The Holocaust

January 30, 1933- Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany

February 28, 1933 through March 24, 1933 - Emergency dictatorship powers granted to Hitler as a result of the Reichstag fire.

July 14, 1933 – the Nazi Party is declared the only legal party in Germany and the Nazis pass laws in order to strip Jewish immigrants living in Poland of their German citizenship.

August 2, 1934 – the German President von Hindenburg dies and Hitler assumes the role as Führer

March 12 and 13, 1938 - Nazi troops enter Austria which has a large Jewish population residing in Vienna

November 15, 1938 - Jewish students are expelled from all non-Jewish German schools.

September 21, 1939 - Heydrich issues orders to SS in Poland regarding treatment of Jews, they are to be gathered into ghettos near railroads for the future "final goal."

February 12, 1940 - First deportation of German Jews into Poland

December 8, 1941 - In occupied Poland the first extermination camp becomes operational. The first gypsies and Jews are suffocated by carbon monoxide is mobile gas vans.

In January, 1942– gassing with Zyklon-B begins at Auschwitz-Birkenau and a second chamber is constructed later that year.

In 1943 - The number of Jews killed by the SS passes one million. Nazis then use special units of slave laborers to dig up and burn the bodies to remove all traces that the events ever occurred. Some camps are destroyed and trees are planted over their locations.

In 1945- Concentration camps liberated, American prisoners of war rescued

     The nature of these events is passionately rooted in anti-Semitism, the hatred and discrimination of the Jewish race. As Hitler began to segregate the Jews, they steadily lost every fundamental right. They became the target of racial hatred. Jewish proprietors were often terrorized and lost much of their business. Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass, was the breaking of Jewish store front windows, synagogues, and homes on November 9^th and 10^th, 1938. Jewish citizens of Germany, and eventually neighboring European countries, were forced to live in ghettos as the situation worsened in Germany. Ghettos were essentially slums that the Jewish people were confined to. They had little food, bad hygiene, small living quarters for entire families, and were nearly inhospitable. The Jews were later deported from Germany meaning that a government mandate forced them to leave the country and they were sent to concentration camps. The concentration camps were significantly less hospitable than the ghettos were. The concentration camps were essentially prisons for the innocent Jews and other groups hated by the Nazis. They provided little clothing, barely any food, and absolutely terrible living conditions. Forced labor was prevalent and eventually the Nazis implemented their “final solution”, the genocide of the Jews. Genocide is the extermination of a certain race or ethnic group. This genocide became known as the Holocaust in which nearly 6 million Jews were murdered along with various other groups the Nazis deemed undesirable.

     Throughout the Holocaust, an innumerable amount of violations to human dignity and morality occurred. The Ten Commandments were also violated on an infinite number of occasions. The 2^nd, 6^th, and 8^th commandments were the ones most often broken during the Holocaust. The second commandment which condemns the use of idols is broken with the pseudo worshiping of Adolph Hitler. Hitler became the idol of the Nazi people who listened to what he said and did exactly what he instructed. It is almost a violation of the first commandment as well because Hitler was regarded as the sole leader in fascist regime. He was literally worshipped by the German people and his picture was required to be hung in all classrooms and government buildings. The sixth commandment was the most flagrantly violated regulation. Experts have given various figures for the death toll during the Holocaust but it is generally accepted that 10 million people were killed by the Nazis, 6 million of which were Jewish. The horror and absolute disregard for human life has never been so apparent. The soulless persecution of innocent people is perhaps one the most tragic events in all of human history. Those involved in these murders are guilty of the highest and most severe form of crime imaginable. Lastly, the eighth commandment was broken for two reasons. Stolen from the victims of the Holocaust were not only their lives, but the entire process drained them of a will to live. For years leading up to the Holocaust, Jews were persecuted and racially discriminated against. Their stores were destroyed and their families harassed. Their livelihood was constantly in jeopardy. As the situation became worse, they were forced to move into ghettos and eventually death camps where their most important, valuable, and sacred possessions were stolen from them by the Nazis. They were stripped of the last possessions they owned.

Dear Church, Stay Out Of Our Science

     As someone who is highly critical of the Catholic Church, I tend to disagree with their modern interpretation of principles that are no longer valid. The Fifth Commandment which instructs us not to kill has changed slightly to play a role in current issues and scientific endeavors. For instance, the debate about abortion has largely been dominated by Christian, Pro-life advocates. Personally, I believe that a bunch of celibate old men have no authority in the reproductive activities of women and therefore should stay out of the matter entirely. Scientifically, life does begin at conception but I don’t think that that has any weight or merit when discussing abortion. The seed of an oak tree is just that; a seed. It has the potential to become a 50ft high tree but it isn’t. You can’t treat the seed like a tree because it isn’t yet. I apply these same conditions to a developing fetus; it is the potential to be a person but is not yet. Call me callous but I don’t care whatsoever if you abort a child. Scientifically it may be killing the fetus but to me, you are killing nothing but potential. It is not a person yet. It’s not like we need more people on this planet anyway because we are already way over capacity. Think for a moment that you will die eventually and never, ever, ever, have a thought or experience again. The choices you make in this world have no significance because you do not matter. You’re unborn child does not matter. You are but a grain of sand in a beach of time. Now, is abortion that big of an issue? It will not have any bearing on the endless stretch of existence. It is a face that never saw the light of day and never had a cognitive memory. It is but a mother’s choice and nothing else. To restrict that option is to reject the rights to one’s own body.

