star Trek: First Contact. I know, many of you are expecting all of them to be the Top 10. No, I am a little more diverse than that. This is my favourite TNG film, and I saw it several times in the theater. I love the effects, the dialogue, and the hat tips to the franchise in general.
9. The Lion King. I think that this is one of the greatest films for animation, and has Disney's best musical score. It has action, comedy, romance, redemption, betrayal, and seems oddly Shakespearean. A must have for any movie fan.
8. The Incredibles. I love super heroes. I love most Pixar (not Cars, though). This movie is my favourite so far of all of the amazing Pixar films out there. So much to see, yet not overwhelming. I pick up new things each time a watch it.
7. The Muppets. A great movie, and I liked it even a bit better than the Muppet Movie. It was made by true fans, and Henson would be proud of it.
6. The Dark Knight. Not just a great super hero movie, but a great action movie. Heath Ledger gives a brilliant performance as the Joker, and it has enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. I only wish Ledger had not died so he could have been in Dark Knight Rises.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This is the best of the Tolkein based movies, and it is just so amazingly well done. Best of all, the LOTR series got people reading the books again, and that is always a good thing.
4. The Princess Bride. I can watch this again and again. It is a timeless classic, that is perfect for the whole family. I still giggle at the dialogue, and found the writing to be sharp and precise. The story-telling does not get much better than this.
3. Star Trek (2009). Yes, this is a reboot, but it is done with so much care and detail to not only satisfy the die hard fans like myself, but also bring many more fans into the fold. I am looking forward to Star Trek: Into Darkness this summer.
2. The Avengers. People who normally hate super hero movies enjoy this film. Yes, the fact that it is recent may play a big part into its ranking on my list, but it is a truly great movie and encases everything that a summer block-buster should have.
1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. No big surprise here. If I could only keep one movie from my collection, this would be hit. Trekkie or not, I would be hard-pressed to find someone who could effectively argue that this movie is not a great film. Revenge, sacrifice, friendship, and the no-win scenario all rolled into one. By far my all time favourite.

A Year of Change

Last year saw many changes in my life, and this year seems to be no different. The biggest change from last year was the birth of my beloved daughter Barbara, and I expect that her changes to be the highlights for this year as well. I look forward to the first steps, the first tooth, the first words, and especially the first time she says "Daddy". I love watching this little person grow. She laughs often, smiles a lot, and is managing to keep most of her food down. Her eyes almost beam when I walk in the room. I hope the day where that changes never comes.

At the end of January I always face the change of a new semester. I am going to be teaching Science 10, 20, and 30 this next semester, and for the Science 30s it is my biggest class yet. I look forward to the new challenge of Science 20, and it will be interesting to teach all the classes at the same time as it gives me the opportunity to see the three curriculum at the same time, and I'll be able to make connections between them.

Church saw some changes today. Six wards had their boundaries reorganized. 3rd and 8th wards are gone all together, and a new ward, Arbour Lake, was created. Our ward had some of Bow Valley and 8th ward added to us, and I am looking forward to the new members of the elder's quorum. I think I'll finally be able to find a new 1st councillor. I look forward to working with the new ward members and making new friends. In addition to that, the temple is going full tilt still. One new change I like is having it so close so I can go weekly instead of monthly.

Big exciting news for my geekiness. There are some great movies coming out this year that are exciting for me (Iron Man 3 and Star Trek: Into Darkness being the top two). New episodes of "Once Upon a Time", "The Big Bang Theory", and "Person of Interest" have my PVR ready. A new Brad Paisley album is due out this spring. Most of all, I am going to the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas this August with Matt Harker! They are hoping to have 80 celebrity guests, and have announced 71. I am very excited to see William Shatner, Kate Mulgrew, and almost the entire cast of DS9 (only Colm Meany is not going to be there). It is going to be a lot of fun. Heather and Sharon might also be joining us, which will mean little Barbie will be coming along. I have never been to Vegas, and I look forward to the experience.

So, with the theme of change, I give my Top 10 Things I Hope Will Never Change:
10. Volunteering at the Calgary Zoo will always be fun.

9. Teaching at FFCA will always feel like something I was born to do with some of the greatest colleagues in the world.

8. Facebook will always let me hide annoying posts from my friends.

7. The platypus. Why mess with perfection?

6. The temple in Calgary will always be a priority in my life.

5. CISN FM will always be on Edmonton's airwaves when I visit.

4. Being able to find the chocolate covered licorice logs at Wal Mart

3. Saturday morning snuggles with Heather

2. That watching Star Trek will always remind me of my mother.

1. The look my little girl gives me when I walk into the room.

Looking Back, Looking Forward, and the Sore Neck That Comes With It

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.

