three hundred forty three

 

EDUCATED or MISEDUCATED?

Our political leaders are obsessed with the education of our children. We constantly hear about the need for a college degree, high school diploma, elementary school, kindergarten, preschool and pre-pre-school. 

The state of education is a concern for both parties, one supports a tax supported voucher system to give families a choice of schools. One supports tax subsidized government schools with centrally mandated curriculum and mandatory preschool. The question is what are the students learning and why is it so important? 

Test scores have fallen but self-esteem has risen. Schools have become a social experiment that seems to be failing. Adding more money has shown no positive results, but the call for more and more money is rarely questioned. The demonizing of homeschooling and charter schools is puzzling considering the positive results. I must ask the question, is the real focus education or indoctrination?

What concerns me is there is a difference between a poor education and being miseducated. Everyone needs the basic tools to earn a living and handle money. We need to learn to read, write and do math, world and American history, and if you are from Texas state history. Civics classes to understand how government works from Washington to the local school board and an a basic understanding of our governing documents and our responsibility as citizens. 

Throughout history the education of the masses has been used to maintain a healthy functioning society. Before writing, history, traditions and skills were passed on through mentoring and story telling. The younger tribal members would memorize these stories and skills so they can pass them on to the next generation. 

As written languages were invented this knowledge was preserved in a more permanent way to be passed on to future generations. As technology progressed, the printing press, audio, photography, film and video were added.

No matter how well preserved the one variable was the motives of the people passing on the information. Like the telephone game a spoken message can get distorted but this distortion was only lessened as it was written down. Even now with HD video from the surface of Mars and access to the history and knowledge of the world in our pocket the distortion can still happen.

Even after we had writing leaders could limit access like they did through the dark ages. Man was kept illiterate only knowing what the leaders wanted them to know. The printing press broke down some of these walls to give more access to the masses resulting in a period of renaissance.

Radio, telegraph, newspapers and television brought information into our homes. Schools and universities grew in number and eventually a basic education was common. The literacy of the average person is hard to nail down. It is strange but the graphs I have found either omit the US completely or stop around 1979. Try to read the Federalist Papers today and tell me the average New York Times reader could comprehend them today.

Modern communication, internet search engines, social media, traditional media, news, radio, television and the movie industry came along in the past 75 years. 

Lately we are spinning out about censorship and a lying media. This is a big deal but the consumer of information is the real problem. Many lack the desire or interest in the truth, it's there, it's just harder to find. 

Curiosity is the key, but questioning the popular "truth" is not easy. The first time you turn over a lie is when the real journey begins. An over the top opposition to questioning the established "truth" is the second proof something is wrong. If you continue you are perceived as a threat and you are slandered, censored and banned. 

There is a war on several fronts. The news media shapes the information we see and hear, search engines hide or promote information and social media censors. The entertainment media tells dramatic stories to emotionally manipulate opinion or rewrite history.

Most are directed to an adult audience, but adults have the ability to critically think and peek behind the curtain. Unfortunately many are willingly deceived, its just easier to go along. 

What I am concerned about are the vulnerable impressive children. They sit in a classroom six hours a day listening to a significant adult with little supervision. This adult teacher is solely responsible for what is being taught in the classroom. 

Many are responsible teachers focused on education but many are focused on molding the opinions and values of their students. Unfortunately even teachers without an agenda are required to use educational materials that have a built in agenda. 

Through out history the practice of propagandizing children to destroy a civilization has been very effective. In only a generation or two a society can forget its history and principles. Not that our children will be the next Khmer Rouge but ignorant and narcissistic works too.

We are in a bad place today, my education included history, civics and a focus on personal responsibility. Any moral or sexual question was redirected to the parents because it wasn't the schools business. 

I'm not the sharpest knife but I do have a basic understanding of our history and founding and my right to ask questions. Today we have a generation of young adults leaving college who don't have a clue. I fear the most successful graduates may be the most compliant.

