Let us start this essay, rant or dialogue; whatever you choose to label this blog article, as it is not news, and not exactly an opinion piece either. A lot is going on in our world today, people are being slaughtered in Yemen, there is no clean water in Flint,Kids are in cages, the Poor are left to Suffer, Murder or causing Harm is Acceptable if you have Power, Lives Do Not Matter, Mental Health is treated like a Threat, people can not Agree on Life and Love;Kindness has become the Rarest of Traits... The list goes on, yet these are all pieces of the Puzzle.
Every single person holds a piece of the puzzle of life, to one subject, cause for a purpose. The issue is not that our pieces are wrong; the issue is that sometimes we want to force a piece to fit, where it simply does not belong. I chose a quote by Bruce Lee, because he knew more than most, that the key to the puzzle is not declaring I have all the pieces or the most important ones, but to Seek the Proper Placement.
So I pose a very simple Question, it is one that separates the Wisest of us, from the most Ignorant; when do you accept that the placement is Wrong? See what makes a person wise is not Knowledge, but the Willingness to Embrace new information, and admit when you are wrong. That is how knowledge is Born, you learn by finding out what is wrong. If You cannot admit what is wrong, then you will never Learn. We must learn because at First, our piece may be Small; but as we learn our piece may very well Grow. Yet, I will end with this; when looking at a puzzle it is not the Size of each piece that we Admire, but the Way in which Each piece fits in Unison to Create something Wonderful.
Life is a Puzzle, the sizes of each piece matters little; it is the Placement and Unity of each Piece that creates the most Beautiful image. The Puzzle of Life, is one of Admiration, Curiosity & Wonderment. Russell David Carey 7/4/2018
My Father died this February, I had no choice, no time to say goodbye and was left with a void. However, it was not unexpected, and it was a part of natural life. That does not make it easier, but nonetheless it only feels unjust, simply due to knowing he's gone and I can't say another word to him.
Children of divorce are traumatized, sometimes for their entire lives due to that form of legal & even necessary social act. However, ripping kids away from their families, sending their parents away to places unknown while being forced into a prison complex is not natural. The fact that it is legal proves how much closer to Nazi America, Trump has brought us.
Welcome to the United Nazi States of America, a land where children are forced into prison camps, they are using inactive military bases as prison facilities for children. Call it what you want, it's cages, it's flat prison mattresses and white concrete walls. Looks like a prison to me, these kids do not know where their parents are, the parents do not know where their kids are.
This Fathers Day kids are in jails, and parents are killing themselves becasue their children were taken, and these so called violent people, who must be deported, are not going "Bryan Mills" on the USA. They are normal human beings suffering, becasue their children and lives have been stolen. BECAUSE OF THIS MAN AND THOSE DEFENDING HIM.
His team uses the Bible to justify the cruel, unjust, vile and barbaric actions. The Bible was also used by slave owners, and Hitler to justify their actions. None of those kids parents were drug dealers, murderers or any-kind of criminal. They were hard working, decent people in search of The American Dream.
Their dreams were shattered, worse than that their children have been stolen by a Mad Dictator who is allowed to commit heinous crimes with impunity. That's it, that is all I have to say, becasue those are the facts and if they do not move you to act, then you're part of the problem.
I normally do not post rants, but this one that was inspired by this video below, I feel has a purpose and needs to be shared. We all hastily type away our opinions, but while there can be those who type hate in haste like a rather sad, and pathetic fading star. We can also rant with passion at the injustice and cruelty of this world. For silence is the true enemy.
I saw this posted as most of us do on Facebook. I can not count how many times I see people share things like this. It is important to do so, i is important to see that beyond our safe bubbles there is great suffering. The suffering which we should try and fight, when a world of people say do unto others, as you would have done to you. Do nothing but share a post in one place, then forget, or worse say it's in his hands. You need to take a step back and reread your ideals and beliefs...
