Category Archives: REALLY?

01.21.15
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Isn’t it ironic? Holocaust letter on Hitler’s personal stationary by my jewish grandfather goes viral.

Unlike the song by Alanis Morisette, this really IS ironic.

During WWII, my jewish grandfather wrote home to my grandmother on Hitler’s Stationary.

Why? Because “F**k you Hitler” – that’s why! 

I used to play with his trunk from the war when i was little, which included a helmet and a pack of cigarettes. (Those are the only items I remember).  It sat in our basement forever until my mom sent it to my uncle almost 20 years ago.

The Miami Herald picked up on the story after my uncle contacted the Holocaust museum in D.C. to donate the letter, among other items.

Enjoy!

#NeverForget

CLASSIC.

Check out the story here.

09.20.14
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Back and Ready to Rock.

I’ve been neglecting my blog for quite some time – “real life” can really interfere with my social media and internet addiction.

It’s definitely time for me to start expressing myself here once again. This tiny corner where I share my thoughts helps put a lot of issues into perspective, and it is simply a comfortable place to VENT sometimes.

There are so many interesting topics surrounding our daily lives. We are living history every day – AMAZING, SCARY, INFURIATING, FUN, CRAZY – you name it, it’s out there and we are all a part of the story.

Some of the topics that interest me are charities and causes, Anti-Bullying, the Arts, social change, mental health awareness, current events, and whatever else may catch my attention (IFLS, after all).

I WELCOME COMMENTS – keeps it interesting. I’m all for open discourse. By no means do I think everyone will share my opinion, but I do hope that people will engage and upgrade the conversation by commenting on a post, or even emailing me directly! We are always learning and growing 🙂

If you want my take on a specific subject, feel free to hit me up! Not sure whether I will have anything of value to say on the subject, but I will try my best.

Fair Warning – I’ve been collecting graphics and memes for as long as I can remember (psp tubes anyone?), and I plan to upload my favorites as often as possible. I also have the tendency to share random photos of my dogs (hey, everyone has their quirks – no apologies).

GERONIMO. That is all.

11.18.13
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HAZING as BULLYING

HAZING as BULLYING

Recently, unless you have been living under a rock, or in the woods preparing for a Zombie Apocalypse, some NFL and college football players have ‘come out of the locker room’, and their teams have come under fire, after very serious allegations of hazing have surfaced.

Everyone seems to be weighing in on the topic, so I figured why the hell not?

Heck, Jeremy Shockey has been telling people about this issue for YEARS.

Definition time for those of you who don’t know but think you may have a good idea:

Hazing: humiliating and sometimes dangerous initiation rituals, esp. as imposed on college students seeking membership to a fraternity or sorority.

Bullying: to use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants.

Based on these two definitions, the separation between hazing and bullying is that bullying has no purpose of initiation, but otherwise, hazing and bullying are the same abuse of power.

Some disagree, based on the premise that hazing is something that eventually STOPS once you are considered part of the team/group/fraternity/club, and its intended goal is to promote solidarity and shared experience between members based on a sense of belonging since everyone has been through the SAME initiation.

In that vein, Hazing is TECHNICALLY a more socially accepted term considering the negative connotations that are attached to the word ‘bullying’.

So where is the line drawn? Do you feel that hazing is simply bullying that society deems as acceptable?

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The high-profile parties to the current controversy have brought this distinction to the forefront of our current life debates.

The Miami Dolphins suspended Richie Incognito over alleged bullying and harassment, after, over a prolonged period, he is said to have repeatedly abused tackle Jonathan Martin, leaving voicemail messages on his phone which included such abuse as, “Hey, wassup, you half n—– piece of (expletive)…” and “(I’m going to) slap your (expletive) mouth. (I’m going to) slap your real mother across the face (laughter).”  Incognito had even intimidated Martin into paying $15,000 for a meal in Las Vegas that he didn’t even attend.

