Manns Medium

American exceptionalism is often defined as “the theory that the United States is inherently different from other nations” but to some this many not make sense.  Why is not that they may be questioning the truth of this statement but simply because many can’t remember what the word inherently means.  Inherently is defined as “something that is built-in or a part of the makeup of a person or thing”.  I believe that once we understand the word and how it fits in the above definition of the phrase, we then began to restore our pride in being an American and living in a nation truly viewed by others as exceptional.  Others think that this is what makes others seek asylum or any other excuse to come here, they may believe that it is because we are called the “land of opportunity” and they are seeking just that.  They may believe that it is because we are one of the richest nations in the world and one of the most powerful but the truth may surprise even those Americ...

Many people take pride in a label or tag for different reasons but one of the constant reasoning is the belief that if you own a label or tag, you then remove the control it has over you and recover that control over it.  Now while I can see some truth in this, there are still words that I personally would never seek to take ownership of the number one word for me is Niger.  It started out as learning about the origin behind this label and the results of usage of this term.  The pain, suffering and deaths that are associated with this word made me decide early in the game never to accept it as part of my character, my definition or my reason.  I saw the nooses and even felt the pulling of one around my own neck once so trying to tell me that it was okay for anyone of any color to use the word as if only a selected few had the right to use it only made me see them as nothing more than ignorant of this origin and these results.  The more I thought about it, t...

When it comes to writing, for me, there has to be a passionate point that I feel needs to be made and probably hasn’t thus far.  I say probably because, unlike God, I am not omnipresent which means others in other locations may have addressed these subjects and I not know anything about it until someone who happens to spy both would then educate me.  That being said let’s get back to the purpose of this article. Many often ask why those who are supposed to be adults seldom act like it and choose to act more like children when it comes to certain things.  For me the answer is convenience and nothing more.  Convenience because when we are comfortable within our skins, anything that seems contrary or could threaten our comfort is looked upon as foreign and an enemy to our happiness. We say this because we may think we truly know what makes us happy but the truth be told, if we pay even the slightest attention to ourselves, we may come to realize that it’s the simpl...

The majority of American veterans do not wish a “hand-out” or to be dependent upon anyone except themselves but today’s “go-getters” seem determined to ignore the veteran’s need for dignity and think that just by throwing money at them, they will soon melt away.  Many “go-getters” seemed determined to not fix the problems faced by veterans because what would they have to run on if they do.  Much that could be done to restore a veteran’s dignity and possible reduce suicides, homelessness and high unemployment among the very group many claim to support, is not being done and one has got to wonder why.  This desire to just sit on your hands and complain instead of doing all that you can do to make real change has now infected many who served or are currently serving.  Consider these situations:  A Marine with over 9 years in Law Enforcement is seems not as an equal to a civilian with 3 years.  The civilian will be featured first for any top job within law e...

It has always made me wonder why we, as people, have not taken full control of our own actions and therefore reduced evil in the best and only way possible.  That way begins and ends with us as individuals casting out evil from within ourselves because then and only then will we ever be believable when trying to tell others how to defeat evil. This thought re-occurred to me after I heard a friends of mine say something like this “God ain't going to let the devil get no victory”.  What occurred to me was how we tend to rely solely upon God to defeat and rid our world of evil and possibly why so many have become disillusioned to God’s presence because evil never goes away.  Some even question whether God exists or not strictly based on the presence of evil, so to that I have to respond in this manner.  There is some knowledge here that many of us tend to miss or just flat out ignore. We keep waiting on God to deny victory to the devil but that is not God's job, it...

You read that title right America, my school will reduce veteran suicides because the numbers do not lie and it is clear that what has been attempted in the past is not working.  We have assumed that throwing money at veterans would be the answer.  We have assumed that holding job fairs and offering businesses tax credits for hiring a veteran would do it.  We have assumed that placing them on disability and welfare would do it.  We have been convinced that donation and charity would answer the screams of veterans all over this nation demanding help and getting none.  We have assumed that saying “thank you” would quiet the voices within the heads of these veterans and within our own very souls.  We were and still are so very wrong.  We are wrong because we lack the understanding that the main underlying issue faced by veterans who contemplate suicide has nothing to really do about money.  It simply has something to do about dignity and respect. ...

If we honestly take a few minutes to truly think about wars, conflicts, battles and skirmishes, these things often originates between two people who cannot seem to agree simply to disagree.  Each find another, just as passionate, defensive and often times arrogant about his/her position and when they fail to sway the other over to their side of the argument, immediately seek others who agree with them and then take open aim at those who don’t.   People can be funny that way because what may have started out as just a difference of opinions has now morphed into a full-fledged war over an idea that neither is willing to compromise on.  We claim that it is a matter of principle and to compromise would mean that we must compromise our principle and nothing defines a human being more than principle.  If the end result of this style of thinking didn’t result in such serious consequences, we could all laugh about it and move on. History is then repeated and lesson...

