"For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us." -Charles Bukowski

Quality

I think that our generation has something to offer.  I know that our parents have little faith in us because they see how strange and unstable we are.  These are not problems we brought solely upon ourselves.  We're exploited everywhere.  We do crazy shit to keep ourselves distracted from a down economy, political extremism, corruption, attacks on our general freedoms we once had.  What the baby boomers fail to realize is that we share their sadness in the decadence of a movement.  We watched music lose quality it sang about nothing most of the time.  Now we are seeing a strange culture of music emerging into something complex finally.  Music and the mind of zen is not lost.  It's still there...

Robert Ives

Congress to Palestinians: Drop dead - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

Congress to Palestinians: Drop dead - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

I hate to say it but I feel similar to this journalist. Israel is in a position to create peace and won't really make any big strides. Then again who are the Americans to dictate ethics in the Middle East. I hope Israel's Prime finds a slice of compassion for the Palestinians it's the only real power for peace right now.

Sincerley,

Robert Ives

Letter to Rick Scott

Dear Gov. Rick Scott,

I'm writing you from Clearwater to tell you how important WMNF 88.5 is to me as a struggling college student. I am interested in a career in politics myself and depend on free independent news media. WMNF 88.5 has an excellent track record for honest news media. They cover local, national, and international news. I am willing to volunteer time at the station as well. I could try and bring a bigger donating crowd through my connections in both business and the youth of the bay area.

I would hate to see this station go away or any others like it. Is there any other alternative we can think of than cutting the funds for 88.5 WMNF?

Sincerely,

Robert Ives

Anyone who would like to use this letter I encourage it.  Please help in protecting public radio!

The Road To Democracy

Those who think that America is a democracy are wrong.  If we are a democracy then Julian Assange wouldn't be arrested for expressing his right to free speech; Bradley Manning wouldn't be tortured for whistle blowing; Politicians would represent the people to the fullest.  Putting the powerful in their place is not the only solution though.  Unlike some of the super neo-liberals out there I do not believe that there is a conspiracy to control the people and in fact believe that the people have failed to do what we were empowered to do.  I'm calling on the people to not just listen to the facts but to investigate them.  I'm asking that people read scholarly journals more than newspapers.  We should not be subjected to sub par schooling and then expected to perform miracles on standardized tests.  There is an inequality expanding in the middle of our social and economic classes.  I find myself being torn between a society that does not know what is happening to the poor and the poor who do not know what is happening anywhere.  Republicans and Democrats love to keep us apart, they really do.  I'm here to ask all of you to pursue truth over brand.  What I mean by this is ask yourself why you believe the things you do.  Where did that information come from?  Our school budgets are being slashed left and right.  What used to be silly mockery of college students from the conservative extremists has now become slanderous attacks against college professors and now public school systems in general.  We cut the resources out from under everything we do and then want to know why quality is not checked.  Wealth is most certainly going to the top one percent and people from all social classes defend the rights of those who take rights away.  As a country we economically bully smaller countries into becoming a financial colony of us or face the threat of military coup, war, and depression at the hands of American Patriots.  I am asking all people to not trust my blog or anyone else's.  I'm asking you to not be afraid of the world around you long enough to go out and find truth in everyday life.  Realize the ability and power you have as an autonomous being.  Demand politicians listen to you or face a very real threat of your vote.  We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  We govern ourselves.  If you don't feel like you are part of government then it isn't really democracy.