Let's Talk About Gun Violence

My stomach has been churning as I read some of the idiotic comments on Facebook in response to posts about yesterday's student-led march against ongoing gun violence.    

• Are people so obtuse that they actually believe that the student leaders of the march in Washington, D.C., are being paid to lead this growing movement? 
• Do the gun nuts really think that liberals are behind a plot to take their precious guns away? Nobody has ever suggested such a thing. 
• Why do certain politicians (for example Marco Rubio) denigrate these student leaders as nothing more than kids who have no business trying to influence legislation? Meanwhile, Rubio and other so-called 'leaders' happily allow themselves to be bought by the NRA.
• And let's not forget such an intellectual luminary as former senator Rick Santorum, who believes that rather than protesting the gun violence that makes students fearful to attend school, they would be better served by learning CPR. 
• Do these cretins really believe that because criminals are not deterred by gun laws, there is no point in strengthening laws that control access to guns? By that logic, we could argue that since certain people continue to drink and drive, there is no point in having laws that prohibit drunk driving. Or since some people commit murder or rape, why bother to outlaw those activities? According to this line of thinking, there is no point in having any laws because there will always be some people who break them.

Here are my thoughts about this debate:

• People do not need to own an AR-15 for hunting or for personal protection. Such weapons have only one purpose -- to kill many people in a very short amount of time.  
• The argument that guns don't kill people, people kill people, is old, tired and should be thrown onto the trash heap. 
• The same goes for the argument that cars, knives and bombs can be used to kill people. Knives and cars have purposes that aren't simply to kill large numbers of people. Cars, unlike guns, require a test to be allowed to operate one. Cars must be licensed and insured. Guns, not so much. The analogy between guns and cars is ridiculous. As for bombs, few people have the knowledge to make and set off a bomb.
• And stop trying to compare gun killings with abortions, which are legal in the United States and have NOTHING to do with slowing down the gun violence ravaging our country.
• When the US Constitution and its various amendments were written, the weapons available were musket loaders that fired a single shot. I doubt that the founding fathers ever envisioned a time when firearms that can shoot hundreds of round a minutes would be readily available.
• The Second Amendment does not guarantee anybody the right to own an AR-15 or any other kind of semi-automatic or automatic rifle. It states that people who are part of a "well regulated militia" (something the gun lovers conveniently ignore) have the right to bear arms. So let them buy a musket loader.
• We shouldn't be afraid to send our children to school, or to go to the movies or the shopping mall.
• There is no simple solution.to this problem. It will take changes in the laws combined with social and societal changes before we can get a handle on the gun violence issues. Mental health issues also need to be addressed. Sadly, people want to find a simple solution that fits into a neat little box. Sorry folks, it isn't that easy.

What really saddens me is that despite overwhelming public support for stricter gun laws (NOT taking away anybody's weapons), both Congress and the NRA are unwilling to support even the most common sense changes. It also saddens me that it is impossible to have a reasoned, rational discussion about gun violence in American. Our wonderful Congress even refuses to allow the Centers for Disease Control to pursue studies into the issue of gun violence. 

This isn't an all-or-nothing issue, folks. There is a middle ground. Many students have stepped up to lead the movement to address gun violence. We adults have failed to curb the violence, or even to take any meaningful action. Offering 'thoughts and prayers' is a waste of time. I hope the students -- many of whom will soon be able to vote -- will be able to do what adults have failed, or been unwilling, to do.

Freedom From Religion

How I wish people would keep their religions to themselves!

Really. I don't care to hear about other people's religions. If I'm interested, have questions or want to learn more about a given religion, I will seek answers. But I don't want people ringing my doorbell to talk to me about their church or their faith. And I especially resent people trying to force me and others to live according to their beliefs.

I don't care what religion someone professes to follow. I have a friend who is Muslim. I have Jewish friends, as well as Christian friends of various denominations. I have a friend who is Buddhist, and I have friends who are atheists and agnostics. Their religious beliefs don't matter to me. When I was in college, I had a roommate who was Mormon and another who was Catholic. I was raised in one of the mainstream Protestant religions. We got along fine because religion was not an issue with us. I haven't been inside a church for many years, but I consider myself to be a Christian.

So I have a real problem with people who try to impose their religious beliefs on others. Don't believe in birth control? Then don't use it, but stop trying to make it difficult to obtain for those who do. Don't like abortion? Fine, that's your right. But stop trying to change the law of the land and make abortions illegal.

