This might be quite an interesting stance to take on this subject. But, I believe marijuana should be legal…medicinally, of course. I will wholeheartedly back my claim up with the following points. I hope I don’t get in too much trouble for being too convincing.
First, no one would feel the need for smuggling a legal drug. If marijuana was to be legal, it would be one less drug the narcotic regulators would be worried about. That means the petty drug dealers would be off the streets, even the big time dealers. Or if they are still on the streets, it wouldn’t be for marijuana. The police can actually concentrate more of their efforts on fighting more severe crimes. The jails can be better utilized. This would lead me into my next point.
Second, the government can actually save and make money. The government would save on not regulating marijuana. The funds allocated to regulating marijuana can be redirected to more useful causes. Also, the government can make money on actually taxing marijuana, just like excise tax on cigarettes. So, not only would the government save the tax payers money allocated to the judicial system for those in violation of illegal marijuana sale, they can make money, on taxing the legal marijuana sale. And, people can grow it without fear of being caught; which leads me to another point.
If people can grow it without fear, this is in essence a job sector; jobs for those who grow it, and jobs for those who tax the sale of marijuana. The job of growing marijuana can be a job that would not need tremendous amount of specialization. So, even if someone was a high school dropout, this would be a job they can apply for. And this new workforce section would also have to pay taxes, which won’t be a bad deal for the government.
I realize that there might be a blanket counter argument that it’s addicting and is a gateway drug. But, let’s be honest, there are worse drugs out there that are completely legal. Alcohol is legal, and so are cigarettes. These drugs are even more harmful than marijuana. Cigarettes are one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. And alcohol detoxification is so severe it can kill. Marijuana won’t do that. Not to talk about the amount of drinking related accidents every year.
Besides, marijuana has some good benefits. It increases appetite, reduces nausea, and has the calming effect that is associated with cigarettes, without the severe side effects.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Ignored to Death
Kim Jae-beom and wife Kim Yun-jeong are the Korean parents who neglected their three month old daughter to death. The couple neglected their kid for an addictive video game, Prius that they played for hours at a time. Observers would cringe at the news, and so will parents without kids, for whatever reason. Yes, neglecting one’s own baby is pretty bad. But, parents whose kids commit suicide after being bullied at school are not far off.
It does seem mean to add insult to injury by telling grieving parents that they killed their kids. But, with the increasing rate of teenage suicides due to bulling, it needs to be in black and white, again and again.
The assumption that the Korean parents were selfish and not mature enough is not farfetched. Parents across the globe are guilty of this not just the Korean parents. Some parents leave their kids vulnerable to the whims and caprices of the outside world too early. It should not be so.
Parents should be more involved in their children’s everyday life. Charity begins at home. Don’t just ask “How was your day?,” go further. It is common knowledge that a child would not open up to their parents easily. It’s naïve to think so. Parents have to press with a sense of balance.
Be around them more, especially early in life; don’t be too busy. Do not leave a kid unattended on the internet. You’re just allowing them to get tortured by their bullies around the clock; when the physical finishes at school, the virtual starts online. It can be tough not to cave under those circumstances.
Build the child’s esteem. “I got pushed at home, and at school I was a wuss,” said by Pharell of the music group N.E.R.D. said it best. A child does not need the biggest build, fame or the smartest mouth to escape being bullied. They do need a huge esteem though. With a solid esteem, a kid can do wonders.
We should not advocate violence. However, a child with a good esteem would not get run over by anyone. The child would be silent when they need to, talk when they need to, stand and fight when they need to, and back-off when they need to. Someone like that is not a target for a bully. Even if that person was a target initially, that esteem would push the bully away to those of lower esteem; those easy to pick-on.
Finally, don’t pass the bulk. Don’t blame outside parties; the teachers, the schools, the bullies, the video games, the movies, rap music, and everything else. It’s not the teachers’, nor the schools’ duty to babysit your child; neither is it the bully’s. The complaint is that the teacher or school should catch the trend. Well, if a parent is more sensitive, they would catch it too.
And to the video games and other things that take the blame, they are rated for a reason. They are supposed to be for adults. At that point, the parent should exercise their discretion in not exposing their kids to such, especially around them.
