Houston, we've had a problem here

The quote originally said by Jack Swigert on Apollo 13 as the astronauts communicated their discovery of the explosion that crippled their spacecraft to mission control, has been used or paraphrased many times over the years with the most common usage being "Houston, We have a problem" made popular by the movie Apollo 13.  In modern times we rarely have such memorable quotes.  

A few weeks ago I moved back to my home city of Englewood, Colorado. One of the first things that has happened was a shooting at East High school.  A student, who had to submit to daily pat downs before entering school brought a gun to school and when it was found during the search he used it to shoot 2 school officials and later himself.  The immediate cry from Liberals and the Democrats in state govt was to push the new "gun control" bills through immediately.  These new bills add no new safety measures to the existing ones and will do nothing to prevent these kinds of events.  The kid had a made at home or "ghost gun."  One of the bills demands people register these types of guns.  But my problem is how are they going to be registered?  They have no serial numbers, no tracing of being produced, nothing to track or register.  The other thing these gun control advocates seem to forget is most violent gun crimes involve guns not attained legally.  Thus, preventing legal citizens from owning firearms does nothing but create more victims.  Most mass shootings take place in gun free zones.  Why would that be the case?  Well the criminals know there is no good guy with a gun to stop them and they can inflict more damage.  If law enforcement enforced the current laws, we had more armed security at more vulnerable locations and criminals were held accountable we could prevent most of these crimes.  The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

More than the legal means one of the main problems in almost all of these situations is similar to all other issues we have in society, lack of parental guidance.  This includes parents who are disengaged, men not being in the home and being fathers, and lack of teaching kids empathy and compassion for their fellow humans.  The answer to almost all of our societal problems can be solved with three things:

1. Parental involvement

2. Reviving faith in society

3. Teaching kids compassion and empathy

These three things give people every tool they need to survive.  People learn valuable skills and also learn how to care for one another.  It is almost impossible for any human to commit violence against another human if they truly care for humanity and are taught that life matters.  From a young age kids are taught to be selfish and focus only on their pleasure and needs.  How can anyone care for another if they only think of themselves.  For those in poorer communities they are taught they don't matter, why would they care for anyone else if nobody cares about them?  

Teaching faith immediately teaches people life and they matter.  That no matter how alone they feel, they are never alone.  Churches form communities with shared values and beliefs.  Faith teaches humility, love, and service to others.  Why is it that a vast majority of Americans say they have no faith or believe in God?  Because it is taught from early years.  This will lead to nothing but the end of our society as we know it.  

So do I think we have a problem, absolutely.  But it is not what we are being told it is.  We don't have a gun problem in America, we have a compassion problem.  That wont be solved with more laws or taking protection from law abiding citizens, it can only be solved by communities and proper parenting.

There is only one Donald Trump

 Donald Trump tweeted this weekend that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and urged his followers and fans to protest in New York.  Throughout his Presidency the Democrats tried multiple times to impeach him and every single attempt failed.  From the second he was elected the Democratic leaders stated, "We will impeach him." Problem was he had not been in office for even one minute and they already had the torches and pitchforks out.  Impeachment is supposed to be removal of a sitting President when they do illegal actions while in office!  After all the attempts failed and he left office they began this smear campaign for actions taken as a private citizen.  They raided his personal home, found "classified" documents and tried to arrest him as a threat to America.  Problem was they never did say what kinds of information was such a risk, just a vague "Nuclear launch info" and "Threat to national security."  The Democrats have setup a very risky system of silencing or arresting their political opponents.  We have seen this in the past and it always ends badly.

If Trump gets arrested, we will see a further push to end our country like never before.  The political elites want all the power and authority and the taste they got with Covid only fueled this even more.  We have seen agendas put forward by our sitting President which will ban all semi-automatic weapons, not just "assault" rifles, even though no such thing exists.  He spoke and stated it was semi-auto rifles but when you read the bill it bans all semi-automatic guns.  This includes rifles and handguns (A vast majority of gun owners have both).  Once the government removes our weapons, we will stand no chance.  The 2nd amendment protects our right to bear arms and be able to protect ourselves from tyrannical governments.  

