Ideologues

I think I have figured something out.  Those wingnuts that post crazy things to Facebook about all the rumors and myths about Obama are just blind with hatred.  That is why they don't recognize legitimate criticism of him.  That is why they focus on Benghazi, but ignore him pulling support from Egypt now that it is back under military rule.  That is why they complain about Syria, but ignore Saudi Arabia's anger at the lack of support.

One of the latest posts of the nuts is about Obama denying knowing about NSA tapping of foreign leaders phones.  It isn't that he did the tapping, or that as the chief executive he is responsible whether he knew about it or not.  It isn't about him not having control over the policies of our intelligence services.  It is if he lied about knowing of it.  My guess is that he knew about it, but needs to deny it in order to improve relations with the foreign governments or at least with the people in those countries.  But all the logical arguments are thrown out.  The only thing that matters is blind hatred of Obama.

Another one going around recently is the outrage over people having to change their insurance under Obamacare, because their current coverage doesn't meet the minimum standards of the ACA.  Instead of arguing that the standards should be lowered, they are just pissed that Obama said people would be able to keep their insurance.  This is just mind boggling.

Before Facebook, I had no idea there were this many crazy people.  I thought most people were normal level-headed moderates.  Boy was I wrong.  I have seen comments calling for Obama's impeachment, and saying he is the most evil person to hold the office of president.  I assume they have no clue about history, and not that they support things like the genocide of the American Indian.  I thought we were far more sophisticated than that.  I was wrong. 

Which Side of the Fence?

My favorite right wingnut posted on his facebook page a lame copied post about the difference between a conservative and a liberal.  I think I am going to alter what the conservative side should read...

If a Conservative doesn't like guns, it probably is just the one that he killed his homosexual neighbor with and is just throwing it away to get rid of the evidence.

If a Liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.



If a Conservative is a vegetarian, he is called a pussy by all his friends.

If a Liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.



If a Conservative is homosexual, he lives in fear that his friends will kill him for being a freak of nature.

If a Liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.



If a Conservative is down-and-out, he has finally figured out that the ponzi scheme was a bad idea.  Or, he thinks that if they cut taxes more, then the rich will let that money trickle down to him.  Or, he will just have more time to spend in front of the abortion clinic protesting while his brother goes in and kills him a doctor.
If a Liberal is down-and-out he wonders who is going to take care of him.



If a Conservative doesn't like a talk show host, she demands that Letterman apologizes for making fun of her slutty daughter.

A Liberal demands that those they don't like be shut down.



If a Conservative is a non-believer, his friends think he will spend the rest of eternity in Hell unless they save him.

A Liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.



If a Conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.  But, he will also think that this process is socialism because that is what Obamacare actually does.

If a Liberal decides he needs health care, he demands that the rest of us pay for his.



If a Conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends to reinforce his belief that he is cool rather than the reality that he is really a douche bag.

A Liberal will delete it because he's "offended".



Well, I forwarded it.   Note: The wingnut forwarded it.  I just ridiculed it.

Support the Military

It seems that everyone supports the military.  No matter if you are a hawk or a dove, you have to support the troops.  Everyone on TV goes out of their way to show how much they support the troops.  The small government conservatives still love a big government military.  We bash government institutions as incompetent, but not the military.  They are great.  If you dare to speak out against the military, you are going to be attacked.  But, isn't that a bit fascist?

We create slogans like "they are fighting for our freedom", but in reality our freedom hasn't been at risk since the 1940's.  In all seriousness, the Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II are the only wars were our freedom has been threatened.  The War of 1812 saw a threat to the country, but that was our own doing.  We could have stayed out of that war.  Far more often than fighting for our freedom, the military has been fighting to support the political ambitions of our elected officials.

Is it right to promote and praise individuals who have served in an organization whose purpose is to kill other human beings?  We don't have to vilify these people, but there isn't really a need to praise them as if they have saved your kitten from a tree.  Just treat them like you would the garbage man, the box boy at the grocery store, or a plumber.  That is because in the last 50 years, a soldier hasn't been any more important than people from those lines of work. 

Social Commentary

I am taking a break from the normal political, economic, and education related post to talk about something sociological...

It is not uncommon to see a car with a memorial on the back windshield.  It says something like "In loving memory of" and then the person's name and then the birth year and death year.  I can't help believe the person who owns the car isn't too bright.  I say that because there are much better ways to remember someone than on the back window of a car.  The car is going to eventually be destroyed and the memorial forgotten.  It is similar to the t-shirt with the kid who died during high school.  Is that the best you can do?  The answer to that is no, because I have heard of several people getting tattoos as memorials to departed family.

Here is the problem with all of those... they are superficial and very easy to do.  If you want to honor someone, change your life for the better in their honor.  Making yourself better will make those around you better and that will be passed on to following generations for hundreds of years.  That is the best legacy you can give someone.  It is more difficult, which is also why it is such a nice tribute to the departed.  

Expecting Privilege Without Accomplishment

This is going to be one of those teacher rants about what is wrong with kids today.  That is probably one of the more boring things to write about, but I think I have a good observation.  I am also not blaming kids.  Kids act the way they are conditioned to.  It is we, the adults, that have to take blame.

Today, for the second time this year, a student got made at the way I answered his question.  The first time, I was told by a student that I didn't have to "be smart".  Today, another student said I didn't have to be a "dick". 

The first time I was asked a question about the student's study guide and if he should tear the pages out of his notebook and turn them in.  He asked this as half the class was up stapling their pages that they tore out of their notebooks and turning them in.  So, I told him sarcastically to leave the pages in whatever they are currently in.  Turn in the notebook, backpack, shirt, jacket, car, house, whatever is surrounding it.  I said it with a smile and I joke all the time with my students, but this kid got all bent out of shape.  That is the fist time anyone has ever overtly been offended.

Today, I posted the scores of the final exams for the quarter.  I posted them in the classroom right under where I posted their grades right before the final.  I explained that they can figure out their grade for the quarter because the grades before the final represent 3/4 of their grade and their final score was the other 1/4.  Then I got a bunch of questions about what was their grade for the quarter.  Then I told them to just do the math.  Finally, a kid asks me if I am going to post the grades for the quarter.  So, I addressed the whole class, telling them that they should be able to do the math and figure it out.  It was simple math, and if they can't figure it out, they don't have the math skills expected of someone graduating high school.  That is when the kid told me I don't have to be a dick about it.  That is the second time that such a thing has happened since I started my teaching career. 

Here is the interesting thing about these two students: they violate classroom and school rules all the time.  I get on them about it, and I tell them that it hurts the participation portion of their grade.  They just don't care.  They care about being treated with respect and dignity, they just aren't going to give that back to anybody.  Here lies the problem.  Many kids want to be treated like they are better than others, but they do absolutely nothing to distinguish themselves from anyone else. 

Some might say that it is because the kids watch reality shows and see nobodies become somebodies without doing anything.  I disagree with that premise.  I think it is because adults don't treat them as average and instill in them the desire to accomplish something so they can be special.  We also make excuses for kids.  The kid that doesn't want to pay attention in class could have ADD.  The problem is, when there is something that he does like, that keeps his attention just fine.  I don't believe there is such a thing as Selective ADD (although that may be coming soon).

I could keep going, but I think you can get my idea.  We are creating a generation that thinks they are special because they are not dead.  In reality, there is a kid in Asia working his ass off to take the job of the American kid.  The structure of those Asian societies are such that failure is so present, that much fewer kids think they are special without accomplishment.  We need to pick up on that, or we will be raising a bunch of underachievers.