We've all heard about the tragedy in Newton Connecticut. There are many ideas of what to do to prevent it in the future. All of us want to prevent it from happening again? Or do we?
Read this article:
"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger may be one of the world's biggest action stars but the former governor of California says violence in films is entertainment and should not be linked to tragic events like the Connecticut school shooting in which 20 children died.
The star of films such as "The Terminator," "Predator" and "True Lies" told a press conference before the opening of his new movie, "The Last Stand," on January 18th that "one has to keep (the two) separate."
"(This is) entertainment and the other thing is a tragedy beyond belief. It's really serious and it's the real deal," Schwarzenegger, 65, told reporters.
The actor, who will star in his first leading role in the film since serving as California governor for seven years, said the tragedy in which a gunman killed 20 children and six staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, is about more than just guns.
"We have to analyze how we deal with mental illness, how we deal with gun laws, how we deal with parenting," he said.
In "The Last Stand," Schwarzenegger plays a retired Los Angeles policeman who becomes a border town sheriff who must stop a violent drug lord from crossing the border.
The film, with its violent scenes, is the type of movie that National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre recently cited as a contributing factor to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
But Schwarzenegger said that gun laws and mental health guidance need reform, not Hollywood.
"How can we do better with gun laws?" asked Schwarzenegger. "If there are any loopholes, if there's a problem, let's analyze it ... Are we really dealing with the mental problems the right way as a society?"
In terms of parenting, the former politician alluded to the Connecticut killer Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy, who was also shot and killed by her own son on that tragic day.
"Does a mother need to collect guns and take her little kids shooting?" he asked.
"Everything has to be analyzed; no stone unturned," he added. "I think that's what we owe to our people." (Editing by Patricia Reaney)"
Shocking eh? The "Governator" wants to blame the guns and those with mental health issues. "Everything has to be analyzed.." he said, but NOT violent movies! Wayne LaPierre wants to blame the violent movies as a 'contributing factor,' but not access to weaponry that's meant for war. Neither of them wants to take responsibility for their contribution to the tragedy.
Aren't you tired of the blame game? It's absolutely ridiculous the way we keep pointing the finger at someone else when a serious issue arises. Congress and the president did it (and continue to do it) with fiscal issue. The Governor and Mr. LaPiere are doing it with violence.
It's tiring, sickening, and reminds me of children. Whenever something goes wrong and parents say "who did this?" What do you hear? "Not me! He did it!"
The reality is that if people don't bathe themselves in trash that comes from the screen or the computer - i.e. scenes filled with constant and overwhelming violence - they won't have crazy ideas in their heads. The reality is that if there were no guns, people couldn't get shot.
Sadly, we will always have violent movies and guns. We as a society don't want to ban things because we want freedoms. We want the freedom to express any idea we want - on the internet, in print, in film, in computer games - no matter how vile it is. We also want the freedom to carry guns.
Guess what? Those freedoms come with responsibility! The freedoms also come with negative consequences and tragically in some cases people die. If we insist on having these freedoms, how can we stop the nonsense? Think about it long enough and you will realize that we can't. As long as enough people are willing to pay money to see violence on a screen or in a computer game, someone else will make those movies or games. As long as we feel the need to have guns as citizens, then guns will be available to all - including the 'bad guys.'
So this isn't very good news is it? No. But it's reality. The Governor can quit pointing his finger at the guns and Mr. LaPierre can quit pointing his finger at the movies. They are both contributing factors. They are both here to stay. So Governor, Mr. LaPierre (and all of us), take responsibility for your actions and admit your part in the tragedies that will continue unfold around the world.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Saturday, November 10, 2012
You'd cry too
It was reported this week that after the election, our President cried. Why is that news?
The current speaker of the House, John Boehner, has been crying for 4 years. Other world leaders have been shown crying in recent years.
It shouldn't be news if a leader cries. It shows that they are human.
It IS news when you learn the real reasons WHY a leader is crying.
