Manns Medium

  I remember the times when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, many called him the “Anti-Christ” and proclaimed that he would lead many down a very destructive path.   A destructive path that will cause major damage to humanity and this very nation but last check, Barack Obama preached calm and even demanded protest to remain peaceful and non-violent.   Can we, honestly, say the same thing about Donald Trump, by which, none of those claiming Obama as the anti-Christ even whispered this titled be attached to Trump.   Let’s be honest, for it is written “Romans 16:17-18 says I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve”.   Which explains why, I was not too surprised to find this headline in th...

For many, like me, when I first heard about this group calling itself the Oath Keepers prowling around Ferguson, Missouri my first thought was a group of troublemakers looking for a reason to feel relevant but then later, it occurred to me why they were really there and what it meant to all of us as Americans.  Though their ideas, beliefs and concepts may appear foreign to many of us as I am sure ours appear to them, there is one huge fact that we often overlook. According to the article titled “ Oath Keepers Turn Up at Michael Brown Protests in Ferguson, Missouri ” written by Cassandra Vinograd.  She reports “ The Oath Keepers organization says its members — all former military, police and first responders — pledge to "defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."  However, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar described their presence as "both unnecessary and inflammatory."  Protesters and police confirmed that a handful of Oath Keepe...

So much has been made about the rioting and looting seen in Baltimore, Maryland Monday, April 27, 2015 and many had decent questions and concerns but to a person those questions and concerns still remain because nothing was done to address them because so much energy was spent trying to make sure that yesterday was not a repeat of Monday.  All those meetings and not one to address the true concerns of those living in that community.  All those resources and not any of it was lent toward fixing the problems those citizens endure each and every day.  All that news coverage and nothing solid to help those who live and love that community feel better about their community.  All that money and none of it to be used to locate more jobs in that area or secure local financing to where those from that community to borrow and grow these jobs with a services that they know is greatly needed in that area.  So much time, effort and money wasted on reacting to an issue inste...

All across the television we saw peaceful protests being combined with rioting and looting, many of us thinking that all that violence was a part of it.  We watched as those facing the cameras had all types of descriptions to justify the actions taken and excuses of why it happened.  We heard from people who say that they were angry about the violence being perpetrated upon their community and how they lack closure because nothing seems to ever be done about it.  They say that if only we would have accountability and hold those responsible clearly responsible then this type of violence would not befall a city.  They say that it is because the schools fail to provide all children with a way out and a way up, that what is learned in school is not sufficient to give a child the dream of being all that they can be.  They say all this, yet as we watch the video of the rioting and looting, none of this appears true and it is time for the truth. Who ever said that...

In an article titled “ Whites riot over pumpkins in NH and Twitter turns it into epic lesson about Ferguson ” by Scott Kaufman for Raw Stories is much more than just a group of white people making a mess out of the annual pumpkin festival in New Hampshire.  For some, it is as this article reports “Police were forced to descend on Keene, New Hampshire Saturday night after students and outside agitators turned the city’s 24th annual Pumpkin Festival into “a destination for destructive and raucous behavior.”  “One rioter, Steven French, told the Keene Sentinel that he traveled from Haverhill, Massachusetts to attend the festival because he knew it would be “f*cking wicked.”  “It’s just like a rush. You’re revolting from the cops,” he continued. “It’s a blast to do things that you’re not supposed to do.”  “The police viewed the behavior of French and his cohorts less favorably, barricading streets and firing tear gas into crowds in an effort to disperse them.” For t...

Throughout the coverage of the shooting and killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, there has been major coverage of the race angle from the disparity of representation in the local government to comparisons of how cities that are not predominately black are governed but all the while, it appears that many have forgotten the lesson that was taught so long ago during the civil rights struggle and made famous by a Baptist preacher known as Martin Luther King. Lest we forget, Dr. King advocated non-violence and maintained that stance even after facing far much more law enforcement resistance than the residents and transplant face in Ferguson.  In an interview with one of the national news agencies, an interviewee was quoted as saying that the reason they were looting was to get justice and instead of those standing near this individual correcting him, they just nodded their heads in agreement.  Seeing and hearing this, I immediately was taken back to the time where e...

