I heard one reporter melodramatically state: "another great American city saddened by gun violence." I wonder does that idiot recognize the oxymoronic nature of his statement?
Well, Mr. Kohn, you're right in your article and you're right in your comments to Darke and the democrats who want to get back to a two-party democracy haven't a clue that governments run by parties are polyarchies and two parties I guess don't even reach the poly in the archy. They can yell superior than thou all the way to the end. And God, I wanted to make it to some type of hope but it appears that won't happen. I could die peacefully if I thought there was a chance anyone could understand what you've been telling them...but I'd still rather not have to end my life with the world still unable to understand a goddamned thing. Christianity banned manichaeism and the devil won a long time ago I guess.
I don't know where we go from here except to the same shit, and sorry for the language,
It's funny about America though, the only people who have understood what a democracy is not is the slaves it brought to these shores...To understand what freedom is you have to understand what it isn't and maybe only the people of Alkebulan (sp?) I can't remember much right now, but I do remember people have always rose against governments who deny them their importance to society...soon I will be sleeping but I'll fight to keep hoping for my remaining months.
Protect yourself Mr. Kenyatta, maybe those like you will rise like the phoenix from the ashes and maybe there will be freedom from hierarchy sometime. Since I'm not going to be here I am trying to transfer my hope from my lifetime to after my lifetime.
Good luck to mankind, but that luck will not be mine. I hope it will be yours. Or someone's.
But you are right. A country that has never been a democracy cannot expect it will be saved from the fate of other autocratic kingdoms.
It's not that countries rise and fall in cycles of three or so centuries. We were quite civilized for nearly half a millenium (or maybe longer) before we became uncivilized by civilization.
You, or maybe your daughter, need to lead us now. Whether or not Trump is defeated is irrelevant if his defeat means no one can recognize the real reason democracies fail is because they've never been able to understand that "we the people" is not just "some of the people" who take from the rest of the people. And I have no idea what I'm talking about. But you do.
Might that be Kohn as in Genghis...or Kohn as in man?
Forgive me, Mr. Taylor for my impish search for mirth; I shall now, right meself, and come on down to Earth.
Who knew I was a "rapper.?" LMAO!
Okay, serious time.
"I have no idea what I'm talking about. But you do."
LookingNWords readers are cerebral badasses by design, as this is no place for lightweights. Consistent with that prerequisite, I read every comment and am constantly impressed with the aggregate level of intelligence of this audience. The point I am trying to make is that I am a bit spoiled in that I expect excellence so its hard for anything to stand out because it is all outstanding.
Your comment, here, is simply remarkable and I am fortunate to have it.
you have the genius of correlating your intelligence with the passion of experience and your gift of expression digs into my very being. I became unwell as you say what we (many of us) wish to deny.
I remember when we first moved out of NYC my then-wife talked about getting a gun for "home protection". I didn't think it was such a bad idea at first, and we gave it serious consideration, though I was equally insistent on a home security system through our Internet provider.
Instead, she set up a series of decorative blunt and edged weapons from the front door to our bedroom, including a gladius, a katana, a tanto, a naginata, a morningstar, a pair of nunchaku, and a spiked mace...that were were all sharpened or weighted, and all of which she periodically practiced with. (She was a martial artist in her youth, and though for most of our time together she was shaped more like a teddy bear than Cynthia Rothrock she still knew how to use all of them.)
In the end, it's probably a good thing we never got a gun. Though I knew how to shoot because my Dad taught me as a kid, and I had a friend in college who was a total gun nut (appropriately to the comment about ammo, he liked to say "Guns don't kill people—it's them damned bullets!") so we went shooting at the range, odds are I'd have shot myself in the foot before I shot a home invader, or my wife would've shot me one night when I came in late (I work nights, and have most of my adult life).
I apologize, for levity has no place here (given the subject at hand). Ergo, let us bow to the requisite sobriety.
I would prefer a society without guns (like most CIVILIZED societies) but, see, you white boys are a minority and love pointing guns at the world's majority (as a group, not you as an individual). It is how you "conquered." And, since you know what you (collectively) have done, you have to have the guns because you are afraid...for good reason. The people you have stolen from, raped, abused, murdered, enslaved and humiliated might rise up on your ass (especially the "niggers") so you are stuck.
Now, this is where the shit gets really, really complicated.
Pay attention, Doc.
