OK, OK, OK I know I was supposed to do more on the comic and I promise to do so in my next entry but I cannot let this go!!! I found an article on MSN the other day and I am so bothered and disappointed in this country that I do not know what to do with myself!!!! This article talks about a lawsuit in which a former soldier, who was discharged as a result of his being openly gay, was told that the "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy was "rationally related to the government's legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion." Are you kidding me!!! This policy is not only unconstitutional it is just plain stupid. How dare we tell the fine men and women of this country that they cannot serve based solely on their sexual preference. One of my only regrets in this life is not taking the opportunity to serve in our military and I commend any that do. Some of these soldiers are great people that are as good if not better than most at what they do. This country is founded on the ideal that all men (and women) are created equal. And let me say this, the argument against homosexuality is strictly religious base, for there is no other argument, and our constitution has a very clear clause on the separation of church and state. It is our jobs to keep this country on the right course and so long as this is allowed to let stand we are failing. And furthermore until the I meet someone who can handle the crap on their own life sufficiently to start commenting on someone else's then I will ridicule and belittle all that do, for I believe that the golden rule stands, YOU TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WISH TO BE TREATED, and I will treat them the way that they choose to be treated.
OK, so maybe that last part I probably will not do, but I should, because it is not fair that the good people in this world are punished by the hateful ones with no penalty. It saddens me that this kind of discrimination still exists. I hope for all of our sakes that someday we as a species can move past this.
Thanks for reading,
JP
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Social responsibility...
Hello all! I know I have not blogged in weeks but I think it is time for me to blog again. Before I begin I will warn you, this entry will not be all about Gabriel or RWC, but there will be some updates towards the end of the entry.
Today I want to talk about social responsibility. I have touched on some things in an earlier blog and urge you to go back and read my earlier blogs if you have not already. Today while perusing the news sites I came along a story about "real life superheroes" and even found their website: http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org. In the article it talked about how varied men and women are dressing up like superheroes and patrolling the streets of their respective cities in an attempt to assist those in their communities. Let me start by commending each and every one of them for the good that they may have done. I will also say this, if comic books have taught us anything, and while I have not read as many as the more devoted fan... I have read enough, it is that within all of us is the ability to be honorable and heroic. We all have a duty to our community, whether we consider that the homes on our block, our state, our country, or our world as a whole, to not only take an interest, but to give back. I think in that spirit we can all learn something from those who have done this.
However, let me say this... I do not feel that the dressing up like a "superhero" and going out into the streets is either appropriate or responsible. I will tell all of you this, my favorite superhero of all time is the one and only Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne epitomized my love of comics for the reason that he is everything that I am not and yet someone I found myself relating to time after time. He is clever and cunning and though his persona appears to be that of someone who had life handed to him on a silver platter, all of his fans know that he has had to work as hard as anyone to become the hero that we are all currently mourning. That being said, Bruce Wayne is an extremist. He is someone that more than once has lost his hold on reality and has justified radical and unjustifiable actions. I caution all of us against extremism. Yes, all of these young men and women are doing something that is commendable, but it neither necessary nor appropriate. There are countless ways to give back to the world without dressing up and putting yourself and those around you at risk.
Extremism is not only something to avoid it is something to fear. It is the very thing that it is eating away at our world now. Whether it is religious extremism in the middle east, the religious extremism in our own country, the social extremism that seems to plague our television and all of Hollywood, or the extreme belief that if I dress up like a vigilante and patrol my streets I will be doing good, none of it can be found acceptable. We all have an obligation and responsibility to be both understanding and rational. Admittedly I am a conservative, but that being said I am often ashamed at how extreme my party can be on things that are neither our responsibility nor our business. Who am I to tell anyone who they can marry or be with? Who am I to tell anyone how they should live their life? Who am I to tell someone who is impregnated by rape whether or not they can have an abortion? Do those who disagree with these things have to agree with it...no. Do they have to support it...no, but it is neither our place to judge nor condemn. I do not agree with abortion personally, but I would never have the audacity to tell someone that they cannot make a decision that neither affects me nor anyone else that may be against it, NOR SHOOT THE DOCTOR THAT MAY HAVE DONE SAID ABORTIONS, BECAUSE OF SOME EXTREME BELIEF. The great thing about our country is that it was built on a belief that we all have a place. Every belief, every opinion, every lifestyle has a place within this country. So long as you live by the laws that are made, and your actions within those laws do not violate our constitution nor the safety and rights of others, then let all who live here live free and responsibly. It is our job to stand up as a whole and fight against extremism, wherever it may be.