Stem Cells

     Another topic of concern to me is embryonic stem cell research. This is another case where the Church sticks its nose in where it doesn’t belong. Why should the Catholic Church, an organization hell bent for hundreds of years on suppressing scientific advancement, be an authority in such matters? Yes, this is the same organization that believed despite proof that the earth was flat and that we were the center of the universe. These are the same people who still, in modern times, believe that a man could multiply fish and bread with his hands and return from the dead as a zombie. These are the same people who believe that god impregnated a virgin to produce a son who was himself so that he could sacrifice himself to himself to save the world from himself. Yeah, that makes sense. Again, I have no regard for an unborn child and even less for one in the embryonic state. Why suppress advancements that could one day cure diseases, save lives, and greatly extend the human lifespan. Resisting advancement is what the church does best because the further we advance in science; the more people realize how insane religious ideology is. If you are impressed with what the last 50 years has brought us, I can guarantee that the next 50 years will be far more exciting but not if we contain ourselves like this. It is a detrimental state of mind that will undoubtedly have negative effects on the future of the human race if we do not open up to new advances. It is just plain idiotic not to want to explore such a new and promising endeavor.

     Lastly, I defend my view on in vitro fertilization. This is another area where the church has no business being. In vitro fertilization is actually a pretty amazing process. A woman with reproductive problems can have a better chance at having a child; two parents not fit for bearing a child can get a surrogate mother to give birth to their genetic child, among other situations. That’s impressive. The church’s concern is with the number of embryos disposed of or tested on. They also are against the fact the parents can choose an embryo that has been genetically tested and void of major weaknesses. I stress that this is a good thing because testing treatments and procedures is how we make things safer and more reliable. Of course if parents can choose to have a more desirable embryo, they would. It doesn’t really make sense to keep an embryo that has complications. It may be seen by the church as a violation of the fifth commandment I don’t see that as any real threat or evil action. The percentage rates for a live birth aren’t the greatest and peak just below 50% in women under the age of 35 but the point is that it is a chance for a child that some women don’t have. It is the opportunity to make a loving family so why stop that from happening? So that you can get up on your high horse and scoff at people who actually realize that the combing of sperm and egg is just a natural process? It’s just a conglomeration of cells, nothing more.  From the standpoint on life that I take, I really don’t see this as a moral issue. 

Trayvon Martin Protests

 

By now, the story of Trayvon Martin is known all across the country and has spread like wildfire. With the aid of the internet, TV, and other forms of social media, the public is much more informed about the incident and wants Trayvon’s killer brought to justice. Marches, vigils, and rallies have been held to show the outrage of communities nationwide and have been extremely successful in supporting the Martin family. People begin to imagine their son or daughter in a similar situation, innocently walking by when something so tragic happens. It strikes a chord in people that prompts them to show their anger and fear which in this particular situation, is aimed at George Zimmerman. Hundreds of people gather in vigils and prayer services for Trayvon while in larger cities, full scale rallies are being held. On Saturday March 24^th, 2012, rallies in Columbia, South Carolina, Washington D.C,  and Chicago took place while more protests are currently being organized. Most of the protesters wear hooded sweatshirts just like the one Trayvon was wearing. Symbolic in nature, this show both support for Trayvon as well as question how a sweatshirt can pose a legitimate threat to someone. Wielding Skittles and Iced tea, protesters can’t help but question how such an event occurred and why Trayvon’s killer has not been charged.  Many are criticizing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law which is similar to laws in 23 other states. “Stand Your Ground” allows for a person to use deadly force against someone else if they believe their life is imminently threatened and is pretty limited to self defense.

     On Twitter alone there have been 600,000 mentions of the case while 82,000 fan page likes on Facebook and Youtube views continue to skyrocket. It is evident that the case has done extremely well in becoming popularized and that through the power of protest; change might actually become a reality. While it is beginning to look like Zimmerman might actually going to held accountable for his actions, many are forgetting about or avoiding the real issue; gun control and the “Stand Your Ground” laws. It is just as important to raise awareness about gun policies and their reforms as it is to raise awareness about Zimmerman. The two go hand in hand.

