The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

Most of my family resides near Detroit, Michigan. Both of my parents were raised around the area. I travel there multiple times every year, especially around national holidays. Having been born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Detroit was like a second home to me and continues to be to this very day. So, while I tend to play things in a rather neutral fashion when it comes to sports (yes, this is difficult having grown up around Nebraska football, having family pulling for Michigan and Michigan State, not to mention moving to Buckeye country), I quietly pull for the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, and Pistons every season. When the Detroit Lions lost in the playoffs last year to the Dallas Cowboys, getting hosed by the referees down the stretch (http://thekind-heartedsmartaleck.blogspot.com/2015/01/theres-no-other-way-to-put-it-detroit.html), I found myself to be more upset than I typically am when it comes to sporting events. Having said all that, though, I'm finding it difficult ...

As could probably be predicted, there were a number of political debates roaming about the Facebook newsfeed today, with regard to the Supreme Court's healthcare ruling. I got involved in one such feed, because the initial status ticked me off a bit. Alright, so the guy thought the individual mandate was wrong. That's fine. He has a right to his own opinion. However, he then went into the "real"/"unreal" American bit, saying only "real" Americans rejected the mandate. I didn't even go after him on the mandate. I asked him to define "real" and "unreal" Americans and if, since I support the healthcare law, I'm not a "real" American and should be forced to leave the country or something. I then asked who ultimately decided what a "real" and "unreal" American is and if there's a handout which deciphers the two. He said there was - The Constitution, Declaration of Independence, etc. and kept ...

I just read a ranting blog from a person whom stated that while it was our first amendment right to express our opinions and views, if we complained at all regarding our country or our way of life, then we could celebrate another right that's allowed in this country and leave. How I just love, I mean, loathe that philosophy, because well, it makes no sense to me. So, let me get this straight, we should all celebrate our first amendment rights of free speech, but if we disagree with anything this person has to say, we should leave the country and live elsewhere? Hmm. What is the point of having free speech if we're not allowed to disagree? It's not free then, is it? It'd definitely come at a price! If a person is a strong advocate of the death penalty, while I may strongly disagree with their opinion, I'm not going to say, "You know, you can just leave!" That's their opinion and they have every right to express that. If they're Jewish or Muslim ...