AMERICAN FREEDUMB

Attempts at intellectual reconciliation with the rest of the world

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Our country's moral standing in the world began to decline and anti-American sentiment began to rise when our leaders decided that war was justified in order to protect our "national interests" as opposed to being a last resort for protecting merely our "national security". Admittedly, the difference between national interests and national security can at times be ambiguous, which made the transition easier to preach and to be believed. However, it is neither moral nor accurately described as reasonable self defense to send our military people into combat over natural resources or to further the profits of the military industrial complex. Ensuring the safety of the American people should be the only acceptable reason for entering armed conflicts.

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RG Tragedy

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/09/16/report-rgiii-told-by-nfl-not-to-wear-know-jesus-know-peace-shirt-for-his-press-conference/

Many people are losing their minds over the NFL telling RGIII to wear his "KNOW JESUS KNOW PEACE" shirt inside out during his press conference.  Alright blowhards, let's all pretend that the shirt is not completely divisive, that all players in the NFL are Christian, and that it is good for an NFL icon known for his childlike tweets to be the religious spokesperson for the NFL.

All of that aside, is the tragedy of RGIII written in the divine plan he believes in?  Must be, right?  Am I wrong to consider the shirt and his subscription to the idea to be as ironic as can be?  It'd be more accurate to read "KNOW JESUS KNOW INJURY", don't you think?  Nah, that'd be too divisive, right?

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We Can Handle The Truth!

Speculation has swirled around 28 redacted pages for years, as calls for their release have grown among politicians and victims’ families.

It would be cool if President Obama followed through on his promise of being transparent in this regard and released the redacted information from the 9/11 report.  On a more general line of thought, I believe the people in this country will further lose any sense of trust in the government if our leaders continue to arbitrarily utilize the phrase "national security" in efforts to hide information. For instance, if Saudi leaders were involved in the tragic events of 9/11, then the people of this country should know as much. Likewise, if our country knew Saudi leaders were involved with 9/11 and continued to work with them for economic or natural resource interests, then the people of this country should know as much. The phrase "national security" should never be used in a manner tantamount to "you can't handle the truth." We deserve to know the truth, and any proximate consequences of the citizenry learning the truth deservedly falls upon those with something to hide.

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Let's Get Offended!

Eminem has sparked a media frenzy -- and the same public outrage so often associated with the emcee -- ahead of his highly anticipated album release. Earlier this week, Eminem released a six-minute cut off his Marshall Mathers LP 2 titled "Rap God," featuring multiple seemingly homophobic verses.

"I attempt these lyrical acrobat stunts while I’m practicing that / I’ll still be able to break a motherfuckin’ table / Over the back of a couple of faggots and crack it in half / Only realized it was ironic I was signed to Aftermath after the fact," he raps in one verse.

In another, he spits: " Little gay-looking boy / So gay I can barely say it with a straight face-looking boy / You witnessing massacre like you watching a church gathering taking place-looking boy / ‘Oy vey, that boy’s gay,’ that’s all they say looking-boy / You take a thumbs up, pat on the back, the way you go from your label every day-looking boy."

So, Eminem is getting all the bad press he undoubtedly welcomes and enjoys.  The only thing that these "negative" type of pieces do is sell more records and stack that chedda.  Obviously, I am not up to date on the "rap game". That is not what this is about though.  This is about what I see as a hypocritical reaction to an artist's use of words that offend people.  I think people should be able to say whatever they want.  The common response to that is that people should be able to say whatever they want in reaction to that, and I agree.  In fact, that is what this blog entry is about: my reaction to others' reaction to Eminem's lyrics to "Rap God". As soon as the track dropped, every hate-opportunist ensured that the world knew just how offended they were by Eminem's unwavering homophobia.  Soon enough, all of the major media outlets were also doing stories on the song and how Eminem hasn't changed since his last offensive gesture.   These same people that have such a big problem with Eminem's use of the F word more than likely have absolutely no problem with other artists' use of equally if not more offensive words and symbols.  Take the word "bitch" for instance.  Nobody blinks an eye when you hear the word bitch these days.  How is "bitch" any more or less offensive than "faggot"?  It's not.  They both are used as derogatory terms for a segment of society.  They both are used to put down others, regardless of whether the person being put down is a gay man or a woman.  They both have become exploited to the point that they no longer carry the finely tuned direction and interpretation that they used to.

