Enough is Enough

We as a culture have been ok with allowing opinions to hold as much power as facts for too long.


I have been avoiding Facebook because my levels of severe depression and hopelessness over the sheer level of denial that exists among people in this country have been shooting up pretty much everytime I am on there. Too many intelligent people I know are selfishly wearing blinders and ignoring all the actual data that is out there. People won't think for themselves or look at data or listen to reason. It's like people worshipping at the feet of the golden calf, but this is a golden gun.


It is proven fact that being male, growing up abused, suffering from addiction, having a previous history of violence, and having access to weapons are the main causes of violence in America. All of these need to be addressed, starting with the issues that can be dealt with most expediently.


I am no longer engaging ANYONE in discussions about reasonable gun control and how to change the tides of what is happening in our country. I will keep sharing things on social media as I feel necessary. If you spew blind ignorance and proof that you refuse to look at any actual data in response to anything I share you will be ignored and your response may be deleted if you start insulting me or anyone who is looking at actual facts.


I REFUSE to show tolerance for people's uninformed opinions anymore. The proof is there. It is there worldwide. If you don't want to bother to do your research (when the research is easily available) then you are choosing to be ignorant and I do not have to pamper you by giving your opinions based on any lack of actual information even a nod of respect.


We as a culture have been ok with allowing opinions to hold as much power as facts for too long. I no longer sit back and pander to uninformed opinions. I am done. I am taking a stand for factual data.

Us vs. Them: Racism, Religious Prejudice and Violence

It seems like every day at least one article about violence stemming racism, homophobia, or religious prejudice (or all of the above) comes through my newsfeed. I can recognize where the violence and bigotry come from: fear, ignorance, a deep seated sense of powerlessness, and primitive brain defensive mechanisms. Recognizing that doesn’t excuse it though; it condemns it. If we can recognize where these actions come from we, as a supposedly intelligent species, should be able to rise above and be better than this.

We are wired to classify the things in our lives. “Us vs. Them” thinking kept us safe and alive for a very long portion of human history. That which is unknown, or at least unlike the norm, always has the potential to be dangerous simply because we do not know that it isn’t. When we classify a thing as dangerous just because it is different it behooves us to study it to determine if our knee jerk reaction is correct or just an ancient fight or flight reflex. The problem is the way we learn about it can cause just as many problems as the original fear response.

So many people look for things to strengthen their prejudices and discard information that doesn’t with no concern about the reliability of the source of either type of information. They make assumptions without knowing anything about the people or subject involved, or based on just the most superficial of facts. They choose to strengthen their own fears rather than admit that they might be wrong. It’s easier and safer for the ego to vilify the “enemy” than to understand them. The media seems to have been actively supporting this with clickbait headlines, massively polarized articles, and "fake news."

When people don’t have power in their own lives for whatever reason (poverty, lack of education, lack of experience) it is easy to boost themselves up with the belief that they are somehow better than another group or that the other group is the reason for some aspect of their difficulties. When fear and powerlessness come together with the desire to do something about it people lash out, but they lash out where they can feel like they have power. They do not lash out at prey that might fight back and win, instead they attack those who are seen as weaker. They might even spout propaganda, like “The poor Muslim women are subjugated by the evil murderous Muslim men and sharia law!,” but then lash out at the terrifying spectre of Islam and sharia law wherever they can thereby taking control of their fear so as to not feel powerless against it. Adult white “Christian” men attacking Muslim girls and women are a good example of this. They neither see the hypocrisy of this, nor how it blatantly shows their fear and lack of power.

All of us can make steps against this type of fear and ignorance. Recognize your own prejudices and work to move past them. Educate yourself. Don’t believe the clickbait. Check sources. Look for multiple reputable sources. Make your voice heard when people say things that you recognize come from prejudice, ignorance, fear or powerlessness instead of truth. Stop supporting the idea that ignorance, fear, and the need to beef up macho power is an acceptable excuse for appalling verbal and physical behavior. The world is not Christian vs. Muslim, rich vs. poor, nor is it white vs. any other color. Look at it this way, the only Us vs. Them thinking we need to be doing at this point in our evolution is ”informed caring humans vs. those who haven’t reached that point yet” and the goal is not to shun or harm the people who are hiding behind a wall of fear and ignorance, but to inform them and help them past it so we can all work together to make our world a safe place for all people no matter thier color or creed.