As a supposedly Christian country, why are we so cruel and judgmental towards the poor? Isn't this the exact opposite of what Jesus preached?
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2016
Friday, January 8, 2016
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Facebook Gun "Facts" Fact Checked
Facebook can be a wonderful thing. I have connected with family members I've never met, and found old friends. It is also a microcosm of our culture.
Memes about every thing popular and every political issue flood the pages daily. With the frequency of mass murders rising the "facts" about guns have been flooding my page. I decided to do a little fact checking on some of the most common Facebook posts.
For the record, I am a gun owner in favor of sensible gun laws.
Which group of children, rural or urban, are more likely to die from gunshots?
Do the majority of Americans own guns?
Did Hitler ban guns in Germany?
Does President Obama's gun control plan mandate registration of all guns or confiscation of them?
Is crime down in states with conceal-carry or open carry laws?
Do states with that allow conceal-carry have lower crime rates then states that don't?
Is the U.K. violent crime rate 4 times higher than the U.S. crime rate?
Do gun sales pay the NRA leaders' salaries?
Did a virulent anti-gun senator shoot an intruder?
Remember - just because it's on the internet doesn't make it true.
Memes about every thing popular and every political issue flood the pages daily. With the frequency of mass murders rising the "facts" about guns have been flooding my page. I decided to do a little fact checking on some of the most common Facebook posts.
For the record, I am a gun owner in favor of sensible gun laws.
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| Autor: Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd |
- According to a study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children (defined as ages 0-19) in rural and urban areas are equally as likely to die by gunshot, with rates of 4 per 100,000 deaths and 4.6 deaths per 100,000, respectively.
Do the majority of Americans own guns?
- No, in fact most studies (here and here) are showing fewer Americans own guns than in the past. It is true that there are many more guns, but they are concentrated in the minority of Americans who own guns.
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| Chart compiled by FactCheck.org |
Did Hitler ban guns in Germany?
- Hitler actually liberalized gun laws when he came to power, allowing more citizens to own guns. In 1919, after World War I, guns were banned by the German government. In 1928 the "Law on Firearms and Ammunition" was passed. Germans were now allowed to own, transport, sell and manufacture guns if they had a permit, but this was strictly regulated. Hitler and the Nazi party took complete control of the German government in 1933.
- The 1938 German gun law supported by Hitler actually expanded ownership to more German citizens by erasing the restrictions on all shotguns and rifles. Handguns still needed a permit to be bought or carried. The law allowed many more citizens to own guns than in the previous 19 years. If a citizen had a hunting permit, they were now allowed to carry a handgun. It lowered the gun ownership age from 20 to 18, and it expanded the life of a permit from one year to three years. In 1938, Hitler banned firearm ownership or manufacturing by Jews and other "undesirables". When Germany invaded a country, the citizens were ordered to turn over all weapons, as would be expected by an occupying army.
Does President Obama's gun control plan mandate registration of all guns or confiscation of them?
- No. The president's plan calls for a mandatory background check on gun purchases. All information obtained by this check is required by law to be destroyed.
- Chicago's laws are similar to other major cities. The Chicago gun ban was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2010.
Is crime down in states with conceal-carry or open carry laws?
- Yes. It is also down in states without conceal-carry laws.
Do states with that allow conceal-carry have lower crime rates then states that don't?
- No. One study that found a positive correlation between the two, the John Lott study, has been widely discredited. No other study has been able to replicate the results and in fact show no correlation between carrying guns and lower crime rates..
Is the U.K. violent crime rate 4 times higher than the U.S. crime rate?
- Since the U.K. includes simple assault, all sexual offenses and other crimes in its tabulation of violent crime that the U.S. doesn't include, it is not possible to compare the two.
Do gun sales pay the NRA leaders' salaries?
- No.The NRA does has a program with participating stores which lets a gun owner decide if he/she wants to "round up" the final price of a gun. This money goes to the NRA as a fundraiser. It is strictly voluntary.
Did a virulent anti-gun senator shoot an intruder?
- Yes and no. The senator in question, Senator Soles of NC, did shoot an intruder. He was not anti-gun, though. He had previously received grades of A's and B's from the NRA.
Remember - just because it's on the internet doesn't make it true.
The differences in liberal and conservative brains
Is political affiliation determined by biology?
Since humans first walked upright, we have been disagreeing on how to hunt, how to raise our children, and who should be the tribal chieftain. The answer to how we identify with different political ideologies and different religious beliefs may be literally in our heads.
