Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Kathy Martin and the Kansas BOE
When exactly IS the best time to learn about contraception, safe sex and sexual function? According to Kathy Martin, (Kansas Board of Education), it’s apparently the wedding night. In a by-gone day, Americans regularly married in their teens. Saving oneself for one’s wedding night was no big accomplishment if that night fell before one’s 17th birthday. Those were also the days of childbirth deathbeds and rampant syphilis. There were no sex-ed classes in Victorian times and many families suffered because of it.
Today Americans are more likely to wait until nearer their 25th birthday to wed. By this time the hormones have been raging for well over ten years. That’s a long period of abstinence when people are in the prime of their lives. I believe the reality is, in America anyway, that pre-marital sex is here to stay. But we can prevent disease and unwanted pregnancies along the way, and this is what sex-education is about. It’s a health class.
In opposing any kind of sex-ed other than abstinence-only, Kathy Martin seems to make the argument that sex education causes teen sexual behavior. She refuses to acknowledge that the sexual impulse comes along unbidden, like the impulse to eat, or the impulse to sleep. The sexual impulse hits all teens, the educated and the ignorant alike. The only difference is, the educated have the tools and information they need to make wise choices regarding their sex lives. The ignorant are simply swept away with the flood of hormones, bewildered, confused and dare I say, horney.
It may come as a shock to Kathy Martin, but quite a few parents let their children raise themselves, never imparting words of wisdom, advise or life lessons, let alone a sit-down on the subject of sexuality. You can’t make parents parent. And that really why we need public education. For so many, it’s the closest thing to parenting they will ever get.
To reiterate, sex education courses in public schools provide supplementary health information to kids who might already be getting much of their sex “education” from other kids. To change the status of these classes from “opt out” to “opt in” raises a fence that some of these kids will not be able to surmount, thus assuring that they get 100% of their sex education from another kid, perhaps one with his pants to his ankles.
Today Americans are more likely to wait until nearer their 25th birthday to wed. By this time the hormones have been raging for well over ten years. That’s a long period of abstinence when people are in the prime of their lives. I believe the reality is, in America anyway, that pre-marital sex is here to stay. But we can prevent disease and unwanted pregnancies along the way, and this is what sex-education is about. It’s a health class.
In opposing any kind of sex-ed other than abstinence-only, Kathy Martin seems to make the argument that sex education causes teen sexual behavior. She refuses to acknowledge that the sexual impulse comes along unbidden, like the impulse to eat, or the impulse to sleep. The sexual impulse hits all teens, the educated and the ignorant alike. The only difference is, the educated have the tools and information they need to make wise choices regarding their sex lives. The ignorant are simply swept away with the flood of hormones, bewildered, confused and dare I say, horney.
It may come as a shock to Kathy Martin, but quite a few parents let their children raise themselves, never imparting words of wisdom, advise or life lessons, let alone a sit-down on the subject of sexuality. You can’t make parents parent. And that really why we need public education. For so many, it’s the closest thing to parenting they will ever get.
To reiterate, sex education courses in public schools provide supplementary health information to kids who might already be getting much of their sex “education” from other kids. To change the status of these classes from “opt out” to “opt in” raises a fence that some of these kids will not be able to surmount, thus assuring that they get 100% of their sex education from another kid, perhaps one with his pants to his ankles.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Hurricane Katrina; Expose of an American Caste System
Emmie, et al (a post I wrote for an international Pantheism news group)
I have been shocked at how I have seen other Americans react to this disaster. Although I run with a liberal crowd, I work with a bunch of poor white republicans. In some ways I enjoy it. We have alot of fun. For the most part rednecks take life as it comes, work hard, and play hard. But humanitarianism is not their long suit. The first thing the guys did at work was start cracking jokes about the Superdome fiasco, looters and the intelligence of those who did not evacuate before the storm.I thought, well, thats how "tough guys" deal with their confusion and fear. But I also heard, "Thats 100,000 less cajuns to worry about.", "Have you noticed all the looters are black?", and in responce to a community call for opening spare rooms to displaced families, "....I'm not inviting any of those crazy (insert n-word here) into my house. They'd clean me out!", and get this, "Well if you could see them first, ya know, pick who got to come to your house...you're first impressions are usually right." I found this to be a particularly odd statement because there is no one at the superdome who has had a bath in a week. They all look (and feel) like shit on toast!
I can't help but wonder if the obvious first pictures of New Orleans and its predominantly black and cajun population didn't send a silent wave of fear through the hearts of the nations uneducated, poor whites that put them in a state of puffing up and reasserting their position on America's social ladder.
Truly, if this administration can golf while poor blacks and cajuns die of thirst and hunger, they can do the same for the poor whites. It may be an issue about race, but the poor whites are also considered untouchables by the wealthy and responce to their needs is just as slow and the desire of the wealthy to avoid contact with them (except when its time to vote!) is just as strong.
So I guess what I am feeling is that the social consciousness in this country points to an unspoken caste system where the poor are seen as a burden and the urge to help them is nearly non-existant under the current right-wing hypnotism.
When I see Fox news reporters down in the Superdome reporting live, in tears and disgust, my heart softens because I know these guys have been truly touched by the scope of the humanitarian crisis. They probably won't have jobs when they get back because they were sent down there to bolster the President's image. I see the neatly dressed guys in the studio, like Sean Hannity, interrupting them to speak praises of the administration's reponse and the field reporter's shoulders going limp and responding to the obvious lies with, "yeah". That says to me that its easy to fool yourself about how horrible this situation is from the comfort of your studio or home. I think Sean Hannity really needs to go to the superdome.
