What I’m about to say may come as a shock and upset some people on what’s left of my friends list after the recent purge of my facebook page, but I think it needs to be said. In the spirit of “The Great Awokism of 2020” as I call it, there are groups of people who have lined themselves up for re-alignment of consensus, if you will. There are a lot of misinformation fueling these people who keep destruction in mind and history in their sights. For the record, you can’t change history, but history can change you. What’s done is done and what you are doing now will be reflected on good or bad by our children’s children and beyond as a moment of either mass hysteria or cultural declination. How do you want the future to mirror you?

    President Trump recently made it clear that he will be signing an Executive Order to “that would protect public statues and federal monuments and make vandalizing or any destruction to them punishable by jail time” (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-to-sign-executive-order-protecting-federal-statues-monuments). However, I don’t believe that will slow down the rioters who are “all in” to change what is going on. However, since there are certain groups of people who are hell bent on removing historical figures from our public viewing pleasure, might I take this time to make a few suggestions as to make the playing field more level as to what gets taken away. Using the criteria of what these groups appear to be going by, I feel there needs to be some added to the list. PLUS, we’ll make it a game!

    Let’s start with something to do with the law (since defunding police is a new fad), the Bass Reeves (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bass-Reeves) statue in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I’m pretty sure if you want to really “stick it to tha man”, this one would garner you some serious pointage on the scoreboard of crime life. Not only was he a historic law man, but he was also a Confederate Soldier. So there, you would be getting at least two groups of people: Rednecks and Law Officials. If you can pull that off and survive, you will definitely get your 15 minutes of fame. If you are lucky, you will receive all the intimate social graces the penal system has to offer for life. By the way, he too, was a former slave as a child. Bonus points for REAL enginuity for this too. I want to see it on facebook live as it’s happening. I don’t want to see blurry pictures or video, I want full 1080i HD (UHF 4K if possible) quality. Multiple camera angles while you are at it. No masks or makeup either. If you can’t do that, then don’t even bother to try. This is the kind of event that could give participants recognition with a lifetime achievement award from the Governor of Arkansas. If you really want to prove you are the man (or woman, or neither), then do it while the cops are watching. That will really impress everyone.

    If you feel pretty thirsty after doing all of that, then you are going to love this. The next name on the list, John Stith Pemberton (http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/john-stith-pemberton.html). He was an American biochemist and Confederate States Army veteran who is best known as the inventor of Coca-Cola. In May 1886, he developed an early version of a beverage that would later become world-famous as Coca-Cola, but sold his rights to the drink shortly before his death. Why do I mention this? Well because since it’s all the rage to tear down Confederate statues, what about their businesses? BTW, his statue is in Atlanta, Georgia, so it should be a hop, skip, and a jump from the Wendy’s that was burnt down for no reason (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-atlanta-idUSKBN23K0RI). I’m working up a hunger while typing all this up and really craving a Baconator right now.

      By this round, you probably want to hide out somewhere. You know, lay low. What better way is there to hide than right out in public. Third stop on the list, The City of Presidents! Yes, indeed, The City of Presidents (https://www.visitrapidcity.com/things-to-do/all-things/attractions/city-presidents) has become a tourist attraction in Rapid City, South Dakota, featuring 44 sculptures of U.S. presidents placed around the city. If you really want to poke a wasps nest, that would be a great way to express your “anger” about racial inequality considering there’s only one black president there. One one? Come on, what do you think the folks in CHAZ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill_Autonomous_Zone) would do or say about that? Gotta build up your street cred, that would be the way to do it. While you are in the region, hop on over to Mount Rushmore (https://www.visitrapidcity.com/parks/mount-rushmore-national-memorial) and try taking those faces down. You will get extreme bonus points for doing it without any ropes or cables. Come on man, you gotta go hard, live extreme, or stay home. The only trick is you have to let the Park Rangers know you are coming. Yeah, you gotta book three days in advance. That’s how they roll. If you can accomplish this feat, you will be a master!

    Now for some real challenge that isn’t a DLC: Religious Statues! You want that challenge! You NEED that challenge! And the best part is that you can pick and choose too! The Christian Crosses are too common and over used. What isn’t as common are the statutes for Satanism, Wiccan, and Buddhism. If you really want to show the world you are the $#!+, then your name could reign supreme in the perfumed halls of Allah when you bowl over these groups. Choose your destiny wisely because that particular deity will definitely remember you for all eternity. By the way, the laws of man will apply to this challenge, so you better make sure this is going to be worth it in this life and the next (and maybe the next depending on what religion you subscribe to). By the way, this challenge also includes lawyers, religious leaders, respective communities, and the occasional surprise of sniper fire from an extremist waiting for you from about 300 yards away at any given moment. HINT: This will be messy. So be sure to bring a few liters of Coke from Atlanta to help wash your blood off the concrete since the police won’t have the funds to get it beforehand.

