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More from Murrahnithahn-i-ia
On the streets of Venice Beach, you can see some pretty neat things...
..gotta love a city that actually will fund anti-war protest attachments to the local signage. :)
..gotta love a city that actually will fund anti-war protest attachments to the local signage. :)
Category Photography / Miscellaneous
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File Size 159.2 kB
Well, I'm pacifistic by choice, but if I'm attacked personally, or if I see someone being abused (a woman or child, say), I will fight, usually to the attacker's detriment (though I usually just talk 'em out of violence, much to their confusion as to why they're obeying- I won't make a cereer of it, though- there is bound to be that one who is completely wacked who'll just shoot my dumb, yappy ass). But too often even "righteous" wars have political agendas, or are a straight up resource grab with the "righteous" part used to justify it the carpet-bombings. It seems to be all about who puts the best "spin" on things... I'm an idealistic cynic (that makes people go "huh?") because I've seen how often cherished beliefs are turned on their ear and turn out to be a load of crap fed to the public to raise fears, dollars and votes. Frankly, I have yet to see a war (other than the two World Wars, and even they had their points that I feel were unrelated to getting rid of Hitler) that had a true justice to it... Many start off with a good reason, but the politics gets into things and people start dying for somebody's access to the money or power and then there's someone else I have to lose respect for. Joy.
I have a problem with the idea that someone thinks I'm foolish because I believe virtually all war to be egregious bullshit and that learning how to live with each other peacefully, settle conflict non-violently and working together as a species is possible. I'm not sure what ideals you happen to hold, but don't you ever get sick of being treated as if your idealism were some kind of brain disease? I mean really. When did people lose their hope and strength of will to do something other than complain about how bad things are getting or just sitting in front of the tube, letting their brains atrophy?
Yes, there is a cost for peace- it's the cost of work, education, and seeing beyond our own self-interest. It's cost is sweat, heartache, loneliness and living with the ridicule a society conditioned to love the war-monger loves to heap onto the shoulders of those with differing opinions. The cost is knowing we need to work together for the survival of our species, seeing the long-term and not just tomorrow's paycheque or meal. It's cost is that we may have to live on a world slowly becoming unlivable and be unable to leave, unless we do something, even the small things. It's cost, in some places, is to fucking DIE. A cost that seems unsurmountable, or tiny, depending on your perspective. I have no illusions that we as people even come close to being Godlike, but maybe we can be, just a little. I'll settle for being adequately honest, hard-working and non-violent to the best of my ability.
It may sound contradictory, but isn't peace worth fighting for, even if one refuses to use a weapon to do it with?
Some folks see war as an evolutionary force- but I argue that it has the ugly habit of weeding out the strong, instead of the weak, something totally counter to proper evolution into a better "animal". Jokes about bombing ourselves back to the Stone-Age aside, war will ruin us as a species in more ways than just killing off, maiming, or hopelessly traumatizing our strong, healthy, breeding age youth. A little research into the rates of spousal abuse, alcoholism and child-abuse in military families will disabuse many of the notion that "the Army builds character"- if it does, it's not a character I want in my story, thank you very much... And before someone brings up the old argument of how war tends to further scientific and medical research- I'll say that, yes, it does, but any benifits from that research are still outweighed by how many people are maimed or killed to further the aims of a bunch of rich guys who want to have all the control of everything...
Hmmm, you seem to have been the lucky recipient of how I react to that particular "sweet-spot". I hope you don't think I believe that you insulted me for my idealism- 'cuz I don't think you did, actually- this kind of topic can set me off on a tear, though.
Cheers! And fight how you feel you must, as long as you know that the reasons on the surface are rarely the real or only truth in the matter...
I have a problem with the idea that someone thinks I'm foolish because I believe virtually all war to be egregious bullshit and that learning how to live with each other peacefully, settle conflict non-violently and working together as a species is possible. I'm not sure what ideals you happen to hold, but don't you ever get sick of being treated as if your idealism were some kind of brain disease? I mean really. When did people lose their hope and strength of will to do something other than complain about how bad things are getting or just sitting in front of the tube, letting their brains atrophy?