They also have begun laying the groundwork for taking over businesses as we saw this past week with the Silicon Valley Bank being taken over by the feds.  Rising interest rates, tumbling dollar, rising inflation, and our income being taxed to oblivion will cause an economic collapse we have not seen since the great depression.  And what can we a citizens do after our guns are removed and our jobs taken to stop them?  Nothing.  This is what they are trying to do!  And it isn't just the Democrats or Republicans, it is all of them, except Trump.  He stood between their radical ideas and us, why do you think both parties hated him from the very second he was selected in the primary?

So do I think he needs to win the primary and represent the Republicans in 2024, no I do not.  I like Ron Desantis and feel he is Trump Light.  He has the balls of Trump but the political savvy to play politics and not ruffle feathers with 2am tweets.  If you compare California to Florida you can see the economic decisions being made by Newsome and Desantis and there could not be a clearer difference in how those states are running currently.  People are fleeing California and the high taxes, rampant crime, and high cost of living for any other state they can.  Florida on the other hand has seen a huge increase in people moving to the state.  We have seen a strong sense of conservative politics and governance take over that state and people are drawn to that!  At this point even the most avid anti-conservative can deny the fact Florida is just being run better.

In 2024 Americans will have a clear choice, the grey area has been removed and it is a black and white election.  People will have to choose freedom and the Amercian way of life or allowing America to turn into another 3rd world country and giving up everything we hold dear.  We are far from perfect but we are far better than any other country on the planet!

Another break in the action

 Its that time again where I take a break from politics and talk about something else!  So this past week I moved from Tucson, AZ to Denver, CO.  Moving back home has been something I have wanted to do for quite some time and finally had the opportunity to do it.  The entire move is somewhat bittersweet for me.  I am happy to be back home but I leave behind friends and people I have grown to love over the past 12 years.  It gives me a fresh start at my company and a new beginning for many things.  The good outweighs the bad but I am still uncertain about the entire move.  

Tomorrow I start at my new position here and am excited overall.  I hate starting at a new position because my personality can be difficult to get used to.  I have been taken as an asshole when I was really just trying to be funny.  My humor can be dry and I am very straight forward which most people have a hard time dealing with.  Almost every person I have met and told I was very forward and honest tend to not like those things after some time or are offended at the bluntness of that honesty.  So what can I do about that?  I really don't know.  I am trying hard to learn from past mistakes and modify my approach but have yet to master that. 

I watched and shared an interesting video from YouTube today about habit 5 from the book 7 habits of highly effective people.  It states, "Seek first to understand and then to be understood."  That is a skill I really need to work on.  Because of ADHD I usually am thinking 4 or 5 steps ahead of any conversation and not giving the other person my full attention.  I am thinking this is a cause of a lot of the "asshole" issues I have.  If I feel as though I am right or have something to add I jump right in, interrupt and share my thoughts.  I don't do this to be an asshole, if I don't say it when I think it I will lose the thought.  The problem is the other person can think I am not listening at all or am not interested in their opinions or ideas.  That could not be further from the truth.  If they knew how quickly my brain "changes channels" they would understand I may never get that idea or thought back again.  That is the part that sucks.  Do any of you have similar issues?  If so how did you overcome them?

So tomorrow I begin my single life over again.  I am uncertain of my future but am excited to start.  There is still a ton of stuff I need to worry about but at least I am back home.  Colorado has been where my heart has been my entire life.  I love this state and love everything about Denver.  I am going to be writing more music reviews, attending more concerts and finishing up some school work, so I will be super busy.  If you like the blog please share it and check back often for updates!