Why are we funding guns, wars, corruption... Greed, you have all these people claiming to be Christian, it's part of his plan they say. Guess what you were part of his plan to stop it. At least if you truly believe in the story you hold so dearly. So I don't care if the story is real or not. Star Trek is not real perse. But it's values and ideals are. If you claim to be a person of love and peace, then find medical programs, fund programs so we can learn from each other, embrace our individuality and also learn from other cultures and individuals. Oh right, that presents a utopia without suffering, and in that world, human lives, and the world would mean more than a dollar sign or bottom line. We live in a world that gets off on people's suffering.
Christians claim he died on the cross for all of us, where is your cross to carry. Do you think God just wants you to silently pray, and hope for the best? That is not faith. Faith is standing for a just cause and knowing that no matter the cost or outcome, it is that you took a stand that matters in the first place. Because the faith part is hoping others will see your sacrifice, or your work, and carry it on, encourage it, learn from it, or evolve it. What a shame we live in a world where that is an alien thought.
Why is all the anger in the world addressed at meaningless things, race, who we choose to love, who we choose to be? In my eyes, unless you choose to be a person who is silent, a person who sits back and does nothing, then you are the enemy and the creation of evil within our world. After all, we hear so much talk of evil, of hate and it is directed at the wrong types of people. Hate can unite a group, and when united in hate you can do much harm. What a shame it is so easy to unite based on hate, that even when united in love, it can turn into a union of hate.
Call me a hippie, call me a liberal fag, call me anything you wish. It is easy to see the wrong and right when they are this simple. We live in a beautiful world, full of such wonder, and so many cannot enjoy, appreciate, or even find peace in it, due to a world full of hate and inaction. Inaction is an action in of itself, while it is just to ignore hate directed solely at you, and perhaps a good idea to not add fuel to some fires.
Yet... When the fire has become all-consuming, it is not fuel we are pouring, it is water we are rushing to douse the billowing flames. This is not simply a call of a SJW, a term which I cannot stand, as social justice, is justice, and everyone should care about justice. I am not speaking of characters in films, what words we are using, how we joke around, I am speaking of how we act when things truly matter.
We can all be jackassess and enjoy or partake in foolish behavior, but we also must take a few moments during our days, to take a serious stand for something other than ourselves. If you do not, what are you leaving behind in this world, I love my toys as much as the next person. Yet, greed does nothing, love and fighting for others does much, and even more for yourself than greed can... At least if you truly embrace it...
Film is very subjective, so I usually try to write reviews that explain what the film is, and try to explain its pros and cons, not to judge, but so you can decide if the film is worth viewing. Honestly, if my first impressions from the trailers had been correct, I would be writing a scathing hate-filled rant of the raping of a classic.
Surprisingly the film could not have been further from what I expected, for some reason the trailers made the film appear to be similar to Die Hard. In tone at the very least, while it would be brutal it appeared the be an action-packed romp, with a serious and realistic tone meshed with Willis's trademark wit. While that is not far off from what the film is, it is actually closer to a fantastic adaptation of Grand Theft Auto with Death Wish as the basis. The film even references GTA 5, in one of its quick-cut montages that are interspersed throughout the film.
Is this original story-telling? No, in fact, it matches the storytelling style of the first RoboCop film. While the main story of revenge is serious in nature, featuring high stakes, tension, and some very brutal violent sequences. It often cuts to the media and society's reactions to the actions of the film. While many thought the film was going to be a glowing endorsement of gun culture, it is closer to an honest look at these ideas, with a comedic and thrilling tone, than an advertisement for Guns and Ammo.
The film is glorifying gun culture and violence in many early scenes, showing Bruce learn how to properly shoot, load and operate a handgun. It is how he learns to do these things that makes the films true stance on the matter clear. While the film is not anti-gun, it is showing how insane the countries obsession with these items are, and how easy it is to find dangerous information online. The film handles these messages with subtlely, allowing a fun B styled revenge flick, but one that tries to address some serious issues, that these films often avoid.
