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In this campaign season the president has hardly opened his mouth on the matter of addressing gun control in the wake of the Denver area slaughter. His genuflection at the alter of the NRA is not reassuring to those of us who believe he has a liberal agenda. At least this time around there has been some analysis of the psychology behind why Americans run to purchase more guns and ammunition in the wake of such tragedies. I am left asking the question: Do gun shop owners pray for such incidents the same way people in the building trades in California pray for an earthquake? Please don't think I am being cynical. I used to work in the building trades in Northridge, Ca.. I am also left wondering if Obama has any liberal agenda at all. It would seem that presidents of either stripe vary very little from the center line and hew an extremely narrow path during election seasons. What a system!

Excellent!

sherbear, I hope you don't mind my hack job, but I found lines of verse in your prose: Water soothes battered minds makes hair dance The movement of you and it combined intertwined delight Nothing is real when you're under water swimming

Hey now, Thanks for thinking of Jesse with me, XO! To steer clear from this mess, that of which I would be there to help in a minute...for sure. But I, I, I must steer clear into a sea of green-blue; where the horned goats watch near the jaggedness of the peaked mountains staggered cliffs. And The water soothes the battered mind as it makes hair dance to the movement of you and it, combined in intertwined delight. Nothing is real when your underwater swimming. Ahhhh, where was I...yeah thinking of the Grateful Dead Hour and the incredibly awesome pieces of music I found there on the 1st time through. Later-bye to the work day, hello to the night time. In this time, I own my thoughts and memories. That is where I am heading. I am going to be happy that Jesse is remembered, embraced, not-forgotten, treasured as an example of lovingkindness, and is beloved for the beautiful love he has sher'd with us, all. I've learned to keep on smiling and to smile ~anyways. All this now just off the top of my head. Now a truth, we are not every second of the day, we are owed by various systems participating in the unthinkable; for those things we are guilty however, we are also innocent depending on the level of reality involved. I LOVE YOU, ALL XO --------------------------(-----@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

I've been teaching my students about Rationalization, which describes the human tendency to privilege logic over emotion. This idea is illustrated by the progression of civilization over the last 10,000 years or so, and the develoment of things like agriculture, cities, machine guns and smallpox vaccines. The funny thing about Rationalization is that these logical processes also produce irrationalities; Nazi death camps are one example. Another one is the recent increase in gun sales in the US following the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado last week. Guns are the products of logical manufacturing systems and they are acquired for logical reasons; when people feel fear, they seek to defend themselves by extending their abilities. Buying a handgun is a fairly inexpensive way for a person to feel powerful, but with that purchase, the gun-owner also becomes a threat to everyone else's security. What we're seeing with the recent increase in gun sales is a completely irrational response to the problem of gun violence; acquiring guns is not a rational response to gun violence.

I have not lost anybody close to me due to senseless violent crime. I like to think I would be different and not call for blood if somebody killed my wife and/or kids. Most likely I wouldn't be any different then people willing to pull the trigger or run the show. It's a natural urge. The alternative of incarcerating somebody for life at the current price of about 38k a year also rankles some people. I do think that prisoners suffer more with that punishment. It seems like the easy way out to just kill them. Doin' life without parole is an ocean of pain, depression and anxiety. Perhaps we need to dump such killers on small islands with other such violent criminals and let them grow their own vegetarian food, No rules or guards or medicine. No escape. It seems to me to be an attractive option. Killing people who kill can never be right. It cannot be justified. There is a tremendous loss of energy that comes along with that. Even as tax-payers we involve ourselves in a collective karma that is never-ending unless we finally see the result and have remorse. Not bloody likely for Americans. My heart goes out to SherBear and every person who has lost a close friend or family member to violent crime. Try to see clear through to another day.

The tragic unexplained loss of your friend is heart-wrenching. Someday I hope that reason prevails and senseless gun killings will no longer be daily news.

with the remedy approaching...I wanted to state I have a huge opinion on this type of killing. My best friend of 32 years was shot in the head at an intersection; he fell to the ground and died right there. He had no idea he was in danger either. He is not forgotten and lives in my heart...one of the biggest dead-heads ever and we toured back when you could still hitch-hike, use pay-phones and ride seat-belt-less, sitting on the car windows edge hollering to friends when you hit the lot. The absence of his presence is over-ridden by the love I have for him that can just never fade away. The gun-men have not been caught and are roaming free; as I wonder if they even possess remorse or if it is that which they thrive on most seconds of their days. My friend was harmless, his love amazing, and his spirit is surely home free. This haunts his Mom and family...an how his son has suffered....still suffers for it. We are often doubtful his killers will be caught but hopeful to a fault. This Colorado killer is in custody....how many days will it take, how much money of the taxpayers will it cost, how many people will come in to ear-shot of the nonsense of arriving at his sentence and what will the tax-budget need to plan on for all of his needs to be met for probably the rest of his life. His life, ironic, lol...his life. To Jesse, your smile is still with me, xo! Last thing we said to each other from waayyyy across the lot at the top of our lungs was.... I love you. 2 days later, he's gone.

