Human Rights Abuses Inflicted Upon Those Demonized As “Less Than Human”

I was taught while in the U.S. Army JAG that soldiers who demonize the enemy by referring to them as less than human are more likely to commit human rights abuses. On this subject in Donald Rumsfeld's book he states that, "To scare the monkeys, sometimes you have to kill a few chickens." Explains a lot about what Mr. Rumsfeld thought about other people.

Loren M. Lambert © August 4, 2013

Arming Our Public School Teachers

Apparently, a school district in Arkansas is implementing its plan to train and arm its teachers. Remember, these are the same teachers that ultra-right-wing conservatives believe are incapable of teaching anything but Godless communistic pap to their children.

I am about 80 percent supportive of public school, and we home schooled our first child for several years. I also loved, cherished, and admired many of my own public school teachers (especially Ms. Brown – can’t reveal her real name) who were dedicated, intelligent, hard- working, and perfectly adept at teaching me and others. Moreover, some of the ones who were quirky, flawed, and very human, were some of the best.

Ask yourselves: How many of your public school teachers would you have wanted to be packing heat regardless of any amount of training? How confident are you that the schools are financially and politically equipped to provide training and oversight? What liability issues will thereby arise?

Here’s my answer to the first: I had about 65 different teachers, including coaches, in public school. There were about five or six of those who I would trust packing heat at all times. More importantly, several would have never been able to keep track of a gun, many would have been mortified to have to have one, about nine would have shot themselves or others by accident for various reasons (including using the barrel to scratch their asses and other itchy places), eight would have shot inanimate objects just to be funny or out of spite, seven would have shot into the air/ceiling to get our attention, six would have shot themselves in moments of school-house despair and misery, five would have shot parents at teacher/parent night, four would have shot the principal, three would have shot the PTA president, three would have shot a student or two, one would have shot the entire football team, and another would have shot the entire school band.

So, I ask: Should teachers be armed?

Loren M. Lambert © July 31, 2013

May Your Journey End Well

"Farewell, where ever you fare, ‘til your eyrie receives you at your journey's end.
May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks." ~The Hobbit.

“Just as an eye-for-eye and a tooth-for-tooth would render us all blind and toothless, if only the well-healed saintly submitted their names for selection in the polling booth, we would all be led, blind, and ruined, by the saintly bootless.” ~The Lambert.

Loren M. Lambert © July 30, 2013

Politics Matter – You May Hijack My Posts

As you may guess, I'm very interested in politics. This is because it affects every aspect of our lives, for better or for worse. Those who ignore this fact are bound to be blind-sided by them.

I invite you to hijack, reconnoiter, take over, or slam my posts thereon. If you do, I will try to not take offense. I will try to be civil, and I will try to provide a basis for my opinions. I would encourage you to do the same.

Whether your “thing”/desire is posting TMI (too much information), trivia, your latest exploits, personal news, etc., you are always welcome. Please forgive me for being so political.

Loren M. Lambert © July 28, 2013

Always Find a Way to Exercise

Every year, I read hundreds of medical records and I constantly come upon entries like this: "Because she broke her foot, she cannot exercise," "The patient sprained his right shoulder and has been unable to exercise," "Due to the wound on his calf, he has not been exercising," and so on and so forth.

I sometimes hear this: "I was in transit and couldn't work out," "I only have time to go to work, then to rehearsal and can't work out," "I don't have a gym membership, and it's winter so I can't work out," and blah, blah, blah.

Then, I heard this one: "I hate to work out. I don't get that euphoria after working out. I just feel horrible after. I hate it." Upon further inquiry, I learned that this person had no regular workout schedule and had never done it consistently. (I know many women who won't work out because of makeup and hair issues.)

It's all a bunch of nonsense.

I started working out, fanatically, to gain stamina for wrestling.  I also conjured up hopes of becoming Superman (I got close once: I flew over a car and felt like Superman when that same car pulled in front of me. [I also felt horrible]).

After several years (and yes, it may take a few years) of consistent, day-to-day training, learning to moderate my exercise (let's face it: if you run ‘til you puke every time you work out, or let trainers run you into the ground, you will feel horrible), working out is now almost as fulfilling and enjoyable as an engaging movie, a long romantic and intimate chat, great sex, and an enticing meal. (Okay, maybe a chat can rank as high if coupled with a good meal.)

          I have worked out on a plane in my seat (isometrics), in an airport (yoga, sit ups, push ups, hackie sack), in an attic, during breaks offstage while in a play, with a crying baby in my arms (sit ups, wall sits, etc.) on a train, in a stairwell between appointments, while waiting for a jury verdict, with or without a gym membership, and in all kinds of weather. I have worked out with a debilitating illness (could only juggle tennis balls for many months) and with almost every body part injured (not all at the same time). I always have been able to find a way, because it is important to me.

If exercise is important to you, you can find a way. If a body part is unavailable due to some problem, figure out what you can exercise and exercise it. If I was flat on my back and the only thing I could move were my nostrils, then you would find me doing fifty nostril flares everyday. Hell, you might even find me pushing five pound weights with my nostrils.

Rare is the disease, injury, disability, or circumstance that prevents all types of exercise.

And finally, women, I guarantee you that, over the long run, a hard ass and a vigorous body will be more valuable to you and bring you greater esteem then a beautifully made up face and nicely coiffed hair.

Loren M. Lambert © July 27, 2013

Marriage Of My Oldest Son

My firstborn has driven off in his “Just-married” mobile with his new wife. May they create great happiness in their union.

Love you, Connor and Malinda! Be safe!!!

It was a wonderful day! (And, no one commented that, although it was a happy occasion, there was a slight damper and pall over the event because of recent court rulings that some say detracts from marriage. In fact, I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think it had absolutely had no effect, whatsoever.)

Loren M. Lambert © July 26, 2013

The Rules of the Road: Topping Stupid with Greater Stupidity

Here is an accurate, but allegorical depiction of the mentality of some drivers and their reaction to what they perceive as a driving error by another. (Caution: This is crass, but meant to highlight the stupidity of some. What they do is as intelligent as what this person thinks and then does):

"You're kidding? Really? You're going to break wind in my presence? It was accidental? You're old and sick and you apologize? I don't care if you're sorry. That is no excuse. I'll show you! Yeah, you've had it! Watch this! Not only am I going to crap myself in your presence, but I'm going to take it, smear it all over my face, and then clean my hands off on my white shirt. That's right–teach you a lesson!"

This isn't my most elegant nor appealing analogy, and perhaps it’s even a bit sophomoric, but how do we humans go from the point of bending over backwards to be apologetic (in person) when we bump into each other in a room or on the street, but we loose all sense of propriety behind the wheel, and we react to the original perceived misstep in ways that put our and other peoples' lives in greater danger?

Dumb. Very dumb!

Don't do anything stupid, thoughtless, or negligent in my presence, because I can top your stupidity with even greater stupidity. You don't believe me? Go ahead and try me!

Loren M. Lambert © July 25, 2013