Renegade Blogger

This guy over at Vintage again writes something that I find very profound, and again I offer it to those poor poor soles that wander onto my site

"As a generation, we are socially accepting and internationally minded. We are activists, much unlike our silent parents. The internet links us–to members of our generation both in America and around the world–and there is a sense that we are all in this together. There is a sense that the generations before us have done us wrong–from the policies of George W. Bush to the allowance of the Middle East to spiral so far downwards following the world wars. As a generation, we are optimistic. We await the day when we turn old enough to rank higher, change more, and do better. We await the day when we will right these wrongs and make future generations respect our label–our Millennial label."

~Vintage, Generation Gap, posted May 30th 2006.  

Very very well said… 

Well, I’m now registered for the Selective Service System, whop de frickin do. I guess one could consider this a coming of age, kinda like a congratulations! Your finally able to be drafted should we need to! Not only does being a part of the SSS allow me to go off and die, but I can also receive federal funds for my college education. What shifty lawmaker came up with that? Who said, lets see our kids fail in society unless they let us draft them, for it is only the rich kids who can afford college without federal funds when it comes down to it. It’s a good thing that this hasn’t become a real conscious and societal problem, the fact that you have to register to recieve funds, if it were I’m sure it would hamper Americas intelligent work force dramatically, for if it were an issue I’m sure that many Americans would rather work for several years after high school than register. If this were to happen America would see a sharp decline in the educated workforce and we would fall even farther behind the booming science industries in other parts of the world.

Perhaps the most insulting thing to me however about the letter was the fact that it was colorful. What the hells up with that? Here, lets put some bright happy colors on the letter to make you happy that you’re going to be drafted and die. “Whoooopy were all gonna die!” Its hard to explain why this angered me so much, perhaps the fact that they added color to a document that right now means very little (although that could all change very soon), but I think part of me found it insulting because of the significance that draft cards help in the 60’s. While I wasn’t around for this I’ve heard the stories and to an extent participated in the culture that has in part derived from this (protesting, not some of the…experimental aspects).

I guess what it boils down to is the realization that yes, I am now old enough to fight and serve my country, to vote, and to actually be listened to by adults, funny that one finds their coming of age in a draft card, ironic

Time is such a funny thing. It dictates when we do everything. During my two summer escapades volunteering in National Parks my crew members and I didn’t worry about time. We ate when we were hungry, went to bed when we were tired, or when the sun went down and we couldn’t find anything to do and took breaks when we wanted to. We worked as long as we needed to to get the job done and enjoyed ourselves the whole time. Having the freedom to live without a clock for the most part was not only relaxing but well; encouraging that one could in today’s society. Both summers we were living by our own standards, not really weighed down by the restriction of hours that society places on almost everything. The campground never closed, nor did the park. The top of the butte never locked its doors to us or kicked us out during a night hike, and hardly ever were the bathroom doors closed when we had to scramble to pee during the night.

While I can see the importance of hours of businesses and the important role they play in society, for without them it would be a titch chaotic I think that everyone should life without them for some part of their life. Even if its just for a few nights backpacking in a close by national park. The idea that you move on your own terms, and live according to your wants is empowering.

I suppose growing up the restrictions time places on you are kind of counterbalanced, after all, you have the school year which consists of heavily regimented routines of classes and then summer vacation, which aside from perhaps a job is largely unstructured and free. Perhaps I’m just a new age hippy in my thoughts, but you really should try it…

I like the ideas surrounding Taoism. Humility, going with the flow and not really flaunting your intelligence. The idea that one should try and help others and never really expect fame or fortune. I think it promotes a lifestyle that we need here in the states, a culture of respect and personal for intelligence and wisdom. However, while I think the states need more of this I don’t think it would work as a widely spread idea or practice here. Should a large part of the United States suddenly start to attempt to become Taoists there would be a select few that would suddenly take advantage of the situation. They could easily take credit for others actions and these few would simply thrive in the situations that Taoism presented to them. I’ve recently come to believe that humility should be a large part of everyone’s life, as it makes you, well, I think more respectable. Having the courage to play of a large, good act and say it was nothing, especially if it was is very admirable in my eyes.

Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all. ~William Temple

What a profound and foreign idea in our culture. Not thinking about yourself. I belive that as a person one should find the line between personal satisfaction and how one can achive that without going over and then help others…and then break it. A natural disaster or cause calls upon your house asking for money and sure you give, for that is easy. Its easy to part with 10, 20, or 50 dollars, but it is the people who continue their giving and support of the cause that are truly selfless. While they may continue on with their normal lives accept for an hour a day, or an hour a week when they donate their bodies, and the skills they posses, then one can truly define humility. I think its important to find a balance between living they way you want to live your life, without any outside interruptions and finding the time, effort and energy to help others. This process can take years, I can tell you I’ve only begun for my efforts to help a cuase far fall short of those required.

Environmentalism, noun: advocacy of the preservation or improvement of the natural environment; especially: the movement to control pollution.

There’s been speculation recently as to weather or not the environmental movement is dead, and sadly, I think there right. While the Sierra Club, respective PIRGS, and other interest groups both national and local are doing there best the American public isn’t conscious enough the realize the rape of the environment that going on right now. We’ve fallen under a spell cast by the Bush Administration, Republicans nationwide and the media. Were brainwashed, disorganized and non-caring. I think perhaps the biggest problem facing the environmental movement today is the lack of acceptance and unification.

