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Tag: repost from Facebook

They aren’t killing the Carltons.

Someone pissed me off this morning (from another comment thread, share this if you wish):

They aren’t killing the Carltons.

What a blind joke of a statement. As if the problem here is not enough black people act “Carlton” enough to avoid getting shot by police.
Since I’ve been compared more than once to that character, how about I let you in on what that means?

Being a Carlton means I had an almost pathological awareness of not just my actions, but the appearance of my actions. From the way I dress, to the words I choose, to ensuring I go above and beyond in public to assure anyone around me I’m not a fucking predator about to steal, kill, or rape them, most of my personality and interactions with people who don’t know me involve appearing as wholesome as possible. It means not using a fucking reusable shopping bag to hold my stuff when I go shopping, because I don’t want anyone to get the idea I may be shoplifting. It means having a whole list of daily behaviors no one white I’ve ever met thinks a moment about without discussion, because they are not under the same kind of social constraints.

Hanging out with black friends growing up, it meant getting asked why I was trying to be white. Hanging out with white friends growing up, it meant mostly making sure they stayed out of trouble. They didn’t feel the same restrictions I felt, and I learned quickly from the few times bad things almost went down that the hammer would drop quicker and harder on me than it would on them.

Being a Carlton means having to explain to my wife as we plan to have a baby why we have to raise that child to be more concerned and aware of how people perceive them than their mother has to.

Being a Carlton meant I spent four years in college earning a degree in law enforcement, and another five as a cop, because being a normal citizen wasn’t good enough. You throw statistics out about black violent crime and call them facts, but you don’t say anything about the complicated issues that go into that number. You say the black community needs to get it together, that these people are at fault for making the police shoot them. You spout symptoms, but want no discussion of causality. You are doing the same stuff you accuse the BLM movement of doing.

So the solution is everyone should be a god damned Carlton. Go back and watch that show. Look past the comic relief and the dancing, and you’ll see a character repressing so much of himself because he knows to even live a normal life he will be held to a higher standard than others around him, and I’m not talking about the other black people.

The next time you get it in your mind it’s as easy for black people to live regular lives and to be seen as law-abiding contributing citizens, think back to this conversation. With all of our social changes, affirmative action, whatever; on my worst day I’ve still had to watch myself and my actions more than my white peers, the entire time pushing against being one of the statistics you have pointed out. Being a Carlton is not an easy button, and it’s not something I would wish upon people or make a social goal for others. It’s a state of being you’ll never know, and will never have to experience.

Author Alex CoxPosted on July 8, 2016July 13, 2016Categories Social IssuesTags carlton, language, police violence, race, repost from Facebook, social inequalityLeave a comment on They aren’t killing the Carltons.

Why we can’t have nice things.

It appears we are unable to have a serious national conversation about gun control. Time and again, any mention of restricting the purchase of firearms or type of available firearms gets shot down under the false belief it will lead to mass searches by government thugs wanting to take people’s guns.

I’m going to take a page out of the Trump playbook and say something completely ludicrous so people can see what it would look like to have someone go after their guns.

Repeal the 2nd Amendment.

If you can’t handle a conversation about keeping people on terrorist watch lists from buying a gun, if your first response to any hint of a national discourse after yet another mass shooting is to cuddle up with your gunmetal until someone pries it from your cold, dead hands, then maybe that’s the conversation we deserve.

Like I said before, it’s a completely ludicrous idea. I can’t believe I’m even posting about it. That’s how ridiculous this conversation has become. I’m a gun owner. I’ve carried a gun, and I’ve helped and encouraged others to do the same. However, if this actually passes, if the 2nd Amendment is ever repealed, I’ll be first in line to turn in mine.

While I’m completely off my rocker, I’m going to take another step. Just so this isn’t some passing post in the night. I signed a petition, and I’m linking it below. It’s not far from it’s tiny little goal; there’s more than enough people on my friend’s list to cover the difference and get it some visibility. It is, after all, a completely ridiculous idea with no chance in hell passing, but it’s a message; THIS is what calling for an end to private gun ownership looks like.

Share this post. Call me what you will. Say the real liberal agenda is revealed or whatever people say to affirm their conspiracy theories are real. Next time someone tries to talk with you about putting in some purchasing restrictions and additional background checks, know the difference between regulation and prohibition.

Sign the petition: Repeal the Second Amendment Now
I just signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama: Repeal the Second Amendment Now. This anachronistic, poorly worded amendment prevents us from passing real gun control measures that will be effective in stopping the ongoing…
PETITIONS.MOVEON.ORG
Author Alex CoxPosted on June 14, 2016July 13, 2016Categories PoliticsTags gun control, gun violence, petitions, Politics, repost from FacebookLeave a comment on Why we can’t have nice things.

We need some catch phrases.

Dear Fellow Spiritually Inert Atheists of The Internet (SIATI – pronounced “shxxxy”, as in “fellow shxxxy people”):

I have recently observed we have a lack of quick catch phrases to use on social media to denote care, concern, and empathy to others with minimal effort. We have need of language to denote a brief moment of loving thought, while seamlessly moving on to other matters of the world. To that end, let’s review existing norms to eliminate existing options, and start making suggestions on proper verbiage for fellow SIATIs.