Tracy =)
I have been shocked at how I have seen other Americans react to this disaster. Although I run with a liberal crowd, I work with a bunch of poor white republicans. In some ways I enjoy it. We have alot of fun. For the most part rednecks take life as it comes, work hard, and play hard. But humanitarianism is not their long suit. The first thing the guys did at work was start cracking jokes about the Superdome fiasco, looters and the intelligence of those who did not evacuate before the storm.I thought, well, thats how "tough guys" deal with their confusion and fear. But I also heard, "Thats 100,000 less cajuns to worry about.", "Have you noticed all the looters are black?", and in responce to a community call for opening spare rooms to displaced families, "....I'm not inviting any of those crazy (insert n-word here) into my house. They'd clean me out!", and get this, "Well if you could see them first, ya know, pick who got to come to your house...you're first impressions are usually right." I found this to be a particularly odd statement because there is no one at the superdome who has had a bath in a week. They all look (and feel) like shit on toast!
I can't help but wonder if the obvious first pictures of New Orleans and its predominantly black and cajun population didn't send a silent wave of fear through the hearts of the nations uneducated, poor whites that put them in a state of puffing up and reasserting their position on America's social ladder.
Truly, if this administration can golf while poor blacks and cajuns die of thirst and hunger, they can do the same for the poor whites. It may be an issue about race, but the poor whites are also considered untouchables by the wealthy and responce to their needs is just as slow and the desire of the wealthy to avoid contact with them (except when its time to vote!) is just as strong.
So I guess what I am feeling is that the social consciousness in this country points to an unspoken caste system where the poor are seen as a burden and the urge to help them is nearly non-existant under the current right-wing hypnotism.
When I see Fox news reporters down in the Superdome reporting live, in tears and disgust, my heart softens because I know these guys have been truly touched by the scope of the humanitarian crisis. They probably won't have jobs when they get back because they were sent down there to bolster the President's image. I see the neatly dressed guys in the studio, like Sean Hannity, interrupting them to speak praises of the administration's reponse and the field reporter's shoulders going limp and responding to the obvious lies with, "yeah". That says to me that its easy to fool yourself about how horrible this situation is from the comfort of your studio or home. I think Sean Hannity really needs to go to the superdome.
Tracy =)
Sunday, July 24, 2005
High Five Republicans!
State of the Union Unaddressed
If they meant to do it, the echelon of the Republican Party have pulled off a masterful stunt. It is much harder for an isolated candidate to lie, cheat and steal his way into power, but as momma always advised, “There is safety in numbers.” With the unspoken vow taken to cover up, lie, and generally wag the dog for each other, the Republican party has played Pied Piper to the uneducated, superstitious and rigid thinking of the underclass all the way to the ballot box and now, done with them, have cast them aside like so many cake-eating French peasants.
The Republican Party’s voter base (“The Base” as G.W. dubbed them) sits stupefied and in denial of recent developments of the Karl Rove treason case and the growing movement to impeach G.W. which points to numerous instances of perjury, personal gain agendas and misleading the American people. As Republican party elitists have their own lewinski-esque sexual affairs dragged into public, the drumbeat of dissidence beats ever louder. There is a slow turning, like a great herd of buffalo, of Republican voters to the east, listening to the building roar as it begins to penetrate their thickened skulls. The message is, “You have been made a fool.”, and they are not liking it. One thing that is not well tolerated by the uneducated, superstitious and rigid minded (for whom the consideration of endless possibilities is deemed a wasted effort), is to be made a fool.
A Likely Scenario Without Vegas Odds Established:
After they kill the messenger (which has already begun), they will storm the Bastille and heads will begin to roll in huge numbers as they go about cleaning what they believed was their house – The White House. Those politicians that survive the attack will either be in prison or in another line of work. A handful will die by their own hand or of mysterious causes rather than face prosecution. Thereafter will be a period of silence, drink and introspection. There often is after a good mob lynching.
A generation will pass while the remnants of the Republican Base lick their wounds, justify their actions, and re-write history. During that period of quiet, The Left will be growing. Silently, many Republicans will change their party affiliation to Democrat. They won’t much talk about it, but they are the ones who are determined to not be fooled a third time. Minor parties, such as the Libertarians, will rise to the opportunity and gain in numbers. Many will wander away and not return to the polls for years, having lost hope in the process completely. And many more will simply go to their graves sad and disillusioned. The Old World Order of empire-building, corporate baron pirates, wars and lies is passing away with them and they have never gotten their piece of the pie that they so believed in. They have been sold a bottle of snake oil and made a fool
When the sun comes up, this will be a new country. Strength through education, compassion and a more liberal attitude of careful examination before judgment will lead the way. The Democratic party will recognize the humiliation of the Republican-cum-Democrat, and salve their wounds with balms of Empathy and they will be revived.
In these post-Bush days, might will no longer make right. Bullies will no longer be tolerated in any way shape or form. Wife beaters, child abusers and control freaks are headed for further social isolation as their wives, children and employees walk away from them or have them jailed. We will have taken our freedom to be gentle back and are no longer afraid. A strong defense will not include first strike missions, library spies or civilian-soldiers marching to the front line. The side-dish issues of sex, drugs, and rock & roll (to now include video games) will be served with less fear and propaganda and more truth and hard studies. The religious right will crawl back under the porch with its nice bone of salvation and stop barking at everything that walks by.
The media will return to a sweeter, more educational, style as more and more people “Just Say No” to sensationalism, fear-mongering and pulp-fiction that has characterized the media over the last 30 years. Books make a comeback as the surge toward a liberal arts education for all gains momentum. The borders will return to a more permeable state with many folks crossing borders to wed. The war on drugs will be given an Irish wake and laid on its funeral pyre at Burning Man, while crack-heads and junkies are allowed to obtain their drug by prescription and receive free drug rehabilitation and counseling services. The mafia will be looking for work as the death of prohibition leaves them jobless. Their own loved ones will be the most relieved of all to see them leave the drug trade. We will embrace our gay and lesbian neighbors, invite Muslims, Jews and Pagans to the same dinner, and take beautiful gifts to inter-racial weddings. We will sit down together and form bonds of trust, love, compassion and peace. And no one will die from it.