Consider the last 4 years for our President. He came into to office the first time on a wave supported by the word "change." He was the first black President in our history (an amazing thing that I believe is a good thing in our country). He gave away trillions of dollars. He had at least 3 big reasons NOT to cry.
Over the last 4 years, change hasn't happened in many ways. Unemployment is still very high. People still don't have health insurance. The economy overall is still weak.
However, some things have changed. The debt we owe has grown exponentially. The deficit budgets we've lived under have exploded.
In spite of giving away tons of money, the BIG CHANGE has been in making things WORSE.
So why is the President crying? He's crying because now that a sleeping country decided his plans were good ones and re-elected him, he's actually facing BIG trouble. He's crying because he realizes he can't give away any more money - UNLESS - he taxes the snot out of the rich. Or maybe he's crying because he realizes his original redistribution plan is going to work! It will work that is unless the other crying leader, Boehner, stands up to him and says lets REALLY get this thing under control.
If real change doesn't occur very, very soon. It won't be just our leaders who are crying. The recent relief at the pump will go away, and then some. The ability to get a job will only be possible in another country. The people that we owe money to (i.e. foreign governments) will take us over. The greatest country on earth will become a distant memory in terms of strength and leadership.
With all of that to look forward to, what do we do? I'll tell you what I'm doing. Steadily I'm saving my money and working to pay off the debt I have. I want to be in a position where any financial disaster in our government has minimal impact on my family. I'm also clinging to my God. He is the one who allows men to be in power in the first place. None of this is beyond His control. If He counts hairs on heads and knows when sparrows fall, He certainly knows when a nation will collapse.
Join the President and cry if you must, but be assured that "We know that in all things God work for the good of those that love him." Romans 8:28
The current speaker of the House, John Boehner, has been crying for 4 years. Other world leaders have been shown crying in recent years.
It shouldn't be news if a leader cries. It shows that they are human.
It IS news when you learn the real reasons WHY a leader is crying.
Consider the last 4 years for our President. He came into to office the first time on a wave supported by the word "change." He was the first black President in our history (an amazing thing that I believe is a good thing in our country). He gave away trillions of dollars. He had at least 3 big reasons NOT to cry.
Over the last 4 years, change hasn't happened in many ways. Unemployment is still very high. People still don't have health insurance. The economy overall is still weak.
However, some things have changed. The debt we owe has grown exponentially. The deficit budgets we've lived under have exploded.
In spite of giving away tons of money, the BIG CHANGE has been in making things WORSE.
So why is the President crying? He's crying because now that a sleeping country decided his plans were good ones and re-elected him, he's actually facing BIG trouble. He's crying because he realizes he can't give away any more money - UNLESS - he taxes the snot out of the rich. Or maybe he's crying because he realizes his original redistribution plan is going to work! It will work that is unless the other crying leader, Boehner, stands up to him and says lets REALLY get this thing under control.
If real change doesn't occur very, very soon. It won't be just our leaders who are crying. The recent relief at the pump will go away, and then some. The ability to get a job will only be possible in another country. The people that we owe money to (i.e. foreign governments) will take us over. The greatest country on earth will become a distant memory in terms of strength and leadership.
With all of that to look forward to, what do we do? I'll tell you what I'm doing. Steadily I'm saving my money and working to pay off the debt I have. I want to be in a position where any financial disaster in our government has minimal impact on my family. I'm also clinging to my God. He is the one who allows men to be in power in the first place. None of this is beyond His control. If He counts hairs on heads and knows when sparrows fall, He certainly knows when a nation will collapse.
Join the President and cry if you must, but be assured that "We know that in all things God work for the good of those that love him." Romans 8:28
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Respecting Referees
As parents, we try desperately to teach our kids the right things - eat your vegetables, don't play with matches, look both ways before crossing the street, and respect the officials at the game. Huh? respect the officials? Yes, in youth sports, we talk to the kids about respecting the officials. Over and over and over I've heard the coaches say "don't argue with the refs."
