Terrorism at Home

As I'm sure most of you know, President Bush gave two speeches this week to in an attempt rally support for the war in Iraq, one in Salt Lake City, UT and the other to a slew of reporters in Donnelly, ID. A third speech may also be given to military families in the suburb of Nampa, ID who have relatives in the war and have lost relatives due to the war. The President's ratings are quickly dropping as Americans express their negative opinions about the war in Iraq, yet President Bush continues to push ahead saying that a complete and immediate pullout would hurt both the developing democracy in Iraq, as well as America in general. While this may be true (only because we are so involved at this point, we have to stay to make sure everything is followed through), we have to consider that not all terrorists are from the Middle East and not all of them have the intentions of using car bombs, being suicide bombers or going as far as the terrorists did on September 11th. I think it would behoove President Bush to look at terrorism at home.

*Domestic Abuse:
-On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day. In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner. The same year, 440 men were killed by an intimate partner. (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003)
-Approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. The study also found that abused girls are significantly more likely to get involved in other risky behaviors. They were four to six times more likely to get pregnant and eight to nine times more likely to have tried to commit suicide. (Jay G. Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD; Lorelei A. Mucci, MPH; and Jeanne E. Hathaway, MD, MPH, "Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality," Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 286, No. 5, 2001)
-For 30% of women who experience abuse, the first incident occurs during pregnancy. (Helton et al 1987)
-Nationally, Ninety-two percent of women say that reducing domestic violence and sexual assault should be a top priority of any formal efforts taken on behalf of women today, according to a new study by the Center for the Advancement of Women.

*Child Abuse:
-An estimated 896,000 children were determined to be victims of child abuse or neglect for 2002.
-More than 60 percent of child victims were neglected by their parents or other caregivers. Almost 20 percent were physically abused, 10 percent were sexually abused, and 7 percent were emotionally maltreated. In addition, almost 20 percent were associated with "other" types of maltreatment based on specific State laws and policies. A child could be a victim of more than one type of maltreatment.
-For 2002, an estimated 1,400 children died due to child abuse or neglect.
(The above statistics came from 2004 study/report done by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.)

*Sexual Abuse:
-In 2002-2003, there were an average of 223,280 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
-In 2003 alone, there were 198,850 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. (2003 NCVS) Of these victims, about 81,000 were victims of completed rape, 61,060 were victims of attempted rape, and 80,910 were victims of sexual assault. Up to 4,065 pregnancies may have resulted from these attacks. (RAINN calculation based on 2003 NCVS and medical reports.)
-Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.

*Alcohol Abuse:
-About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. (NHTSA, 2001)
-Alcohol is closely linked with violence. About 40 percent of all crimes (violent and non-violent) are committed under the influence of alcohol. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998)
-Approximately 18 million Americans — 8.5 percent of the population — meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism. (Grant, 2003)
-Of the general driving age public, 97 percent see drinking and driving as a threat to their personal safety, and 66 percent feel it is extremely important to do something to reduce the problem in terms of where tax dollars should be spent. (Gallup Organization, 2003)

*Drug Abuse:
-Between 1992 and 2002, substance abuse treatment admissions reporting tranquilizers as their primary substance of abuse to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) increased 79% from 4,600 admissions in 1992 to 8,300 in 2002.
-Based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2002 and 2003, an estimated 30.7 million persons aged 21 or older (16.6% of adult drivers) reported driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during the past year. Among drivers aged 21 and older,15.7% had driven under the influence of alcohol during the past year, 4.3% had driven under the influence of illicit drugs, and 3% had driven under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs during the past year.
-Based on SAMHSA's 2002 and 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 5.9 million Americans aged 12 or older (2.5%) used cocaine in the past year.

These numbers are shocking to say the least. Is something being done about these issues? Sure, but can we see the difference? People don't always have the strength to help themselves. They need to know that others care about them, and they need help taking that first step. President Bush and his political cronies need to take a more role in preventing and treating these abuses, as well as educating the public about them.

At this point, I believe America has gone too far with the war in Iraq. If they didn't hate us enough before, they certainly will now. No matter how hard you try to find "weapons of mass destruction" in the Middle East, they will always make more and import them from somewhere else. From what I read while looking up these statistics, the "weapons of mass destruction" are not in the Middle East, they're right here in our own backyard.

Pirate fact: Though pirates would often exhaust their riches and treasures on food, rum and pleasure, there was plenty of work to be done before setting sail again. Barnacles and seaweed would have to be scraped from the bottom of the ship, the masts and sails would have to be repaired (if they were recently in a battle) and plenty of fresh food and water would have to be brought aboard.

