Education

So an article came to my attention recently.

Teacher fired

So let me get this straight, a teacher has been fired, for teaching kids about how the real world works.

In what reality does that make sense?

It would have been a bit better if the person behind the firing wasn't the school's principal. The man who wrote a letter to the Edmonton School Board saying that Mr. Dorval had shown “obvious neglect of duty as a professional teacher, his repeated insubordination and his continued refusal to obey lawful orders.”

I'll give your brain a moment to process the irony in that statement.

All done? Good.

So apparently, letting students not complete work and give them "behavioural codes" when they didn't fix that problem is okay while giving them a flat out ZERO for the missed assignment and potentially alienating their feelings is a no-no.

Let me be very clear. People fail. That is how nature works. Someone is always going to be left behind, alienated and outright fail. Deal with it. Does a heard of Zebras running from some Lions stop and wait for the slowest to catch up so that everyone is on equal pace?

HELL NO.

They all run as fast as they can. The slowest get eaten. By not giving students zeros we're letting the system eat everyone up. Sure kids who do good work still excel, but why should they? They're going to pass the class whether they do the work or not. Most kids hate schoolwork. This gives them a free excuse to not do anything.

I skipped on some homework when I was in high school. What happened? I had a C average. I didn't put much effort into my grade 12 Spanish homework. What happened? I FAILED (only by a percentage point, mind you and I still got my diploma, but that was five years ago).

The principal of Ross Shepard high school has even gone so far to say: “I am here to tell you that you did nothing wrong,” Ron Bradley says. “Everything you did with regards to student achievement and high school completion was the right thing.”

He also was quoted as saying that the news media’s take on the policy is “narrow” and oversimplified.
“In my opinion, the culture of the media deteriorated to the quality of pulp fiction and talk radio,”


Dude, get your head out of your ass. You are encouraging kids to be lazy, unproductive slackers. With this kind of policy in effect, the crop of kids who graduate in a few years is going to be so warped that they won't have any idea how the real world actually works!


Now why is this happening? My theory is pretty simple, money.

Public schools are funded by governments. To the best of my knowledge, (this might not actually be the case, I will do some further checking, so don't quote me on this) the higher the grade averages, the more money they get. Zeros look pretty bad and the more of them that happen, the lower the average is so the less money they get. The no Zero policy means that the grade average stays high, since "behavioural codes" don't imfluence the grade average. But that's just my theory.

I just got an official reply from Alberta Ministry of Education and as far as money coming from them, the above is not the case. Each school board sends money as it chooses.

Teachers have spent the last couple decades teaching kids to "feel good about themselves" and "imagine how the world can be". The problem with that is that it doesn't really do anything useful for the students and all it does is breed lazy hippies.

Now if you've read the rest of this blog, you'll know that I am fairly left wing in both politics and beliefs. I always tell people to dream big and if you believe hard enough, you'll have a hard time letting yourself fail. That said, I hate this. It's encouraging kids to not do anything. After all, if they think that no matter what, they can't fail, then get out into the real world and fail constantly, won't that destroy their self esteem and self worth faster than getting an F on a homework assignment? What does that lead to? I'd rather not think about it. Failure builds experience. After all, Thomas Edison did find 2000 ways NOT to make a lightbulb. If we don't fail, then we never have the chance to stand back up, dust ourselves off and look at a problem from a different angle.

That's just my theory.

Why 2012 is the end of the world after all.

To start, no, this is not about the "Supposed" Mayan prophecy. Based on everything I have seen and learned so far in 2011, it's my belief that 2012 will be the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of a whole new world.

2011 has already seen widespread revolutions in the Middle East - Egypt, Tunisa, Libya - and now it is beginning to happen in Syria. It is also beginning to happen in the United States and somewhat moderately in Canada.

The Middle East Revolutions, "Arab Spring", was about bringing freedom and democracy to the lands ruled over by tyrants with an iron fist. Now people are taking to the streets in American cities just like the Egyptian people did in Tahir Square. There is also unrest in China, Iran and North Korea (but neither government will acknowledge that). Coupled with the extreme amount of uncertainty and chaos in Europe with their financial crisis, it is only a matter of time.

I watched the Egyptian Revolution from day one. I have been watching the Occupy Wall Street movement since before it even started.

Now, I will admit that people in North America don't have it as bad as people in other nations, I will admit that freely.

