I believe

There are so many opinions in this world, some based on reason, most based on emotion. I try every day to base my opinions on reason but that is a battle I often lose. Sometimes it strikes me to just sit and think about what I truly believe. It's surprising how daunting this task truly can be, especially as a woman since women tend to empathize and see two or even three sides to everything. Here are some things that I believe, atleast with the current knowledge I have.
On illegal immigration:
If someone is illegally in this country, they are breaking the law. That's why it's called illegal. They don't get privileges that the tax payers get. However, people who want to come to this country for a better life, to work and love and care for their families, should absolutely be given a Visa and allowed to come/stay here. Raiding factories and such is idiotic. If the factory employs illegal immigrants, fine the factory and use the money to pay for Visas for the workers. Legal immigrants pay taxes and pay into the system, just like the rest of us. Legal immigrants are not afraid of the police or the INS so they can and will report crimes. Just this would reduce crimes in many neighborhoods. Legal immigrants are entitled to social security and medicare and all of the things citizens pay for and are entitled to receive. The answer is NOT to send them back to their home countries to live in poverty. That's just stupid. Nor is the answer building a wall. We aren't China and they aren't invading Mongolians. We are a country founded on immigrants looking for a better life. We can no more turn people away and keep our dignity than we can turn aluminum into gold. Do we want criminals here, of course not, but the majority of illegal immigrants are not criminals. They are people sick of barely surviving in their own countries. While it can take time to get a Visa, there should be checkpoints at the border where immigrants can sign in, be fingerprinted, get some ID, sign up for jobs, whatever it takes to allow them to legally enter the country and be productive members of society. The "backlog" at the INS is crap. It's a federal government operation, hire more people. I don't pay 40% of my income in taxes for nothing. (and all of you people not self employed, be glad you only pay 30%)
On drugs:
Legalize marijuana. It has a social stigma and that is why it's illegal, not because it's dangerous. It is no more dangerous than alcohol and in some cases less so. I have seen some mean drunks but I have never witnessed someone high on marijuana who was trying to beat up the guy on the next bar stool. Marijuana does indeed have scientifically studied and shown medicinal properties. If someone is dying of cancer, give them anything they want, but if they want to eat and feel less pain, let them smoke marijuana. Who cares if smoking is bad, they're dying of cancer. If marijuana were legal, that would remove numerous petty dope pushers and allow the law enforcers to go after the crime lords who really matter. Drugs like cocaine, heroine, meth, those are horrible, life ending drugs and should be illegal most definitely. Let law enforcement concentrate on keeping that crap out of our country.
On terminally ill patients not allowed morphine:
I'm not an oncologist or even an MD. I don't know if there is any medical reason why terminally ill patients aren't always given super pain killers, like morphine. Maybe there is. All I can say, if someone is dying, give them whatever they want. If they are in pain, ease that pain in any way we know how. Better to ease their pain and allow them some time to say goodbye to their families, maybe do a few things they have dreamed of doing but never got around to, than to worry they might become addicted. Give them as much pain relief as they need.
On education:
As an educated person and a person of reason, I believe education is the cure for most of society's ills. How many people in prison are educated? Some, yes, those who think they are above the law and defraud their company's stockholders. By and large, the majority of prisoners are uneducated, underprivileged people who either thought crime was the only way or the easy way. Some of those criminals I believe can be rehabilitated through education, counseling, and being shown another way of life. Some, never will they change. Violent criminals, most are miswired by society's standards and will always be violent. They learned that way too early in life to change. Some, however, maybe with proper counseling and education, maybe they can be changed. I have no problem with my taxes paying for education of all kinds. Education is the single most important thing we can do for our children AND our adults. I don't just mean the 3 Rs but education about how to live in the world, make good decisions, be good people, give to others, be productive members of our great society. Parents try and sometimes they fail, sometimes the children are too angry or too jumbled up to listen. It is up to all of us. I see kids in my neighborhood, kids that annoy me, but rather than showing them annoyance, I try so hard to be friendly with them. I ask them to come pet my dog when we're walking, I joke with them, I hire them to do odd jobs for extra cash. I figure that I have no idea what their life at home is like, it could be great or it could be horrible, but atleast I will be nice to them. Maybe they will Pay It Forward one day.
On how we affect others:
We can never know how we truly affect others. Maybe that smile you bestowed on someone in the grocery store was the only smile they received all day, maybe it made their day just a little better, maybe it made them smile at the next guy who really needed some kindness. Maybe that harsh word you spoke really stuck with someone, maybe they kept hearing it in their heads and it made them sick. For me, ugliness from others intensely pisses me off. If they think little of me, I am determined to show them how great I am. It's a stubbornness that has paid off tremendously (thank you Dr. Moran, I got my PhD) but not everyone is wired that way. For some, harsh words and unkindness can weaken them, hurt them badly. For some, being too kind is injustice as they won't be driven to do anything to be better. This is seen in schools that don't give Fs because it would hurt someone's feelings. Why would any child be inclined to do better? For all of this, we must tread carefully in life, be aware of what we say and do, show kindness when we can but only when it won't be detrimental.
So many opinions! So many more that I have not the time nor the fire to write about today. More, I'm sure, will come in the future.

Dogs: Why don't they just eat us?

Sometimes it strikes me just how odd having dogs, or any pets, really is. We take these half wild animals into our homes, sleep with them on or near our beds, feed them, love them, sometimes even clothe them, and in all of this....we are trusting them not to eat us! How crazy is that really? Dogs are predators, cats are predators. I have 4 medium-large dogs. They could easily attack me, kill me, and eat my liver and yet, they don't. Why not? So, they are "domesticated", so what. I've seen plenty of dogs who are domesticated but are still inclined to attack humans. What makes these 4, and most pets, different? Kindness that we show them...No, there are plenty of unkind people and their pets don't eat them. Because we are their pack leaders and they respect us? No, I know plenty of pushovers who are not pack leaders but their dogs don't eat them. Have they lost their prey drive? No way, they'll chase squirrels until their dying day. What is it? What is that defining quality that makes our pets not eat us, look forward to seeing us, curl up to us and give a lick but never a bite? Can it be LOVE? The truest and most beautiful form of love? Yes, maybe that's what it is. Not just that my dogs love me but that dogs, in general, love humans. They must. There is no other reason for all that they tolerate. Think of the millions of pets, the millions of homeless pets, and think of how easily they could kill us all. Indeed, some of the human race would deserve it.
I am grateful for the love of my dogs, though so many, especially with rescues about too, can be tiring. For some odd reason, my dogs adore me. It is so true that no one will ever love you like your dog loves you.

A new freelance gig

I have been accepted to begin writing for Suite 101 as a Contributing Writer. I have heard good things about Suite 101, especially their training in how to write for digital media. I am waiting for my first article to be editor approved. I hope everyone will enjoy my articles at Suite 101 April Mitchem.
I will still be writing for Examiner on Dog Care, but at Suite 101, I can choose my topics and write on anything. I'll use my daily life as inspiration and write as I learn new things.