Oxford Tragedy

Americans are Lemmings and the Precipice is Getting Close

Once again American families are in deep mourning for their kids, both the deceased and those injured or traumatized. Most of you could write this introduction and they would be very similar. The standard expressions have all been repeated hundreds of times. When will it end? When will we come to our senses? Never again! Congress must act! Here is another fact - they never do.

As well on the other side the gun lovers echo their standard lines again. Most famous: "Guns don't kill people - people kill people." They always leave the second part out - people WITH GUNS kill people. More guns are still their answer.

I have written a lot about this. Apparently the rest of the world is wrong or doesn't understand that America is different. Americans must have their guns. All the countries with low numbers of deaths from guns are lying. They would be even more safe if they all had guns. OK NRA - whatever you say.

Sad as well is the fact that the family of the shooter will now watch as their son's life - although he is still alive - is ruined. If it is true that he used a gun his father recently purchased then they must also pay an additional penalty. Perhaps this will teach other parents to keep their guns away from their kids or face the consequences. The second amendment does not prevent punishment for misuse of the arms people bear. You can own and bear a weapon but you damned well better take care when it comes to why, when, and how you use it!

I am Canadian. Lots of Canadians own guns as well but you never see them and they are not typically on display or the subject of coffee chatter like some new car or toy.

Is it just me or is this not ironic in an 'only in the big, bad, U.S.A.' kind of way? Just a couple of weeks ago the media was dedicated to two trials - one a boy and the other men claiming in both cases that they had to shoot people because they feared for their lives. Now in the same country another boy cowardly murders as many as he can with no such justification at all. Young people feared for their own lives but their only self defense was to hide or to run. Guns were the implement of death in each case. They did indeed kill people.

The American solution? Those kids should have been able to shoot back. Guns under every Christmas tree!

Like other great nations in history, America is in sharp decline not only from the top down but also from the bottom up.

God help the country when the trends meet.

#thebrewsterblock

Lauren Boebert, Trump Wanna Be

Put a Sock in it Lauren

Here we go again - another Republican figure acting out like a kid in a high school yard. Next we'll be hearing "Oh ya - well my old man makes more money than your old man!"

I just watched a video of her looking straight faced into the camera, claiming that she "...will always put America first, never sympathizing with terrorists!" Really? Perhaps I missed her utter condemnation of the Trump supporters on January 6. Not only were they terrorists and Trump supporters (many admitted it), they wanted to hang Mike Pence and God knows what they would have done to Nancy Pelosi. Apparently that brand of terrorism is OK in her books - assuming she ever read one.

She goes on to say that she will always shoot straight with you - no doubt being big on guns herself - and that she will call out anti-Americanism. Once again - remember January 6th? Trying to topple your own government and badly damaging the Capital is a tad anti-American to most other people. Finally she says that she is here to protect your freedom. Then why does she support the Big Lie and a party which is already changing laws to put in the big fix in many states to rig the next election. They tried to rig the last one but fortunately failed.

We all know what she is doing - her best impression of The Donald, who mocked the handicapped, made disparaging remarks about a female competitor, and displayed an even higher degree of immaturity. Perhaps she is taking a cue from Marjorie Taylor Green but why on earth anyone would want to emulate her in any fashion defies understanding.

Maybe ending with a similarly disgusting remark directed at her might give some idea how Ilhan Omar felt. Lauren is a very attractive woman. She could probably model swimsuits or lingerie. Perhaps America would be better off if she did. Sorry ladies - other ladies - for that very sexist remark.

The problem is she reminds me with both her appearance and intellect of another woman who almost became Vice President. She stood for America as well and looked at Russia from her living room window. Look what happened to her.

Let me close with one VERY scary thought. Imagine this woman as President one day, MTG as Vice President, and Kevin McCarty wearing one of his many faces as Speaker.

Are you waking up yet America?

#thebrewsterblock

Ahmaud #Arbery Trial

What About the Victim's RIght to Defend?

In this prominent case a lot has been said about whether the accused had a right to defend himself. The Prosecutor explained in detail that there was no citizen's arrest taking place and therefore since the accused had a weapon his right to self defence did not exist.

It was also pointed out that the victim was being chased by the three accused who used trucks in their pursuit. One even referred to trapping Mr. Arbery "like a rat."

I do not recall hearing anything about Mr. Arbery having a right to defend HIMSELF. Why not? It might be a foolish strategy to pit your own fists against a man pointing a loaded shotgun at you but with his retreat route cut off what else could he do if he feared being shot in the back as he fled? His defence strategy is not on trial here. He is dead so can not express his fears and feelings at that moment.

Put yourself in his position. Do you not have a right to try to push the gun away or even to grab it out of your attacker's hands?

This is like going in to rob a bank with a loaded gun; encountering an armed guard; killing that guard with your gun; and then claiming it was self defense.

Welcome to the U.S.A.

#thebrewsterblock