After everything that has happened this year and as we enter the final quarter of 2011, it is my opinion that 2012 will be the year that the world falls. There is unrest everywhere. New York is a powderkeg. All it will take is an event the violence we all saw in England will pale in comparison. And one by one government around the world will fall. People have seen that if enough of them congregate together with a real belief in a progressive ideal, it will have an impact.


At the same time, Egypt is still in turmoil, Libya is barely holding together and the death toll of Syrian civilians is nearing 3,000. So I wouldn't call them complete successes just yet, but it is a start on the right path.

In North America the voting public are, en masse, rejecting right wing conservative politics in favour of either left or centerist politics, something that the right wing extremists are not happy about.

At this point, a global upheaval is invetable. There are only a few questions left to be answered:
1) Where will it start?
2) How will it start?

and, most importantly,

3) How will it end?



Only time will tell, but as I stand here, united with my progressive brothers and sisters around the world, one thing is for certain, this decade will be one that will change the world, and humanity, forever.

Pure Disgust.

First off, thanks to Blag Hag for mentioning this.

I would also like to note that my personal preference about whether or not the WTC cross should or should not be put up has no impact on this blog. Those who know me know my position.

We all know that FOX News is the breeding ground on nonsensical crazy. That's just a plain fact. But after American Atheists Communications Director Blair Scott appeared to defend their lawsuit about how they believe the cross should not be put up without equal representation of all religions affected in the 9/11 tragedy, well, Christian extremists took to FOX News Facebook page with an outpouring of hate and rage as can be seen here.

Taking the step to suggest that they should be "Nailed to a cross in the manner that jesus was claimed to have been tortured, rammed through the chest with a spear in full public view". That's just not right!

This is not online commentary. This is inceitment of violence and threats of physical harm. I believe freedom of speech ends when harm is threatened. This goes beyond all that. This is people advocating and supporting that someone walk into the homes of the group's members with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Or advocating rape.

Point is, these are not people expressing personal opinions, they are expressing a desire for physical harm against another human being. For no other reason than a difference of opinion. Indeed this is where freedom of speech must bow down to rule of law. These people have made their desires clear.

Frankly, I am horribly disgusted. Cyber bullying is still a criminal act regardless if it is pointed at a specific person or a group of people.

While these people have had their full names provided to us, I urge restraint from going to their pages and harassing them. That's not the way to deal with this.


I do suggest, however, reporting a tip with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and if you feel the need, the U.S. Department of Education. Because their spelling and grammar are, after all, atrocious.

But seriously, a tip to the FBI would be a good start. Get these people on the grid. If they want to spew hatred, show them the cost.

Crime and Punishment

First off, my heart goes out to all those that have lost loved ones in Norway. That was unspeakably evil.

There is no question that Mr. Breivik is not only insane, but a product of years of right wing brainwashing. However, that is not what I'm going to be touching on.

Many people I have talked with have been saying that we should just kill him and be done with it. On the one hand, I agree. The man is a sociopath. No remorse, no guilt. He believes that he was right in doing what he did and he worked for years to achieve this goal. It sickens me, it hurts my heart in ways I didn't think possible.

In war, it is a matter of survival. Kill or be killed. That doesn't make it right, but it's less of a crime. But gunning down innocent civilians - CHILDREN - for that matter is an evil so vile that Satan himself must be shaking in his boots.

These days there seems to be very few ways to administer justice. Either execution or jail really. But does that work? Executions are easy, especially the more vile the person is. Jails these days are overcrowded and make people into worse criminals. It's easier for the legal system to just throw them in jail, but it doesn't actually do anything. Not in the grand scheme of things.

I say there are a few ways to go about it. Start small and creative. Make the punishment fit the crime. The aim isn't to toss them in jails for years upon years. The objective is to rehabilitate them and let them fit back into society. But that doesn't always work. Jail is for when a criminal cannot be rehabilitated, but at the same time, shows guilt and remorse for what they have done. If a criminal fits that category, then they should serve society. Put them to work doing hard, dangerous work until their sentence is finished.

If they don't show honest remorse or guilt, then they are of no use to society and on top of that, they are a dangerous threat. A person who is of no use to society has no need to be in a society. Like Mr. Breivik here, he shows no remorse, no guilt and is actually proud of what he did. Death is the best option for him. It will never bring back the dead, but there will be one less hate filled person in the world.



I did have one further idea, however. In the case of Mr. Breivik, he should be made to construct a memorial for the dead before his execution. Fitting justice, I think.