New scientific studies using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) brain scans reveal much of what we think is important politically may be greatly influenced by the physiology of our brains. Using these fMRI brain scans and observing what areas of the brain people used during stressful tests, researchers were able to predict what a person's political affiliation was with 71% accuracy.
With the new scientific discoveries, we may be some day be able to understand why some people seem to be ruled by fear, why some people seem to lack compassion for others, and why we all just can't seem to get along.
Remember, these people in these studies were self-identified as conservative and liberal, not Democratic or Republican. Not all conservatives are Republicans, and not all Liberals are Democrats.
How does the amygdala influence political ideology?
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| The shaded area is the amygdala. It is part of the social brain which regulates fear |
The amygdala consists of two almond shaped regions in each hemisphere of the brain. (Amygdala is Latin for almond.) The left amygdala is associated with cognitive thinking and the right amygdala is linked to a persons perceptions of fear and pleasure. The size of the amygdala is directly proportional to the amount of aggression in animals and humans. The larger the right amygdala, the more aggressive an individual is.
Scientists studying the brain found people who identified themselves as conservatives had a larger amygdala on the right side, the area of the brain which is associated with disgust and susceptibility to fear.
According to researcher Kanai of the Kanai/Colin Firth study (Political Orientations Are Correlated with Brain Structure in Young Adults, 2011), "Conservatives respond to threatening situations with more aggression than do liberals and are more sensitive to threatening facial expressions..."
Does size matter? (The amygdala's size, that is.)
Rose McDermott is one of the people who researched the link between a person's fear level and his political beliefs. The study revealed that people who identified themselves as more conservative tended to be more fearful and less tolerant of people who were of another race. They were also more tolerant of inequality, and reacted with more emotion when exposed to threatening pictures.
McDermott clarifies, "It's not that conservative people are more fearful, it's that fearful people are more conservative."
Is the larger size of the amygdala in self-identified conservatives responsible for this greater fear and xenophobia?
Which came first, the fear or the enlarged amygdala?
One researcher at the University of Exeter in the U.K,, Darren Schreiber believes that the size of one's amygdala may be related to one's life experiences. That is, experiencing fear and traumatic experiences may increase the size of the amygdala. If that is the case, having a larger amygdala may be the result of a person being fearful through some part of his life, probably childhood or young adulthood. The enlarged amygdala may be the symptom, not the cause.
If, on the other hand, the size of a person's amygdala is determined at birth, that means that life experiences and education will probably not affect a person's level of fear perception.
The exaggerated level of imagined threats may be why conservatives are big on defense, anti-immigration, anti-gun control, and anti-gay rights. Conservatives may see the world as a scary, threatening place, liberals not so much.
What influence does gray matter have on the thought processes?
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| Sagittal MRI slice with highlighting indicating the location of the anterior cingulate cortex. Liberals have more gray matter.
Source: Geoff B Hal
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The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is one of the four main divisions of the cingulate cortex. The ACC performs many functions from regulating heart rate and blood pressure to regulating our conscious decisions regarding decision making, empathy, impulse control, and reward anticipation. During times of stress, the ACC regulates how much emotional arousal a person exhibits.
People who suffer from schizophrenia have abnormally functioning ACCs, and are unable to process the "importance" of information received by the brain. When all information is treated as equally important, rational thinking is impaired. Psychopaths in general have abnormally small ACCs.
During the fMRI study, participants who identified themselves as liberals had more gray matter in the ACC. It is theorized that the greater size of the ACC helps the individual to make calmer, more rational decisions in chaotic situations, and to be less aggressive. The liberals were more flexible and able to adapt when confronted with change in the experiments.
So, what does this all mean?
By analyzing the data, we can theorize that liberals are more likely to accept analytical data and scientific proof, and to reason problems out. Conservatives are more emotion based and more resistant to change, seemingly unshakeable in their beliefs.
Much more research is needed before we know if our political beliefs are formed early in our life, or if it is a physiological based ideology which cannot be changed. What scientists do know is that are brains change even tiny bits every time we do something active, be it thinking, reading, reading or exercising.
Is this why liberals tend to be more educated then their conservative counterparts? Or does education make people more liberal? Can a conservative's belief in a strict definition of morality and patriotism be related to their upbringings? With the advance of imaging machines which allow us to "peek" inside people's heads, we may someday know the answer.
