Confederate Flag Controversy

Maybe it's just me, but how can anyone still try to justify flying the Confederate flag above any government building?  In the final analysis. it is a symbol of the perppetuation of the institute of slavery.  Those who want to use the flag claim other reasons, but they don't hold water.

One of the reasons that often comes up is that they are honoring those that fought and died during that war.  If this were so, why do they only honor those who fought on the side that was trying to keep slavery in the states.  What about the Union soldiers who were fighting against slavery?  Others will claim that there were complicated economic reasons, but this boils down to: It was more economical to use slave labor to raise and harvest the cotton, which was the main economic staple of the South.  Another reason often given is "states rights", buth this always turns out to be the State's right to perpetuate slavery in their state.

Nowdays, the only real reason to keep trying to fly the "Stars and Bars" over such places as the Anderson County Courthouse last week, is to send the not so subtle message that it is still O.K. in some areas of this country to try to oppress some races or classes of people.

Let us not forget why the war was fought, or which viewpoint lost.

But maybe it's just me....

Maybe Darwin was Wrong

People (and by "People" I mean short, fat, nearsighted old men like me) aren't designed to live in modern civilized society. Othewise why would people (again, beings such as I) be so designed as to painfully smash their (my) delicate toes into every modern civilized object (bed leg, footstool, door jamb) between my bed and the bathroom in the dark of the night? We (I) should have hooves, not feet. Or at least think to use the flashlight I keep on my bed table.

But maybe thats just me...

Parker County importing criminals to arrest...

An article in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram said that Parker Coounty Special Crimes Unit lured criminals to a sting operation in Weatherford and arrested about 10 people for crimes ranging from prostitution and drug possession to various alchohol and traffic related violations, as well as warrants from other cities.  Police spokesperson Cpl. Wendy Fields said "Prostitution attracts many other forms of crime..." She also said the police hope to keep vice out of Parker County by luring a few suspected prostitutes in the sting operations.  However, none of those arrested were from Weatherford or Parker County.  They were lured, by internet ads, to Weatherford from Ft. worth, Arlington, Carrollton, Abilene, and Arlington.

Is it just me... but how are you keeping criminals out of your town if you are putting out ads luring them to your location?  I would applaude the effort if they had found any prostitutes, drug abusers, unlicensed drivers, and open container violations actually among the citizens of Parker County.  It seems to me if you are importing your criminals, you aren't really keeping the vice out of Parker County.

But maybe that's just me...

Arlington "no prostitute zone"...

First, let me say this... I in no way condone prostitution, ever, at any time.

Arlington has said that they want to establish a "no prostitute zone" around the new Jerry World Cowboys stadium, the Ballpark and Six Flags area, specifically to keep the prostitutes away from these high profile tourist attractions.

Is it just me... or isn't prostitution supposed to be illegal in virtually all areas of all cities in Texas?

The police say they want a new law saying they can arrest pro's and their john's anywhere around this area.  Is it just me... but can't they do that anyway, if they have reason to believe they are engaging in illegal activities.

On closer examination, it seems they want a law that says they can arrest any prostitue found in this area, even if they are not soliciting or humping someone in the parking lot.  I assume the cops are saying they want to be able pick up known pro's that they see in these areas without any evidence of an ongoing crime.  Is it just me... or does this sound a little hinky, arresting someone just 'cause they are in your neighborhood and you don't like who they are or what they do?

And there is also the question of are they going to limit this to real, known pro's or just anyone the cops take a dislike to.  Looks like one more too for the cops to throw people in jail and/or bust heads without any real reasonable cause.

But, maybe it's just me...
  

Why I hate school hair length rules...

I saw in the news where another kid is being knocked around by his school and parents because he wants to wear his long hair at school.  First, I would have thought we had gotten past this by now, but I guess not.  I have always disliked the idea that a boy's wanting to have long hair should stand in the way of his attending a public school, paid for by all our taxes.  Until now I let it slide, but this time one of the characters in this drama said something that made me realize what was so wrong with the school's position.  The principal of his school said that if the boy had long hair, someone would make some remark to him and that would likey cause a problem and disrupt the class. 

Is it just me... or is the principal saying that if this boy is picked on or "bullied" because of his hair, we should blame the victim?  Should the school discipline all the kids that are ridiculed or picked on for what is different from others in the school.  Do we blame kids with different color skin, or who keep their heads and arms covered at all times, or who walk funny, or talk weird?

Is it just me... or if the boy is picked on, wouldn't this be a good time for the teachers or administrators to teach the other students about tolerance for other peoples points of view?  Wouldn't this be great teaching opportunity about the danger of bullying and how wrong intolerance is? 

Is it just me... but couldn't this situation be used to show that minor differences in taste or preferrence such as hair length or the type of sneakers you wear don't have to have a disruptive affect on the entire school day.  Won't most kids just make note of the diferrence and, if the grown-ups don't go ballistic,  get on with their day.

But then, maybe it's just me...

Sometimes things seem so clear to me...

Sometimes a news story or internet article will come to my attention and I notice some glaring error in a statement or a conclusion by someone mentioned in the article.  When this happens I often wonder: Is it just me... or was that the stupidest/most moronic/most ridiculous thing I ever read?  I felt like I needed a forum to state my own views on these random and unpredictable instances of disbelief or outrage.  I'm not saying, by any means, that I am smarter than anyone in the world but it seems either that I notice things others don't, or that I am the only person that wants to comment on what I see.  I am going to, from time to time, post my musings on this blog, if for no other reason than to have an outlet for my ranting against what I see as ignorance or injustice.  Of course I expect to have people disagree with me, to revile me, maybe even to hate me and my opinions, but that doesn't really bother me.  If anyone wants to offer inteligent discourse on any subject, I will be glad to hear from you.

Anyway, here goes... from time to time I will be asking - Is it just me...or is this just wrong?!