    If these seem like too easy of a challenge to do, then maybe something a bit more upscale might be of your enthusiasm. I’m thinking about lights, camera… Hollywood, California! Yes, if movies like “Gone with the wind” are too controversial for racial tones, perhaps we need to clean up the movie vaults in the name of racial equality (https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/why-hbo-max-temporarily-pulled-gone-with-the-wind-and-how-it-plans-to-rerelease-the-film/ar-BB15ja8T). There are TONS and TONS of movies and shows that have all sorts of racial slurs, remarks, and inequalities. They are filled with adulterous sexality, extreme violence, obnoxious hidden agendas, all sensationalized to make you accept that way of life is okay for your family. After all, if the movie studios allowed the directors, writers, and actors to film / portray such racial indignities, then we should wipe them clean as well! I can’t see no better place to start than in our TV’s, just like those special little groups do when they go after someone for putting something on social media they don’t like. Clear out the negative stereotypical movies, shows, and shorts, let’s make Hollywood great again!

    While we are on the topic of TV and movies, perhaps we should move onto the news media outlets. Kudos for those in Atlanta who attacked CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/29/us/cnn-center-vandalized-protest-atlanta-destroyed/index.html), btw. You really showed the world you mean business by attacking the one network that is actually constantly promoting your agenda and cause with propaganda. I don’t use that word, “propaganda”, lightly either. Next time any of these rioters go by a news company, they should tell them to quit dividing the country by pushing their agenda or deliberately inserting color into every sentence. We should take shows and movies that use the racial slang words, even if it is two people of the same ethnic race calling each other the names. Want to set the example, right? Then start leading by it! There’s no difference between a white man and a black man. We all bleed red and need oxygen to breath. Bonus points for those who beat the reporters over the head with a copy of the United States Constitution. Double bonus points if they put the “reporters” in a headlock while spanking the top of their head with a copy of the United States Bill of Rights.

    It wouldn’t hurt to turn some attention over to Rap and Hip-hop music as well. Don’t get me wrong, there are other genres that have their racial remarks in them too, BUUUT…. gotta start somewhere, right? Calling women “bitches” and “hoes” isn’t okay either if I am to understand the whole “MeToo” movement correctly. By the way, where are they right now? Shouldn’t they be out with for the women who are suffering in these riots as well? Ain’t no feeling like when a man puts down a woman, is there fellas? Can someone kneel down and apologize for that? I guess it would be easier to get David Allen Coe to apologize for his 18 X-Rated hits (https://www.last.fm/music/David+Allan+Coe/18+X-Rated+Hits). Lord forbid we actually set a decent example for our children, right? No, why would we want to do that? 

    All I know is that we got to make this stop. It’s too much with people getting seriously hurt / killed not just by cops, but by the rioters / violents. The police are seriously over worked / out numbered by the looters and rioters doing all the damages. Peaceful protesting is great, but I don’t think many people know what they are “protesting” for anymore. Unless specific events happen, but day and night these acts of random violence are occurring more often than should because people are just acting a’fool for next to no real reason. Yes, there has been some “injustices” that happen on both sides of the law. I don’t use that word, injustice, lightly. I think there is enough blame to go around. It takes one person to make a positive difference in two lives, then two becomes four, four becomes eight, and so on.  We got to stay positive and show some compassion. Not tear up towns and making ridiculous demands. If you want real change, try asking your spiritual guide for help, read a religious reference book, or just show some compassion from the heart. People will know what’s in your heart by your actions. Are you prepared for what will be coming back to you, otherwise known as “Karma”? The universe, God, nature, whatever you believe in, it has a natural balance to protect. If you tip the scales too much one way, you will regret it.

    Outside of all the statues coming down, there is other mean and senseless acts of violence that are going on. If you don’t see it on the news, look on social media to fill in the lust for angry moments and events. In New York City, there was a video made of a group of African-Americans who were throwing fireworks on a homeless man who was sleeping on the sidewalk (https://nypost.com/2020/06/22/video-appears-to-show-man-toss-firework-at-homeless-person-in-harlem/). The firework had a loud boom and flames that shot up in the air. Fortunately, the event was recorded showing an African-American man tossing a live firework at another man who appeared to be asleep on a Harlem sidewalk. The heartless act left the 66-year-old victim hospitalized with minor burns, police said. “Oh!” several people on video could be heard saying as the firework goes off as another person in the recording could be heard faintly giggling. Police are still investigating the incident and no arrests were made, but acts like these are popping up in the urban cities all over the country.

    By the way, the word “Urban” is being considered to be “rooted in the historical evolution of terms that sought to define black music”, according to Republic Records (https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/republic-records-vows-to-stop-using-urban-description/ar-BB15eRgp). They are one of the latest companies to change their branding, adding that “However, over time the meaning and connotations of ‘urban’ have shifted and it developed into a generalisation of black people in many sectors of the music industry, including employees and music by black artists.” Speaking of music, did you hear about the group formerly known as “Lady Antebellum”? In their infinite (small) wisdom, they decided to change their name to “Lady A” because the name Antebellum “referring to the period of history before The Civil War, which includes slavery” (https://twitter.com/ladya/status/1271094931227119620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1271094931227119620&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsequenceofsound.net%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php). Their full statement was “When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the southern ‘antebellum’ style home where we took our first photos. As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us…Southern Rock, Blues, R&B, Gospel and of course Country. But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before The Civil War, which includes slavery. We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued. Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that. So today, we speak up and make a change. We hope you will dig in and join us.⁣⁣⁣”

