Its the Guns, Stupid

"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun" - National Rifle Association (NRA) Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre

Umm, no. That doesn't work. This happened while LaPierre was speaking today.

http://www.wjactv.com/news/news/sources-1-trooper-shot-another-injured-blair-co/nTcf5/


"We ask why there is violence in our schools but we have systematically removed God from our schools" - Mike Huckabee

That's not true either. From the same Pennsylvania shooting linked to above:

During a news briefing at the Geeseytown Fire Hall, officials confirmed the woman was shot and killed at a church. The Associated Press reported that the woman was fatally shot while decorating for a children's Christmas party at the Juniata Valley Gospel Church.

I suppose God was systematically removed from that church as well?

No. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is to get rid of all guns in the first place. Hunting? Eh, maybe. Second Amendment? Its outdated at best.

Post-Racial Children

Race is a major issue in the US, as it is in many places across the globe. We've just gone through an election cycle that was filled with racial undertones. Social conservatives here are apoplectic about the growing demographic shift away from WASPs to folks of many creeds and hues. My children have been exposed to hateful racial epithets both in my presence and away from me.

Still, with all this, it was interesting to see how my kids have a different view of "black" and "white" people. Being of mixed race and rather young themselves, they struggle with the concepts of caucasian vs asian vs black vs all the other colors of the rainbow. Last night was a great example.

Last night we watched Psy perform the famous Gangnam Style song taped from November's American Music Awards show. My daughters were excited to show me some "famous white man" who was in the performance.

Before the performance a gentlemen (sorry, I'm horrible with celebrity names because I basically don't give a damn about celebrities) was introducing Psy. He was African American and dressed in black attire. Leia said something like, "He's the black man. That's not the white man. That man is the black man. Wait for the white man to show up."

I respond, "OK. You're right. That's a black man. I'll wait."

When the song starts Leia chimes in again, "He's Psy. That's not the white man. That's Psy. Wait and the white man will come out."

So I dutifully wait. Meanwhile my wife is laughing at the exchange and explains to me that MC Hammer performs alongside Psy on stage. Sure enough, here comes MC Hammer to dance alongside Psy.

Leia jumps up and down all excited. "See! I told you! There's the white man dancing, too."

Now, for those of you familiar with MC Hammer you'll know that he, too, is African American. In fact, MC Hammer is noticeably darker than Psy or anyone else immediately apparent on stage at that time. MC Hammer is, however, dressed in a starched white suit with his famous baggy trousers. Leia seemed oblivious to the fact that the "white man" and the "black man" both are called "black" men in our culture. Instead, it was the color of the suit that signified the "white man".

I gave it a chuckle, happy that racism has not yet intruded its ugliness upon her life.

Repeal the Second Amendment

Frankly, the second amendment is wrong and should be repealed. Guns ownership should be entirely restricted and on an as-needed basis only. And I can think of very few reasons why anyone would need a gun under such a law.

The second amendment is at best an anachronism. Armed militias are generally useless unless there is outright civil war. If the shit really does hit the fan and we have another civil war (gods forbid!) then guns aplenty would roll across our borders. There's no need to arm the populace now.

For those who think gun ownership makes you safer or able to defend yourself -- you're wrong. Plain and simple. Look at the numbers.

Not Quite What You Want to Hear

We're in Japan right now. In Japan the bath is sorta a family event, with kids often soaking in the deep tub along with a parent.

Today while bathing, Leia asked a question I never really wanted to hear:

Daddy, why do you have such a big bottom?

A Little Insult

The reaction in the Muslim world against an amateur video insulting their prophet really makes me want to insult their prophet. What a bunch of jerks.

Why are fundamental religious people so violent and brainless? My guess is it has to do with blindly following authority. I'm sure the hopelessness of poverty doesn't help, nor the lack of education; but, there are plenty of educated, middle class and wealthy fundamentalist Christians here in the US who brainlessly want to carpet bomb the Middle East. So there is definitely more to it than simply poverty and no education.

Rather than insulting Islam, I'll insult all religions. Faith leads to unquestioning acceptance of religious authority. Unquestioning acceptance of authority leads to immorality and violence. Therefore...

Miserably Hot

113F here today. A little bit warm.

Receding Jetlag

I'm back in Asia this week and next. Arriving last Sunday night, this Friday morning the jet lag finally seems to be receding. I leave for home next Friday, where there will be another grueling week of jet lag to deal with.

I must say, the greater New Dehli area does seem to be the armpit of India. Yesterday I went down to the Bangalore campus for a day trip. Sweat was literally dripping off me at 5am in Noida (New Dehli area) waiting for the cab to pick me up. Visibility was meager and the sky a grayish brown from the smog and ubiquitous dust. The instant I stepped off the plane in Bangalore I was greeted with pillowy clouds in a blue sky and a cool westerly wind. It was very refreshing.

It just so happened that the monsoon season reached Bangalore yesterday as well. Although the rain was light, it had the hallmarks of a tropical storm nonetheless. While awaiting the cab back to the airport at the end of the day, one side of the office building was raining while the other was sunny and warm. I literally stood on the side of the building with my left side getting wet and my right side staying dry. It reminded me much of the late summer storms growing up in Florida.

(I didn't take the below snap; but, it is a very typical scene on the roads of Bangalore.)