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

A Tale of Haters and Trolls

I noticed a few months ago that whenever a Taylor Swift song came on the radio, Dayton would start ranting about her. It surprised me that he was so...venomous about it. I also noticed that in our society there are those who have to make a huge deal out of spewing hate about various celebrities and well-known figures. Now, I'll be honest, there are some things in this world that I wish would go away: Jersey Shore, gangsta rap, and Two Broke Girls being my top "Do Not Like At All" list, but I am amazed by the vitriol that people on the internet when it comes to the likes of Taylor Swift, Nickelback, and Justin Bieber. In Chicago there is a nasty teachers strike, and the mayor has become a target. On striker has been shown holding a sign saying that the mayor is a Nickelback fan. Apparently that is something unforgivable.

I have been asking people about their dislike for these and others, and from what I can gather, nobody has a good reason for being so hateful. I can dislike Jersey Shore because it glorifies idleness and entitlement and it is vulgar, I can avoid gangsta rap because it is derogatory to women and and it is vulgar, and I can tune out when Two Broke Girls comes on because it lowers my IQ level while watching it (haven't seen it enough to see if it is vulgar), but I am not on the internet constantly trying to trash talk them into world wide web oblivion (barring this blog post, but that is merely to illustrate a point). No, in fact, I figure that if I draw less attention to them, then I will not be giving them any free publicity (again, barring this post to make a point). As far as I can tell, Nickelback is hated because they always sound the same (and yet I can say the same thing about so many other bands), Taylor Swift us hated because she writes songs about her life (which is what most songwriters do), and Justin Bieber is hated because teen-aged and younger girls love him (which fits the NKOTB regime from my youth). So really, they are hated because they are popular, successful, and talented. They are hated because they make a lot of money doing what they love. Smells like jealousy to me.

So, for the last several months, I have been doing some informal research into this cultural phenomenon of posting horrible things about celebs and the like. I have found that there is much on the internet that is...well, to put it mildly, crap. Here is my hypothesis: because people are allowed to post things on the internet anonymously, they feel that they can say whatever they want, however they want, and to whomever they want. They may even be saying horrible things to someone they love and they do not even realize it. They know that to be like this face-to-face with someone is wrong, but hiding behind their screens they can de-evolve into something more carnal. I found two main categories that really get my proverbial goat.

First, there are the Haters, who will spend countless hours surfing the web looking for their sources of hatred. these are the ones who will go onto every YouTube video that even mentions Taylor Swift and dislike it, simply to fight some sort of good fight. These are the ones who will watch the "I'm a Mormon" videos that my church has out and make so many negative comments with the deluded idea that by posting their hatred that they are winning. These are the ones who get all riled up whenever a teachers union goes on strike believing that all teachers do is babysit. These are the ones that you cannot have a good discussion with. Actually, you can't really have a discussion at all without them degenerating into potty-mouthed tirades erupting. To put it simply, I find most Haters to be uninformed and happy to remain that way.

After the Haters you have the Trolls. These are a bit different than the Haters because Trolls purposefully make comments to get people upset. Haters are trying to prove a point. Trolls are trying to get you to react. These people will step into any debate and say inflammatory things, just to see how many dislikes or thumbs down they can get. I guess you can say that I am a Troll-Hater. It seems like the only thing that gives them any meaning in life is to cause others become incensed. Perhaps the Trolls have always been lurking under the bridges of life, but I must say that it makes being on the internet less fun. I enjoy sharing and reading intelligent thoughts, but I find the Trollish comments to be very tiresome.

Before I finish with the Top Ten, a little song that sums up my feelings.



Top Ten Ways to Deal with Haters and Trolls
10. Don't bite the bait. Walk away, turn off the monitor, whatever you must, but don't reply.
9. Thumb down/spam-block the hate. Even if you agree with their point, but they are saying it in an offensive and vulgar manner, vote them down. In some sites, such as YouTube and Yahoo, it actually blocks or hides things that receive too many negative votes. And once those are hidden...
8. Keep the Hate hidden! enough said on that.
7. Be polite, not reactive. If you really feel that you must respond to a Hater or Troll, just say what you need to without stooping to their level.
6. Vote up the good comments. The ones that have reasonable ideas, respectful discourses, just vote those up. This tends to put those comments higher up in the list.
5. Priorities. If you set you filters to show only the most popular comments, you can remove most if not all of the hateful comments.
4. Block the Trolls. Facebook, YouTube, and other networking sites allow you to block certain users. If there is someone who is constantly being hateful and mean-spirited, block them. You typically never read their statements again.
3. Don't Do It. Just do not read the comments if the Trolls and Haters always get to you.
2. Happy thoughts. Surround yourself with good friends, postivie images, anything to keep the negativity at bay.
1. If you ever meet a Troll, pick up a Hater and smack them off the bridge Billy-Goat-Gruff style.