Monday Musings...
Okay, so I wake up today, pretty much KNOWING it's a Monday, and by now all of us know the drill...
Mondays pretty much bite, right?
I guess the only reason we DO have Mondays is that so the rest of the week has a starting point.
Other than that, Mondays are pretty much useless.
Now, there comes that time, such as today, that not only exemplifies WHAT Mondays are all about, but also winds up screaming in your ears that this HAS to be a Monday. No other day of any week found in any month could have such things that get you going "WTF?" SO quickly.
And, as usual, I have found the proof that bears this out.
Strap yourselves in, 'cause this might be a bumpy ride.
*** Ten Shot At Black Expo in Indianapolis.
Here's the link to the story and video:
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/indiana/downtown-shooting-injures-nine
Now, we ALL know what an "expo" is, right?
The word EXPO is a shortened version of the word EXPOSITION, or "trade fair".
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest
products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities.
Now the Black Expo (which has it's own license plate in Indiana...go figure) Summer Celebration is the largest ethnic/cultural event in the United States.
This ten-day event, held in the Indiana Convention Center as well as various places around Indianapolis, draws African-Americans to Indianapolis from both around the state and around the country. Organized in 1970, the Black Expo has provided networking, educational, career, and cultural opportunities for its guests.
Participation at the 2006 Summer Celebration reached record highs, with over 350,000 in attendance.
Just so we're clear on the PURPOSE of the event...for reference sake.
Now WHY would anyone use this event as a place to practice their (obviously terrible) shooting skills, I ask you?
Can't people JUST go to a trade fair and have a good time WITHOUT being a target for the ballistically-challenged??
Speaking of which, you NEVER see this kind of thing occur at a FIREARMS trade fair...do you?
(wonder why?)
It's getting to the point where people of color can't even enjoy their OWN events...so my question should be this:
WHERE is the OUTRAGE?
WHEN are we going to see something get done in THEIR community to make ALL people safer?
Currently IMPD have NO suspects and NO motive.
*** This is another story, somewhat similar in scope:
Seventeen People Killed By Gunmen at Party.
here's the link to the story:
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/officials-say-gunmen-kill-17-at-party-in-mexico/19558786
Here we have people attending a party when several men roll up and shoot anyone in their sights (with .223 rounds) in Piedra Negras, Mexico.
Of course there HAS been increased drug cartel activity in northern Mexico of late, but why THIS particular party?
And why turn it into such a horrendous massacre?
NO suspects and NO motive to this scenario from the police there.
There is ONE major difference between these two shooting incidents, aside from the racial backgrounds.
One group of shooters either practiced a lot more and/or shot a lot more (120+ casings found at the scene in Mexico).
Over 28,000 people have been killed in Mexico since Calderone declared his war on the drug cartels there.
And the body count continues to rise.
Here's more proof that it's a Monday...
*** A Chicago off-duty officer was killed while cleaning his car.
Here's the link to this story:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/07/michael-bailey-chicago-police-killed-park-manor.html
This is the THIRD time an officer was shot and killed there since MAY.
Officer Michael Bailey, 62, was THREE WEEKS from retirement.
But several thugs wanted to deny him that right.
Police have no suspects, but believe the motive was theft of Bailey's new Buick, that he had bought himself as a retirement gift.
Now, you have to understand that these predatory beasts are only on this earth to serve THEMSELVES, and have no problem with taking from their OWN people (as was attempted in Chicago with officer Bailey). Even identifying himself AS an officer, was not enough to deter these savages.
How many more officers need to be shot before cities and departments across our nation start taking the fight to the streets and performing a much needed service by ridding us OF such vermin?
Am I promoting a vigilante mentality with law-enforcement?
No, but I am saying to take the kid gloves off and start treating these animals the way they are asking TO BE TREATED.
If I didn't know better, I'd swear that between the flawed judicial system, budget cutbacks, and a mindset that wants criminals rehabilitated and tossed back onto our streets to do the exact same things they did before getting arrested, it looks like someone really WANTS the police out of the way.
It won't be an in-your-face method, but a subtle, one nudge at a time method...frustrate the police to the point of making mistakes, then have the media pounce on them like hyenas on an injured lion.
Get the police to second guess anything and everything.
Get them to hesitate that one moment.
Like I say...sure seems like someone is doing all they can to keep the police from doing all they're supposed to do.
Traffic stops alone won't ensure a safe city. Allowing gangs to grow like the disease they are, won't make streets safer.
Hell, if the gang and drug problem across this nation was a lot better under control, we would NOT have officers like Mike Bailey (and Officer Wortham from a while back) getting killed in front of their OWN house now, would we?
*** Last week, the broken pipe one mile under the Gulf of Mexico was capped off...problems solved, right?
Well...maybe not.
The USCG is now saying there is "seepage" on the sea bed, and that the cap may have to be removed.
(WTF?)
Here's a link to the AP story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100719/APA/1007190516
I thought they (BP) were drilling a "relief well" nearby to keep this from happening.
Guess we're not quite finished here, are we?
I guess we COULD have been a lot farther along, had the President NOT sat on his hands for the first 50 or so days, right?
*** Finally today, there is a minuscule ray of hope in the weird crap going on...sort of.
I found this article in today's paper (story dated 2 July..again, go figure):
http://www.tampabay.com/features/has-technology-actually-made-us-less-connected/1106479
Now this is the SOURCE article.
What I find amusing about this is that this is exactly the same stuff I preach about here regularly.
We, as a (global) society are in fear of rapidly losing our ability to personally interact.
I am usually raving on about how technology is causing us to lose our "manners".
This is a very good read, and why OUR local paper took about TWO WEEKS to print it, amazes me.
It is this very "disconnect" that is causing SO many of our problems today.
I stand by what I believe, because you can't go anywhere without seeing it.
We need to get off these oxytosin and dopamine dependencies and get back to being HUMAN again.
And we need to start ASAP.
But hey, that's just common sense, right?
It's a much better way to begin one's week, wouldn't you agree?
Sure you would...that's why you stop by and read this little old blog.
So be well, make a difference today, and above all...
Stay safe out there, America.