an autodidact's confession 2/2

It's all too easy to view my own path as the sensible one, and all too incorrect. I certainly don't for a minute regret my educational choices up to this point, and often find I have indeed covered more than many history graduates. However, they can easily present cohesive thesises and topical papers, which I barely remember to do. Point being, I'm taking an English comp class next semester, and am even excited about it. I want to freelance and I want to do something with it. Just glad I got off that high horse before it plunged me into the ravine!

an autodidact's confession part one/two

Since I left high school, more that seven years ago, I've read incessantly, purposefully, and hungrily. After so many many history books, and after occasionally doing some writing, I felt as if my self-education was in the best hands possible. But at a suggestion of freelancing for local publications, something entered my mind: I know and understand almost too many facts and dates; I find it easy to write and enjoy doing so; but indeed, I haven't the discipline to write a single article or short story, to put together a single page with a cohesive point. And the cause of this is not a bit of outside input in my learning (outside of dear friends who debated, cajoled, and recommended works to me) when it comes to goals, challenges, and finished products. Continued.

On a lighter note...

To be added to the next edition of the Steven Levin Arizonian Heritage Dictionary: folk music: noun: Traditional and/or ethnic music expropriated, castrated, and wanly performed by those who would consider the original writers uneducated and cultureless. i.e. Pete Seeger. Hey, it's my dictionary! :)

Holocaust Deniers: A movement of bastards, human garbage and slime.PART TWO

This man, who while sorting the clothes of the dead came across garments of his gassed love ones, is not simply an issue of historical obscurism, it is degradation of humanity itself, and a moral wrong. Of course, banning this drivel would be no more right, but in this forum for my thoughts, I simply must record my impression of this filth. It is even beyond the level of that sniveling Marxist moral gelding Satre calling Solzhenitsyn a liar. I hear this movement finds friends among the Iranian government, which doesn't suprise me. Often Soviet crimes are underrepresented by Marxist history professors, in and of itself revolting, but denying the Nazi genocide of Jews is simply despicable. May these people and their drivel be rightly treated as the most hateful type of liars that they are. And let us remember that forgetting atrocity paves the way for its repetition.

Holocaust Deniers: A movement of bastards, human garbage and slime.

I'm currently reading a wonderful book on the regions of Eastern Europe ravaged by both Hitler and Stalin, and showing their atrocities to be of the same stripe. A fine point, as I see it. Interested in the testimony of a Treblinka survivor, I searched online for further information. I stumbled across a site saying the entire Final Solution in no way happened. I've heard of these deniers before, of course, but never read what they purport. They spoke of "supposed" deaths and gas chambers. Revisionist history is rampant nowadays, and always a danger, but even the most ridiculous identity-politics rewritings of history merely bring about a slight pang of anguish in me. To deny the deaths, and perhaps even worse, the inhuman suffering of those poor, poor, people, Jew and Gentile, literally made me sick to my stomach. And in this instance, they were painting one of the 50 survivors out of 700,000 murdered at Treblinka as a foul liar and imaginer of the unspeakable acts he witnessed. To slander this man,

Colleges in which their own deeply held values and sacrifices are by official policies mocked. It may very well be the first current of socialist thought in which the working people are absolutely despised while the adherents formulate arrogate plans in their names. My only point, which I probably obscured already, is that if one is atheist, be confident in that and there is no need to speak of as stupid anyone who isn't. Morals are not the sole province of religion, but moral relativism is the destroyer of any sort of morality. It boils down to this: mind your own damn business.