Flip the page to the NFL in 2012. They are using replacement officials and there has been a lot of frustration surrounding them - blown calls, not following some of the rules, etc. Teams are in an uproar because they feel they were "cheated" out of a victory. The most notable is the Green Bay Packers loss to the Seattle Seahawks on September 24th on the last play of the game. After repeated reviewing by all of us, the official blew a call and it cost the Packers the game.
People are yelling - literally and via social media about "those terrible replacement officials." Some have used language that I won't repeat, others have ranted and still others have been just plain mean.
How then do we reconcile the mixed messages we send our kids? "Son, when you play sports, always respect the officials." With "When I watch the BIG game, I reserve the right to curse, berate, smear, and just plain hate the officials."
Let me offer some perspective.
Once upon a time, I was much more opinionated about my sports teams and the officiating at the games. I've been guilty of yelling (but not cursing) at officials for a bad call during a contest. It's not something I'm particularly proud of, but nevertheless it has happened.
Over the years, I've learned a thing or two from others and have changed my perspective on what officials bring to any sporting contest. The first thing I learned sometime ago from an article that pointed out at the end of a contest, the official goes home to his or her family. That article talked about the family members of the official sitting in the stands and being mortified as spectators used language for their loved one that no one would use on their dog! That article opened my eyes to their humanity and started to change the way I viewed officials at a contest.
The second thing I learned was from a coach that my older boys had. She has said for years, "If they didn't call it, it didn't happen." In other words, you can't change what the official did or didn't see so get over it. This taught me that the officials deserve respect, even when they are wrong.
A blown call is horribly frustrating. Ask Armondo Galarraga who lost a bid to have a perfect game for the Detroit Tigers in 2010 by a blown call from umpire Jim Joyce. Here's what the umpire said after the game, "It was the biggest call of my career," an emotional Joyce told reporters, "and I kicked it. I just cost that kid a perfect game." A perfect game is nearly impossible to complete and this one was taken by a human error.
As frustrated as he was, here's what Armondo said, "I feel terrible. I don't know why life works this way, but sometimes life just isn't fair for people. He's a good umpire."
Fast forward to August 2012. That same umpire with whatever names people wanted to call him in 2010 after the blown call, made the right call and literally saved a woman's life. From Yahoo Sports.com "Joyce, a 24-year veteran of the major leagues, used CPR to help save the life of a woman having a seizure. The woman, a game-day employee of the Arizona Diamondbacks named Jayne Powers, who joined the organization on its first day of existence in 1998, is said to be "doing well" Tuesday. But if Joyce had not stepped forward, who knows if she would have made it?"
I'm pretty confident that Jayne Powers is thankful that umpire Jim Joyce "made the right call" and didn't quit umpiring the day he made a mistake. If he had, maybe she wouldn't be here.
Officials make mistakes, but don't we all? Have you ever yelled at your kids when it wasn't their fault? Have you ever been speeding and didn't get a ticket? How about running a red light? The list goes on to infinity.
The tough part is that an official's job is magnified a thousand times by instant replay with cameras at almost every angle. The human official gets seconds (if that) to make a decision. The rest of us get to watch the play for as long and as slow as we want and then make our decision. How many of us could get all of the calls right with only seconds to watch the play and make a decision?
What are we going to do? Are we going to follow our own advice to the kids and respect the officials? Or are we going to curse, berate, and shout at "those blankety-blank officials until they see it our way?
Flip the page to the NFL in 2012. They are using replacement officials and there has been a lot of frustration surrounding them - blown calls, not following some of the rules, etc. Teams are in an uproar because they feel they were "cheated" out of a victory. The most notable is the Green Bay Packers loss to the Seattle Seahawks on September 24th on the last play of the game. After repeated reviewing by all of us, the official blew a call and it cost the Packers the game.
People are yelling - literally and via social media about "those terrible replacement officials." Some have used language that I won't repeat, others have ranted and still others have been just plain mean.
How then do we reconcile the mixed messages we send our kids? "Son, when you play sports, always respect the officials." With "When I watch the BIG game, I reserve the right to curse, berate, smear, and just plain hate the officials."
Let me offer some perspective.
