Distracted, Biased, and Brainwashed: Any hope for a better 2015?

Greetings all,

It has been quite a while since my last post, and this will be my last. There has been so much going on in America and the world as a whole: Mike Brown case, Eric Garner case, Ukraine/Russia, ISIS/ISIL/IS, Ebola, Missing airplanes in Asia...just to name a few. Every single case has spurred some sort of bipolar debate on how things should be handled and/or what is the "correct" position to take on the issue. Consider the recent issues surrounding policing in America.

A lot of cops automatically support the cop who choked out Eric Garner or shot Mike Brown without even analyzing the circumstances, while a lot of civilians automatically oppose the cops without truly thinking about the issue. Personally, here's what I think... cops shouldn't resort to deadly force so quickly. It is pretty sad when police so quickly resort to the gun, while the U.S. military is not allowed to use deadly force in a combat zone without 100% positive identification of "hostile actions/hostile intent," which are strictly defined. I've personally been in situations overseas where I knew I had really "bad people" in my sights and was not allowed to shoot. But you know what, I accepted a job where I knew my life would be at risk. I agree with the strict rules of engagement to an extent, especially in a war where we are supposed to "win the hearts and minds." So why should cops be able to shoot first just to protect themselves from a possible threat to their own lives? They shouldn't in my opinion. They should have to err on the side of the citizens who help pay their salaries. On the other hand, why have so many black Americans (purposely didn't use African-Americans because they're not African, they are American) taken the side of a thug who was breaking the law and memorialize him? I don't think Eric Garner or Mike Brown deserved to be killed for the unlawful activity; however, I don't think they should be used as the face of a movement. I don't think Dr. King was referring to people like Mike Brown and Eric Garner when he asked for black people to "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Enough on this issue. I think you all get the point. We are so biased in our stances, or brainwashed by the media, that we fail to analyze the entire issue before taking an informed position.

I don't know enough about medicine to speak intelligently about the Ebola situation, so I'll just say that I'm not sure we handled that correctly. So I'll stick with foreign policy. I personally think that it is not America's job to intervene in most foreign conflicts. I'm conflicted about the ISIS situation because I feel like it is our fault, therefore, we have somewhat of an obligation to fix what we caused. However, it may be an impossible task, and I definitely don't think more full scale military occupation of Iraq, or any other country is the answer. With that being said, this particular blog post is not about taking a stance on any particular issue. It is about getting people to wake up and stop getting all their opinions from Fox, CNN, NBC, or any other mainstream media outlet. This ISIS situation has caused so much anti-Muslim sentiment. Countless people I know or am associated with professionally automatically say things like "Islam is the religion of the devil," or "We should just kill all of them because they don't know how to live right." It's crazy. Those same folks claim to be "Christians." We, as in the American people, allowed our government to execute the war the wrong way. We stand by believing the only way to fight the terrorists is with conventional military tactics and occupation coupled with spying on the homeland and increased encroachments on civil liberties. Meanwhile, companies like Boeing and Northrop Grumman get rich and thousands of innocent people get killed by the military industrial complex (including service members, and for no apparent gains to our society).

So what happened to the anti-war liberals? Nowadays, I really only see liberals supporting more social welfare programs, environmental causes, and anti-corporation movements. I don't get why these people only blame big business for some the socioeconomic divide in our country, yet fail to realize that it is the government and its legislation that allows companies like Monsanto to economically oppress the middle class American. We do not have a free market in this country, as the government makes laws that protect huge corporations, and  even bails them out when they fail. That is not a free market. Yet seemingly smart people that I know continuously blame big business while loving big government. They'll post things all day about wanting more benefits from the government and to take more from the rich, but not a word about how our military is continuously sent to die in fruitless wars (I'm assuming because their guy is in office right now). It is absolutely absurd to me. Am I totally off base here?  People allow Fox and MSNBC to make us Libertarians out to be "wackos," yet it is the status quo that those media outlets support, which has gotten us to where we are today. So this brings me to my final point.

I will not be blogging anymore. Call it quitting if you want, but I call it regrouping and employing a new tactic. Leo Tolstoy said, "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." I think maybe this blog has been my attempt at changing other people. But my efforts would be less futile if I spent them on my immediate family. If my wife and I live our lives correctly and raise our sons to be self-reliant and personally accountable men, then we will have made a difference. Don't get me wrong, I'm not disavowing myself from politics and society. I will still vote and will probably share more annoying Libertarian quotes and articles on Facebook. I will still advocate a Fairtax and try to talk politics with those close to me, and possibly volunteer for or donate money to causes I support. However, the time I have spent on these blog posts this year could have been better spent teaching my sons about self-reliance and personal accountability (and soccer).

So to all of my friends and those who may have stumbled across this blog and bothered to read it, I appreciate you taking the time to read my rants. I wish you all, regardless of your political persuasion, a very Happy New Year! I hope that 2015 brings you peace, prosperity, and happiness. My last call to action to you is this: Please try to truly seek out information before you take an emotional stance on any issue. Such emotions can ruin relationships (I know because I have been "unfriended" on Facebook by several for my political views). Don't let emotions guide your decisions. If you're a Libertarian or a Republican, you can actually be friends with a Socialist or a Democrat. Adam, if you're reading this, I miss our debates, bro. I wish people could see how civilized discourse between two opposing ideals can play out and still lead to a great friendship and the consumption of great craft beer.  So here's to next year, may it be filled with fruitful pursuits at no one else's expense.

Cheers & Semper Fi,
Chris Bentley

***I want feedback please. Seriously, please post your opinions. I respect opposing views and am legitimately interested in reading them.