Sunday, August 28, 2005

Beggers, what about them?

I just read two different opinions about a new law being passed in Atlanta to control beggers.

I too think its silly to fine and imprison these people, um hello? They're begging for money, so apparently they don't have any to pay a fine. But I don't like being yelled at for not "donating", I don't like them to invade my space and suggest that it was worth my while to have them wipe my windshield with a dirty newspaper because if I don't... um scary!

There was a news story a while back that followed a "begger" on the street. He looked homeless and down on his luck, but actually he made so much money on the kindness of people that he'd go back to his nice house, have a good meal with his family and fly to Vegas and do some gambling on occassion. Nice!

Once on the streets of DC I saw a young kid sitting in front of a fast food place wearing a really nice, expensive running suit, expensive brand new looking sneakers, holding a sign asking for money, right in front of a help wanted sign. Um, get off your ass and get a job? I have no pity for those, especially when I'm working a second job to make ends meet and was detained during my measly half hour lunch break by him asking ME for money, then cursing me when all I had was enough for a stupid burger.

I remember bums when I was a kid. They weren't on the street corners, oh no. Bums in my town went from door to door asking to do odd jobs around the yard. Mowing, weeding, doing anything and all they wanted was some food and perhaps a dollar for the flea bite motel in town. They actually did things to earn the money and food given to them. Nowadays, all they do is stand at the busy intersection of malls with signs crafted from "open house" posters that litter the highways.

With all of the "services" and "programs" out there, I have to wonder why they don't seek those out to get help. Why aren't they using these things to help find a job, a place to stay, help for their problems. Is it because its easier to "be your own boss" and stand on the corner and get money for doing little if not nothing? Is it because these programs and services don't work?

How about we help out the bums by not giving them anything. If they aren't getting the money to feed their habits or get them through the day, then perhaps they will seek these places out and find that they can provide for themselves not just for today, but for the next week, or even the next year, instead of begging.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

She's back

It was a sweet week, too good to last, of course. It was sweet and serene because the newshounds weren't following Ms. Sheehan all over the place as they did her "ceremonial" chores at her Crawford, TX campsite. One reporter (probably the only honest one so far) mentioned the "made for TV movie" moment where she placed her son's boots near the cross with his name.

PUHLEEZE!

She's also now stated that even if she did get a meeting with President Bush, she won't let the issue die... so much for what she claimed before. She's getting more flip floppy than Mr. Kerry did during the election.

Now she plans to take her dog and pony show to Washington, DC. GOOD! Don't know where she plans to camp out around there, what with all the security restrictions, but good luck to her there. I'm sure the newspeople are relieved, because they can just point their cameras out of air conditioned offices to snap a pic of her, instead of shlepping to a field in Texas. Easier to whore her out for their own social agenda.

Why is this such a big deal? Because the newspeople want it to be. We only hear or see whatever they decide we need to hear or see, and this is what they deem appropriate for us to see and hear. Very little press on the protestors who support the troops, except to infer that they also support the war. NOBODY supports a war you dumb asses! Nobody wants people to go to war and die! But you don't sit over here in your cushy offices and "want" things your way just because that's how you think it should be. Life is unfair, deal with it. Death is even more unfair, so stop manipulating and making women with apparent "issues" into your cause celebre.

Tell the story newspeople. Not the parts that you want people to read and believe, but tell the whole story. Apparently "who, what, when, where, why, and how" became "this is what I want it to be"

So, Miss Sheehan, come on up to Washington, DC. I'll wave to you from the "You don't speak for us, Cindy" crowd with my sign that says that I proudly support our troops.

You go be remembered for the woman that caused our troops to get pulled out and MILLIONS of innocent Iraqi civilians to be slaughtered, much like what happened in Viet Nam after our troops pulled out... oh, sorry, not suppose to do that comparison, am I, only suppose to point out the shameful "loss" of a war?

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

When Protests Get Wacky

I feel sorry for Cindy Sheehan, really I do. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child, to war, to murder, to accidents, for any reason.

She's angry. I probably would be too, but I think she's angry at the wrong people.

I haven't read too much about her, mainly because she's now the most popular "celebrity" out there thanks to the Liberal Media. One woman taking on the President and trying to stop the war single-handedly. Nice. Good story... but.

Her son knew when he joined the military that there COULD be a chance that he would be asked to sacrifice his life for a cause. No matter what the cause.

So there weren't weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There WAS a horrible dictator who was killing, torturing, maiming and terrorizing his citizens, along with his nutcase sons. He took out a whole village of Kurds just to see if his chemical weapons would work, he supported and harbored the very terrorists who came over and killed our loved ones on our very own soil. Should we have let him continue his murderous ways? Should we just have sat back and watched as innocent people died under his tyranny, while he amassed more terrorists who would come onto our soil again and murdered us? Would she feel better had her son died because of that? Sitting in his home one day and have a plane crash down on him? Perhaps open his mail and die a slow horrible death from anthrax? Would she also be camped out bitching to Bush that he DIDN'T do something to stop that?

He died in combat. A lot of soldiers have, and probably a lot of them didn't understand or agree with the cause they were fighting for, but they enlisted, they were serving their countries, and every idiot knows what the military does, they fight, they die.

So, if we're only over there to help the Iraqis be free, is this a good cause? I seem to recall a little skirmish back in the 1700's where a whole lot of people died simply because they didn't like to be taxed without representation. Should we have started that little battle? Is it because this is a foreign country? Would it not be better for everyone to have freedom, and to not hate others with such a vengence that they go out and slaughter innocent people? Is that a good cause?

So, she's camped out along with other war protesters and whoever else has nothing better to do but camp out and "be one" with the war mom.

Meanwhile, back at the homefront, her husband has filed for divorce (way to keep the family together), and her other son (who may very well be dead to her for all she cares it seems) e-mailing her to come home and keep the family together.

I'm sorry Cindy, but your son is dead, and in your own words, nothing will bring him back. Stop paying your taxes, and yes, they will come after you. Lots of people lose loved ones every day, they go on. They embrace what they have left, and that is their families. They hold tight to each other and cherish each and every moment they have together, because they've learned that it may end at any moment. But you're in Texas in a tent. Do you even care where your "other" son is?

Who are you really angry at? Could it be yourself for not convincing your son not to join the military? Could it be that you encouraged him and now you have to live with that? Or could you be mad at your son for joining?

I see in a report that not only are you protesting your son's death, but now insist that Isreal get out of Palestine. Huh? The media is using you now as their spokes martyr, and you have lost sight of your protest. I don't like nuts in fudge, can you perhaps make a statement about that next, thanks

*** I just happened to look at Cindy's Web site and saw a link to donate money to her cause, and to help other families. Ok, that's a nice touch, helping other families who have lost loved ones in battle. OH BUT NO! It's to help other servicemember families to JOIN her protest in Crawford! Um, Cindy dear, a lot of these families lost their main breadwinner, they're too busy trying to figure out how to pay their bills, where they'll live (because if they lived on base, they have so many days to get out) and figuring out how to pay for funeral expenses (yes, the military does take up a lot of the costs, especially for those killed in battle, but there are other expenses to deal with). I'm sure they could give a rat's ass about joining you in a tent in Crawford, as they're probably living in a homeless shelter somewhere. You are out of touch and delusional.