Yes, there is a cost for peace- it's the cost of work, education, and seeing beyond our own self-interest. It's cost is sweat, heartache, loneliness and living with the ridicule a society conditioned to love the war-monger loves to heap onto the shoulders of those with differing opinions. The cost is knowing we need to work together for the survival of our species, seeing the long-term and not just tomorrow's paycheque or meal. It's cost is that we may have to live on a world slowly becoming unlivable and be unable to leave, unless we do something, even the small things. It's cost, in some places, is to fucking DIE. A cost that seems unsurmountable, or tiny, depending on your perspective. I have no illusions that we as people even come close to being Godlike, but maybe we can be, just a little. I'll settle for being adequately honest, hard-working and non-violent to the best of my ability.
It may sound contradictory, but isn't peace worth fighting for, even if one refuses to use a weapon to do it with?
Some folks see war as an evolutionary force- but I argue that it has the ugly habit of weeding out the strong, instead of the weak, something totally counter to proper evolution into a better "animal". Jokes about bombing ourselves back to the Stone-Age aside, war will ruin us as a species in more ways than just killing off, maiming, or hopelessly traumatizing our strong, healthy, breeding age youth. A little research into the rates of spousal abuse, alcoholism and child-abuse in military families will disabuse many of the notion that "the Army builds character"- if it does, it's not a character I want in my story, thank you very much... And before someone brings up the old argument of how war tends to further scientific and medical research- I'll say that, yes, it does, but any benifits from that research are still outweighed by how many people are maimed or killed to further the aims of a bunch of rich guys who want to have all the control of everything...
Hmmm, you seem to have been the lucky recipient of how I react to that particular "sweet-spot". I hope you don't think I believe that you insulted me for my idealism- 'cuz I don't think you did, actually- this kind of topic can set me off on a tear, though.
Cheers! And fight how you feel you must, as long as you know that the reasons on the surface are rarely the real or only truth in the matter...
I don't disagree with anything that you said, and I wasn't specifically calling you foolish. I was more or less calling the notion of no war whatsoever as foolish. There were a few cultures like that in ancient history and they're not around to tell us how well large scale pacifism works.. namely because someone else enslaved and killed them all. World War 2 was one of the only truely righteous wars that can be called to mind because it was a very very clear case of who was good, who was evil and what needed to be done. Even World War 1 was a bunch of political BS.
<i>"I have a problem with the idea that someone thinks I'm foolish because I believe virtually all war to be egregious bullshit and that learning how to live with each other peacefully, settle conflict non-violently and working together as a species is possible. I'm not sure what ideals you happen to hold, but don't you ever get sick of being treated as if your idealism were some kind of brain disease? I mean really. When did people lose their hope and strength of will to do something other than complain about how bad things are getting or just sitting in front of the tube, letting their brains atrophy?"</i>
We should be able to get along peacefully, settle conflict non violently and work together as a species. We don't and more often than not in my experiences it is those who preach peace and unity the most who are inclined to shut out others based on nothing more than opinions and views. I hold a very strange mix of ideals but they can be summed up in the words of Malcom X "Be intelligent, be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone lays a hand on you put him in the mourge." Now, between you and me most dragons I know don't like.. I've been called insane and murderous because I am willing to kill other living human beings.
As for when people lost their hope and strength of will to do something other than bitch and then go back to watching the news while they ate their dinner? That's a very different conversation we can have somewhere else.
Society doesn't love the war monger. Society hates the war monger. I know my country gets alot of shit for our last president and his two wars.. fact of the matter is the slight majority of us basically felt the same way. Only the uneducated idiots and those who bought the deciet of our president wanted full blown war with Iraq. However, as a whole our society does worship the man who is willing to die for us. We worship the man who sells a minimum of four years of his life and puts himself in harm's way to do right by 270 million people he's never going to meet. That's the way it should be.
I don't believe in war. What I believe in is justice. If someone hurts you or me or my friends because of criminal aggression it is my moral and civil duty to smash that man's face in the ground. This doesn't change because of numbers. If an entire community or culture or nation decides it has the right to harm others, kill on a whim and take whatever it is they want from their neighbors then it becomes the responcibility of good men and women to crush the violent despots who would harm our neighbors.