The US Constitution protects Americans' ability to worship freely. It also prohibits the establishment of an official religion. I believe the Constitution also gives us the right to be free from religion. We should not be forced to follow a particular religion, and this also means that we should be free from being forced to live according to someone else's religious beliefs. Employees of any level of government must not be allowed to use their religious beliefs to discriminate against others, as was the case with the elected county clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue marriage licenses -- part of the job she was paid to do -- to same-sex couples because of her 'religious' objections. 

A growing number of Americans believes that churches that engage in politics -- and many do -- should lose their tax-exempt status. Preachers, priests, rabbis or imams who talk about politics in their homilies or sermons, and those who hint how their congregants should vote,  should have their institution's tax-exempt status revoked, as should any non-religious organization that engages in any form of political activity. 

I worked for the federal government for 23 years, and I was not allowed to put a political sign in my front yard, a political bumper sticker on my car or to campaign for a partisan candidate or discuss politics when I was acting in my official capacity. There were times when I was asked my opinion about an issue that had a political spin, and I would reply that "I don't have an opinion about that" or "My opinion isn't important here."

Now we are dealing with an administration that freely mixes politics and religion. The vice president is a well-known evangelical "Christian" who has publicly criticized gays, wants to make abortion illegal and in general is doing his best to make the country follow his religious beliefs. The same holds true for the secretary of education, who keeps pushing for a 'Christian' public education system.

The founding fathers emphasized separation of church and state for a good reason. It's time to remind today's elected officials of that fact.

What if ...

I heard part of a poem on BBC Radio last week. One line stuck with me: "What if ..."

That made me think about all the 'what if' scenarios that are possible: What if people

• treated each other with respect, as they wish to be treated
• took care of our planet
• were kind to one another
• were kind to animals
• helped those in need
• stopped being so greedy
• tried to understand and accept other cultures
• took the time to listen
• picked up whatever trash they see as they walk their neighborhoods or visit local parks
• spoke up for the bullied, the poor, the homeless
• took care of their bodies through good nutrition and exercise
• educated themselves about issues of importance to the nation rather than simply believing whatever they are told
• took the time to hold rational discussions with those with whom they don't agree, rather than resorting to name calling
• performed random acts of kindness
• said 'thank you' for every act of kindness, no matter how small
• focused on the good

This world, and this country, are being torn apart by greed, corruption and rudeness. Too many people never look beyond themselves. It seems to be only "what's in it for me?" What if each of us committed to doing one good thing every day? Think of the impact this simple act would have on our country. Doing good makes both the donor and the recipient feel good. 

What can you do today to make this a better world? I think I will start by picking up some of the trash (discarded cans and bottles) I come across during my daily walk.

The End of A Long Tradition

Do you remember when it used to take all Sunday morning to read the newspaper? I do.

I have always loved to read, whether it's the daily newspaper or a book (I have close to 150 books on my Kindle at the moment).  But sadly, my decades-long tradition of spending a lazy Sunday morning drinking tea and reading the paper is coming to an end.

I will not renew my subscription to the local newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, when it is up for renewal in early April. There are a few reasons for this decision, which I have threatened to carry out in the past. This time I mean it.

First, the newspaper's content continues to dwindle. Reading the Sunday paper takes less than an hour. I don't read the sports or classified ads sections, so there is little to read. 

Second, the price continues to rise. The latest price hike raises the annual subscription to $260. If the newspaper actually had some content, that might not be such a big deal. But paying more and more for less and less content isn't something I'm willing to do.

Finally, the delivery service is terrible. Five times during the past two weeks the morning paper (which is supposed to be delivered no later than 6 a.m.) wasn't delivered at all. I always call and report the delivery problem to the automated system (good luck trying to reach a real person), and I always request that a replacement be delivered.

Here is what happened on the five days I didn't get a newspaper. On three occasions, someone delivered a paper to my front door in short order, ringing the doorbell to alert me to the delivery. Once, I found out the following day that electrical issues had kept the printing presses from operating. The missing paper was delivered a day late. Who wants a newspaper with day-old news? On the fifth occurrence, the paper was delivered to my door in mid-to-late afternoon, with no ringing of the doorbell. I found the paper the following morning. 

