The Boston Marathon

OK, so this isn't my post for a week and I don't have an article, but I'd like to talk about this.
So, for those of you who are unaware (which will probably be no one by the time they read this) two explosive devices were planted about 100 feet before the finish of the Boston Marathon on Patriot's Day. Now, the Boston  Marathon is like the Superbowl for runners. It is almost every runner's dream to qualify for this international event. But, it is still running, and what I love about runners is that they love what they do and they love when other people love it too. I have never met a runner who was more worried about beating a racer than having a good time, doing their best, and seeing everyone else do their best. Not to say that they aren't competitive, but they are all so friendly and supportive of each other.
This is a family event. It is all about pushing through to achieve a goal, and is a landmark for all the runners. So why is it that there are people (and I am sure there is more than just the guy who planted the bomb) who are willing to do this to innocent people? Violence has been escalating at a massive rate, most recently the Oregon mall shooting, the Aurora Massacre, the Newton Massacre, and now this. I think we can trace it back to two major influences and a minor third.
I will start with the minor one. The media, after an event seems to focus more on the conviction of the offender than the hurt, anger, and frustration felt by those affected. Now, I understand that everyone wants to know the sentencing, but having live coverage of the trial and weeks of talks building up to it. And, while victims require respect and freedom from media if they want it, there never seems to be much concern over the struggles the family and friends must overcome.
A HUGE factor is our entertainment. I hear a lot of talk about violence in movies, and a lot of people call producers out on it, but the hypocritically then go and buy into the movies. A friend recently asked me if I wanted to hang out and watch a movie. I told him I would check to see what was showing, and I was perplexed that I found one movie not rated R at the bottom of the list. Now, I don't think rated R movies are bad. I think most of them are. I admire some movies such as the Passion and A Beautiful Mind, Amadeus and Schindler's List, that bring out important themes and are well written so as to make people think. BUT.....there is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much violence in most movies. Action, shoot'em'up, horror, fantastical....the list goes on. Most movies seem to praise violence, preaching revenge, selfish gain, anarchy, the need for power and money, etc. They all love the pseudo-romatic themes: an impossible task to grab the girls, get the money, and gain control. And while a lot of people condemn these movies, they still go and watch them for the thrill. This can also be traced into video games: Halo, COD, zombie games, all the rest. Same with TV shows. Someone once said something I find very interesting: "They (the companies) keep you in because they make the hero not fully good. That little bit of evil is what pulls you in" Think about it: heroes all the time can't seem to get it right. Sure they have to have a conflict to be a hero, but making them addicts, sexaholics, split personalities etc. are what make people become so attatched.
The other main problem I see is in discipline. This is a fundamental time for children to learn right and wrong. But, America has seemingly become an atheistic country, and easy misunderstanding that separation between God and state makes for an easy merge when you don't believe in a god. But, that isn't it: drugs have become a major part of the system. And not just elsewhere. Need I bring up last year's Junior Encounter? i knew a freshman (unnamed) who was expelled for possesion, use, and dealing of illegal substances. And he had been dealing since 7th grade! But, where is the discipline system. My dad teaches at OPS and is frustrated with the system. There, a student cannot be held back up to and including in junior high unless there is parental consent. Then, in high school, no student can be held back. And even at home, parents can't seem to do much other than "suggest" that their children change their behavior. Now, I don't promote beating your children, but sometimes it takes a spanking or a bar of soap to the mouth or grounding to teach a lesson. Because i would bet 9 out of 10 kids wouldn't do what their parents "suggested" And this carries over into the classroom. A teacher in OPS can only refer students to their administrator. Well, they usually have to wait to get a report through, and by that time it seems futile to punish the kid. And they really don't have a way of enforcing detentions either. Like I said, I don't agree with Romans where the father can do everything up to and including killing his son. But, I think that discipline is necessary, and that lessons can be hard to learn but must be taught.
So, there is my rant. America can't seem to fix its problem, and keeps trying futile tactics while overlooking the fact that discipline has been severely limited. Guns and any other thing, like bombs, are a problem. But as a wise man (well, OK it was Jack Sparrow) said, "The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem" So until we start allowing parents to discipline their children and get parents to be more involved with their kids (which could prevent them from seeing such violent movies) we will continue in vain to impose gun control and other restrictions while violence still escalates, and the only difference is that they are using illegal weapons to do already illegal activities. Next time you sneak into an R movie, stop and think about why. I don't think any of you will become mass killers, but We can take a stand to prevent future incidents like the most recent Boston Marathon Bombing.
As of now 2 people are dead, over 80 injured and over 100 being treated. Pray for the families.
God Bless America

