What's Happening to me?!

WTF! I'm becoming more and more of a freak with my politics and I don't know why, other than I'm convinced that the polarizing characters involved in modern-day popular politics in the United States are just plain DANGEROUS! As time goes on...I'm more and more dissillusioned and dissapointed with what the "dual monarchy" has to offer "WE THE PEOPLE".

Let me start by giving a brief synopsis of my former background. I am a proud and former United States Marine. 0331 Machine Gunner (Infantry) was my primary MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) and secondary was 8152 (Security Forces). I was hard core conservative and Republican. Based on my personal experience, I think to truly succeed in the Marine Corps you need to be a conformist and a believer in "the system".
I was meritoriously promoted to both LCpl and Cpl and made Sgt. (E-5) in less than four years (which at that time was almost unheard of and VERY rare in my MOS). I was selected Marine of the Month (Twice) and competed for Marine of the Year (out of over 500 Marines) and came in 3rd out of 5 contestants. Point I'm making is I was a good Marine, followed the rules, was squared away and "believed" in the system.

That is why my relatively rapid change in my politics is such a shock to me. Here is why:
Marijuana should be legalized. I'm not a pot smoker (though in all honesty I have tried it before...and yes I inhaled and yes, I did it more than once). There are a lot more intelligent people than I that feel this way, so I will leave those people to define the medicinal benefits of marijuana as well as the scientific facts regarding it's efficacy, lack of true "physically addictive qualities" etc. But from the "laymans" perspective as I see it. It's simple math. I have seen INNUMERABLE fights and violence when people were drunk on alcohol (also a depressent, but it is also known and proven to be both physically and psychologically addictive). I can't EVER remember seeing someone stoned and violent....just doesn't happen. Coincidence? Again, these are "lame" arguments, but are valid from my point of view.

Secondly I believe that marijuana "weed" is something that has grown naturally for THOUSANDS of years and is something that God has put on this earth. It is a NATURALLY occuring natural product. However, I personally have never "stumbled" upon a free flowing pool of vodka in nature (see where I'm going with this)? Why is marijuana in a catagory of drugs with Opium, LSD, Heroin and Cocaine? All I can say, is if you have the balls...do some research on this. The governments case is pretty lame and standing on some "weak" legs if you actually look into it. Does this mean that I think we should all be toked up and wasted...going through our days or our lives "half baked". No...of course not. However, I do believe it can be regulated (like alcohol, tobacco or any other number of schedule 2 through 5 category drugs which as I've already stated have physically destroyed FAR more lives). Instead, the U.S. Government keeps marijuana in Schedule 1 category (which is the worst of the worst and is by far the most restricted of all drug schedules/categories).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_rescheduling_in_the_United_States

There are MANY reasons why I say this. Drug companies make far too much money (the root of all evil and corruption) and there are too many reasons for them to make all of these drugs that are out there (which they even say "this drug may not work for everyone"...) and some of the side affects AND addictive qualities of some of these Schedule 2 category drugs are FAR worse than marijuana can and will ever be, but again, marijuana is in the Schedule 1 category. Doesn't this seem odd to you?

Moving on...I watch the O'Reilly factor almost daily. For years, I can say I was a fan, even a BIG fan. Why? Because good ol' Bill was pushing all of the right buttons. He urged the masses of MAINSTREAM America NOT to be the "silent majority". To speak out against the liberals and fight back on their own turf. For too long, the "Left/Liberals" were broadly painted with the unflattering "intelligencia" moniker. It worked...for a while. And for me...PERSONALLY, the biggest kicker on the left is that there seems to be a concentrated effort to remove GOD from everything. However, our own Constitution clearly states that GOD gave "we the people" our rights. Our RIGHTS are from GOD. The power of the government comes from the people. In other words WE THE PEOPLE allow the government to have the power it has, but we have the authority and RIGHT to LIMIT that power (of the government). But then you listen to him now (Bill). And I still do. But he says things that are fucking SCARY!

In one sentence, he says he is all for free speech and freedom of the press, but then he talks about how a website should be scrutinized because they aren't "policing" their site and allowing free speech (Bill calls it hate speech and hate-mongering and inciteful). It may be ALL of those things, but in THIS country...MY FUCKING COUNTRY, I have the right to say it. Are you kidding me Bill? Sometimes listening to his rhetoric scares me because he goes on witch hunts! He is one man, with a great deal of power and influence...he needs to use it wisely. Still, in his defense, many of the things he is passionate about, I firmly support. He is a HUGE proponent of "Jessica's Law" and has started a crusade (ironic words I know) to shame state legislatures into passing the bill into law in their respective states. Good for him. Still, I don't think that is HIS job to do...he is just a reporter, not a law-maker. Again, VERY slippery slope, very dangerous ground.