So no, I won't be renewing my subscription. 

Common Courtesy: Endangered or Extinct?

Has common courtesy become extinct?

Do parents no longer teach manners to their kids? I'm not talking about knowing which of three forks on the table to use first. I'm talking about simple basic manners: things such as saying 'please' and 'thank you.' Holding the door for the person behind you. Letting someone with two items check out of the store ahead of you with your cart full of groceries. And acknowledging the person who let you go ahead of them in line.

This came to mind recently after a couple of experiences. Someone helped me return a defective television set twice because the first replacement was also damaged out of the box. The set was too big to fit into my small car, so this person offered to bring his truck to transport the television to the store and bring the replacement home. He also set the television up for me. I thanked him in person, and I also sent a text message the following morning reiterating my thanks and appreciation. I never heard back, not even a "You're welcome" or "Happy to help."

Another person had asked me to send her a couple of cookie recipes that I make every holiday season. I scanned them, sent them via e-mail, and texted to let her know the recipes were in her in-box. Again, I heard nothing.

These are little things, granted, but illustrative of a definite lack of common courtesy among our society. I always thank someone who holds the door for me, or who lets me go ahead in a checkout line if I have only a couple of items. If somebody lets me into traffic, I acknowledge the kindness with a friendly wave.

If I do something for someone, I expect a 'thank you.' I don't expect an award or a ticker tape parade, but some recognition of my kindness is appreciated. Maybe I should expect nothing more than the knowledge that I did a good thing. But that isn't the way I was raised.

I once volunteered to photograph some incoming dogs for a local animal rescue group. I photographed all 35 dogs just an hour or so after the request was made on Facebook. I then e-mailed the photos within an hour of arriving home, and I got ... nothing in response. I did this on no notice because I saw a need and knew that I could help. Another time, I dropped off several large bags of dog food that had been donated to another rescue group that decided to share the bounty. The staff, sitting outside at a picnic table, acted totally disinterested. Nobody offered a receipt or a word of thanks. Guess who doesn't offer any assistance to that organization any more?

Being polite and courteous costs the giver -- and the recipient -- nothing. How much effort does it take to say 'thank you' or to hold the door for someone? How much effort does it take to thank someone who brings a gift from another country or who pays for lunch? 

I have a local friend who has driven me to more eye appointments than I can remember. She expects nothing in return, but I always thank her. I take her to lunch from time to time to express my gratitude. And I bring her a bag of coffee beans (she loves coffee) if I visit a coffee-growing country. These are small gestures, but they are important to let her know I really do appreciate her kindness.

Common courtesy means more than simply saying 'please' and 'thank you.' It means holding the door for the person behind you. It means letting someone with just a couple of items in the line at the grocery store go ahead of you. It means not cutting another driver off in your rush to grab a parking spot. It means letting another driver merge in front of you (I will do this, but not if the lane ahead is closed, the closure was announced half a mile back, and the driver waits until the last second to pull into my lane). Courtesy means being nice to cashiers and clerks even when you are having a bad day. It means not making a right turn on red into oncoming traffic, then flipping off the driver of the oncoming car (who clearly has the right of way). 

Courtesy means not tailgaiting me when I am driving down a two-lane road in a residential area and driving the speed limit. Riding my bumper won't make me speed up. In fact, it just might make me slow down a bit. Courtesy also means not driving 25 mph when the speed limit is 35 mph and there is a long line of vehicles backed up behind you. How about putting your phone away when you're having a meal with a friend or family member? Unless you're a physician on call at a local hospital, that call or text message can wait. And how about not subjecting the rest of the world to your one-sided phone conversation when we're on an airplane waiting to take off? If you bump into somebody, have the decency to say 'excuse me' or 'sorry.' I was on an airplane flying from Moscow to Tyumen', Russia, with my daughter a few years ago. A Russian woman barged up the aisle and nearly knocked me over. When I said "Hey!" in surprise, she muttered 'Sorry', but I don't think she meant it.

Common courtesy, it appears, is no longer common. It appears to have gone the way of common sense. Common courtesy is a little thing, but it can make the world a much nicer place. What has happened to basic manners? Are we Americans so self-absorbed that we no longer realize that we share this planet with others? Have saying 'please' and 'thank you' gone out of style? Has our obsession with cell phones created our glaring lack of manners?

Readers, what do you think? Have you noticed the increasing lack of manners in our world?