Expounding on my previous post: it seems to me there must be a reason why those who express confidence in their athiesm often spend so much time trying to rail against religion. Is it a nagging doubt, or simply the language of one that feels superior. I'm not at all a Christian, Muslim, or anything else, but why should I spend my time arguing against these faiths? I don't often here religious people rail day after day against atheists. I think the root of this (and don't think I'm knocking atheism in general: I have many friends that are and they are as moral of people as any I have met) is the fact that middle America tends to be in part religious, and the coffeehouse elite never tires of attacking white middle America. In the same vein that vegetarians often spend a lot of time ridiculing the cheap and easy traditional foods they themselves don't eat: yet another way in which they can attack those they feel oh so superior too, and by proxy, their own parents. The very people who struggled to send them to

Growing older, so many things concrete crumble and re-emerge pliable. Too many to list. But a major one stands out to me: the ridiculing of religion, that liberal current that remained in me to discount and mock believers. While extremism deserves no defense, and shall get none here, it strikes me as crudely arrogant to view believers as backwards and un-modern. Perhaps, I would say probably, it's better to feel not at the apex of the universe, but a single and no more important part of the whole than any other dear living thing. Whether science can show or not, it seems to me that a healthier moral attitude emerges when one imagines that enough book learning can give one everything, that the soul is second to the mind. While I've no name for what I feel is higher, and need none, it still strikes me that more humility can often be found among those that believe than one that uses chemistry sets to mock systems of morals and standards. It's not unlikely that there is no higher power- but no soul or morals?

What, me bigot!? Part two

Apparently, being opposed to the construction of one building in a certain place makes me entirely hateful to and intolerant of a world religion comprised of over a billion people. This doesn't make very much sense, to me at least. I publicly ask any that would accuse me one thing. Does the imam that you stand with unconditionally believe in gay rights? In women's rights? In the right of everyone to choose their own religion and way of life? Because if those like me, like most Americans, most human beings, are shut down by the moniker of bigotry, silenced by the accusation of Islamophobia, and any opposition to anything less than religious extremism vanishes, how do you expect these beloved allies of yours to treat gays? Women? Atheists? Are they the tolerant ones and us the ones unable to accept others' differing opinions? Ask yourself how a caliphate would treat freedom of lifestyles. Do this first, and then accuse ME of being intolerant. Is Iran such a liberal paradise? Palestine under Hamas? You tell me.

What, me bigot!? Part one

Being opposed to the construction of the Ground Zero Mosque, I have been following the activities of various protestors on both sides. One thing strikes me as a bit silly. It seems "Islamophobia" is the most popular current accusation tossed at the side against the building of said mosque. Constantly. This has set me wondering.... I'm conservative, yes, in my own way finding that the most appropriate tag for my views. I happen to differ decidedly on many things from most conservatives, but I'm not one to tow a party line anyhow. What I do believe in, though, are inalienable rights for all human beings. I support the right of gays to marry and live how they choose. I support the rights of women to be treated with equality in every respect, regardless. I believe in the freedoms of choice, speech, religion, expression, and the right to live and treat onesself however one chooses that harms no other. I'd go to my grave for these things. But apparently, because I take a stand contrary to some people, I am a bigot.

Furthur

You are all too right, Mr. Wheems. Freedom of religion exists to that one can practice, by onesself or in a group, the faith they see fit, and as far as it doesn't hurt anyone else, be completely unimpeded in such worship. It was NOT written so that some evil bastard could FUCKING BEHEAD HIS WIFE OR MURDER HIS DAUGHTERS FOR HAVING BOYFRIENDS!!! Harming others via religious practice has been punished, even over-zealously in some cases, since the inception of the constitution. Never before has murder and abuse been defended and promoted as freedom. Only those who live their entire lives to make sure others live up to their standards of "tolerance" could possibly be too worried about not being P.C. to allow an American woman to be raped, beaten and killed. And for defending these women, we are of course ignorant, backwoods bigots! No other explanation. Our freedom to live in America as we see fit, without belonging to ones spouse as if property, is directly imperiled by such crimes. That we CAN'T "tolerate"!