Oh ye of little faith

 Taking a break from politics with this post and wanting to focus on the religion or no religion debate.  I recently had a friend on social media return to the platform after many years with a dead page.  In the absence found his faith and began sharing it with others.  He restarted the page and daily shares interesting stories, personal struggles, and positive messages.  The other day he shared a story about a founding member of the Satanic church leaving his position after finding God and realizing he made a mistake.  Long story short this week he has had an overwhelming amount of negative, rude, violent, and all other forms of crap against his sharing of the post.  Comments like "Why do you keep pushing you religion on others", "Stop spreading your lies about Christ, and here is why you are wrong", and others that just hate someone sharing something that brings them peace.  I have often pondered, as I myself have been subjected to such comments and discussions, why people who are Atheist or have no belief in God feel the need to bring someone who is religious down?  Why do they feel it necessary to "prove" to the faithful that God doesn't or cannot exist?

When someone who has belief or faith it can be very hard to show it for fear of being shouted down.  Often the response to the negative reaction is to "prove" God does exist.  This is a mistake.  Just as they cannot prove he doesn't exist we cannot prove that he does.  I had a workmate who was an Atheist and we often had deep intellectual discussions about the topic.  We are both intelligent, both can articulate our positions, and both can know in the end we most likely will not change the other person's mind.  He once asked me if I believed in free will or agency, of course I said yes.  He followed it up by asking if I believed God was also all knowing, of course I said yes.  He then had the gotcha look in his eye.  He said, "If God knows every single choice you will make, is it really your choice?"  This question made me think.  In the end I said both could exist because although he knows what our choices will be he also gives us the freedom to make the choice ourselves.  The idea he would direct every single choice everyone on Earth made is far out there to me.  But the question is still one I contemplate from time to time.

Towards the end of our time working together we had a conversation.  He asked how I knew or could prove with evidence God existed.  I told him I could not provide physical evidence as it was something I just felt.  He chuckled and said, "If there is no evidence then it cannot be true or exist."  After thinking about his position, I had a response.  I said, "You have a wife and two daughters, right?"  He said yes.  I then asked, "Do you love them?" He said, "Of course I do!"  I responded with "Well how do you know you love them?"  He said, "I don't know I just feel it."  And it was that moment he got a look in his eye and knew what I was getting at.  He knew at that moment there was no evidence or proof he loved his wife and daughters, but he felt it.  Shortly after that he came to me and let me know he and his wife had attended a Christian marriage retreat and were looking for a church to attend.  Funny enough his "lack of evidence" argument disappeared when he realized some things on this earth we cannot prove or disprove.  Some things we need to feel and trust they exist.

As a Christian I often get approached by those of little or no faith and asked why I am so convinced and think of my old workmate.  I respond with telling that story.  It is important as people of Faith we remember it is our duty to love everyone as our brothers and sisters.  To treat everyone with respect.  But most of all to share our testimony of the gospel and be willing to withstand the anger, hate and arguments we may face.  Please don't misunderstand by loving and respecting everyone we are not required to agree their lifestyle or try to prove to them why they are wrong.  It is our duty to love them and pray for them, period.  It is ok for someone to have no faith, have faith, question their faith, etc.  What isn't ok is telling people they are going to hell because they haven't found God or have no faith.  In the end we all have agency and the freedom to choose.  As I have told many of my Atheist friends, I would much rather follow a faith and have a church then get to the end and have it be black and nothing than live as though God doesnt exist and get to the end and find out he does.

The Emperor's New Clothes

   As I watched a podcast the other day the speaker was discussing the Transgender movement and the supporters or believers in its authenticity.  She made a comparison to the folk tale, The Emperor's New Clothes.  For those who don't know the tale here is a brief summary:

