Delusional and Dangerous

My Opinion

According to the New York Times, Muammar el-Qaddafi gave the United Nations plenty of reason and push to vote on authorizing military action in Libya when he said:

“We will come house by house, room by room. It’s over. The issue has been decided,” he said, offering amnesty to those who laid down their arms. To those who continued to resist, he vowed: “We will find you in your closets. We will have no mercy and no pity.”

According to Dan Bilefsky and Mark Landler from the New York Times, Qaddafi said the above when he was speaking on a radio call-in show. He was talking about his forces beginning an assault on Benghazi that very night.

Qaddafi as I have said before is delusional, but after hearing that quote I feel very safe in my saying he is both delusional and dangerous.

I am glad that the United Nations voted the way they did, I think it will help the people in Libya by keeping them a little more safe.

I have been hearing a lot of people say they think we should be helping more in Libya and that the President is being to undecided about everything.

I do think that we need to help the people in Libya and I think that the President should be more decided on whether or not America is going in to help.

According to the New York Times the President gave the ok for America to go in with Europeans and Arabs in military strikes on Libya, however, a senior White House official remembered the President saying, "The American involvement in military action in Libya should be limited — no ground troops — and finite. 'Days, not weeks.'"

If we are going to help then we need to help all the way. We can't offer our hand to Libya if we are going to just let go when they are almost standing.

To read more about the United Nations decision visit, www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/world/africa/18nations.

Japanese heroes

My Opinion

For those of us who have seen the movie K-19 Widowmaker we have a look, probably an exaggerated look, but nonetheless, a very scary and emotional look at the facts of nuclear radiation. The K-19 Widowmaker is about the first Russian nuclear submarine voyage and its malfunctions. During the movie, after a malfunction occurs, the crew takes turns trying to fix the nuclear problem. The radiation is so bad that none of them can stay in the room for very long. The side effects are horrifying, and look very painful.

The crew and captain of the K-19 Widowmaker are now forever at the forefront in my mind when I think or talk about heroes. However, these heroes are characters in a movie and the actors are not real heroes. The real heroes of today can be seen in Japan.

According to Keith Bradsher and Hiroko Tabuchi from the New York Times, “A small crew of technicians, braving radiation and fire, became the only people remaining at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on Tuesday.”

The 50 workers are braving the dark tunnels full of radiation in order to try and fix the Reactors and stop further radiation problems.

It is not certain whether or not the crew members were assigned or if they volunteered, either way, they are heroes because they are trying.

Much like the movie K-19 Widowmaker, a lot is resting on the shoulders of these heroes. According to the New York Times, they could be Japan’s last hope of preventing further nuclear catastrophe.

If you have a hard time imagining what these workers are sacrificing and risking, watch the K-19 Widowmaker, though dramatized, I think it can help us all come to a better understanding of what they are going through and why they are real heroes.

Opinion 2

Commenting on The New York Times article at www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/asia/16workers.html?ref=todayspaper

Jack O’Hanlon from Salt Lake City, UT said:

Heroes of the whole world.

These 50 will be remembered for what they are doing, because no radiation suit or breathing equipment can shield them from the exposure they are taking. In essence, it's a death sentence for them all, most likely. While we all sit at home tonight in the USA, these people are trying to save countless others from a terrible outcome.

"It's a moving story, one that comes on top of one of the most graphic scenes of suffering imaginable. How can anyone define what the human spirit really can be when you see acts like this 'last line of defense?'"

Opinion 3

Another comment from the New York Times Article has a different view.

John M. Durham, NC said,

"It's nice to call these workers heroes -- and they are, in a way -- but we should recognize that their situation is bad. They probably don't have much personal choice about what they are doing. If they refuse now, they will likely be fired from the company. Assuming they are from the area, their houses have likely been damaged. At least they have an excellent national public health care system to rely on if they suffer from radiation poisoning. It just feels odd to be cheering for people whom a company has sent into an arena of potential death. Between cheers, can we ask quo vadis?"

Just because it is the norm doesn't mean it is the rule

My opinion

The traditional thought “all good Mormons are good conservatives” is not true anymore.

According to the New York Times, Susan Southwick, state coordinator for a group called Utah Patriots, said, “My mother says, ‘If he’s a bishop, he must be a good Republican,’” “I say, ‘do your homework,’”

Many Mormons are conservative and many Mormons are republicans, however, there are also many Mormon democrats. Not only are they democrats, many are in good standing with the church and hold leadership positions.

These are a few famous Mormon democrats; Berkeley Bunker, a US Senator, Howard W. Cannon a US Senator and Ralph Harding, a US Congressman from Idaho.

The stereotypes in this area of the church need to be brought down. Not all Mormons are republicans, just like not all Mormons are white. In our religion we have conservatives, republicans, liberals, democrats, whites, Hispanics, blacks and more; with all different kinds of languages, backgrounds, histories and opinions.

Respect others and their opinions, just because they are different doesn’t mean they can’t be a good mormon.

Don't sweat the small things

My Opinion

Where some people see a mean, rude and all around nasty person; others see a hurt, unconfident person with self esteem issues. Someone says something to you that could be taken two ways. Are you going to let it bother you and assume that he or she was trying to be mean? Or are you going to brush it off and assume that he or she was having a bad day?