The environmentalist movement today is an elitist organization. “We have to save this or that so that nobody can use it accept to walk in”. Well what good does that do us? How many people want to save a track of land just to hike in? Greens need to realize that they can become the strongest lobbying group in Washington if they agreed on a few basic things. The first is this: not everyone has the same interests, some like to bike, camp, hike photograph, and dare I say it? Even hunt. If the greens realized this and took steps to initiate fair use terms for land that is protected think of the alliance that would start to form between two of the largest interest groups in the county, the NRA and the Sierra Club. Both would want to protect forests, prairies and other wild lands for basically the same reason, to enjoy and watch wildlife. As long as a balance was maintained between the two groups everything would work out. Imagine the possibilities.

What troubles me now however is the fact that Americans aren’t paying attention to what’s going on around them, the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and various other environmental movements have been gutted or repealed. New loopholes exist for coal power plants to pour chemicals and pollutants into the air and now more than ever our national lands and animals are coming under attack. Perhaps one of the reasons why can be better emphasized by retelling a conversation I had a few summers ago while canvassing for Ohio PIRG. I went into this mans backyard where he was working on his boat, I figured this was a good sign as the issue we were currently working on had to deal with the lake. I gave him the scpiel but when I asked for a simple donation of ten dollars he refused, saying that he already bought special license plates, and those funds were supposed to go towards protecting the lake. As I look back on that now perhaps we can place a little blame on the failing economy, but only a little, for its our own lack of attention that will cause our nations environmental downfall.

Holy shit, Hollyy shit! A few days ago I made a post entitled the Blogging Breed. In it I made a comment about Bob Gentry, it read:

Second, who’s this Bob Gentry fellow, shouldn’t he be at work or something? Every time I’m on BE his site pops up, how many hours are you on there pal?!

Mr. Gentry made a whole post about those words, and quite honestly I had to read it several times to even start to pick up on any feelings he had for me. He might be telling me to “Go Fuck Yourself” or that may be aimed at those who really don’t like him. He continues “this is my journal and I’ll write whatever I want.” I would like to say that in no way do those few lines advocate or even remotely suggest what he should or should not write on his blog, give me some credit here.

I would first like to share some of the comments that were directed at me from his comments section

Those few lines have all of the sudden gotten me called some pretty nasty names. Allow me to quote a few of them:
*Ahem*

“What a fucking idiot!”
“boil in a hot vat of oil (it’s a slow painful death)”
“dildo”
“WANKER”
“sad!”
“just jealous that the girlies think you are cute”
“real turd”
“stoooopid”.
Wow.
Yet others took a different approach and just commented in support of Mr. Gentry, while others yet tried to analyze my personality:
“Doesn’t he realize that he also has to be online at the same time as you so he’s guilty of the same thing?” “I’ve always found that whiners and bitchers are just jealous” “Everyone will try and take a bite out of you just to tend to their own insecurities.” “This person reminds me (yet again) of my favorite quote ever (from Rosanne) “I know a lot about people, that’s why I don’t like none of ‘em.”. (be carefull now, that last one also stated (s)he’s starting to loose patience with humanity) Wow, that’s a breath full.

All off these comments kinda got under my skin to tell you the truth. These people had made these comments most likely without reading a single full post on my site nor probably reading the entire post from which Mr. Gentry quoted me.
One commenter, the Retarded Rugrat, kinda hit the nail on the head…kinda:

“Some people are so insecure about themselves that they feel the need to put others down, especially if said person’s blog isn’t getting a lot of hits.”

Now, this yields special comment from me cuase its part true, my site doesn’t receive a lot of hits, sadly, the truth stops there. I appreciate her concern however I would like to inform her that I’m very secure with who I am as an individual and human being. I’m a peace-lovin guy and have stood up for what I believe in even when the consequences are high.

Now, wow. I would like to make clear that in no way do I think Mr. Gentry should change his writing style or anything on his blog. Second, as he informed me that he buys credits from BE, he is free to do so regardless of what I think. I don’t control his money for heavens sakes. The comments I made on my site were from a feeling that I simply observed and felt that practically every time I’m on BE I see his site. Case and point: I was on tonight and it popped up, this is the only way that I found out that he was even talking about me. I don’t not enjoy reading his site or particularly mind it coming up, just stating an observation folks. I would also like to say that I’m glad I made him smile. I’d like to re-iterate that I in no way made any comment as to how Mr. Gentry should run his site or what he should write.
The entry also reads the following which I’d like to respond to:

Perhaps having my real name in my journal and posting photos of myself have something to do with a few of these type of comments. Funny thing about that is, it’s usually coming from someone who is completely hidden(not that there’s anything wrong with that either).

I don’t care that your real name is on your site. Good for you, that takes guts in and of itself, however I would like to quote something from my about section (that was active and online when Bob-o* stopped by).

The RB’s last blog was invaded by people he knew from school causing him to censure his posts for names and content.

I have a problem when people I rarely know try and tell me how to live my life, who I should and shouldn’t date etc. This happened to me and is why I chose to write anonymously. I was told I should not date a certain girl. She’s been with me for a year Sunday. Fuck you.

I hope I’ve made myself clear here, my comments were in no way intended to be spiteful or harmful. I apologize if they were. If you’d like to read Bob’s post about me and all the comments that go with it here’s the site: Paranoid Blogging

*I’ve typed some version of his name so much I feel like were on friendly terms here, hope ya don’t mind. I’d also like to say he has a kick ass welcome page.