Someday I hope the world can be war-free. I believe it is wholly unnatural for human beings to fight each other. I also believe the Iraq war was a mistake, as our priorities should have been in Afghanistan. This all being said, I'm not naive enough to think that war is eradicated and replaced with peace by holding peace vigils, lighting candles, holding signs, drafting UN resolutions, or getting into the drum circle.
A number of you believe that nothing, not even your own freedom, is worth fighting for. That's fine. So then it would follow that you would believe that the free world has no responsibility to the world in terms of making sure that nobody is oppressed, and that people all over the planet have basic human rights and living conditions. You're not alone, as evidenced by the world's deafening silence as people in Darfur execute "population control". It is also manifested in the silence regarding North Korea. I can go on and on. There are many situations where if we were a caring, compassionate race, it would enrage all of us to the core, and boots would be on the ground. It has come to my attention that in fact we are not a caring, compassionate race, and that we are willing to ignore atrocities all over the world to ensure we don't have to sacrifice anything.
All of the hope, the vigils, the protests will continue to amount to jack shit as long as there are people in the world who want to fight and kill to maintain power and control the populace. I'll take off my right-winger hat for a moment. I want to open my ears and listen to the leftists out there. I want to know how those of you on the left think we can attain world peace.
Jason
Jason's Journal
My Podcast Link
08/21/2005 15:58 #23546
How Do You Get Peace?Category: peace
08/21/2005 10:23 #23545
He Wouldn't Want To Live This WayCategory: euthanasia
We heard this argument in defense of the killing of Terri Schiavo. Let me pose the following question to you all: If someone doesn't like the situation they are in, if they don't want to live they way they are living, is it A-OK for that person to go to a doctor and be "put down" for lack of a better phrase, to end their suffering?
What do YOU think?
Jason
What do YOU think?
Jason
metalpeter - 08/21/05 12:01
I say it is not ok to put them down. The reason for that is often the state of mind or stress that person is in effects how they see the situition. For example what if I got attacked by a wrestler and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I love to walk places and hate being a burden on people and being staired at when I get on busses. So at the time I might not want to live. But once I adjusted to it I might be able to deal with it. My dealing with it would eventully make me mentally and emotionaly stonger.
Secondly there are ways to change the way they are living. I don't know exactly how since I don't know how they are living. I saw a movie once that made a great point about decideing to live on your own terms. This guy was getting ready to kill himself. When these two guys come and try to kill him. So I think that he would just let them, but no all movie he fights them. See he was saying I chose when I die not someone else, it was his decision of if he wanted to die and how he dies not theirs, that is a powerfull message.
The problem with Shivo was there where two differant belifes or ideas on what her wishes where. I know people say that there was braindamage that couldn't be undone. But we don't know as much about the brain and mind as we think we do. What if in 15 years there is some breakthrough and they find a way to make nerves and braintissue regrow.
I say it is not ok to put them down. The reason for that is often the state of mind or stress that person is in effects how they see the situition. For example what if I got attacked by a wrestler and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I love to walk places and hate being a burden on people and being staired at when I get on busses. So at the time I might not want to live. But once I adjusted to it I might be able to deal with it. My dealing with it would eventully make me mentally and emotionaly stonger.
Secondly there are ways to change the way they are living. I don't know exactly how since I don't know how they are living. I saw a movie once that made a great point about decideing to live on your own terms. This guy was getting ready to kill himself. When these two guys come and try to kill him. So I think that he would just let them, but no all movie he fights them. See he was saying I chose when I die not someone else, it was his decision of if he wanted to die and how he dies not theirs, that is a powerfull message.
The problem with Shivo was there where two differant belifes or ideas on what her wishes where. I know people say that there was braindamage that couldn't be undone. But we don't know as much about the brain and mind as we think we do. What if in 15 years there is some breakthrough and they find a way to make nerves and braintissue regrow.
ladycroft - 08/21/05 11:53
That is a negatory ghost rider. I mean each case is entirely its own, but as a whole, no. Particularly in this case, the woman is going to die of starvation and dehydration. Yah, that’s just the ‘peaceful’ way I want to go. Ask anyone who has had a near death experience in a desert, dying this way is not peaceful, even in an incapacitated state. People die every day from simple things, from complex things…and people survive horrible injury and illness to make random recoveries. We can’t foresee each individual’s outcome so who are we to think we have the capacity to pass judgment?
