Update no.830

Update from the Sunland

No.830

20.11.17 – 26.11.17

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

            To all,

            The follow-up news items:

-- In this plethora of bad conduct accusations [824] filling the capacity of the Press and our consciousness, apparently, an abuser/perpetrator must simply deny, deny, deny, and deny again.  “He totally denies it,” proclaimed our Commander-in-Chief.  Unfortunately, in the specific case of Roy Moore, the statute of limitations has expired in all instances (to my knowledge); thus, he cannot be tried before a jury of peers in a court of law.  As a consequence, this boils down to a character issue.  Those who support his prior conduct will not be swayed.  Yet, I will state for the public record, the outrageous hypocrisy represented by Roy Moore is indescribable.  He was the Alabama State Supreme Court judge who defied the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the state display of the Ten Commandments—a Judeo-Christian entity.  Also, for the record, of his female accusers I have heard speak directly versus his awkward, lame denials, I believe the women—they have little to nothing to gain.  He does not deserve any public office, set aside the United States Senate; however, that decision rests with the voters of Alabama, and if elected, ultimately with the Senate.

-- The Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook intends to notify millions of users who liked or followed any of the 290 Facebook or Instagram pages created by Russian actors that they viewed alleged misinformation [782] in the lead up to the U.S. presidential election last year.  The notification provides little information to users who did not visit or follow the affected pages.

            On Friday, a horrific mass murder event occurred during evening prayers at the Al Rawda mosque in the village of Be'r Al Sabea, west of the city of al-Arish on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.  The attack involved multiple perpetrators (35 at last report), at least one explosive device, and automatic weapons fire.  As of the closure of this week’s edition of the Update, at least 235 people were killed and 109 injured, and no group has yet claimed responsibility.  The Egyptian branch of the Islamic State has regularly staged attacks in Sinai, and is active in al-Arish area.  The mosque is reported linked Sufist faction of Sunni Islam, but still Sunni in affiliation. The attack appears to be a fratricide terrorist event within the Sunni sect of Islam and perhaps an attempt to find ISIL a new home with Iraq and Syria disappearing.

            A friend and frequent contributor to this humble forum sent along the following link and article for our considerations.

“What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings?  International Comparisons Suggest an Answer”

by Max Fisher and Josh Keller

New York Times

Published: NOV. 7, 2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/world/americas/mass-shootings-us-international.html?emc=eta1

To which I responded:

Calvin,

            I cannot argue with the data.  The first chart is compelling.  However, the suggested conclusion seems rather simplistic to me.

            When you examine the mass murder events in our history, the availability of firearms is clearly an indicator—no debate.  However, the involvement of mental health problems with the perpetrators is also a common, if not universal, factor in every single event.  To suggest the availability of firearms is the sole causal factor is simply wrong.  Further, the number of firearms versus the number of mass shooters is likewise simplistic; the following per capita chart is closer to being representative, and yet, it ignores various control factors like firearm control measures in place, such as they are.

            The authors stated, “If mental health made the difference, then data would show that Americans have more mental health problems than do people in other countries with fewer mass shootings.”  They add “trust me” statements that suggest no correlation with mental health factors, and yet, they ignore the one central, common fact—the mental health problems of the perpetrators.  If there was no mental health correlation, the mental health of the perpetrators should be representative of the mental health fraction in the general population; it clearly is not.  I ask them, why is mental health problems as common as the choice of weapons in these events?

            I fundamentally reject their conclusion.

            Comments and contributions from Update no.829:

Comment to the Blog:

“Congratulations on your move to the Valley of the Sun!  You have arrived at the best time of year because you have months of pleasant weather ahead.

“While none of the Trumps has been convicted so far, maybe they act guilty because they are guilty.

“Sexual assault and harassment occur at every level of society right down to prisons.  I agree that they are abuses of power.  I have talked to several women who have been through these experiences and have gone through one incident myself.  I believe the obvious about reporting: the position of power has protected the perpetrators.  Those I know who have reported incidents and sought redress have been ignored at best and have sometimes faced retribution.  Until large numbers of people report the same kind of behavior, it continues.  I believe the current wave of reports may bring about an important change in this country, although the shape of that change is not clear yet.

“I do not favor cutting income taxes in general, least of all for the wealthy.  That process has been under way since the Reagan Administration without any particular good results.  We need to invest in our country, not allow the wealthiest few to continue looting it.

“That John Oliver clip is remarkable.  Oliver's exposition of Trump's methods would be a credit to my instructors in critical thinking and logic.  Of course, the instructors weren't nearly that funny, but that clip teaches good lessons in logic and reason.

