This Is Not Good

Last evening I was listening to an audio book when I received a text from Susan saying there was an active shooter at the peaceful protest march in Dallas, TX. It's amazing how your ears perk up when the location is somewhere you're familiar with. Having lived in that area of Texas most of my life I was keenly interested in what was going on. We texted back and forth into the night and picked up texting again this morning.

Susan was born in 1969 so she has no memory of the turbulent 60s and 70s. She asked me if guns were the weapons used then. Funny but I don't think of guns when I think about the turbulence then. Beatings; high pressure hoses; attack dogs; car bombs; lynchings; fire bombing homes and churches; KKK; cross burnings; come to mind but not guns. No doubt guns were used but not like they're used today. We didn't have the deadly high powered guns so available today.

It also seems to me the lines were clear then, it was all about race and war. The lines aren't as clear now because we've added drugs; dysfunctional homes; hostile politics; abortion; same sex marriage, and who knows what else, to the mix these days. People seem to be looking for a fight.

I have no desire to relive the 60s and 70s but looks like we're headed for more of those times. Perhaps every generation has to learn for themselves. It doesn't appear we've learned much from history.

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I'm no longer fighting it, I've joined the world of sneakers. I don't think of athletic shoes as sneakers but when I looked up the definition all sorts of shoes now come under the sneakers label.

I have always tried to match my shoes to my outfit but that's just not going to happen with sneakers. I've never seen so many wild color combinations.  The ones in the picture are actually indigo blue with the hot pink and some white.  I'm throwing caution to the wind, who said matching was a good idea anyway?

I'm a firm believer it's healthier not to wear the same pair of shoes everyday. This is pair two and I'd really like a pair three to rotate but sneakers aren't cheap so I'll stick with the two for now.

To make matters worse I'm a sock knitter and like to knit bold colors in stripes so I'm a show stopper in my loud socks and sneakers.

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I need to figure out a source for news that's not all politics. I'm thinking about radio or podcasts I think. I've seen Donald Trumps face about as many times as I can stand it. I'm thinking I need to stay away from visual images.  Do you listen to radio or podcasts?

Don't Shoot

If you have a license to carry a weapon I understand the law protects your freedom to carry one.  I get that.  I do not understand there being no law to protect me from the mental anguish I experience being near you.

I have heard people say they carry a weapon to protect themselves and others in the event of a mass shooting.  I do not recall that ever happening.  A shooter using an assault weapon would be finished with the deed by the time you could get your weapon out of your purse or off your body, check the safety, be sure it is loaded, and fire.  Assault weapons are very fast, their gun is much faster than your gun.

I do not want more than one set of bullets flying around me  You see I am pretty sure the mass shooter is practiced and ready for the deed he has come to commit.  Mentally he is prepared to shoot dead a living human being.

My chances with such a shooter are not good but they are worse if you also begin to shoot.  I have to believe you might be a bit nervous getting your weapon out and ready to use.  Have you been thinking you would like to shoot dead a human being or is that idea making you a little nervous?  I am concerned your aim may be off under such pressure.

Law enforcement officers are required to attend practice sessions firing their weapons to keep their skills sharp.  I think they also attend classes to prepare them psychologically for an event in which they might need to shoot a human being.

I know you attended a class before you were issued your license.  Have you visited a shooting range on a regular basis to keep up your shooting skills?  What have you done to prepare yourself mentally for shooting another person?

No, I am not comforted by the fact you are wearing a weapon.  I have no way to identify you.  I could cross the street or leave a building to protect myself if I knew your identity but I do not.

Are there service dogs that sniff out weapons?  Do you think my mental anguish would qualify me to have such a dog?

They Are Still There And I Am Mad

I am more than a little put out over the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.  No I do not live close to it.  To be frank it's over the mountains from where I live and might as well be in another country.  I do, however, pay taxes in the state of Oregon and use services provided by the state that could well be in jeopardy given the amount of money this little stunt is costing the state of Oregon.

I'm annoyed because none of these militia occupiers even live in Oregon.  They've come from Arizona, Utah, Nebraska, Montana, and other states.  Many of them are young men with large families to support and now they're sitting in jail for the state of Oregon to support.  One is dead. Who's taking care of their families?

The occupiers are demanding the refuge land be distributed to ranchers in the area.  Perhaps they should have studied a little history before this event.  The ranchers will have to get in line to claim that land.

The land has never belonged to the state of Oregon.  In the statehood agreement of 1859 that land remained in the hands of the federal government to be used by Oregon for certain purposes, education being one.

The federal government seized 1.5 million acres of the Paiute Tribe's ancestral homeland in 1879.  They are still waiting to receive compensation checks from the federal government.

These occupiers don't seem to understand Oregon can't give what they don't own. Ranchers may rightfully have complaints against the federal Bureau of Land Management but it is what it is.  The land belongs to the federal government not Oregon. They're not likely to turn it over to these occupiers or the state of Oregon.  Besides there are more effective peaceful means of protest.

We have developed a Wild West mentality in this country, you want something, get a gun and go after it. These occupiers claim they came in peace.  Sorry but you don't come armed to the teeth seeking peace.

How do you think militia occupiers should be handled?

Fear In My Town

Today I read in The Oregonian the Crescent Islamic Montessori School's board of directors recently voted to remove a vinyl banner announcing the school was "now enrolling" and a six foot sign fixed to the front of the building.  Each contained a logo of a yellow crescent moon above a blue dome and a single word that sparked concern from parents: "Islamic."

This happened shortly after the shootings  in San Bernardino.  Parents began voicing concern for the safety of their children.  Would such a sign invite a backlash?

Frankly I was stunned.  How could that be?  This is a progressive thinking area of the country.

I understand that I would not be able to put up a sign advertising a Christian school in an Islamic controlled country.  I get that.  However, America is not controlled by religion.  America offers freedom of religion.

Next I wondered what I would do if I were younger and had a child I wanted to enroll in a Montessori school?  Would I enroll my child in this school where they would learn Arabic and time would be taken for Islamic prayers?  Likely not.

What if I were Baptist, would I enroll my child in a Catholic school to be exposed to Catholic instruction?  If I were Catholic would I enroll my child in a Baptist school knowing the child would be required to attend chapel services?  Likely not.

I'll take care of my child's faith instruction.  That's too important to leave to others.  I would prefer there be no religion affiliated schools for children in their formative years.  That should be done by parents.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. That doesn't mean I'm not sad these parents in my community felt it necessary to remove the sign bearing a religious symbol and the word Islamic from their school.

The Occupation

I refuse to use pictures and names that would give further publicity to the militants' occupation of the federal Malheur National Wildlife Refuge building near Burns, OR.  I only know what I've read in our local paper, 'The Oregonian,' which I think I can condense into three paragraphs.

There was an incident that triggered a protest march, a peaceful, positive, American thing to do in such a situation. That march was made up of local citizens and some militants from around the country.

The outside militants of course were not satisfied with only a march and went on to occupy the federal building.  They have refused to leave until ranchers, farmers and other private land owners have gotten full control of the tens of thousands of acres of federally protected lands.

It appears the militants failed to do their homework before leaving their homes in other states.  This land cannot be given 'back' because it was never owned by the state of Oregon.  These lands were part of the agreement the United States offered Oregan when it became a state in 1859.  You can't give 'back' something you never owned.

Of course none of this matters to the militants, they're seeking trouble not truth.