So yes. It would be awesome if everyone could just get the fuck over themselves, set down their weapons and anger and just try to work together.. but it's never going to happen because there are always going to be wicked men willing to build themselves up on the pain and suffering of others. The best thing we can do for our fellow human beings is to crush these types of people swiftly and mercilessly. However, this idea is unpopular despite the fact history tends to agree with it in retrospect. France could have virtually stopped WW2 single handedly if they had held the Rhein and decided to fight when Hitler began making his moves.
We weren't willing to fight him, and the world suffered greatly for it. It is times like those that good peace loving people need to set aside the non violent attitude. Fighting is wrong.. yes.. but when we must fight, we should do it and win.
<i>"I have a problem with the idea that someone thinks I'm foolish because I believe virtually all war to be egregious bullshit and that learning how to live with each other peacefully, settle conflict non-violently and working together as a species is possible. I'm not sure what ideals you happen to hold, but don't you ever get sick of being treated as if your idealism were some kind of brain disease? I mean really. When did people lose their hope and strength of will to do something other than complain about how bad things are getting or just sitting in front of the tube, letting their brains atrophy?"</i>
We should be able to get along peacefully, settle conflict non violently and work together as a species. We don't and more often than not in my experiences it is those who preach peace and unity the most who are inclined to shut out others based on nothing more than opinions and views. I hold a very strange mix of ideals but they can be summed up in the words of Malcom X "Be intelligent, be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone lays a hand on you put him in the mourge." Now, between you and me most dragons I know don't like.. I've been called insane and murderous because I am willing to kill other living human beings.
As for when people lost their hope and strength of will to do something other than bitch and then go back to watching the news while they ate their dinner? That's a very different conversation we can have somewhere else.
Society doesn't love the war monger. Society hates the war monger. I know my country gets alot of shit for our last president and his two wars.. fact of the matter is the slight majority of us basically felt the same way. Only the uneducated idiots and those who bought the deciet of our president wanted full blown war with Iraq. However, as a whole our society does worship the man who is willing to die for us. We worship the man who sells a minimum of four years of his life and puts himself in harm's way to do right by 270 million people he's never going to meet. That's the way it should be.
I don't believe in war. What I believe in is justice. If someone hurts you or me or my friends because of criminal aggression it is my moral and civil duty to smash that man's face in the ground. This doesn't change because of numbers. If an entire community or culture or nation decides it has the right to harm others, kill on a whim and take whatever it is they want from their neighbors then it becomes the responcibility of good men and women to crush the violent despots who would harm our neighbors.
So yes. It would be awesome if everyone could just get the fuck over themselves, set down their weapons and anger and just try to work together.. but it's never going to happen because there are always going to be wicked men willing to build themselves up on the pain and suffering of others. The best thing we can do for our fellow human beings is to crush these types of people swiftly and mercilessly. However, this idea is unpopular despite the fact history tends to agree with it in retrospect. France could have virtually stopped WW2 single handedly if they had held the Rhein and decided to fight when Hitler began making his moves.
We weren't willing to fight him, and the world suffered greatly for it. It is times like those that good peace loving people need to set aside the non violent attitude. Fighting is wrong.. yes.. but when we must fight, we should do it and win.
No worries! I specifically mentioned that I didn't feel like you'd insulted me. But it is a sentiment that I get a lot: quite a few people think I'm foolish for keeping to that particularly hard ideal to put into practicle practice. I totally understand that there will always be greedy, unscrupulous and evil people, not to mention lazy ones, but I don't see that as a reason to NOT hold an ideal of non-violent conflict-resolution. Their evil and their laziness won't stop me from believing what I believe, nor will all their ridicule keep me from mentioning it in public. I happen to believe I'm more intelligent than most people (I even get that proven on a semi-regular basis, and it's occasionally depressing, dangit), and just because the majority seem to think I'm cracked for thinking this way doesn't mean they're actually right. And yes, if I must, I will kill, though I'll most likely puke my guts out afterward. Heh.