Much more research is needed before we know if our political beliefs are formed early in our life, or if it is a physiological based ideology which cannot be changed. What scientists do know is that are brains change even tiny bits every time we do something active, be it thinking, reading, reading or exercising.
Is this why liberals tend to be more educated then their conservative counterparts? Or does education make people more liberal? Can a conservative's belief in a strict definition of morality and patriotism be related to their upbringings? With the advance of imaging machines which allow us to "peek" inside people's heads, we may someday know the answer.
Interesting Links
- The Surprising Brain Differences Between Democrats and Republicans | Mother JonesTwo new studies further support the theory that our political decision making could have a neurological basis.
- Conservatives Know What Is Best For You!
- Neurocognitive Correlates of Liberalism and Conservatism, 2007
Do ultra - conservatives value beauty over brains?
Hillary Needs a Facelift?
Won't it be nice when the time comes when women won't be judged on their appearance, but on their abilities and accomplishments.
Hillary Clinton, our former Secretary of State, is still judged by her attractiveness even though she is an accomplished stateswoman.
During this year's CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) convention, a neanderthal interrupted Paul Begala, a CNN contributor and invited speaker. Begala had the perfect comeback when the man suggested Hillary Clinton get "a facelift". Begala quipped, "No, not get a facelift. She's not a Republican society lady, she's a real woman."
The "get a facelift" comment was very telling about what conservatives value in women. It didn't matter that Hillary is much admired in the US and around the world; she is aging, so her value as a woman is diminishing in the eyes of many conservatives.
Hillary Clinton, our former Secretary of State, is still judged by her attractiveness even though she is an accomplished stateswoman.
During this year's CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) convention, a neanderthal interrupted Paul Begala, a CNN contributor and invited speaker. Begala had the perfect comeback when the man suggested Hillary Clinton get "a facelift". Begala quipped, "No, not get a facelift. She's not a Republican society lady, she's a real woman."
The "get a facelift" comment was very telling about what conservatives value in women. It didn't matter that Hillary is much admired in the US and around the world; she is aging, so her value as a woman is diminishing in the eyes of many conservatives.
What Conservatives Seem to Value in Women
If you watch Fox News it doesn't take long to notice that conservatives value sexiness in their female counterparts.
Fox News has educated, well-spoken women commentators, and almost all wear short tight skirts and clingy shirts. There is nothing wrong with a woman being attractive and competent, but don't most women - excluding strippers and prostitutes - want to be recognized more for their abilities, not their bodies?
Really, how seriously would we take CNN if the male anchors were all chosen because they were hunky and wore tight pants and shirts? I personally would like to look at the men, but I couldn't take CNN's message seriously when they had to resort to sexiness over substance.
A Fox News Viewer's Opinion
I ran across this comment on Right Speak.com. Even some conservative women are questioning the women's appearance.
"As I've said before, I get irritated by the way women are portrayed on FOX. It seems like a channel for dirty old geezers to me. Otherwise they would not gussy up their women like Barbie Dolls. The thing is, they are all very attractive, without having to show so much skin, and without the gallons of make-up. It really diminishes them, IMO. It's hard to take them seriously. Not only that, most look like they are about 25 years old. What is up with that?!"
Fox News has educated, well-spoken women commentators, and almost all wear short tight skirts and clingy shirts. There is nothing wrong with a woman being attractive and competent, but don't most women - excluding strippers and prostitutes - want to be recognized more for their abilities, not their bodies?
Really, how seriously would we take CNN if the male anchors were all chosen because they were hunky and wore tight pants and shirts? I personally would like to look at the men, but I couldn't take CNN's message seriously when they had to resort to sexiness over substance.
A Fox News Viewer's Opinion
I ran across this comment on Right Speak.com. Even some conservative women are questioning the women's appearance.
"As I've said before, I get irritated by the way women are portrayed on FOX. It seems like a channel for dirty old geezers to me. Otherwise they would not gussy up their women like Barbie Dolls. The thing is, they are all very attractive, without having to show so much skin, and without the gallons of make-up. It really diminishes them, IMO. It's hard to take them seriously. Not only that, most look like they are about 25 years old. What is up with that?!"
Women Conservatives Adore
Conservatives adore Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin. They are both strong women who have worked hard in their private lives. But would they have accomplished as much as they have if they didn't wear so much makeup and wear heels all the time? They seem to be the queens of silly soundbites, fearmongering, and "everybody picks on conservatives" whining.
