Tag Archives: politics

Reacting to Shootings in Newtown, Connecticut

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For those of you who have been following me for some time, you know that I am an avid advocate for gun control.  The events of Aurora, Colorado (about an hour south of me) changed me permanently.  I no longer feel like I can sit on the bleachers as shooting after shooting after shooting takes place in my country and my state.  I want to be an active part of the solution.  If you want to be a part of the solution, here’s a short list of what you can do today:

(1) Send condolences to the families.
(2) Contact local representatives and let them know this can never happen again.
(3) Give to charities who help families grieve through these charities
(4) Support loved ones with mental illnesses. If they know they are loved, they are less likely to reach their breaking point.

I am starting off with number two.  I spent the past hour writing a letter to my elected officials (state and national).  I suggest you do the same.  You are also welcome to share my open letter in any way you would like (just let me know).  Inaction is our biggest fault.  Here is the link:

An Open Letter to my Elected Officials Regarding the Shootings in Newtown, Connecticut

 

Election Day 2012 Wishlist

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The day is finally here.  I will be in front of my computer and a TV screen most the day.  Here is my hopeful list.  I know all of them won’t happen, but I sure hope a majority of them do.

  1. Amendment 64 in Colorado passes—Legalizing Marijuana.
  2. 3A passes in Greeley—allowing for a new middle school in my hometown.
  3. Obama wins the Presidency.
  4. Obama carries Colorado–I like seeing my state sway progressive.
  5. Marriage equality comes out strong in state amendments.
    1. Minnesota doesn’t define marriage as one man one woman.
    2. Washington legalizes gay marriage.
    3. Maine legalizes gay marriage.
    4. Maryland legalizes gay marriage.
  6. California bans the Death Penalty.
  7. Massachusetts becomes the next state to allow Assisted Suicide.

I also uploaded a piece on the Electoral College yesterday.  If you missed it, here is the link: Repeal the Electoral College

on the Electoral College & the Presidential Election

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With 25 hours or so until the first polling stations close on the East Coast, we are nearing the start of the 2016 Presidential Kickoff (Just Kidding…actually, maybe not).  Anyway, this has been a long and obnoxious election.  In the end, I became a part of the annoying group that talked too much about the election.  Sorry about that.

Tomorrow I will upload my Election Day Wish List–just something I put together every election day.  But, for today, I want to spend my time with you talking about the Electoral College.  I consider myself one of the fiercest opponents of this disgusting piece of law.  I cringe with anger at the mere mention of its name.  If you want to see the extent of my anger or just want to know more about the Electoral College, please read on:

Repeal the Electoral College

on Marijuana & Genocide

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With about 50 hours left until the Presidential Election, I can’t help but be one of the people to weigh in.  On Twitter and and Facebook, my focus has been on Amendment 64 here in Colorado–The amendment that will legalize and regulate Marijuana like Alcohol.  Although I would like to weigh in on the Romney versus Obama fight, it seems almost irrelevant.  At this point it’s like trying to debate gun rights or abortion–you’re not going to convince anyone.  But, with Amendment 64, I think we can educate the public on the truth about Cannabis:

1. Marijuana accounts for zero death per year.  Period.
2. Cannabis–the plant that bears THC–was originally made illegal because the timber industry saw it as a threat.
3. In countries where Marijuana has been legalized, the use of the drug by children has not increased.
4. Legalizing marijuana will be a massive blow to the drug cartels in Mexico–who currently are leading a disgusting war for control that is crippling the country.
5.  This is my personal opinion: The government’s main job is to protect us from each other…not to protect us from ourselves.

That being said, I am uploading an old paper I wrote for my Master’s Program in History.  This paper deals with the Armenian Genocide and how Turkey has covered it up in the century that has followed.  I’m mainly uploading this for a friend to read, but it is well worth the time.  If you do not know about the Armenian Genocide, give this a look.

The Armenian Genocide and Turkish Denial

The Stagner Chronicle: On Sale Now

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31 years after the conclusion of America’s Second Revolution, those involved in the events release “The Stagner Chronicle.” This oral history documents a drastically different history from the one set in the history books. While living in a dystopian America, three young men and women accidently spark a revolution. When they are declared enemies of the state, the trio must avoid capture or risk being thrown in an underground prison-known as a Black Site. Meanwhile, The Revolution gains some real traction.

Digital Copy for only $4.99
Paperback for only $9.80
Hardback for only $23.99

Purchase your copy here.