FULL STORY

According to one op-ed piece in the New York Times they are one and the same:  “Hazing is simply another name for bullying, and it is unacceptable in all its forms. Bullies will do only what bystanders allow; it is a group process and a social dynamic that grips a victim’s entire world.”

I URGE you to read this quick post on Hazing and the top Myths surrounding such practices.

Hazing is not limited to certain areas or disciplines – the military, athletic teams, marching bands, professional schools and so on all have a history of hazing members.

Hazing is not authorized by universities or the NFL, most of whom have strict no-hazing policies.  However, group sports and fraternal organizations, traditionally, have their own internal guidelines, their own “initiations” to supposedly strength their bond.

Even NFL players have stated that they EXPECTED to be hazed, whether same did or did not actually happen.

EXAMPLE: When Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith reported to his first training camp two years ago, he anticipated being hazed by veteran teammates. He “had heard the stories and watched shows like HBO’s “Hard Knocks” that glorified the behavior and was prepared to be rudely welcomed to the NFL”. To his surprise, since of course the Ravens are AWESOME anyway, the rookies were welcomed by leaders like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs, who made it clear that the team had more important things to worry about. STORY HERE.

My sorority, Tri Delta, has a no-tolerance policy for hazing – unlike some others whose pledges would have to do embarrassing, yet not harmful, activities.  However, I witnessed a lot of hazing in the other Greek organizations.  Usually, this was light-hearted, such as making new pledges clean the house, or sing in a public place; however, there is a MUCH darker side.

There are times when hazing goes so over the line to amount to assault, battery, and even permanent physical and mental injury.

Take the case of Cameron Fagen, 19-year-old Grand View college student who was a member of the BOWLING team.

First thought? Seriously, hazing in BOWLING? What do they do, roll you down the lane? Put itching powder in your bowling shoes?

NOPE. THEY KICK THE SHIT OUT OF YOU AND BREAK YOUR JAW!! 

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Fagen has sued the university (GOOD!) after he was severely beaten by a group of fellow athletes AND IT WAS CAPTURED ON VIDEO!. Apparently, the incident “started after some rough housing among friends. It ended with duct-taped Fagen punched, kicked, beaten with a broom handle and rolled up in a carpet before being left bleeding and injured in a dorm common room. The diminutive Fagen suffered a broken jaw.” (Des Moines Register)

HE IS DAMN RIGHT TO BE SUING – it’s freaking criminal!  The video is DISGUSTING and shows a total lack of humanity in every damn person in that room. It is assault.  It is battery.  I think the students who did this act were definitely not HAZING – they went way too far to call their actions something less than repulsive, inhuman and sickening (actually more like, they went insane).

The Huffington Post refers to this incident as BULLYING. Other outlets claim HAZING.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE???

08.28.13
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Former Teacher Gets 30 Days for Raping Student, who Later Committed Suicide.

8-29-13 – RIP Cherice Morales, 17, who took her own life in February 2010 while the following case was pending.

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READ THE ARTICLE – Video also included.

Directly from National Voices for Equality Education & Enlightenment
“This is one of those cases where we should sit back and question the letter of the law. A Senior High School teacher who pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old student, who later killed herself, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail by a judge who said the victim was “older than her chronological age” and “as much in control of the situation” as the teacher. Really? Really? Are you kidding?!?!?!” ~~~ Jowharah Sanders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO!

She was a MINOR! This EXPERIENCE led her to KILL HERSELF and the judge is putting partial blame on HER?

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH, District Judge G. Todd Baugh, for putting a child abuser back into our community.

Here is a chronology of events from dailymail.co.uk:

  • Cherice Morales was a troubled 14-year-old high school freshman when teacher Stacey Dean Rambold, then 49, groomed her for sex
  • Cherice killed herself at 17 while the case was pending and her mother says the sex abuse by the teacher was ‘a major factor’ in her suicide
  • Rambold entered a sex offender treatment program, but was kicked out after having unsupervised visits with minors
  • Judge Todd Baugh disagreed with the prosecution of Rambold and handed out a 30 day sentence
  • Prosecutors had asked for 10 years
  • Judge, 66, announced he is running for re-election and is so far unopposed.