Recent language I have seen which should be excluded:

  • “I’ll pray for you.” And derivatives. — obviously a no go.
  • “Sending positive vibes.” — Unless you have a gift order in to Adam & Eve for someone, how are you sending vibes? Weird, possibly creepy.
  • “Wishing you light.” — I can’t even decode what this means. Are we making a critical judgement about light? Is light better than darkness? What is the substantive nature of light that is good? Too confusing.
  • “Bless your heart.” — Used by passive aggressive Southerners to backstab unsuspecting Yankees for generations. Not a great option, but if you’re a Southern SIATI, may work.

Possible alternatives from cultural references:

  • “Live long and prosper” — I can’t say this to someone with a straight face.
  • “Be well.” — It’s a CVS/Walgreen/California thing. I’m not sure if this is a command or a blessing. Can be taken kind of rude, as in “go be well somewhere else”. That’s how I interpret it at Walgreens anyway.
  • “Good journey.” — I can’t remember where I heard this one. I think it was some shitty sci-fi flick from the 80s or 90s. IMDB is no help. If someone has a couple of hours to research this, whatevs.

My suggestions:

  • “I’ll keep you in my thoughts.” — and I’m gonna think reeeeaaaal hard about it.
  • “Hugs.” — who doesn’t like hugs? Awww. Well, except for creepy, unsolicited, too long hugs. Nobody likes those.
  • “Go forth and kick ass.” — I like this one. Why should the work of thinking and caring be all on me? Don’t these things usually come down to whoever needs support just going out and doing their thing anyway? I mean, I hope they rock at it, but there isn’t much I can do unless it involves actual help or resources. Maybe a little encouragement? I don’t know.

We need better marketing.

As SIATIs, we are centuries behind in the language of quickly expressing our thoughts and care to others. Help our cause and submit ideas for improved social media correspondence.

Author’s Note:

This is a work of obvious humor, and its intent is to reflect on the sometimes ludicrous twists of language some of us without a spiritual belief take when essentially saying “I like you, you got this, and I’m thinking of you at your time of need.” If you’re offended by it, you have my regrets, as I definitely do not write this to repudiate any of my friends or family who offer their prayers, wishes, or light in support of anyone, me included. If you ever have a post on social media, and I respond with something like “‘atta boy”, you can rest assured that the social media and marketing people for atheists are hard at work improving my language, and I am truly sending my sincere thoughts of concern, or ass kicking.
Sincerely, with all love,
Alex Cox
Author Alex CoxPosted on May 19, 2016July 13, 2016Categories Religion — or lack thereof.Tags atheism, humor, internet life, repost from Facebook, what to sayLeave a comment on We need some catch phrases.

What would you do?

What would you do if a group of people:
– threatened to divide your family, take your home, and send you “back” to a country you don’t know and may have never been?
– told you that because you don’t practice the “right” religion, you cannot be trusted, do not qualify for public assistance or public service, and anyone else like you cannot enter the country, even if it means they will face death?
– made it illegal for you to enter the public restroom of your gender, presuming your only purpose to enter would be to molest children and victimize others?
– tried to prevent you and citizens like you from voting by systematically reducing the number of polling locations and hours in areas where you are likely to live?
– began openly saying phrases and reintroducing terms used during an era of history where people of your skin color were openly persecuted, segregated, and dehumanized?

I haven’t known anyone in my life who would stand for this to happen to them and not say anything, not do anything, and not fight against it. I see people every day on my timeline that are doing this to others. Many of you have been friends and people who along the way have supported and helped me. I have difficulty understanding how you can distinguish between a person who was in your life personally and a person or group of people who are not.

I keep you on my friends list and timeline, and keep my picture up on my profile as a reminder that you know a human being who is different than you and can be affected by some of these hurtful ideas.
This is why I don’t remove you.
This is why I don’t post snarky or crude things about you.
This is why I separate a single political leader and group’s ramblings for power from their followers as people.

Make no mistake about me, I’m not a “that good one” anymore.
– I will support any effort to shut Trump’s insanity and his movement down.
– I don’t care if the nearest voting location is 100 miles away and only open for 30 minutes at 5am and I have to have a long form birth certificate tattooed on my ass, I’m going to vote, and I’ll support others to do the same.
– I support full LGBTQ equality.
– I support the complete separation of church and state, with it, religious freedom and equality, including the freedom to not practice any religion.
– I support an immigration policy that is open and sensible, recognizing the millions of undocumented immigrants already here who have built lives, homes, and families and are the reason we have affordable food and services. We have used them as the new slavery to build our country, and they have earned a place here.
– I support the end of the “war on drugs” and the mass incarcerations and uncontrolled property seizures resulting from it.

I don’t demand that you agree with me. I don’t demand that you go back where you came from. I don’t demand any change upon your daily life, the freedom of your family, or the safety of your home. Everything I support can be accomplished with no ill impact upon the life and lifestyle of the people who would oppose it. Unless, that is, you just can’t stand for other people to be as free as you believe you are.

Author Alex CoxPosted on April 7, 2016July 13, 2016Categories Politics, Religion — or lack thereof., Social IssuesTags equality, immigration, Politics, race, religion, repost from Facebook, Social Issues, TrumpLeave a comment on What would you do?
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