Dan Quayle's political career was over after a few stupid political gaffes. But in conservative circles, Bachmann and Palin seem to be above their own outrageous gaffes. I know more than a few conservative men who adore these women because they are "hot." Funny, they never talk about how smart or capable Palin and Bachmann are.
Dan Quayle's political career was over after a few stupid political gaffes. But in conservative circles, Bachmann and Palin seem to be above their own outrageous gaffes. I know more than a few conservative men who adore these women because they are "hot." Funny, they never talk about how smart or capable Palin and Bachmann are.
Sex and Conservatives
All this conservative emphasis on sexiness makes me wonder why conservatives are so hung up on it. The women are supposed to be sexy and feminine, but not actual sexual beings. A woman can be eye candy to a man, but may not engage in sexual activity until marriage. Doesn't that make a woman a tease?
If a woman chooses to have sex she is a slut. If she gets pregnant, it is all her fault because she was a slut. But we will have to save sex and conservatives until another day, lest this short article becomes a 10,000 word essay
If a woman chooses to have sex she is a slut. If she gets pregnant, it is all her fault because she was a slut. But we will have to save sex and conservatives until another day, lest this short article becomes a 10,000 word essay
Hillary has Earned Her Wrinkles
It is time to value our female politicians on their abilities and brains - not just on how sexy they look in heels. I see the objectification of women as sex objects the rule for conservatives. Hopefully, some day they can have their own Hillary Clinton to admire.
Hillary may have earned her wrinkles in different ways than most women - Lord knows I'm sure Bill gave her many - but she wears them well, and she wears them proudly. We all should be accepting of the body that time, and life, has given us. Let us be real women, not plastic society women grasping at a lost youth.
Hillary may have earned her wrinkles in different ways than most women - Lord knows I'm sure Bill gave her many - but she wears them well, and she wears them proudly. We all should be accepting of the body that time, and life, has given us. Let us be real women, not plastic society women grasping at a lost youth.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Hillary Clinton IS a real woman
My 49th birthday had just recently passed, and I looked - really looked - at myself harder than I have in a long time. I wondered what a little nip and tuck could do for my appearance.
The next day Paul Begala, a CNN contributor, had the perfect comeback to a CPAC audience member who suggested Hillary Clinton get "a facelift". He quipped, "No, not get a facelift. She's not a Republican society lady, she's a real woman." This led me to reflect on my own musings about plastic surgery. I have decided that, like Hillary, I have earned every wrinkle and sag of my skin, every ache in my joints. I, too, am a real woman.
Those little lines around my mouth? Some are from frowning when one of my children was hurt. Some are from pursing my lips when I was old enough to know when to keep my mouth shut. But most of the wrinkles are from smiling. Smiling with pride when my children first walked, first talked; when they brought me dandelions and other "flowers." Smiling when they started school and graduated school.
The ache in my hip joints? That is from joyfully jumping from the barn loft into hay as a child; marching and running in the Marine Corps; carrying my children, first in my belly, then on my hip. They ache from a life of work, and a life of play.
The age spots on my skin? Some come from the hours I rode horseback as a young girl. Some are from working outdoors in the hot North Carolina sun; some are from lying on the beach watching my children splash in the surf. Some are from sitting on my deck and enjoying the beauty of nature around me. Every age spot is a different memory.
Hillary may have earned her wrinkles in different ways - Lord knows I'm sure Bill gave her many - but she wears them well, and she wears them proudly. We all should be accepting of the body that time, and life, has given us. Let us be real women, not plastic society women grasping at a lost youth.
The next day Paul Begala, a CNN contributor, had the perfect comeback to a CPAC audience member who suggested Hillary Clinton get "a facelift". He quipped, "No, not get a facelift. She's not a Republican society lady, she's a real woman." This led me to reflect on my own musings about plastic surgery. I have decided that, like Hillary, I have earned every wrinkle and sag of my skin, every ache in my joints. I, too, am a real woman.
Those little lines around my mouth? Some are from frowning when one of my children was hurt. Some are from pursing my lips when I was old enough to know when to keep my mouth shut. But most of the wrinkles are from smiling. Smiling with pride when my children first walked, first talked; when they brought me dandelions and other "flowers." Smiling when they started school and graduated school.