    Here’s another one that might set you back in your seat: Eskimo Pie, the chocolate-covered ice cream treat that has been around for nearly a century, will soon be retired in what is the latest product to yield to growing pressure to remove or rethink brands that have long been considered racist or culturally insensitive (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/business/dreyers-eskimo-pie-name-change.html). Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, which owns the dessert, said “We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is inappropriate”. The company said it planned to have a new name by the end of the year and would discontinue the character of the Eskimo. Two more companies are jumping on the change-branding bandwagon. Cream of Wheat is now removing its package branding, which features a black male chef. In a statement, Cream of Wheat’s parent company, B&G Foods, Inc., announced that they are initiating an immediate review of the Cream of Wheat brand packaging. “We understand there are concerns regarding the Chef image, and we are committed to evaluating our packaging and will proactively take steps to ensure that we and our brands do not inadvertently contribute to systemic racism.” Oh, but wait: Mrs. Butterworth’s breakfast syrup, which features a woman as its brand face, is also considering making a similar concession. Conagra Brands, the parent company of Mrs. Butterworth’s, made a statement about the brand’s future: “We stand in solidarity with our Black and Brown communities and we can see that our packaging may be interpreted in a way that is wholly inconsistent with our values. We understand that our actions help play an important role in eliminating racial bias and as a result, we have begun a complete brand and packaging review on Mrs. Butterworth’s.” 

    So with all these things going on right now, is there any wonder why people seem to be actin’ a fool? All this causing companies to knee-jerk react to whichever the wind of change blows according to the mainstream news media. This is all part of a vicious cycle that fuels the people to continue doing foolish things. Mostly due to failing  to educate the ignorant. Instead, what we are seeing is the results of an indoctorination to our youth. Compare the people in the riots by age groups, most are just young people, college aged. Their parents, or folks who are the same age as their parents are telling them to stop or rolling their eyes / shaking their head at all this. Ask the rioters what are they doing this for or what they want out of this? They won’t know. Maybe a few out of the whole damn bunch, but a majority won’t know what to do or know what they want exactly. It’s a lot like a dog chasing a care. What does the dog do when the car stops? Nothing because it doesn’t know what it is supposed to do after it catches up. 

    Let’s face it, when it comes to the “hope of the future”, most people outside the riots are stressed out by all this. I’m not saying the rioters are not stressed out, but they don’t care or see that they are fueling this stress by their actions. In a new study released by the American Psychological Association, as part of the was part of the Civil Unrest Survey that was conducted online within the United States between June 9 and 11, 2020, among 2,058 adults age 18+ who reside in the United States, they say “more than 8 in 10 Americans (83%) say the future of our nation is a significant source of stress” (https://www.newswise.com/coronavirus/more-than-80-of-americans-report-nation-s-future-is-significant-source-of-stress-survey-says/?article_id=733351). The previous high was 69%, reported in 2018 as part of APA’s annual Stress in America survey. Here’s something else interesting that they found, “The proportion of black Americans who say discrimination is a significant source of stress has increased significantly in the past month, with 55% of black adults saying discrimination is a significant source of stress in Wave 2 of the COVID Tracker. At the beginning of May, only 42% said the same in Wave 1. In the most recent civil unrest poll, more than 7 in 10 Americans (71%) say police violence toward minorities is a significant source of stress. But most Americans (67%) say the current movement against systemic racism and police brutality is going to lead to meaningful change in America”. Let that sink in for a moment. IF that is true, then we have got a lot longer way to go and we are just at the beginning.

    I realise what I’m about to tell you tonight maybe a little “out there”, but it might not be once you hear what I’m going to lay out here before you. I know we live in some interesting times and it bothers me to see my country, along with the world, outlash at authority organizations, such as our police officers. Last week, I covered why we shouldn’t let this happen, but as I see more of the events happen, I can’t really blame the people for their outrage. Now I am not saying I condone these riots, the destruction of property, or the looting. What I am saying is that for the people who protest, it’s their constitutional / God given right to do so peacefully, and I support that to my last breath. What I don’t want done or go unnoticed is that something has got to change. Something has got to change or it’s going to get a lot worse from here if it doesn’t. Peacefully protesting about another cop killing another person, innocent or not, isn’t the issue here, it’s the rioters and looters. There is no need to destroy businesses who are innocent and the owners who have to tell their employees that they can’t come to work anymore to earn money so they can take care of their families. That’s the truth. Unfortunately, it’s also the one casualty that hardly ever gets any notice.

    These rioters mostly want to cause trouble because it’s an excuse to cause anarchy. In their minds, this causes a vacuum for leadership and rule of law, in result destruction and thievery is their tactics. Their advantage is believing they are entitled to do so with the justification of ignorance is bliss. I can’t stomach the fact they believe they can take over a section of a city, claiming it to be their own, patrol down the neighborhoods, and shakedown the residents for “protection money” to keep them safe. Anyone familiar with CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) or CHOP (Capitol Hill Occupied Protest) (https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/dubbed-a-lawless-state-by-some-the-chaz-or-chop-seattles-newest-neighborhood-tries-to-create-its-own-narrative/). No, I don’t see any legitimate excuse for that. It’s called Tyranny (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyranny) and it doesn’t end well. Look at the warlords thugs in places like South America and in Africa. It’s not good for anyone except the person in charge for the duration they can claim it.

