The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

On January 31st of last year, I published a blog which shared the story of my battles with sexual abuse and epilepsy growing up; the depression and suicidal thoughts which sprung from them; and how artist Marilyn Manson's interviews and music essentially saved me. Within hours of releasing that extremely personal story, actress Evan Rachel Wood published an Instagram post, which alleged Manson of multiple forms of abuse, including sexual. While it was an incredibly surreal moment for me, I refused to comment on it until both parties made their case and evidence was gathered one way or the other. Yes, call me crazy, but even as an abuse-survivor myself, while I feel every abuse allegation should be taken seriously, I'm also a staunch believer in due-process. For the most part, Manson (real name Brian Warner) stayed mum following the allegations. Not long after Ms. Wood posted her Instagram message, he shared one of his own, where he vehemently denied all allegations. After that,...

I just received this comment on a blog I released a little over a year ago, entitled, "How Music Saved My Life": - "Your story is heartbreaking, honest and will be healing to others who have a similar story. Thank you for sharing your healing through music. What an incredible journey to where you are today. 💗" The piece can be found and read at this link: https://thekind-heartedsmartaleck.blogspot.com/2021/01/how-music-saved-my-life.html

I got invited to guest-write for a blog, so I provided the following piece, titled, "The Truth About Voter-ID Bills/Laws." It can be found here: https://liberaltakes.com/2021/08/04/the-truth-about-voter-id-bills-laws/

A blogger asked me to post a writing of mine on her site, so I provided one titled, "America: Land of the Freedumb." It can be found at this link:  https://liberaltakes.com/2021/08/01/liberal-takes/

The land of the free, home of the brave - that's on what America claims to pride itself. However, as COVID has clearly shown, that's not reality. The unfortunate reality is much of America prides itself in willful ignorance, and there's nothing brave about that. Absolute freedom is a myth. Wherever one travels, regardless of the country's founding documents, restrictions are present. Don't believe me? Yell "FIRE!!!" in a movie theater or "BOMB!!!" on an airplane; tell your boss what you really think of him/her; participate in a solo nude marathon around your house in broad daylight. Being protected from prosecution by the federal government does not equate to protection from any repercussions. A person in a "free" country can still be arrested and/or fired for exercising their First Amendment rights.  So what are many up in arms about when it comes to the latest so-called violations on their falsely-held notion of absolute freedom? Rece...

Walter De Vries, an aide of George Romney's for seven years in the '60s, just came forward with some interesting commentary regarding George's son and Republican presidential candidate Mitt. De Vries wrote that Mitt Romney's current campaign is "a far cry from the kind of campaign and conduct, as a public servant, I saw during the seven years I worked in George Romney's campaigns and served him as governor." He continued with, "While it seems that Mitt would say and do anything to close a deal - or an election, George Romney's strength as a politician and public officeholder was his ability and determination to develop and hold consistent policy positions over his life." De Vries also seems befuddled on Mitt's claims that his father played a major influence on him throughout his political career, as he said with regard to this, "I just don't see it. Where is it? Is it on issues, no? On the way he campaigns? No. George would...

I just read this essay yesterday and felt the need to share it. The original author is unknown and while it claims to have been written to "Dr." Laura Schlessinger, that has not ultimately been determined yet. Here's the essay: " Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them: When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this ...

I'm sick of this informal fallacy. Unfortunately, false dilemmas present themselves to the public and myself a fair amount of times, especially when it comes to politics and religion. What is a false dilemma? It's when two options are given in a situation, where more than two options reside. For example, when the war on terror started, former President Bush exclaimed, "You're either with us or you're against us!" That is a prime example of a false dilemma, but they're everywhere. Liberal vs. conservative. Blue state or red state. Win or lose. Pass or fail. Rejection or dating. Rejected or hired. True or false. Heaven or hell. God or Satan. Good vs. evil. War or peace. Republican or Democrat. Right or wrong. The list continues. Why does it have to be this way? Why must we go one of two ways, one of two extremes? Why is one labeled a liberal or conservative, when in fact, most people reside somewhere in the middle of the two extremes? Why is it said that...