Trayvon Martin

Left: Trayvon Martin  Right: George Zimmerman, 

    

     On February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida, a 17 year old African American teenager named Trayvon Martin was shot in the chest while returning from a convenience store. While visiting his father and future stepmother, Trayvon walked to the store to pick up skittles and an iced tea and was being followed by a strange vehicle. Inside that vehicle was the captain of the neighborhood watch program who was pursuing Trayvon because he looked to be suspicious. Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain, called 911 and spoke to an operator who informed him that following Martin was not necessary. Zimmerman has been known to call police frequently and in four of his calls reported suspicious people in the neighborhood, all of whom were black. In Zimmerman’s call to the police about Martin he can be heard saying “these a**holes always get away”. Zimmerman said in his recorded call that Trayvon was approaching his vehicle but then ran off. Neighbors report hearing a confrontation and a gunshot before going outside to see Zimmerman over Trayvon who was lying face down on the ground. Trayvon was shot with a 9mm handgun that Zimmerman owned and which he should not have been carrying while acting as a neighborhood watch member. There was a very limited preliminary investigation that did not charge Zimmerman and essentially dismissed the case. Fueled by outrage and a desire for justice, this story has gained huge momentum in the media and especially through the internet.

     This story is a frightening glimpse of the injustice that was so common in the times of mass prejudice. From the evidence presented, it is pretty clear that Zimmerman’s “self defense” is misguided while Zimmerman has even outright lied about the events. Before the 911 tapes were released, Zimmerman stated that he did not pursue Martin when in fact he admitted to doing so in the call. Zimmerman identified Martin as a threat from the beginning with no good reason other than Martin was walking in the rain with his hood up “just looking about”. Other than the fact that Martin was carrying skittles and an iced tea, which Zimmerman said he could not identify, Martin was in no way posing a threat. The situation should have ended when Zimmerman called the police. The 911 operator instructed him not to follow Martin and Zimmerman disobeyed that instruction.

     Unfortunately, Trayvon Martin is just another casualty to the hatred spewing, violent world we live in. People all over the country will plead for his killer to be brought to justice, as they rightfully should but give this time and the memory of Trayvon will disappear completely from the public eye and people will move on. Of course his family, friends, and all those who now fear for safety and security for themselves and their children, can never forget the incident. It is very fortunate for the Martin family that the death of their son has gained so much outrage from communities nationwide and that their son’s death became a public atrocity. Many families cannot say the same for their murdered loved ones who largely go unnoticed. It is good to know that there are people who still rally for what they believe in and that communities all over can join together for a single cause. Justice for Trayvon.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57402215/outrage-over-trayvon-martin-shooting-spreads/ 

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/trayvon-martin-case-timeline-of-events/ 

The "R" Word

     I am a very strong believer in freedom of speech and the right to say what you want, no matter what the circumstances. After reading an article on CNN's website which I will link at the bottom of the page, a couple things became clear to me. The article was centered around the use of the "R" word and the derogatory use of the word "retard". It is about a mother's plea to end the use of the "R" word and more importantly to gain dignity for her intellectually disabled son and others like him. Campaigns and movements to end the use of the "R" word proved to be successful in changing medical definitions and in legislature but have not done well in convincing the ordinary person to discontinue its use. The movements recognize that banning a word is impossible and the incorrect way to approach the situation so they have focused their energy on raising awareness and understanding about people with intellectual disabilities.

     Like I have previously mentioned, I am all for our freedom of speech but this is not really a free speech issue; it is an issue of respect. I took a moment to read through the comments on the article and found this gem of sarcastic idiocracy posted by a user named "opinionguru" who says "Ban all words and thoughts that are not politically correct! It's for our own good after all ...remember, Liberals know what's best for all of us!". Discontinuing the use of the "R" word has nothing to do with being politically correct but it sure has a lot to due with compassion and the words usage. Words are just lines drawn together to form letters which when arranged can be vocalized. Words don't hurt; they are intangible things. It is the emotion and hatred behind words that make them hurt. This is why using derogatory marks, to me, is not an issue of political correctness. I really do not care if people use the "R" word at all but I do care if they are using it as a put down or hateful remark. I think it is important for us to be more aware of what we say and who we are around when we say things that may be hurtful but I do not under any circumstances believe that stopping the usage of the "R" word will do anything to further the respect of intellectually disabled people. Like the campaigns and organizations have said; the only way to end the nasty remarks and opinions is to educate society and to prove that intellectually disabled people are valuable members of society. Once people stop using the "R" word, they will find another word to take its place unless the stigma is eradicated.