    The question on my mind right now is what will this all this mean during the next ten, twenty, or fifty years from now in the history books? Is this going to be the start of our “Roaring 20’s” (https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/roaring-twenties-history)? Are we already seeing an apocalyptic version of what happened in the 1920’s? Even during that time had its fair share of very disturbing events, but in the end it also flourished with changes in the way we did things across the nation. Everything from the way we purchased goods, products available, and the ideals that sprung forth. Women seemed to be more “free” with their expressions while breaking beyond doing “unladylike” things. There was the birth of Jazz music and then Prohibition of Alcohol.  In fact, for many people in the United States, the 1920s brought more conflict than celebration. That’s a whole other story for a whole other show.

    Now we see some ideals of what has become known as the “Cancel Culture”. It seems to be our form of prohibition. We must cancel out what we don’t agree with, or what can be better described as the ideas that may not be the same as theirs. The movement to delete elements from society because people either disagree with or are offended has officially kicked into high gear. From LEGO to your favorite cartoons and hit TV shows like “Cops” and “Live PD” (https://deadline.com/2020/06/cops-canceled-paramount-network-live-pd-return-evaluated-ae-1202954910/), and classic movies such as “Gone With the Wind” (https://www.wsj.com/articles/hbo-max-pulls-gone-with-the-wind-11591754904?mod=e2tw), it seems nothing is safe from it’s reckoning. LEGO has requested the products to be removed from sites and any marketing that involve police, firefighters, and the White House (https://toybook.com/lego-pulling-back-potentially-sensitive-product-amid-george-floyd-protests/). Looney Tunes are also seeing some major changes as Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam will no longer carry guns (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/arts/television/looney-tunes-hbo-max.html). It’s getting so bad that the dictionary company, Merriam Webster, after receiving a letter from a 22-year-old student, has decided to change the definition of racism (https://twitter.com/DrakeUniversity/status/1270373693609463808/photo/1). Because of the letter, the definition will now be updated to include “systemic oppression” in addition to the standard definition. Incase anyone is wondering what a valid definition of “systemic oppression” is, take a look at CHAZ or CHOP in Seattle, Washington right now. It’s like the Cancel Culture movement is trying to erase or replace history. You only have two choices: either agree or be cancelled.

    Now there have been several variations of what I’m about to tell you, but I believe it was best said by a Spanish-American philosopher, poet, and humanist by the name of George Santayana who once said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Santayana). The reason I say this is because our children and our grandchildren will be put in this position because they aren’t allowed to learn true history. Using real historical proven facts and evidence that shows all the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, and probably more importantly, “WHY” our ancestors did what they did, be it because it needed to be done or they were just bored at the time. I believe we are seeing all the riots in part of because they don’t teach real facts from both sides of the historical sides in public schools, nor do they teach Civics either. Both of those are sorely missed in the modern age as we trample off into the unknown only to be curb stomped by those marching up behind us. 

    Confederate statues have been targeted in recent weeks during protests following the death of George Floyd, who died at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis. Several have been damaged and some local officials are considering removing them. Recently, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the removal of 11 Confederate statues from the United States capitol. In a letter to the Joint Committee of the Library, which oversees displays in the capitol, the madam speaker said the displays should embody the highest ideals of Americans (https://www.speaker.gov/sites/speaker.house.gov/files/20200610_Letter_ChairBluntViceChairLofgren.pdf). “Monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end are a grotesque affront to these ideals,” Pelosi wrote. “Their statues pay homage to hate, not heritage. They must be removed.” Two of the statues in questions are of Confederacy President Jefferson Davis and Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens are currently on display. Both men were charged with treason. She also added “While I believe it is imperative that we never forget our history lest we repeat it, I also believe that there is no room for celebrating the violent bigotry of the men of the Confederacy in the hallowed halls of the United States Capitol or in places of honor across the country” . The Joint Committee of the Library is chaired by Representatives Roy Blunt (R-MO) and California Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). 

    As it turns out, nine of the 11 statues that Pelosi wants removed are of Democrats.

• Jefferson Davis (D): President of the Confederate States of America and former Democratic U.S. senator from Mississippi
• Wade Hampton (D): Former Democratic governor of South Carolina and lieutenant general for the Confederacy
• John E. Kenna (D): Former Democratic congressman and U.S. senator from West Virginia and member of the Confederate States Army
• Uriah Milton Rose (D): Chairman of the Resolutions Committee of the Arkansas Democratic Party
• Alexander Hamilton Stephens (D): Vice President of the Confederate States who served as governor of Georgia and a Democratic congressman from Georgia
• James Zachariah George (D): Former Democratic U.S. senator from Mississippi and member of the Confederacy as well as the Mississippi Secession Convention
• Zebulon Baird Vance (D): Former Democratic governor of North Carolina, U.S. senator and congressman, and member of the Confederate Army
• Joseph Wheeler (D): Commander in the Confederate Army and former Democratic congressman from Alabama
• Edward Douglass White (D): Former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and a Democratic U.S. Senator from Louisiana who served in the Confederate Army

Nancy Pelosi also wants Robert E. Lee, a commander in the Confederate Army, and Edmund Kirby Smith, another Confederate general, removed from the Capitol. Neither men had stated political party affiliations.