The ache in my hip joints? That is from joyfully jumping from the barn loft into hay as a child; marching and running in the Marine Corps; carrying my children, first in my belly, then on my hip. They ache from a life of work, and a life of play.
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| Author as a Marine |
The age spots on my skin? Some come from the hours I rode horseback as a young girl. Some are from working outdoors in the hot North Carolina sun; some are from lying on the beach watching my children splash in the surf. Some are from sitting on my deck and enjoying the beauty of nature around me. Every age spot is a different memory.
Hillary may have earned her wrinkles in different ways - Lord knows I'm sure Bill gave her many - but she wears them well, and she wears them proudly. We all should be accepting of the body that time, and life, has given us. Let us be real women, not plastic society women grasping at a lost youth.
Conservative logic in North Dakota
In addition to my regular job, I also write for my hometown newspaper. One of my assignments is to cover the government meetings.
One of the duties of one particular group of elected officials is to hire people for the county road crew. There was upheaval this past year - the county employees did not like being on salary. They wanted to be paid for all the hours they worked so they could receive overtime pay. The elected officials gave in and decided to pay the workers by the hour.
Trouble started when seasoned employees found out they were being paid less then people who had been hired more recently. One employee asked for a raise equal to what a new hire was given - $14.00 an hour.
I was in attendance at the meeting when this employee's request was considered. The elected officials were angry that the employee was asking for a raise. One official recalled a former employee who would work from sunup to sundown for 60 cents an hour. Another said that if they raised the employees salary then next month he would be asking for $15 an hour.
The employee did not get his raise and resigned.
What did the officials do? They hired a new employee with no experience at the rate of $15 an hour.
Why? Because they were outraged that someone would ask for a raise. How dare the employee not be grateful for the job? He must be a union agitator!!! We will show him!
Yeah. They showed him........... and the taxpayers will pay.
One of the duties of one particular group of elected officials is to hire people for the county road crew. There was upheaval this past year - the county employees did not like being on salary. They wanted to be paid for all the hours they worked so they could receive overtime pay. The elected officials gave in and decided to pay the workers by the hour.
Trouble started when seasoned employees found out they were being paid less then people who had been hired more recently. One employee asked for a raise equal to what a new hire was given - $14.00 an hour.
I was in attendance at the meeting when this employee's request was considered. The elected officials were angry that the employee was asking for a raise. One official recalled a former employee who would work from sunup to sundown for 60 cents an hour. Another said that if they raised the employees salary then next month he would be asking for $15 an hour.
The employee did not get his raise and resigned.
What did the officials do? They hired a new employee with no experience at the rate of $15 an hour.
Why? Because they were outraged that someone would ask for a raise. How dare the employee not be grateful for the job? He must be a union agitator!!! We will show him!
Yeah. They showed him........... and the taxpayers will pay.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Top Conspiracy Theories of 2012
I am amused, and yes, a little alarmed by the crazy conspiracy theories that proliferate on the internet. I am a healthy skeptic. I like to fact check and keep informed, and I don't take a politician's statements at face value. This makes me wonder, what kind of person can possibly be so gullible? As P.T Barnum allegedly said, "There's a sucker born very minute."
The list is in no particular order. The embedded links are to sites with more rational views on the "facts" used by the "alternate reality" sites.
1. Benghazi, the massive cover-up. Started in part by a less-than-forthcoming preliminary CIA memo, this conspiracy, fueled on by rumors and speculations by the right-wing media, grew to include: President Obama watching the attack happen live, and the president ordering the rescue teams to stand down.
2. Obama to declare himself Supreme Dictator: This involves the lie that Obama has issued more executive orders than any other president in history. According to the theorists, he is going to issue even more executive orders, disbanding Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. Then he will declare himself "dictator for life."
3. The Department of Homeland Security readies for Armageddon: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bought up to, depending on the conspiracy theorists source, 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition in 2012. DHS obviously plans to suppress a revolt of the American people when Obama declares himself dictator. The DHS did buy ammunition, but not for the above nefarious purpose.
4. A UN treaty gun grab: Drawn up by the UN, a world-wide treaty was meant to keep arms out of the hands of terrorists, not private citizens. The treaty created great fear among some gun manufacturers, and was twisted into a conspiracy to disarm Americans and override the 2nd amendment.
5. Muslims are in the House (and Senate). The Muslim Brotherhood and other scary people are supposedly infiltrating the government. Remember the good old days when there was a commie behind every door? Sadly, some leading politicians push this fear-mongering.