What is Democracy?

It has been four years since September 11th. Since then we have suffered, struggled, built ourselves back up and are now finally getting back to life the way it was--or so we'd like to think. George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004 (has it really only been a year?), and after all of this time many people are finally beginning to wonder what his real plan for America is. Does he even have a plan for America or is it just personal (aka oil holdings)? On July 31st, Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" interviewed Vladmir Putin, Presidnet of Russia, and his views on American democracy really opened my eyes.

Let's begin the simple way: What is democracy? According to good old Merriam Webster, democracy is "1a: government by the people; 1b: a goverment in which the supreme power is vested in in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system od respresentation usually involving periodically held free elections." To me that tranlates as Americans have at least some say in what happens in this country. Yes, we hold free elections in order to supposedly elect those we feel will do a good job in running the country on a higher, more sophisticated level. But once elected, do these people actually listen to us? Let's see what the electoral college has to say about this.

Through our votes, we are actually sending a slate of voters to the electoral college to make the final decision. We are note voting for a presidential candidate, we are voting for other people who vote for the president. We don't even get to vote for the electors. They are chosen by the candidate's party. In the end, though, the electoral votes usually align with the popular vote (except in four cases where the winning candidates did not win the popular vote: Rutherford Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, John Quincy Adams and you guessed it, George W. Bush).

Putin points out that the Russian president is elected directly by the people. He said he thought this "might be more democratic." I think so. He also pointed out that in the last election between Bush and Gore, the final decision was made by the court. What's the point of pushing Americans ro vote if ther vote doesn't really count? It almost seems as though the popular vate is cast just to see how the people's opinion compares to the electoral vote. what was this years push to vote, "Vote or Die?" What's the difference, America is dead already.

Now that our forefather's idea of democracy has been rewritten, let's push the revised version on the rest of the world. Is it just me or is there a problem with pushing your ideas on another person, let alone an entire country? The most recent example, of course, is Iraq. I'm sure we can all agree that Saddam Hussein was/is a tyrant, and something needed to be done. But it's all in how it was handled. He's now in jail and ready for trial, and the entire country of Iraq is in an uproar because we're over there pushing our ideas and beliefs on them.

And what does Putin have to say about this? “Democracy cannot be exported to some other place. This must be a product of internal domestic development in a society,” says Putin. “But if the U.S. were to leave and abandon Iraq without establishing the grounds for a united country, that would definitely be a second mistake.”

Sure give them guidelines and outlines. Answer their questions if they ask for help, but don't push to make another America in a place that doesn't want it. Since democracy comes from the people, the people must want it first. Think about it, September 11th happened because certain groups and people in the Middle East hate America. They hate how we function, what we believe, everything we stand for. Seriously, would you stick your hand into a rattlesnake's den?

Apparently so. Now we have service men and women dying everyday or coming home permanently damaged. And for what? Personally, I think it's America's greed in the oil industry. The longer we can stay over there and control what's going on, the longer we will have access to their oil supplies. Give it up G.W. You're family has made its money in oil. Try giving something back to the American people.

Think about this for a minute: We fought back against the British in the 1700's because we didn't like the way they were running this country. We won, and we established ourselves as a democracy. The Iraqi people will continue to fight back against America until we leave. It's not going to stop anytime soon unless someone takes a stand. Terrorism is a two-sided coin. Which side are you on?

Not too long ago, Russia was a communist state. From the time that communism was banished until now, it seems as though the Russians have made far bigger strides towards democracy than America has in the past 229 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. If our forefathers could see us now, I think they'd keel over dead. On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address and two phrases come to mind: "we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain" and "that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

So Mr. Bush, are you planning on doing anything about this downward spiral?

Pirate fact: Sailing meant weeks of boredom searching for prey, with only short, random bursts of excitement as victims were sighted, boarded and plundered. With not much to occupy their attention, conflicts, and ultimately fights were common. The captain would intervene, and control them with either fear or respect. The captain did not have the last word, as in many cases the pirate vessel was run democratically. Need I say more?

Take a Moment

I was skimming over an article a friend emailed me, a line hit me and my gears started turning. The author was writing about materialization and how the world seems to be more concerned about the cost of gasoline, clothes and cars than everything else that is going on around them. I tend to agree with this to a point, but it can also be looked at on two different levels. Those being 1) a person is concerned about the cost of gas and material objects, not for glamour and vanity's sake, but because the cost of things these days are skyrocketing at an enormous rate and they are concerned for their family's well-being, as well as their own, and 2) a person is concerned about the cost of gasoline and material objects because the rising costs are finally starting to affect their very comfortable lifestyle.