Thank you for commenting, good Sir, its great to see on here. Cuts down on the echo. France has banned the burkha. A brave and necessary move. Woman in most versions of Islam will still have to submit to their backwards neurotic husbands, I suppose, but at least now they aren't wrapped up like something shameful. If the majority of Muslims treated their women as equals and the woman decided, it would be wrong to dictate fashion. But when someone moves to a free country and expects still to practice their mistreatment of women, they have another thing coming. De Gaulle would be proud. As would the million lost in the Great War. Applause to France!

Regarding the New York City mosque controversy part three

While any mechanic or worker in an electronics store warehouse. (Yes, like me) seems to accept the possibility that reasonable people may disagree, being painted as Klanists for our opposition to pretty much anything does not make folks any more willing to try to have reasonable discussions. Many muslims too see this. I just truly hope our fellow Americans who happen to observe Ramadan do not let this rabid left speak for them or represent them. Middle America is fed up with being smeared as racists for any point of view they bring up, and are in need of themselves being tolerated. If another group is represented by those rich whites who claim to see racism is everything, no good will come of this group. Let us discuss this, reach an agreement, and not be influenced by extremists domestic or foreign. As Americans, its damn well known that we can. And let us no longer be called bigots for disagreeing with the left. Another needed and open discussion can only be wrecked by such vitriol. I pray it isnt.

Regarding the New York City mosque controversy part two

The inability to negotiate and discuss is, apart from medevial thinking and gender apartheid, the biggest problem in our inability to work with these extremists. American muslims have been speaking from many sides on the issues, and have acted as Americans ought to. We need not fear them themselves. The intelligentsia, however, sees any unwillingness to let this be built as evil intolerance, and feel no need to see the other side or discuss it. Very similar to other extremists, except for the fact al-qaeda doesnt teach our children or make up the majority of our media. I truly believe American muslims do nothing but hinder terrorist efforts in their willingness for dialogue and compromise, but I do worry about the absolute intolerance of the tolerance crowd. If al-qaeda is making inroads in this country, it is through them. Dogmatism loves dogmatism, and they have a mutual hatred of the west (the very west whose economic foundations provide for their soy burgers and college educations, but thats well known)

Regarding the New York City mosque controversy part one

Much has been said, of course, and I doubt I can say very much more. But of course I will. Taking in everything I see and read, there is a trend I am starting to notice. From being anti to indifferent to pro mosque, I have seen many muslims addressing the issue from all sides and points of view. This is quite as it should be, Americans debating. The side that disturbs me is not these people (apart from some of the foreign ties of the imams) but the young white middle class protesters who proclaim any opposition to it to be a matter of hate. Once again, middle America is portrayed as evil and racist, and nothing further needs be said. If our educated youth cannot see diverging view points and paint everything other than they and their professors views as ignorance and bigotry. This to me seems a dangerous thing. The very mortal problem of fundamentalism and their willingness to kill us indiscriminately is that to them there can be no other viewpoint. Right or wrong, black and white. And from this, holy war.

A Return To Normalcy

Been awhile since I last posted. Was on vacation, believe it or not. Wanted to post my impressions of Gettysburg but was hard to immediatly after. On that field, those green patches of corn, the destiny of the entire country was decided, and over fifty thousand casualties killed or maimed. To be on such ground is something else, and I feel so very lucky to be able to live as I do thanks to the monumental sacrifices of young men of one nation in two factions. Think people forget how much suffering our ancestors endured for an ideal of freedom and equality, to end enslavement of human beings but also to fight for the rights of their beloved states, towns, counties. The cold comfort is that not a Billy or Johnny out of 550,000 died in vain. Makes me appreciate being a citizen that much more. Still hard to imagine the weight of the outcome, the results of that battle, and on (now) peaceful Pennsylvania fields. Also wonderful to see so many people there knowing the debt we owe to that blood soaked sacred ground.

