What's with all the hate?

I am dumbfounded. I came across a page on Facebook over the weekend (the page has since been removed due to the diligence of many members of Facebook pushing for its removal) that astounded me. I sat here looking at the words on the page with utter disdain. I honestly did not think that, in this day in age, people could be so hateful to one another. The racial slurs being thrown back and forth between all parties involved had me in tears. Not because they were directed at me, but because people honestly thought that they could say such hateful things to one another. There were African-Americans calling Caucasians "Cracker" and "Honkey" amongst other names, there were Caucasians calling African-Americans "N----r". Both groups were slopping these words back and forth like they use them every day. Racism is alive and well. I could kick myself in the ass for thinking that in 2011 there wouldn't be so much hate, but that page single-handedly brought my ideas of the world crashing down.
I was raised by one of the most loving and compassionate people in the world. My Marmie. She raised me not to judge someone by the color of their skin, but by their actions. She raised me to stand up for what I believe. And most importantly she raised me to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes" before I judge them. Understand where they are coming from first. I try my best to do that. I am not going to lie sometimes it is really hard, especially with people like those mentioned above. But I do my best. I try my hardest to help other people see where I am coming from, but it is like people are so wrapped up in their own views and what is right for them, that they refuse to see another person's point of view for anything. Trust me. If you actually listened to another person's point of view you might actually learn a thing or two about your own point of view. Now I am not saying that you have to agree with the other person. Far from it actually. Listening to another person's point of view may actually strengthen your belief.
Resorting to hate to "win" an argument is not winning at all. In fact it is quite the opposite. Resorting to "bashing" someone during an argument just makes you look ignorant. It makes you seem like you have no facts or credible arguments so you just "bash" the other person to distract from that fact. So I leave you with this. No matter what another person's view is, listen for one minute, then calmly explain your view. If they start speaking in circles, "bashing", or do not seem just as willing to listen, then quit wasting your time with them. Move on to someone that will actually listen to your point of view.

Jeremiah's Footprints

Imagine this. You are a mother and you just gave birth to your second son. He is beautiful and everything you could ask for in a child. Then your world comes crashing down around you. There is something wrong with your beautiful baby. The doctors tell you that he has SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy. You are scared to death, because you have never heard of SMA, let alone ever knew someone who had been diagnosed. Now your wonderful son has this mysterious condition. You frantically hit the internet in search of answers.
This very thing happened to a dear friend of mine, Nathalie. Her second son Jeremiah was born July 18, 2010. In October of the very same year, Jeremiah was diagnosed with SMA. What is SMA, you ask?

SMA is a rare, inherited disease characterized by muscle atrophy and loss of motor function, caused by the absence of or defect in the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. The SMN1 gene encodes for survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein. This protein is critical to the survival and health of α-motor neurons, which are nerve cells in the spinal cord responsible for muscle contraction. As the motor neurons become unhealthy due to the reduced SMN levels, muscles weaken and become atrophic. For more information about SMA, please click here for a more complete introductory discussion about Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
-from Spinal Muscular Atrohy Foundation

Symptoms of SMA include "progressive loss of muscle control and movement and increasing weakness due to the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord." According to the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation the muscles closest to the center of the body (i.e. those in the trunk and neck) are more severely affected than those furthest from the center of the body (i.e. those in the hands and feet). The normal growth and development of a person can also place addition demands on the already weakened muscles. Even in the most moderate form, SMA can limit function and mobility. There is also a wide range of severity of SMA. It varies in age of onset, however most patients start to develop symptoms during infancy or as toddlers. People with SMA often "develop bone and/or spinal deformities" according to the SMA Foundation. They also warn that respiratory illnesses may be more common and can be very severe for those living with SMA.
Now that I have told you about SMA, let's go back to Jeremiah and his wonderful family who cared for him deeply every day of his short little life. His mother, whom I briefly attended high school with when our fathers were both stationed in Germany, is a wonderful doting mother and wife. Her husband serves our country in the military, and their oldest son Noah is the most adorable little boy. They all loved Jeremiah deeply and did everything they could to make his life, no matter how short, one that would be remembered. Nathalie's one request when all of this was going on, was to spread the word of SMA. She wanted to get the word out to people who may not know what it is. Even in her time of crisis she was thinking of other families. For Nathalie and her entire family, all of those out there who love Jeremiah, I write this for you. I am also going to add any family who has ever been rocked by a diagnosis of SMA. Just know that you are not alone. There are other people out thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhere who are going through or who have been through the same thing as you. Keep your heads up, pray, and live the best way you can. There are others like me that are here for you. Do not hesitate to ask!