HERE IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

What was Baugh’s reasoning that a 14-year-old girl below the state’s age of consent had an equal share of control of the relationship? 

“The judge’s reasons are his reasons and his reasons alone. He has broad authority under state law, given the proper criteria,” as Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said.

THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!

While the judge said he listened to statements given by Morales before her death and believed that while she was a troubled youth, she was “as much in control of the situation” as Rambold and was “older than her chronological age.” SERIOUSLY? Since WHEN may a 14-year-old “groomed” by the teacher for sex, able to CONSENT??

Baugh further stated that “he was not convinced that the reasons for Rambold’s termination from treatment were serious enough to warrant the 10-year prison term prosecutors recommended”.

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Here is the RAPIST – Stacey Dean Rambold – Billings, Montana.

The school district had warned Rambold four years earlier to avoid touching or being alone with female students, it was later revealed. AND THIS WAS NOT A WARNING SIGN?

Montana District Court Judge G. Todd Baugh sentenced Stacey Dean Rambold to 15 years in prison for sexual intercourse without consent, with all but 31 days suspended. He gave Rambold credit for one day already served.

Judge Baugh announced on Monday that Cherice Morales seemed just as responsible for a sexual relationship with her teacher Stacey Dean Rambold as the teacher was – even though Cherice was troubled and only 14 at the time. He also pronounced that the girl, who killed herself two years later, appeared to be ‘older than her chronological age.’

AGAIN – WHAT was this judge THINKING! 15 years reduced to 30 days?  AND a credit for 1 day served??  

SERIOUSLY – A 14–YEAR-OLD WAS DEEMED “”older than her chronological age” and “as much in control of the situation” AS THE TEACHER?!

This is why our juvenile justice system is so ineffective and the laughing stock of the country.

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P.S. County Attorney Twito told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he would not appeal the judge’s sentence.

P.P.S. The school district paid Cherice’s mother $96,000 as part of a wrongful death settlement. NICE TO KNOW THAT IS THE GOING RATE FOR THIS CRIME.

SMH – there HAD to be something more to this; however, a VICTIM should not be further penalized by the system – she obviously was traumatized and I believe the judge and the perpetrator are responsible for this verdict and her suicide. Personal Opinion.

PLEASE WEIGH IN.

08.14.13
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KEEP LIBRARIES FUNDED, OPEN AND STAFFED! SIGN THE PETITION!

Hey Miami-Dade County Commissioners…KEEP OUR LIBRARIES FUNDED, OPEN AND STAFFED! SIGN THE PETITION! 

https://www.change.org/petitions/miami-dade-county-commission-fully-fund-the-miami-dade-county-library-system

VIDEO:

WATCH: Mayor Makes OUTRAGEOUS Claim About Libraries

I’D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THIS LETTER FROM THE FAMILY OF A MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA TEACHER:  

[WITH MY OWN THOUGHTS IN BRACKETS, OF COURSE LOL]

Hello all, 

I hope my intrusion into your interspace is not too much of a burden. 

I am writing to inform those of you who may or may not keep up with local politics about the situation with our local libraries.  

The Miami-Dade Commissioners and Mayor have decided that approximately the price of a bottle of water per month for Miami tax payers is too much to ask for the county’s library services.  

[WHY SHOULD WE CARE, AND WHY AND I POSTING THIS?]

The library has been penalized for being the only fiscally responsible department.  Because the libraries were able to maintain their budget and put away reserves for  “rainy days” the commission a few years back decided the fate of the libraries would largely go hand in hand with how long they could maintain off of a minimal budget and these remaining reserves.  Despite many layoffs, salary and benefit cuts members of the library system kept up the quality of service people had been used to and that had been nationally recognized just three years ago.  

