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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Road Apples, #132

The Shooting...I'm still not sure what to make of the CT shooting.  Part of me has this visceral reaction, part of me just doesn't know what to think.  I do know this:  I'm pretty disgusted by some of the gut reactions by some, as expressed in the Facebooks.  On hand you have some calling for immediate gun control, on the other you have people claiming that we should be arming schools like they were prison yards.  It's all so very disconcerting.  From my last posting on the Facebooks:

"I'm pretty disgusted with Facebook now...all the "Put God in schools", "turn schools into armed fortresses" and "gun control now" stuff is getting a bit disturbing. 

Yes, I believe in God, but I'm sorry, forcing kids to pray and read the 10 Commandments will not prevent another shooting. By the way, precisely WHICH GOD are we to be putting in schools? The stern God of Baptists or the understanding God of my college chaplain? And what about children who are Muslim, Taoists, Buddhists, and non-believers? Besides, we already have places where people read scripture and pray: they are called "churches", "temples" and "mosques". 

Also, do we really want heavily armed men patrolling our schools? Does a kindergartner really need to see someone with an M16 greet them every morning? What kind of lesson does THAT teach our children? We already have places full of armed guards, locked doors and high-security: they are called "jails". 

While I'm at it, whining about gun control will not solve any problems either. The Genie is out of the bottle already for God's sake. You can no more legislate cultural change than you can morality.

I really don't know what the solution is to all this madness is, but I can tell you this much: it will not be found in or inspired by a Facebook meme.

Rant completed."


Proud Father Department...My youngest daughter is transferring to a school in NEPA, as she has figured out that living away at West Chester just isn't for her. Home sick?  I don't necessarily think so.  My youngest is a very hard working individual and I think it's more a case of her wanted to be able to go to school and continue to work at a job she likes.  You can't ask for much more than that in the parenthood department.

Work...When I do the tale of the tape, I have exactly two more days in the office for 2012:  this coming Thursday and Monday the 26th.  I also have two days of training coming up in Newark, but that's hardly time in the office.  Even with this I think I am still carrying over something like 14 vacation days into 2013.  I have plans for the weekend before New Years, but it will also be nice to have a few days during the week of Christmas to relax and contemplate.  There is much to be thankful for, much to plan, much to do.

Westboro Baptist Church...is apparently going to "protest" at upcoming shooting victim funerals.  Let me get right to the point:  these pigs don't deserve to be in the same state as the heroes and children who recently died.  Never before has a group so tarnished the notion of religious freedom and freedom of speech.

Walking Dead...I tried to watch the Walking Dead last weekend, but I just couldn't.  It's such a dark, dark show.  At first it seemed that there was some hope for these survivors, but now, well, it's all just death and decay.  I don't need the negativity.

Scranton Follies...Apparently the good judges will be handing down their decision on Scranton's commuter tax before the end of the upcoming week.  I've made no secret that I find the tax to be nothing more than a sham, an excuse to perpetrate mis-management of the city, a targeting of a group that can't vote against those who are imposing the tax.  Here's to hoping that the panel of judges forces Scranton's leadership to face reality now, because if they don't, they will simply have to face reality later.

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