The film, however, has two faults keeping it from properly getting its ideas across to the entire audience. The first issue has more to do with today's audience than anything else, the film is subtle in its satire so that it does not beat you over the head with a social message. One scene involving a shootout in a Club's restroom felt extremely timely. I can not see how anyone could view that scene, and think an armed hero would do more than cause additional harm.
Good art can be viewed as entertainment alone, at least that is how I view good art. Someone should be able to watch a film and be able to largely ignore its message, and still be entertained. Yet, a film dealing with this type of material in today's world is a tricky subject, I felt very nervous writing my Novella, that was a Death Wish inspired tale. I do not think we should stop making crass, loud, or art that shows ideals that are not morally good, or ones that are at least questionable.
When you do this, you provide cathartic entertainment to some who need violent entertainment as a positive outlet, you also create a film that will spark a conversation. You do this by making the film stand in the middle ground, in its story at the very least. It is great to make your opinion on those ideas clear, but it should not impede the story, or be the focus of the story. Rather it should be integrated in a seamless manner, that fits the tone of the film, in this case, a hybrid revenge thriller satire.
While the film is not perfect, it is a great conversation piece and a damn enjoyable revenge thriller. If you love the films of the 70's and 80's, this is right up your alley. It just happens to not only uses satire as a form of comedic relief, but to show you can make these types of films today, with purpose and still make a film that will appeal to those who love genre piece like this.
As many of my readers know, I am autistic, I am fairly high on the spectrum but that does not mean I do not have my fair share of issues. Which makes it very frightening to see how police routinely deal with the autistic community. Violence is often heavily used, and without any form of remorse. Is it fair to defend against someone going through a heavy mental illness episode? I do think if your life is in danger, non-lethal and also force that is meant purely to protect yourself, and also the victim. Yes never forget how a person maybe freaking out, lashing out, they are a victim.
Which makes it even more disgusting that police do not serve and protect the autistic community, in fact, they often seem to either not care, not understand, or have zero compassion for anyone other than their brothers in blue. I could not mention that and not bring up the fact, that this level of abuse is far greater to people of color, autistic or not. There is a major issue regarding police brutality. If you are seen as a lesser citizen, someone with mental health difficulties, or worse just someone who is of a different color or background, suddenly you are fair game for beatings, shootings, and murder at the hands of those who are supposed to be our protectors.
This is where Star Trek comes into play. Starfleet protects life, and searches for understanding. Take this clip from the classic series as a great example.
The landing party is attacked by what seems to be some kind of monster, at least upon first glance. While they do defend themselves in standard action show fashion, it is what comes after the fight that is so damn meaningful and something we could all learn from. They learn it is no monster, rather a humanoid creature with the mind of a child, who was simply upset that his tricycle was broken, and also being fearful of a new being. As a person with autism, I did think of it as a sort of analog for autism. They are attacked, yet once they learn this being is simply confused and in a fight or flight state, they offer help, compassion and caring. Why are police not like this?
This show is well over 60 years old now, and has many spin-offs which focus on this very important message. Life is meaningful, life is worth preserving. Even in moments of danger, because you simply can not always know if someone is a threat, or a victim in need of help. These heroes would give their life to save another, which growing up is what I always thought the police were. I thought they joined to protect the world for evil, to search for justice. Boy did I watch too many good movies as a kid.
Anyone who a net connection, knows that police rarely serve and protect anything other than their own hides. I will not apologize for talking down about police officers, or the fact that they do not serve justice or peace. Rather they serve to get thrills and feel powerful. While I realize their is a niche of good officers, it's just that a small niche. Most officers may start out with good intentions, but for most this is just a job to pay the bills which causes the problem.
Why do members of Starfleet wish to serve, not because it is a job, because it is a calling to something greater. This franchise has spent it storied and long history, trying to show us a better way, trying to instill better ideas about life. It is such a shame that so many do not hold these ideals close to their heart. To seek out new cultures, new forms of life, to not be afraid of them but wish to learn, to live together in peace. Of all programs, Star Trek is the few that shows one time enemies becoming great allies. This is what we need to learn, compassion for life and to grow, to see things from another perspective, not just your own.