“The discussion of mental illness as the cause of mass shootings is accurate internally, but lacks insight.  The strongest correlation to mass shootings, and firearm homicide in general, is domestic violence.  That is not officially mental illness.  Some actions have been taken to prevent people with histories of violence from acquiring firearms at legitimate dealers, but loopholes remain for weapons bought at gun shows or over the Internet.  Also, the factor that affected the recent Northern California case was not those exceptions, but indifferent reporting.  The loopholes and reporting issues could be changed far easier than the whole issue of mental illness detection and treatment could be addressed.”

My response to the Blog:

            Yes, indeedie; glorious weather—high 70’s during the day, low 60’s at night, beautiful blue, cloudless skies.  We had planned to winter here like last winter.  Wintering became moving in August.

            Re: guilty.  I am inclined to agree.  There is way too much smoke for there not to be fire, IMHO.

            Re: sexual harassment.  I do believe the floodgates have opened, and I hope and expect that we bear witness to a pivotal change in our society that will lead to respecting other human beings, especially females.  The days of the Doctrine of Coverture are long gone.  It is well past time to treat women with respect, dignity and equality.  The large numbers of victims are coming forward, feeling safer in the collective.  Yet, as I have written previously, I worry about false accusations in this climate of retribution.  I also strongly object to the condemnations of public opinion; however, I fear that is the price we must pay for our past acquiescence.

            Re: taxes.  Again, I agree.  I do not want anyone to pay more taxes than is necessary to fund our various governmental organizations.  Today, we also have a huge debt that must be paid down as well.  I am not interested in creating a pool of money for Congress to spend as they wish; they have proven themselves irresponsible.  Spending should be debated in public and agreed; then, taxes should be imposed to pay for that approved spending.

            Re: Oliver clip.  I agree.  I thought it was extraordinary as well, on many levels—exceptional message, artfully delivered.

            Re: mass shootings.  I cannot argue with your assessment.  I will only add: these all still boil down to all of us being observant of those around us and helping law enforcement identify dangerous individuals.  We must care enough for our communities to illuminate those who show signs of aberrant behavior that might lead to violence against others.

Another contribution:

“Re Trumps ‘junket’ / ‘soiree’... good to see you've adapted to AZ already ... you're not in LIBERAL, Kansas anymore!! :)) And Trump IS VERY important!!  Let's see YOU do his job! (No, nix that)

“John Oliver and Steven Colbert are two of the greatest asses on TV today ...and the most extreme liberal fools around .. if you listen to their tripe long enough you might get sick from their koolaid ..tell me something factual either of them have blurted beside just hate speak ..  and his vocabulary/use of profanity is proof of lack of substance in his material ... hahaha ... let's see which loony liberal can diss the president the best ... such disrespect .. and sad you too accept the CNN etc media lies .. they are so obvious .. you would make a great buddy with George Soros himself ...”

My reply:

            Kansas . . . liberal, hardly; more religiously conservative than Arizona, I do believe.  Also, last time I checked, not every resident of Arizona voted for the fellow in the White House.

            Nope, I couldn’t be POTUS, even if I wanted to be; I’ve got more skeletons in my closet than the great orange one; the majority (if not all) of Americans would never accept [an asshole] a person like me.

            Did you listen to the whole John Oliver video clip?  Ginger, Oliver literally quotes Trump’s words verbatim.  Are you claiming they are not his words?  Facts are facts.  You and your savior can spin the facts as you choose, but your spin does not alter the facts.  I appreciate your consternation with criticism of your bright shining light; yet, like Sir Winston so succinctly and eloquently said,

“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”

Wise words, it seems to me.

One more contribution:

“Thank you kindly for answering some of my prompts, in this Update.  Sorry for being late in the game--reply wise.

“On the sexual harassment if not battery/assault allegations, I agree with you and can only imagine the law firms must be doing Black Friday value business.  I don't know where all this is heading, but would not be surprised to have total surveillance (CAMS) in most workplaces.  I appreciate on your observations on the sense of entitlement when raising children.

“Thanks for your good analysis on the situation in Saudi Arabia.  Yes, As the World Turns...

My response:

            You are most welcome, and thank you as well for raising topics—always appreciated.  I’m usually good for an opinion, for whatever that’s worth, on most topics (not all), but most, so raise topics as you wish.

            Yeah, hard to say how the sexual harassment situation will play out, but it is surely my hope and expectation that it will lead to a more enlighten state and true equality for all citizens within this Grand Republic regardless of the social factors—age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or disability.

            Indeed . . . as the World turns . . .

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                        :-)