As people come to realize that mistrust makes one even more vulnerable than trust, that fear makes one a slave to those who feed on that fear, and that war cannot happen unless division occurs and is emphasized, The New World sense of strong defense will be held up by a strong national character of honesty, openness, inclusion and compassion. The religious fanatics will be calmed as their perceived adversaries lose interest in the battle and extend the welcome mat to them. Manners make a big comeback as folks work to avoid divisive words and actions. It will no longer be important to be right all the time, but rather to listen and hear. Differences will be embraced and welcomed, as individuality is the new beauty. No one’s opinions or beliefs will get them ostracized or relegated to a sub-class. Being interesting, hard-working, honest and fit become the social lift people strive for instead of materialism, excess and celebrity.
Again, finally, United We will Stand albeit no longer at on the World’s pedestal. The Have’s will begin to sit peacefully at the table with the Have-nots in a new spirit of sharing information and education as the greed of the last century has finally brought about the self-destruction of the huge corporate giant and the stock market rebuilds itself on the basics of small business and innovation. American Craftsmanship will experience a renaissance as people begin to appreciate quality over quantity. Huge box stores will show a decline as used goods stores pop up all over the nation in astonishing numbers. The compact car will be back with a vengeance. Disposal of large consumer items will be an embarrassing thing to be done under the cover of darkness as people move towards the repair and reuse mentality that will become almost romanticized much like that of the Great Depression. Consumerism will be out. Frugalism will be in as our economy declines back to a sustainable level with us adjusting to our growing distaste for raping the planet and child labor.
Trust worthy governments will begin to lead the world while those who have lied and cheated in the face of the world community will be forced into voiceless positions. Unfortunately, that will include America. It will be the much-needed rest for Americans from the frenzied global jockeying of the turn of the century. It will be a time to rest, rebuild, rethink, and raise a generation of children with a new global consciousness.
Yes, if they meant to do it, the echelon of the Republican Party have pulled off a masterful stunt: The have birthed the New World Order.
If they meant to do it, the echelon of the Republican Party have pulled off a masterful stunt. It is much harder for an isolated candidate to lie, cheat and steal his way into power, but as momma always advised, “There is safety in numbers.” With the unspoken vow taken to cover up, lie, and generally wag the dog for each other, the Republican party has played Pied Piper to the uneducated, superstitious and rigid thinking of the underclass all the way to the ballot box and now, done with them, have cast them aside like so many cake-eating French peasants.
The Republican Party’s voter base (“The Base” as G.W. dubbed them) sits stupefied and in denial of recent developments of the Karl Rove treason case and the growing movement to impeach G.W. which points to numerous instances of perjury, personal gain agendas and misleading the American people. As Republican party elitists have their own lewinski-esque sexual affairs dragged into public, the drumbeat of dissidence beats ever louder. There is a slow turning, like a great herd of buffalo, of Republican voters to the east, listening to the building roar as it begins to penetrate their thickened skulls. The message is, “You have been made a fool.”, and they are not liking it. One thing that is not well tolerated by the uneducated, superstitious and rigid minded (for whom the consideration of endless possibilities is deemed a wasted effort), is to be made a fool.
A Likely Scenario Without Vegas Odds Established:
After they kill the messenger (which has already begun), they will storm the Bastille and heads will begin to roll in huge numbers as they go about cleaning what they believed was their house – The White House. Those politicians that survive the attack will either be in prison or in another line of work. A handful will die by their own hand or of mysterious causes rather than face prosecution. Thereafter will be a period of silence, drink and introspection. There often is after a good mob lynching.
A generation will pass while the remnants of the Republican Base lick their wounds, justify their actions, and re-write history. During that period of quiet, The Left will be growing. Silently, many Republicans will change their party affiliation to Democrat. They won’t much talk about it, but they are the ones who are determined to not be fooled a third time. Minor parties, such as the Libertarians, will rise to the opportunity and gain in numbers. Many will wander away and not return to the polls for years, having lost hope in the process completely. And many more will simply go to their graves sad and disillusioned. The Old World Order of empire-building, corporate baron pirates, wars and lies is passing away with them and they have never gotten their piece of the pie that they so believed in. They have been sold a bottle of snake oil and made a fool
When the sun comes up, this will be a new country. Strength through education, compassion and a more liberal attitude of careful examination before judgment will lead the way. The Democratic party will recognize the humiliation of the Republican-cum-Democrat, and salve their wounds with balms of Empathy and they will be revived.
In these post-Bush days, might will no longer make right. Bullies will no longer be tolerated in any way shape or form. Wife beaters, child abusers and control freaks are headed for further social isolation as their wives, children and employees walk away from them or have them jailed. We will have taken our freedom to be gentle back and are no longer afraid. A strong defense will not include first strike missions, library spies or civilian-soldiers marching to the front line. The side-dish issues of sex, drugs, and rock & roll (to now include video games) will be served with less fear and propaganda and more truth and hard studies. The religious right will crawl back under the porch with its nice bone of salvation and stop barking at everything that walks by.