The Emperor was excessively fond of new clothes.  So much so it slowly began to detract from his duties as Emperor.  One day two Rogues arrived calling themselves weavers.  They began telling the Emperor about their magnificent garments made from elaborate patterns and colors.  The clothes once manufactured would have a wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held or was extraordinarily simple in character. "These must, indeed, be splendid clothes" thought the Emperor.  "Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! So the Emperor paid them large sums of money to begin making him new clothes with this process.  The fakes setup empty looms and worked every night on these garments but in reality did nothing at all.  They demanded the finest silks and purest gold thread, which they pocketed.  The Emperor wanted to see what progress had been made but was embarrassed as he remembered the property infused in the garments.  To avoid risking being exposed as a simpleton or unfit for office he send his faithful old minister to check on the weavers.  The minister arrives and is of course unable to see any clothes.  He fakes seeing it and listens intently as to relay the appearance to the Emperor and thus remain in his position.  The Emperor sends another officer of his court and the same thing happens.  The Emperor then goes himself to see the garments.  He realizes he cannot see it either but exclaims how magnificent they are to avoid being seen as unfit. The rogues have the Emperor strip his clothes off to "put the new ones on." Not one person including the Emperor is willing to be seen as unfit to be honest and express the truth that the clothes do not exist.  He walks about the town as the townspeople shower his "new clothes" with praise until he comes upon a little child.  This child says "But the Emperor has nothing at all on!"  The child's father exclaimed "Listen to the voice of innocence!" But what the child said had been whispered from one person to another.  At last all the people cried out "But he has nothing on at all!" The Emperor was vexed, for he knew the people were right; but he thought the procession must go on now!  And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up the train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold.

  I found this a very apt comparison as those of us standing on the reality that men cannot become women and women cannot become men get cancelled, called names like Transphobe or even extremists all so the illusion that is transgenderism can spread.  Not until enough people stand for biological truth and are willing to acknowledge the reality that gender dysphoria is a mental health issue that requires counseling and not hormone replacement therapy and gender assignment surgery will we begin to help those in our lives that need it desperately.  I have sympathy for anyone suffering from these mental health issues.  Just as I would not tell an anorexic they are fat and tell them to ask their doctor for weight loss pills I am unwilling to tell someone with gender dysphoria to go get parts cut off and alter their hormones.  The best love we can give to family or friends struggling with this issue is the support to seek treatment from a qualified Psychologist!

The Trans support has attempted to change the language used, give us new "pronouns" and have begun indoctrinating our kids at a young age.  Any adult has the right to think they are whatever they claim to be but when it comes to "transing kids" I am avidly against it.  As I have said of many left leaning positions these movements are all self-centered and egotistical.  Every single one preaches "how does it make you feel?" "Your feelings need to be validated" "If someone disagrees, they are an ism or phobe" To quote Ben Shapiro "Facts don't care about your feelings."  That is the major flaw in the left's argument, feelings.  Yes, we all have them but when it comes to mental health the feelings of love and caring are pushed aside to protect the persons self-perception.  

Lets embrace facts, biological reality and stop being so self-centered.  Our children, friends and family deserve honesty from us.  We need to care enough to be honest and not hold up the train which fails to exist.

An army of useful idiots

 In today's political culture we find ourselves more divided than ever before.  We place labels and draw lines in the sand.  We have abandoned our faith and embraced an ideology that in no way aligns with the good in the universe.  In 2020 23% of Americans unaffiliated or non-religious, that is seven percent more than the second closest group (Protestants).  36% of adults 18-29 claim no affiliation.  while down from 2016 (38%) the number remains very high and quite disturbing.  Between 2006 and 2016 that number increased from 23% to 38%! So what might be the cause of this loss of faith?

As I ponder this question, I began to think of what changed in our culture.  What have we done differently than all previous years to cause such a drastic increase?  The first thing that comes to mind is the shift in education and what is being taught in schools.  We have seen a drastic rise in CRT and other "woke" concepts.  The idea that America is systemically racist has been plugged into our kids minds for decades now.  The LGBTQIA+ agenda has been hoisted into the limelight and pushed in virtually every form of media.  Kids today are led to question even the most basic of life's realities such as biology.  One in five Gen Z adults identifies with some aspect of the agenda.  In the past decade the percentage of U.S. adults who identify as something other than heterosexual doubled from 3.5% to 7.1%.  Is this because we have fostered an environment where LGBTQ folks are comfortable enough to "come out" or is it that they have been indoctrinated to believe if they feel like they don't fit their bodies they must be something other than their biology?  Teaching acceptance of someone else's views is a great thing and can lead to valuable discussions and an appreciation of different perspectives.  Teaching kids that if they don't feel like themselves as they go through puberty must mean they need to take hormones and go through surgery removing parts of their bodies is not the right path.  In denial of biology the advocates of the LGBTQIA agenda will label anyone who doesn't agree with them a transphobe, homophobe, or some other phobe or ism.  The right label anyone who disagrees with their position groomers or some other pedophile label.  This divides us more and more every day.