I don't blame them they are sitting ducks. My hope is the American spirit of independence is still in their natures. All is not lost, there is a bright light, there is a grass roots movement of young people who are realizing they have been lied to and they are really pissed off.

    

three hundred forty two

 I know most people thought this was only a movie about a bunch of guys fighting, but that's only a part of the story. Since it came out in 1999 I have watched it a dozen or more times. The profound insights of Tyler Durden played by Brad Pitt were profound. Ed Norton as the narrator did not have a character name.

The movie name turned off a large part of the audience so it effected the box office success but over time it has become a cult classic.

Here are a few of the quotes.....

I know these are dark quotes but they do cut to the chase. I have written in earlier posts about my favorite book in the Bible, Ecclesiastes. It has a similar theme, there is nothing new under the sun and everything is meaningless. They both talk about distractions, poor perspectives and the futility of stuff.

Many don't like studying Ecclesiastes because of it's negative message, but it is the bottom line truth. Unlike the movie it ends with a positive conclusion and gives a positive direction. Fight Club just gets you to think and embrace life.

Yes it's a guy movie, I've watched it with women but they don't get it. Perhaps it is speaking a language only men understand. I imagine this movie would get panned today if it was made, it is far from meeting woke standards.

I watch this movie now and then to get a slap of reality. I don't run out to pick a fight or long to have a sweaty fist fight in a dark basement, but I do think about what is really not important.

I must admit in my misspent youth I learn a lot about myself fighting. I don't recommend it but I do recommend not being afraid of it either.

three hundred forty one

 

MIDDLE OF THE HERD

A theme has been moving through the rooms of AA lately, a call to stay in the middle of the herd. Several have left the herd and relapse through the past years of lock downs. This disruption made it difficult to stay in connection with other alcoholics. 

In person weekly meetings were limited to one or two compared to the regular 120.  Zoom became an alternative but it was a poor substitute for hugs, eye contact and holding hands in a circle prayer at the end of each meeting. Coffee shops and restaurants were closed so no meet ups or step work.

Isolation, binging on Netflix, eating too much, lack of activity, close quarters and working from home soon lost it's charm. Fifteen days stretched into years which gave the lone alcoholic the opportunity to quietly slip through the cracks. 

It's hard enough to stay connected but with the added isolation many more relapsed, suffered from depression and loneliness and sadly some died. Normally thirty people die of this disease every hour but through the blur of politics we will never know how many more lost their lives.

Unprotected and disconnected from the herd we were vulnerable, unaccountable and secretive. The lie rattling around in every alcoholics brain eventually made sense again so secret test drinking to sooth problems took many quietly out.

In Bend Oregon we have 26 legal recreational pot dispensaries. Through the wisdom of government package liquor stores and the pot stores were deemed essential services and remained open for business. Churches, AA, Al-Anon and NA meetings were not, what could possibly go wrong?

We did the best we could to stay connected, most of my friends survived but how many new people didn't have an opportunity to get sober. 

This year is coming to an end and who knows what next year will bring. The theme of getting in the middle of the herd rings true to most who survived. We do more texts through the day, phone calls to check in, a few more meetings with meals before or after, meeting for coffee, step work with sponsees and time with a sponsor all add to the safety of the herd.

We don't always talk "program" we do what I call "I give a shit" calls. A voice and a loving wisecrack that may evolve into a needed serious conversation. Just the act of doing this keeps us all connected.

We saw the damage the lock downs did when we weren't prepared so we are preparing for what ever the future holds. The pain of losing another friend to alcohol or death is too much to carry alone so we have no choice but to stay close together as a herd.

three hundred forty

 PRINCIPLES NOT PERSONALITIES

I have these on my desk next to my computer. I bought them on the Shayrl Attkissonn web site. I respect Sharyl because of her reporting integrity but I take her advice to do my own research, make up my own mind and think for myself. I read her reporting, but I do not assume she is always right I take her advice and research it.

Telling me the debate is over, the science is settled or claim everyone agrees, I take exception with these statements. These statements are designed to stop any debate. 