A Moral Russia, or None At All! - A.I.S. PART THREE

When we all feel responsible to one another, we all benefit. Im not speaking of course of the satanic idea of redistribution of wealth or any idiotic fantasy dream of ending poverty. I mean the small things. Generosity. Kindness. The tiniest bit of self sacrifice. No pipe dream, this was America before the foul calamity of moral decay started by the sixties. We can do this. I need to try. As do you. Expecting the state to take care of ones brood and pay for ones lack of moral responsibility is the same as stealing out of everyones pocket. Let us ask what Kennedy asked us to ask ( heh.) and not ask whats in it for us. But what can we do for eachother? Society involves thinking of others, and not doing what one wilt outside of all consideration or morality. We can and must. Do we want to end up like Russia? I only say this because I need to work on it myself. I just know that we can! Lets destroy the self-centeredness puked up by the hippies, and show this planet what we are made of!! :)

A Moral Russia, or None At All! - A.I.S.

To continue: we today face a society where morality is completely relative. Something that is immoral (and not of course by the fundamentalists rigid interpretation. Such people would see friends of mine killed because they love someone of the same gender. Balls to them. And Muslims!) is complety legal and upheld by the law. Which is freedom, good or ill. But at which point is everything relative and nothing right or wrong? Accepting abhorrations and not simply tolerating them leads with no doubt to folks seeing and feeling zero responsibility to their fellow man. As citizens, have we not a duty to try to keep up a society of which we can be proud of and not have to fear for our childrens influences? A lot of minor acts against society add up to a state where man is wolf to man. Im proud of preventing one small thing, and should hope where i to do such a thing, someone would bother to do the same. Lets keep our wonderful country one in which we can treat our fellow citizens rightly, and sleep like the just!

A Moral Russia, or None At All! - A.I.S.

Caught two people stealing at work today. First time for me, and a cause for reflection. I work for a huge company, and noone is harmed personally, but I believe there is more to it than these tired excuses. At which point does theft of a fifty dollar item and that of a familys car differ? One, of course, causes more anguish and harm, but what is the line between theft that is okay and that which is not? These thin lines, these intangibles, they shift case by case and generation by generation. But one antisocial act begets another, and the belief that thievery is justified are no healthy attitudes to find in society. I truly believe that the blurring of right and wrong daily tears at the fabric of our society. It is no longer wrong in this day in age to divorce, breed out of wedlock, or philander. Of course the first two necessarily have their exceptions, and ought to, but the fact of these things creating not a bit of questioning is an example of such fine lines between taboo and acceptable dissolving.

Clouding up again. Thankfully. In fact the whole sky is swollen with blue anvil clouds. Off of work, a good book, a bag of Red Man and another of strong tobacco. Plus a good cup of strong coffee. This is glory and unspoilable beauty. If I could take a break to fire a clip in the sky, then I would start to worry that this is heaven. Thanks whoever my one follower is. Even one is nice to see.

It really should be raining more. The plants need it, and the hose aint the same. Prayin for more in my own heathen way. Went into the underworld the other day...a small cave with petroglyphs and dripping water. Talk about a holy place. Water and caves are the tabernacles of our region. Never a wasted trip. I guess its technically a "hike" but it was along a flat trail. Do I hike to the garbage can? Another reason to convince people they cant go outdoors without goretex jockstraps or whatever. Big industry.

Finished one and started another Solzhenitsyn novel. Not usually inclined towards fiction, but this is amazing stuff. This one includes two letters he wrote to whatever organization writers had to be in to be published. Sayin to hell with you and censorship, basically. Bravery, courage and will beyond anything I could know. Im not 1% of this man. Who is? An argument for the goodness of humanity right in the midst of the worst of it. Cannot speak highly enough. Even I have no more to say about it. If only this planet still had intellectuals of this independance, power and gall. P.C. is the latest form of the Soviet self-censorship he was exiled for attacking. And it produces the same spinelessness he speaks of. Soviet, fundamentalist or left-wing campus speech codes, to hell with all limitations on human expression!

