Ted Talks

So over the past week, I've been listening to podcasts from Ted Talks. I thought they were interesting, so I want to share them with you all.

The first podcast I want to share is about common misconceptions. This hour long segment talked about different things that we think we know are accurate, and how they are actually false. One section of the podcast talked about deserts, and how they can be turned into grasslands. Here is a link, so check it out! http://www.npr.org/2013/11/15/243721657/how-can-deserts-turn-into-grasslands

Another podcast that really interested me was about success. Success is something that everyone wants, but many people have no idea what exactly it is or how we can be successful. This Ted radio hour podcast dives into what success is and how we can achieve it. I would highly suggest listening to it! Here is a segment about how drive can make you successful.  http://www.npr.org/2013/11/01/240778389/how-can-drive-make-you-a-success

The last podcast I want to share with you guys is about privacy. This Ted Radio Hour talks about privacy and if in the future we will have any personal privacy. It also talks about if giving up our privacy is worth it in order to receive protection. Here is a link about the NSA and the danger it poses to United States citizens. I would suggest listening to this very interesting podcast on privacy.  http://www.npr.org/2014/01/31/265386281/why-should-you-be-worried-about-nsa-surveillance

Women of the Mormon Church

So as I stated in my bio, I am a life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Many non-members of the church have criticism regarding the fact that women can't hold the priesthood. The priesthood is the power God gives man and is used to perform many sacred ordinances. I have 4 wonderful sisters and an amazing mother that are all very active members of the Church. These women in my life have such an important role that includes being a mother to children. An article written in The New York Times addressed the controversy of the women of the Church not being able to hold the priesthood. The author of the article made it obvious that she was biased, but she did present information that was fair. I think it is great that women are getting increased responsibility and recognition in the Church. I will post the link to the article so you can read it and formulate your own opinions. Feel free to leave any comments to this post. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/us/a-growing-role-for-mormon-women.html?_r=0

Free Speech!

I was reading an article the other day on a trusted website that I visit very often called prisonplanet.com that I would like to share. The article was about a student at a school in California. Well this student attending Modesto Junior College named Robert Van Tuinen was standing on school grounds passing out copies of the U.S. Constitution. A few officers of the law thought that it would be alright to tell Van Tuinen that he was not allowed to practice his right of free speech. Van Tuinen argued intensively with the officers. Van Tuinen ended up talking with the school superviser and she explained to him that he had to set up an appointment to share the Constitution at a specific location at the school. The school was saying that Van Tuinen was not allowed to talk about and share the Constitution except for in a area of the school that is called the "free speech zone." Van Tuinen understood that this was not lawful of the school to do, and so he took them to court. He ended up receiving a $50,000 settlement from his case. It is ridiculous to me that the school even thought that they had the right to stop Van Tuinen from talking about the Constitution during school. The Constitution is one of the most important documents to ever be written. I applaud Robert Van Tuinen for standing up for what he believes in and challenging the school and the officers.

God Grew Tired of Us

I recently watched a film called "God Grew Tired of Us." This film is about 3 of the lost boys of Sudan. These 3 boys fled their home of Sudan as it was turning into a country of evil and total violence. In Sudan at the time, there was starvation, dehydration and genocidal murder. The lost boys of Sudan got the opportunity to flee to America and be free and safe. In America, the modern conveniences are completely foreign to the boys from third world Sudan. These boys worked multiple jobs to send money back home to their loved ones. This film really inspired me and appealed to me emotionally. I realized that I completely take modern conveniences and luxuries for granted. This film helped me appreciate all that I have. It is so amazing to me that these boys worked so hard just to have money to send to their loved ones. I would highly recomend this film to everyone, as it is a real eye-opener. "God Grew Tired of Us" can be found on hulu.