Don’t sweat the small things. In every conversation in which you feel threatened or hurt by the words someone else is saying, you should be asking yourself, “why would a normal human being act or talk this way?” If the conclusions are that no normal self respecting human would talk this way, then you can assume that there are outside things influencing them.

Many times in this day in age miscommunication happens because of the inability to see or hear the other person while texting. When texting, never assume that the other person has just said something to make you angry; usually that is a miscommunication.

La Rochefoucauld said, “Little minds are too wounded by little things; great minds see all and are not even hurt.”

When we take a step back and look at the big picture, it is usually never worth it to get mad at someone else. In most cases if you can look at the big picture and try to see the reasons why someone is talking or acting the way they are, then you will never be hurt or offended by them.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Don’t give others the consent to make you feel inferior, rise above the petty comments being thrust at you and try to see the big picture. If you can figure out the reasons for a person’s actions or words then you will usually end up not be offended.

Women are doing great... just stop complaining

My Opinion

If your not going for the same jobs as men, then don't complain about getting paid less than they do.

It is still true that more men are going into math and science than women are. Because of this they are able to get higher paying jobs.

While many complain that women are still not receiving the same pay as men, we cannot deny that many women are still going for jobs that pay less, like teaching. Honestly I think most of the men in this world have come to accept the fact that women will be working and earning money.

Actually I think more men are coming to expect that the women they date and or marry will be helping to pay the bills. I think it is important for men to respect women and their right to earn money, but I’m tired of hearing everyone complain about how women earn less money.

If men are being paid more because of the types of jobs they have and women want to be paid the same amount, then apply for the jobs that men have. Because not as many women are going for those types of jobs, then it makes sense that they are not being paid as much.

We also need to consider the fact that there are still many women staying home to be better mothers to their children. They have jobs that pay nothing but a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Women! we are doing great things and we are finally on equal ground with men... but we need to stop complaining about the facts, change comes through action not words, so if you don't like it, do something about it.

Opinion 2

A while back, I was visiting a college in Connecticut where most of the students were the first in their families ever to go beyond high school. I was talking with a group of young men and women, and I asked the men how many of them felt it was very important that their future wife be a good earner.

All of them raised their hands.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/opinion/03collins.html

Taxes are what started the revolutionary war!

My Opinion

Taxes taxes taxes. I don’t want to be taxed just because I exist. I don’t want to be taxed if I get married. And I don’t want my children to be taxed when I die.

Because I still receive some help from my parents where money is concerned I have not yet had to deal with taxes very much. However, I recently discovered a list; this list names, probably not all, but many of the taxes my parents pay and what I will soon be paying as far as taxes are concerned.

This is the list of taxes we have:

Sales Tax, Hotel Tax, School Tax, Luxury Tax, Property, Tax, Medicare Tax, Inventory Tax, Car Rental Tax, Real Estate Tax, Well Permit Tax, Fuel, Permit Tax, Inheritance Tax, Road Usage Tax, CDL license Tax, Dog License Tax, State Income Tax, Food, License Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Gross Receipts Tax, Social Security Tax, Service Charge Tax, Fishing, License Tax, Federal Income Tax, Building Permit Tax, IRS Interest Charges, Hunting License Tax, Marriage License Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Personal Property Tax, Accounts Receivable Tax, Recreational Vehicle Tax, Workers Compensation Tax, Watercraft Registration Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax, Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax), State Unemployment Tax (SUTA), Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service FeeTax, Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon), Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax, Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax.

List from www.dailypaul.com

Many of these taxes did not exist 60 years ago, what does that tell you? It tells me that we are repeating the mistakes of and not learning from our own history...

On March 22, 1765 Britain passed the Stamp Act, this imposed a tax on newspapers, cards and more. According to www.nps.gov Americans campaigned to have the act repealed and it gave them confidence that they could avoid future taxes as well.

Then in October the British came to Boston to enforce the Townshend duties which were taxes on more everyday things like tea, paper, paint, etc. This led to street fights and to the Boston Massacre.

When the people of America were being unfairly taxed they stood up and fought against injustice. They fought against what they knew to be wrong.

We may not be to the point where we need to fight against taxes, but I think we are slowly slipping into something that could be avoided if we only looked at our history.

We are being taxed for existing, for marrying, and for dying. I for one would like to die without feeling like I am causing stress for my prosperity because they have to pay my inheritance tax.

Wrongful taxing was what prompted the Revolutionary war so I don’t see why we are going backwards and repeating history.

Opinion 2

I'm not sure how we got here but I'm starting to see that the U.S. Government seems to think they are the "house" like the gambling institutions of Las Vegas. They seem to believe they have a right to take a cut of any and every transaction that occurs inside the border.

If I work really hard and earn 100 million dollars, on which I pay income tax, and then decide to gift someone with a million of my dollars... Why does Uncle Sam seem to think he is entitled to a slice of my gift?

Isn't it my money? Don't I have a right to do with it as I see fit? To give 100% to whom I want? Why must I pay "taxes" on a gift that I have already paid taxes on? Isn't it then mine to give?

http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/68820