Blacksheep Speaks

Welcome back!

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It’s been a long time now since the Westside shootings occurred, but, like Columbine, the phrase still brings a passionate outcry. The two boys, each around thirteen years old or so, were caught, tried, and convicted. The courts put them in jail until they turned 21, at which time they were released and their records (theoretically) sealed. But that’s NOT what the people wanted. Spurred on by the local media, they wanted blood. They wanted those boys to DIE for what they did. At approx. 13 years old, these boys were children. Yet people wanted them dead. Because of this, their whereabouts upon release were concealed.

A little over a year ago, Mitchel Johnson was in a van that was pulled over on a tip that the van contained hundreds of pounds of marijuana and several guns. Bearing in mind that Johnson’s record was sealed, apparently someone “forgot” to lock the record. The arresting officers thought he was a convicted murderer. What was found in the van… the friend’s van, not Johnson’s… was less than a quarter ounce of marijuana and one gun. So, we are looking at a minor drug and firearm possession charge. Usually carries probation. Yet today, Mitchell Johnson went to trial in a federal court on these charges. The media local to Westside is televising the trial. Earlier, they had crowed “MITCHELL JOHNSON’S WHEREABOUTS FINALLY REVEALED!” as though they had always had a right to know, but had been denied that right. Since the arrest last year, that television station has been constantly reminding viewers about the Westside shooting case, keeping tempers up and, as a side issue, pouring salt on the wounds of the families of the victims.

At his deposition a year or so back, when asked why he did the shootings, no one believed him when he said he didn’t know. Yet, if put on the spot, how many people would know why they did what they did and thought what they thought when they were thirteen? Thirteen is still a child. Most people can’t remember why they did what they did last YEAR. Of course he doesn’t remember. Yet people still want him to bleed for what he did as a child.

And as long as the media continues to crucify him, he isn’t going to be able to live out his life in safety. In my opinion, a news media that fans the flames of hatred, and then publishes exactly where the hated target lives is deliberately putting that person in danger. And if anything happens, they are just as guilty as the boys who pulled the trigger on that fateful day.

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You know, it really is refreshing being able to watch all those old television shows again. It’s a big difference from all the violence and garbage now on even in what used to be prime time. And all that so called “reality TV”. Please. All those progesterone soaked people trying to survive, dance to the top, or whatever. None of it comes anywhere close to reality. Besides which, if I want reality, I’ll go outside. I turn on the television for entertainment, not reality.

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That was a really good episode of the Waltons… the first of a two parter, the one where their house burns down. Too bad I had to miss half of it. Remember that friend I mentioned? She called back to tell me that they had decided on some Wilmington real estate place. Kept me on the phone for a big chunk of the show. Ah, nwell. The kids always wonder how these old shows have people that can solve all their problems in less than an hour. I guess they are too used to the modern TV shows that carry the same problems with them week by week Well, they are starting the second half, and the phone is now off the hook. Back later.

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Well, we are just about to sit down in front of the television, where we intend to waste our entire evening. Well, not waste, exactly. We don’t watch network TV. At this time, we are working our way through the fourth season of the Waltons… reruns to the adults, but a new experience for the kids. The only reason it’s taken us this long today is that one of my best friends called. She’s all excited about the idea of buying some investment property or other, if she and her husband can settle on a real estate company to handle the whole thing. I swear, that girl worries me. She would have been a prime target for one of those real estate flipping schemes that was making the rounds a while back. Ah, well, on to the Waltons. Back in a while

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A lot of people joke around about moving off to their own private island somewhere to get away from it all, but have you ever thought about really doing it? Think about it… quiet, hassle free… paradise. Private islands are just one of the luxury property options at the St Thomas Real Estate website, located at http://vidreamproperties.com. This website is a great one stop real estate shop. They carry it all. Looking for a great piece of commercial property that suites your unique needs? The3y can help you with that. How about an unforgettable vacation rental? They have those as well, in whatever size you require. And, with all of that, they STILL have the best and widest selection of condos and private homes available for sale. Backed by the Remax name and reputation, you know you are dealing with serious professionals that will do their best to find the property that suits your needs. Nothing is easier than perusing these wonderful Virgin Island properties online, and, if you have any questions or need more information, all you need to do is give them a call… their toll free phone nubers are listed right on the front page of the website!