Gay Marriage: Into the Future

Wow. I really try to keep most of my political opinions down unless someone specifically asks me. But, I think I'm gonna step out on a limb here.
Well we all hear about same-sex marriage, and why we should or shouldn't allow it. Let me say straight off that I do not agree with this type of marriage. But, don't call me a hater or anything along those lines, because I never said anything of the sort.
I liked the article Dana Milbank wrote in the Washington Post Article because it wasn't another slam at one side of the issue or the other; it didn't seem to me like it was focused on making a political statement as to whether we should or should not allow same-sex marriage. It simply suggested that the shift to legalizing it is inevitable, so it seems.
The article reports that there is still an undecided population, and only nine states plus D.C. have legalized gay marriage. But, it also implies, as seen in a protest, that gay-marriage supporters seem to have more motivation and a more easily-accepted argument to those who are just joining in on the issue.
OK, time for the nitty-griity. I still don't know whether I think it should be legal or not. I am firmly set against the practice, but I DO NOT hate gays. In fact, I have close friends who are. And, while I firmly stand against abortion and contraceptives being legal, this seems to be more an issue of choice and belief, not necessarily protecting life. I don't think people should do it, but that is because of my religion, and if they have a different faith then maybe they should be able to.
I can see where defenders are coming from: is it not wrong to deny them rights? Are we not responsible to defend their rights? Also, from what I can tell, the Bible only specifically forbids gay sex. They certainly have a legitimate argument.
However, I am confused as to why this is such and issue when it never has seemed to be before. Other cultures do not seem to have endorsed the practice, and even today America seems (to me) to stand mostly alone on this controversy. I do believe that in some cases people are born that way, and it isn't their fault. But, I also have an extremely strong suspicion that some people (including some I know) claim to be gay simply for attention, or perhaps because they think the culture is starting to tell them that it is right, perhaps better than straight (depicting them as suppressive and revoking gay rights). Back to the Bible, while it may not specifically say that homosexuality is wrong (at least in most cases) God created MAN and WOMAN to be companions and to love each other to their full extent. And I don't think God looks at technicalities: if you find $100 and keep it, technically you aren't stealing, but you aren't doing the right thing, and God wants you to do the right thing, not just to not do the wrong thing (if you can follow that. That's phrased weird...)
Now, again, I DON'T mean to promote abusing these people. Again, that isn't the right thing to do. I would like to rip people up one side and down the other when they do stuff like that. Literally. But I guess that wouldn't be a very nice thing to do anyways...
But, I think that unless those against gay marriage can get a more appealing argument, those supporting gay marriage will continue to pick up more and more supporters simply because their argument is more pleasing and immediately attractive. Eventually I suspect that there will be a shift and gay marriage will be legal.
So, yea. That was a little weird for me, making a political argument unprovoked (well except in the sensde that I needed to write this blog). I don't know where I stand on the legality of it, I know where I stand on it in a moral sense, but I think change will come. What do you think? Any reasons for or against it that I missed?

God Bless America

P.S. Please don't worry about my ideas. I'll say it again, I don't agree with it but I am totally undecided as to where I think it should stand in terms of legality. I just tried to show some reasons for picking one side or another. I want you to decide for yourselves. Nad maybe your ideas can help me decide too. Thanks for reading