As for the public hating the war-momnger, are you so sure of that? I mean, tally up our entertainments, and guaranteed, virtually 2/3 of them involve violence, uniforms, or story-lines that praise them. Now, I realize firefighters and police officers are in there (though I grudgingly give cops the "good-guy" label- too many piss-poor relations with 'em in my hard-scrabble neighbourhood), but we, as a society, seem to glorify the violence embodied by the camo-wearing Rambos of our movies and TV shows... No, I don't make the mistake of believing that TV and how things are portrayed on it are actually how we think, but it does colour our perceptions and can turn a person' opinion. If violent shows didn't appeal to people, they wouldn't be made ad infinitum ad nauseum, and if commercials didn't work, or opinion-pieces in the newsy talk-shows, they wouldn't do those spots either. Anyway, my point is that if I were an alien trying to understand North American culture, I'd be startled at how vicious humanity was, and violence and war would appear to be your main sources of income, entertainment and even personal satisfaction that borders uneasily on the sexual.
I believe in justice, too, even violent justice- I just also happen to believe that we may be able to evolve to the point where we won't need it anymore, and that's what I aspire to. If I can break up a brawl involving more than a handful of people (it was about twelve guys, all flailing it out), I have proof right there that a situation that usually falls to violence (or escalates) can be solved with a few choice words, a strong presence and a good dose of simple psychology (appeal to their sense of embarrassment).
France in WWII: there were a whole raft of political problems, individual worries and even some good reasons to go with what the Nazis were doing (well, good reasons to them, not to me, or historical opinion)- the situation was a little more complex than just that they were cowards and gave in to the Raich. I think they sincerely thought that by allowing some small concessions, they could be able to bargain their way out, after. That they couldn't negotiate with a pyscho like Hitler was unthinkable at the time. We have to remember that this was still early in the war, the invasion of Polan was still fresh, and no-one quite knew just what a monster the Reich was becoming, or what they would eventually do.
It was only 1940, the death-camps hadn't been started, yet (though they were being planned, to the ignorance of Europe), Italy joined in the invasion with Germany a few days after Hitler's troops went in, and people were still thinking this woud be a conventional war. Most of the countries of Erope and North America were still thinking that this was a "personal" tiff between Germany and poland- few knew that France was next on the list after Belgium- Hitler's vicious crawl across Europe was something no-one had seen before. We'd thought the days of invading empires were out of fashion. So they figured, deal with the troops within the borders by giving them little to fight, and negotiate with the leaders to get them out. Besides, who's going to feel particularly brave when being invaded by TWO different nations? I might have felt I had to surrender, too! People keep picking on France, and calling it's people cowards for not holding the Maginot Line. Most had no idea at the time that it would be so pivotal (well, a military bright-bulb might have known or guessed). Seriously, it's been seventy fucking years, world, leave 'em alone! *has a bit of a soft-spot for the bullied kid, that, and most of her ancestors came from France*
I don't think you're crazy, or evil or a monster. I do think, however, that some of your views need a little fine-tuning with experience (and mine don't? Heh), and maybe to be softened a touch. But crazy? Nope. Just very idealistic in your own way.
As for the public hating the war-momnger, are you so sure of that? I mean, tally up our entertainments, and guaranteed, virtually 2/3 of them involve violence, uniforms, or story-lines that praise them. Now, I realize firefighters and police officers are in there (though I grudgingly give cops the "good-guy" label- too many piss-poor relations with 'em in my hard-scrabble neighbourhood), but we, as a society, seem to glorify the violence embodied by the camo-wearing Rambos of our movies and TV shows... No, I don't make the mistake of believing that TV and how things are portrayed on it are actually how we think, but it does colour our perceptions and can turn a person' opinion. If violent shows didn't appeal to people, they wouldn't be made ad infinitum ad nauseum, and if commercials didn't work, or opinion-pieces in the newsy talk-shows, they wouldn't do those spots either. Anyway, my point is that if I were an alien trying to understand North American culture, I'd be startled at how vicious humanity was, and violence and war would appear to be your main sources of income, entertainment and even personal satisfaction that borders uneasily on the sexual.