6. The presidential election was fixed (again). This claim uses untrue and misleading "facts" to prove President Obama again stole an election (with George Soros' help, of course.)
7. The "gubbmint" is coming for your guns. Until the Sandy Hook massacre, gun control was not part of the president's agenda. Obama actually loosened some existing gun laws. This is a favorite conspiracy, trotted out every time a Democrat is elected president. It is used to solidify the right-wing base, and to sell lots of guns and gun memberships. It also causes a big boom in survivalist goods sales. Nothing sells products like fear-mongering.
8. Fast and furious with the truth. This whopper has the government deliberately botching an anti-gun operation, which led to the death of a federal agent, to build outrage and support for gun control laws. See number 7 above.
9. President Obama orders a hit. What could be more intriguing then a conspiracy theory involving a conspiracy theorist? People actually believe President Obama had Andrew Breitbart (and a witness) murdered because Breitbart had incriminating videos of Mr. Obama meeting with members of The Weather Underground, a terrorist group of the 1970's. Ah, this brings back memories of President and fellow mafia boss Bill Clinton. Who killed Vince Foster? Vince Foster did.
10. The Newtown massacre was staged. This is the most disgusting and heartbreaking conspiracy theory. Again, Obama, wanting to advance his supposed anti-gun agenda, either deliberately caused the massacre, or it was staged. Pictures are floating around the internet of one of the victim's sitting on President Obama's lap (it is actually her younger sister.) There are also pictures (obviously Photoshopped) of the mother of one murdered child supposedly sitting with the defendant of the Aurora massacre. People have no shame. Is there nothing they won't stoop to for fame and money.
The list is in no particular order. The embedded links are to sites with more rational views on the "facts" used by the "alternate reality" sites.
1. Benghazi, the massive cover-up. Started in part by a less-than-forthcoming preliminary CIA memo, this conspiracy, fueled on by rumors and speculations by the right-wing media, grew to include: President Obama watching the attack happen live, and the president ordering the rescue teams to stand down.
2. Obama to declare himself Supreme Dictator: This involves the lie that Obama has issued more executive orders than any other president in history. According to the theorists, he is going to issue even more executive orders, disbanding Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. Then he will declare himself "dictator for life."
3. The Department of Homeland Security readies for Armageddon: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bought up to, depending on the conspiracy theorists source, 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition in 2012. DHS obviously plans to suppress a revolt of the American people when Obama declares himself dictator. The DHS did buy ammunition, but not for the above nefarious purpose.
4. A UN treaty gun grab: Drawn up by the UN, a world-wide treaty was meant to keep arms out of the hands of terrorists, not private citizens. The treaty created great fear among some gun manufacturers, and was twisted into a conspiracy to disarm Americans and override the 2nd amendment.
5. Muslims are in the House (and Senate). The Muslim Brotherhood and other scary people are supposedly infiltrating the government. Remember the good old days when there was a commie behind every door? Sadly, some leading politicians push this fear-mongering.
6. The presidential election was fixed (again). This claim uses untrue and misleading "facts" to prove President Obama again stole an election (with George Soros' help, of course.)
7. The "gubbmint" is coming for your guns. Until the Sandy Hook massacre, gun control was not part of the president's agenda. Obama actually loosened some existing gun laws. This is a favorite conspiracy, trotted out every time a Democrat is elected president. It is used to solidify the right-wing base, and to sell lots of guns and gun memberships. It also causes a big boom in survivalist goods sales. Nothing sells products like fear-mongering.
8. Fast and furious with the truth. This whopper has the government deliberately botching an anti-gun operation, which led to the death of a federal agent, to build outrage and support for gun control laws. See number 7 above.
9. President Obama orders a hit. What could be more intriguing then a conspiracy theory involving a conspiracy theorist? People actually believe President Obama had Andrew Breitbart (and a witness) murdered because Breitbart had incriminating videos of Mr. Obama meeting with members of The Weather Underground, a terrorist group of the 1970's. Ah, this brings back memories of President and fellow mafia boss Bill Clinton. Who killed Vince Foster? Vince Foster did.