"There are more guns in the United States than there are people. If another gun was never sold in the United States, the problem would still persist." That status quo, by design, forces many that would not normally own guns, to get guns (plural). I call it the "Alkebulan Express...Don't Leave Home Without It." When the shit hits the fan, I intend to respond with vigor.
So, my most intelligent comrade, this can only end one way (in terms of the United States)...
Badly.
The die has been cast for everything in life comes full circle. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Everything ends as it began; there are no "exceptions." The United States is a result of a violent rebellion against its own government. It's national symbol, its flag, is homage to violence.
Rohn, can't argue with any other that, and wouldn't begin to try. You know it, and I know it—Hell, even my retired Army Ranger Biker Father-in-Law knew it!
I don't know what, sort of a major societal shift where 75% of the U.S. population AND politicians decide that handguns have no purpose other than killing people, can get around the interpretation of the Second Amendment that it really says "The Right (for White Men) to Bear Arms!" I feel like American Society is going backwards, and has been ever since Ronald Reagan got elected.
The last time the NRA was pro any form of Gun Control was the 1960s—when Black men started arming themselves(!). I don't need a red flag waved in front of my face to figure out the reason for that....
Excellent writing, thank you. I know very well you are armed and dangerous, Mr. Rohn. Free people always are. Heartily agree with your assessment of the sick state of the States, and the logical upshot thereof. Not much longer, now; the first bubbles form on the bottom when the pot starts to boil.
All goodwill in the bond of peace, if I can find some.
I am "armed" with many things, with the most formidable armaments being intelligence and erudition. The only "danger" I pose is an ability to think and be fearless in doing so. For a brave man dies but once, but a coward dies a thousand deaths.
Reloading is a very technical skill and one not easily learned. As DR points out using the wrong grain or the wrong amounts will get you a closed casket funeral. Further, contrary to Doc's assertion, the powder, nitrocellulose, primer and a plethora of other tools are not cheap (trust me).
Given the average "American" is a miseducated, illiterate idiot that struggles to find the remote control, can't read a map and needs a phone with an I.Q. higher than their own, I doubt that folks deciding to load their own rounds is a significant issue.
"There were a lot of police at the event, which did make me feel more safe." As a totally unemotional non-ad hominem observation that statement is a quintessential example of U.S. apartheid and I leave that, at that.
Lastly, Ms. Everett, be careful about how you come across with sexism, because women can be the most sexist bastards in the United States. For instance, I raised a female child alone since her birth. She is of both Alkebulanian, Original American and European ancestry as her egg-donor was a European woman of German descent. One day I had to take her to the office in elementary school and one of the "white" female administrators, who was quite familiar with us/me as I was a bit of an icon in her school, said to me "oh she's so smart and so pretty...why who combs her hair?" Knowing full well that I was a single parent. I said to self "who do you think, fool?" If that had been a man I would have hit him dead in the old pee-eater.
Furthermore, be careful about that "abuser" business as women can be, and often are, as abusive, if not more so, than men. You see, men are limited by the fact that their only strength is brute; they tend not to develop complex emotional skills, let alone an ability to weaponize them. Whereas women develop superior emotional skills. Nature has a funny way of balancing out all imbalances.
I will reserve comment on the O.J. Simpson element of your comment. Aside from that I appreciate your comment, it is an intelligent one and I honor it.
As for "compassion" for certain types, that train left the station long, long ago as I tend to be a believer of Talion law...life has made me that way. Further, you are absolutely correct in the assertion that no one, or group of people, have a monopoly on assholeism. Some of my most stinging rebukes are of Black People in the United States; but for entirely unique reasons. Reasons as unique as they (we) are.
By the way, irony of ironies, I will have a bit to say about Mr. Simpson in an upcoming piece on the genocide in Palestine. Odd intersection, I know, but trust I have the skill to weave the two together.
Thank you for your continued support and readership.
One of the things I learned from my gun nut friend was how to reload bullets from spent casings. It's kind of a soothing process once you get the hang of it, and while it's got some specialized equipment it's not all that expensive or difficult, and there is a lot of reloading gear around (my late Father-in-Law also reloaded his spent brass, and was delighted to find out his "Liberal Jew York Son-in-Law" knew how!).