I believe in justice, too, even violent justice- I just also happen to believe that we may be able to evolve to the point where we won't need it anymore, and that's what I aspire to. If I can break up a brawl involving more than a handful of people (it was about twelve guys, all flailing it out), I have proof right there that a situation that usually falls to violence (or escalates) can be solved with a few choice words, a strong presence and a good dose of simple psychology (appeal to their sense of embarrassment).
France in WWII: there were a whole raft of political problems, individual worries and even some good reasons to go with what the Nazis were doing (well, good reasons to them, not to me, or historical opinion)- the situation was a little more complex than just that they were cowards and gave in to the Raich. I think they sincerely thought that by allowing some small concessions, they could be able to bargain their way out, after. That they couldn't negotiate with a pyscho like Hitler was unthinkable at the time. We have to remember that this was still early in the war, the invasion of Polan was still fresh, and no-one quite knew just what a monster the Reich was becoming, or what they would eventually do.
It was only 1940, the death-camps hadn't been started, yet (though they were being planned, to the ignorance of Europe), Italy joined in the invasion with Germany a few days after Hitler's troops went in, and people were still thinking this woud be a conventional war. Most of the countries of Erope and North America were still thinking that this was a "personal" tiff between Germany and poland- few knew that France was next on the list after Belgium- Hitler's vicious crawl across Europe was something no-one had seen before. We'd thought the days of invading empires were out of fashion. So they figured, deal with the troops within the borders by giving them little to fight, and negotiate with the leaders to get them out. Besides, who's going to feel particularly brave when being invaded by TWO different nations? I might have felt I had to surrender, too! People keep picking on France, and calling it's people cowards for not holding the Maginot Line. Most had no idea at the time that it would be so pivotal (well, a military bright-bulb might have known or guessed). Seriously, it's been seventy fucking years, world, leave 'em alone! *has a bit of a soft-spot for the bullied kid, that, and most of her ancestors came from France*
I don't think you're crazy, or evil or a monster. I do think, however, that some of your views need a little fine-tuning with experience (and mine don't? Heh), and maybe to be softened a touch. But crazy? Nope. Just very idealistic in your own way.
I do not fault France for what happened when Germany invaded. France bet damn near everything on the Maginot line and if WW2 had been fought like WW1 the Maginot line would have been THE biggest part of the war. Hitler had modernized warfare in ways unexpected though. The Blitzkrieg.. lightning warfare.. fell hardest on France. Mechanized infantry, paratroopers, quick powerful tanks.. France was a castle with it's walls fully manned but the courtyard and keep were completely undefended. It took 6 weeks for Hitler to take down France because he outfought, out thought and out maneuvered France's forces. I've never concidered them cowards with the exception of minimal partisan resistance... but that a grudge and even a hatred I extend to almost all of mankind.
My views? Perhaps they could use a changing, perhaps they are fine. My views though are shaped by my own harsh experiences. From some of the things you've said here, on your other journal and at on draconic.. I think it's a fairly safe bet that to say we came from similar worlds during our youth. It seems we did two very different things though... but from what I've seen neither are unexpected. You came from a harsh background and rebelled against it by being idealistic and searching for something better.. you found a way out. Me? I became cold long before I met dragonkind and awakened and I came to see the world as a dog eat dog place where civility was nothing more than a mask and a method used by wicked people.. and we can see on all corners of the earth that this is true. My experiences have taught me that treachery, cowardice, selfishness and deceit are the normal ways not just of humanity but of all living and thinking things. I keep a harsh view of the world because I came from a harsh world and still live in it to a lesser extent.
Maybe with time and more experience I'll see the world differently. But right now.. I think I'm pretty dead on.
My views? Perhaps they could use a changing, perhaps they are fine. My views though are shaped by my own harsh experiences. From some of the things you've said here, on your other journal and at on draconic.. I think it's a fairly safe bet that to say we came from similar worlds during our youth. It seems we did two very different things though... but from what I've seen neither are unexpected. You came from a harsh background and rebelled against it by being idealistic and searching for something better.. you found a way out. Me? I became cold long before I met dragonkind and awakened and I came to see the world as a dog eat dog place where civility was nothing more than a mask and a method used by wicked people.. and we can see on all corners of the earth that this is true. My experiences have taught me that treachery, cowardice, selfishness and deceit are the normal ways not just of humanity but of all living and thinking things. I keep a harsh view of the world because I came from a harsh world and still live in it to a lesser extent.