    In other news, the Confederate flag has also been banned from public display by the Marine Corps (https://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/2210513/removal-public-displays-of-the-confederate-battle-flag/) and Navy (https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/confederate-flag-navy-installations). There has also been a call to rename U.S. military bases named after Confederate figures like Fort Bragg. President Donald Trump said his administration will “not even consider” changing the names of any bases (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1270787974880526337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fabc3340.com%2Fnews%2Fnation-world%2Ftrump-no-change-at-bases-named-for-confederate-officers). “These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,” Trump said in a tweet. “The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.” Now, to be fair, supporters of renaming the military bases from Confederate Army officers argue that they represent the racism and divisiveness of the Civil War era and glorify men who fought against the United States. Personally, I have served on Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and I never seen, heard, or had the idea of any racism during my time there. They were very respectful to the people of all color and celebrated the rich history of the United States, both north and south of the line.

    Another theory on why the world is going to hell in a handbasket could be because we are in the year 2012. You might be thinking I’ve lost my mind, drunk, or stoned by saying that, but allow me a few moments to fill in the gaps with the explanation of why I said that. If you remember the Mayan calendar saying that in the year 2012, we would see a change in civilization or quite possible the end of the world (https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html), but you’re thinking that 2012 was eight years ago and we all survived because nothing really happened that was earth changing. Technically, you are right, but technically you are also wrong. You see, a moment in time is but a perception. How you perceive a moment in time is from your perspective, in which can be translated differently from the way I see the same event playing out. Even though time is the distance between two events (http://www.exactlywhatistime.com/physics-of-time/). This year has been one event rolled out after another, sometimes before the previous event is finished, such as COVID-19 and the protest riots for example. 

    However, these days the Gregorian calendar is considered generally accepted (https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/julian-gregorian-switch.html). History proves it was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in the Catholic countries around October 4, 1582 to replace the former Julian calendar. The difference between the calendars was 11 days, after the removal of which, it turned out to more accurately reflect the time that the Earth takes to revolve around the Sun. However, not everyone liked this idea and in many European countries, in particular in Britain, in London, there were riots with the demand to return the “stolen 11 days”.  These days have indeed been stolen and they continue to steal every year. Thanks to a scientist by the name of Paolo Tagaloguin (https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/1292918/end-of-the-world-mayan-2012-gregorian-calendar-julian-calendar-ethiopia-2020-doomsday-spt), who pointed out recently that “Following the Julian Calendar, we are technically in 2012.” He went on to explain his math on this and it is pretty convincing. He said “the number of days lost in a year due to the shift into Gregorian Calendar is 11 days. For 268 years using the Gregorian Calendar (1752-2020) times 11 days = 2,948 days. 2,948 days / 365 days (per year) = 8 years.” By my math, courtesy of public schools, 2012 + 8 = 2020. How’s that for perception and perspective? 

    Eight years ago, Doomsday fears were triggered by the false assumption that the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world on December 21, 2012. This date was regarded as the end date of the 5126-year cycle in the Mesoamerican calendar, which scientists translated into the generally accepted Gregorian. However, we survived, nothing happened, nor massive earthquakes shook the world apart, no giant fireball falling out of the sky wiping out two-thirds of the world’s population, the sea’s didn’t rise up and drown out the life on dry land due to the melting ice caps, nor did the poles shift throwing us all into another ice age. If I was a betting man, I would probably wager that wasn’t going to happen this year either, but I can’t rule any of that out in 2021. 

    Although, if you want to talk about another theory slightly using the 2020 is 2012 theory, we may also be witnessing the dying of an old age during the transition of a newer age, “The Age of Aquarius” (https://owlcation.com/stem/What-is-the-age-of-Aquarius). Many people were concerned that the world would end on December 21, 2012, and yet half were relieved while the other half were puzzled when it didn’t. So what happened? Or as Marvin the Martian would ask “Where is the earth shattering kaboom?”  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec-8A5k16Ak). Well, many scholars suggested the prediction was based on a misinterpretation of the calendar and its ending did not mean and end to the world or to “creation” but merely a start of a new cycle of humanity, something which Mayan lore says had happened before with no dire consequences. The Age of Aquarius mythology has also become entangled with the 2012 causing many followers of pseudoscience to assert that the age begins December 21, 2012. 

    Some people take solace in believing that we are entering the times of what is prophesied in the books of Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelations of the New Testament of the Christian Bible (https://biblehub.com/revelation/). I can’t really argue with some who believe the COVID-19 vaccine that Bill Gates / Microsoft wants to give everyone that includes a little “cryptochip”  (https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2020060606) inside or just under the skin, isn’t the “mark of the beast” (https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-is-the-mark-of-the-beast-revelation-13/) that is described in the book of Revelations. However, I can say that we live in interesting times and that this being an election year, anything (and I mean ANYTHING) can and will happen! So don’t be surprised if the Anti-Christ as described in the book of Revelations of the King James Bible rears his ugly head, although I would have to say it might take the next three to four years before that part happens IF (and that’s a big “if”) we are truly entering the time of Tribulation and the time of Jesus Christ’s return is near. My best advice during this time, at this moment, would be to pray, ask for God’s help, and prepare for what this year is going to bring. Maybe when 2021 gets here, we can all take a victory lap for surviving what has been known a year of testing our spirit.