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Not MY boys. I don’t HAVE any boys. I mean the boys that keep showing up expressly to make me worry about my daughters and whether or not I raised them with any sense whatsoever. Personally, I like it when they date the ones who at least know how to read. This is not a qualification I can absolutely be sure the last few have had. Take, for example, the one who showed up smelling like Noxema, but dressed in cut up jeans, a motorcycle jacket made of the best fake leather, with about a ton of faux gold chain around his neck. I didn’t even know hair came in that shade of purple. Or the very friendly one that dressed like my friends. My FEMALE friends. I guess the football jock wasn’t so bad, but on that one, I reference what I said about being able to read. Hey, maybe I should just ground them all… I am sure I can think of a reason… just for a few years….

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Not MY boys. I don’t HAVE any boys. I mean the boys that keep showing up expressly to make me worry about my daughters and whether or not I raised them with any sense whatsoever. Personally, I like it when they date the ones who at least know how to read. This is not a qualification I can absolutely be sure the last few have had. Take, for example, the one who showed up smelling like Noxema, but dressed in cut up jeans, a motorcycle jacket made of the best fake leather, with about a ton of faux gold chain around his neck. I didn’t even know hair came in that shade of purple. Or the very friendly one that dressed like my friends. My FEMALE friends. I guess the football jock wasn’t so bad, but on that one, I reference what I said about being able to read. Hey, maybe I should just ground them all… I am sure I can think of a reason… just for a few years….

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As has been mentioned before, I have four daughters. At this point in time, for this year only, thank goodness, they are all teenagers. At once. What was I THINKING? I am running an incredible range here on dealing with teen problems and not going insane. Add to all this that the eldest is about to become a mother for the first time… and that’s it. I want a vacation. Seriously, how do you handle one pregnant, one trying to get into Harvard, one fighting her first round of zits and one who is glad she and her boyfriend broke up because he’s not a “cat person”? It’s hard enough explaining to the eighteen year old genius why the prom is not NEARLY as important to the average teen male as, say, the latest Chrysler 300 accessory. Then I get to explain that, no, you may NOT karate chop the little snit in your class who commented on your one and only zit. Does this paragraph seem confusing? It’s MUCH more organized than my mind at the moment.

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Earlier today, I posted my opinion about the lack of respect shown to our Pledge of Allegiance. You can read about that in the post which immediately preceeds this one. In response I recieved two comments from someone calling himself “TheMan” who cited “facts” from a website called “nobeliefs.com” and whose email address begins with “fearthesheep”. The comments were directed entirely at the part of my post dealing with God in the Pledge, and pretty much ignored the rest. This BEING a free country (though this is a private blog) I choose to post his comments, not in the comment section, but here in the main body of a new article. Before I do, however, here are a few facts that can be backed up via many historical avenues that “TheMan” and many others apparently aren’t aware : (His comments will follow this commentary…hey, it’s MY blog, I get to write first!)

The Declaration of Independence, which began the fight for freedom in this country (at least on a public level) cites as it’s CORE BASE for being, 27 violations of Biblical principal. In other words, the founding fathers relied on the Bible and what it says to back them up and give them reason for a revolution.

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as calling the Bible “the cornerstone of American Liberty”. He then put the Bible into the schools as the MAIN TEXTBOOK.

Patrick Henry made it VERY clear in his writings and correspondence that he believed our constitution to be written and founded upon the Gospels.

55 men got together and formed the Constitution. Of those 52 were church members citing Biblical principal for what they did. The other three simply didn’t state their beliefs one way or the other.

James Madison said, “We’ve staked our future on our ability to follow the 10 Commandments, with all our heart.”

George Washington, ib his final address as President, can be accurately quoted as saying “You can’t have national morality apart from Religious principal,”

And it goes on and on. Anyone who believes this country came into being without God in the minds and hearts of it’s people apparently cannot read, either. Or, perhaps, they CHOOSE to be sheeple, citing what they have read on a website without bothering to check it’s accuracy. That said, on to give TheMan’s comments the airing they deserve… YOU can judge for yourselves. It IS a free country!

In regards to your comments about God, I have to disagree. My most straightforward reason is that the original pledge contained no mention of God. You can read about its history at http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm . However, there is more to my complaint than that. The idea that this government had its roots in Christianity is a myth. You can read about the realities of religion in our nation’s establishment at http://www.nobeliefs.com/Tripoli.htm . Please do not resort to insulting those who exercise their rights by accusing them of ignorance or incompetence. We should encourage those who stand up (or sit down) for what they believe. Reciting a few words does not make you a patriot, but sometimes dissent does.

And the second comment…

Oh, also, the US is by no means the “biggest” country in the world. If by “strongest” you mean “has the largest military”, I concede that you are correct.

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