The media will return to a sweeter, more educational, style as more and more people “Just Say No” to sensationalism, fear-mongering and pulp-fiction that has characterized the media over the last 30 years. Books make a comeback as the surge toward a liberal arts education for all gains momentum. The borders will return to a more permeable state with many folks crossing borders to wed. The war on drugs will be given an Irish wake and laid on its funeral pyre at Burning Man, while crack-heads and junkies are allowed to obtain their drug by prescription and receive free drug rehabilitation and counseling services. The mafia will be looking for work as the death of prohibition leaves them jobless. Their own loved ones will be the most relieved of all to see them leave the drug trade. We will embrace our gay and lesbian neighbors, invite Muslims, Jews and Pagans to the same dinner, and take beautiful gifts to inter-racial weddings. We will sit down together and form bonds of trust, love, compassion and peace. And no one will die from it.
As people come to realize that mistrust makes one even more vulnerable than trust, that fear makes one a slave to those who feed on that fear, and that war cannot happen unless division occurs and is emphasized, The New World sense of strong defense will be held up by a strong national character of honesty, openness, inclusion and compassion. The religious fanatics will be calmed as their perceived adversaries lose interest in the battle and extend the welcome mat to them. Manners make a big comeback as folks work to avoid divisive words and actions. It will no longer be important to be right all the time, but rather to listen and hear. Differences will be embraced and welcomed, as individuality is the new beauty. No one’s opinions or beliefs will get them ostracized or relegated to a sub-class. Being interesting, hard-working, honest and fit become the social lift people strive for instead of materialism, excess and celebrity.
Again, finally, United We will Stand albeit no longer at on the World’s pedestal. The Have’s will begin to sit peacefully at the table with the Have-nots in a new spirit of sharing information and education as the greed of the last century has finally brought about the self-destruction of the huge corporate giant and the stock market rebuilds itself on the basics of small business and innovation. American Craftsmanship will experience a renaissance as people begin to appreciate quality over quantity. Huge box stores will show a decline as used goods stores pop up all over the nation in astonishing numbers. The compact car will be back with a vengeance. Disposal of large consumer items will be an embarrassing thing to be done under the cover of darkness as people move towards the repair and reuse mentality that will become almost romanticized much like that of the Great Depression. Consumerism will be out. Frugalism will be in as our economy declines back to a sustainable level with us adjusting to our growing distaste for raping the planet and child labor.
Trust worthy governments will begin to lead the world while those who have lied and cheated in the face of the world community will be forced into voiceless positions. Unfortunately, that will include America. It will be the much-needed rest for Americans from the frenzied global jockeying of the turn of the century. It will be a time to rest, rebuild, rethink, and raise a generation of children with a new global consciousness.
Yes, if they meant to do it, the echelon of the Republican Party have pulled off a masterful stunt: The have birthed the New World Order.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Focus on the Family May Divorce Republican Party: News At 11:00
I understand the Focus on the Family is upset that a compromise was reached without a complete political coup in regards to Bush’s judicial nominations. They went as far as to threaten the mainstream Republican Party with abandonment. LOL. Does anyone else find this particularly funny? Is this not like the apple threatening the tree? If the Christian right is too far right for the republicans, who else do they have?
What are they going to do? Form their own party? They could call themselves “The Pharisees”. That hasn’t been used in a while. I guess when you get right down to it, trying to force the works of God into the works of Caesar does get a bit dicey. I suppose that is why Jesus warned against it. (Matt 22:21)
Tracy Mahoney
2307 Chris Drive
Manhattan, KS
Gamediva2112@hotmail.com
(Background not to be included in letter: I have 3 years of seminary study to my credit, although I ultimately decided to leave the Church. I now more closely identify with Pantheism, a much more liberal and inclusive philosophy.)
What are they going to do? Form their own party? They could call themselves “The Pharisees”. That hasn’t been used in a while. I guess when you get right down to it, trying to force the works of God into the works of Caesar does get a bit dicey. I suppose that is why Jesus warned against it. (Matt 22:21)
Tracy Mahoney
2307 Chris Drive
Manhattan, KS
Gamediva2112@hotmail.com
(Background not to be included in letter: I have 3 years of seminary study to my credit, although I ultimately decided to leave the Church. I now more closely identify with Pantheism, a much more liberal and inclusive philosophy.)
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Federal Contracts & Homeland Security
This letter was written in responce to a military contract I recently received where a buyer, hoping to secure her purchase at premium speed (to cut in line you might say) had stamped "URGENT! HOMELAND SECURITY" all over the face of the contract. Well, obviously all military aircraft parts are urgent these days...does she think we military contractors are oblivious? The buyers are all under pressure as the war machine bogs down and the supply chain becomes unmanageabley huge. Anyway, her juvenile effort for special attention was met with this earnest reply:
***********
Sheryl,
Thanks for the contract. I appreciate it. There's something I want to share with you. Feel free to pass it on.
Stamping "Homeland Security" on my contracts is not necessary. For the record, those bastards marched into my fathers business 2 years ago with weapons drawn accusing him of supporting terrorism. He is a 72 yr old Korean War Disabled Veteran who has served as a private contractor for the military for 45-some odd years, and because he sells one oil pan cap to one British company that, incidently was listed as legitimate in the (the government's own) Central Contractor Registration (data base), turned out to be a front for the Iranian government; all for something that probably could have been backwards engineered by a kindergarten class.
Well, it damn near killed him. You have heard of post traumatic stress haven't you? They spend 1 day scewing up my dads life and he spends the rest of it trying to put it all back together. He was on the evening news, he was on FOX News, the internet, all because "Homeland Security", that bunch of posers, made sure that the press got there just as they "made their important bust".
My bewildered father was never charged with a crime, but he was ruined emotionally, socially, and nearly financially. He left the country club, where he used to spend most of his days, after being jeered off the course. My brother, who actually billed and shipped that $12 part and caused the whole problem will enter a mental health facility next month. You see, he didn't handle the stress well either, seeing his name on the internet and all over the news alongside my father's kinda bumped him over the edge too.