Say 'No' to All Tax Increases!

Why don't governments, at all levels, live within their means? Why is the only solution ever considered a tax increase?

It doesn't matter which level of government we're talking about -- local, county, state or federal. No government entity is capable, or at least willing, to live within its means. 

If my bank account gets a bit low, I cut back on spending. I purchase only what I absolutely need. I delay major purchases or home improvement projects.

Every year I am told that there will be little or no cost of living increase in my pension and Social Security payment because inflation is nonexistent or very low. Yet every year my Medicare premium increases. Each time I go to the grocery store, prices are higher than in the past.  A loaf of bread? $4. A gallon of milk? $3. A box of cereal? $4-$5.

Today's newspaper has a large, front-page story about how Albuquerque's newly elected mayor wants to impose a 3/8 percent tax increase without a vote by the citizens, something he promised when he was campaigning for the office.

I don't live in Albuquerque, but I do much of my non-grocery shopping there. When I go to the dentist or get my hair cut, I pay the Albuquerque sales tax (called, for some unknown reason, a 'gross receipts tax') on everything, including services. When I take one of my dogs to the veterinarian, I pay the Albuquerque sales tax. 

Has there ever been an agency that feeds off the public that doesn't want more money? A special addition to our property taxes to support the building of a new hospital was supposed to last only four years. When the increase was about to expire, the hospital, as expected, came back to the public trough for more money, despite the building having been in use for several years. Each election brings with it a bond issue for the schools or roads or police.. 

As a matter of principle, I vote against any and all bond issues that will result in a tax increase. Call it a 'gross receipts tax' or a 'mill levy' or anything else, it still is a tax increase. It still takes money out of my pocket. 

Private citizens are expected to live within their means. Non-profit organizations live within their means. Why do government legislative bodies feel they can simply raise taxes on others because they can't live within the funds allocated to them? And if funds are in such short supply, why do elected officials keep voting pay raises for themselves? The mayor and city council of the city where I live voted pay raises for themselves (although they won't take effect until the next batch of crooks is voted into office). The state legislators just voted themselves a 10 percent pay raise, while voting teachers a mere 2.5 percent increase.

Quite simply, it is time for the citizens to say 'enough!' The vast majority of elected officials do not represent me or the average citizen. A few years ago, the newly elected mayor and city council overturned an ordinance that would have forbidden the selling of animals by pet shops unless the animals were from local rescue groups. The ordinance had been developed with a great deal of citizen input. The tea party majority then chose to overturn the ordinance. So much for 'representative' government.

So no, I will not vote to support any request that will taise taxes in any form. Government officials need to learn that the public well is limited.

Step Away From the Computer and Experience Life

I spend a fair amount of time on Facebook, although I have cut back considerably over the past few months.

Part of the reason is that it just hurts too much to read the never ending stories of cruelty to animals, trophy hunting, trapping and many other manifestations of the black hearts of so many people.

Another part of the reason is reading still more examples of the greed, corruption and incompetence of the current administration, along with its grab for more power.

Finally, I have noticed that some of Facebook's tactics have become ever more intrusive.. Some examples:

• The constant reminders to "boost this post" or "similar posts that were boosted got more views." Boosting, of course, means paying Facebook to increase the number of people who see a given post.
• "Suggested groups" reminders show up incessantly, especially on my mobile devices. Most of the groups are either located several states away from me, or are groups in which I have absolutely no interest.
• The same goes for "people you may know" suggestions.
• "Get more likes, comments and shares."
• "Pages you may like" 
• "Promote page"
• Suggestions to add another page administrator to my two writing and photography pages. Why would I want to give someone else control of my pages?
• Ads, ads and more ads.

I get it. Facebook founder and billionaire Mark Zuckerberg wants ever more money. But if I want to promote my page or find a group to join, I will do that without being badgered by Facebook. I don't need the constant badgering.

Social media of all sorts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others) is great up to a point. But it appears that people have become so consumed with social media that they are losing contact with the people and events in the real world. Combine social media with the 24-hour news, and one's mind can easily become overwhelmed.

I suspect I will continue to limit my exposure to all forms of media. It's far healthier for me to be outside taking a walk, playing with my dogs in our yard, taking a trip to someplace new, or reading a book, than to sit in front of a computer or tablet being bombarded by negative stories.