Snowden

So for the purpose of this blog, I am going to assume that you have never heard of Edward Snowden. Snowden is a 30 year old man who worked at the NSA data center. The NSA data center is located in Bluffdale, Utah. At the data center, the NSA collects mass amounts of data on United States citizens. The NSA has been spying on U.S. citizens through means such as phones and computers. Edward Snowden exposed the NSA for their unconstitutional ways of "protecting the country." It is crazy to me to think that the NSA thinks that they have the right to spy on the average citizen. Snowden admitted to having the right to tap anyone’s phone or computer­, including the President’s or other high-ranking officials. In an interview, Snowden expressed how he knew blowing the whistle would endanger his life forever.

 “In a world where I would not be restricted from killing an American, I personally would go and kill him myself,” a current NSA analyst told BuzzFeed. “A lot of people share this sentiment.”

One Pentagon official said, “I would love to put a bullet in his head. I do not take pleasure in taking another human beings life, having to do it in uniform, but he is single-handedly the greatest traitor in American history.”

The fact that such high-ranking officials in our government want Snowden dead because he opened his mouth about an unconstitutional issue is totally absurd and very disturbing. A defense contractor in our government told BuzzFeed, “Most everyone I talk to says he needs to be tried and hung, forget the trial and just hang him.” So not only do government officials want to kill Snowden for doing the right thing, they want to do so without a trial. Snowden has been hopping around the world, living in any country that will grant him asylum so he can be protected from the government. Edward Snowden is truly an American hero.

Here is an interview with Edward Snowden:

Source

Johnson, Benny. "America’s Spies Want Edward Snowden Dead." BuzzFeed. N.p., 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. <http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/americas-spies-want-edward-snowden-dead>.

Ron Paul

So you guys may remember Ron Paul. Ron Paul was a candidate for the President of the United States in 2012. Paul also served in the Senate, representing Texas. Ron Paul has been a hero of mine as we share similar political view points. Ron Paul is a Libertarian and so he believes in limited government. Paul is a major critic of the Federal Government's fiscal policies. Paul is especially a critic of the Federal Reserve. Paul has many book out that I have read, including End the Fed and Liberty Defined. A favorite quote of mine comes from Ron Paul: "There is only one kind of freedom and that's individual liberty. Our lives come from our creator and our liberty comes from our creator. It has nothing to do with government granting it." I would highly suggest learning more about Ron Paul and reading his amazing books. I would highly suggest learning more about Ron Paul and reading his amazing books.

Interview

Recently, I was talking on the phone with a friend of mine named Ryan. Ryan devotes his life to politics. Whenever I have a question regarding anything on the subject of politics, Ryan is my man to go to. Ryan is also a fellow libertarian and believes that the only way America should be run is with minimal government. I was able to ask Ryan a few question and gain some insight that I want to share with you all.

Q: So who is your favorite President in American history, and why is he your favorite?
A: Thomas Jefferson is by far my favorite. Jefferson helped establish this country, and he did so on high morals. Jefferson believed in minimal government. A favorite quote of mine is actually by Jefferson. "That government is best which governs least."

Q: What is some thing that has been happening in government today that disgust you or that is problematic?
A: The NSA spying scandal has really bothered me. The fact that the government feels the need to keep tabs on the private lives of the citizens is really wrong. In fact, this conversation is probably being recorded and flagged. The government does not like us as citizens speaking out against them, which makes it that much more important to do. 

Q: What is your thoughts on the government trying to take away our guns?
A: Personally, I own 3 guns. I own a rifle for hunting, and two personal hand guns. My rifle is so I can get my own food, and my hand guns are for personal protection. If I could, I would have assault rifles to protect myself and my family from our government. It is only a matter of time before the government becomes even more aggressive than they already are. All around the nation, people are being victimized and treated wrongly by officials in the government, mainly in law enforcement. It is extremely important to be able to protect yourself in cases such as these.

Ryan and I talked for a while longer, but this is the most important part of our conversation. I want to thank Ryan for talking to me and letting me interview him.