Everything said by Usul in his comment against my earlier post about guns and the media, is absolutely true, but it doesn’t address my point. Sure, if some shootist takes his gun to the range and blows holes in a paper target all afternoon, it isn’t news; but when a 78 year old woman uses a handgun to defend herself from an intruder intent on robbing and/or raping her, I think it IS news. My real concern is not the specific subject, but is the bias shown by the general media. When some psycho-idiot shoots up a McDonalds or a mall somewhere, his tool is described in great detail, usually as an assault weapon, or worse, as an “assault-like weapon” (a meaningless term) which is nearly never true, but which sounds much scarier than simply saying “pistol” or “rifle”. However, in those few times when the legitimate self defense use of a gun makes the news, its usually described as “a handgun kept near the bed” or something like that. To get away from firearms, another good example is the use of the term SUV. In the media, an SUV is evil entity bent on the destruction of mankind. You can find so many examples of this that it actually becomes funny. Check the papers, if a Toyota sedan veers off the road into a crowd of pedestrians, the item will read something like “The driver lost control of his vehicle and crossed the centerline into a group of people waiting for a bus”. However, if the vehicle is any sort of 4-wheel drive or large sport vehicle, it is more likely to state “The SUV veered across the road to careen into a crowd of helpless people waiting for a bus.” It seems that the driver had no control at all when the SUV decided it had to take out those people. Watch for it, the evil SUV is really easy to find in the general news.

Today’s politicians seem to be an unhappy lot. In general, they don’t seem to have clear ideals and goals. Perhaps this has always been true, but our rapid and widespread news media are clearly revealing this trait to Everyman. Republicans declare profound ideals and plan great revisions to the system to bring them about; but lack the intestinal fortitude to actually make them happen. The always fold at the least opposition. On the other hand, Democrats, have no ideals or political direction except to thwart Republican plans, and this they continue to achieve with regularity. Extreme elements on both sides continue to press their own agendas and these are the views reported by the press. Everyman needs to get involved and generate some true direction for both parties.

…and the crowd goes wild!

Bottom of the ninth,

men on first and third,

other team ahead by two.

Hometown hero has two strikes

and three balls – last pitch of the game;

its a long pop-up and the world holds its breath,

It clears the fence…

…and the crowd goes wild!

Fourth down, eleven to go,

twenty-three seconds left.

The ball is hiked, the quarterback

grabs it, scrambles, and strikes a pose.

He lets fly just as he is taken down,

The end dodges, feints and pulls down the ball

like a spider reaching for a fly.

It’s a win…

…and the crowd goes wild!

The girl unlocks the door and enters;

she turns on the light, sheds her coat,

and enters the bathroom to turn on the shower.

Back out, she checks her messages;

only one from Mom; and takes off her clothes.

As she steps into the shower,

The killer emerges from the shadows of the closet…

…and the crowd goes wild!

Close-up of a victim, blood spreading in a slow shadow

from beneath his sprawled body,

The scene widens to show other victims,

some writhing in personal agony while

the perpetrator is interviewed.

He says he’s sorry…

…and the crowd goes wild!

It seems that a lot of people in America do not like guns. And that’s OK; this is America where differing opinions are not only permitted, but encouraged. No one is going to force anyone to use a gun if they don’t want to. Frankly, I think that this attitude has been promoted by a lot of bad press. A gun is a tool. Its no more dangerous than a baseball bat or a carving knife until you pick it up. The misuse of firearms is portrayed constantly in the news, but the other side, where firearms have been used to prevent crime or save lives, is given minimal coverage if at all. Life isn’t fair, I understand that. But some balance in the news, on this and on other subjects as well, would be a pleasant change.

This is my dog. He thinks just like me.

This site has only one purpose: to allow me to voice the ramblings of my fevered brain and express opinions that nobody wants to hear. This is my very own little nightmare where I can publish stray thoughts and vent repressed feelings. Here, I will expound on the inconsequential, belittle current trends and mores, and declare world saving pronouncements from on high. I may opine on politics, poetry, prose, photography, or any other p-word that comes to mind. I expect to praise and demean both the large and the small screens, and I will bemoan current trends in American culture.

Please join me. You are welcome (and even encouraged) to add your views. You may agree, disagree, comment, expand, or question. But remember, this is MY little corner in cyberspace and here, I am Dog… I mean God. I reserve the right to discuss any subject that comes to mind and to critique and censor differing opinions. If you don’t like it, get your own blog.