Yep, let's drive up the price of ammunition as a deterrent—then we'll have a lot of halfwits shooting badly-reloaded bullets that are as apt to explode and turn their guns into a grenade as anything else. 🤦♂️
Well, Mr. Kohn, you're right in your article and you're right in your comments to Darke and the democrats who want to get back to a two-party democracy haven't a clue that governments run by parties are polyarchies and two parties I guess don't even reach the poly in the archy. They can yell superior than thou all the way to the end. And God, I wanted to make it to some type of hope but it appears that won't happen. I could die peacefully if I thought there was a chance anyone could understand what you've been telling them...but I'd still rather not have to end my life with the world still unable to understand a goddamned thing. Christianity banned manichaeism and the devil won a long time ago I guess.
I don't know where we go from here except to the same shit, and sorry for the language,
It's funny about America though, the only people who have understood what a democracy is not is the slaves it brought to these shores...To understand what freedom is you have to understand what it isn't and maybe only the people of Alkebulan (sp?) I can't remember much right now, but I do remember people have always rose against governments who deny them their importance to society...soon I will be sleeping but I'll fight to keep hoping for my remaining months.
Protect yourself Mr. Kenyatta, maybe those like you will rise like the phoenix from the ashes and maybe there will be freedom from hierarchy sometime. Since I'm not going to be here I am trying to transfer my hope from my lifetime to after my lifetime.
Good luck to mankind, but that luck will not be mine. I hope it will be yours. Or someone's.
But you are right. A country that has never been a democracy cannot expect it will be saved from the fate of other autocratic kingdoms.
It's not that countries rise and fall in cycles of three or so centuries. We were quite civilized for nearly half a millenium (or maybe longer) before we became uncivilized by civilization.
You, or maybe your daughter, need to lead us now. Whether or not Trump is defeated is irrelevant if his defeat means no one can recognize the real reason democracies fail is because they've never been able to understand that "we the people" is not just "some of the people" who take from the rest of the people. And I have no idea what I'm talking about. But you do.
Might that be Kohn as in Genghis...or Kohn as in man?
Forgive me, Mr. Taylor for my impish search for mirth; I shall now, right meself, and come on down to Earth.
Who knew I was a "rapper.?" LMAO!
Okay, serious time.
"I have no idea what I'm talking about. But you do."
LookingNWords readers are cerebral badasses by design, as this is no place for lightweights. Consistent with that prerequisite, I read every comment and am constantly impressed with the aggregate level of intelligence of this audience. The point I am trying to make is that I am a bit spoiled in that I expect excellence so its hard for anything to stand out because it is all outstanding.
Your comment, here, is simply remarkable and I am fortunate to have it.
you have the genius of correlating your intelligence with the passion of experience and your gift of expression digs into my very being. I became unwell as you say what we (many of us) wish to deny.
I remember when we first moved out of NYC my then-wife talked about getting a gun for "home protection". I didn't think it was such a bad idea at first, and we gave it serious consideration, though I was equally insistent on a home security system through our Internet provider.
Instead, she set up a series of decorative blunt and edged weapons from the front door to our bedroom, including a gladius, a katana, a tanto, a naginata, a morningstar, a pair of nunchaku, and a spiked mace...that were were all sharpened or weighted, and all of which she periodically practiced with. (She was a martial artist in her youth, and though for most of our time together she was shaped more like a teddy bear than Cynthia Rothrock she still knew how to use all of them.)
In the end, it's probably a good thing we never got a gun. Though I knew how to shoot because my Dad taught me as a kid, and I had a friend in college who was a total gun nut (appropriately to the comment about ammo, he liked to say "Guns don't kill people—it's them damned bullets!") so we went shooting at the range, odds are I'd have shot myself in the foot before I shot a home invader, or my wife would've shot me one night when I came in late (I work nights, and have most of my adult life).
"when I came in late, "I work nights..."
LMAO! Famous last words, mate!
I apologize, for levity has no place here (given the subject at hand). Ergo, let us bow to the requisite sobriety.
I would prefer a society without guns (like most CIVILIZED societies) but, see, you white boys are a minority and love pointing guns at the world's majority (as a group, not you as an individual). It is how you "conquered." And, since you know what you (collectively) have done, you have to have the guns because you are afraid...for good reason. The people you have stolen from, raped, abused, murdered, enslaved and humiliated might rise up on your ass (especially the "niggers") so you are stuck.
Now, this is where the shit gets really, really complicated.
Pay attention, Doc.
"There are more guns in the United States than there are people. If another gun was never sold in the United States, the problem would still persist." That status quo, by design, forces many that would not normally own guns, to get guns (plural). I call it the "Alkebulan Express...Don't Leave Home Without It." When the shit hits the fan, I intend to respond with vigor.