That is a negatory ghost rider. I mean each case is entirely its own, but as a whole, no. Particularly in this case, the woman is going to die of starvation and dehydration. Yah, that’s just the ‘peaceful’ way I want to go. Ask anyone who has had a near death experience in a desert, dying this way is not peaceful, even in an incapacitated state. People die every day from simple things, from complex things…and people survive horrible injury and illness to make random recoveries. We can’t foresee each individual’s outcome so who are we to think we have the capacity to pass judgment?
08/21/2005 10:12 #23544
JoshyCategory: rant
Leave your comments to yourself. I'll just go and delete them anyway. I'm not interested in your frothing at the mouth counter arguments. I did not sully your pristine, shinier than shiny name. I did not drag your name through the mud. If that were my intention I would have brought up many other more personal, more scathing things that have pissed me off over the past years, and my words would be full of bitterness, not sorrow.
This is MY SPACE, the ONLY SPACE that I have in the world to air my grievances, as neither you nor any of our friends are interested in hearing me out whenever I have a problem. If I'm upset I am forced to bottle it up and let it fester. Do you really think that I'm going to let you manipulate what I say on here, by showing me your obsessive/compulsive behavior when someone says something that pisses you off, no matter how true it is? Do you really think that you can make me "check myself" on my own journal?
To paraphrase Jesus, it is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, it is what comes out of his mouth that makes him unclean, because what comes out of a man's mouth comes from his heart. I think about this very carefully before I say something about someone. Do you? I did not do you wrong. I laid out a factual account of my grievances and I'm sorry that you're upset but what do you expect when I can't talk to you about any of this? You don't want to listen to me. It's either I air this stuff out somehow, or I lose my shit altogether.
Jason
PS - Contrary to what you might think, yes I am depressed.
This is MY SPACE, the ONLY SPACE that I have in the world to air my grievances, as neither you nor any of our friends are interested in hearing me out whenever I have a problem. If I'm upset I am forced to bottle it up and let it fester. Do you really think that I'm going to let you manipulate what I say on here, by showing me your obsessive/compulsive behavior when someone says something that pisses you off, no matter how true it is? Do you really think that you can make me "check myself" on my own journal?
To paraphrase Jesus, it is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, it is what comes out of his mouth that makes him unclean, because what comes out of a man's mouth comes from his heart. I think about this very carefully before I say something about someone. Do you? I did not do you wrong. I laid out a factual account of my grievances and I'm sorry that you're upset but what do you expect when I can't talk to you about any of this? You don't want to listen to me. It's either I air this stuff out somehow, or I lose my shit altogether.
Jason
PS - Contrary to what you might think, yes I am depressed.
08/20/2005 23:46 #23543
IPTV and EnergyCategory: business
Here is an article from National Review about IPTV:
I like the idea of being able to tailor-make your tv environment. I don't watch most of what's on tv. If I could have sports, educational programming, history channel, discovery, sci fi - I would probably have everything I want. I wonder how this will play out in the future, given that companies eschew technology advances when it won't make them money.
I don't like the fact that we don't have choices when it comes to certain things - like electricity and cable tv. It's true, Adelphia owns Buffalo. You can't get away from their advertising (I noticed that the big screen on Chippewa (e:Paul) posted about recently pimped Adelphia). Cable TV and other business sectors own monopolies all over the USA. In general I like my Adelphia internet - it is much much better than DSL and costs the same. I also like my digital cable. I've discovered lots of programming that I never knew existed. One thing I know for sure is that if other cable providers were allowed to compete with Adelphia in the Buffalo market we all would get better service and better prices. Will that ever happen? HA! No way - like the article says local governments are complicit in this kind of travesty.
When are utilities or cable providers ever subject to competition, like every other kind of business? I'm beginning to move toward the left when it comes to regulating certain industries - it is obvious we are being taken for a ride when it comes to energy. I remember back in Jamestown - the city of Jamestown has its own electricity company, under the authority of the city government. Service is great and prices are cheap. Oil companies are making record profits. Energy companies make backroom deals with politicians to screw us over.