Speaking of ultra-offendable pond creatures, Maxine Waters is in trouble. That woman has been an extremist, an apologist to criminals, and if I do recall correctly, has a good relationship with Fidel. The person who called the LA riots a revolutionary act while decent folks white black and korean were having their property destroyed and looted, and a person who acts as if her district were her own personal fiefdom and that she was more righteous than everyone else is now bein investigated. Left over firebrands from the sixties whose ideology, if outside of destruction and antiAmericanism was even an ideology, was proven silly 40 years antes, are thankfully dropping like flies.

payday. Always a good day. If I dont get ran over by an obese chongo in the mall parking lot, its bound to be a fine example. Nothing really newsworthy.Though Dr. Laura, who is a godawful loudmouth that offends human dignity by being alive, is being crucified for something she ought not to. Another person publicly apologizing and probably resigning for saying a word. Nigger is plenty nasty as a word, but seeing grown folks reporting the story saying "the N-word" is simply juvenile. In my opinion, blacks are fellow folks and neednt be sheltered from nasty words. I cant imagine being around another color of people who treat someone differently because they are terrified they might offend. Blacks are equals, and while saying such things is an asshole thing to do, we ought to give them the benefit of knowing they are working and getting on with their lives like us, and not ultra-sensitive quaking cave creatures who have to live in a bubble. Think that kind of patronization IS racist. And free speech is a right.

Why I cut six pack holders because the thought of a tangled baby duck brings me to tears, but think starvin people in Somalia get what they deserve. Or, my day today.

Work is good, but they dont let me wear my fuckin cowboy boots. Cant win em all. So theres gonna be a world music festival with a community drum circle, and Id like to go just to feel something worse than withdrawing from opiates. For once. I could sharpen a spade, Paschendaele style, and go all out, brothers and sisters. Trench war vee-ess a far more vile enemy than either side of the line in Flanders faced. These same people degraded Coe in the local "alternative weekly". Flagstaff has something BIG against Arizona and its denizens. We should vote to deprive them of their right to hawk outdoor performance wear, crystals and five hundert dollar futons. Cultural war, folks, in its finest form. Boils down to whose folks fought in Nam, would have, or got out on their own, and those whose "my child is special" "parents" who spent the sixties spitting on the blue collar draftees returning. Least thats my theory. University probably has a lot to do with it.I could very well be whacked out.

Picked up the debut Old Crow Medicine Show album too. Very very good. So nice for a string band to play string band music. That hippie fake bluegrass stuff is just plain awful. And just like that Wilco type alt-country stuff, I get the distinct impression that they feel they are too smart for tradition, and that even playing a mandolin they fear any association with real rural people. I mistrust any "country" or "old-time" music that is based entirely in college towns. Any how, Old Crow is great, Wagon Wheel is as good of song as Ive ever heard, and I recommend it heartily. Ate squash from the garden tonight. It was better than any other squash and I can back that up. Im starting to really garden well, and its a nice feeling. Chickens laid four eggs, hoed what felt like a football field of weeds, and read more Solzhenitsyn. A perfect day, or would have been with an hour or two of rain and my wife off all day. But nothing is perfect, there is NEVER anything to whine about and thats the way it is.

The Last Person Without A Blogs First Entry

I never thought to start a blog because I know noone will read it. Noone. But I figure putting some things down on proverbial paper will clear some of the debris from this wending path that is my brain. Worth a shot, eh? To inaugerate this historic event, I will comment on the new album I bought today: Hank Williams the Third has created yet another fine, fine work. A honky tonkin stripped down balls and roots out in front step in reclaiming our once glorious and once our very own genre of rural poetry from the cyborg pop beats of music for suburbanites playing cowboy. Fine job, III. The satanic trucker motifs of the last work still near to my heart, this nod to tradition in IIIs own way is not a bit lesser. A fine day for me, all in all, and a rare time nothing political comes to mind. Might as well start off constructive, after all. Even when writing something only I will see. We will see how this goes. Will probably end up shutting it down in favor of self-dialogue, but a coward dies a thousand times.