Now do not get me wrong, I love passion. I feel that only through passion is this life worthwhile, but find passion responsibly. Join the peace corps, find a job or hobby that your are passionate about, or travel the world and learn its many cultures. As a former child protective investigator, I wish more parents where passionate about their children. All of that being said passion is neither a reason nor an excuse for extremism and I warn us all to be wary.
Lastly, I will say this... Comics are a terrific forum for making social commentary, and I for one hope that if this comic company becomes a reality that is a key part of our mission statement. Please, do not take that social commentary as an invitation to do something both dangerous and unnecessary.
OK, I think my rant is done. As far as the comic is coming I have made some progress and hope to give a little more of the first book in my next post. I will also tell you that I have approached a friend of mine from college to possibly be a part of the next book. I will tell you all that he is both a creative and extremely talented person and if he accepts, I am excited about the possibilities. I am also planning on taking a web design class and will work to start creating the website late this year and have it up and running by the beginning of next year.
Thanks for reading and I hope you return,
JP
Today I want to talk about social responsibility. I have touched on some things in an earlier blog and urge you to go back and read my earlier blogs if you have not already. Today while perusing the news sites I came along a story about "real life superheroes" and even found their website: http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org. In the article it talked about how varied men and women are dressing up like superheroes and patrolling the streets of their respective cities in an attempt to assist those in their communities. Let me start by commending each and every one of them for the good that they may have done. I will also say this, if comic books have taught us anything, and while I have not read as many as the more devoted fan... I have read enough, it is that within all of us is the ability to be honorable and heroic. We all have a duty to our community, whether we consider that the homes on our block, our state, our country, or our world as a whole, to not only take an interest, but to give back. I think in that spirit we can all learn something from those who have done this.
However, let me say this... I do not feel that the dressing up like a "superhero" and going out into the streets is either appropriate or responsible. I will tell all of you this, my favorite superhero of all time is the one and only Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne epitomized my love of comics for the reason that he is everything that I am not and yet someone I found myself relating to time after time. He is clever and cunning and though his persona appears to be that of someone who had life handed to him on a silver platter, all of his fans know that he has had to work as hard as anyone to become the hero that we are all currently mourning. That being said, Bruce Wayne is an extremist. He is someone that more than once has lost his hold on reality and has justified radical and unjustifiable actions. I caution all of us against extremism. Yes, all of these young men and women are doing something that is commendable, but it neither necessary nor appropriate. There are countless ways to give back to the world without dressing up and putting yourself and those around you at risk.
Extremism is not only something to avoid it is something to fear. It is the very thing that it is eating away at our world now. Whether it is religious extremism in the middle east, the religious extremism in our own country, the social extremism that seems to plague our television and all of Hollywood, or the extreme belief that if I dress up like a vigilante and patrol my streets I will be doing good, none of it can be found acceptable. We all have an obligation and responsibility to be both understanding and rational. Admittedly I am a conservative, but that being said I am often ashamed at how extreme my party can be on things that are neither our responsibility nor our business. Who am I to tell anyone who they can marry or be with? Who am I to tell anyone how they should live their life? Who am I to tell someone who is impregnated by rape whether or not they can have an abortion? Do those who disagree with these things have to agree with it...no. Do they have to support it...no, but it is neither our place to judge nor condemn. I do not agree with abortion personally, but I would never have the audacity to tell someone that they cannot make a decision that neither affects me nor anyone else that may be against it, NOR SHOOT THE DOCTOR THAT MAY HAVE DONE SAID ABORTIONS, BECAUSE OF SOME EXTREME BELIEF. The great thing about our country is that it was built on a belief that we all have a place. Every belief, every opinion, every lifestyle has a place within this country. So long as you live by the laws that are made, and your actions within those laws do not violate our constitution nor the safety and rights of others, then let all who live here live free and responsibly. It is our job to stand up as a whole and fight against extremism, wherever it may be.
Now do not get me wrong, I love passion. I feel that only through passion is this life worthwhile, but find passion responsibly. Join the peace corps, find a job or hobby that your are passionate about, or travel the world and learn its many cultures. As a former child protective investigator, I wish more parents where passionate about their children. All of that being said passion is neither a reason nor an excuse for extremism and I warn us all to be wary.
Lastly, I will say this... Comics are a terrific forum for making social commentary, and I for one hope that if this comic company becomes a reality that is a key part of our mission statement. Please, do not take that social commentary as an invitation to do something both dangerous and unnecessary.
OK, I think my rant is done. As far as the comic is coming I have made some progress and hope to give a little more of the first book in my next post. I will also tell you that I have approached a friend of mine from college to possibly be a part of the next book. I will tell you all that he is both a creative and extremely talented person and if he accepts, I am excited about the possibilities. I am also planning on taking a web design class and will work to start creating the website late this year and have it up and running by the beginning of next year.
Thanks for reading and I hope you return,
JP
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