tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80192262551212810712024-03-05T00:07:30.788-08:00Where is Galt?I Swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for the sake of mine.Kenneth Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07117544014460563244noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019226255121281071.post-46625085751265025642013-12-23T07:08:00.000-08:002013-12-23T07:08:01.898-08:00The Right to be Wrong or Stupid<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In this country, we have the right
to say what we want; we have the right to be wrong and we have the right to be
stupid. As I watch the Duck Dynasty
media circus unfold, and watch more and more people weigh in, I am struck by how
many people seem to be getting this wrong.
I don’t think I’m alone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Let’s start with the idea that this
has anything to do with the 1<sup>st</sup> Amendment / Freedom of Speech. It does not.
Phil has every right to say what he said. A&E has every right to do what they
did. GLAAD has every right to be
outraged and to call for A&E to “Do something”. Millions of people have the right to voice
their opinion on the matter. When the government
starts telling A&E what to do or telling Phil what he can say, that’s
different. But none of this has anything
to do with the rights to free speech. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Instead of looking at how this
played out and who said what, I want to look at each player in this drama and
look at how they may have been wrong or stupid.
I think mistakes were made (And continue to be made) on all sides.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Phil Robertson: What were you thinking? A GQ interview? Magazines like that are always trying to play
“Got you”. Especially for someone who is
conservative or backwoods or religious and Phil… You are all three! This little Woodward wannabe will be the toast
of all the Obamacare pajama parties for months to come and you fell right into the
trap.</div>
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A&E: Quick quiz hotshots… One of the stars of your
NUMBER 1 rated, CASH COW series says something that some people find offensive,
do you 1. Issue a press release saying that “While we disagree (You may even
add the word “Strongly”) with the words of Phil Robertson, we support the fact
that people in this country can disagree with each other on certain topics. We at A&E have supported and will
continue to support the LGBT lifestyle.”
2. Issue a press release saying “That after careful consideration, we
will be dropping Duck Dynasty from our line-up as we can see no way forward due
to creative differences.” I could
respect either decision; the first because it’s good business and the second
because they were standing up for their principles. They choose door number three… “We have decided to do something because the people
at GLAAD were getting the underwear in a bunch, but we really like the money,
so we are going to suspend Phil indefinitely (Or until this blows over) and try
to film around him. We really hope the rest
of the family cooperates as we need the money.”
SMH</div>
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GLAAD: I must admit that their position has hurt
themselves more than it has hurt any other player. Calling for A&E to do something is typical
knee-jerk advocacy stuff that we have come to expect from any so called “Rights”
group. What I find disturbing about
their position as well the position of thousands more people on FB and sites like
Huffington Post and Being Liberal is the lengths they are going to demolish
this man. They seem to be doing it
gleefully. It is not enough to say they
disagree or to use this as a teachable moment.
They label what he said “Hate Speech”.
Unfortunately, that is the way the PC crowd gets around having to debate
anything. Once what you say is labeled “Hate
Speech”, then you are a “Hater” and since you are now a hater, they don’t have
to actually engage you in conversation.
I read what Phil said. I don’t
agree with it. But what made it “Hate
Speech”? There were no disparaging
remarks, no slurs. He answered a question
about his faith. He didn't demand you
agree with him and he hasn't tried to shout anyone down.</div>
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What I find sad is that a group
that preaches tolerance would have none for another opinion. Why is tolerance only a one-way street? Is your position so untenable that any
differing opinion must be shattered and the person saying it must be destroyed at
all costs? You are fighting for hearts
and minds here and over the last week, you have turned off people that might
otherwise been more accepting of your position.
To most of middle America, watching you try to destroy a man because you
disagree with him turns people off and makes you look small. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Of course, I am fully aware that I
may be one of those getting thing wrong…</div>
Kenneth Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07117544014460563244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019226255121281071.post-56945654237316445772013-08-23T06:15:00.002-07:002013-08-23T06:15:41.197-07:00Discriminating on a Saturday Night<div class="MsoNormal">
Do we have the right to not work with someone?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an interesting case out of New Mexico, the state supreme
court just ruled that Elane Photography violated New Mexico’s Human rights act <span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">which
“Prohibits a public accommodation from refusing services to a person based on
that person’s sexual orientation.” Elane
Photography refused to shoot a wedding for the plaintiff because it was a gay
wedding. They felt it was against their
beliefs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As someone who has been in the wedding
business for 30 years, I am left with a couple things bothering me about this
case.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My first question is why some discrimination
is acceptable and some not? I get
discriminated against all the time (Just like every other businessman out
there). I get discriminated against
based on price (Too expensive for some clients), age (They wanted a younger
DJ), race (Had a black couple prefer a black DJ) and even personality (I can’t
even imagine what they were thinking, I have a great personality). The point is that people discriminate all the
time. What if that photographer chooses
not to shoot a wedding because the bride was a pain in the ass; or because she preferred
only older couples? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Think about what this law does. This law sets up some groups to be protected at
the expense of others. Orwell said it best. “All animals are created equal; some are more
equal than others.” I’m just not sure the
government should be in the business of protecting some minorities and not
others. And yes, I am a minority. An individual is a minority of one; you just
don’t get a smaller minority than one. (Thank you Ayn Rand)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The other thought I have is why would you want
a photographer that </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want to shoot your wedding? Hello?