10. The Newtown massacre was staged. This is the most disgusting and heartbreaking conspiracy theory. Again, Obama, wanting to advance his supposed anti-gun agenda, either deliberately caused the massacre, or it was staged. Pictures are floating around the internet of one of the victim's sitting on President Obama's lap (it is actually her younger sister.) There are also pictures (obviously Photoshopped) of the mother of one murdered child supposedly sitting with the defendant of the Aurora massacre. People have no shame. Is there nothing they won't stoop to for fame and money.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The War Against the Girl Scouts of America
Elizabeth Dole, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Sandra Day O'Connor - these are only a handful of the successful women who have claimed the title of Girl Scout. But, did you know they are part of a plot to subvert the innocence of millions of American girls? No longer satisfied to mold young women into successful, self-confident women, the Girl Scouts are in the business of indoctrinating its members into godless, abortion-loving, lesbian feminists.
The Girl Scouts have been caught in a culture war. Just as the Boy Scouts have come under fire for excluding atheists and homosexuals from their ranks, the Girl Scouts are under fire for their inclusiveness. They do not ban people for their religious beliefs, their sexual orientation,or even their gender identity.
One hundred-years-old in 2012, the Girl Scouts have a mission statement which says: "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place." What could be better than encouraging young girls to be strong and tolerant human beings? A lot, according to those who see immorality and danger everywhere. The furor was at a fever pitch last year, but a recent Facebook post shows the controversy is not going away.
One accusation popping up on social media alleges God has been removed from the Girl Scout oath. God was not removed. The Girl Scouts, in order to include all religious faiths, allow its members to substitute the word "God" with another word according to their beliefs. An opportunity to earn a "My Promise, My Faith" pin is offered to scouts.
The Girl Scouts are also accused of pushing sex education and pro-choice views on the girls. In fact, the national organization remains neutral on these issues, preferring to leave it to the local troops and parents to decide what to teach their girls. According to one website, the money from Girl Scout cookie sales goes to "... promote pro-abortion, pro-promiscuity, pro-gay-lesbian, liberal SPEAKERS AND ENTERTAINERS.... " (Caps are theirs). Speakers like Katie Couric - because she encouraged girls to not waste their brain power on mindless things. Seriously. Marlee Matlin and many other successful entertainers and businesswomen made the "radical" list.
In a letter to fellow Indiana House members last year, Rep. Bob Morris wrote, "...I challenge each of you to examine these matters... before you extend your name and your reputation to endorse a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics and the destruction of traditional American family values." Whose traditional family values? What value could be more important than to raise morally strong, responsible young people?
The Girl Scouts is a fun, educational group. It encourages community involvement, love of country, and cooperation with all people. The Girl Scouts encourage positive self-identity, and promotes science, math and other technology to young women. It has encouraged leadership in 59 million girls over the last hundred years, and hopefully will reach millions more for hundreds of years more.
One hundred-years-old in 2012, the Girl Scouts have a mission statement which says: "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place." What could be better than encouraging young girls to be strong and tolerant human beings? A lot, according to those who see immorality and danger everywhere. The furor was at a fever pitch last year, but a recent Facebook post shows the controversy is not going away.
One accusation popping up on social media alleges God has been removed from the Girl Scout oath. God was not removed. The Girl Scouts, in order to include all religious faiths, allow its members to substitute the word "God" with another word according to their beliefs. An opportunity to earn a "My Promise, My Faith" pin is offered to scouts.
The Girl Scouts are also accused of pushing sex education and pro-choice views on the girls. In fact, the national organization remains neutral on these issues, preferring to leave it to the local troops and parents to decide what to teach their girls. According to one website, the money from Girl Scout cookie sales goes to "... promote pro-abortion, pro-promiscuity, pro-gay-lesbian, liberal SPEAKERS AND ENTERTAINERS.... " (Caps are theirs). Speakers like Katie Couric - because she encouraged girls to not waste their brain power on mindless things. Seriously. Marlee Matlin and many other successful entertainers and businesswomen made the "radical" list.
In a letter to fellow Indiana House members last year, Rep. Bob Morris wrote, "...I challenge each of you to examine these matters... before you extend your name and your reputation to endorse a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics and the destruction of traditional American family values." Whose traditional family values? What value could be more important than to raise morally strong, responsible young people?
The Girl Scouts is a fun, educational group. It encourages community involvement, love of country, and cooperation with all people. The Girl Scouts encourage positive self-identity, and promotes science, math and other technology to young women. It has encouraged leadership in 59 million girls over the last hundred years, and hopefully will reach millions more for hundreds of years more.
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