Don't get me wrong: by expressing my opinion on this issue, I am neither endorsing nor censuring those who use these terms.  I am fond of freedom of expression and understand that it will lead to offense.  I just don't understand how grown people can get so riled up about a song by Eminem, a person known to shock and awe for a living. Then you hear people talking about how it sets a bad example for children.  Guess what else sets a bad example for children: parents that let their children listen to Eminem.  Sorry to have to tell you this, but Eminem and Barney the purple dinosaur never have and never will feature one another on a track.  Instead of waiting for MTV to raise your kids, perhaps you should put in a little time, eh? Bottom line: freedom of expression, particularly in art, should not be censored whatsoever absent breaking the law (looking at you Banksy!).

Get offended.

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PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Consider that just a couple of weeks ago, Apple rolled out a new mobile operating system, and within days, they found a glitch, so they fixed it. I don't remember anybody suggesting Apple should stop selling iPhones or iPads or threatening to shut down the company if they didn't. That's not how we do things in America. We don't actively root for failure. We get to work, we make things happen, we make them better, we keep going."

As a caveat, let me start out by saying that I am not one of those people that is against the ACA because it came from President Obama.  I hold open the possibility that it could actually benefit our collective lives and maybe even help with the out-of-control health care problems this country faces.

However, President Obama's comments that we should view the ACA like we do consumer products from a private corporation is about as lame as it gets.  

First off, nobody is forced to buy an iPhone and if some employee tried to say that they'd shut down Apple due to any glitches, they'd be fired on the spot.

Everyone is forced to buy insurance under the ACA, and none of the douche bag congressmen can be instantly fired by the people of this country by actually shutting the government down.

Perhaps the immature and often irrelevant rhetoric would die down if our public officials began to make sound arguments rooted in reality, starting with the very intelligent President of the United States of America.

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Is there still any question whether we are merely the smartest apes walking the Earth?

These remarkable photos show intimate and intelligent moments among members of a tribe of bonobos at Jacksonville Zoo, Florida. It's clear to see from these mesmerising shots how closely related we are to them.

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SAN DIEGO — You may soon notice less people living in the streets of San Diego thanks to a relatively new initiative.

The “Work Your Way Home Program,” has helped 117 people find their way back home.

“I’ve sent people as far as Delaware,” said Kelly Knight, homeless outreach coordinator for the program.

Under the Work Your Way Home program, a person living in the streets or a shelter signs a waiver agreeing to accept a one-way ticket home, where a family member or friend agrees to take them in.

“I’ve connected people that have been out of touch with their families for 15 years,” said Knight.

The program, which is privately funded by businesses from the Downtown San Diego Partnership, has ran for about a year and members hope to continue the work.

“We know it works, we’re going to continue,” said president and CEO for the Downtown San Diego Partnership.

Some have criticized the program, claiming it’s similar to those in other cities where the homeless population has been shipped out as unwanted merchandise.

“We’re not shipping people out, we’re reuniting them with their families, so we know there’s someone on the other end to receive them, they pick them up from the bus station, they’re dressed well, they go home with dignity,” said Michell.

The group says that out of the 117 homeless people they’ve helped over the course of a year, none of them have come back.

Read more: http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/09/04/local-homeless-get-one-way-tickets-out-of-san-diego/#ixzz2e2QK8V59

With skyrocketing airfare, all I can wonder is how I can get in on this without resorting to actually becoming homeless.  Cutting my bag fees in half alone is worth sleeping a week or two on the street with the cockroaches, am I right?

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He was put to sleep after the left, and the finisher was nothing more than hitting a meaty speed bag.

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Going down in a blaze of glory!

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Button Pressers Make A Lot More Money Than You Do

The World's Highest Paid DJs Will Destroy Your Faith In Humanity

Did you know that "DJ" Pauly D made $13 million this year?  Not bad, right?

Let's break that figure down:

Pauly probably DJs an average of 4 times per month and probably presses about 20 buttons per performance.  At that rate, he presses 80 buttons per month and 960 buttons per year, meaning that he makes approximately $13,541.67 per button press.

I guess the lesson kids should learn from this is that they should quit trying to understand science and math and start exercising those index fingers.  Those buttons aren't going to press themselves at $13,541.67 a piece. 

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Pacific Beach Burnout Gets 15 Minutes Of Infamy

Meet Jason Greenslate of Pacific Beach (San Diego), California.  Jason was just your run-of-the-mill burnout until he recently sat down with Fox News to brag about being on welfare and doing nothing but surf, approach women, drink booze and eat seafood everyday.  

You have got to hand it to this guy.  I mean, $200 a month?  That's $6.66 a day! Straight killing it.  Ratt for life, bro. 

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This is my crazy dog, Rango.  He is a cocker spaniel/cavalier king charles mix, and he rules.  This is his first driving experience in a rented uHaul.  Drivers of San Diego beware!