Miscellaneous | Opinion

The real reason Amber Guyger was convicted

It’s the rare case of a police officer being held accountable for taking a black life. And it tells us a lot about juries.

Miscellaneous | Opinion

Chipping away at choice

If I’m to believe those who know what they’re talking about, it’s not a matter of if the Supreme Court will take up a case that restricts or even bans certain kinds of abortions, it’s a matter of when.

Miscellaneous | Opinion

Freedom from religious discrimination

In this current socio-political climate, it’s become increasingly difficult to have certain conversations without them devolving into arguments.

Miscellaneous | Opinion

Why millennials will miss Boomers when they're gone

Millennials mock Boomers as out-of-touch reactionaries. But we have lost a way of thinking they pioneered

Miscellaneous | Opinion

Americans Shouldn’t Have to Drive, but the Law Insists on It

The automobile took over because the legal system helped squeeze out the alternatives.

Miscellaneous | Opinion

Duncan Hunter’s down with war crimes

There was a time, not so long ago, when a member of Congress admitting to posing for a selfie with the dead body of someone he’d killed in combat would have been a national scandal.

Miscellaneous | Opinion

Disneyland of War, short documentary

The U.S. government is manipulating children to think that war and violence is fun and glorious.
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Director Chris Smiley and Producer Mike Hanes, an Iraq War combat veteran, challenge the glorification of war and violence in our culture while exposing the propaganda of the Miramar military air show. This air show is one of many outlets where war and violence is given a warm, inviting, and exciting aura. The utter horror and brutality is never understood by so many. Promoting a positive image of war and violence to people, especially children, is extremely dangerous. There is absolutely nothing cool, exciting, or heroic about ripping limbs, burning flesh, or shredding the organs of another human being. We need the public to understand the horrific nature of war and violence to be able to stand firm and vigorously question calls for war.

As a veteran myself I can say this is pretty spot on. While I've been to the Miramar Air Show a couple times and enjoyed the aerobatics, I was always disturbed by site of kids checking some of these weapons out and wanting to grow up one day to actually use them. War may be a necessary reality some times but it should NEVER be glorified under any circumstances.