Ethics
« Previous Entries Next Entries »This Motherfucker Has Gone Too Far.
Tuesday, May 29th, 2007So it seems like some fuckwit or fuckwits in Orcas Island, Washington decided it would be a good idea to burn the flags that were placed on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day and replace them with flags of their own design.
Flags bearing swastikas.
Members of the American Legion replaced the flags but the fuckstick(s) returned to repeat the stunt on Memorial Day.
Seriously, what the fuck is this shit?
You want to burn a flag in protest, go for it. As far as I’m concerned it is well within your right to do so. Taking the flags off of the grave of a veteran is something completely different. Sure you might not like this war, or any wars for that matter, but how in the hell is this helping your cause? Unless your cause is just to be an asshole. Shit like this just puts you in the same group as Fred Phelps and his gaggle of douchenozzles.
I spent a (very) short time in the army and I never saw any action so when I’m gone don’t put a flag on my grave for Memorial Day because I don’t deserve it. I have friends that, if they go before me, I will be there to put a flag on their graves. Some of these friends disagree with the current war but that is not what the flag is for. It is to remember the person and what they did, not to glorify the war they fought in.
A Matter of Life and Death
Tuesday, May 1st, 2007At first it seemed like a good story to tell my friends. Then, I got to thinking about it. The more I thought about it, the more guilt that started to build up inside me.
I was on the Blue Line yesterday coming back from a downtown job interview. It was late morning, so there were quite a few people on the train, so I grabbed the first seat I could find. The seat was one next to a black woman, who appeared to be in her late 40’s to early 50’s, and she didn’t look well. She was wearing a dark winter jacket and her shoes were off and next to her feet on the floor. SHe was slumped forward, shaking and muttering something unintelligible.
I figured she was just another homeless crack addict, riding the bus to get her next fix, and I proceeded to ignore her. I sat on the left edge of my seat so as to give her room to do her shaking and fidgeting without invading my personal space. At one point she looked at me and said, “SHe done it!” pointing to a 20-something professional woman sitting in front of me.
I ignored that, too, and continued to stare off into space. I was trying to ignore everything that was happening on the train around me, the common mindset of the city commuter.
Then it happened. I was about three stops from home when this woman started shaking violently, almost a convulsion. It went on for a couple of minutes until she collapsed head-first into my lap. At first, I just sat there in shock. The, I lifted her off of me and leaned her against the window. She didn’t appear to be breathing, but I figured at first that I just couldn’t see her breathe because of the bulkiness of her winter jacket.
She didn’t move at all before I got to my stop where I got off.
Now, I feel as though I should have done something to help her. What if she died? I could be ethically responsible for it. Not because I killed her, but because I did nothing to help her. I was more interested in myself than helping out my fellow human being.
It could also be argued that there was nothing I could have done that could have saved her. She made her own choices in life that led her to that point. It was not my responsibility. There were a lot of other people on te train who witnessed this as well, and none of them made a move to do anything. We could all be held responsible for this woman’s apparent death.
Then again, she could have just passed out. She could have fallen asleep. I’ll never know what the fate of this woman was, because I just got up and left her.
Double Standard?
Thursday, April 19th, 2007I want to start this out by saying that I don’t condone what Don Imus said about that women’s basketball team. To call them “Nappy-haired ho’s” is inexcusable and deplorable. Don Imus is right there with Rush Limbaugh in Douchebag-land.
But, Bill Maher raised a good point on his show. Was Imus excercising free speech? Did he have a right to say that? By removing his program, are we denying him his constitutional right to say what he wants?
At the same time, much rap music refers to women as “bitches and ho’s.” Why is that allowed if what Imus says isn’t? Where’s Al Sharpton in these situations? Is it because a white man said it? Is the black community allowed to say what it wants about women, but when a white man does it the shit hits the fan?
In my opinion, none of it is right. But where do we draw the line? I know I’m asking a lot of questions here, and not answering them – but I want some feedback. I want to know what people think about these issues.