Senator Lana Oleen offered to work on my father's behalf to secure an apology from "Homeland Security". My father declined the offer, afraid of retribution. As a family, we are 100% behind the troops. We are still military contractors and we will continue to serve in that capacity, but I just wanted you to know that "Homeland Security" is a fascist bunch of unsupervised thugs who have been given too much unbridled power and seeing their name on my contracts is a slap in my face.
Sincerely,
(me, yeah me...)
***********
Sheryl,
Thanks for the contract. I appreciate it. There's something I want to share with you. Feel free to pass it on.
Stamping "Homeland Security" on my contracts is not necessary. For the record, those bastards marched into my fathers business 2 years ago with weapons drawn accusing him of supporting terrorism. He is a 72 yr old Korean War Disabled Veteran who has served as a private contractor for the military for 45-some odd years, and because he sells one oil pan cap to one British company that, incidently was listed as legitimate in the (the government's own) Central Contractor Registration (data base), turned out to be a front for the Iranian government; all for something that probably could have been backwards engineered by a kindergarten class.
Well, it damn near killed him. You have heard of post traumatic stress haven't you? They spend 1 day scewing up my dads life and he spends the rest of it trying to put it all back together. He was on the evening news, he was on FOX News, the internet, all because "Homeland Security", that bunch of posers, made sure that the press got there just as they "made their important bust".
My bewildered father was never charged with a crime, but he was ruined emotionally, socially, and nearly financially. He left the country club, where he used to spend most of his days, after being jeered off the course. My brother, who actually billed and shipped that $12 part and caused the whole problem will enter a mental health facility next month. You see, he didn't handle the stress well either, seeing his name on the internet and all over the news alongside my father's kinda bumped him over the edge too.
Senator Lana Oleen offered to work on my father's behalf to secure an apology from "Homeland Security". My father declined the offer, afraid of retribution. As a family, we are 100% behind the troops. We are still military contractors and we will continue to serve in that capacity, but I just wanted you to know that "Homeland Security" is a fascist bunch of unsupervised thugs who have been given too much unbridled power and seeing their name on my contracts is a slap in my face.
Sincerely,
(me, yeah me...)
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Sinus Sufferer or Meth Chef?
Allergy season is here. If you are an allergy sufferer you will find that many decongestants are missing from store shelves this year. Just about anything that contains pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Tylenol Cold & Sinus, et. al.) has been pulled. You can still get these medications without a prescription, but you will have to show ID and sign for them. This means that you are unlikely to find the decongestants that you need at convenience stores and may have to wait in line at a pharmacy to get them. This is all because pseudoephedrine is a common base for making Methamphetamine. The state imposed inconvenience is annoying, but apparently necessary to in order hamper the production of methamphetamine (commonly known on the street as Meth, Crystal or Crank).
Perhaps a bit of education is in order. Did you know that Kansas is currently one of the nation’s top producers of Methamphetamine? Meth is so prevalent in Kansas that everyone here knows someone who has tried it. Five years ago a study found that 1 in 10 Kansas High School Seniors had tried Methamphetamine. The number has grown. The fresh imbiber may be looking for a way to lose weight, increase stamina or productivity or simply to stay awake on the job. They might obtain it as a pill or as a powder.
Methamphetamine is highly addictive. From the first dose (known as a “bump”), the brain begins to shutdown its production of its natural feel-good chemical Dopamine. This is the physical change that leads to addiction. The mood of the user is lower after the dose wears off than it was before the dose was taken. The next Meth dose becomes the substitute for the Dopamine lowered by the previous dose. And it just goes on and on until the brain is releasing no Dopamine at all. The user will require more and more Meth as time goes by to achieve the same affects. According to the Koch Crime Institute, “It is not uncommon for some users to increase from 5 mg. to 1,000 mg. doses over a one-year period.” Withdrawal can cause severe depression due to lack of Dopamine in the brain. By the time Meth has grabbed them, many users are smoking it or taking it intravenously.
Meth addicts are sickly in appearance. According to The Institute for Governmental Research, "A (methamphetamine) user may exhibit anxiousness; nervousness; incessant talking; extreme moodiness and irritability; purposeless, repetitious behavior, such as picking at skin or pulling out hair; dilated pupils with redness on the iris; sleep disturbances; false sense of confidence and power; aggressive or violent behavior; disinterest in previously enjoyed activities; and severe depression.”
Meth users may also be sweaty, cold and pale as amphetamines constrict blood vessels, and may, in the case of overdose, experience a drop in blood pressure and shock. Meth users become increasingly paranoid and violent with prolonged use. The Drug Enforement Agency reports that Meth use is now a contributing factor in 80-90% of all domestic violence cases.
Meth addiction is on the rise in Kansas, 2nd only to Marijuana use. Meth addicts are likely to be of any age, race, sex or socio-economic background. Knowing the symptoms of methamphetamine use may save the life of a loved one. A fatal heart attack is the natural conclusion to prolonged methamphetamine abuse. Another natural consequence o f Meth use is brain damage. Seizures and psychosis may precede death by weeks or months. Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs) of the brains of Meth addicts appear similar to those of Parkinson’s patients.
Meth addicts eventually reach the state of being unemployable. They are unable to focus, behave bizarrely and may be frequently absent from work. Once they lose their job they will start to sell off or trade their assets for the drug. Once they have financially cleaned themselves out, they may turn to theft and or prostitution. Most of the theft in Riley County can be directly traced to drug addiction. The home meth lab is often the result of the meth addict no longer being able to afford to buy it from a dealer weighed against the hassle factor of becoming a burglar or prostitute.
