Canned Answers

Canned answers

I don’t watch the news I skim for topics that interest me and do my research on each one. So, when it comes up to the rare occasion that I “stupidly” respond to a work conversation on a lively topic, I do not have a ready list of answers from the Major networks.

1.      I free speech on campus. I blundered to this one with a knee jerk reaction to a dumb azz statement. “You know the president just signed an executive order restricting the ability of a university to restrict free speech on campus.”  With my dumb azz, I blurted out “that’s a bad thing?”  I then heard the rehash of talking points. Oh, Manny, it doesn’t matter and just walk away. Of the 17 people in your section you only care about 6 or 7 on the govt side, and all of the cool azz contractors, that leaves a few that I do not particularly care for.  Oh, I will pull over to help them if they get a flat tire on the highway, but I’m not taking them out for drinks after work.  Unfortunately, This is someone that I respect as he was a MAJOR influence in me getting into IT after I retired from active duty, and have known him for 20+ years. I can tell because he is plugged into the news 6 or 7 hrs a day. I’m usually listening to a book. For the next few days,s it’s a spy novel.  One has to do something while software is loading, unlocking accts and other mundane tasks like patching servers.   So, he comes up with this thought whenever this white supremacist. Goes on campus there are riots my next question (to strike the preverbal match) is Ben Shapiro a white supremacist, just asking? He says can you let me make my point? Go ahead then he goes on the MSNBC rant that I heard heading to the restroom only 15 mins earlier. You see I don’t have canned answers readily on hand that do not require thought. So, If did if a riot is the point of emphasis,  then do we limit the ability of some teams to reach a championship.(I’m looking at you City of Brotherly love)  is the constitution only for those we agree with, or is it the supreme law of the land however flawed it can be  (Dred Scott v Sanford 1857) which was nullified by a subsequent amendments namely 13^th and the 14^th amendments. I believe that it is even with its notable flaws.   I could have had the smart azz answer that I didn’t know you supported the same line of thinking that put Jews in boxcars, but didn’t, or whenever these black people march there is a riot, and we need to sick the police dogs and water hoses on them, but didn’t just let it go as it really didn’t matter.  The person is a terrific guy I have difficulty with the concept of a person well versed in the Bible and says they believe it and some of the things that get from his the internal tape recorder. that two master thing rears its ugly head (I'm just as guilty from time to time.) "Fault in others I can see but praise the lord there's none in me"  thanks pastor 

 2.      Gun control the question was “I don’t know why someone would want a weapon of war for self-protection. Another canned answer My answer was, have you read the decision laid down by the Supreme court in the case of Heller vs. the District of Columbia 2008?  If not educate yourself and we can discuss the merits of that case at a later time then put my headphones (another book) and turned away.  I will note reading the majority opinion of Justice Scalia, and the minority opinion of John Paul Stevens is interesting and more enlightening than any news story offered by any pundit

 3.      Golan Heights after the question “should they give it back to Syria” I asked have you seen a map of the Golan Heights area. It borders Israel from Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.  Have you read accounts from the 1973 war? How the Golan Heights are the high ground with the border of Israel on a downward slope toward the sea. Have you read the accounts of the pitched battles of the 1^st line units holding on until the reservists could be mobilized outnumbered by hordes of Soviet-made T-55 tanks? Have you looked at the map and thought how did they survive let alone win? Looking at that map one will see the strategic importance of a buffer between themselves and the other hostile nations to the east north and south.  If not, do that 1st because “reading is fundamental” let’s talk later about the aspects of this conundrum.  If reading is tough the History channel has plenty of documentaries on the subject however, in my opinion, reading is much more preferable than getting it on the tube. But that’s just me.

In conclusion:

  I don’t have a ready-made answer that does not require thought even if I don’t like said responses.  If I, as a thinking human being, let others speak for me, or I let them use my brain to parrot the thoughts of others what am I as a person.  There is an old joke that falls in this category. “Some people say I do my thinking with my little head. That’s wrong my little head does my thinking FOR me” The question is whose head is being used to promote the exchange of ideas? I prefer using the head resting comfortably in my northern regions, as opposed to the one below the Equator What I should have done was said in each of those incidents was simply say that’s nice and move on.  I once failed to follow the advice of my father who said. “No one has permission to know what you think unless you give them permission.”

You see “The problems of 3 little people don’t matter a hill of beans in this crazy world” Thanks Bogey