Gunning Down The Truth

     In a resent article by the Huffington Post, Nancy Pelosi: Video Games Are Not The Reason For Violence In America, it discusses the point on which video games and other pop culture things are the cause of violence and shootings or to be more specific school shootings.I perfectly agree with this, people cannot and should not blame their actions on others because ultimately in the end it is our own decision to do what we do regardless of what we play, read, or watch. Pelosi says that video games and things of this nature are not the cause of these outbreaks of violence and her plan calls for scientific testing and studying so that they can wright and hopefully pass "the best legislation possible". Now I'm not disagreeing with Pelosi, but why even test it? For one it has already been tested countless times and the results may vary, either cause everyone is different or the results match the testers beliefs as needed, but there is no need for another test. And two, these so called effects of twisting a person's mind into a rage filled monster bent on rape, murder, and destruction on all he or she can get there claws on doesn't really seem to be a problem in other countries, where the games are the same or in some cases even more violent. Chris Wallace challenged Pelosi on this, stating that she should "simply go to her "friends in Hollywood" and "shame them" into action." That is completely pointless and a stupid thing to say, video games and violent movies are obviously not to blame for violence, most of these games and movies reflect society to begin with. While Pelosi's plan isn't the best it is a step in the right direction.
     So the question is who do we blame... dare I say... ourselves, or human nature to be more specific if it isn't obvious from our history of war after war and violence through out the ages. If that doesn't prove that there isn't a little bit of violence in human nature I don't know what will, cause I can assure you during the Holocaust Hitler wasn't playing Mortal Combat or watching Saw 3D. So what do we do now about all this current violence and shootings? According to Pelosi "in Japan, for example, they have the most violent games and the lowest death -- mortality -- from guns." Japan, the kings of the weird and masters of violent media, has the lowest death rate from guns and we, who have much less violent media and forms of entertainment, have a much higher rate. Dose there seem to be any correlation there, because I think there is, they have more violent games and TV but lower rate of death by guns but we have a higher rate but less violent media. Could it be the difference in gun control  or is it that Americans are just stupider. Well considering that a lot of Americans blame it on the games and TV probably the second, when the real answer is to just come up with better gun control and safety laws.She goes on to say "I don't know what the explanation is for that except they may have good gun laws." Which is exactly what we need, better gun control laws. We need to stop pussy footing around the subject and blaming other things instead of our own incompetence. Violence is apart of human nature just as any other part is, it is not caused by our forms of entertainment, those forms of entertainment are created from our natures not the other way around. But we can prevent these acts of violence from happening and to do that we as a nation must devise better gun control and safety laws instead of blaming video games and TV.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/10/nancy-pelosi-video-games_n_2657169.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular#slide=1991818  

Scouting out the Future of Gay Rights

     In a recent article on the postponement of the vote on the admittance of gay scouts and troop leaders into the  Boy Scouts of America until annual meeting in May. I feel that the very fact that they're decision on waiting to decide is stupid and bad for themselves to begin with, because the longer this situation goes on the more negative publicity they get from gay right sympathizers and  non-sympathizers alike. But that's not what bothers me the most, what really gets underneath my skin is the fact that there is anything to discuss, people of the homosexual nature have rights of life and freedom just as any heterosexual man, woman, or child. The article states, "The decision disappointed critics who had hoped to see the organization end its ban despite a 2000 Supreme Court ruling saying it had the right to keep it." While there are quite a few people who are against gay rights, there is a equal and rising number of people who are for these rights of equality, if they do decide on continuing the ban on gay members it will greatly hurt themselves. But not only that it will be a big strike on the gay community, not only excluding them but very well striping them of there rights to freedom by birth and that is a greater travesty than that which caused it.  Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin remarked that "Every day that the Boy Scouts of America delay action is another day that discrimination prevails". I couldn't agree more with this statement, discrimination is a vile thing that none should experience be they black or white, skinny or fat, or in this case gay or straight. I believe that the real abomination in this situation is the mistreatment of  there  fellow man based solely on there sexual preference.
     Understandably there are some things that can cause delay to this issue and it's passing or not, but that still doesn't  excuse the fact that their current exclusion is discrimination  pure and simple. Within the article it was said  "The Boy Scouts announced last month that the organization would consider changing the policy, a sharp reversal of its previous support for excluding openly gay members and scout leaders." While this is a step in the right direction, if and maybes won't get the job done and as Chad said earlier the longer this goes on the longer discrimination remains in power. The postponement will only cause dissent within the ranks of the organisation of boy scouts and within the gay community among the fact that this will also lead to more protesting on both sides leading to the possibilities of acts of violence against either side. In response to the possibility of the ban being lifted "Brandy Pryde, a troop leader who participated in a prayer vigil outside the Boy Scouts headquarters Wednesday, said her church would pull support from scouting if the change goes through."  Responses like this is why, assuming they intend to lift the ban, they are stalling but that shouldn't matter, homosexuals have the right to join them if they do so chose. And  these people who do so cling on to so vigorously the part of the bible that says homosexuality is wrong are themselves sinful creatures in there own ways, also they are quite obviously ignoring the part that says though shalt not judge.
    This ban on homosexuals in scouting is wrong and demeaning to the gay community. Also the delay on lifting or leaving the ban is only leading to more discrimination and dissent among the people. The longer they wait the more problems will arise. They should just settle it now and lift the ban winning a huge victory for gay rights and paving the road for many more in there fight for equality. 



http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/06/us/boy-scouts-policy/index.html?hpt=hp_t3