STAY TUNED...

I recently re-discovered that I had a blog as well as numerous un-finished posts. They may see the light of day sometime in the near future...

PROPOSITION (H)8.

Well folks, as it stands right now, my faith in humanity as a whole is slowly and surely going down the shitter. Why you may ask? Well for me, I don't see why people have such an instinctive need to hate and suppress. A desire to deny basic human rights to people of another colour, another class, or in this particular case, another 'preference'. Of course, I'm referring to 'Proposition 8'.

In a nutshell, Proposition 8 is a proposal to amend the California constitution. An amendment aimed at eliminating the rights of same sex couples to marry. The argument, that public institutions (as it stand right now) are confusing the youth of today. That kids are being taught that it's okay to be gay, that same sex marriages are the same as traditional marriages (between a man and a women). Furthermore, it forces Californians to "not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs." In other words, the argument is that same sex marriages are not natural, that they go against traditional values and teachings.

Now I can just start ranting (like in previous posts) about how this is an example of why I'm not religious and blah blah blah but I'm not going to do this. Rather, I'm just going to say some words on what I think about Proposition 8.

I honestly don't see the problem of allowing same sex couples to be together in marriage. After all, if two people love each other unconditionally and unselfishly, why shouldn't they be allowed to be together in matrimony? Why should it matter if they are the same sex? Seriously, how does it affect you personally if same sex marriages are legalized? The reasons given by supporters of Proposition 8 are so riddled with hypocritical statements that it's hard to take it seriously.

As stated above, Pro-Proposition 8 argues that it's dangerous to teach kids that gay marriages are okay and that gays are equal, that it's okay to be gay. Well isn't it? Why shouldn't it be okay to life the lifestyle you want? Does it really hurt anyone if a gay couple wants to be married? How is it any better if we start teaching our kids that it's not okay to be gay? Think about the ramifications of that for just a second! By saying yes to Proposition 8 your saying to YOUR kids that it's NOT okay for them to be what they want to be and that they're a travesty and an embarrassment to humankind if they do otherwise. What's next? Are you going to teach your kids that if they don't go to university, marry and start a family that they're a failure? Will you disown them if they're gay? What ever happened to love? What ever happened to decency? What ever happened to loving your child unconditionally? Are you going to love your kid less if he/she is gay cause if you do, you're the real travesty here...not them.

Here's a proposition for you. Explain to me why you think same sex couples should not be allowed to marry without referring to the bible or resorting to discriminatory statements. Has it been shown that same sex couples hurt the economy? Has it been shown that same sex couples are worse parents? Are same sex couples supporting terrorism? Explain to me...EXPLAIN!

Another key argument for Proposition 8 is that it's not fair to force Californians to face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs. All I'm going to say here is that how is Proposition 8 any different? If you don't see how this statement is hypocritical, then you're an idiot...simple as that.

One sky, one world, one existence for all.

POWERTHIRST!

I've been watching the Olympics (cause there's nothing else on TV now!) and I thought of this...

Being Emo To Be Made Illegal In Russia?

This made me laugh...

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/1010/42/368995.htm

"Global Metal" - Documentary Trailer

Cryptic Writings

When I started this blog, I made it a point to never post on anything that I was unsure of. In other words, I wasn't about to post a post that a) wasn't grounded in anything b) I have no firm opinion/stance on and c) I can't back up logically and reasonably.

After all, why stir up shit just for the hell of it?

The point of my blog is to voice my opinion on a particular issue and if need be, defend my stance...well, that and simply vent about ridiculous and otherwise, pointless shit (hey it's my blog, I can do whatever the fuck I want!). You may recall my "If Religion is Love, Well Then Love is Control" post and the response that it elicited from an anonymous blogger. Or you may remember my post on "The Bridge" and the response (and rebuttal) that came out of that. Obviously when you voice an opinion on 'sensitive' issues like religion and suicide, people will inevitably respond. Some of the responses are good but unfortunately, most are not. The responses that I'm referring to are the ones in which the 'reader' simply lashes out at the 'author' simply because the author has touched on a subject in which the reader is passionate about. Here the readers 'passion' for a particular issue overcomes them, therefore making it impossible for them to articulate a response that is both logical and passionate. The reader fails to read and understand the content of the actual post, they fail to 'read the lines' (let alone 'read between the lines') and usually end up asserting insulting claims of 'ignorance' onto the author.