Any call for debate is called denial, misinformation, hate speech or  conspiracy theories. It has now been proven that any hint of opposing evidence has been censored. They do not debate or show their homework. They fear debate because their arguments and research may not hold up under scrutiny. If their arguments and research are solid they should welcome open debate to prove they are right. When they stoop to belittling insults and siting 20 year old polling, I'm not impressed. 

In spite of censorship there is information out there. It just takes a little more effort to find. Discerning the validity of sources is a little tricky but with a little scrutiny and common sense over time the facts will surface.

Many people trust a charismatic man or woman on a panel opinion show. If the panelist is from a particular ethnic group or race they are unquestionable experts. If they suffer from a handicap or illness, suffered a crime or performed a role in a movie, they are an unimpeachable experts and if they are anywhere on the gender or sexual preference spectrum, they can't be challenged. 

Asking questions is off limits and holding a different opinion can lose you a job or career. Yielding to the cult of personalities is the easier softer way. Seeking truth will get you banned, censored and unemployed.

Self censoring is everywhere today, I know I do it. If this blog had more then five followers I would already be in trouble and all I have revealed so far is the tip. 

My mission is like Shayrl's I want people to make the effort to research, make up their own mind and think for themselves.

Like Shayrl I'm not promoting my ideas or opinions. I express a few opinions but I welcome debate. I want to know the truth not build a following, I want you to have your own opinion, not someone else's. I look at these mugs everyday to remind me about principles not personalities and to earnestly seek for truth no matter where it leads.

I have lately put out opinions others may challenge. This blog is open to debate, I welcome it. If I don't have challengers, I'll begin to think I'm always right and that could turn me into an arragant jerk. If that happens I might qualify for a spot on a panel and that would be bad.

Oh, I forgot I'm not a "former prosecutor" so I guess I'm safe. 

three hundred thirty nine

MORMON CRICKETS

I heard about these when I was riding my bicycle through Nevada and Utah. I asked about the make shift corrugated steel fences around some of the houses on highway 50. They told stories about Mormon Crickets rampaging by the millions across the countryside. These fences were to stop them or make them bypass the houses.

They told me of blood red inch deep slime of dead crickets on the highways. They caused car accidents, ate crops, covered houses and made it almost impossible to enjoy the outdoors.

 

I thought it was just a good story to impress me but I heard the exact same story from several people. 

I grew up in eastern Ohio with mosquitos and flies. The summers in farming areas had clouds of flies and at dawn and dusk the mosquito swarms were unbearable. I had no idea how bad they were until I moved away.

I lived in Hawaii for four years. The insects in the tropics are everywhere so controlling them is just part of your day. There are some harmful ones but most are just a nuisance. The locals were much more tolerant but like me from Ohio bugs are just part of life.

Mormon crickets are actually not a cricket, they are Shield-backed Katydids. They are called crickets because the males make a cricket noise. They got the Mormon name because they destroyed the crops of Utah Mormon settlements in the 1800's. 

Three out of every ten years they emerge in large numbers depending on weather conditions and other factors. They eat every plant around them then rampage in search of food. They don't bite humans but they eat most plants, other insects and each other alive or dead. 

 

The four or five foot high corrugated steel fences are buried in the ground to prevent the wave of invaders from crawling under or climbing over to swarm the houses. I assume they work because most rural houses had them. They were unsightly which revealed the level of chaos happening when they were built.

The descriptions of road conditions during these swarms were the most interesting. As traffic killed a few the others crowed to eat then as more are killed the slime of the large juicy dead bugs grows and grows. They talked about multi car accidents with casualties and the red slime covering the cars and trucks.

I thought they were exaggerating but I can see how that could happen. They all told me it would be hard for me to ride my bike through these areas, I now agree.

Where ever you live there is something weird, horrible or interesting depending on your perspective. These critters are now being found in Oregon, but I'm not heading to Home Depot for supplies yet.