    Scrolling through facebook makes me really depressed. All the negativity of politics, arguing over who is right or wrong, @$$ clowns judging every opinion, it makes me feel depressed and angry. I don’t like feeling this way. I got more than enough $#!+ going on in my life now that keeps me knocked down. Why is it so important to be the loudest person in the room if all you do is stir in negativity? Why does matter what lives should be tolerated when all lives matter? We all bleed red (under the skin it’s more blue) and we all need oxygen to breathe. I don’t understand why the people seeking justice are doing it using tactics that are unjustified.

    How much sense does it make to lash out at people who protect you? Not everyone is a bad person and sometimes (more rare than what the media would have you think) some bad jerk slips in the system. NEWSFLASH: That system is made by humans and nothing (and no one person regardless of skin color) is perfect on this planet. How would you feel if a doctor decided to not operate on you to remove a cyst because you had purple hair? It would be wrong and you would be upset too, but they swore when they got their license that human lives are to be saved. Yes, there are a few bad apples there too, but the idea that you through out the baby with the bath water is totally absurd. Is that what you really want? Because that is where we are headed now. You want justice and balance, you might want to change your philosophy. Start with evaluating your life choices and move on from there.

    IMHO, instead of lashing out at your neighborhood, community, fellow people, why not drop on your own knees and ask whatever Deity you worship for help on your own personal growth? You don’t have to be religious to ask for help. If you need suggestions, I am sure that scientology has plenty of room for you. Choose a peaceful philosophy to study. Take some time and not dive head first into one. You might find peace and enlightening, but more important you might find who you are really supposed to be. And you might even find your true purpose in this life!

    Look, I get your angry. I know you are upset. It is good to vent, but every time you do on facebook, they tag a gold star next to it and it gets put into their “egg beater” algorithm, which by the way has changed three times sinces April 1st incase you can’t detect patterns. Facebook should be held accountable for their involvement for inciting riots, but they won’t because it is a voluntary service. Believe me, I feel very frustrated with a lot of things going on in my life right now. Yeah, I feel unheard, worthless, mostly unproductive, and a majority of the time like a boat anchor. I’m the type of person who lives by a strict code for myself: if you don’t work, you don’t eat. If I ain’t doing something productive and positive, I don’t have the right to gripe. That’s why I have a daily routine to work on my projects to help fill up my time until I get a new gig/job.

    Yes, it disappoints me when I can’t finish what I am doing, but I start another one. I may not have the money, but with the COVID-19 “pandemic” situation winding down a bit I have had plenty of time and the economy picking back up, I have my hope that at least one business might realize my skills are useful in this area. Maybe one of these candidates running for city, county, sheriff, regional, or state offices will actually talk with me if they want my vote (yeah, that seems sleazy, but it is a bargaining chip) instead of hiring a buddy, relative, or business partner as a favor who is under-qualified for the position. But I suppose if you want real change in leadership, it’s best to be registered voter, get off your @$$, and actually go vote instead of rioting.

    The point that I’m trying to make without making it a flamethrower on Facebook is that instead of being angry and rioting, instead of pointing Your Righteous finger toward what you consider an injustice because you moved from being a medical expert about the coronavirus to becoming a Legal expert on the civil liberties of each American citizen on social media, break it down to the basics and see where the real change needs to be made. Turn off the damn mainstream media, put down your social media, and open a book on philosophy, spiritualism, or whatever religious reference you have and move forward in a positive way. Facebook (social media in general) is not a Bible, a valid source of news, or the one thing that runs your life. It’s a tool of communication. What you want to communicate is up to you, how you do communicate it could affect your social circle.

    You would do good to remember this little tidbit of information that we use in radio “garbage in, garbage out”. In other words, you only get out what you put into it. If you go in with anger in your heart and destruction on your mind, it will only result with more. When our grandkids look back at the year 2020, they’re going to see all kinds of craziness. It was a year of judgment, fear, anger, and frustration. And that was just the first 6 months of this election year. We still haven’t made it to Summertime yet and still we have a lot more fire to be put through. This year we’ve gone to loving and respecting our First Responders to now wanting to ban the one thing that can keep the peace in the civilian world. Sure we all want equal rights, but who’s going to make sure those rights are equally distributed to? It won’t be the local peacekeepers if we go pull their funding across the country.

    I mean let’s face it, who’s going to protect us when someone breaks into our house? Now if you’re a strong believer in the Second Amendment, you should be okay. I trust my guns, and I also trust the United States Constitution. Unfortunately I think that’s one thing is getting kicked around this year. It seems like there’s those in Congress who want to keep pushing the boundaries and keep kicking the can down the road so they can push their way into more government. It’s getting so bad that the hit TV show “Cops” got cancelled because of all the outrage with the death of George Floyd (https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/06/09/cops-canceled-paramount-network-wake-george-floyds-death/5330636002/). I mean, good God, what are we coming to? After 33 seasons on the air, “Cops” has been dropped by the Paramount Network as protests against police proliferate around the world. A similar show, “Live PD,” has been pulled off A&E’s schedule.

