Saturday, March 19, 2016

The Trump Wars

I think most Americans would agree that we are tired of constant warfare like what have experienced these past 15 years. Even Republicans, who make the military their one of their top priorities, seem to be tired of these unending wars.

So, America's fascination with Donald Trump becomes even more confusing (as if it isn't confusing enough already). How many wars has Donald Trump fought so far in this Presidential election alone?

1. The Megyn Kelly War - platform: Twitter, TV; reason - personal dislike
2. The Vatican War - platform: Twitter; reason - disagreement on religious issues
3. The Dick War - platform: Twitter, TV, Rallies; reason - crude insults on sexual body parts
4. The Protesters War - platform: Rallies, TV, Twitter; reason - believes booing and disapproval of him needs to be silenced by violence
5. The Sanders War - platform: Twitter; reason - Sanders' supporters disapprove of Trump and say so, Trump believes Sander's should control "his people" or face violent consequences
6. The Fox War - platform: Twitter, TV, Rallies; reason - Trump believes Fox News is mean to him
7. The CNN War - platform: Twitter, TV; reason - Trump doesn't like CNN's Debate platform, tells CNN to pay money or he won't attend

I know I'm missing some but this is good enough to give a general idea of what Trump's Presidency will be like. First off, it'll be a real life episode of Mean Girls. Second, can you imagine how North Korea, Russia, Iran and other nations will react to his insults? ISIS bombed France because the publishing company drew the Islamic Prophet Muhammad; what will they do when Trump accuses Abu Bakr of having a sexual deformity? If Trump doesn't lead us into a long series of real life wars, we will have a White House media filled with endless Twitter Wars, TV Wars, and Civil Unrest.

If you're wanting Peace in America, Trump is not the way to get it. He already has at least 7 Wars under his belt and he's not even President yet.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

IRS SCAM

I received this e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, offering me a chance to get additional tax refunds from previous years. It is a scam.

I remembered that the IRS does not initiate contact via phone or e-mail, so I regarded this e-mail suspiciously. I'm glad I did.
It is a scam, the link provided goes to a dangerous phishing website. I managed to test the site with my virus protection software and check the html code to view the link destination. It does not go the IRS website or anything recognizable. Instead it goes a site called "uolga,com/apps" (which was flagged by my virus protection software.

If you receive this email or one similar to it, do not hesitate to report it to the IRS via their specific e-mail address: phishing@irs.gov.


Monday, March 14, 2016

Mexican Immigration


This photo pisses me off to no end. I found it on Facebook and wrote my response. To those who may doubt the details I give, you should know that I've lived with and worked with Hispanic immigrants for years. My job as a Missionary for the LDS Church was to get to know these people and their struggles while teaching them the Gospel. The stories and experiences I learned from them shocked me and broke my heart. They are not the villains they are made out to be by American politicians.



 Let's try this:

Trump vs Sanders - Philosophies of Freedom

Today's world is filled by two primary beliefs: 1 - The belief that everything must be limitless and 2 - The belief that everything must be limited. Both are WRONG and both are RIGHT.

Freedom, Action and Thought all have limitless potential. Everyone has the power (or freedom) to act or think for themselves in every instance. But therein lies the problem, if each of humanity's billions of individuals were infinitely free to act or think as they please there would be chaos as each person would be acting for their own interest regardless of the consequences (to themselves or to others). This is the world we are currently witnessing: the unrestrained belief that each individuals' thoughts, actions or beliefs are superior to anyone else's. Such freedom must be limited or restrained.

Limitations, Laws, and Restraint are also limitless in potential. Everyone, or every law, has the power to exercise unlimited control on another. This too is a problem as it is the reality of Tyranny. If every action or thought of all people were limited or restrained without limit there would be no uniqueness, no creativity, no peace and no enjoyment. We see this in the world around us too. The attempts of various groups to forcibly control or limit the choices of others (and possibly themselves as well) in the name of righteousness is a danger to all of mankind. We also see the attempts of many to forbid a change in society simply to ensure the consistency of the status-quo.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Elder Bednar - No Gays in the Church

To be honest, when I first heard Elder Bednar say there were no homosexuals in the Church my reaction was: because anyone who is left is likely trying very hard to pretend they're straight so that they don't get bullied or kicked out, or even more importantly, so that they are allowed into heaven.

There are fewer and fewer gays who find the strength to keep attending and stay active, I stopped going months ago and many of the gays I knew nationwide (who were active) have also gone inactive since I left.

Soon Elder Bednar's words will actually be true, and in part I believe that that's how the Apostles want it. I honestly do believe that they don't want gays or anyone else who challenges their sense of perfection in the Church and I honestly believe it's because we are viewed as impure, unholy or simply "not good enough". I may be wrong but the Apostles haven't done anything to suggest that I am.

This is in both English and Spanish. Elder Bednar's rhetoric is so confusing and makes absolutely no sense to me. Also, if you're going to claim that there are no homosexual members of the Church then you have to also claim that there are no heterosexual members of the Church. At which point you have to acknowledge that your entire premise of sexuality and gender being integral to Salvation and eternity is flawed and non-existent.

The Proclamation on the Family made it very clear that gender and sexual identity are of eternal importance to the Plan of Salvation. So that alone makes the argument of a society without defined identities counterproductive to God's plan.

Also if we did have such a definition-less society there would be no point in making any distinction between heterosexual marriage and gay marriage which would effectively make gay marriage appropriate in God's eyes despite the Church's constant insistence on the opposite. Gay marriage would become, to the Church, the simple union of two loving children of God. Much like how it is already perceived by the so called Apostates of the Church.



Preguntas y Respuestas con élder David A. Bednar, del Cuórum de los Doce, 23 de febrero de 2016¿Cómo pueden hacer los miembros homosexuales de la Iglesia para vivir y seguir firmes en el Evangelio?
Posted by Biblioteca SUD on Sunday, February 28, 2016