Once upon a time, I was much more opinionated about my sports teams and the officiating at the games. I've been guilty of yelling (but not cursing) at officials for a bad call during a contest. It's not something I'm particularly proud of, but nevertheless it has happened.
Over the years, I've learned a thing or two from others and have changed my perspective on what officials bring to any sporting contest. The first thing I learned sometime ago from an article that pointed out at the end of a contest, the official goes home to his or her family. That article talked about the family members of the official sitting in the stands and being mortified as spectators used language for their loved one that no one would use on their dog! That article opened my eyes to their humanity and started to change the way I viewed officials at a contest.
The second thing I learned was from a coach that my older boys had. She has said for years, "If they didn't call it, it didn't happen." In other words, you can't change what the official did or didn't see so get over it. This taught me that the officials deserve respect, even when they are wrong.
A blown call is horribly frustrating. Ask Armondo Galarraga who lost a bid to have a perfect game for the Detroit Tigers in 2010 by a blown call from umpire Jim Joyce. Here's what the umpire said after the game, "It was the biggest call of my career," an emotional Joyce told reporters, "and I kicked it. I just cost that kid a perfect game." A perfect game is nearly impossible to complete and this one was taken by a human error.
As frustrated as he was, here's what Armondo said, "I feel terrible. I don't know why life works this way, but sometimes life just isn't fair for people. He's a good umpire."
Fast forward to August 2012. That same umpire with whatever names people wanted to call him in 2010 after the blown call, made the right call and literally saved a woman's life. From Yahoo Sports.com "Joyce, a 24-year veteran of the major leagues, used CPR to help save the life of a woman having a seizure. The woman, a game-day employee of the Arizona Diamondbacks named Jayne Powers, who joined the organization on its first day of existence in 1998, is said to be "doing well" Tuesday. But if Joyce had not stepped forward, who knows if she would have made it?"
I'm pretty confident that Jayne Powers is thankful that umpire Jim Joyce "made the right call" and didn't quit umpiring the day he made a mistake. If he had, maybe she wouldn't be here.
Officials make mistakes, but don't we all? Have you ever yelled at your kids when it wasn't their fault? Have you ever been speeding and didn't get a ticket? How about running a red light? The list goes on to infinity.
The tough part is that an official's job is magnified a thousand times by instant replay with cameras at almost every angle. The human official gets seconds (if that) to make a decision. The rest of us get to watch the play for as long and as slow as we want and then make our decision. How many of us could get all of the calls right with only seconds to watch the play and make a decision?
What are we going to do? Are we going to follow our own advice to the kids and respect the officials? Or are we going to curse, berate, and shout at "those blankety-blank officials until they see it our way?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
"I've wanted this all of my life"
As a family, we watch TV so infrequently, because there's very little that doesn't annoy us or assault our morality in one way or another. We have, however, been fairly faithful in watching "America's Got Talent" or AGT to those of us "in the know." It's a reality type show that's actually worth watching. The acts vary from really, really awful (think a guy getting kicked repeatedly in his private area) to amazing - a guy whose creates and plays instruments that can only be described by seeing them.
Week after week, the show works to eliminate some of the acts with the ultimate goal of having one act named the winner. Week after week we hear various reasons of why an act should be voted for. I'm not against any act saying that they are "the best" or "we've worked so hard," or "I want this so much." What I find somewhat annoying is a 14, 15, or 16 year old who says "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me."
This is annoying because when they say "I've wanted this all of my life," 14-16 years isn't really long enough to develop a serious want for a majority of kids in this country. Up to this point, mommy and daddy have been providing 3 squares, some sheets, a blanket and a bunk, along with a wardrobe that would cover an entire village in the poorest of cities and countries. In other words, they lack nothing and haven't been without any of the basic necessities needed to survive.
Furthermore by the age of 16 most kids barely know who they are. Most of them are trying to fit in at school, keep the zit count down to 3 or less or figure out if their best friend from last week still likes them.