Others and I am sure Police will feel this way, that this kind of ideal is naive and not possible in our world. But that is the view of a scared, nihilistic, cynic. The truth is we could have a world much like the one in Star Trek, hell we are even getting to their kind of tech. But a world like Trek, it means we cherish all life, it means we care to help others, to understand others. If we only get the cool toys, its a waste. Sure the tech is cool, and we got plenty today, but it was never the tech that mattered, it was the values. It showed us regardless of our cruel world, that seems to have forgotten the importance of helping others, of understanding those who are different from us, could still be within reach. If we only strive to make it so.
Sadly we seem to be taking major strides backward in a lot of areas. The fact that so many see no issue with police brutality, that no one sees a need for a different kind of justice, one that does not come from the barrel of a gun, is utterly depressing. It seems a great many people, just live within their own bubble. If it does not affect them, they have zero drive to do a thing about it. I do not understand how so many, could be so callous.
Life affects us all, seeing Israel murder protesters, seeing police abuse the autistic community, and murdering and abusing innocent people of color should be a rallying call for all of us. That if you strike one of down for nothing, the rest of us will make a difference, we will show the world that life and cherishing others lives matters more than anything else.
If you claim to be a Christian or of any faith, this should be your mission in life, yet too many people who claim faith, only seek to protect their own interests and care little for the preservation of life. Hell Christians worship what can take life away, with their sick affinity for firearms. Sure I like weapons in games and film, they are fantasies, they serve a purpose other than to take life, art is meant to explore life. Yet in the real world, we have no use for such tools of death. Just like our Police have no use to be violent thugs.
Protect and serve, it means to protect life not take it away. Something that few in power care about. Does this rant serve a greater purpose, I honestly have no clue. But seeing the violence and hate, knowing that life is not seen as a worthwhile thing to save, in that case, none can be silent. So if it does nothing but shows a different perspective, I am good with that. After all the government and the police do not care, they make excuse after excuse for abhorrent behavior and it can not stand.
One day maybe just maybe, we can all live long and prosper.
While there is some great relief effort being done in Yemen, by groups like MONA, nevertheless there is now a deadly outbreak of cholera affecting this devastated nation. Please visit https://www.monareliefye.org/ to see how you can help the Yemeni people.
Original article posted 3/21/17
While the news is focused on God only knows what this week, I have a story that has far more importance, than anything you will find in the Lame Stream Media. We hear about many Civil Wars, many Genocides yet we rarely ever intervene. In fact, in recent memory, our intervention in Africa, which was later brilliantly dramatized in the Epic Black Hawk Down, showed the use of troops for aid. Not war profiteering. But see nearly every War since World War II was fought for profit, not for any other reason, no matter you have been told. We rarely use our forces to provide any kid of aid...
So what does this have to do with these suffering children, men and women in Yemen? The USA along with the UK, provides arms to Saudi Arabia. In turn we get funding and the precious oil, yes that most important resource, that we must commit mass Genocide to have as much as possible. We have been led to believe by the Main Stream Media, that this is a civil war, that this is not one of the most brutal, and horrific genocidal loss of life in decades...
I have provided resources below this article to show you what the Media won't. Evidence that this is not a civil war, this is not two factions fighting for a country. This is a Country fighting to survive, and praying for help! They have received some much-needed Aid, but hold on their cowboy, it was not the USA delivering food, and life-saving supplies... It was those evil Russians, the few that provided massive aid, is the big bad boogie man the Media wants us to view as the next Nazi Germany.
Here is the bottom line folks, kids are starving, or if they're lucky killed instantly in callous bombings. People like you and me, expect they don't have a way to endure their life of misery. Their life is only based on trying to survive. What did the USA do when we did go to Yemen recently... We conducted a Raid, leaving an innocent little girl dead, at the hands of our own troops. Why does no one care for Yemen? Why are we allowing the Saudi's to bomb it to rubble, just to claim more land? They are Tyrants, and we help our own kind. Below are links backing up my claims.