    But here lately since the death of George Floyd and the videos that came out showing his untimely demise, there have been a growing movement to defund police stations all across the country, including up in Minnesota. Nine members of the Minneapolis City Council announced their support for disbanding the Minneapolis Police Department at a rally this past Sunday afternoon. City Council President Lisa Bender said, “our commitment is to end our toxic relationship with MPD and to end policing as we know it to recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe” (https://kstp.com/news/majority-of-minneapolis-city-council-announces-support-for-dismantling-police-department/5753304/?cat=1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KSTP-TV&fbclid=IwAR1lKtolmJl3NvO02z6vy1ymQOIasGZ3sy7QB4iT4gdxmS5X7JELYKx1-Zg). The nine council members make up a veto-proof supermajority of the council, which currently has 12 members. City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins was joined on stage by the other council members Alondra Cano, Philippe Cunningham, Jeremiah Ellison, Steve Fletcher, Cam Gordon, Andrew Johnson and Jeremy Schroeder at the end of the rally to announce their intent to end the Minneapolis Police Department through a budgetary process. “This council is going to dismantle this police department,” Jeremiah Ellison said.  Alondra Cano who represents the 9th Ward replied, “we are going to create a fear-free future where every life is truly protected and respected.”  

    As radical as it may sound, they have also agreed, along with the state, to ban all police officers from using chokeholds as part of their defense and restraint tactics. The use of chokeholds by police are forbidden and other officers are required to report and intervene anytime they see unauthorized use of force by another officer (https://kstp.com/news/breaking-minneapolis-to-ban-police-chokeholds-in-wake-of-george-floyd-death/5751971/). So basically, if you see something, say something. Sound familiar? The moves are part of a stipulation between the city and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which launched a civil rights investigation in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody. The agreement will be enforceable in court and would require any officer, regardless of tenure or rank, to immediately report the use of any neck restraint or chokehold from the scene to their commander or their commander’s superiors. Any officer who sees another officer commit any unauthorized use of force, including any chokehold or neck restraint, must try to intervene verbally and even physically. If they don’t, they’d be subject to discipline as severe as if they themselves had used the prohibited force. 

    The city of Minneapolis even took it one step further when it’s Mayor, Jacob Frey, signed a temporary restraining order with the state of Minnesota, which outlines several immediate police policy reforms while setting the stage for state action on deep structural reforms, which included “ a charge of discrimination against the City of Minneapolis Police Department, City of Minneapolis on June 2, 2020 alleging a violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, in the area of public services based on race in violation; in particular, the charge alleged the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, while in custody of City of Minneapolis police officers was race-based discrimination and the Commissioner had reason to believe that the City of Minneapolis Police Department has engaged in a pattern and practice of race-based policing in violation” (https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/File/3732/Stipulation%20and%20Order.pdf). Minneapolis City Council president Lisa Bender went viral on Monday morning when she told CNN that calling the police when your home is broken into “comes from a place of privilege” (https://twitter.com/i/status/1269951088964370432). After the CNN Anchor asked the council president “Do you understand that the word dismantle, or police-free, also makes some people nervous, for instance, what if, in the middle of the night, my home is broken into, who do I call?”, the city council president responded“Yes, I mean I hear that loud and clear from a lot of my neighbors, and myself, too, and I know that comes from a place of privilege. For those of us for whom the system is working, I think we need to step back and imagine what it would feel like to already live in that reality where calling the police may mean more harm is done.” A place of privilege, really? The question should be who is going to fill that void once the city police get disbanded? Is it the sheriff’s office? The Minnesota State Police? The National Guard? The Federal United States Troops? The United Nations Troops? The way the media and council members make it sound, it will be like the wild west.

       Although some of the other coming changes may include dispatching social workers and mental health professionals in situations where police ordinarily respond. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said that he does not support abolishing his city’s police department. The same day as the Commissioners announced their plans, protesters reportedly marched to the mayor’s residence and demanded he speak with them. He affirmed much of what the protesters believe, including telling them, “the systemic racist system needs to be revamped.” However, the mood took an unexpected turn when the protesters asked the question: “Yes or no: Will you commit to defunding the Minneapolis Police Department?” adding that they don’t want to more police. A lady in the crowd reminded reminded everyone that he is up for re-election next year. Finally, after a few moments, the mayor replied “I do not support the full abolition of the police department” (https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/06/06/im-not-for-abolishing-the-entire-police-department-mayor-frey-speaks-out-at-mpls-protest/).

       Unfortunately, that’s not the only city in the nation that is thirsty for blood from the men and women who put on the blue uniform. San Antonio, Texas city council members are also considering to remove funding after citizens were shouting out “defund the police department” at a recent meeting (https://www.ktsa.com/chants-of-defund-police-disrupt-san-antonio-city-council-meeting/). And what shouldn’t come to a suprise is that New York City mayor, de Blasio, recently announced he is defunding the NYPD (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjFPjhLIziU&feature=youtu.be). The decision to defund the police department is a “blanket move” to stop the one or two individuals in each jurisdiction across this nation. There’s been no lack of cases that are being presented thanks to the media and the smartphone. Cases like the one in Philadelphia last week, the police said that a man had pushed an officer off his bike, but a video instead showed an officer striking the man with a baton (https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-police-beating-temple-student-evan-gorski-protest-20200604.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200608&instance_id=19177&nl=the-morning&regi_id=111319311&segment_id=30343&te=1&user_id=7344db95b06856147b58a6a3e464bec5). In a suburb of Sacramento in April, a police officer punched a 14-year-old boy multiple times while arresting him; the officer’s report didn’t mention the punches (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/us/george-floyd-minneapolis-police.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200608&instance_id=19177&nl=the-morning&regi_id=111319311&segment_id=30343&te=1&user_id=7344db95b06856147b58a6a3e464bec5). These cases are just one or two officers involved, but it’s somehow justified and fair to punish all police officers, including the ones with remarkable records. Some officers over the past two weeks have lost their lives defending the rights and property of their fellow citizens they swore to protect.

