03/29/06 02:03 - ID#29374

left or right

i'm really sick of the bullshit politics that go down on this site. what the fuck are you people thinking??? protesting this protesting that. bashing our leaders and decision makers. i say if ya don't like it get off your ass and do something about it. protesting and waving a fuckin' sign ain't gonna do shit. all your gonna do is piss the people on the other side of the street off. and whats that gonna do. you can't change peoples opinions or perspectives like that. you need a more strategic approach that will allow you to influence others. and quoting paul o'neill ain't gonna work either.

now that i have your attention i would like to write about a real concern that i have. you are all very fortunate people. maybe some shit went down in your lives that wasn't to cool but believe me we have it pretty good. I would say more than half the world's population goes to bed not hungry but starving every night. half of that population is children. these children die everday from gastrointestinal problems and malnutriton. they never even get a chance to live their lives. they never get a chance to make a decision, smoke a joint or experience the world wide web. they live most of their short pathetic lives naked in squaller and disease with many insects hovering overhead. can you see this picture??? do you want to see this picture??? I won't post it because it makes me sick to think that human beings have to live in these conditions because their leaders can't get their shit together.

And don't get me started about the homeless population in this country. i'm not talking about the bums who beg for change to get some boose. i'm talking about the people who all of a sudden lose everything and have to live out of cars or on street corners just because they made a mistake and worked for or invested in enron.

So next time you start to bitch about a budget deficit or christian fundamentalists think about the people living in third world countries who if are lucky might get some shelter tonight from the rain and mudslides. who if they are very lucky might get a very small piece of food that will prolong their life for a few more measly days.

My love & support for these people is unconditional...I give money through all avenues. United Way, Catholic Charities and I joined the One campaign started by Bono and U2 to fight poverty.

I love all of you people to, even those of you who don't know any better, MrDT

mrdt writes at 10:18:25 03/29/06 - Comment #5929: wow, it took all day but I finally found some controversy.

First, merely stating opinion and fact is not protesting it's expressing thought and idea by bringing light to the issue. All I stated was that you can't change opinion in people by waving a sign because change can only come from within you can not demand it or force it.

Second, I sometimes journalize my thoughts about my physical journey for me not for you so I may go back and reference my state of mind and improvements. it also may inspire someone who has struggled, as I certainly have, with personal weight loss/gain issues and give them the motivation & support they need to begin the journey towards better health. you know what i'm about from reading my previous entries. this is my journal if you don't like it you can get the fuck out.

Third, protest has been prohibited because when strong opposing views come together there is a potential for violence. ie the bombing of abortion clinics. this violence can turn into mob rule and riotting from lack of emotional intelligence.

Fourth, how do you know folks know that the current administration is doing a bad job. are your politics based on fact, theory or opinion. I always question information about our past, present and future situations making judgements only when I fully understand all sides of the issue.

Lastly the country was not formed through public protest but waged through strategic campaign, petition and boycott. the first leaders of this country used there influence and such activities as the Boston Massacre to stir anti-British sentament. these great and intelligent men silently and slowly organized the revolution militia through alliance and strategic planning.

"with great power and influence comes great resposibility." that much I have made the connection to.

now be thankful for what you have because not many people on this earth have been provided the opportunities that you have.

paul writes at 03:52:54 03/29/06 - Comment #5920: The reason I protest the current administration's policies is because I believe their actions are negatively affecting the world both environmentally and socially. Repressing and causing greater hardships on the people that are already suffering. Perhaps, you cannot make the connections.

As for the act of actually protesting. Waving signs does in fact do something. It signals to other people that they are not alone in their beliefs and that people are not being silenced. Being able to stand up in the street and yell out your opinion is a statement that the opinion can still be had without you being taken to jail and killed for having it. Being able to publically demand change is a legitimate way of dealing with tyrany. How do you think America started in the first place, by staying silent and people keeping their opinions to themselves.

If you really believe that protesting does not do anything, then why have so many governments, including our own on occasion, prohibited people from doing it?

matthew writes at 03:29:21 03/29/06 - Comment #5918: This site was created to give people a voice in the community. so if some users want to use this space to "protest this or protest that", so be it. (in my opinion)It's a hell of a lot more interesting than listening to someone describe their workout plan. also, didn't you just use your journal as a way to "protest" the protesters, and voice your personal opinion? you don't see the irony in that?

mrdt writes at 01:01:02 03/29/06 - Comment #5917: I never said that you can't care about all the issues. I merely stated that before arguments get petty think twice about some of the very, very serious problems in this world.

leetee writes at 09:46:44 03/29/06 - Comment #5914: Saddens me, too, to know that there are human beings on the face of this planet that live very challenging lives, not always by thier own choice. Granted, it is a very important issue that the richest of societies needs to lend aid to.

However, i firmly believe that i can care about both things. One does not cancel out the other. I can care about global issues, local issuses and all the issues in between. And still care about the starving children.