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Posts from the ‘Opinion’ Category

A tear jerker movie but no relation with gun violence?

Have you ever watched a “tear-jerker” movie?  Where do they get that name?  Is there a relationship between watching a “tear-jerker” and emotions?

Of course there’s a relationship.  That’s why it’s called a “tear-jerker”.  Yet we are repeatedly told that there is no relationship between movie violence and gun violence.

How can this be?  Do they mean that video and video game violence doesn’t influence the watcher’s emotions?  Yet certain videos produce a “tear-jerker” response?

Does the video content not affect young watchers or (young participants in video game violence)?  Is TV not saturated with gun violence?  Is the 5-o’clock news not always broadcasting violence, death or molestation?

Do you think that there is no relationship between video, video games and gun violence?

From “Psychology Today”

 

NFL thugs who never took a civics class

They missed their civics lessons

Their behavior is divisive.  Grandstanding to attract attention, whether it’s the end zone or the side lines, thugs who are good at football need better parenting by their owners.

Their behavior is not noble – it’s not for the good of all – it’s grandstanding under the flag of personal cause.

Their behaviour has contributed nothing but created divisiveness.  Sure, it’s a personal cause, as if bringing further attention to it will change human nature and weed out the bad actors within the police force.

Fixing problems within the thousands of independent police departments is a block-by-block problem.  Neither president nor congress can wave a magic wand or write paper law that will change things – although in the simple mind of a football player it could be so.

Taking-a-knee would be more appropriate to a cause bigger than all, yet common to all of us – such as the victims of 911.

The NFL prohibits players from dancing over and mocking fallen opponents.  Players used to behave in that disgusting manner.  The NFL reacted by prohibiting it.  It’s time the NFL took action regarding the players actions on the side lines.  Either show respect or stay home.

 

Reefer madness in the Trump White House

Get ready for an old-time “marijuana is linked to violent crime” story line from the old politicos in the White House.  The Hill reports that “The Trump administration is readying for a crackdown on marijuana users under Attorney General Jeff Sessions” in a report expected to be released next week.

However,  the Tacoma News Tribune reports that:

But those statements run contrary to the experience in Washington state, which became one of the first two U.S. states to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults in 2012.

Since voters approved Initiative 502, FBI crime statistics show lower rates of violent crime in Washington than before legalization.

The Gig Harbor Times prefers to point out that in general, crime is related to employment.  Higher employment leads to lower crime.  Employment has long been observed to be a correlate of criminal behavior. according to criminal studies.

The Gig Harbor Times notes that employment is UP and crime is DOWN since the legalization of marijuana and the increase in employment.  Perhaps Jeff Sessions should report that there is a link between marijuana and employment.  Smoke more, work more?  One thing for certain is that there’s a lot of smoke coming from the White House.