The Need for a New World

I've always believed in a better world. I know that a perfect world is impossible, but a better world is always plausible. A world of complete control and yet, as much freedom as possible.

But as of recently, I've started to question if people are actually deserving of such a world.

Dr. King had a dream, and so do I. I dream of world where corporations serve the people and are heavily regulated and taxed. Where public schools are insitutions of learning, not places of brainwashing to keep the status quo. A world where religion is forbidden in politics and schools, but is freely used as a tool for people to better themselves. A world where someone is accepted for what they are. A world of true equality. A world with dignity. A world without political dictatorship. A world of science and technology, but still holding true to the human spirit. A world where peace is something that is not fought for, but a natural part of every day life. Where racism, sexism, discrimination, profit and fear does not exist. A world where the corrupt are brought to justice and people work for the system so that the system can work for them. A world without partisan politics, where there are no political parties and where the government does not keep secrets from it's people. A world where the media exposes truth and asks the real questions. A world where people are not kept in systematic fear of the unknown and what "might" happen. A world where instead of fist fights in the street, you have people debating philosophy. A world where work unions are not needed because employers are fair and don't abuse people. A world where natural resources are preserved and nature is kept in balance with human progress. A world where the Millitary is a civic duty to teach honor, dignity and respect for the world and the people in it, not a tool for enforcing the will of corrupt leaders. A world where our minds stay in step with our hearts.  But above all, a world that is fair, just and makes sense.

Maybe it's a pipe dream, I don't think so. I think it is entirely doable. It just takes hard work, common sense and real ethics.

But most of all, it takes chaos. Pure chaos.




That's right. Look at the Middle East. Revolts and chaos and now they have new leadership for the most part.

"For the world to have peace, it must be washed in the clensing fires". Remember that, my fellow readers. What it means, simply, is that we can't unite the world and bring humanity together until it is purged of the cancer that consumes it.

I believe that people have a civic duty to make sure that this comes to fruition. A duty that if any person(s) are standing in the way of social, civil and humanitarian progress that citizens not only have the right, but the need to remove these people from the road to a better world by any means necessary. People like Wisconsin Govenor Scott Walker, who is rigourously attacking the very people who hold up the country. Stephen Harper, whose agenda will turn Canada into a police state. Kim Jong-Il, whose facist regime in North Korea is the definition of pure evil. The left wing Communists in China who are terrible abusers of free speech and free press. Barack Obama, who can't lift a finger to do what he was elected to do and has become a puppet. And the dictators in Africa and the Middle East, they know who they are. Those are just some examples, but all of these people need to go. Anyone who has hatred. Anyone who views people as different. Anyone who promotes senseless and purposeless violence. Preferably they need to be put on trial for crimes against humanity, sentenced and executed or put to work for the benefit of society. But at the least they need to be barred from public life and forced to live in a remote cabin in the middle of no where.

Not to mention all the Corporate CEOs who want to privatize everything so they can profit as much as possible at the expense of everything else on this planet.


I've been saying that a revolution is coming. I guarantee it. I'm in contact with quite a few like minded people and we are working to see it happens. And it won't be a case of join us to survive, it will be a case of only those who believe in a better future will be allowed to be part of the better future. Everyone else, well, I am truly sorry for you. It's like religion. you either truly accept it or you don't. And those who don't are more than welcome to leave Earth to people like us who want a better future for our children and our children's children.

Free Speech and Children

An article recently came to light that was the inspiration for the this post. A blog post done by a teacher in the States that criticized her students for being "lazy whiners". She was suspended from her job when a student from her school stumbled onto the posting and began to spread it. It, of course, eventually found it's way into the hands of school administrators, who were quick to suspend her, pending an investigation.

(now, I realize it was a while ago, but I've been too busy and tired to do any writing. So I'm getting to it now)

Now, she has received much support from all corners, especially other teachers, who praise her for finally saying something about the type of students they all have to deal with on a daily basis. She has, however, received much criticism from parents about bad mouthing their kids and how she should be "fired and barred from teaching until she can keep her mouth shut"

okay, seriously?

Now, this is a delicate issue. On the one hand, is she justified under the freedom of speech or is she using the internet for direct slander? You will not find a certain answer, so here is my opinion.

While I grant that Mrs. Munroe may have been a bit over the top in her comments, she in no way infringed on free speech. She was well within her rights to post such an article. If she had named specific students, that would been a different story. It is remarkable that in this day and age, students can speak back, insult and curse at their teachers and educators and receive no punishment, but when a teacher who is well within her rights to speak out at students everywhere, sparks a media frenzy and could end up loosing her job. I am no supporter of internet slander, but in this case, it is a necessity.

