As I See It

Got Scrap? The Advocacy of Conflict.
Conflict is not only natural and healthy, but conflict is necessary in the development of young men. I am not advocating violence, although men need to understand, conflict can lead to violence. The more comfortable men are with this understanding of conflict, the more self confident they will become. Stand-ing up for the weak or what is unjust in this world causes conflict. This conflict, when justified, is necessary and the responsibility of all men. By now most everyone has heard about the scandal involving Penn State University. Former assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky founded “The Second Mile”, a program for underprivileged young people who could “benefit from positive human interaction”. Sandusky allegedly used this program to pipe-line young men to his door so he could sexually assault them. According to the Grand Jury Report several peo-ple were aware of Sandusky’s inappropriate activities and did nothing. The report details in 2000, two members of the Penn State janitorial staff witnessed Sandusky sexually assaulting a young boy; yet they did nothing to stop it. Again in 2002 an assistant coach and former Penn State football player, Michael McQueary, witnessed San-dusky assaulting a boy at on the Penn State campus in a locker room shower. According to reports McQueary alerted his head coach Joe Paterno, thus fulfilling his “legal obligation”. McQueary also reported directly following his witnessing of the incident he called his father for advice. His father advised him to leave the campus and come home. WHAT? Come home! How about call the police, campus security. How about get your candy ass back over there and confront him! What do you think your father would tell you to do if you witnessed a child being raped? I can only speculate that all of these people were so afraid of conflict that they allowed children to be in harm’s way. Be thankful they are not your neighbors. Then again, sickos who hurt kids are everywhere and so are the cowards who let it happen. You can pick which one you want to live next door to; the one who will hurt your kid or the neighbor who is so self absorbed and cowardly that they will watch and let it happen? Call me old fashioned but I think there are still things worth starting a fight over. However you feel about conflict we should all agree that the strong should protect the weak. If you can’t get on board with protecting kids from pedophiles maybe you should move to Happy Val-ley PA, rumor has it that they tolerate you kind there. Stand up for what is right, if that means conflict then so be it. Act like a man. Start Today.
-S. Hanson

King's Corner

Corruption of the Holidays
and how to fight back.
In our consumer society the only break we get from some horribly commercialized holiday is August, even that is ruined by attempts to convince the public they need to make purchases for school. Labor Day is about the BBQ, Halloween about high end costumes and candy, Thanksgiving is represented by gluttony and Christmas, well let’s not get started on how bad it has gotten. Do yourself a favor, break away from the rush, the expense and the disconnect of a commercial holiday and find out what they are really about. Get over the idea that receiving is what the holidays are about, get rid of the extraneous crap filling your plate and car. Get back to the basics, working with your hands and mind for the holiday. Go cut a tree in the forest, shoot a turkey or duck, the TV is not what should be guiding your decisions in life. Break away from the keyboard and screen to build a bird house, try baking a pie, developing new skills round out a Compleat Man. While taking away new knowledge and experience you can give from where it matters, not the store.
Each holiday is something different for each person, years ago Thanksgiving to me began a tradition of deer hunting. This tradition began due to the fact that I lived a good distance away and could only afford to be home for Thanksgiving. It was an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with my family and possibly fill my freezer. This tradition continues to this day. I am looking forward to going out and hunting. This is my tradition for one holiday, if this time of year is breaking your back, take the time to create your own traditions, buck the status quo and become an individual, one with an idea about how to bring back the true meanings of the holidays. I am looking to giving thanks for all that this year has brought. I can honestly say that there have been many changes and I am struggling to keep up, but a Compleat Man has resources; friends, family, beliefs, tradition and his inner strength. -B. King