Today I heard a very disturbing fact.  One of the many reporters on the ground in Ferguson, Missouri reported that several small but rowdy groups have descended upon Ferguson and is mainly the cause of the unrest there.  It’s disturbing because these “transplants” don’t have to stay there after they make it so very hard for those who do to survive in the place that they call home.  These selfish, unthinking and cowardly people, migrate into an area, create hate and discontent, then slim their way out leaving devastation and hopelessness in their wake.  If this sounds a little familiar, it should because this is the very same thing that is happening in Iraq, Syria, Israel and so many other countries where dialogue and compromise is a very dirty word. We call those who perpetuate this type of discord terrorist but when it comes to people who travel from place to place with their own agenda and not really caring about the cause of the gathering of people but only s...

There is so much wrong with this story that I truly do not know where to begin.  I say that because it does not have just one lesson that we all should take from it but several which make me even more sure that things happen for a single reason.  That is so that we, as human beings, will learn from it and make the necessary changes in our culture and our lives to not repeat them. Here are the lessons that I took from this. Police over-reach is a serious and deadly problem where police are becoming emboldened and taking the lives of people without having to face any serious consequences for making ill-advised choices.  That thin blue line that many talk about has become a huge yellow streak down the backs of those watch commanders, trainers, police captains, chiefs and politicians who were hired to serve and protect.  They all sit idly by and allow event after event to take place all over this United States hiding from the truth and running away from responsibili...

For those of us who wish that we could all come together one day and unite to finally solve all of the issue plaguing this nation, there will always be a few willing to sabotage any efforts to do so.   We sometimes ask ourselves just what is he advantage to seeing this country go off a cliff and now I think I have the answer. The extremist, on both sides, of any issue do not really fear this country going back to the dark ages of man mainly because they know for a fact that the majority will never let that happen.   Thye can rant and rave about extreme views and attempt to plug in their operatives in key position to push this agenda but inside of their hearts of hearts, they know that before they do too much damage to this country, they will be stopped. They also know that the majority will always do what is best for this nation as a whole and being a part of this nation, they will also benefit from these choices.   On one will be able to take away their citizenship or ...

As a sports fan, I get very involved in the game of my favorite sports team and it bothers me when they lose.   My children have figured out that when I am watching sports they are to remain quiet and still.   Only after a few hours of a loss, will my children then attempt to hold a conversation with me.   I love my teams but I do not get so involved that I have to go out and damage property and it’s time we as a species began to hold people accountable. When the Vancouver Canucks lost the last game of a 7 game series, the people went out and caused damage to property that was not theirs to damage and in it wake it left nearly 150 people hurt.   The result of the riot claimed another victim as written about by Max Thompson in his article titled Vancouver Rioter, an Elite Canadian Athlete, Makes a Teary Confession it tells the story of 17-year old Nathan Kotylak. “Kotylak was caught lighting a rag on fire that was tucked into the gas tank of a police car during the ...

I am sure that I join many Americans who see the turmoil in Egypt as an unspeakable act by those who wish not to honor the will of their people and harm, injury and kill their fellow Egyptians in order to stay in power.   I guess Egypt is not as far from America as we think because the same thing is happening here except not to such a degree. America has all of the evidence that we need to once again begin to discuss the need for energy independence.   To step down from our dependency on foreign oil and become more conservative on the fuels that we use now.   This also goes along with Associated Press White House Correspondent Ben Feller’s article Obama sharpens jobs element of energy pitch.   The president was quoted as saying "Making our buildings more energy efficient is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to save money, combat pollution and create jobs."   We are presented with an opportunity to revisit this worthwhile topic and actually do someth...