I'm No Newt Gingrich...

... but I know history is important. It tells us where we come from. What works & doesn't work. It shapes us.

The number one proverb I've heard about history is 'Those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it.' If you pay attention, it's been repeated in different countries by those who didn't.

Growing up, I was taught history. Not only American history, but religious, world, & pop culture history. Why things were the way they were. A lot of my counterparts were the same way. We learned, we retained, we knew. It seems today more Americans know more about Lady Gaga, reality shows, & Bragelina's kids birthplaces than they do about who the first 5 presidents or the 5 were.

That saddens me. There is a right way & a wrong way of 'changing' history. Right ~ You go out & do something newsworthy. You stand your ground. You let your voice be known. Wrong ~ You simply rewrite it.

The only way to stop the second one is to teach people. Talk to them. Discuss with them. Make them a part of the conversation. Don't let them think for a second that we the people have lost our voice. The only way we lose it is if we stop using it. As long as one person is able to keep the truth alive, the lie cannot truly live.

This goes beyond politics. This is our lives! My future, your future, your brother's future, your neighbor's future. Don't let the 1% or the media (or whoever else you want to throw in here) tell or make you feel that you are powerless!

Knowledge is power! Always be willing to learn. Never stop. Interact with others.


I hope this makes sense. If not, I'm not rewriting it, It's not my style. My mind is somewhat zombiefied this week. Did you know that people wake up at 5 am? I always thought of it as more as a bedtime. Learned something new. Anyways, I appreciate all of you that read my blog. I think its awesome.

2 Americas

At the DNC this week, Bill Clinton made the remark that we as a nation have to choose between two Americas.

The first one he said was a winner take all America. Which means to me competition, striving to be the best, individual responsibility & hard work. This is what my family taught me.

The second one he said was one of shared responsibility. Which means to me that everybody gets a trophy! Also, if someone doesn't have enough money for rent, & I have a surplus in my budget, they get my money to pay their rent.

If these are my two choices, I will take the first one.

Which one will you choose?

Didn't Know I Was Even Nominated

I'm speechless. I'm not sure what I did to receive such an honor. It's official, I am an asshole.

https://twitter.com/#!/shoegazn/assholes/members

To be included in such a group, I'm so touch. *tearing up*
So many people to thank. Where to begin?

Well, first & foremost, I have to thank God. Without him, none of this would exist.
Ooh! Gotta thank my mom & dad. If they didn't have sex that one time, I wouldn't exist.
My high school history & government teacher, he taught me to see the corny/cheesy humor in politics.
Gotta give a big shout out to Evan Williams, creator of Twitter & Blogger. Without these sites, not as many people would know I'm an asshole.

The list is long, but instead of boring you with that, here some videos. Enjoy!

And of course, theme song

** As of Sept 9, 2012, I am no longer on the list. But still check it. This guy really doesn't like people.

Is this racist, Mr. Holder?

Hi! My name is Jennie. I voted today.

This is where I were I live. Population 4,275

This is where I voted.

This is what I saw on the door.

So I went in with no camera. First I had to fill out a slip of paper that asked me if I was an American citizen. Then sign my name. Under that, date of birth & current residential address.

After I fill out the slip of paper, I go to the table where I'm greeted by Dustin, the election committee chairman. He ask me for these.

So I handed him my ID. He scanned my ID into the computer. Everything was good. So he sent me to the next guy who gave me my ballot. I went to the little table, colored in some circles, put the ballot in the machine. I was done.

I guess I don't get the uproar about voter ID's. I've in this town & my life. Most of the election committee know me & my family, but I still show my ID.

Someone told me its a question of cost. In Michigan, your first driver's license cost you $25, renewal is $18. I have a chauffeur, which $35 each time. Regular ID's cost $10 (unless 65 years old+, then its free) each time.

I voted today.

Being a Commodore 64 in a PC world

I'm really over this hypersenstivity in America today. It makes no sense! When I was young, the saying was 'Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.' What happened to that? Why must I change my way of speaking to make you feel better about yourself? So I can be called out to be a bully?

I've never been good at talking politically correct. I tried, in the 90's. Honest! Everyone was doing it. It was cool. I found myself having to talk more to get an idea across because I had to make sure I didn't offend anybody. How dreadfully boring! I like to speak quick & to the point. If I don't, I ramble.

But now it's gotten to the point, you might offend someone that's not even in the conversation or really care about your opinion. PC-ism is to protect everyone's feelings, right? Or is it about control?