Finally, by this age, they haven't been on the planet long enough to develop a serious passion in order for something to "mean the world to me." Passion comes from a deep, deep longing that is really only discovered after several very high and/or low life experiences and definitely comes after they have figured out a few things about who they are.
To be fair, I'm sure they really want to win the contest, but to say "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me" is simply naive, immature and annoying.
By all means, enjoy your performances kids, but go home, live life a little bit and discover what it really means when you say "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me."
Week after week, the show works to eliminate some of the acts with the ultimate goal of having one act named the winner. Week after week we hear various reasons of why an act should be voted for. I'm not against any act saying that they are "the best" or "we've worked so hard," or "I want this so much." What I find somewhat annoying is a 14, 15, or 16 year old who says "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me."
This is annoying because when they say "I've wanted this all of my life," 14-16 years isn't really long enough to develop a serious want for a majority of kids in this country. Up to this point, mommy and daddy have been providing 3 squares, some sheets, a blanket and a bunk, along with a wardrobe that would cover an entire village in the poorest of cities and countries. In other words, they lack nothing and haven't been without any of the basic necessities needed to survive.
Furthermore by the age of 16 most kids barely know who they are. Most of them are trying to fit in at school, keep the zit count down to 3 or less or figure out if their best friend from last week still likes them.
Finally, by this age, they haven't been on the planet long enough to develop a serious passion in order for something to "mean the world to me." Passion comes from a deep, deep longing that is really only discovered after several very high and/or low life experiences and definitely comes after they have figured out a few things about who they are.
To be fair, I'm sure they really want to win the contest, but to say "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me" is simply naive, immature and annoying.
By all means, enjoy your performances kids, but go home, live life a little bit and discover what it really means when you say "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me."
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Matt Man Epilogue
In most of the good shows on TV (there's really only 3), there's the "rest of the story" or an epilogue.
For our brave son, his epilogue involves winning the "tube game," going to Subway and then having some possible ongoing issues.
Yesterday (Monday the 9th), Matt went to see the doctor that did his surgery. He was pleased with the healing of Matt's incisions and gave Matt the "all clear" from a surgery standpoint. Matt was told he would be able to have his NG tube out and he pumped his fists with excitement. He is now officially "tubeless."
After the appointment, we headed to Subway to give Matt a chance to eat without any extra things in his way. He was happy to have the tube out and would likely have eaten just about anything.
His mood improved right away and the rest of the day was spent talking, singing, or eating without being annoyed by the tube.
As a result of the surgery, Matt came home with some equipment. He has oxygen and a "pulse-ox" or oximeter to measure his oxygen levels and his heart rate. Last night, we heard the alarm on the machine beeping several times. I investigated and discovered that his heart rate was dropping below the alarm setting of 50. Matt was awakened by the alarm so I'm not sure it was a concern, but we have called the cardiologist to see if we should do something more.
Stayed tuned (can you really be "tuned" to a blog?) for more riveting posts from the never dull, and always crazy Price clan.
For our brave son, his epilogue involves winning the "tube game," going to Subway and then having some possible ongoing issues.
Yesterday (Monday the 9th), Matt went to see the doctor that did his surgery. He was pleased with the healing of Matt's incisions and gave Matt the "all clear" from a surgery standpoint. Matt was told he would be able to have his NG tube out and he pumped his fists with excitement. He is now officially "tubeless."
After the appointment, we headed to Subway to give Matt a chance to eat without any extra things in his way. He was happy to have the tube out and would likely have eaten just about anything.
His mood improved right away and the rest of the day was spent talking, singing, or eating without being annoyed by the tube.
As a result of the surgery, Matt came home with some equipment. He has oxygen and a "pulse-ox" or oximeter to measure his oxygen levels and his heart rate. Last night, we heard the alarm on the machine beeping several times. I investigated and discovered that his heart rate was dropping below the alarm setting of 50. Matt was awakened by the alarm so I'm not sure it was a concern, but we have called the cardiologist to see if we should do something more.
