"We Surround Them" Redux

1. I believe that America is a good place despite the crap that's been going on in recent years. Although "good" and "best" are certainly subjective, and many countries have their pros and cons, I do believe that, here in America, we have the most opportunity to make something of ourselves. And that's probably because we ensure equal protection of rights (including certain unalienable rights as freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness). Note that it's the "pursuit of happiness" and not just "happiness." Please don't confuse equal rights with equal things--or even equal results. As someone said somewhere sometime, "I don't envy or hate the rich; I don't pity the poor." As a matter of fact, I've been poor, very poor, and never rich. Surprisingly, I'm glad I went through that because I learned a lot about respecting myself and about discipline. We don't get equal results in life, and we shouldn't expect to. Not all of us will own a home, and we shouldn't create government institutions that afford homes to those that can't afford it on everyone else's dime. I don't think it's America's (i.e. our government's) job to make sure this happens--or even to help everybody that they might think needs it.
2. I believe in God, but I don't believe in religion. As a matter of fact I pretty much detest organized religion. As a rule, religion promotes exclusiveness and is inherently divisive. I have no problem with faith in a deity, however. And just like any other personal belief, it's personal and an opinion. And we all know that opinions are like assholes: everyone's got one and if it's not yours, it stinks! But just as in your sexual preference or your propensity to wear deodorant (or not), your faith is of a personal nature and belongs "in the bedroom." Well, not literally, but you get the jist. Not everyone wants to listen to you blab on about your belief in this or that, especially when it stinks of religion. Want to show others the wonders of your faith? Live your life according to your beliefs. And maybe others will notice and ask questions. Until that point, shut the hell up and respect others for the right to have their own opinions.
3. I believe that it is my responsibility to try to be a better and more honest person every day. Sometimes I fail. Well actually, most of the time I fail. But never mind that--at least I try! I make tons of mistakes, but it's my mission in life to be a better person each day that I live. Again, "better" is subjective. For example, if I move to the right lane if I'm driving slower than someone else (even if I'm going the speed limit), then I'm a good person. Otherwise, I'm an ass and deserve to be tasered. Well, not literally, but you get the idea.
4. I believe that family is the most important thing in life. Yes, it is infinitely more important than my career, job, or even the incredibly tasty homebrew beer that I happen to enjoy often. I might have a funding proposal deadline in a day, but if my wife calls crying, I'll put it aside to console her. I and my wife are the ultimate authority under God when it comes to my family. I raise my family, not anyone else, and that comes with a serious responsibility. No liberal government knucklehead (or crazy religious right-wing nutjob for that matter) will tell me how to raise my kids, nor will they deny me the right to teach them infinitely more than our failing public school system. And that brings me to our puzzling and ridiculous desire to elevate averageness. Why must we tell everyone that they're a winner (and give everyone a trophy for "trying")? Why must we cringe when someone loses? Why is it OK to lower the difficulty of education because most of the students couldn't pass otherwise? Let them fail! Why is it not OK to put those failing kids in remedial classes because it's not politically correct to do so (or even to call it remedial)? Some have said that it tends to profile (i.e. minorities tend to fill remedial classes) and is discriminatory. As far as I'm concerned, I agree with the old guy who said, "I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers" and "the only things I can think of that is truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens." Political corectness promotes averageness, averageness promotes stupidity and affirmative action is nothing but reverse racism. I say we should love each other for who we are, no matter the color of our skin, our religious beliefs, whether we have gray hair or no hair, or even who we want to spend our time with. And I have the right not to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off. And hopefully, I'll have that right for a while longer.
5. I believe that if you break the law, you must pay the penalty. If you fail to pay your taxes, you should be treated just like anyone else who fails to pay their taxes. And you certainly should not be appointed to any government position, especially one that pits you as head of the IRS.
6. I believe that I have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But that is in no way a guarantee of equal results. As the old guy also said, "I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go invent the next operating system that's better and put your name on the building." In other words, get off your ass and get a job. Or if you already have a job and still want more, get another job. Got two jobs and want more? Get a third job! Quit depending on others to provide you with "things." You might want to think about getting off of credit too. It's not normal nor is it a good idea no matter how many offers you get from banks or credit card companies. Learn to live with less. Learn to be happy with less. Get away from the television and go outside. Play with your kids instead of sticking them in front of the TV, the computer or the Wii. And in case you're wondering, it's not the government's job to help you get the things you want (you know, the things you think you need like a home, a car or a flat screen HDTV). It's the government's job to provide protection of your rights, to provide safety from the plentiful idiots that roam the streets and to generally stay out of your life. And I swear, if the dunces that failed to make their mortgage payments because they made stupid choices and had faulty priorities in life get bailed out as I work my ass off to make my payments faithfully, I'll blow a fuse. Seriously, how does that motivate me to be an honest, hard working person? I can simply spend my money on popcorn, movies, top-of-the-line electronics, and anything else I don't "need", but fail to pay my mortgage and then get someone else to pay it for me. What's the point? We totally have it backwards. We should be rewarding those that have done well and ignoring those that haven't as a result of stupid decisions. Maybe then we'd make less of those kinds of decisions.
7. I believe that I work hard for what I have, and that I can share the fruits of my labor with others that I choose, when I choose, should I even choose to do so. Government cannot force me to be charitable. I think if the government left me with more of my money, then maybe I'd be able to help more people out. And I'd also get to select which people I'd help out. For example, I'd pick the people that are having a hard time but are trying very hard to get out of the bad situation they're in. I'd make sure to ignore the twats that choose to sit on their porch while drawing a government check.
8. I believe that it is not un-American for me to disagree with your opinion. Unlike many liberal pricks and "greenies," however, I also believe that it is not un-American for anyone to disagree with my opinion.
9. I believe that the government works for me. The government answers to me. I do not answer to the government.

Above very loosely paraphrased (and adapted to suit my "personality") from The 9-12 Project

And here's something I read on a wall in an oyster bar in Hattiesburg, MS sometime in 2007 (I later found out that they were authored by none other than Mahatma Gandhi):

The 7 Deadly Sins:

1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Business without morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle

After reading these, I thought of one more that seems to be lacking in our country these days (to make 8 deadly sins):

8. Freedom without responsibility