I'm beginning to think that certain industries are too important to leave to our capitalist structure - energy being the most important. We also will be slow to receive technological advances in this industry because of profit concerns. There are so many political decisions made in the interest of keeping our energy needs intact. I can't wait for the day when we can tell the middle east FUCK OFF, KEEP YOUR DIRTY OIL. I am not naive enough to think this can happen overnight, but we should be making a serious push to a near-future of energy independence. Well, at least as long as it isn't in our own back yard!
Jason
I like the idea of being able to tailor-make your tv environment. I don't watch most of what's on tv. If I could have sports, educational programming, history channel, discovery, sci fi - I would probably have everything I want. I wonder how this will play out in the future, given that companies eschew technology advances when it won't make them money.
I don't like the fact that we don't have choices when it comes to certain things - like electricity and cable tv. It's true, Adelphia owns Buffalo. You can't get away from their advertising (I noticed that the big screen on Chippewa (e:Paul) posted about recently pimped Adelphia). Cable TV and other business sectors own monopolies all over the USA. In general I like my Adelphia internet - it is much much better than DSL and costs the same. I also like my digital cable. I've discovered lots of programming that I never knew existed. One thing I know for sure is that if other cable providers were allowed to compete with Adelphia in the Buffalo market we all would get better service and better prices. Will that ever happen? HA! No way - like the article says local governments are complicit in this kind of travesty.
When are utilities or cable providers ever subject to competition, like every other kind of business? I'm beginning to move toward the left when it comes to regulating certain industries - it is obvious we are being taken for a ride when it comes to energy. I remember back in Jamestown - the city of Jamestown has its own electricity company, under the authority of the city government. Service is great and prices are cheap. Oil companies are making record profits. Energy companies make backroom deals with politicians to screw us over.
I'm beginning to think that certain industries are too important to leave to our capitalist structure - energy being the most important. We also will be slow to receive technological advances in this industry because of profit concerns. There are so many political decisions made in the interest of keeping our energy needs intact. I can't wait for the day when we can tell the middle east FUCK OFF, KEEP YOUR DIRTY OIL. I am not naive enough to think this can happen overnight, but we should be making a serious push to a near-future of energy independence. Well, at least as long as it isn't in our own back yard!
Jason
metalpeter - 08/21/05 09:33
I love my digital cable. There are a couple new Indemand chanels now. You can find almost any interest on cable with all the stations they have.
I do remeber that there used to be competion. In the City you got TCI the suburbs where Adelphia there where actully differant packages of chanels depending on where you lived in the burbs there where 2 differant Adelphia's. I belive Cable Vision and TCI competed for some time. There where rummors of Warner Brothers cable coming into buffalo and competing. Adelphia bought out TCI. Not sure if Adelphia was bought or if it merged. There is competion but it is in a dish. I know there are two companies and maybe a 3rd small one.
I think competion is good. It helps keep prices down and would get more options of picking stations. One thing I do have to say about Direct TV is they do have the NFL package that almost got me to try it. I want to look into what NFL on demand is that Adelphia is offering it was free for a little whiele when there wasn't a NFL Season. NFL network came on so late the season was basicly over but this season I did watch some of the Bills scrimadge. I look forward to seeing what it has. I wish Adelphia would get WWE 24/7 I might get it depending on price. There are a lot of stations out there we don't get that if there was competetion we might. Like why don't we get all the local candian stations and a couple more NYC stations.
I love my digital cable. There are a couple new Indemand chanels now. You can find almost any interest on cable with all the stations they have.
I do remeber that there used to be competion. In the City you got TCI the suburbs where Adelphia there where actully differant packages of chanels depending on where you lived in the burbs there where 2 differant Adelphia's. I belive Cable Vision and TCI competed for some time. There where rummors of Warner Brothers cable coming into buffalo and competing. Adelphia bought out TCI. Not sure if Adelphia was bought or if it merged. There is competion but it is in a dish. I know there are two companies and maybe a 3rd small one.
I think competion is good. It helps keep prices down and would get more options of picking stations. One thing I do have to say about Direct TV is they do have the NFL package that almost got me to try it. I want to look into what NFL on demand is that Adelphia is offering it was free for a little whiele when there wasn't a NFL Season. NFL network came on so late the season was basicly over but this season I did watch some of the Bills scrimadge. I look forward to seeing what it has. I wish Adelphia would get WWE 24/7 I might get it depending on price. There are a lot of stations out there we don't get that if there was competetion we might. Like why don't we get all the local candian stations and a couple more NYC stations.