Stumbled upon this article titled “ Boy, 8, faces murder charge in beating death of Alabama toddler as child's mother partied at nightclub: authorities ” written by Nicole Hensley for the New York Daily News and was mystified to find that more than just the mother of the victim and the 8 year old boy was charged.  Would have thought that the mother of the 8 year old would also be charged with nothing less than neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The article reports; Katerra Lewis, 26, has been charged with manslaughter in the death of her young daughter. The girl’s mother, Katerra Lewis, left Kelci Devine Lewis alone with five children overnight as she partied with a friend at a night club on Oct. 11. The 26-year-old found her only child unresponsive at a Birmingham home the following morning. The murder charge was announced against the boy Tuesday, AL.com reported, making him the youngest such suspect in Jefferson County in recent memory.  A 6-year-ol...

For years now veterans have been complaining that civilians does not get the mindset of a vet and some have went as far as to plug in former military members in certain section of their businesses hoping to put an end to that argument.  Still the issues of vets seem to survive and many even multiply and grow larger than they once were.  The newest crop of veteran’s organization has stepped up to solve one or more of the issues but still cannot seem to make a dent in the much larger issue.  The largest issue is the missing link between military life and the civilian world.  The largest issue is losing that “ Esprit  de Corps” that many feel when they serve with a group of others that they know will have their backs or watch their six.  The largest issue is hearing that there is support of the troops but failing to see this support in the area most needed and the key to their transition.  The veteran needs to see, touch and feel that support that has gu...

Found this article on Cop Block dot com titled “ Louisiana Police Shoot 6-Yo Boy In Head Multiple Times Killing Him ” written yesterday and needless to say, I will not stay quiet on this one.  It is reported that “ The shooting on Martin Luther King Drive in Marksville happened at the end of a pursuit and involved multiple city marshals from Ward 2, Louisiana State Police spokesman Trooper Daniel “Scott” Moreau said. Louisiana police kill 6-year-old boy in passenger seat of fleeing car. 6-year-old dead in wake of shooting in Marksville involving city marshals.  It happened about 9:30 p.m. Nov. 3 on Martin Luther King Drive.  Preliminary indications are that city marshals from Avoyelles Parish Ward 2 “discharged their duty weapons at a vehicle at the conclusion of a pursuit,” says a statement released by state police.  The child was a passenger in the vehicle. The driver is in critical condition, the statement says.  Personnel from the investigative arm of state...

For quite some time you have heard me scream my head off about veteran unemployment, homelessness and suicides.  You have heard me say that there is more we, as a nation, needed to do and more that we, as individuals, could do.  You have also heard me advise any who would listen, that instead of just accenting the problems, if we intend to be passionate and truly care about a particular subject, we also need to provide solutions.  Well, I have taken my own advice and I believe I have discovered the perfect way to address, greatly reduce and/or completely eliminate these same issues.  It’s human nature to believe that money is and always will be the answer to any problem and while we all soon come to learn money is but a part of the over-all grand need but never will it be the total answer to anything, we must also admit that money is required to help with these problems.  But let’s not get it twisted and think that our current status of throwing money at th...

While the political media is all ablaze about the big win regarding the governorship of Kentucky and Virginia keeping its House in Republican control, much is being made about how those who won ran their campaign but to a novice political junkie like me their reason for victory is much simpler. It was widely reported that Mr. Conway had the lead in the polls coming into this election and because of that Republicans employed their next best weapons to give Mr. Blevins his win.  They deployed the sheer laziness and lack of focus by the majority of Democrats knowing that as long as the polls said their candidate would win, that their job was done.  It worked and will continue to work until those who claim the title of Democrat, Independent or just plain those who are tired of sending people to office who do little if anything to serve them stay home on election day. I see little evidence that gerrymandering districts is the reason and I see little evidence that uncoverin...

Take a few minutes and scan over this story titled “Broken system lets problem officers jump from job to job” written by Nomaan Merchant and Matt Sedensky for the Associated Press and tell me if it does not sound familiar.  I liken this to the story about the Catholic priest who was reported to be molesting altar boys but was never held accountable by those in supervisory positions and shipped out to other churches where they could continue to rob children of their childhood. The story reports that “A yearlong Associated Press investigation into sex abuse by cops, jail guards, deputies and other state law enforcement officials uncovered a broken system for policing bad officers, with significant flaws in how agencies deal with those suspected of sexual misconduct and glaring warning signs that go unreported or get overlooked.  The AP examination found about 1,000 officers in six years who lost their licenses because of sex crimes that included rape, or sexual misconduct r...