Random Thoughts Vol 17 2016 Edition

It has been a while since I just spit out the dribble that has been bouncing around in my noggin, so without further ado here it is...

• It is that time of year when students start to take practice tests for the upcoming Common Core standardized testing. I sat in classroom the other day and watched the kids conjure up their own anxiety (I am sure this is more parent driven) over the practice test, then later in the day overheard a conversation from the same group of kids about staying up late and trying time and time again to unlock the next achievement in their latest video game, after they got home from their travel sport practice...if they can compete at highly competitive levels of sports and video games, they can handle the stress of a standardized test. IMHO
• No Shave November is still going well from last year...love living bearded and of course still doing the HBM.
• Yesterday (11/16/16) I got a picture from my daughter of her sitting by the pool (hot springs) in Colorado eating dinner in her bathing suit, today (11/17/16) they getting snow.
• Finishing up a project, I am happy with the outcome, and everyone involved is excited to see this phase come to close. They are also satisfied with the end result. Good job me.

Well that is it for now....

How the Times have Changed

I have seen numerous post on social media and have had many conversations with people in the past few days, that we must accept Donald Trump as our president-elect. Hmmm, interesting...

"Give the guy a chance." 

"Just wait and see, you might be surprised."

"It is un-American to talk about a President like that."

"The 'people' have spoken (voted), you just have to deal with it."

"Whiny libtards, mad because because they didn't get their way."

and much much more (many too vile and rude to share)...

I find this extremely hypocritical, this is coming from many that eight years ago spoke out adamantly and very critically against the then president-elect Barack Obama, and then four years later spoke out again during his re-elect. In case anyone needs a reminder I have compiled a short list of quotes from these time periods.

"Americans, you get the government you deserve. And it pains me to say this, but American right now deserves Barack Obama. You deserve what you voted for. I know half the country didn't vote that way, but American deserves the government that they want and they deserve. Good luck with that." - Sean Hannity

"Buy guns, ammo, stock up on farmland because this president will destroy America or whatever."  - Glenn Beck

-President-elect Donald Trump after the re-election of President Barack Obam

The asking of personal boycotts to Democratic neighbors by Ron Paul aide Eric Dondero, the firing of 22 employees by a small business owner in Las Vegas because of 'taxes and regulations' Obama would instate. Ted Nugent calling the people that voted for Obama "pimps, whores, and welfare brats" on Twitter. The comparison of Obama to Hitler, Al-Qaeda, Ted Bundy, and more by Neal Boortz. David Gelernter declaring civil war in the National Review. I am sure with a quick search on Breitbart I could find many more examples of the hatred toward Obama, because it is currently spinning the negatives toward the people that speaking out against Trump without any remorse. I am not even including all the tweets that were posted by individuals after the '08 and '12 elections, and many are down right deplorable.

As to the out of control protests that are happening...anyone remember the the hundreds of Ole Miss students' violent outbreak and the racial epithets after Obama's election?

So, forgive me if I don't buy into the diatribe and feel the need to jump into the syncretism that everyone on the victor's side is clamoring for. The current president-elect has used a long list of words and actions to incite hatred through sexism, racism, bigotry, xenophobia, and misogyny. Not a word of acceptance from him during his running for the office, but overnight after an electoral win, we are supposed to sit and relax, and welcome him with open arms. Everyone cannot be serious? Now that he is going to be president all that has gone away? No more vitriol, no more instigation from the conservative base, everyone must place nice now, because they have said so... 

It is going to be an interesting four years...

I Promise This To You All

I can survive, I am a white heterosexual male, I will survive. I can keep my mouth shut and and nod and smile and laugh when "appropriate" to avoid any confrontation and in any situation. I can easily dress the part, talk the part, have that polish that will allow me to manage in this world. I have always had that advantage, it was given to me upon my birth as an Anglo-saxon with a y chromosome. But that is not who I am.

This is who I am...

I am afraid for my daughter, who is not white and a female. Her world challenge just got a little tougher. Granted she is Asian, which will ease her journey, but the environment we have just decided for her is not a positive one. I am so sorry sweet girl, but Daddy will keep fighting for you.

I am afraid for my son, who is registered in the draft and can be called into service at any time. He is also a recent college grad, who is trying to make his mark in the world. His prospects of solid employment will not improve in the next 4 years (outside of forced military service). He has an empathetic soul and wants to present his art. The dark times ahead will not be good for his dreams and ambitions. I am sorry intelligent son, but Dad will keep fighting for you.

I am afraid for my mother, who dedicated her life to educating others, taught me to care for others, and be kind. She may not have a lot of years left, and those years will now be financially hard. It is currently a struggle to get what she needs on a fixed income, and an underfunded medicare system, this will not improve and will most definitely get worse for her. I am sorry mom, but your son will keep fighting for you.

I am afraid for my friends that have a different skin color, believe in a different religion, practice a different lifestyle. You have just been placed into a very difficult and troubling time. I have always had acute sense that the bigotry, the racism, the sexism, the xenophobia has never really gone away in this country. We have now unleashed this behemoth from the closet, your constitutional rights have just taken the biggest hit of your lives. Everything everyone has worked for is deteriorating right in front of our eyes. I am so sorry, but as your friend I will continue to fight for what is humanly right for everyone.

I PROMISE THIS TO YOU ALL, I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR YOU.

WOW

Just wow.