Video One link     Video Two link     Video Three Link

This video one shows Middle Gate Station near Fallon Nevada, I ate there on my way through Nevada on highway 50. This was my San Francisco to Maine trip.

three hundred thirty eight

 

THE CHOICE IS YOUR'S

This is the end of a long year, so much has happened, most of it out of our control. Life events can overwhelm us, loneliness, heartbreak, depression and loss. World events we can only watch, war, corruption, crime and disasters.

We are bombarded by the endless election cycle, a lying propaganda media, censorship, show trials, investigations, no investigations, rising prices, omnibus governing, open border, unequal justice, race-baiting, brainwashing children, a corrupt FBI, homelessness, drug overdoses, deteriorating cities and rising crime. It is like looking into the sun it will overwhelm you.

Triggered Snowflake, looks like that hurts.

The most frustrating thing is the inability to do a damn thing about it.  Some people check out, ignore everything and stay comfortably stupid. Some take the effort to see behind the curtain, but if they continue to wallow in the turmoil they risk their sanity. Some wholeheartedly believe the approved media, worship big government and stay blindly loyal to a political party. In this cozy bubble they are never challenged by opposing ideas but ironically they claim to be the most informed and enlightened.

Jimmy Fallon trying to be funny, but not in the way he intended.

We have one more choice, that choice is humor. I read The Onion and Babylon Bee everyday for a laugh. If you take politics so seriously that  you can't see the humor in it you may be a cult member. I see it everyday, a simple joke, sarcastic Tweet or funny meme can fill two days of the news cycle.

Kieth Olbermann outage rants, still shooting for that Edward R Murrow award.

Things I find hilarious. The screaming crying triggered smart ass snowflake drama on snap chat, the selective drama queen outrage on panel shows, comedians trying to be funny while tip toeing through the woke mine field and heads exploding when someone asks a real question in a press conference. 

It's disinformation, it's not happening, it's the best it has ever been in history, it's a stunt and the last administration ate our homework.

I can take it seriously, get angry, think everyone is buying into the BS or laugh. I choose to find the humor in this silly game. 

The master plan is to keep us divided, pissed off and feeling that all is lost. I choose to laugh.

The View from inside the bubble

I can walk and chew gum at the same time. There is a time for seriousness and action but there is also a time to piss my pants laughing.

three hundred thirty seven

 

PATRIARCHY

My last post I first used this word because I have often heard it used as a slur so I did some research. I found a spectrum of definitions and some of the newer ones are quite hateful so I thought I would go back to our past to see how it was used in positive and negative ways. 

I searched for how it was supposed to work and how it has been abused. The word has reached buzz word status today so just the mention of the word triggers strong reactions. 

Big business and government is open to criticism for sure. The good old boy network and discrimination are wrong. We have made progress in this area and there needs to be more. Women are as capable of running large corporations as anyone. 

Business is rough and tumble ruled by profits. To rise to the top of a ruthless cut throat rule bending big business what ever the anatomy requires a ruthless cut throat rule bending leader. Climbing the ladder in search of power, people will use any advantage they can find so networking, nepotism and victimhood are tools to get there. 

Politics is a little different. Many women have entered this world and have become successful. Raise enough support and convince enough voters and you will have the job. After that, keeping promises, serving constituents and being ethical should get you reelected. 

Politics is unfortunately even more screwed up then big business. Politicians don't answer to a board of directors looking for profits. To keep their jobs they do need to raise money and constantly focus on maintaining an image by using teams of pollsters and advisers. No tactic is off limits so everyone is subject to attacks. 

(No Pelosi crying pics, her tear ducts haven't worked for years.)

Charges of oppression, misogyny, racism, bigotry, hypocrisy, rumors of corruption and scandals while claiming victimhood is now a too common tactic. If adding more minorities or women is the fix for division, I don't see any evidence this works. Candidates with good character of any sex or color can get elected but even they only last a term or two if they don't play the game.     

I'll leave those two institutions to fend for themselves. I agree they are fair game for criticism, investigations and protests. Remember as consumers and constituents we usually get more of what we ask for. If you want leaders with character look for leaders with character.

