Benjamin Watson's Ferguson Post

 "At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts:
I'M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.
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NFL's Benjamin Watson's Ferguson Post goes viral

Domestic Violence: A Societal Issue? by Sara NIles

By Sara Niles author of Torn From the Inside Out

Is Domestic Dysfunction and Domestic Violence a Societal Issue? In other words, does the societal beliefs and attitudes fostered within a culture, affect how domestic violence is treated as a social and legal issue, and does it affect how domestic dysfunction is  cyclically perpetuated from generation to generation? Attitudes help form beliefs and beliefs perpetuate atttitudes.

People tend to examine the world from their own points of reference, which limits their understanding of some issues-that is-if they did not experience it to the same degree then they many not understand it-that in turn, limits the empathetic response and encourages apathy.

Another societal problem with abuse is that many former victims of childhood abuse think they need not think about it again-just move on, stuff it, and pretend it did not happen.This does not fix the problem with the individual, and it does not improve the collective health of society-instead it fosters the 'sweep-it-under-the rug' societal state of denial.

In addition to societal denial,there is societal 'projection' in which the victim is blamed for being 'stupid'....and of course if you can believe that what happened to 'the victim' happened only because they were stupid, then you only have to be 'smart' to not be victimized. The illusion of invulnerability is created and it helps people feel they have control when they say "I would never let that happen to me", not understanding the total dynamic involved. Just as individuals use such tactics to avoid feeling vulnerable-so do collective groups; and eventually, group attitudes become cultural 'norms'...that is what we have now.

In both cases,societal denial and victim blaming- the real issue gets ignored, which is the need to do something to change the cycle of abuse, 
that affects huge numbers of children growing up who will have issues as adults. Changing cultural norms is part of what needs to be done (much like in the situation when slavery existed, and when gay people were considered outcasts).

Domestic abuse is extremely widespread and includes all forms of family dysfunction from emotional and psychological abuse by caretakers of both genders, to sexual and physical abuse.As you both stated-many children are affected and this is a BIG issue in our society.When you consider most people addicted to substances and negative behaviors, were childhood abuse victims-and most people in the prisons were childhood abuse victims-this is an issue of pandemic proportions. It is a societal issue, not just an individual one, and will have to be consistently addressed on a societal level in order to change things.

Public awareness and education is essential to changing public perception. The children absorb societal attitudes-and then the children grow up and become the 'new' society.

Obamacare: An Impending Nightmare? By Sara Niles

I originally trusted President Obama not to sign into law something that could potentially damage the people that needed protection the most: the poor and middle class; but now that the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) has become a reality, unpleasant truths have come to light about mandatory the'Affordable' Health Care Act :

        

·       Deductables are outrageous

·       The annual plan costs are unaffordable for those who are struggling to survive
·       The potential of criminalizing the poor and middle class because noncompliance
·       The overall appearance is the insurance companies will benefit most

According to the facts so far, Obamacare is a potential nightmare:

With a super high deductible, attached to even the cheapest health care plan and a mandatory requirement that those who were formerly uninsured because of financial limitations, purchase even more ‘unaffordable’ insurance-or face a penalty-this program is set up to become a nightmare instead of a blessing.

The plans are totally unaffordable for many-before there was no insurance for the same group of people-but now there is the danger of a ‘penalty’ because everyone is supposed to buy coverage; even if you can’t afford it.

Obamacare is unreasonable and unrealistic. The question now, is will the poor and lower middle class be fined and criminalized because of mandatory enrollment in Obamacare? The 'Affordable' on the Affordable Healthcare Act, is a misnomer for many.

Shocking Deductables: CBS News

Obamacare Crisis New York Times

Obamacare Crisis

Facts on Obamacare:

Michael Moore in New York Post: Obamacare “risks being a cruel joke.”

Michael Moore, Obamacare"risks being a cruel joke"