Interesting read..

http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/11/ferguson-conspiracy-exposed/

Especially the statistics.  I haven't seen the video yet.
I have seen the general trend of white people apologizing or being made to feel they should apologize for being white.
Ultimately, there is a force in our country driven to stir up division. By race, gender, wealth, world-view or anything else that is politically expedient. imho, this force is also fighting to supress critical thinking & the educational atmosphere that promotes it. I did a search on Ferguson conspiracy because I heard this week that protestors are being paid to stir up trouble. I know there are very few who read what I write, but no one reads what is never written.

The What If's

First, let me ask a few questions.  Have there ever been whites to take a stand against racism against a black person?  Before you answer, take a look at who has been involved this week.  Have there ever been blacks to take a stand against racism against a white person?  Before you answer, yes, there is racism against white people.

What if Wilson did not shoot?
What if Brown got Wilson's gun?
Would there be any news?
Would there be any protests?
Would Wilson be alive?
Are you thinking that Wilson would deserve it?
So aren't you racist to think that?
I wonder if Brown would have been caught if Wilson did not survive.
Who would care then?
Yes our country is torn apart by racism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_card

crfu.co.nz/crfuclubs/index.cfm/

http://www.diversityinc.com/ask-the-white-guy/does-playing-the-race-card-make-you-racist/
I found this particularly interesting  so I looked up racism: http://goo.gl/OYK5Wz

How would I define playing the race card?  It is making a hasty assumption or a prejudicially motivated action that claims something is racially motivated out of convenience without knowing the facts.  An example would be to say you did not receive a job offer because the interviewer is racist without any other evidence than not getting the job.  That's playing the race card.  We can say that about anything and unfortunately in pc America no one is calling folks out on it.  You say #Ferguson is about racism.  I say you are right.  It is about America turning this tragic event into a racial issue with a wholesale distribution of and slamming down the race card.  The flames are flashing as I type these words.
Should I even be involved with this?  When I see Cindy being discriminated against because she is white.  I think maybe yes.  Too long have believers sat on their laurels as our nation and liberties come crashing down around us.  I personally think it is too late, but I know who holds tomorrow, so it matters not if I know what tomorrow holds.

In case you missed it the First Time

Here are a few excerpts from Obama's comments with a few notes of insight IMHO.

I also appeal to the law enforcement officials in Ferguson and the region to show care and restraint in managing peaceful protests that may occur.  Understand, our police officers put their lives on the line for us every single day.  They’ve got a tough job to do to maintain public safety and hold accountable those who break the law.  As they do their jobs in the coming days, they need to work with the community, not against the community, to distinguish the handful of people who may use the grand jury’s decision as an excuse for violence -- distinguish them from the vast majority who just want their voices heard around legitimate issues in terms of how communities and law enforcement interact. 
-insinuates law enforcement are not working with the community.

Finally, we need to recognize that the situation in Ferguson speaks to broader challenges that we still face as a nation.  The fact is, in too many parts of this country, a deep distrust exists between law enforcement and communities of color.  Some of this is the result of the legacy of racial discrimination in this country.  And this is tragic, because nobody needs good policing more than poor communities with higher crime rates.  The good news is we know there are things we can do to help.  And I’ve instructed Attorney General Holder to work with cities across the country to help build better relations between communities and law enforcement. 
-racial differentiation and insisting discrimination is rampant 

-- but also who are interested in working with this administration and local and state officials to start tackling much-needed criminal justice reform. 
-insinuating that this was a case of injustice.
**lynch mob justice is not justice.  For more details, see recent posts.

But what is also true is that there are still problems and communities of color aren't just making these problems up.  Separating that from this particular decision, there are issues in which the law too often feels as if it is being applied in discriminatory fashion.  I don't think that's the norm.  I don't think that's true for the majority of communities or the vast majority of law enforcement officials.  
-Finally, Obama admits that with problems in some places in the country, that does not mean it is the case here. (however, the damage is already done in first remarks)

Those of you who are watching tonight understand that there’s never an excuse for violence, particularly when there are a lot of people in goodwill out there who are willing to work on these issues. 
-I find it difficult to give Obama the benefit of the doubt that he is not inciting violence with his double talk. Especially in light of his track record.

then we can make progress not just in Ferguson, but in a lot of other cities and communities around the country.
-another insinuation that this case was a case of injustice (I strongly disagree)

**Let me add that the very first I heard of this story led me to believe that Wilson did commit a crime.  Law enforcement who commit illegal acts must be held accountable.  Wilson faced the gauntlet and was found to be exonerated.  Guess what folks, this happens with cases around the country every day.  Someone is only indicted when the evidence points to them actually committing a crime.  You do not take a case to court if there is no case.  You can even learn that from watching Perry Mason.