Personally, I belong to the first line of thought. I'm not a rich person, and I don't come from money. It would be great to have a good amount set aside one day, but that day is certainly not tomorrow. I shop and compare; I think before I buy. I can't even tell you the last time I bought a pair of shoes. My last major shopping spree was the purchase of a couple of summer shirts for $2.99 at Conway's in New York City. I'm concerned about the cost of things because my budget is tight. I don't buy lunch in the city much anymore because it's far cheaper for me to buy food at home and bring it in with me everyday. I'm concerned about prices because I have to be.

On the other hand you have those people who are concerned about the cost of gas because it now takes $80 to fill their Hummer instead of $48 (based on the Hummer 2's 32-gallon gas tank and the current average cost of gas at $2.50 compared to the good old days of $1.50). Here I am struggling to fill my 10-gallon tank, praying to God that I have the $20 to do it, and they're worrying about their luxury SUV's massive gas tank that we all know is environmentally unsound anyway. If that's the type of car you want, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment down the road.

There seems to be a train of thought associated with how much money you have. I work almost everyday of my life, and I have little to show for it. My husband is the same way. We have bills to pay, groceries to buy, pets to feed, a house to manage, etc, etc, etc. Such is life and we're dealing with it. If we stay on track, we should be debt free by next year this time (isn't that going to be a wonderful feeling!). I'm concerned for the well-being of my family, friends and those around me. I'm willing to give my last dollar to a homeless person if I think it will help them get a warm meal or a cup of coffee on a cold day. If you think about it, I don't have the money to throw around and spend on others, but I do anyway. I don't spend on myself; I purchase things my family needs or I buy lunch for a coworker if they're short a few dollars. I care.

Then you turn around and you have people throwing their money around 5th Avenue, Rodeo Drive, exclusive resort towns and the like, and they have no idea that there is anyone else out there, struggling, suffering, starving, dying. They don't look past the end of their noses; they kick the homeless people out of the way. They have the money to spend on others, make donations, donate food and clothes, and yet, they don't. They don't care.

I want everyone to take a moment to realize that there are others out there. Others that have to work to survive and to feed their children. They don't have the luxury of their Daddy's trust funds or generations worth of money that's been around for so long you can't tell if it's collected more interest or dust over the years.

The Bible tells us not to be materialistic and that life is more than objects and money. If you don't believe in God, than I'm sure you're religion has a similar belief (if you're not religious, I hope you can take the time to consider the idea). Over time, we have developed with and by technology. We have made so many great leaps towards curing diseases, increasing communication throughout the world, making historical discoveries--the list can go on and on. But with the development of technology comes the material objects that catch our eye and make us want to spend our money. "I'd be so much cooler if I had that car!"

Technology will always be there, and as is develops, man will always be scrambling to get the newest gadget on the market. I've wanted a Blackberry handheld for months now, but I can't afford one yet. I love those people who have to have a new cell phone the minute the next best model comes out. I had my last cell phone for two years--imagine that! Likewise, I've had my car for seven years. Most people keep their car as long as the lease is good for and then it's time for a bigger, better model.

What I'm trying to say is we all need to take time to look past what's on the store shelves or in the department store windows. Don't look at the car commercials and don't go running to the store for a new cell phone if yours isn't broken. Take a few minutes each day to look around. Become aware of who's around you--the rich, the poor, those in between. We're all out there. We just need to realize where we all are, who we're near, who needs our help. And help isn't always money. Help is love, a simple "Hello" or an umbrella on a rainy day.

Don't go spending your money on gadgets and clothes just because you want to be the next hippest thing in town. Spend your money on clothes because you really need them. Buy a used sedan instead of a gas-guzzling SUV. Save your money for something truly important. You never know when you'll join the ranks of those you choose to ignore.

Pirate fact: William Dampier, who traveled the world numerous times, published journals about his travels, mixing tales of pillaging, looting and buccaneering with detailed accounts of wildlife, geography and navigation. Regardless of his known piracy, he was in high demand by English high society. Dampier was a popular figure often invited to many upscale functions.

What's Wrong With People!?!?!?!

I'm getting really fed up with people's bad habits and even worse, their bad--no, horendous--attitudes. I've traveled quite a bit, and I don't seem to find the same issues I find here in the NYC tri-state area. Well, it's not the whole tri-state area (that being New York, New Jersey and Connecticut). It's more New York City, northeastern New Jersey (including the entire Jersey Shore) and southeastern Connecticut more over by the Greenwich/Stamford areas. So, what are these bad habits and horrendous attitudes I'm talking about? Let me give you a little insight into my day...