08/21/2005 08:37 #23542
Baring My Soul!Category: deep thoughts
I am a fuck up. A loser. A nobody.
I am fucking up so bad. I'm on the verge of getting canned. I can't bother myself to do simple things around the house. I can't take care of myself. I can't manage to pay bills even though I have the money. I can't manage to take my meds regularly. I can't manage to do anything but sleep lately. I don't get excited about anything. Going to sleep is the only thing I look forward to.
Everything that has to do with this is my fault. I did this all to myself. Joshy says my depression doesn't have much to do with it. Dad calls me asking me if I'm okay and I don't want to worry him so I always say "Yeah Dad, I'm fine, everything is fine." The truth is that no, I'm not okay, not by a long shot. I don't know what my problem is. I don't know what's wrong with me. I've written about this a number of times but I'm not improving.
I feel like something has to change, or else I will end up a street bum or, God forbid, in a ditch. I know this shit is too sad and too difficult to read so I don't blame you. I want to be happy, I want to be a success. I want to pull out of this mess and laugh about it. I just don't think I have the will. Everyone who talks to me worries more about how this shit affects them. Joshy says I am self centered and spend too much time thinking about myself. Yes, maybe if I worry about everyone else my problems will go away. I worried about everyone else for a long time and it got me used, leeched off of, thrown away, and so forth. As long as I keep at work and pull in those paychecks everyone will be satisfied with me. Nobody asks or cares or wonders about my state of mind until something drastic happens. The most important thing, the thing that's emphasized the most, isn't that I become a happy or that I learn to cope with my problems - it is that I go to work and pull in paychecks. As long as that happens it is A-OK that I'm a miserable unhappy fuck! It is easier for some people to shit out a solid gold turd than to offer me caring or encouraging words. I am done talking to my family about this shit. Never again!
So I promise I won't rant about this shit ever again. I'm done talking about it. Please hold me to it. You all have your own issues ot deal with. You don't want to read this crap. Sometimes I think if I don't get it out my head will burst open. I don't know how to fix this stuff and don't know if I'll be able to. In the coming months all will be revealed. I'm going to get some Sparks and cry myself to sleep.
Peace Out!
I am fucking up so bad. I'm on the verge of getting canned. I can't bother myself to do simple things around the house. I can't take care of myself. I can't manage to pay bills even though I have the money. I can't manage to take my meds regularly. I can't manage to do anything but sleep lately. I don't get excited about anything. Going to sleep is the only thing I look forward to.
Everything that has to do with this is my fault. I did this all to myself. Joshy says my depression doesn't have much to do with it. Dad calls me asking me if I'm okay and I don't want to worry him so I always say "Yeah Dad, I'm fine, everything is fine." The truth is that no, I'm not okay, not by a long shot. I don't know what my problem is. I don't know what's wrong with me. I've written about this a number of times but I'm not improving.
I feel like something has to change, or else I will end up a street bum or, God forbid, in a ditch. I know this shit is too sad and too difficult to read so I don't blame you. I want to be happy, I want to be a success. I want to pull out of this mess and laugh about it. I just don't think I have the will. Everyone who talks to me worries more about how this shit affects them. Joshy says I am self centered and spend too much time thinking about myself. Yes, maybe if I worry about everyone else my problems will go away. I worried about everyone else for a long time and it got me used, leeched off of, thrown away, and so forth. As long as I keep at work and pull in those paychecks everyone will be satisfied with me. Nobody asks or cares or wonders about my state of mind until something drastic happens. The most important thing, the thing that's emphasized the most, isn't that I become a happy or that I learn to cope with my problems - it is that I go to work and pull in paychecks. As long as that happens it is A-OK that I'm a miserable unhappy fuck! It is easier for some people to shit out a solid gold turd than to offer me caring or encouraging words. I am done talking to my family about this shit. Never again!
