War on Women

Men have to grow up and change. I am a father of two sons and have a beautiful wife and daughter in law. I teach high school and worry about all of my female students as they go off to college. I need to work on teaching men how to act and behave with women. There needs to be a discussion and talk about what is acceptable and what is not. Our men should not... 1) treat women as an object, as something they own 2) think they deserve sex, date or phone number for talking 3) pressure women for dates, phone number or information 4) force themselves on women-no does mean no 5) cat call, yell out and comment about a woman's dress 6) whistle, make noises-grunts 7) stare at women, watch, make faces 8) follow women, look up online, watch..stalk women 9) women can make decisions-let them 10) kill or hurt a woman if they break up, or divorce or move out 11) get woman drunk or give drugs for sex 12) hit, abuse, strike or injure a woman physically or emotionally 13) put women down, call them names, belittle them 14) have dual standards-treat women like men 15) slut shaming-women are people with feelings- Men should do the following: 1) treat women as equals 2) Ask women what they think and respect ideas 3) speak up when men are disrepectful 4) help a woman when she is drunk or drugged 5) listen to women and what they say..no means no 6) treat any woman like you would treat your daughter 7) let a woman go if she wants a divorce or to break up 8) look at the woman in the eyes, face, not her body 9) know the woman has talents, ideas, skills not just is a body or looks 10) be an example for your children and other men Being a male, there can be so many more items. I reviewed #yesallwomen and learned alot. I will review these and see how I am doing. Men need to listen to women, learn from them. See what they are experiencing from men. It is scary. We need to be observant. Add more ideas, comment and put them on. I will add to the list. 11)

Second Amendment Originally for Slave Militias

I always knew that the seoond amendment was for the government both state and national government to be able to raise a militia to put down rebellions. Shay's Rebellion scared the Founders as both the State of Massachusetts and National government could not raise a militia and showed the weakness of the national government. After the Constitution, the Federal Government needed a militia to put down the Whiskey Rebellion. A good question posed by David Frum, a conservative blogger, what government would set up a mechanism where it encourages the citizens to rise up and overthrow the government. The militias were to put down revolts and put down rebellions. The Founders were worried about a stable government. Carl T. Bogus of U.C. Davis Law wrote the article "The Hidden History of the Second Amendment," and in this chronicled the history of the second amendment in the South and the need for Slave militias. Slave militias were used to patrol the South, go to plantations and to make sure there were no slave revolts. Slave militias were used to keep control of the slaves and make sure no rebellions. Militias were important to the South and people had to work monthly, have training and participate in the militias. When researching James Madison, Patrick Henry, James Monroe all spoke about the Militia and not the right of an individaul to own a gun. The debate was national government militia taking over and replacing state militias so states would not have slave patrols. The Southern leaders were worried about this issue not the right of people having guns. Even the original second amendment written by James Madison was changed from country to state to satisfy the South. All research points to the beginning of the second amendment, a well regulated milita being necesary to a free state, is the most important part. There is no individual right to own a gun, according to our Founding Fathers. The more research will show how militias were used, how many Americans did not have guns and even militias had to supply guns to its members.

White priviledge

I have had a difficult life and nothing is easy. I live paycheck to paycheck. I work 80 hours per week and have little savings. I work to support my family. My priviledge is underneath the surface but there. I am a white, male, 53 and Protestant. I am not angry and I acknowledge my priviledge. When I notice that a majority of people are white it means I am comfortable and at ease. At worst my situation is neutral.

1) when I go to a store I am greeted by white employees as a majority and a majority of the customers are white.

2) when I apply for a job, the people responsible for hiring me are a majority white.

3) at work a majority of the employees are white. I have had one job where I was the only male but all employees were white.

4) when I watch tv the majority of characters are white

5) when I watch a movie a majority of the characters are white.

6) when I go to a restaurant a majority of the servers and employees are white.

7) when I go to a restaurant a majority of the customers are white.

8) when I go to court the judges, bailiffs and clerks are marjority white.

9) when I have had contact with the police they are a majority white. I do not think I have ever dealt with a minority police officer. My dealings with police have been respectful.

10) when I walk at stores like a mall or shopping area a majority of the people are white.

11) when I move to nice areas and look for places to live a majority of the owners are white.