The patriarchy I am focused on is man's role in the family. I think it has two elements, one is a charge of responsibility and the other is breaking a 50/50 tie. 

The many misconceptions and abuse of the words "leader" and "head" makes it a hard subject to discuss. I won't attempt to explain why men were put in this position but I will look at how it works.

A man's charge comes in two parts, the actual responsibility and the power to carry it out. Far too many men embrace the power and forget the responsibility. These men deserve the criticism they get.

Many men take on the charge of responsibility but don't have the support to carry it out. A woman can help him be successful or sabotage him to make him fail. If he is looking after the best interest of his family why not help?

There are many ways to lead, if a wife is more suited to lead and he takes a support role he is still responsible to fulfill his charge. The focus is fulfilling the charge not being the boss.

It's confusing to many men, they think they need to act like the boss but it doesn't fit their nature. It is probably better if you do it the way that fits you best.

Being an example to the children is important so leading as a team using the talents and abilities of both parents is healthy.

He is the tie breaker, after both sides give their input on a decision and they don't agree someone needs to break the tie. 

If she supports him and they succeed he will thank her for supporting him. If he fails he can't blame her for not supporting him. This draws them closer together. A bonus for her is she can remind him of this for the rest of his life.

If she doesn't support him and they fail he may blame her, if they succeed he may gloat because he did it in spite of her. This will divide them. 

Keeping ego in check is the key. Even though styles differ fulfilling the charge is the mission.

What is the charge exactly? Provider, protector, role model, spiritual example, disciplinarian, nurturer, mentor, companion, romantic partner, supporter and handy man. 

I love strong women, I have no issue taking on a supporting role. Even though I have a submissive nature, together we get the job done and I have no problem giving her full credit. 

Being more assertive works too, some women want a man with a take charge bossy style, it just doesn't fit me. The critics have a problem with this style. God picked men to be the responsible party, I cant tell you why this is, I guess it had to fall on someone.

I don't have answers I'm just saying how I feel. The "Patriarchy" has been a catchall for the problems of the world, but I hear no real solutions just complaints. 

Changing the genitalia of the people in charge without a focus on character is not a serious solution. If the focus is solely on who holds the power then it's just another power grab.

three hundred thirty six

 

MASCULINITY

Today masculinity is under attack. Men have been demonized and blamed for all violence, war, hatred, rape, macho and every evil imaginable. Don't get me wrong there are men with poor character who break the law, abuse or bully women, children or other men, engage in corrupt business practices or misuse authority. The men who  do this should be held accountable for their actions, but labeling all men as bad because they live in a testosterone fueled body is wrong.

I still say that there is a difference between men and women. I know that is not a "woke" opinion, but I'm old and have my sex organs on the outside. Some say I have no right to say that because I'm not a biologist. I could come up with a few clever comparisons but I'll just stop at that's just stupid. 

I grew up in different times but abusive criminal men were just as wrong as they are today. It would be like a person who attends a church, owns a computer, owns an American flag and lives in a rural state is responsible for a crime one thousand miles away, oh wait that already happens.

Boys are aggressive, competitive, reckless and physical.  In their early teens testosterone goes on overdrive so they are insane into their twenties, or maybe seventies now that I'm there. 

Men do do silly things to impress women. Like the bird kingdom they puff themselves up, ward off competing males, dress in fancy clothing, display their dominance and physical prowess and engage in exotic dances. 

The females engage in similar practices. They sit in judgment of the competing males. They are in total control of the situation while the males make fools of themselves. This is full blown testosterone in action. 

  

Wealth, physical prowess, the ability to protect and provide are assessed by the female. She plays her part in the ritual by displaying her beauty using makeup, revealing clothing and flirtation. Let's be honest first impressions are based on these rituals. 

The elements of the ritual from the ancient world thru the 20's, 60's, 80's up to now have changed but underneath they are basically the same ritual. The "woke" mob has attacked this but I'm sure there are "cis-males" showing off their socially aware vegan woke credentials  to impress cute "cis-females".