So I promise I won't rant about this shit ever again. I'm done talking about it. Please hold me to it. You all have your own issues ot deal with. You don't want to read this crap. Sometimes I think if I don't get it out my head will burst open. I don't know how to fix this stuff and don't know if I'll be able to. In the coming months all will be revealed. I'm going to get some Sparks and cry myself to sleep.
Peace Out!
ladycroft - 08/21/05 12:06
No, don’t stop writing. If you bottle it up you will in fact, explode. Many people simply don’t understand depression and find it hard to be compassionate. Sometimes we get to run through the poppy fields in life, other times we trudge through the mud. Here’s to you finding that next poppy field! P.S. Good lyrics (e:Metalpeter).
No, don’t stop writing. If you bottle it up you will in fact, explode. Many people simply don’t understand depression and find it hard to be compassionate. Sometimes we get to run through the poppy fields in life, other times we trudge through the mud. Here’s to you finding that next poppy field! P.S. Good lyrics (e:Metalpeter).
metalpeter - 08/21/05 09:57
I admit I don't really know what to say or if anything I say will help but here goes.
I'm kinda a loser my self. You should see how messy my place is, it is a sty. I have a bad habit of paying bills late cause I forgetwhen they are due.
I think ones outlook on life can help them battle through tough times weather it be depression, loss of a loved one, humilation or what ever problem them have. I myself can't stand those chery people who are always happy and smily and always have a positive outlook on everything. But it is good to have a positive outlook on stuff and try not to worry. This coming from the guy who really isn't going anywhare in life and is single and can't have good relationships but other then that, i'm a great guy.
I'm a fan of a Hardcore band called Hatebreed. There biggest hit is on Their CD and the XXX soundtrack it has some verry positive and inspirtional lyrics it goes something like this: (not exact lyrics)
Now Is the time For me to rise
Wipe the spit from my face
wipe these tears from my eyes
I have to get my life back
later he sings about getting his life back and bringing meaning to his life, about how he been lead astry and how he will have his voice be heard. It is verry inspirational if you can uderstand what he is saying in some parts of the song I can't tell what he is saying and it is one of my favorite songs.
I wish you luck and hope you start looking forward to stuff. I think a lot of people define them sleves by bringing home money and it is good to pay the bills, but if working to many hours makes you misreable and you can't spend the money or have fun with it what's the point.
I admit I don't really know what to say or if anything I say will help but here goes.
I'm kinda a loser my self. You should see how messy my place is, it is a sty. I have a bad habit of paying bills late cause I forgetwhen they are due.
I think ones outlook on life can help them battle through tough times weather it be depression, loss of a loved one, humilation or what ever problem them have. I myself can't stand those chery people who are always happy and smily and always have a positive outlook on everything. But it is good to have a positive outlook on stuff and try not to worry. This coming from the guy who really isn't going anywhare in life and is single and can't have good relationships but other then that, i'm a great guy.
I'm a fan of a Hardcore band called Hatebreed. There biggest hit is on Their CD and the XXX soundtrack it has some verry positive and inspirtional lyrics it goes something like this: (not exact lyrics)
Now Is the time For me to rise
Wipe the spit from my face
wipe these tears from my eyes
I have to get my life back
later he sings about getting his life back and bringing meaning to his life, about how he been lead astry and how he will have his voice be heard. It is verry inspirational if you can uderstand what he is saying in some parts of the song I can't tell what he is saying and it is one of my favorite songs.
I wish you luck and hope you start looking forward to stuff. I think a lot of people define them sleves by bringing home money and it is good to pay the bills, but if working to many hours makes you misreable and you can't spend the money or have fun with it what's the point.
Some people belive that you have to have an army to create peace. China used to be a bunch of tribes or armies depending on how you look at it. There where verry blody and viscus wars untill One army took over all of china and made it one nation. That is the only way you will have peace in the world. It has been close to happening before. One could argue that if the US decided not to get invovled in WWII until we where attacked one could also argue that we would have let the rest of the world be one big empire and us Mexico canada would have been at peace and the end of wars would mean we would be at peace.
There have been others who have Taken over large areas fo the world but they have fallen eventully. I think that is the only real way for there to be world peace.
Oooops... I forgot to post the link
[inlink]dcoffee,5[/inlink]
It sounds like you might be interested in something I posted recently. it's about the problems in Iraq and policies that could lead us out of that mess.