The second thing I thought about was the desire to dig our heels in politically.  If you are on the right and support our Constitution and the freedoms it grants you are labelled MAGA and a white supremacist.  If you are on the left and want progressive change you get labelled a communist or socialist.   Our "leaders" choose a side and we have seen the rise of anti-American politicians in the form of the squad.  Congress members speaking in public forums about overthrowing America because we are inherently racist and transphobic.  They advocate for removing the statues of our founding father, changing the curriculum of history to fit the 1619 narrative, and throwing out the Constitution and starting over.  This is 100% the wrong idea.  Do Racists exist, yes in every ethnicity.  Do homophobes exist, yes in every walk of life.  Do white supremacist exist, yes but not in the numbers we are led to believe.  So why would our leaders push narratives that only work to divide us further?

The Super Bowl was yesterday and every single story I watched or background of a player revolved around their race.  We had a black national anthem, 2 black QB's, the legends from each team were all African Americans, we had Rihana perform, and most of the commercials played into the woke agenda.  What does any of that have to do with football?  Nothing.  All of the athletes in the Super Bowl were elite athletes.  The league patronized one minority group as to not be dubbed racist.  It isn't just the NFL either, the NHL had pride night a few weeks ago and teams wore rainbow colored jerseys during the pre-skate to show unity for the LGBTQ agenda.  There was one player who chose to stay in the locker room, just like the BLM athletes, and was drug through the mud and told to "Go back to his country" all because his religion (Russian Ortodox) does not believe in homosexuality.  The NHL patronizing to the LGBTQ agenda was meant to advocate inclusivness and the result was the same "inclusive" people demanding this player bow down or be cancelled.  

The point of this blog is to point out that it isnt one side or the other doing the damage.  Both sides socially and politically  are building an army of useful idiots.  An army of people who will listen to them and repeat the slogans and agenda without educating themselves on the topic.  That is why you see so many slogan, talking point, misinformation and such going around.  People need to take time and hear all sides of the argument and for their own opinions.  On almost every topic you will hear me state my position by saying "In my research" "The statistics show" or "There are studies that say."  What you will rarely if ever hear is "I feel" or "I believe." The lefts arguments come from feelings not facts.  The rights arguments come from "facts" but slanted to their belief.  Very few people actually listen to all sides and form educated opinions.  Do your best to avoid becoming a useful idiot before it is too late!

And now a musical interlude

 On this lazy Sunday I decided instead of my usual political thoughts and feelings I would share a little about another side of me, Music!  For me music has always been a safe space for processing and expressing feelings.  I cannot tell you how often as I am driving a song comes on the radio and my mind immediately relays an important life event or situation from my past.  On days when I am battling depression, anger, stress, etc. I find solace and comfort in music.  Music is the one thing in my life which has never let me down or made me feel like I wasn't worth it.  It has always been there.  In my darkest times and my brightest days, it is there.  My head has a constant running soundtrack in it.  

Have any of you ever been having a terrible day and then that 1 song comes on and everything aligns in your world?  Every single time my Spotify playlist knows what my mind needs to realign.  The energy that music emits has a very unique way of working with our brain waves and leveling us out.

Another thing I do with music is host concerts and shows.  I had the opportunity to go out for a 2-week tour and ended up being the emcee each night.  I had a blast.  The shows I have hosted have felt like home.  If I had one wish it would be to be in a financial position to own a music venue and host shows every single day!  Music is my happy place.  Yes planning, organizing, paying for it and all the rest is super stressful but the night of the show when all the work pays off there is nothing like it!  No feeling in the world compares to live music.  The energy, lights and vibe all put my energy in line.  

I am going to try and take a post once a month or so and go off script from politics.  Hopefully you guys enjoy these and those as I enjoy it all.  Please share and like the blog so I can increase views and participation in this effort.