Should he get a meal ticket and a bed?Taxpayer provided? I am a peace-loving hippie- however... I often realm this kinda matter- fathom; do unto others as you would have done unto you. It's a terrible state of affairs...having this belief that severe brutality will be tolerated and you're now entitled to a free life of food, shelter, and medical care. Jail sucks but you can still jerk off. I hate war and destruction but it's tolerated. We need a new and improved way to process things of this matter. PSA - Work towards non-violence, every second of the day and it will be easy to engage the problem areas. Peace is easy to attain if we all find and identify love and what is not love. Then make a decision for all and not asking for money to provide for what is not but be steadfast in providing that which is. I say give all the money it will cost to jail this man for his sentence to the families of the victims and send him on his way. Gonna get there...I don't know. It's hypocritical of me however it's a real issue and it does not devalue my principles by stating these things. For thoes proven guilty there is no free ride, you can sleep on our dime no more. Heck, I'll give the shot or pull the trigger. I am sure about myself, are you? God Bless Our Armed Forces and Every Good Man and Woman Police Officer Respectfully Protecting Me and Everyone of You. May the Education Systems teach PEACE every year of all Our children's lives so there may be a day in the distant future joy conquers hatred, and love abound on the entire planet. Then... A gun shot heard is merely someone bringing home a meal. My heart aches, at this news, a burden so unforgettable. I vented here with ya's as to unload the confusion my mind possesses. What would the answer be? See ya later, bye. If the m'f'ing TV can show and report and not care what graphic and harmful images are shown during regular broadcasting hours...I request this be televised-nationwide AND he can start a new show called Freeing Up Tax Dollars One Person At A Time! We can get the wrap sheet, proof of the verdict-with precision, and perhaps a final- heartfelt apology and to watch 'em smoke one final puff. Game over. I bet the f'ing rating would be off the charts, wanna bet! I would love to make a guest appearance, I could pray, chant, and dance for the family members of the victims- praying they might find peace and move on. And whatever else I might be invited to do. Heck, I'd host the show! And I do believe, in my heart of hearts the crime rate in Our Nation would drop. I would be a host...promoting that as the one of goals of the show. And indeed, I would love those the victim's left behind with a love that could be affirmed as real. Well, I am humble for my rant here, very humble... and it is factually an early 28th day for me so, I have the zesty-bitch factor that only bleeding brings out. I cannot summon it, damn it, but I can't miss it when it hits me like a brick. Rrrrrrrrr. So, I embrace this opportunity to "whistle through my teeth and spit..." Each show could feature different types of MF'er's None get buried, all get burned then they go into a sealed plastic cell at the landfill, never to be apart of the earth again, just like the garbage, garbage cells. Well, I need a remedy for this nasty-vibe and it is time to go create that. My apologies for the chide I've expressed. Just doin' that rag thing and seeing what often cannot break-through my everlasting vibe of lovingkindness. I am interesting packaged... 2 days a month, as it's been a process of the change for me. --->But um Yeah! it's like truth-serum for the oppression's my realities and all of that which I love. Have a good aim but...when your hungry for game. A bird in the eye at 45 feet is a victory. I think I may have gotten him, but alas I wasn't there and didn't have a gun. If you read this, I did say truth serum, I just can't believe I would make it useful like this. :(how sad. "Come on people shine on your brother, everybody get together and try to love one another, right now...right now...right now..."

El-Assad is now threatening to use chemical and biological weapons on outside powers threatening him. Many Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia started arming the rebels when their diplomacy failed. If El-Assad makes good on this threat against his neighbors it is sure to draw the US into the conflict. While it may be a calculated move by Syria's strongman to limit the strength of the Free Syrian armed forces, it may also provide the justification for his use of these armaments against his own people, which he has pledged not to. The Four Horsemen are riding full gallop through the Middle East right now. Hang tight as the ground shakes and quakes!