    Los Angeles Police Department released their reports about homicides on the rise by 250% over the past few weeks along with the number of people who were shot increased by 56% during the same period. The increased numbers were recorded during the week of May 31-June 6, but officials also reported continued violence this week (https://twitter.com/LAPDHQ/status/1270441223753396224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxla.com%2Fnews%2Fhomicides-this-week-have-increased-250-in-l-a-compared-to-last-week-lapd-says). But that’s okay because the cops are what’s causing it all to rise, right? On the other side of the country, maybe New York City has something positive with the idea of passing a bill to unveil police discipline records (https://apnews.com/180a15ea069de36be58f9db6b97e1180). Granted, they only turned over what was an old law that has kept law enforcement officers’ disciplinary records secret. Many of those types of bills were first proposed years ago, but got new momentum after huge protests nationwide condemned police brutality. Eliminating the law, known as Section 50-a, would make complaints against officers, as well as transcripts and final dispositions of disciplinary proceedings, public for the first time in decades. Only Delaware has a similar law.

    Depending on where you feed off your fix for the Mainstream News, but you might be currently under the spell of some real Bravo Sierra. CNN had a report out earlier this week that claimed “American police shoot, kill and imprison more people than other developed countries” (https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/08/us/us-police-floyd-protests-country-comparisons-intl/index.html). Their sources include protesters. No joke. They are also using data back in 2015 that was a Preliminary Finding at the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5864). After showing a small bit of comparison with a few other countries, they go on to say “Data on arrests, deaths and prison populations do not exist uniformly across developed countries, so it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how the US fares in comparison to every nation. For instance, it is impossible to know exactly how many people die at the hands of police officers in the US each year: no single, nationwide database that contains such information exists”. To me, it seems like they are reaching out a bit much here. To you, it might not be. But hey, they are CNN, so what does it matter to those who drink the kool-aid from their buckets? 

    Now if we go back to New York City for a moment, there was recently a report released that said some pretty stark points: Nearly two-thirds of complaints accusing New York City police officers of mistreating young people involved male minorities, according to a civilian oversight panel (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/most-complaints-about-nypd-mistreating-young-people-involve-men-color-n1227466). From January 2018 to last June, “males of color between the ages of 10 and 18 were a complainant” or victim in 64.8 percent of police misconduct claims made by young people, Civilian Complaint Review Board findings revealed. The interactions tended to be for minor offenses with “officers stopping youth for seemingly innocuous activities, such as playing, high-fiving, running, carrying backpacks, and jaywalking,” the oversight panel said. The NYPD said it accepts the panel’s findings and will pursue changes (https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/report-nyc-police-misconduct-often-involves-black-latino-youths/2451116/). 

    Perhaps the tides are turning around as police are starting to fight back for their lives. Two Atlanta, Georgia police officers who were fired and criminally charged in connection with the pulling of two college students from a car during protests late last month have filed a lawsuit seeking their jobs back. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced on May 31st that the two officers, Ivory Streeter and Mark Gardner, would be fired immediately after what she called “an excessive use of force” (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/2-atlanta-police-officers-fired-charged-assault-during-protests-sue-n1228011). The suit, which says the officers were denied due process, seeks the reinstatement of both officers and back pay. To be fair, there’s a video showing the two officers forcibly pulling two people from their car around on the night of May 30 during protests following the death of George Floyd. One of the people is heard in the video asking officers what is going on and crying that she is trying to get out before a stun gun appears to be used against her. The other person also had a stun gun used on him, was yanked from the car and suffered a fractured arm, the county prosecutor said. The fired officers’ lawsuit contends that “their use of force was proper and in compliance with the law, the policies of the Atlanta Police Department, prevailing standards of law enforcement, and the training provided to them through the City of Atlanta Police Department and the State of Georgia.” 

     In my humble opinion, Agenda 2030 could be happening a lot sooner, if we let it (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld). That would result to include letting the UN provide security instead of the police. That is something that the lawyer representing the family of George Floyd is asking for on behalf of the members (https://gellerreport.com/2020/06/george-floyds-family-ask-the-un-to-disarm-the-police-in-the-united-states.html/). Basically they are asking for a foreign entity to come in and police a sovereign nation under the name of Human Rights. Any other nation isn’t going to uphold the US Constitution. Therefore, they are asking for more trouble. The more I see the larger cities threatening to defund (not remove) the police departments from their annual budgets, I can’t help but think there is some puppeteer behind the curtain pulling the strings. If I didn’t know better, I would think the reason why these cities want to get rid of their police is because someone is wanting to drive property value down by raising crime rates. Then come in and purchase properties at low prices, fix them up, and sell high. Isn’t that always the reason, money? Those in power keep wanting more. It is obtained either by money or some other valuable. I wonder if that is what all this is really about and the media is fanning the smoke into our faces to keep us from seeing what is really going on? Yeah, I imagine I’ll get laughed at about this idea too.