It all comes back to the central point; neglect. Just like the Korean parents neglected their child to death, so are most of the parents of the children that committed suicide due to bullying. It is just a different form of neglect. Parents, get more involved in your kid(s) life.
It does seem mean to add insult to injury by telling grieving parents that they killed their kids. But, with the increasing rate of teenage suicides due to bulling, it needs to be in black and white, again and again.
The assumption that the Korean parents were selfish and not mature enough is not farfetched. Parents across the globe are guilty of this not just the Korean parents. Some parents leave their kids vulnerable to the whims and caprices of the outside world too early. It should not be so.
Parents should be more involved in their children’s everyday life. Charity begins at home. Don’t just ask “How was your day?,” go further. It is common knowledge that a child would not open up to their parents easily. It’s naïve to think so. Parents have to press with a sense of balance.
Be around them more, especially early in life; don’t be too busy. Do not leave a kid unattended on the internet. You’re just allowing them to get tortured by their bullies around the clock; when the physical finishes at school, the virtual starts online. It can be tough not to cave under those circumstances.
Build the child’s esteem. “I got pushed at home, and at school I was a wuss,” said by Pharell of the music group N.E.R.D. said it best. A child does not need the biggest build, fame or the smartest mouth to escape being bullied. They do need a huge esteem though. With a solid esteem, a kid can do wonders.
We should not advocate violence. However, a child with a good esteem would not get run over by anyone. The child would be silent when they need to, talk when they need to, stand and fight when they need to, and back-off when they need to. Someone like that is not a target for a bully. Even if that person was a target initially, that esteem would push the bully away to those of lower esteem; those easy to pick-on.
Finally, don’t pass the bulk. Don’t blame outside parties; the teachers, the schools, the bullies, the video games, the movies, rap music, and everything else. It’s not the teachers’, nor the schools’ duty to babysit your child; neither is it the bully’s. The complaint is that the teacher or school should catch the trend. Well, if a parent is more sensitive, they would catch it too.
And to the video games and other things that take the blame, they are rated for a reason. They are supposed to be for adults. At that point, the parent should exercise their discretion in not exposing their kids to such, especially around them.
It all comes back to the central point; neglect. Just like the Korean parents neglected their child to death, so are most of the parents of the children that committed suicide due to bullying. It is just a different form of neglect. Parents, get more involved in your kid(s) life.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Blame Self, not Rap Music
Rap music has become the punching bag for many ignorant people. It is blamed for the slightest misdemeanor in the society. But in the society, where folks want to blame everything else for their shortcomings, this is not surprising. The accusations on rap music are numerous and are now a dead horse, which need not be further beaten, but buried.
“Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me,” the rapper Sean Carter (Jay-z) said in the song, Ignorant S***. “Still that ain't the blame for all the s*** that's happened to me. Are you saying what I'm spitting, is worse than these celebutantes showing they kitten [privates], you kidding? Let’s stop the BS-ing. Till we all without sin, let's quit the pulpit-ing,” Mr. Carter continued. He said it best.
“Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me.” There are worse movies, games and websites out there. Under movies, Scarface, Godfather and Good fellows; under games, Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil, and God of War are some examples that have arguably greater adverse effects on the youths. And only ignorance can lead to a claim of oblivion of the fact that there are numerous vile websites out there. Some are websites that contain racist, Anti-Semite, or just purely chauvinistic views. When you look at all the above examples, rap is the least of the society’s worries
“Are you saying what I'm spitting, is worse than these celebutantes showing they kitten [privates], you kidding?” Rappers share similar struggles as other celebrities; just different backgrounds. Zydeco musicians, as well as country, jazz, pop, rock, R&B all need love; politicians, and golfers too. They all need folks to treat them just like normal people. Celebrities across the fray struggle with alcohol, drugs, and infidelity issues. Also, majority express their backgrounds and present struggles in similar vocabulary, just on a different stage, beat or rhythm. Song themes and language choice are also similar; silver, status, sex, and substance use. Majority are profane, and demeaning to others unlike them. Rap was just birth from a movement; a voice for the disenfranchised. So, a different origin should not brand rap as evil.