Meth addicts become nomadic. They find themselves unable to keep up with rents, utility bills and collectors. The paranoia that comes with extended use may contribute to this inability to stay put. They may frequently change towns or cross state lines to avoid detection. The mobile meth lab has become increasingly popular. Cooking meth has a very strong chemical odor that would normally be very out of place in a residential area. While rural settings may provide more cover for meth production, Meth addicts who have lost their cars will find such a location difficult to reach.
Besides pseudoephedrine, other compounds common in a batch of meth might be: Alcohol, Ether, Benzene, Toluene/Paint Thinner, Freon, Acetone, Chloroform, Camp Stove Fuel/Coleman Fuel, Starting Fluid, Anhydrous Ammonia, "Heet", White Gasoline, Phenyl-2-Propane, Phenylacetone, Phenylpropanolamine, Iodine Crystals, Red Phosphorous, Black Iodine, Lye (Red Devil Lye), DranoMuriatic/Hydrochloric Acid, Battery Acid/Sulfuric Acid, Epsom Salts, Batteries/Lithium, Sodium Metal, Ephedrine (over-the-counter), Cold Tablets, Bronchodialators, Energy Boosters, Rock Salt, or Diet Aids. (Note the overwhelming presence of heavy metals, carcinogens and corrosive chemicals in the list.)
There is no set recipe. The average Meth cook passes on his recipe to 10 others before he or she retires (Institute for Governmental Research).
Besides the supermarket and hardware store, Meth Chefs frequent rural farms. According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, “Kansas is experiencing a new type of methamphetamine production that uses anhydrous ammonia as one of its main ingredients. Methamphetamine producers are taking containers to CO-OPs to have them filled or they steal it from tanks on privately-owned fields.” Anhydrous ammonia is a widely used source of nitrogen fertilizer. It is a chemical made up of one part nitrogen and three parts hydrogen. It is one of the most potentially dangerous chemicals used in agriculture. A pressure can, such as a propane tank, is necessary for containment. Direct inhalation of anhydrous ammonia can be fatal. The KBI is asking that all anhydrous ammonia thefts or obvious tamperings be reported immediately.
What originally came to Kansas with drug dealers from California and Mexico has become a homegrown industry. Millions of tax dollars are spent annually in Kansas on law enforcement, toxic waste clean-up from lab sites, prosecution, incarceration, as well as treatment for indigent addicts directly related to methamphetamine.
A neighborhood watch system is essential to keeping this activity from settling in. Abandoned outbuildings and vehicles should be checked regularly for signs of make-shift lab equipment or empty chemical containers. Personal as well as rental references should be required of all tenants. That anorexic neighbor that can’t stop talking should be observed closely. Constant late night traffic should be considered suspicious. If you suspect drug activity you can report it anonymously online at: http://www.accesskansas.org/drugenforcement/report.html or you can call 1-800-KSCRIME.
So next time you are standing in line, mouth-breathing, waiting to buy that much needed decongestant for your hay-fever, rather than grumbling, consider that this inconvenience may be just the incentive that meth cooks need to leave Kansas. Oklahoma has achieved fair success through this method of restricting access to pseudoephedrine. Its such a little thing but it has the potential to make a great impact. Our naivety is what made the drug dealers comfortable in Kansas, our diligence will make them uncomfortable.
Perhaps a bit of education is in order. Did you know that Kansas is currently one of the nation’s top producers of Methamphetamine? Meth is so prevalent in Kansas that everyone here knows someone who has tried it. Five years ago a study found that 1 in 10 Kansas High School Seniors had tried Methamphetamine. The number has grown. The fresh imbiber may be looking for a way to lose weight, increase stamina or productivity or simply to stay awake on the job. They might obtain it as a pill or as a powder.
Methamphetamine is highly addictive. From the first dose (known as a “bump”), the brain begins to shutdown its production of its natural feel-good chemical Dopamine. This is the physical change that leads to addiction. The mood of the user is lower after the dose wears off than it was before the dose was taken. The next Meth dose becomes the substitute for the Dopamine lowered by the previous dose. And it just goes on and on until the brain is releasing no Dopamine at all. The user will require more and more Meth as time goes by to achieve the same affects. According to the Koch Crime Institute, “It is not uncommon for some users to increase from 5 mg. to 1,000 mg. doses over a one-year period.” Withdrawal can cause severe depression due to lack of Dopamine in the brain. By the time Meth has grabbed them, many users are smoking it or taking it intravenously.
Meth addicts are sickly in appearance. According to The Institute for Governmental Research, "A (methamphetamine) user may exhibit anxiousness; nervousness; incessant talking; extreme moodiness and irritability; purposeless, repetitious behavior, such as picking at skin or pulling out hair; dilated pupils with redness on the iris; sleep disturbances; false sense of confidence and power; aggressive or violent behavior; disinterest in previously enjoyed activities; and severe depression.”
Meth users may also be sweaty, cold and pale as amphetamines constrict blood vessels, and may, in the case of overdose, experience a drop in blood pressure and shock. Meth users become increasingly paranoid and violent with prolonged use. The Drug Enforement Agency reports that Meth use is now a contributing factor in 80-90% of all domestic violence cases.
Meth addiction is on the rise in Kansas, 2nd only to Marijuana use. Meth addicts are likely to be of any age, race, sex or socio-economic background. Knowing the symptoms of methamphetamine use may save the life of a loved one. A fatal heart attack is the natural conclusion to prolonged methamphetamine abuse. Another natural consequence o f Meth use is brain damage. Seizures and psychosis may precede death by weeks or months. Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs) of the brains of Meth addicts appear similar to those of Parkinson’s patients.