     I am torn on this issue but resolve it by simply saying this; don't waste time being a terrible person. Most of us have less than 100 years of life before eternal non-existance. Value all life, no matter how different than you they may be. Everyone has a right to dignity and their own happiness in these fleeting moments. 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/07/living/end-r-word/index.html?iref=allsearch 

We Have A Right To Swear On The Internet

    In a technologically advanced age such as the one we now experience, the flashy new gadgets always intrigue us. We are just now however realizing the subtleties of this technology, its effect on our kids, and what that means. Since the popularization of the internet, it has largely been a free domain where pretty much anything goes granted it doesn’t involve illegal activities (and even that is hard to stop with torrenting and online piracy). In 1996, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Communications Decency Act, a law that would censor and give control of the government to prevent “indecent” or “partly offensive” material from reaching our children. Of course, when you want something done say it’s for the children. In a landmark ruling, the bill was shot down and citizen’s rights to free speech were protected on the internet in the same manner that they are protected in print, television, and radio. Where does this leave us? Well we have liberties that are for the most part being protected but there are people out there who want us to be blindly obeying, people who want to suppress our rights to free speech and mass communication.

     The next issue we face is technologies growing impact on our kids. Not necessarily lewd material but when just about every family has access to the internet and cell phones are available to kids younger and younger all the time, they are going to be exposed to things that they shouldn’t be. Profanity in particular is a staple of the internet. While what we say is protected by our freedom of speech it has an effect on our society. With Facebook and the rise of social media into daily life, it is easier than ever to contact people and talk about yourself relentlessly. Issues over cyber bullying and profane language have in late been dealt with by schools. Students who attend the same school have gotten into trouble over things they’ve said online by their administration. Where does the hand of government end? Unless the negative messages and whatnot occurs during school hours AT school, what right does the school have to intervene. It is not their responsibility nor their right to regulate what goes on beyond their direct authority. In several court cases involving students voicing their opinion about teachers and other classmates, kids have been suspended from school and have faced other consequences issued by the administration. In most if not all of these cases the students whom did not post anything threatening or violent have had the schools decisions reversed and in some cases the students have been monetarily compensated. We are kids but we still have rights like adults do when it comes to free speech and just because they are bigger than us or more influential does not give them the power to belittle and take away our fundamental liberties.

     My teacher won’t let us swear on the internet during our online activities. That is understandable to me but does this violate our rights? Does he really have the power to tell us that? Since when does simply writing a swear word especially in an online domain warrant a reaction from a teacher? I don’t know but I want to find out. It doesn’t really bother me that I can’t swear because I probably wouldn’t have anyway but I want to be able to if need be. Yes, he doesn’t want his twitter feed filled with profanity but other than stopping us from using internet in the classroom again, I don’t think the administration has any power over what we say. As a libertarian I like to exercise my rights every chance I get, partly to be a pain in the neck but mostly to show other people that they don’t have to be afraid of authority. Well, when the police are brutally attacking Occupy protesters you can never be too sure about the people “protecting” us but for the most part exercising your liberties is a healthy thing to do and even a responsibility. I don’t want to get into trouble with my school so I’m not going to swear online during class but when I’m outside of school I will say and do what I please. My conduct outside of school is not their responsibility, authority, or right to uphold.

10 New Years Resolutions For the World

1. Focus on the secular needs of the world. You can witness secular issues and can physically change them. Simply praying for something to happen will do nothing.

2. Join together for justice. If an unjust government or legislating body makes decisions that are not in favor of the people, form groups and a movement to try and end that injustice.

3. End your narcissistic mentality. Change begins with the individual and in order for you to accomplish anything, you need to shed your ego. That means everyone needs to be more humble.

4. Focus on real, important issues rather than pouring money into fruitless causes. Governments should spend money to help citizens, not to waste on failing endeavors. We're looking at you, the "war" on drugs.

5. Shed your prejudices. There will always be judgement but change begins with the individual.

6. Learn as much as you can. Knowledge is power and few have the drive to attain it. If everyone was properly educated, the world would be a much more intelligent and reasonable place.

7. Compromise. World politics is always a messy subject. Foreign policy would be much easier if compromises could be made and cooperation was mutual.

8. Try and become as self reliant as possible. Whether it be a person or a country, needing the aid of something else can end badly. Our manufacturing is reliant on China's cheap labor and look where the jobs have gone. As a society as well, self reliance leads to accomplishment.

9. Don't hold back moderate change. Change is a good thing. It's fresh, it's new. Technological progression is what has provided our world with man made wonders. Don't be the force restricting our change in technology , be the force changing our world for the better.

10. Forget about religion unless you like seeing people put complete and absolute faith in a make believe friend. Religion has caused more chaos in recorded history than any other force. Forget about what your parents told you, they are wrong. Don't commit acts of justice in order to get into heaven or receive some reward, do it because it helps fellow man. Remember, science flies you to the moon, religion flies you into buildings.