So why the hell am I talking about this?

Well, apparently I'm not the only one among my immediate blogging community that manages to piss people off. Just recently my friend CP received an anonymous response on her wonderfully crafted post on the irony of religion. The response was short and simple: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel."

Ahh anonymous bloggers, beautifully ironic in oh so many ways...

The fact that you even posted a response (in this context) indicates that you have an opinion to voice and that you're willing to engage in a 'dialogue' of sort. But when you post anonymously, you essentially cut off all means of efficient 'communication'. Posting anonymously suggests that you don't want to reveal yourself because you're not confident enough in the content your words to allow an open discussion. A good example would be the response I got for my post "The Bridge". the individual who posted on the blog posted under the moniker 'pkh' and even though we didn't see eye to eye, at least we had an 'open discussion'. Conversely, the individual who posted on my "If Religion is Love, Well Then Love is Control" post, posted anonymously, claiming that I was trying to advocate my 'moral superiority'.

If you got the guts to respond to what I am saying, at least have enough 'balls' to reveal yourself! I really don't have time for anonymous bullshit! Confront the logic behind the argument, not the topic. Attack the content, not the individual.

Nonetheless, I do recognize that this is in fact, an off tangent, slightly pointless rant triggered by my own incapability to deal with ridiculous shit...but as I said before, 'hey it's my blog, I can do whatever the fuck I want!'

P.S. Oh, by the way, if you're one of those people who do in fact post anonymous insulting and derogative responses (unless it's done in a playful and light hearted manner, indicating that I do in fact, know you) don't even fucking bother because I will just delete it.

P.S. By no way, shape or form, am I trying to prove my 'intelligence' or anything like that. I never considered myself a genius or anything like that, I'm just a guy who thinks too much!

(NOTE: The anonymous bloggers that I'm referring to should not be mistaken for the Internet group "Anonymous", who have recently waged a war on Scientology)

There's Nothing Wrong With A Little Melody...

When it comes to heavy metal, a lot of people fall into this false preconception that somehow if the vocal lines are melodic, it's not metal. Hell, I've even come across some people that would say something like "what the fuck is this emo crap" or "this isn't metal" while I'm listening to a melodic metal band (vocally speaking of course)...

NO!

A melodic vocal line DOES NOT make a song/band emo! It's the DELIVERY that's makes the song/band emo! If you ask me, emo is pop rock with a punk/indie/hardcore delivery and if you're into that kind of stuff, hey, knock yourself out...but I'm not particularly a fan of emo

It's important to take into account how each of the instruments (including vocals) interact and compliment one another and how they deliver a particular sound BEFORE attempting to ascribe what band belongs to what genre. If you try to try to place a particular band into a particular genre based on a sole attribute alone, you're going to run into problems.

So what is the point of this otherwise, pointless rant?

Well lately I've been getting into a different kind of metal, a mixture of Swedish metal riffings (i.e. In Flames, Dark Tranquility, etc) an atmospheric Gothic feel (i.e. Cradle of Filth) and on top of that, a very melodic vocal melody. Some would call this "Progressive Metal"...but I'll leave that up to you!

I guess my point (if there is even a point) is that it's important to be open to music. Let the music speak for itself and don't automatically dislike a band or not give them a chance because of this, that or the other. It's okay to be passionate about a particular music genre, but it's not a crime to be open as well...

So sit back and enjoy!

Oh, and yes, this is metal!

Voices In A Dream
Echoes of Eternity
Forgotten Goddess (2007)



The Other Side
Sirenia
Nine Destinies and a Downfall (2007)

A Touch of Blessing
Evergrey
Inner Circle (2004)