In the second half of 2011 a series of weird attacks occurred in Amish community in Ohio. The attacks were a form of a hate crime. A crime motivated by racial, sexual or other prejudice, typically one involving violence. In this case the attackers went to the homes of 5 of their community members and cut off their beards and shaved their heads. Yes, they cut off their beards. This action is particularly ghastly in the Amish community because men's beards are a form of worship and are very central in their lives. Some Amish men would rather die than have their beard cut off.
The men were attacked because they had different views on religion than the sect that committed the crimes held. The break off group that committed the crimes has been accused of being cult like in function. the man leading the group, Sam Mullet, was said to have great power over his followers. They would do exactly as he told them. This is why Sam is getting fifteen years in prison for the criminal acts his flock carried out. The men who actually participated in the crimes are getting anywhere from ten to one years in prison. This will make certain one thing. These men will not be out in force to terrorize grizzled manes for many years to come.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/08/justice/amish-beard-cutting-trial/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1
Hate crimes are horrible things. They are designed to hit where it most hurts in the victim's life. In this case the crime may even seem a little amusing to some of us on the outside looking in. Beards don't seem that important to us. as soon as we are even able to grow stubble we are forced to shave it off for school. It is not socially acceptable to even have a long beard in most cases. Even the Amish style of only having hair under the chin on the neck is awkward to many of us. A beard should be full, thick and short. That is the view that i personally hold and one that is shared with society in general.
The point i am trying to drive home in those who choose to read this is simple. Hate crimes are horrible things. Even in their most tame form such as cutting off something that will grow back, they hurt. The men who carried out the crimes deserve time for what they have done. People looking in may have a hard time understanding this. The whole situation is similar to someone entering your home uninvited and cutting off part of your reproductive organ for example. In many religions this part of the body is very sacred to practice of the religion. Im sure every one of us would object to this scenario and would do it with a certain vehemence. Now that the severity of the crime is put into a better context one may more clearly understand the crime. Many of us would see this story in the paper and skim over it without a second glance. Hopefully I have convinced you to at least stop and read, understand and maybe even do something about it.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Firework Blast Poses a Booming Question in China
Recently a truck transporting fireworks through china exploded causing the bridge it was on to collapse. Initially after the blast an official statement was issued that said 11 had been killed. A local reporting station said that as many as 26 had been killed. The final report unfortunately stated that 8 had been killed. This large loss of life was caused when cars in proximity to the truck experienced the blast of the fireworks along with the bridge collapsing immediately afterwards. It is believed that as many as 25 vehicles fell. They plummeted 100 feet to the earth below. The expressway has been closed so rescue workers can search for survivors.
China seems to have problems with fireworks. For example; a few years ago a firework accident caused a new hotel in Beijing to burn down. This, the countless other firework accidents that happened across china and the countless more to come have raised questions on the subject of banning fireworks. This is already happened in the 1970s. We will have to wait and see what the Chinese government does.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/01/world/asia/china-bridge-collapse/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2
Accidents like this are bound to happen. Especially when you get over a billion people in one country that all have a possibly very dangerous tradition. If you looked at the universe in percentiles you would find that basically anything is possible. It all comes down to how much more likely something else is to happen. I have the chance to walk through a solid wall. The possibility of the particles in that wall stopping me are just so much higher that i wouldn't be able to in real life.
This is the way i think we should look at accidents. Everything coming together in possibilities. The possibility that at some point there would be a faulty firework somewhere in the thousands produced and transported was just too high in China. To stop accidents we need to focus on what we can actually change. In china the only way might just be to ban fireworks in cities at the very least. China could focus on doing government shows in predestined areas where large amounts of citizens can congregate. They could also ensure every shipment is safer because the governments funding is behind it. I am a huge supporter of buying and lighting off personal fireworks. I am also a realist. Restricting usage might just be the reality of a growing world. The blast had too many variables that were against the truck surviving. Perhaps the odds of it happening again can be lowered in the near future and possibly even disappear altogether. Only time will tell.
China seems to have problems with fireworks. For example; a few years ago a firework accident caused a new hotel in Beijing to burn down. This, the countless other firework accidents that happened across china and the countless more to come have raised questions on the subject of banning fireworks. This is already happened in the 1970s. We will have to wait and see what the Chinese government does.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/01/world/asia/china-bridge-collapse/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2
Accidents like this are bound to happen. Especially when you get over a billion people in one country that all have a possibly very dangerous tradition. If you looked at the universe in percentiles you would find that basically anything is possible. It all comes down to how much more likely something else is to happen. I have the chance to walk through a solid wall. The possibility of the particles in that wall stopping me are just so much higher that i wouldn't be able to in real life.
This is the way i think we should look at accidents. Everything coming together in possibilities. The possibility that at some point there would be a faulty firework somewhere in the thousands produced and transported was just too high in China. To stop accidents we need to focus on what we can actually change. In china the only way might just be to ban fireworks in cities at the very least. China could focus on doing government shows in predestined areas where large amounts of citizens can congregate. They could also ensure every shipment is safer because the governments funding is behind it. I am a huge supporter of buying and lighting off personal fireworks. I am also a realist. Restricting usage might just be the reality of a growing world. The blast had too many variables that were against the truck surviving. Perhaps the odds of it happening again can be lowered in the near future and possibly even disappear altogether. Only time will tell.
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