Is there only one photographer in all of New Mexico? I can’t speak for that state, but here in
sunny FL the vast majority of Photographers, DJs and other wedding
professionals would be thrilled to get your business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">If you run into someone that </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want your
business, move on. What do you get out
of suing? No hearts or minds were ever
changed with the use of force. If a photographer </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want to shoot my wedding because I’m too old, too white or my nose is too
big, I will be more than happy to give my hard earned money to someone who
deserves it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kenneth Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07117544014460563244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019226255121281071.post-81176005285311002672013-02-20T06:29:00.002-08:002013-02-20T10:49:27.131-08:00Chicken Little meets The Emperor Has No Clothes “The sky is falling, the sky is falling” Chicken Little exclaimed after an apple hit him on the head and now I’m wondering if President Obama got hit in the head by a golf ball over the weekend. In a speech yesterday, Mr. Obama said:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"> <i>“Emergency responders like the ones who are here today -- their ability to help communities respond to and recover from disasters will be degraded. Border Patrol agents will see their hours reduced. FBI agents will be furloughed. Federal prosecutors will have to close cases and let criminals go. Air traffic controllers and airport security will see cutbacks, which mean more delays at airports across the country. Thousands of teachers and educators will be laid off. Tens of thousands of parents will have to scramble to find childcare for their kids. Hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose access to primary care and preventive care like flu vaccinations and cancer screenings”</i></span></div>
<br />
Wow, we must be cutting at 50% of the budget. NO It must be 25% at least. NO? Try around 2% of spending. Yes, 2%... And those evil Republicans are causing him to do all of the above? Try again. Those cuts are determined by the president. He alone decides what programs get cut. God forbid he has to cut subsidies for green energy or maybe play golf less than 5 days a week. By the way, this 2% is off programs that have seen an average of 17% in increases in the last five years. The <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323495104578314301609669998.html?mod=djemEditorialPage_h">Wall Street Journal</a> says it so much better than I could. <br />
<br />
Take a look at these <a href="http://danieljmitchell.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/sequester-2013.jpg?w=500&h=398">draconian cuts</a> we are facing, courtesy of Guy Benson via <a href="http://townhall.com/">TownHall</a>.<br />
<br />
How terrible that those evil Republicans forced him to take sequestration in the first place. Oh wait, it was the Presidents idea? Well then how can he blame Republicans? It’s the only play in his book. The man has gotten everything he ever wanted and is now seeing that none of those policies have worked. Blame Republicans! With the media not challenging him on the facts, he can claim that Obamacare was a Republican idea as it begins to fail.<br />
<br />
The Emperor has no clothes and I hope the American people wake up and see that soon. I doubt it though. I won’t be holding my breath. Kenneth Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07117544014460563244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019226255121281071.post-80703559522835519342013-01-16T06:04:00.002-08:002013-01-16T06:08:12.669-08:00Lions, Tigers and GunsJanuary 16, 2013<br />
<br />
At 11:30 Am today, President Obama plans to hold a press conference to explain to the American people that he wants congress to do something about the rate of gun violence that has been falling for 20 years… <br />
<br />
Oh wait, that’s not it<br />
<br />
Maybe the press conference is about the fact that the last “assault gun” ban had next to zero effect on gun violence and that another ban is a silly idea…<br />
<br />
No, unfortunately, Obama will lay out his plan to curtail the rights of law abiding citizens without explaining how the criminals (Who by definition don’t follow the law) will be kept from getting guns. On a stage filled with children, (Because he cares about children and those of us that believe in the second amendment hate them) Obama will not only tell us what congress should do, but what he is willing to do outside of congress. <br />
<br />
Think about that. Obama is more than willing to go outside of the constitution because it’s that important. Now before you Obama sycophants stand up and applaud, (because he really cares…sniff, sniff) think about a Republican doing the same thing for something you are against. Peirs Morgan would wet his bed thinking about that. Come to think of it, Piers probably wets his bed nightly anyway. <br />
<br />
What’s sad to me is not the cavalier approach Obama takes to the 2nd amendment or even to the Constitution. No, what scares me is that so few people are worked up about Obama’s attitude. Remember that a government strong enough to give you what you want is strong enough to take it away and give you things you don’t want.<br />
<br />
I have an idea for Obama’s presser with the kids. It might look really cool if all the kids had matching shirts. The color brown might look good, but I think that’s been done before. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb-6Dho-Ubp0lyEl_fJrp2HrPtVMpGh-f0b2l_NOFfjaLnN5-RxoPm17c__uHcUuWQ6B4MRLb7RcZXAN7PIyc110N-tovHRz6AcKfq0FWEUo-ITj-rEFVWEwhvRQtm7mN8RJQTDubYD7s/s1600/hitler_youth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="192" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb-6Dho-Ubp0lyEl_fJrp2HrPtVMpGh-f0b2l_NOFfjaLnN5-RxoPm17c__uHcUuWQ6B4MRLb7RcZXAN7PIyc110N-tovHRz6AcKfq0FWEUo-ITj-rEFVWEwhvRQtm7mN8RJQTDubYD7s/s200/hitler_youth.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Kenneth Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07117544014460563244noreply@blogger.com0