We now face a dire situation in which the commissioners think it a prudent decision to lay off half of the remaining library workers as well as close more than a third of all county branches.  The remaining branches will be understaffed and in result only be open a modicum of their present hours.

[SERIOUSLY FLORIDA, NO WONDER WE’RE A NATIONAL JOKE – CAN’T COUNT, NOW CAN’T READ!]

Libraries offer more services to our public than free books.  

[I FOR ONE SPENT MANY HOURS IN THE LIBRARY, FOR SCHOOL AND ENJOYMENT.]

But even if the library to you is only this, then the cost in taxes is less than the cost of purchasing either a few books at Barnes & Noble or e-books from Amazon- saving you money.

[WHY SHOULD WE CARE, AND WHY AND I POSTING THIS?]

Libraries offer many programs designed to assist the public in a myriad of ways.

They are community centers that promote art, culture and education.  

They provide tutoring, reading programs, and volunteer opportunities for our youth. They provide internet services, and ways for the under-privileged and elderly to access social services and receive assistance.  

They provide education for new parents, and assist in building the future literacy and civility of our community.  

If you feel as strongly as I do, or even just the smallest of love for community please support our local libraries and let the mayor and the commissioners hear your voice.  

Thank you for your Time, 

William Noble

[SIGN THE PETITION! TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT THAT YOUR VOICE COUNTS, AND THAT OUR LIBRARIES SHOULD REMAIN OPEN AND FULLY STAFFED.] 

https://www.change.org/petitions/miami-dade-county-commission-fully-fund-the-miami-dade-county-library-system

EMAILS TO CONTACT:

<Mayor@miamidade.gov>; <District1@miamidade.gov>; <district2@miamidade.gov>;  <District3@miamidade.gov>; <District4@miamidade.gov>; <district5@miamidade.gov>; <district6@miamidade.gov>; <district7@miamidade.gov>;<District8@miamidade.gov>; <DennisMoss@miamidade.gov>;  <Zapata@miamidade.gov> <District10@miamidade.gov>;  <District12@miamidade.gov>; <district13@miamidade.gov> 

 

 

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05.28.13
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Here we go AGAIN. Tragic Child Suicide In New York Linked To Bullying.

Does it EVER end?

Authorities have confirmed the tragic suicide death of a 12-year-old  in New York was due to the relentless bullying she was subjected to for several months beforehand from classmates.

According to Gabrielle Molina’s suicide note and accounts from her sister, 15-year-old Georgia, the seventh-grader took her own life because of persistent cyber-bullying, slut-shaming, and name calling from her middle school peers. It had just become too much.

HERE IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE ARTICLE, and I’ve highlighted the parts that really hit me, and ranted on a few.

Her SISTER Georgia found Gabrielle after she’d hanged herself inside her bedroom.

Georgia had been sworn to secrecy, told not to reveal the abuse to their parents, though they knew Gabrielle was having some trouble at school.

RANT INSERT:  REALLY???? Sworn to secrecy?? How many other siblings are out there keeping such “secrets” from the people who can help most – parents, friends, teachers, even anonymous tip lines, and groups like NVEEE.org.

The girl was often taunted by classmates over her appearance – victimized both face-to-face and online. Fellow students who sent the upsetting messages are currently under investigation as officers removed computers from the Molina home in order to have them analyzed. Several students have been questioned since the incident, but no charges have been imposed.

Associates of Gabrielle said she’d got into a fistfight with another girl that was videotaped and posted on YouTube; she had a history of cutting herself and had recently broken up with a boyfriend – providing the bullies with fodder.

RANT INSERT:  TWO WORDS – CYBER BULLYING.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said that a preliminary investigation did not show any serious bullying problems at the school.