Meth addicts eventually reach the state of being unemployable. They are unable to focus, behave bizarrely and may be frequently absent from work. Once they lose their job they will start to sell off or trade their assets for the drug. Once they have financially cleaned themselves out, they may turn to theft and or prostitution. Most of the theft in Riley County can be directly traced to drug addiction. The home meth lab is often the result of the meth addict no longer being able to afford to buy it from a dealer weighed against the hassle factor of becoming a burglar or prostitute.
Meth addicts become nomadic. They find themselves unable to keep up with rents, utility bills and collectors. The paranoia that comes with extended use may contribute to this inability to stay put. They may frequently change towns or cross state lines to avoid detection. The mobile meth lab has become increasingly popular. Cooking meth has a very strong chemical odor that would normally be very out of place in a residential area. While rural settings may provide more cover for meth production, Meth addicts who have lost their cars will find such a location difficult to reach.
Besides pseudoephedrine, other compounds common in a batch of meth might be: Alcohol, Ether, Benzene, Toluene/Paint Thinner, Freon, Acetone, Chloroform, Camp Stove Fuel/Coleman Fuel, Starting Fluid, Anhydrous Ammonia, "Heet", White Gasoline, Phenyl-2-Propane, Phenylacetone, Phenylpropanolamine, Iodine Crystals, Red Phosphorous, Black Iodine, Lye (Red Devil Lye), DranoMuriatic/Hydrochloric Acid, Battery Acid/Sulfuric Acid, Epsom Salts, Batteries/Lithium, Sodium Metal, Ephedrine (over-the-counter), Cold Tablets, Bronchodialators, Energy Boosters, Rock Salt, or Diet Aids. (Note the overwhelming presence of heavy metals, carcinogens and corrosive chemicals in the list.)
There is no set recipe. The average Meth cook passes on his recipe to 10 others before he or she retires (Institute for Governmental Research).
Besides the supermarket and hardware store, Meth Chefs frequent rural farms. According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, “Kansas is experiencing a new type of methamphetamine production that uses anhydrous ammonia as one of its main ingredients. Methamphetamine producers are taking containers to CO-OPs to have them filled or they steal it from tanks on privately-owned fields.” Anhydrous ammonia is a widely used source of nitrogen fertilizer. It is a chemical made up of one part nitrogen and three parts hydrogen. It is one of the most potentially dangerous chemicals used in agriculture. A pressure can, such as a propane tank, is necessary for containment. Direct inhalation of anhydrous ammonia can be fatal. The KBI is asking that all anhydrous ammonia thefts or obvious tamperings be reported immediately.
What originally came to Kansas with drug dealers from California and Mexico has become a homegrown industry. Millions of tax dollars are spent annually in Kansas on law enforcement, toxic waste clean-up from lab sites, prosecution, incarceration, as well as treatment for indigent addicts directly related to methamphetamine.
A neighborhood watch system is essential to keeping this activity from settling in. Abandoned outbuildings and vehicles should be checked regularly for signs of make-shift lab equipment or empty chemical containers. Personal as well as rental references should be required of all tenants. That anorexic neighbor that can’t stop talking should be observed closely. Constant late night traffic should be considered suspicious. If you suspect drug activity you can report it anonymously online at: http://www.accesskansas.org/drugenforcement/report.html or you can call 1-800-KSCRIME.
So next time you are standing in line, mouth-breathing, waiting to buy that much needed decongestant for your hay-fever, rather than grumbling, consider that this inconvenience may be just the incentive that meth cooks need to leave Kansas. Oklahoma has achieved fair success through this method of restricting access to pseudoephedrine. Its such a little thing but it has the potential to make a great impact. Our naivety is what made the drug dealers comfortable in Kansas, our diligence will make them uncomfortable.
Homosexuality is Innate, Fundementalism is a Choice
In last Sunday’s paper, (a local yokel), after referring to homosexuality as a chosen addiction, went on to portray loving parents as people who guide their children away from harmful lifestyles (such as homosexuality, drugs and alcohol). The comparison made me dizzy.
My husband and I are very hands on parents. We have always talked to our children about every subject as early as they could comprehend it, including drugs, booze, religion and sexuality. The thing I fear the least is their sexuality. We know our children are sexual beings. As babies and toddlers they were fascinated with not only their fingers and toes but also their genitalia. They were born with this fascination. Sexuality, like the drive of hunger and thirst, is innate behavior.
While some religions teach parenting that includes repression of the sexual urge, ours does not. We tend to believe that repression leads to perversion and dysfunction. We believe in sex education, teaching the difference between public and private sexual behaviors, postponing intercourse until emotionally maturity can catch up with the sex drive, and that sexual orientation is a non-issue. We consider sexual orientation to be an innate behavior and we have already answered the question numerous times, “Would you still love me if I were gay?” with a genuine “Yes, of course!”
I cannot, however, be as comfortable with the question, “If I become a fundamentalist Christian, will you still love me?” To that I have to answer, “Yes, BUT…”, followed by a litany of reasons why they should avoid such a conversion. As a loving parent, I have tried to safeguard my children against brainwashing and blindly accepting anything coming out of a pulpit. I have repeatedly urged my children to question the teachings of fundamentalism and pointed out the flaws in the logic, and the inconsistencies in the application. We teach them to question authority and its motives and to see shades of gray. We encourage our children to explore science, philosophy and higher education, all of these the anti-venom against fundamentalism. We wish them to become who they are, who they were born to be, not to fit into a social sarcophagus built by a church. You see, fundamentalism is a choice, a choice often made out of fear and insecurity, and for some it’s a powerful addiction. Who we are, including our sexuality, is innate.
My husband and I are very hands on parents. We have always talked to our children about every subject as early as they could comprehend it, including drugs, booze, religion and sexuality. The thing I fear the least is their sexuality. We know our children are sexual beings. As babies and toddlers they were fascinated with not only their fingers and toes but also their genitalia. They were born with this fascination. Sexuality, like the drive of hunger and thirst, is innate behavior.