I commute from central Jersey everyday. I recently changed my bus route, but that doesn't mean the rest of the commuters attitudes have changed. So far, I've experienced being yelled at, sat on, having my pocketbook thrown at me, and today, today was the final straw. I had dozed off (as most commuters do in the early morning), but I was in and out--not really awake, not really asleep. Apparently I started to lean on the woman next to me, and instead of tapping me or saying excuse me, she literally shoved me with full force. Okay, so I was leaning over. What public transit commuter doesn't lean over at least once in their life. Excuse me! I refused to apologize to the woman. She had an issue with me from the moment I sat down. She crunched herself as far into the window as she could. I gave a slight cough and she had to wipe herself down. Now if she had been nicer about waking me up, I would have apologized. I'm not a rude person, but after just so much you have to give some back.

Now that I have changed my commute to a rest stop/park and ride up the highway about 20 miles, I have to take the Garden State Parkway every morning and every afternoon. I can't even begin to tell you how horribly people drive these days. I've been cut off, beeped at and given the finger (just as a few examples). I see drivers do these things to the bus drivers. Hello! A bus is about 2 tons of steel, glass and working parts. I wouldn't want that plowed into my back seat.

My number one pet peave about driving is those people who see you coming onto the highway from an on-ramp, they're in the lane closest to you and they refuse to move over. Granted, you can't always move over to the next lane if another car is there. I'll give you that much, but when you're the only one on the road and you refuse to move over, you deserve every curse word I can stir up and every hand signal I can manage while keep the other one on the wheel. Have a little common courtesy! It won't hurt you. I promise.

Now that I've managed to actually get into the city without going ape on someone, I have to walk to my office. I don't dress provocatively, but I do try to look my best. One day I'll wear a skirt, the next a nice pair of slacks and sometimes jeans, but it seems that no matter what I wear, I get catcalls from dirtbags. And by the dirtbags, I mean dirty, grundgy men standing on the streets with nothing better to do. It's nice that you think I'm attractive, but perhaps you should find a nicer, more pleasant and decent way of expressing your opinion. And, no, I'm not interested in sleeping with you. One guy was walking with what appeared to be his girlfriend, and he actually had the guts to say, "Nice t*ts" as he passed me. Talk about a scumbag!?! You're walking with your girlfriend! Piece of advice for the girlfriend: Run fast...run very fast in the opposite direction and never look back!

And to end my day (after squirming my way through the dirtbags and before getting in my car to face the torrents of bad drivers on the Parkway), I'll stop in the ladies room. First of all, the stench in most public bathrooms these days is out of sight. I'd rather play on a pig farm than venture into a public restroom, but sometimes it's unfortunately necessary.

However, my biggest complaint and disgust is the way women urinate on the seat like they're really supposed to do it that way. Ninety percent of the time, I can't find a clean toilet seat. I'm not going to hover myself over your pee, and I'm certainly not here to clean it up. What's even worse are those people who miss the seat completely and proceed to urinate on the floor. Great! Now my shoes will smell like your bladder for the rest of the night. Did you know, a study was done that proved if you sit on the toilet seat like you're supposed to, there would hardly be any disease spread at all. Let's give up the target practice girls, because you're failing miserably at it. Let's try doing it the right way, like every other woman in the country (from what I've seen, this isn't a problem anywhere else in the US). In fact, most drunk women at bars have better aim that you do because they can't hover over the toilet. Stop letting them show you up and have a little respect.

So, there you have a regular day in the life of me. Can you see why I'm so fed up? And the horrible truth is that this isn't just happening in New York City. It's happening in my town, and probably in your town if you live in one of the areas I mentioned. I haven't been to every state or every major city in the US, but I can tell you that this isn't happening in most of the country. My husband and I went to Salt Lake City, UT, and it was like going to another country. The same for Arizona, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, upstate New York. I can keep going and going, but this problem seems to be more of a local issue.

Let's all take a few micro-seconds to smile at someone we don't know, be courteous to someone of the opposite gender, let someone merge onto the highway without fliping them off and please, if you do nothing else, please, please, please wipe the toilet seat before you flush.

Pirate fact: While fighting Captain Maynard in his final battle, (Maynard was a buccaneer hunter hired along with Captian Hyde by the Governor of Virginia), Blackbeard was shot at point blank range. Though he was wounded, he continued to fight. He lost his head after two blows from a broadsword while fighting a Highlander from Maynard's ship, "The Jane". It's rumored that his headless body ran frantically around the deck of the ship before jumping off into water and attempting to swim.