RANT INSERT:  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! EVERY school has bullying problems – stop burying your head in the sand.  Are teachers so afraid of being blamed or coming to false conclusions that they just pretend this doesn’t happen? That these kids are ok?

How do you define a serious bullying problem? Any bullying should not be tolerated and should be considered serious as it can stem from its own environment of abuse or mental illness.

Bullying has always been a problem, especially in middle school when socialization seems to be the most difficult. Physical, emotional, and psychological threats make it difficult for an individual to get through the day and focus on their academic work. With technology pusillanimous bullies can post hate-speak and degrading taunts about a person with some anonymity. Often times there is little schools can do to protect the victim as many school officials will say unless the acts occur while on school grounds, there isn’t much they can do to deter it.

Parents have addressed a call for action, demanding something more be done to protect their children from this type of victimization as daily threats and assaults can lead to depression, lessened self-esteem, eating disorders, anxiety, sleeplessness, drug and alcohol abuse, effect academic performance and overall well-being, and, in extreme cases, suicidal tendencies.

RANT INSERT:  OK, what exactly does a “call to action” mean? Hey Guys! Stop bullying! Seriously. 

Parents need to be PROACTIVE, and actions speak louder than words.

That is all.

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Scorpio:

Daily Overview for May 28, 2013

Overview

A choice that seems trivial may not be all that trivial! This could shape quite a bit for you in the coming days and weeks, so make sure that you are thinking things through with care. If you really ponder the issue, you will begin to see where things are going for the future.

01.25.13
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Hypocrisy

Hypocrites!!!!!

Using faith as a shield and a sword when their hospital needs funding (see article), yet when their doctors are responsible for the death of a woman and the 7 month old twins she was carrying that could have been saved, the hospital IMMEDIATELY throws their faith out the window and argues in court that fetuses are not people. Regardless of your stance on the status of life beginning at conception v. birth, the actions of this hospital show ME that money is more important than their own beliefs and their patients lives!

This is not a religious or political post. My views on both are private.

What this IS about is hypocrisy, and this should be called out if this was ANY hospital claiming to follow certain ideals – and then when they mess up they throw away those beliefs all to avoid the Monetary Damages from a wrongful death malpractice suit.

Relevant Sections of Article:

“The lead defendant in the case is Catholic Health Initiatives, the Englewood-based nonprofit that runs St. Thomas More Hospital as well as roughly 170 other health facilities in 17 states. Last year, the hospital chain reported national assets of $15 billion. The organization’s mission, according to its promotional literature, is to “nurture the healing ministry of the Church” and to be guided by “fidelity to the Gospel.” Toward those ends, Catholic Health facilities seek to follow the Ethical and Religious Directives of the Catholic Church authored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Those rules have stirred controversy for decades, mainly for forbidding non-natural birth control and abortions. “Catholic health care ministry witnesses to the sanctity of life ‘from the moment of conception until death,’” the directives state. “The Church’s defense of life encompasses the unborn.””

BUT

“when it came to mounting a defense in the Stodghill case, Catholic Health’s lawyers effectively turned the Church directives on their head. Catholic organizations have for decades fought to change federal and state laws that fail to protect “unborn persons,” and Catholic Health’s lawyers in this case had the chance to set precedent bolstering anti-abortion legal arguments. Instead, they are arguing state law protects doctors from liability concerning unborn fetuses on grounds that those fetuses are not persons with legal rights.”

“As Jason Langley, an attorney with Denver-based Kennedy Childs, argued in one of the briefs he filed for the defense, the court “should not overturn the long-standing rule in Colorado that the term ‘person,’ as is used in the Wrongful Death Act, encompasses only individuals born alive. Colorado state courts define ‘person’ under the Act to include only those born alive. Therefore Plaintiffs cannot maintain wrongful death claims based on two unborn fetuses.””

hy·poc·ri·sy

/hiˈpäkrisē/
Noun
The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; pretense.
Synonyms
cant – dissimulation – double-dealing – insincerity