In Memory of Jeremiah 07/18/2010 - 11/01/2010

Please like his page on Facebook: Jeremiah's Footprints

Mass Effect 3 Trailer- Yes I am Gamer Chick

As anyone who has played the previous installments of Bioware's Mass Effect franchise (or hell even the hardcore players of Dragon Age: Origins. Dragon Age II comes out Tuesday by the way! w00t w00t!!!!) can tell you these games are frackin (see i am just proving my nerdity to you by using words created by Battlestar Galactica! Grrr!) addictive! I have just started yet another play-through on the first one, since my friends at GameStop informed me that I could already pre-order ME3. I started getting excited just thinking about it! I am going to do a couple of play-throughs on ME then move on and do a couple on ME2 before 3 comes out. That is if I can pry the 360 away from my husband and Red Dead Redemption for a while. We really need 2 360s... It really would save a lot of our arguments! But hey I guess that says a lot for our marriage. The main thing we argue about is who is going to play the 360! LOL.

Open Letter to Politicians Concerning Budget Cuts

Dear Mr. Politician-that-I-most-likely-did-not-vote-for-but-still-says-he-is-speaking-for-me,

I understand that there is a budget crisis in almost every state of the union right now. As with many other informed Americans, I understand that something must be done about this and am more than willing to help. I think we should look over what is actually happening in the name of "cutting budgets" and "lowering the deficit" before you start thinking that I am actually going to vote for you in the next election. (I am sorry, I only vote for those that I think are actually trying to make a difference and if you are reading this then odds are you don't make the cut.)

First, you are proposing budget cuts in some of the most key areas of society. Education cuts, Emergency Department (Fire Department, Police, EMT, etc.) cuts, State Worker cuts, etc. I can understand making cuts, but why are you politicians always so quick to cut the money where it is needed most?

Last time I checked educating our children for tomorrow was essential to a successful and long lasting government. By cutting the budget by millions of dollars (per state) you are taking away the education that our children should be getting. And when I say education, I mean a well rounded education. Our children should be exposed to not only the proper teaching of reading, mathematics, science, and history, but the arts, health sciences (not just teaching abstinence either), and extra curricular activities. A well rounded education is essential to the growth of our children. By cutting the budget in education, you not only increase class sizes (because budget cuts usually mean teachers losing their jobs) but you also have to make cuts by taking away some of the classes that many feel are essential. How does this equate to our children having a well rounded education?

You are also proposing budget cuts to Emergency Systems. I don't know if you have noticed the statistics, but when the economy goes down the toilet, crime tends to rise. By cutting the budget of the police, prison systems, fire departments, EMT stations, etc. you are not protecting the citizens that vote for you very well. No matter how many cuts you make to these areas, that does not change the fact that they are a NECESSITY! Just because you cut their budget does not mean that crime, fires, and accidents will go down. If that were the case then why are we giving them any money anyway? Oh yeah that is right, I would like to have them there on the off chance they are needed so I don't, you know, DIE, or something like that.

Okay I can kind of see cutting the budget of state workers, but that means YOU as well. Yes, you heard me right. All that money that you get paid by me, the taxpayer, you're going to have to cut the budget for that too if you expect to cut the budget for all state workers. I know, I know, I just spoke political blasphemy. How dare I expect YOU to take a pay cut like you are expecting everyone else to do? The nerve of me and just about every other person I know. You work hard and should be compensated appropriately, right? Hold on a sec, I think I might have some spare change in the couch cushions.

I am sure I speak for the majority of people that think like I do when I say that I wouldn't mind paying a little more in taxes. Provided that money is going to what it should. For instance, if you increase the school tax, all of that money better go to the education system. As long as it is used within the education system (like for books, new facilities, class room necessities, etc.) I don't mind giving a little extra money. I don't want to see my tax dollars go to paving the road that the county commissioner lives on when the county can't even seem to take care of the huge ass pothole that has been on my road since I moved here 6 years ago. You know who I am talking about.

You know what? You claim to speak for the average American, then hell, this might be a concept a little over your head, but why not try reading a web forum like a newspapers or similar to Athens Talks! and see what the people really have to say about the job you are doing. Be anonymous. Trust me, you may get a shock to the system hearing just how many people are not happy with your job.

I think I have said enough for now. But I am sure that you will do something to piss me off again and I will have to write you another letter, so you might as well just keep your mailbox open.

Sincerely,
Your-TRUE-average-American-that-you-do-not-necessarily-speak-for.