Maybe with time and more experience I'll see the world differently. But right now.. I think I'm pretty dead on.
Well, at the risk of sounding self-righteous, I took my crappy childhood as a lesson on how NOT to be as a person. Mind you, it took a long time- I certainly had my nihilistic, sour-minded, "fuck everyone" days, even years. I see a lot of the same things you do, though: the assholes who seem to get everything in life and the good, golden souls who live in the shit because the assholes already have everything. I see the world ruled by the violent, who use fear to keep people doing what they want them to do, and the trheat of bodily harm being used as a social organizer. It makes me cry, gnash my teeth and wonder WHAT THE FUCK, PEOPLE!? STAND UP AND STEP ON THESE TWATS... Really, there are more of us than them, so why do we allow ourselves to live in fear? There's a quote I hold to heart: "Ya know what fear really means? Fuck Everything And Run..." I asked myself that question once and my answer was: who wants to live life running?
It is an ugly world, and my ideals came about becasue I wanted it to be better for everyone, not just me. Too often, people seem to think they can't do anything but wince in sympathy when they see another's pain, but I look around and wonder if there was some way I could be an example, or if I could just help that woman geting the shit kicked out of her by her "boyfriend". The Winnipeg police "service" really do not like me because I'll step in at the risk of my own person, and instead of applauding, they ask me where my head is at. They can't see anything but a crazy person, if I don't immediately turn to the police to "solve" a problem. No way- they take too long to get there when I do happen to call, and the girl could be killed by this scum in the time it takes them to finish their fucking doughnuts. So, I'll step up, and who gives a flying fuck really if I happen to take a risk in dealing with this ass? I'll do the time if I happen to hurt him enough and he charges me. I'll do it with fucking pride.
And if I were to be killed "in the line of duty" as it were, well, I'll leave this world knowing that I left at least one small part of it a nicer place.
And yeah, France got boned, as did Belgium before them and Poland months earlier... But I see so many snotty comments about France and their "cowardice", though- it's a really common sentiment- it's even still fodder for comedy-routines, it's become so ingrained into the culture. Phooey. But I can't help but agree when people go WTF? at France's love for Jerry Lewis. Heh.
It is an ugly world, and my ideals came about becasue I wanted it to be better for everyone, not just me. Too often, people seem to think they can't do anything but wince in sympathy when they see another's pain, but I look around and wonder if there was some way I could be an example, or if I could just help that woman geting the shit kicked out of her by her "boyfriend". The Winnipeg police "service" really do not like me because I'll step in at the risk of my own person, and instead of applauding, they ask me where my head is at. They can't see anything but a crazy person, if I don't immediately turn to the police to "solve" a problem. No way- they take too long to get there when I do happen to call, and the girl could be killed by this scum in the time it takes them to finish their fucking doughnuts. So, I'll step up, and who gives a flying fuck really if I happen to take a risk in dealing with this ass? I'll do the time if I happen to hurt him enough and he charges me. I'll do it with fucking pride.
And if I were to be killed "in the line of duty" as it were, well, I'll leave this world knowing that I left at least one small part of it a nicer place.
And yeah, France got boned, as did Belgium before them and Poland months earlier... But I see so many snotty comments about France and their "cowardice", though- it's a really common sentiment- it's even still fodder for comedy-routines, it's become so ingrained into the culture. Phooey. But I can't help but agree when people go WTF? at France's love for Jerry Lewis. Heh.
>.> French Surrender monkeys.. you know that France no longer has an embassy in the US because every time we have firework celebrations they surrender right?? XD Sorry.. couldn't help it.
"Too often, people seem to think they can't do anything but wince in sympathy when they see another's pain, but I look around and wonder if there was some way I could be an example, or if I could just help that woman geting the shit kicked out of her by her "boyfriend". The Winnipeg police "service" really do not like me because I'll step in at the risk of my own person, and instead of applauding, they ask me where my head is at."