While some religions teach parenting that includes repression of the sexual urge, ours does not. We tend to believe that repression leads to perversion and dysfunction. We believe in sex education, teaching the difference between public and private sexual behaviors, postponing intercourse until emotionally maturity can catch up with the sex drive, and that sexual orientation is a non-issue. We consider sexual orientation to be an innate behavior and we have already answered the question numerous times, “Would you still love me if I were gay?” with a genuine “Yes, of course!”
I cannot, however, be as comfortable with the question, “If I become a fundamentalist Christian, will you still love me?” To that I have to answer, “Yes, BUT…”, followed by a litany of reasons why they should avoid such a conversion. As a loving parent, I have tried to safeguard my children against brainwashing and blindly accepting anything coming out of a pulpit. I have repeatedly urged my children to question the teachings of fundamentalism and pointed out the flaws in the logic, and the inconsistencies in the application. We teach them to question authority and its motives and to see shades of gray. We encourage our children to explore science, philosophy and higher education, all of these the anti-venom against fundamentalism. We wish them to become who they are, who they were born to be, not to fit into a social sarcophagus built by a church. You see, fundamentalism is a choice, a choice often made out of fear and insecurity, and for some it’s a powerful addiction. Who we are, including our sexuality, is innate.
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Roger Seymour, the Local Zealot
(this article was previously published in the Manhattan Mecury in February 2004)
In response to Roger Seymour’s rhetorical question in Sunday’s editorials where he asked, “What are liberals running from? What are they so scared of? What threat does the “true” Gospel message of love, restraint, morality, self-discipline, self-denial, servitude, obedience, grace, compassion and forgiveness pose to their world?”; I say, YOU, Roger, we are scared of YOU and others like you. You insist that everyone see the world in black and white just as you do. You insist that everyone refuse to acknowledge the gray areas in life just as you do. You insist no one evolve. You insist that yesterday was always better. You insist that the only folks worthy of your “compassion and forgiveness” are those that believe exactly as you do. Everyone else be damned.
You belie yourself when you insert the word “true” in your statement regarding the gospel. You assume that everyone else’s experience of the gospel is false. No one else’s point of view or sharing of experience will ever be valid for you, will it? You hate everyone who doesn’t agree with your intolerant, bigoted, myopic (you need to look that word up, Roger?) view of the human experience. In your tirade you reference a book that was published in 1995. Have you read anything else since then, Roger?
Its YOU we are scared of, Roger, you and the rest of the simple-minded control freaks that sneak their way into our local politics and seek to subjugate the rest of us with their self-righteousness. Folks like you, Roger, consistently condemning others and then pointing to yourselves as the victims. How disdainful is that? Your opening statement that you “feel sorry for people like Janet Heeter.” is pretentious. No one believes you feel anything but contempt for Janet Heeter.
You closed your mind and you threw away the key, Roger. You stopped learning and growing a long time ago, secure in the belief that you knew it all. You have denied yourself the experience of self-realization and continued growth. You have denied yourself the pleasure of getting to know and love people who might be nothing like yourself. Have you ever bothered to get to know a gay person, Roger? How about black folks, Roger? Got any Jewish friends? You know, like Joe Lieberman? How about Mexicans, Roger? How about some of those “decadent” Europeans? I think your experience of humanity must be very limited, Roger, otherwise you could not believe some of the ignorant things you profess. You mention the virtue of servitude, Roger. Who do you serve? Is self-righteous ignorance your master, Roger? You are scary.
In response to Roger Seymour’s rhetorical question in Sunday’s editorials where he asked, “What are liberals running from? What are they so scared of? What threat does the “true” Gospel message of love, restraint, morality, self-discipline, self-denial, servitude, obedience, grace, compassion and forgiveness pose to their world?”; I say, YOU, Roger, we are scared of YOU and others like you. You insist that everyone see the world in black and white just as you do. You insist that everyone refuse to acknowledge the gray areas in life just as you do. You insist no one evolve. You insist that yesterday was always better. You insist that the only folks worthy of your “compassion and forgiveness” are those that believe exactly as you do. Everyone else be damned.
You belie yourself when you insert the word “true” in your statement regarding the gospel. You assume that everyone else’s experience of the gospel is false. No one else’s point of view or sharing of experience will ever be valid for you, will it? You hate everyone who doesn’t agree with your intolerant, bigoted, myopic (you need to look that word up, Roger?) view of the human experience. In your tirade you reference a book that was published in 1995. Have you read anything else since then, Roger?
Its YOU we are scared of, Roger, you and the rest of the simple-minded control freaks that sneak their way into our local politics and seek to subjugate the rest of us with their self-righteousness. Folks like you, Roger, consistently condemning others and then pointing to yourselves as the victims. How disdainful is that? Your opening statement that you “feel sorry for people like Janet Heeter.” is pretentious. No one believes you feel anything but contempt for Janet Heeter.
You closed your mind and you threw away the key, Roger. You stopped learning and growing a long time ago, secure in the belief that you knew it all. You have denied yourself the experience of self-realization and continued growth. You have denied yourself the pleasure of getting to know and love people who might be nothing like yourself. Have you ever bothered to get to know a gay person, Roger? How about black folks, Roger? Got any Jewish friends? You know, like Joe Lieberman? How about Mexicans, Roger? How about some of those “decadent” Europeans? I think your experience of humanity must be very limited, Roger, otherwise you could not believe some of the ignorant things you profess. You mention the virtue of servitude, Roger. Who do you serve? Is self-righteous ignorance your master, Roger? You are scary.