 

Free Pussy Riot and Stand Up for Freedom of Speech

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@suzanne_moore My fave things Pussy Riot are a reminder that revolution always begins in culture | Suzanne Moore http://gu.com/p/39ehk/tw@guardian
The story of Pussy Riot is a strange one.  As a writer, issues of free speech always catch my attention.  My writing always strays into the deep end.  I like exploring the world we live in by questioning every facet of that world.  For me, that is done through writing.  Through others, it is art.  For some, it is music.  So when a story like this one comes along, I cannot help but talk about it.  Freedom of Speech will only become a worldwide freedom if we continue to push it in every corner of this world.
@MotherJones Pussy Riot’s imprisonment has become a symbol of artistic struggle against political repression. Here’s how: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/what-is-pussy-riot-explained
Part of an artist’s job is to challenge their audience.  Put them in a place that they don’t feel comfortable…then make them think about it honestly and critically.  So, when Pussy Riot sang about anarchy in Russia, they knew full well that they were doing something morally right although legally wrong.  What I doubt they expected was to be in jail for months on end and semi-tortured (no official proof…yet).  Artists are the people who challenge culture and propel us forward.  Imprisoning them is nothing more than trying to stop the future from happening.
@freepussyriot Release the young women of Pussy Riot and immediately end their unjust criminal trial! http://www.causes.com/causes/787323-free-pussy-riot-now-pussy-riot/actions/1670648 #freepussyriot
The confusing part of these arrests is that backlash should be expected.  People will always love their artists more than they love their government.  When a government imprisons an artist for nothing more than to protect the government…the people will not stand for it.  That is why we are seeing large protests in Russia.  I recommend everyone follows the link below to sign the petition to free Pussy Riot.
@freepussyriot SIGN Release the young women of Pussy Riot and immediately end their unjust criminal trial! http://www.causes.com/causes/787323-free-pussy-riot-now-pussy-riot/actions/1670648 #FREEPUSSYRIOT
If the world stands behind the people of Russia as the people of Russia stand up to Vladimir Putin, we will be victorious.  Pussy Riot needs to be released.  That will not be the end of it.  The people of Russia understand the need for Free Speech.  We must help them fight for it….since protesting in Russia is still technically illegal.
@JulianSimpson1 Amnesty Intl campaign on Pussy Riot. Please RT.
@suigenerisjen #PussyRiot members ‘deprived of sleep and food’ during trial
@democracynow Members of Russian Feminist Punk Group @pussy_riot Tried for Church Protest

Kickstarter Update

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I just finished imputing all the grammar/spelling/syntax errors that my beta readers caught.  That means that the fourth draft of The Stagner Chronicle is now complete.  There is plenty of work left to do.  The editing process has entered the polishing stage.  This is where things get annoying.  All the big problems have been caught and changed.  Now it’s all about the small problems.  I want this novel to be as clean as possible before I send it out to my readers.  If you want to join the campaign, click here.

Today’s article is one of the most extreme and interesting things I have ever written.  I spent a good deal of time researching the flow of money in our world…and it left me extremely worried about the way the world works.  It is definitely worth a read for anyone who has ever wondered if there was another way.

Follow the Money to Understand the Power Structure of Our World

The Revolution Starts in The Living Room

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Join the Kickstarter Campaign to Publish “The Stagner Chronicle”

This is our last full day in Connecticut for my Grandmother’s 80th Birthday.  It’s been crazy busy.  Today is our relaxation day.  We’re all trying to figure out what else we want to do while we are on the coast.  We’ve already done seafood, the beach, and Duchess.  There doesn’t seem like there is much left to do.  It’s been a great trip.

I hope to get back to writing new things in the days ahead (instead of just posting old writings).  I don’t know how long that will last.  I get back to Colorado on Monday and leave for Iowa on Thursday/Friday.  Until then, let me know what you think about the changes around the blog.  Do you prefer the creative writing or the political writing?  Or a good mixture?  Today’s article focuses on the Occupy Movement.

Why Modern Revolutions Fail

100th Post

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Join the Kickstarter Campaign to Publish “The Stagner Chronicle”

I know it’s late, but seeing as I’ve been experimenting with everything in regards to blogging…why not.  This is my 100th post.  The past three months or so have been incredible.  This blog is forcing me to do exactly what I wanted it to do.  I write daily and am improving my craft at a far quicker rate than I thought possible.  I even was able to pull a novel out of nowhere in a matter of weeks.

The next 100 posts will be very interesting.  I am convinced that posting more often and writing about current events will become a permanent part of this blog.  Writing and spreading the word about important matters is all I really know…I couldn’t stay away if I wanted. So…here is update number three from the Manifesto.  Remember to check out the Kickstarter campaign.

Better Questions; Better Schools