Bill Maher, in his recent conversation with Reverend Al Sharpton brought up the word “nigger.” Michael Richards said it. It was said on South Park. It’s said in rap music all the time. If this is a word that offends the black community so much, why is it such a big part of rapculture? To an outsider to that culture like mysaelf, it seems the word is complimentary when said from one black man to another, but as soon as a white man says it – everyone is gunning for his head.
I need some answers on this.
Psychologist/Pedophile: What Can Be Done?
Sunday, April 8th, 2007Taken from CNN.com
Child Psychiatrist Accused of Molesting Patients
REDWOOD CITY, California (AP) — A child psychiatrist who once headed the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was arrested amid allegations he molested male patients dating back to the 1960s.
Dr. William Ayres, 75, appeared in court Friday on charges that he molested three patients. No plea was entered because his lawyer was not at the hearing.
Ayres was taken into custody Thursday at his San Mateo home and charged with 14 felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. Prosecutors said they plan to present evidence that he molested young boys in his care for decades.
He is accused of fondling three boys repeatedly between 1991 and 1996 while they were his patients, according to the complaint. The boys were 9, 11 and 12 at the time and are now in their 20s. The statute of limitations for such crimes is 10 years or until the victim turns 28.
You know, I bet this happens more than we think it does. In New York State, anyone who wants to go into child psychology has to undergo a background check, and I’m sure the rules are the same in other states.
Children are pretty vulnerable. It would be easy for someone in the position of a child psychologist to take advantage of this. Which brings me to question the whole subject of doctor/patient confidentiality. Should this apply to children? Should a child’s sessions with a psychologist be taped and made available to the parents? This is something I don’t have an answer to.
W hen I was a kid, I went to a number of different psychologists for what was believed to be Attention Deficit Disorder. I told these doctors a lot of personal things, some of which I wouldn’t readily admit in front of my parents. Looking back now, it was all pretty stupid and none of what was going on in my life was anything that needed to be hidden, or to be ashamed of. I was a normal kid with normal kid issues. I had crushes on girls I didn’t know what to do about (and still don’t sometimes), I had problems with homework and grades. Nothing spectacular. But then again, I was a pretty normal kid.
Which is why I almost think that parents should be let in on what goes on in these sessions. Parents can be the best friends a child can have, and the first line of defense against predators. It’s a sad fact that some professionals are dangerous – and at the same time, most probably aren’t. But, can we really afford to take chances?
It seems like pedophilia has become a huge problem in the US. Maybe that’s because the internet has opened so many doors for pedophiles, and given them opportunities to access children that they didn’t have in the 80’s and most of the 90’s. Maybe it’s because shows like “Dateline” are giving it more publicity than in the past. It just seems like this is a growing issu, and growing at a rate that’s pretty damn frightening. It doesn’t seem like any child is safe anymore.
Going back to an earlier point, parents are the first line of defense against predators, and if a child has to sacrifice a bit of privacy in order to be safe, it may be for his or her own good.
Disney Rolls Out The Rainbow Carpet
Saturday, April 7th, 2007I know we’ve had a few blogs on here about gay issues, but this is a cool story. Disney’s a company IO’ve had some negative opinions about in the past, but this is something good they’re doing. They’ve earned a couple of points in my book for this, almost redeeming themselves for Cinderella 3.
From CNN.com
Disney Lets Gays & Lesbians Have Fairy Tale Weddings
« Previous Entries Next Entries »LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Same-sex couples who want to exchange vows in front of Cinderella’s Castle now have the chance.
The Walt Disney Co. had limited its Fairy Tale Wedding program to couples with valid marriage licenses, but it is now making ceremonies at its parks available to gay couples as well.
“We believe this change is consistent with Disney’s long-standing policy of welcoming every guest in an inclusive environment,” Disney Parks and Resorts spokesman Donn Walker said Friday. “We want everyone who comes to celebrate a special occasion at Disney to feel welcome and respected.”
The company said it made the change after being contacted by a gay couple who wanted to use the wedding service, which offers ceremonies at Disneyland in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disney’s cruise ships.
The service offers flowers, dining, music and many optional Disney touches, from ceremonies in front of the parks’ iconic attractions to having Mickey and Minnie Mouse in formal wear as guests. The packages start at $8,000 and can cost more than $45,000.