The real problem lies with the student's parents. They send their children to school and are unwilling to listen when the teacher tells them that their child is not doing well and is behaving in a manner unsuited to a civilized person. Sure, you can shuff it aside and say "It's just a thing that kids today do" but I don't believe that. It is time that students learn that if you speak out in such a manner against a person of authority that there are consquences. Mostly, parents don't want to hear that their "darling angel of a child" is capable of wrong doing and being an insenstive BRAT. But they need to hear it. And they need to start taking action.  Now, I know I am not qualified to give parental advice or anything along that subject, so I will refrain from giving that advice, but I think that if people started properly communicating more and understanding how it all works, we may be able to improve the system.

What do you think? Was she justified under the articles of free speech in making a statement about schools and students today? OR was she making a angry slander against innocent children?

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economic systems

Now, normally I'm one of the first people to dismiss economics as worthless and frankly, it is. But as I was at work the other day, I came up with an idea for a new system, that allows for currency to exist, but eliminates private capital and hording of finances. Simply put:

There are no private banks. Just one government account with the entire world's finances (so trillions of currency units). Everyone who works has a debit card that access to that account. Ergo eliminating private funds and private capital. How it works is that as people work, they earn access to the account through their card. So say if someone works 23 hours in a week at 10cu (currency unit) an hour, at the end of the week, they get access to 230cu permanently. Which they can have access to until they spend it. Simple as that. People can access the account through their debit cards anywhere, there is no longer any paper or coin based currency, just digital.

How it works is that when people earn their cu, they spend it. All that they spend at a business is put back into the government account and then once again, paid to the people who earn it, based on the work they do that is of value to society.

What this system does is eliminate so-called "private money" so that people can be on more even ground when it comes to finances and there are only classes based on the work people do. It's that simple.

Thoughts anyone?

the thing is, this would be only possible under a few circumstances, 1) a one world government. 2) backup power generation for at least this system.

and again, it's a theoretical idea. One obviously not possible with the greed of this world.

3D movies

First off, in the litteral terms, these movies are NOT Three Dimensional, they are mearly "enhanced" Two Dimensional films although it doesn't sound as catchy, I admit, but it's more accurate. To be accuratly called "3-D" it would have to a viable three-dimensional projection, not a slightly enhanced two-dimensional image which these are. It should be like what exists in Star Wars and Star Trek.

Just another fad of the masses. The latest technology (technology revival, actually) and frankly, it should have stayed dead until it was perfected. 3D as it is now, is amazingly useless (I haven't played the Nintendo 3DS yet, so not talking about that). It causes damage to people's eyes and brains, which includes dizzyness and migranes. I wouldn't be surprised if it was causing major long term damage to people. The Red/Blue effect can't always be interpreted by people's brains and that causes harm.

The main thing is that unless the film is made "SPECIFICALLY" for the E2D effect, it just does not work properly. Like those IMAX documentaries years back that had E2D, those were good and amazing. Because they were made with the technology in mind, not just tacked on and shoved down our throats as the latest Hollywood fad.

Now, I realize it is here to stay, unfortunate as that may be. At the VERY least, theatres should offer movies in both 2D and E2D, to satisfy a larger market. I would love the convenience of not having to wear those damned glasses whenever I go see a movie, and I think a lot of people would agree with me on that. I mean, if I want to go see a film at a theatre, why should I be forced to see it in a way that I do not want to?

OF course I realize that some will respond to that with "Well, you don't have to go see movies at the theatre then blah blah blah" and that's true. I don't have to. But I like to. It's enjoyable and fun and it is so annoying that I am having to pay extra money for an experience I don't want. They should offer both 2D and E2D, then as many people are happy as possible. simple.

The Usefulness (or lack thereof) of Post Secondary Education

Now, I'm not saying College or University is a BAD thing, but just not completely necessary.

A recent study that was released said that just under half of University students don't improve as far as critical thinking, reasoning and writing skills. Young adults spend thousands of dollars, borrow hundreds more from their parents and then take out risky loans for thousands of more dollars to gamble at the chance that it will lead to a better future and a successful career. For many, it doesn't and that's the main reason I myself have not attended a post-secondary institution. Many students find out half way through that they are no longer interested in what they originally picked and decide to change courses, leading to more financial woes and even longer before they get out into the workforce. And all that time they are devoting a lot of time to their studies and not working much and ergo not earning much to pay off their debts. Socializing takes up a lot of time and students spend a lot of study time being with their friends.