Stayed tuned (can you really be "tuned" to a blog?) for more riveting posts from the never dull, and always crazy Price clan.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Matt Man IX
I wanted to title this post, "Matt Man The Final Chapter" but thought many might be concerned that something bad happened to him.
It is our day of freedom at last! We got out of the hospital, but not before a frustrating time getting a tube back in for feeding. He was not a happy camper during the procedure.
He's home now and obviously feeling better. He's playing air guitar as he listens to music.
I managed to get all of the vendors to come to our house (they had our neighbors address for some reason) and of course they showed up at the same time!
But now we are settling in and trying out our temporary "new normal." We have some of the hospital equipment here - suction, pulse oximeter, oxygen, and feeding supplies. Hopefully we can wean off of the feeding supplies as he eats more.
Thanks again for thoughts, prayers, visits, phone calls, and well wishes. It is greatly appreciated.
It is our day of freedom at last! We got out of the hospital, but not before a frustrating time getting a tube back in for feeding. He was not a happy camper during the procedure.
He's home now and obviously feeling better. He's playing air guitar as he listens to music.
I managed to get all of the vendors to come to our house (they had our neighbors address for some reason) and of course they showed up at the same time!
But now we are settling in and trying out our temporary "new normal." We have some of the hospital equipment here - suction, pulse oximeter, oxygen, and feeding supplies. Hopefully we can wean off of the feeding supplies as he eats more.
Thanks again for thoughts, prayers, visits, phone calls, and well wishes. It is greatly appreciated.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Matt Man VIII
Happy 4th of July!
We are hoping for our freedom today! The plan is to go home today if we can get everything lined up. We need some supplies and equipment and hopefully they can be delivered on the holiday.
Matt had a pretty good night. He slept fairly well and his nurse was wise enough to know that some things don't need to be done any more - like vital signs every 2 hours - and just let him sleep.
Unfortunately at 5:30 a.m. Matt decided he didn't need his NG tube any more and pulled it out! Now we have to wait for speech to evaluate him again to see if he can eat by mouth otherwise he will need to have the tube placed again. Either way, I'm still pushing to go home. We can manage what he has now inside our own 4 walls.
Matt's had some great visitors that have boosted his spirits and encouraged me. Thanks to all who could come and to all who are here in spirit. When we have support like this, it makes the journey easier.
Update: we are not going home today. It's been a day of ups and downs. He had a shower and was up in a chair and ate some applesauce and pudding! And then we tried to have the NG tube replaced in the room, but that failed. We can not get the radiology team to assist with the NG placement so we have to stay one more day. :(
On a completely non-Matt related note - if you are a MN Wild fan, the next season looks very promising!! The Wild signed the two most prized free-agents on the market. That means the Wild WILL be competitive and the hockey will be exciting! As a great fan of hockey, this news got me excited on an otherwise frustrating day.
We are hoping for our freedom today! The plan is to go home today if we can get everything lined up. We need some supplies and equipment and hopefully they can be delivered on the holiday.
Matt had a pretty good night. He slept fairly well and his nurse was wise enough to know that some things don't need to be done any more - like vital signs every 2 hours - and just let him sleep.
Unfortunately at 5:30 a.m. Matt decided he didn't need his NG tube any more and pulled it out! Now we have to wait for speech to evaluate him again to see if he can eat by mouth otherwise he will need to have the tube placed again. Either way, I'm still pushing to go home. We can manage what he has now inside our own 4 walls.
Matt's had some great visitors that have boosted his spirits and encouraged me. Thanks to all who could come and to all who are here in spirit. When we have support like this, it makes the journey easier.
Update: we are not going home today. It's been a day of ups and downs. He had a shower and was up in a chair and ate some applesauce and pudding! And then we tried to have the NG tube replaced in the room, but that failed. We can not get the radiology team to assist with the NG placement so we have to stay one more day. :(
On a completely non-Matt related note - if you are a MN Wild fan, the next season looks very promising!! The Wild signed the two most prized free-agents on the market. That means the Wild WILL be competitive and the hockey will be exciting! As a great fan of hockey, this news got me excited on an otherwise frustrating day.
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