12) when I look for housing a majority of realtors and landlords are white.

I have only been to a bar in downtown Bridgeport Ct where I was the only white person there and all of the servers and customers were black. Since I was with a regular I felt safe but all eyes were on me. I left outside and not welcome. 

I have worked in offices in Bridgeport where I was the only white person, but I was in management and in charge. The customers and employees treated me with respect and I would go home and was in the majority.

The majority of my life I have been treated with respect and have been comfortable in dealing with people. I have not been subject to harassment or pulled over for being white. I have no negative stereotypes about me. I have not had any extra roadblocks or hurdles put in my way. I can compete because I am in the majority.

I know there are more instances where I am privileged. This is just a beginning of my knowing of my priviledge.i am not sorry about this but recognize this and look to show others th same.

Change the name of redskins

As a lifelong fan the name is offensive. It does not matter how many approve of the name or polls. The name has no redeeming qualities. It is offensive, as no one would say "hey redskin" or we have two redskins in Congress. We do not use the name in public or private talking to Native Americans. The dictionary has the term offensive. While originally in the 1700's it was neutral, the term has been derogatory since. Not to be politically correct this term is not like Braves, Warriors and it should not be used in our nations Capitol representing our team.

There is NEVER a Need for a Gun

There is never a need to have a gun, own a gun or use a gun. Guns are used to kill people either accidently, or in fight or rage. Arguments to have guns are self defense, stop mass killings, protection, a right? Is there any? Notice I said self defense in a few ways but they are the same. A person breaks into your house and you have a gun. Are you at risk? No, normally the buglar wants property and will leave. If you confront the buglar, someone will be shot. If no gun is available no one will get shot-you might lose property but life will go on. Rarely are there cases where a person has a gun and uses it in self defense. Normally, there is an altercation, a fight and two people do not talk, they fight and use guns to sovlve the argument and one person gets shot. Is this self defense, no it is a gun fight. Prevent mass killings? Like the armed police at Columbine? Did that help? Having people armed means more people getting shot and normally more innocent people. Imagine someone armed was shooting in the movie theatre in Colorado? More people could have been shot. Are citizens good aim? Are the police? More guns mean more shots and more people being killed or hurt. Guns kill people and that is their purpose. Handguns, Ak-47s and thousands of other guns, the primary purpose is to kill people and there is no good reason to kill. As one that follows Buddhism but I will quote the Bible: "Thou shalt not kill". This quote does not have a comma and say, thou shalt not kill in self defense. It does not say thou shalt not kill to protect yourself, it says thou shall not kill. Period.

Restrict Guns NOW

Guns are part of America and in our Constitution. The second amendment is poorly written and has two parts, talking about a well-regulated militia and the right of people to bear arms. The founders believed the Constitution should be amended, changed and updated to follow the times. There is the elastic clause or necessary and proper and the amending process. both of these allow the Constitution and laws to change and grow in this country. While many of my liberal friends would love to see all guns go away, I believe we need to restrict guns and ammo. Since the shooting at Sandy Hook, there have been over 100 deaths by guns and most are not on the news. Guns have killed firefighters, an 11 year old and 6 year old. Guns are destroying our cities, our rural areas and suburbs. We need to do something and soon. Now is the time to debate, to talk and see what type of nation the US is and what we want to be. Get rid of all semi-automatic and automatic guns. There is no need to have these weapons in our homes. We do not need drums of ammunition hooked up to guns to kill without reloading. We do not need weapons that are only used to kill people, quickly in military fashion. Gun advocates will say this weapon is not military grade or people lie about the gun. Then, look at the advertisement of guns and see what the gun manufacturers say about them. What does the advertisement say? If the ad states the gun is military grade or for police, then the weapon should be banned. We need to buy back guns and have a program to get these guns out of homes. The handgun is killing our children in cities. It is designed to be concealed and it is used to kill people in cities. It causes so much trouble and the only purpose is to kill people. I do not see deer hunters using semiautomatic weapons or handguns. Does this mean the killing will stop? No, it means it will be harder to get a gun to kill someone. It means that mabye one life or more will be saved. In countries, states and cities that have tough gun restrictions, see less killings occur. Saving one life is worth a tougher law on guns.

Robert Reich

Robert Reich