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. About 5 years ago, I watched this comedian's routine. I wish I could remember his name, but I love the story just the same. He liked to use the words 'retard' or 'retarded in his show. After his show one night, an audience member came up to him, and said, 'You shouldn't use words like that. That will hurt the people with Down Syndrome feelings. They don't like to be called that.' His response was, " 'Really? Let's go ask Timmy. Hey, Timmy, what do you want to called?' 'Pickle!' " Timmy doesn't seem to care. He just wants to play & have fun.

Why are protecting people who don't want or don't need it?

Here's an another hypersenstivity becoming bullying tactic. Last week, I just signed onto Twitter & saw my friend was in a Twitter fight. So I added my two cents. The guy said he had a superior IQ & thus smarter than my friend. I let him know that IQ is not on a scale from 1-100, so the 86 that he scored wasn't really that good. Then for the next 22 hours, I was called a bigot, a bully, and gay basher. I was also told by many of them 'attacking' me that my God was just an imaginary friend. This all started when I made a sarcastic remark not knowing what the whole conversation. That was about 11 pm on a Sunday night. I left the discussion 2 hours later to go to sleep. When I signed back into Twitter Monday night, I found out I was still being harassed.

During that whole discussion, I found that these so-called victims were just verbal bullies. Not only that, the guy that started it all, blocked me. I find that hilarious. He started the fight, but couldn't handle truth, so he blocked me and others that night.

One last thing, I post things on Facebook, mainly internet political memes. Everytime I post anything that does not fit the liberal way of thinking, I get personally attacked. I think its funny. The "We're tolerant of everything as long as you agree with us" mentality is just absurd! If you don't think like them, you can have anything thrown at you. Most of the time, it mundane like saying you're naive or racist. Sometimes it's exetreme like wishing rape & murder on you.

But, I'm the bully.

The Label I Was Given

That label was FAT. It wasn't recently. It started in kindergarten, but that was given to me by my peers. By the time I was in third grade, I went from a Christian school to a public school. The public school put me in a group called 'WOW', which stood for Watch Our Weight. At that time, I didn't think I was that fat. I was 8. I played outside all the time with my neighbors. I didn't think of anything about my body. Now my fate was sealed, I was fat.

After a few sessions, I no longer played outside the way I used to. I stayed inside, watched TV, & became a closet eater. By the time I got to junior high, I was 5'8, a 130 lbs, & size 12. Still not really all that fat, just slightly above average.

Junior high is an awful place, all your insecurities get worse. I know mine did. I started getting teased for everything and anything. So I stopped engaging with people. Not entirely, just became more introverted. I learned than that people are out to hurt you.

Then came high school, since I gave up already I didn't lose any of the weight during the summer. I probably gained, because I stopped swimming because of the looks I got at the pool. I just went through the motions of high school. I tried to engage more, but not everyone matures at the same rate. By the time I left high school, I was 5'10, 196 lbs, & wore a size 16.

The heaviest I was 258 lbs & a size 22. That was about 2 years ago. Then I got a bad pain in my abdominal area. I went to the doctor, got tested & scanned. The scans revealed that I had diverticulitis. Which means I ruined my digestive tract by my diet. The only way to heal it is to be nicer to my body. There are a list of things I can't eat in a large quantity, because it slows the healing process & puts me in pain for days.

But because of it, I have I started eating better. I'm still not great at it, I have a lot retraining to do. I have a problem with portion control & exercise. But I have lost 25 lbs so far and with the support I'm getting from friends, I believe I will get healthier.

I'm not saying that I'm a victim, because that's not my way. I just wanted to show you a glimpse of what happens with the seeds we plant into children's minds. They're oblivious to most things. They don't know the differences until you plant them into their heads.

How Do You See You?

Here's why I ask. I watched an episode of 'What Not To Wear' & the lady getting the makeover was a lesbian that came out in the 80's. So in her mind, she couldn't wear dresses or make up. So for years, she didn't. She gave up a part of her identity for fit what she thought she had to be.

Through the time she was with Clinton & Stacy, she found out she could add feminine elements into her wardrobe without looking like pageant contestant. She was ecstatic that she could merge the hard biker side with her softer mommy side & still be true to herself.

So, I started thinking about other 'groups' that do this. You have people of different races that believe they have to act or dress a certain way or they betray their race, but betray who they are inside. Same thing with political & religious groups.

WHY?

I believe this is the reason why so many people are so unhappy. Why young people hurt or in extreme events, commit suicide. People are told they have to fit in this little box or they are betrayers, disloyal, unfaithful, and wrong.

I see myself as Jennie. This is how I self-identify. If you want more than that, I also see myself as colorful, funny, caring, loving, messy, emotional, awesome friend & aunt.

So I ask you again, how do you see you?