Here's a quick update... I just read these comments on the same topic & thought I would add them as a followup to mine.

http://www.city-journal.org/2014/eon1125hm.html

Talk of the town

I see everybody talks, but nobody listens. I don't think I can do much better, but since I do like to say 2 cents twice daily, I thought I would include another article I found helpful: enjoy!!
http://www.city-journal.org/2014/eon1006hm.html

Part of the Solution: Making the case for Justice

Part of the Solution

Making the case for Justice and self-defense.
Make no mistake about it, Brown died in the perpetration of a crime.  He was not a victim.  Obama incites violence and condemns it with the same words.  Should we shoot criminals?  No.  Should we allow officers to defend themselves?  Should we avoid mob mentality?  How can Obama imply that the justice system is broken just because the race card did not trump this trick?  When we sacrifice truth and justice for political expediency and the preferential treatment of anyone who says they face discrimination, we pulverize the marble foundations of this American experiment.  The clock is ticking.  How many decades, years, or days will pass before the republic falls to the mob of chaos, tyranny, or anarchy?

Race cards gone wild

http://www.city-journal.org/2014/24_4_racial-microaggression.html

Here is the natural progression of race card use without being challenged. The precedent was set in the murder trial of O J Simpson. I'm glad someone wrote this article

Bl-Inkable

I thought this sounded pretty good... what do you think?

How does one describe an unknown thing to a friend?  How can one share its meaning?  If only there were a way to use ideas and knowledge the listener already understands.  Perhaps by using some correlation to what is already known.  That may just be possible.  In fact, it has been attempted throughout literary history.  Was the writer successful?  A dear friend, Robert Frost used such descriptions, better known as metaphors, in his poem, “Fire and Ice” (Frost, R. 1920).  He speaks of the end of Earth in terms of fire and ice, yet he allows the reader to ponder the interpretation of how fire or ice could end the Earth.  Does this create images of what Frost could be describing?  This is the power of figures of speech.  It calls up the reader’s own experience and knowledge, empowers and drives the emotion within.  What substance makes up ink that would give it such power over the lives of men?

Frost, R. (1920). Fire and ice. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173527

Hey Hey Here's my Paper

So i have been going on and on about how higher learning is pushing humanism on the paying students... I wrote a paper on it and got a pretty decent grade on it... I didn't feel like I covered the topic sufficiently, but thought I would share it nonetheless
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4p52loiq3o35mya/The%20Lowering%20of%20High.docx?dl=0 

aBominable

Just Posted:

Hi class,

Before I give a direct response to Jennifer's comments, I would like to take a few moments to stand on the soap box.  In most every discussion where issues of faith are introduced, there is almost an immediate knee-jerk reaction about how Christians are cramming their beliefs down the throats of others.  I won't mention much about this other than my most recent discovery which is the fact that the institution of higher learning in America so vehemently attacks traditional judeo-christian values that it could be considered an honorary minor for every student.  I personally find this abominable and repulsive.  It is hypocrisy of the highest order to condemn me for mentioning anything of religious consequence and in the same breath promote the secular humanist world-view which is nothing short of a religion itself.  Not only do I wholly reject this horrific disregard for critical reasoning, I whole-heartedly and actively oppose it.  You may consider my conclusions unfounded, but I assure you that in every week of every lesson of every course in this University, it is crammed down my throat.  I have not hitherto done so, but hereafter, I pledge to annotate and reference the instances I face for the purpose of providing you with the evidence I have alluded.  If you are interested in some of these observations, check out the blog: http://reallyinsertquestionmarkhere.blogspot.com/ 

stepping down from soap box

For more details refer to the post on value pushing... I am building the list of evidence there..

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UssO_dx1Lm-TWzaDW_hjvbo4gX004qAc-JQp3Nf4VXo/edit?usp=sharing 

Unstoppable

I so enjoy finding opportunity to speak out on spiritual matters... here is one post I just added:

Hi Roxie,

People in the world have so many excuses to not believe in God.  Instead of considering the evidence of his existence, they dedicate their lives to persuading others that he is not real.  Bill Nye is one of the most outspoken crusaders against the citadel of religious faith ("Bill Nye | Official Website For Bill Nye The Science Guy", 2014).  As you mentioned, one of the most often used concerns about God's existence is, "if God is real, how could he let such awful things happen?"  Here is a movie trailer for a movie that addresses this question https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A22V5rIvmr4 .  The movie is available on Netflix in case you are interested.

Reference

Bill Nye | Official website for Bill Nye the science guy. (2014). Retrieved from http://billnye.com/