"To be" is not the question

Submitted by cvining on Sat, 04/09/2022 - 16:15

How red are my hands? I descend from slave owners. My biological father developed weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, radiological, and advocated for them as somehow superior to nuclear weapons options. As a youth, American men and boys, not much older than me, were sent to Vietnam to burn women and children and villages, with napalm. Under 43 America murdered hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, tortured many more. I can, of course, go on.

Commentary
Politics

A call for calm and mercy: no death penalty for the January 6 coup

Submitted by cvining on Fri, 01/22/2021 - 02:40

I wish to join the call for calm. To those who feel insurrection is treason, punishable by death, I council calm and mercy. We are bigger than those insurgents of January 6, 2021 who sought to topple our government, our constitution, our core belief in rule by law.

Ten years in prison, as called for in the US code (below) for rebellion and insurrection. Fine them, bar them from ever holding office. The death penalty for treason? I understand, but in the name of calm and unity, let's be merciful. Throw them in prison and we'll move on.
 
Many other laws were broken too, but these are the ones that threaten the core of our nation. And I don't give a damn why they did it. When they stormed the Capitol, they threw any possible merit to their perceived grievances out the freaking window.
 
If you, dear reader, dear friend, disagree. If you feel any sympathy for the insurrectionists, I'll try to listen to you, hear you out, publicly or privately. Don't expect to change my mind, as I don't expect to change yours. But I will listen. Even as I cheer on efforts to hunt down and hold accountable every single  participant. 
 
 
For reference, here are selected Sections from the US Code 
Commentary
Politics
Carbon Neutral cvining Sat, 06/06/2009 - 11:32

Climate change is all around
Creeping on us, makes no sound
Always something else to do
The cars, the wars, a bank or two

The answer: easy! has been found!
Leave that carbon in the ground.
Can we resist these fuels so useful?
And live each day carbon neutral?

Commentary
Climate
Reality and drugs cvining Mon, 05/16/2022 - 10:15

Reality is for those who can't handle drugs

unpleasant, discouraging and depressing. cvining Mon, 05/16/2022 - 10:10

You have to recognize the realities of the world, and the realities of the world tend to be unpleasant, discouraging and depressing.

The lowest white man cvining Tue, 05/10/2022 - 23:21

If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.

The Galaxy Song

Submitted by cvining on Sun, 05/01/2022 - 10:50

Whenever life gets you down, Mrs. Brown,
And things seem hard or tough,
And people are stupid, obnoxious or daft,

And you feel that you've had quite eno-o-o-o-o-ough,

Nothing to offer cvining Fri, 04/29/2022 - 11:31

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

Franklin's Four Rules for Living

Submitted by cvining on Wed, 04/06/2022 - 21:02

Franklin’s Four Rules for Living

  1. It is necessary for me to be extremely frugal for some time, until I have paid what I owe.
  2. To endeavor to speak truth in every instance; to give nobody expectations that are not likely to be answered, but aim at sincerity in every word and action – the most amiable excellence in a rational being.
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