So, my most intelligent comrade, this can only end one way (in terms of the United States)...
Badly.
The die has been cast for everything in life comes full circle. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Everything ends as it began; there are no "exceptions." The United States is a result of a violent rebellion against its own government. It's national symbol, its flag, is homage to violence.
It will end with violence.
Rohn, can't argue with any other that, and wouldn't begin to try. You know it, and I know it—Hell, even my retired Army Ranger Biker Father-in-Law knew it!
I don't know what, sort of a major societal shift where 75% of the U.S. population AND politicians decide that handguns have no purpose other than killing people, can get around the interpretation of the Second Amendment that it really says "The Right (for White Men) to Bear Arms!" I feel like American Society is going backwards, and has been ever since Ronald Reagan got elected.
The last time the NRA was pro any form of Gun Control was the 1960s—when Black men started arming themselves(!). I don't need a red flag waved in front of my face to figure out the reason for that....
You Jedi warrior, you.
Excellent writing, thank you. I know very well you are armed and dangerous, Mr. Rohn. Free people always are. Heartily agree with your assessment of the sick state of the States, and the logical upshot thereof. Not much longer, now; the first bubbles form on the bottom when the pot starts to boil.
All goodwill in the bond of peace, if I can find some.
I am "armed" with many things, with the most formidable armaments being intelligence and erudition. The only "danger" I pose is an ability to think and be fearless in doing so. For a brave man dies but once, but a coward dies a thousand deaths.
Reloading is a very technical skill and one not easily learned. As DR points out using the wrong grain or the wrong amounts will get you a closed casket funeral. Further, contrary to Doc's assertion, the powder, nitrocellulose, primer and a plethora of other tools are not cheap (trust me).
Given the average "American" is a miseducated, illiterate idiot that struggles to find the remote control, can't read a map and needs a phone with an I.Q. higher than their own, I doubt that folks deciding to load their own rounds is a significant issue.
IMHO.
"There were a lot of police at the event, which did make me feel more safe." As a totally unemotional non-ad hominem observation that statement is a quintessential example of U.S. apartheid and I leave that, at that.
Lastly, Ms. Everett, be careful about how you come across with sexism, because women can be the most sexist bastards in the United States. For instance, I raised a female child alone since her birth. She is of both Alkebulanian, Original American and European ancestry as her egg-donor was a European woman of German descent. One day I had to take her to the office in elementary school and one of the "white" female administrators, who was quite familiar with us/me as I was a bit of an icon in her school, said to me "oh she's so smart and so pretty...why who combs her hair?" Knowing full well that I was a single parent. I said to self "who do you think, fool?" If that had been a man I would have hit him dead in the old pee-eater.
Furthermore, be careful about that "abuser" business as women can be, and often are, as abusive, if not more so, than men. You see, men are limited by the fact that their only strength is brute; they tend not to develop complex emotional skills, let alone an ability to weaponize them. Whereas women develop superior emotional skills. Nature has a funny way of balancing out all imbalances.
Eventually.
I will reserve comment on the O.J. Simpson element of your comment. Aside from that I appreciate your comment, it is an intelligent one and I honor it.
As for "compassion" for certain types, that train left the station long, long ago as I tend to be a believer of Talion law...life has made me that way. Further, you are absolutely correct in the assertion that no one, or group of people, have a monopoly on assholeism. Some of my most stinging rebukes are of Black People in the United States; but for entirely unique reasons. Reasons as unique as they (we) are.
By the way, irony of ironies, I will have a bit to say about Mr. Simpson in an upcoming piece on the genocide in Palestine. Odd intersection, I know, but trust I have the skill to weave the two together.
Thank you for your continued support and readership.
Figures.
Because that'll work, no problem!
One of the things I learned from my gun nut friend was how to reload bullets from spent casings. It's kind of a soothing process once you get the hang of it, and while it's got some specialized equipment it's not all that expensive or difficult, and there is a lot of reloading gear around (my late Father-in-Law also reloaded his spent brass, and was delighted to find out his "Liberal Jew York Son-in-Law" knew how!).
Yep, let's drive up the price of ammunition as a deterrent—then we'll have a lot of halfwits shooting badly-reloaded bullets that are as apt to explode and turn their guns into a grenade as anything else. 🤦♂️