ShaneHaven.com

Just another quick post today, for I am still working on papers. Today I just wanted to comment on this whole swine flu epidemic that is getting out of hand. Actually that isn’t correct to say, the media rather, is getting out of hand. The way news outlets accross the board are reporting this “outbreak” is insane. They are totally blowing it out of proportion. It is the news outlets trying to instill fear into the people. It is funny how the people who thought that Bush was trying to instill fear into the US population by allowing the media to report on terrorist threats are not crying over how President Obama or the media is doing it now. But wait, we have Obama as President and he is a good man he would never do such a thing … right? People are so hypocrytical.

Anyway, back on point as of today April 28, 2009 people are freaking out about this illness that has spread around just a little bit. As I speak CNN, Fox News, ABC7, CBS2, NBC, MSNBC, Bloomberg, … are all on commercial, but I can guarantee they have reported on this outbreak of a pandemic disesase. We all could die. Well here are the facts. The outbreak – I have nothing better to call it – started in Mexico and spread rapidly. As of now 152 people in Mexico City have died. The total population of Mexico City is nearly 9,000,000. That means that 0.0001% of the population where the breakout happened have died. With that said, Mexico City is one of the worst cities in the world when it comes to health, and they are not suffering that bad. Yeah, it is horrible that 152 people died but when compared to the rest of the city population that is hardly anyone. Now it has spread. There has been about 64 people in the U.S. has contracted it none have died. There is 303 million people in the United States and again that is a very small percentage. More people in the US die from the NORMAL flu each year. The swine flu will probably grow in numbers but just go see a doctor.

What the media should do: Find some idiotic teenage pop-star that goes out and does something stupid and report that. Media, please stop trying to scare everyone into not going outside of their homes. This is ridiculous and most the population is falling for this crap. Seriously, I am angry about all this.We are all just not check facts or taking in the full big picture.

Taking Precautions: It would be smart to take a few precautions, like one would if the normal flu or cold was going on. Don’t get too close to those who are infected … they may bite and you will become a member of the undead … oh and wash your hands a lot. In all seriousness please do wash your hands a lot, it is a good way to combat illness.

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Taking a quick break from working on the heavy final semester workload to post this interesting piece of news. I happen to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan and I am elated that the Bucs have taken Quarterback Josh Freeman after trading up to the number 17th pick of the draft. I am in the minority of Bucs fans who like this pick, but when it comes down to it, the Bucs haven’t had a star quarterback since Trent Dilfer. Even then he is not really anyone to write home about. Sure they had Jeff Garcia who was pretty good but he was 38 or so. They also had Brad Johnson a while back which, he was pretty good, but yet again he was old. The Bucs need a young guy who the can mold to be a great quarterback. They should have tried to trade a lot to get to the #5 pick to get Mark Sanchez but the Bucs would have had to give up a lot to get him. I think they did the right thing. They waited until the last minute and traded to the 17th spot. There they were able to get a guy who has a bit bigger question mark but he has mobility and a cannon of an arm. They just need to bring him along slowly. I can’t wait to see what Josh Freeman will do on the field.

Don’t know who Josh Freeman is: Click here to view his cannon of an arm.

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I am posting this as a notice to readers. I won’t be updating quite as often as I have been. I know I have barely been updating as it is but it is about to slow down even more. I probably can not even post at all until near the end of the semester. Here is why:

I have not been posting as I like because of school. Here is a photo of my books that I have been reading this semster. There is a few there that are not school books and there are a few missing. There should be 32 but I don’t know where they all went.

Now as to why I can’t post. I have a 20 page research paper, and three 10 page research papers to write. That incorporates these following books and more that I have yet to get. Include these with online journal articles. Its a ton of work and I really need to put all my time and effort into these.

I will still ask that you still check the blog as I may do a QUICK post here or there. As of the week of May 15th or the week after, I will begin regular posting. Yes, that means at least 3 times a week! That is until I go to Alaska. So I apologize but as Frank Sinatra says: “Thats life.”

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I recently spoke to some of my readers, and apparently they do not watch the news nor read government documents. That is fine and dandy, that is why I have a blog. Although this response it a bit late, there are those who do not about this document and the specific wording that has upset and scared many people who consider themselves conservative. Before I go into the response, I urge all viewers to read the document. It is only nine pages long so it is not a long read.

Downloadable PDF file: DHS Report on Rightwing Extremism

Now a casual non-critical read through the document might yield a person to say something along the lines of the following. “There is nothing wrong with this document. Rightwingers could be violent as they tend to believe in political phenomena that lends itself to violence. If there is such a rise of radicalism then we need to be aware.” To that, I say fair enough. You are correct, but lets take a look at a certain footnote which defines just what a rightwing extremist is:

Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and
adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups),
and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or
rejecting government authority entirely.  It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a
single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.¹

So if you are an individual, in other words a person, that feels that abortion is murder or that illegal immigrants are hurting our country, YOU are a rightwing extremist. Because you are an extremeist, you are a threat to the United States of America based on the rest of the report. If you do not like the current administration under the President, or you may not like your local governor, you are a rightwing extremist and thus a threat to the country. This is absurd. This is labeling anyone who has a different opinion than our majority government as a threat to the coutntry. But the generalizing does not stop there.

What about veterans who return from there honorable duty in service of protecting the USA? Well, apparently they are a threat too. What about those who fear the fall of the US and the rise of our traditional enemies as world powers? Well people who are “paranoid” about that, are a threat to the United States as well. If you disagree with the President or his administration, then you are an extremist and thus a threat.

This report is pretty ridiculous. I am not denying that there are Rightwing Extremists, that they are dangerous and that there is a threat to the country from them. But this report’s definition is inaccurate. According to the definition most people in the Republican party are a threat to the United States and that simply isn’t true. According to the said definition I, and many of my friends would be an “extremist,” and some of these friends are the most peaceful people I have ever met. Some probably wouldn’t even harm a fly. The Department of Homeland Security needs to amend this report so they can re-write the above stated insulting definition. I am NOT saying that there is no such thing as racist pigs who probably want to take out the President. I am not saying that they have deep rooted hatrid on some of the reported issues. All I am saying is that there are people who could be anti-illegal immigration, and/or pro-second amendment, and/or a veteran, and/or concerned with the rise of our enemies in world power, and NOT be an extremist. I mean I would be labeled as an extremist yet, I voted for Barack Obama. Does that really make sense?

What is also worrying is that Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of Homeland Security is standing behind the definition. According to a Politico.com article, Napolitano has even defended the report after the initial criticism came out. Napolitano said “Sorry to say, but it’s the reality we deal with. We have several factors that could lead to an uptick in extremist violent activity.” That article came out on April 15th. Yesterday April 17th 2009, the Washington Post ran an article that stated that Napolitano had apologized to the veterans that took offense. She also stated that if she could she would re-write the footnote that has angered so many people. Hopefully she does because it is a violation of civil liberites to those on the right side of the political spectrum.

Endnotes:

1. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment (Washington DC: 2009), 2.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRo2RLYZpXU]

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