Ahh now see THAT is worthy of admiration. Surely you've seen me fight with the whole of draconic.com over this very subject. *Spits* People nod their heads in sympathy and look away because they're fucking cowards. They value their lives over courage and good works and let others suffer if it means they won't be hurt in return. I despite this trait in humanity so very very much. As for the police? I do not fault them as you seem to. The police are not capable of being everywhere at all times.. but that's what makes our own intervention as upstanding people so important. I can understand that vigilante mobs would NOT be for the benefit of a community and that may be their concearn.. but as far as I can tell you did what any truely good and worthwhile person should do.
"Too often, people seem to think they can't do anything but wince in sympathy when they see another's pain, but I look around and wonder if there was some way I could be an example, or if I could just help that woman geting the shit kicked out of her by her "boyfriend". The Winnipeg police "service" really do not like me because I'll step in at the risk of my own person, and instead of applauding, they ask me where my head is at."
Ahh now see THAT is worthy of admiration. Surely you've seen me fight with the whole of draconic.com over this very subject. *Spits* People nod their heads in sympathy and look away because they're fucking cowards. They value their lives over courage and good works and let others suffer if it means they won't be hurt in return. I despite this trait in humanity so very very much. As for the police? I do not fault them as you seem to. The police are not capable of being everywhere at all times.. but that's what makes our own intervention as upstanding people so important. I can understand that vigilante mobs would NOT be for the benefit of a community and that may be their concearn.. but as far as I can tell you did what any truely good and worthwhile person should do.
Normally, I don't fault to police, but I've had way too many unpleasant experiences with what I call the "public-relations failures" who get stationed in the rough areas of town where I grew up. We have a pretty sizable police force, and no woman should have to wait five hours for a cop to show up after her boyfriend has beaten her senseless, or even killed her, yet they show up lickety-split for a burgler-alarm in the rich neighbourhoods... One shameful thing that happened back home that even made national news, eventually: a woman had been calling 911 over and over, trying to get a cop to her house because someone was threatening to kill her and her sister. She'd already been beaten, and was terrified for her life. The 911 people wouldn't take her seriously, then when they did finally send cops, they took four hours to arrive only to tell her that she was lying to them and had been drinking too much (if you're Native here, it's automatically assumed that you're on welfare, defrauding the system and are buying cheap booze with your pogey. Hmpf- I never did that- I bought books). They then left her to her misery. She calls 911 again, because the guy is back, and he has a gun. 911 won't listen to her, and wouldn't until a neighbour (presumably more white than she was) called them in frustrated rage and sympathy for her heighbour. The cops arrive. Both the original caller and her sister were lying in pools of blood on their kitchen floor- dead. I'm not very impressed with a police force that thought that this was all the "serve and protect" this woman deserved. Another scandal involved cops from two provinces who thought it was the height of humour to take a drunk Indian to the edge of town and make them walk home- in -25 C temperatures... without a jacket. And no, they didn't do this to white drunks...
Yeah, going after guys who beat on their girl-friends is actually a lot of fun. And you know what all of them say to me when I stop them (besides the "it's none of yer business")- they make fun of me for being fat, even though I just ran them down and caught their stupid asses after they'd tried to run away from this "stupid fat chick". *giggle* One even told me he had a gun. So I asked him, "So where is it, hotshot? In yer gitch? C'mon, brave man, whip it out!" He wasn't wearing anything but a pair of tiny little shorts... Gun, my ass, maybe this was his one and only lame-ass pick-up line...
Yeah, going after guys who beat on their girl-friends is actually a lot of fun. And you know what all of them say to me when I stop them (besides the "it's none of yer business")- they make fun of me for being fat, even though I just ran them down and caught their stupid asses after they'd tried to run away from this "stupid fat chick". *giggle* One even told me he had a gun. So I asked him, "So where is it, hotshot? In yer gitch? C'mon, brave man, whip it out!" He wasn't wearing anything but a pair of tiny little shorts... Gun, my ass, maybe this was his one and only lame-ass pick-up line...