Now, I'm speaking on average here, not every student turns out like this, many go on to be successful in their lives. But for many it doesn't work and those people end up paying the price for the rest of their lives, spending the rest of their lives in mediocracy trying to pay their debts.

Further studies have shown that people who go from school into the workforce may not earn more per hour in their jobs, but they end up having more spending money while those who attend Univ are spending all their money paying down school debts. Again, not always the case, but not uncommon either.


The simple fact is that we need to lift this illusion that going to College or University is the only way to be successful in life. I mean if you want to be a lawyer or a doctor or work in government then yea, you should go to PS. Otherwise, it's not terribly neccesary.

Video Game studies

There seems to be a fairly obvious pattern when it comes to video game studies and how they effect people, mainly kids and teens. It seems to me that a new one will come out every month or two and will be basically the opposite of the last one. One comes out that says something to the extent of "Oh, video games don't have many downside effects to them at all. Our study proved that" and then the next one will come out saying "Video games have serious health effects and children should be banned from using them or they will become braindead morons and fail at life completely" and then after that another one will be released saying "Well, despite some minor effects like insomia and mild headaches, there are very few issues to be had with playing video games and none of them are of real consequence"


Okay, first, seriously? I mean, it's like there is a organization of people who do all these studies and rebrand them every month or so. It's sending mixed messages and it's going to leave people with more questions then answers and really won't get to the issue. Then again, if you ask me, the issue itself is a media manipulation to control people more. It's sad and not giving truth to anyone. What kicks it is that the people who are the focuses of the studies are at both ends of the extremes. Either exteremely addicted gamers who spend every waking second playing or casual gamers who rarely play, but are playing more just for the sake of the "studies"

This needs to stop.

annonimity and the internet

I've been reading some articles that have been saying that the times of anonymous posting on the internet is basically over. And I'm relieved. Soon the days where every 13 year old will be able to wander into an internet forum and start flaming everyone with no one knowing who he is.

The Koreans have the right idea,creating a 6-15 digit PIN number that everyone is issued. Probably from the day they are born. This pin would be linked to the Department of Justice (or it's counterparts in other countries) and would allow internet police (or whatever they are) to enforce spam laws on users. The PIN would be like an online profile, having your data about where you posted, when and what was in the post. Simply put, it would be like a credit card number, and most people protect those with their lives.

Now, there will be privacy groups who will cry foul and say that this would invade a person's rights and freedoms. I can see how that could be seen, but there is a solution: have it so that the PIN doesn't contain any actual information. But it links to the CRA or IRS or whatever. They are required to keep tabs on people, so their information would be up to date and accurate. Therefore, no actual important information is used with the PIN. It would only link to the account at the DoJ and come up as a number, and if there was a problem, then the CRA would look up the number in their system and say "Okay, that's so and so and they live at this address".  If the PIN was email linked to send a message to the PIN owners email account, then any slanderous use of the PIN would be quickly and easily reported.

Simply put, it would be a new credit card like system, but without any important data kept with it.

Might sound kind of harsh, but if it gets rid of all these "FIRST" and "LOL FAIL" comments on sites everywhere, then it's worth it.



/b/ would, of course, be exempt from this system. Because let's face it, that's basically the whole site anyway.

political systems

I've been hearing a lot lately about all this political shit. Frankly, it's got me annoyed. People go on and on and on, saying they're all for free speech and freedom of goverment and democracy and flowers and puppies and all that. Then turn around and bitch and complain when what they want to happen, doesn't happen. Frankly, the main reason the world is falling apart is because democracy reins. That's right, I said it, democracy is killing the world. Now, no political system is perfect. It can't be. If there is one that is perfect, it hasn't been invented yet and never will. That said, I've been reading through bits of history, political stuff mostly and after all that, I've come to see the truth behind it all. There was one man in history who made the system work. One man who made the goverment work, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. Following the October Revolution of 1917, for those of you who actually give a shit, he brought communism to Russia, based off the works of Karl Marx and Marxism.

"Every man is born equal" that is one of the founding priciples and it is damn right.