“Let’s stop the BS-ing. Till we all without sin, let's quit the pulpit-ing.” A genre of music can’t be singled out as evil, and the others exonerated. Reggae music and those associated with it are not branded weed smokers. Neither is country music and those associated with it branded suicidal. Nor, the heavy metal folks branded with serial killings. So, why are the rap folks singled out, and branded with violence? There are good, edifying rappers, just are there are of other genres; Common, Talib, Jay Electronica, Mos Def…and on. They even have bad songs, if you search hard enough; just like any other musician.
And with Ludacris coming to town in April, some folks might pee on themselves out of extreme discomfort. Why? because a rapper is coming…Big deal. His words are dirty and offensive. He promotes violence. He’s this. He’s that. Calm down. The toilet is a better place to pee. How come similar concerns were not raised about the other non-rap artists that have been invited to ULM? Hmmm...
Its only ignorance or close-mindedness that would lead people to conclude that rap music is the society’s problem. It’s also thoughtless to victimize rap music, or those associated with it. Rap did not put the drugs, or guns, or knives in the possession of the abusers, they chose to acquire the previously mentioned items, and abuse them. Don’t be a fool. “Viewer’s [or in this case ‘listener’s’] discretion is advised.” Clear your mind of all that clutter. Go, and enjoy the concert. All the performers are sensible, I believe and know that there’s a place and time for everything. An album, mix-tape, or single of the general masses is different from a college performance. Even if they do, listener’s discretion is advised.
“Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me,” the rapper Sean Carter (Jay-z) said in the song, Ignorant S***. “Still that ain't the blame for all the s*** that's happened to me. Are you saying what I'm spitting, is worse than these celebutantes showing they kitten [privates], you kidding? Let’s stop the BS-ing. Till we all without sin, let's quit the pulpit-ing,” Mr. Carter continued. He said it best.
“Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me.” There are worse movies, games and websites out there. Under movies, Scarface, Godfather and Good fellows; under games, Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil, and God of War are some examples that have arguably greater adverse effects on the youths. And only ignorance can lead to a claim of oblivion of the fact that there are numerous vile websites out there. Some are websites that contain racist, Anti-Semite, or just purely chauvinistic views. When you look at all the above examples, rap is the least of the society’s worries
“Are you saying what I'm spitting, is worse than these celebutantes showing they kitten [privates], you kidding?” Rappers share similar struggles as other celebrities; just different backgrounds. Zydeco musicians, as well as country, jazz, pop, rock, R&B all need love; politicians, and golfers too. They all need folks to treat them just like normal people. Celebrities across the fray struggle with alcohol, drugs, and infidelity issues. Also, majority express their backgrounds and present struggles in similar vocabulary, just on a different stage, beat or rhythm. Song themes and language choice are also similar; silver, status, sex, and substance use. Majority are profane, and demeaning to others unlike them. Rap was just birth from a movement; a voice for the disenfranchised. So, a different origin should not brand rap as evil.
“Let’s stop the BS-ing. Till we all without sin, let's quit the pulpit-ing.” A genre of music can’t be singled out as evil, and the others exonerated. Reggae music and those associated with it are not branded weed smokers. Neither is country music and those associated with it branded suicidal. Nor, the heavy metal folks branded with serial killings. So, why are the rap folks singled out, and branded with violence? There are good, edifying rappers, just are there are of other genres; Common, Talib, Jay Electronica, Mos Def…and on. They even have bad songs, if you search hard enough; just like any other musician.
And with Ludacris coming to town in April, some folks might pee on themselves out of extreme discomfort. Why? because a rapper is coming…Big deal. His words are dirty and offensive. He promotes violence. He’s this. He’s that. Calm down. The toilet is a better place to pee. How come similar concerns were not raised about the other non-rap artists that have been invited to ULM? Hmmm...
Its only ignorance or close-mindedness that would lead people to conclude that rap music is the society’s problem. It’s also thoughtless to victimize rap music, or those associated with it. Rap did not put the drugs, or guns, or knives in the possession of the abusers, they chose to acquire the previously mentioned items, and abuse them. Don’t be a fool. “Viewer’s [or in this case ‘listener’s’] discretion is advised.” Clear your mind of all that clutter. Go, and enjoy the concert. All the performers are sensible, I believe and know that there’s a place and time for everything. An album, mix-tape, or single of the general masses is different from a college performance. Even if they do, listener’s discretion is advised.
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