Those kinds of cops should be fucking fired from their jobs. Makes me wish that police-officers were screened as tightly as teachers and child-care workers are supposed to be (and rarely are, but that's another story). Psych evaluation, anyone? Too many times, I see the kinds of jerks who used to beat me or the misfits up in school becoming cops. Ever see A Clockwork Orange? A character in there, one of the Droogs, later becomes a cop, and beats the living hell out of Alex (the main character who goes through violence-aversion therapy). Just like that, a bully in his previous life, he becomes and "official" bully with permission to be such, all because he has a sniny new uniform...
I do remember telling one gang-member when I saw he had a gun in his pocket- "Hey, nice penis-extension. Does it work?" and laughing my ass off while he sputtered, stuck between getting furious and laughing with me when he realized what I was pointing at (he'd kept trying to hide it with his baggy basketball shirt). He had a buddy with him, so laughing might have been a bad thing, but I could tell he wanted to so much... Heh.
I do remember telling one gang-member when I saw he had a gun in his pocket- "Hey, nice penis-extension. Does it work?" and laughing my ass off while he sputtered, stuck between getting furious and laughing with me when he realized what I was pointing at (he'd kept trying to hide it with his baggy basketball shirt). He had a buddy with him, so laughing might have been a bad thing, but I could tell he wanted to so much... Heh.
If you ever need any hand percussion lessons, let me know. ;) It's my calling in life. If you want to find the drum circles, go to the Venice Beach boardwalks around 6 PM Saturday or Sunday and walk waaaay down until you pass the medical weed shops and eventually you'll find the drum circle. Ask any local resident, pretty much everyone knows what's up. Lots of cool stuff goes down there. For what it's worth, I miss Canada and living in Toronto, but I'm happy to be back in my true home in the mountains of northwestern Georgia nowadays...
I'm a bit more West in origins, though not by much- I'm from Winnipeg. They sneer at us for being constantly-poor, and we laugh at them whenever they close the schools for two inches of snow. I could probably use lessons in drumming, but I've been playing them for nearly fifteen yers at least, if that means anything at all. Heh. Djembe, bodran, congas, taar. Give me a hand-drum an' I'm a happy dragon. I'm a definite example of "instant trance, just add drum..."
Awesome! I'm the same way, drumming is my key to meditation. It's strange, I've only been playing hand percussion since the summer of 2006 but it's one of those things that turned out to be my calling in life. Since then, I've taken it on the road and played all over the continental US and Canada, from big stages to bars to street corners. Here's a video of me performing at Further Confusion 09, I break out the darbuka (my specialty instrument) at the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_PGtRQfRUo
I used to work in a bar as the "entertainment", playing my drums for the crowd- while the DJ spun his disks... Winnipeg has some really weird-ass liquor laws that said any bar not attached to a hotel had to either serve food, or have live entertainment, and DJ's weren't considered live... Made 300$ a month on that gig. Only played for a big festival once, and that was only because the performers on stage saw that I had my Bodhran with me and insisted I come up and join 'em. I was nervous as hell (big time stage fright), but I had a lot of fun that day... The neatest ensemble of instruments, too: two didjereedoos (one made of VC pipe), my bodhran, another frame drum and the performer, who played Native American Courting Flutes. I had no idea how hard it was to play with the man without drowning his beautiful flute... After a couple of beats, I muffled my drum with my paw to keep it from being too loud, and we played for over an hour. Sweeeeet.
Coolies! *grins* I'm hoping to be able to scrabble for a spot in the Artist's Alley at next FC. Hey, you might have seen me around at the Con, though- I was the short pudgy white dragon with the long white mane with a rainbow streak in the hair. I tended to wear my Tripp skully pants, too, and I was usually trailed by my Mate in his golden dragon head and tail. Here's a pic that Monoceros Studios did of us in our partials. They'r a really cool bunch of guys who go to Cons and do free photo-shoots of people's fursuits- sweet stuff. http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2027829/
Until, we as a species learn that cultural, racial, sexual or religious-difference are not an excuse to hurt each other, I'm afraid it will stick around. When we, as a species, learn that resources should be shared, and not hoarded only by the rich, war will remain, while the rest of us use race, culture, gender or religion as the excuse for killing because we'd rather use that than cope with the idea that there is really only one type of group that is the real reason for war: the greedy.
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