Now, I am aware that during the Cold War, Communism was labeled as "evil" and "of Satan" and "immoral". Pfeh, I say. PFEH. Now, Josef Stalin warped Lenin's orginal idea to something of his own creation, I know. A totalarian state. But the founding ideals of Communism is something to behold. Something we should adopt. The problem with that is then it would take away the current voice that every Joe and Jane Nobody holds. Frankly, that might do the world some good. People need to have a voice in the way that their goverment is run, yes indeed, but not at the expense of the system itself. See, Communism may not work, but Socialism is the foundation of quite possibly the best political system that humans have come up with. Plain and simple. We should go back to Lenin's ideals and adopt that into our system.

Capitalism is all about money, and thinking about oneself. It's short sighted, greedy and fucking useless. Leninism is about the people. And quite fucking frankly, that's what the world needs right now. Of course, Early Communism also had another trait that I admire, Anti-religious establishment. While I am of the belief that people should be able to believe and worship what they want, read my lips people, the Church should have absolutely no influence on the affairs of the State. Religious figureheads should never, in any instance, be granted the same rights and freedoms as politicians. Now, I could go and say that all politicians should be Athiests or Agnostics, but I won't, that infringes too much on personal freedoms. However, that said, Religious propoganda should be forbidden and things relating to religion should be restricted, by law and force, to designated religious facilities. Simple. As. That.

There we go, I've solved the problems for the world, Adopt Leninism and form a world goverment, while at the same time, forbidding the practice of religion in anywhere other than places of worship. Not hard. Not overly simple, but not unachievable. Of course, the people with the money don't like that. So it won't happen. You know what I say to that?

FUCK. THAT.

It's time for a good ol' fashioned Coup d'etat. RISE UP PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. OVERTHROW YOUR GOVERMENTS. LOVE THE PEOPLE YOU ARE WITH. REJECT CORPORATIONS AND PROFIT. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU AND IT IS POSSIBLE.

If movies have taught anyone anything at all, it's that ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. So it's time. RISE UP. The goverments fear attacks from outside, so they would never see one coming from inside. RISE UP AND AWAKEN THE EYES OF SOCIETY!

Humans and the space race

Okay, so people (mostly me) have been talking a lot lately about the future of space exploration and Terran society. With the world fracturing as it is, people are looking to the stars for plain survival. NASA has said that they want a trip back and have a base established by 2019 with a manned mars mission by the same date. Franky, I say that's not good enough. We could've been on mars by now. We could've been that far along. We had the tech and the drive to be on Mars by 1985. Instead, the US goverment decided that it would be best to pursue the Orbital Shuttle program *cough* idiots *cough*. Speaking of which, that program is due to be retired by the end of this year with, whadda ya know, no American replacement ready or even under construction. With the Russians due to take over resupply missions to the ISS. Now, I won't bash the importance of the International Space Station. It's a damn good project. But that said, it shouldn't be a PRIMARY concern. It should have been a thing that got built while we were planning for the trip to Mars. (I'll be giving my ideas for the Mars missions in a later post) And now, the Obama administration is poised to CUT the budget for the NASA Constellation project, which was to develop vehicles to take us to Luna and Mars. Frankly, the ONLY good thing the Bush administration did was to pour shitloads of cash into NASA's budget. And now Obama is saying "Well, we need the monies for the millitary, so NASA, you ain't getting anything" which annoys me, but more so, it confirms the thought that the first country to put a Terran on Mars will be either Russia or China (most likely China). I'm glad. Let someone else other than the US of A get there first. Might show the Americans that they are NOT in fact the greatest Country on Terra firma.

Now, I realize that we can't time travel (yet!) and complaining only goes so far. All I'm saying is that we need to look back to the stars and realize that we need to get back out there. We NEED to go out and colonize Luna and Mars, probably in that order. It will be a step forward for our society, and considering that over the past decade, we've taken about a dozen steps backwards, we NEED this. We NEED to get back into space. Not spend the money on a new missile that can smell it's target. Though that would be kinda cool.

This will probably be how it happens for the manned missions to Mars. China first. Russia second. ESA third. USA dead last. Obama, don't fuck this up for North America.

People need to get it in their minds that we are ALL of the same species. People need to start realizing that unless we start working together and working to better our species, we simply don't deserve to exist. If all we are going to do is point fingers and say "My god is better than your god even though both are exactly the same god, but we worship differently" and hate each other, exploit each other for meaningless profit and just look for new ways to kill each other, then I say, don't wait. LAUNCH THE NUKES!

So, simply. Get the act together. Learn to listen and understand. Learn that we are all the same, despite the small differences. And realize that space is the goal we should all work together. Learn that we must extend our reach to the stars.

MARS OR BUST!