His book "Culture Warrior" had some excellent points. The main one that I got out of it (now this is ME talking, read the book and you come up with YOUR own conclusions) is that the district courts are using the legal systems (and liberal judges are spearheading this movement) to over-ride the voice of the people (that would be you and me). If Americans VOTE and the vast majority do not support legalizing homosexual/gay marriages, then the people have spoken...period. Still, history has shown us that oftentimes it takes the voice of one (or a very few) brave and forward thinking souls to be heard over the din of the masses (racism, Jim Crow laws etc) when sometimes the voice of reason IS the courts. Is this one of those times?

I don't know. As a Libertarian (damn near leaning to anarchist) I believe in basically live and let live. If you want to bugger some dude, that is up to you. MY GOD will judge you according to my beliefs and ideologies...but it is not my job to judge you. This goes back to the marijuana thing. Conservative Christians have pushed their ideology on our country to make laws that fit their Judeo-Christian ideologies, dogma and philosophies (anyone remember prohibition)? This can be said about marijuana too. YES...our country was indeed founded on these philosophies and that should always be recognized and acknowledged....still, because the CHURCH says that schlepping your schlong in some guys pooper is wrong doesn't mean that our FEDERAL government should force that just because it's whats in the bible.

I was taught "a sin is a sin". Sins aren't ranked...they are ALL sins. So a lie, rape, murder, coveting your neighbors wife...all of that is EQUAL in the eyes of God (based on the theology I was raised on and believe). So who am I to judge? God will ultimately judge the character of the person and their heart. Last thing on religion. I am a "spiritual" christian (not quite a Deist). This means that I believe in God and I feel that the following two things are critical to my eternal salvation. 1. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and that He died for the sins of all people. 2. I adhere to the belief that one must have a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ (not the church) and that if you truly have that, that you will go to heaven. Maybe a juvenile view of it, but that is what I belive...take it or leave it. I do pray daily (at the weirdest times) and I do have a personal relationship with Jesus and I do believe that He died for our sins...nuff said.

So the polarization of my country (YOUR COUNTRY) scares the shit out of me. The far left liberals scare me (and I think the majority of Americans) because they want to remove GOD from pretty much everything. A Christmas tree is offensive (but other religions can practice their religions openly and we as Americans have to acquiesce to their desires and spiritual needs?). Does this make sense to anyone? Not me. That's the right wing side of me shouting out in protest. In this country EVERYONE can worship however they wish FREELY. If the pledge of allegiance offends you, then you do not have to participate (and children should be tought not to tease others for being "different") and should not fear reprisal. But don't stop ME from participating.

Don't come to MY country and try to turn it into the very country that YOU left due to oppression and twisted ideologies! If your country and it's customs are so awesome, then stay there. But DO NOT turn MY country...the United States of America into mini-Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China, Mexico or anywhere else. Accept America for the melting pot that it is. With PEOPLE FROM Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China and Mexico and everywhere in-between.

I'm tired...there is so much more to say. But those of you who have read on I truly appreciate your interest into reading into just a little piece of ME and my mind. I hope it has interested you a little and at the very least maybe challenged you to rethink your own reality. I believe that the USA is the greatest country in the world. I also believe I am truly BLESSED to have been born and raised here and consider it an honor and a privelege. I am proud to have served my country and proud to be an American. But that does NOT mean that I think that what the representatives of my country are doing in government are moral, legal and/or ethical. Don't blindly follow, step back and ask some simple questions. Iraq (why are we REALLY there)? How would WE as Americans feel if someone decided that George W. Bush were an "evildoer" or "evil dictator" and that country (or coalition of countries) came to our "rescue" and decided to depose our fearless leader and force upon us an entirely new ideology/form of government? Seriously, think about that and remember this simple fact...DEMOCRACY was NEVER earned through the force of a gun to the heads of the people! Democracy (true democracy) is an organic thing that is grown and cultivated from within (just like REVOLUTION). Till a later date, thanks again and your comments and input would be greatly appreciated. Next time I have a stream of consciousnes blog, I will drink some coffee first!

Yours

Dan