 My generation raced and wrecked muscle cars. We talked trash and got in fist fights but basically we were trying to impress a girl. We were political and got behind causes but those too had a mating motive. All of this as testosterone screamed in our ears, the pursuit of females was in the center of everything.

Later in life I discovered what a real man was. Even though I had been bombarded by the message of honor, responsibility, strength and virtue from the adults around me, at work, in school and in the media it finally sunk in. I do not blame any young person for the views they have because they never here these values expressed in a positive way. They are usually mocked as outdated, out of touch and fools.

What it is to be a man has been blurred. The media portrays men as macho, sexist, violent, crude, womanizing, immoral pigs, but when they do show the man of character honor and responsibility who is a law abiding family man, but is rarely casted as the hero. After a few plot twists he eventually becomes the hypocritical bad guy. So the image of a man is trashed at both ends. Virtue, honor, responsibility, monogamy, protector, leader, provider, disciplinarian and spiritual head of the family is mocked and demonized.

 

Professor Jordan Peterson is one voice that promotes male responsibility. He has been savagely attacked link for encouraging young men to step up to the challenges of life and become virtuous responsible men. He has written life changing books that have inspired hundreds of thousands of young men to be better men. He has been ignored, smeared, slandered and censored for this. In spite of this opposition the common sense principles he lays out in his books continues to effect a generation of young men.

I attend mostly men's AA meetings. I have nothing against mixed meetings, in fact I have learned valuable lessons from women in my sobriety journey. Men act much different with just one woman in the room, I'll admit I do. I love my wife and have no urge to cheat. The reality of testosterone racing through my veins and pheromones in the room at a subconscious level I feel my feathers puff and I suck in my belly. 

In an all men's meeting the rough and tumble of male humor, the straight honest talk and the bluntness if being called out for bull shit is something not every woman would understand. 

The average woman would be surprised what real men talk about. Yes there is a little bar room talk but my experience is the majority of men feel like they can always do better. They yearn to be better husbands, fathers, friends and citizens. Most feel alone and it takes a while for them to open up. Sure there are self centered jerks, macho men, womanizers, thieves and liars, but they don't hang around long. I guess the strip joints can use the money.

I have seen strong men weep, morn loss, feel the shame of financial failure as a bread winner and yearn for answers to heal relationships. Not every man follows sports, has ever been in a fight or was led around by their penis. Most men are lonely and insecure but they do it in secret. 

My dad a few months before he became ill.

Men are cave dwellers, we feel safe there. We will invite a woman in but don't want it redecorated. Real men are not victims, they keep their emotions in check, but they share them with a fishing pole or wrench in their hand.

I grew up with several examples of how to be a man. Some taught me the wrong things but most challenged me to be responsible, honest and loyal. Sure men can be pigs but most are doing the deal. They pay their bills, obey laws, provide for their families, are loyal to their wives, work hard and show up on time.

There are fewer and fewer good examples of good masculinity presented to young men today. Entertainment media emasculate and feminize men. The warriors and police in the middle of a fire fight continuously share their insecurities with each other while they kill the bad guys.

Once the testosterone starts to flow growing up is confusing enough. Combine that with the new societal pressures its no wonder they choose to wear a dress. I know I'm old and my idea of how men dress, play and conduct themselves is dated, but the fundamental essence of a good man never changes.

Our leaders

Living in central Oregon the young guys I know have started businesses, have a trade, are raising families and are becoming positive male mentors. They hunt and fish, have nice trucks and a motorcycle, go family camping and can build and fix stuff. 

Some would see them as Neanderthal knuckle dragging mouth breathing breeders. I doubt they have ventured far from their bubble to meet these men. I have lived in many places in and out of that bubble and this small town gives me hope for our future.

All is not lost, this weird detour we are on goes against basic human nature it will not last. If this is natural it would not have taken this long to surface. The pendulum swings slowly sometimes and there will always be people pushing the boundaries. I can't wait to get back to live and let live.