One week ago today, my friend, Jason, was murdered. Last Wednesday morning, paramedics were called with a report of a man slumped over in his car. They found my friend, badly beaten, perhaps shot. His car was parked in a nice, middle class neighborhood. Aside from the obvious, there were no other signs of foul play. He was 30 years old. He was also a nice guy. So much so, that I have trouble imagining a situation in which he could anger someone enough to kill him. When I first moved to Tucson, I barely knew anyone. I'd only known Jason for a couple of days. But without hesitation, he offered to help me move into my apartment. My second floor apartment. As I write this, I'm wearing shoes that he gave me. He was that kind of guy.
In situations like this, most people struggle to find sense in what is inherently senseless. While it's happening, violence is a base, mindless thing. It's only later that people try to rationalize and justify. What was it? Money? Gang initiation? Road rage? These questions are useless.
When you strip it all away, one person will harm another for no other reason than that circumstance, or in some cases, authority, have given them an opportunity to do so.
That's it. No thought. Just predatory instinct.
When I think of this, my sense of loss is increased tenfold. It's not only the loss of my friend, but of all the potential he held.
And for me, the world is smaller and diminished.
Such a Nice Young Man
A couple of days ago, a young man came into the store and up to my register. He wanted a pack of cigarettes, but was a little short (I let him slide). We got to talking, and he explained that he had all but quit smoking, and rarely bought cigarettes anymore. He further explained that his girlfriend only let him do so when there was enough accumulated pocket change lying around the house.
Then he asked, "Have you got a copy of the (Tucson) Weekly?"
I indicated where they were. He went and grabbed one, brought it back, and started scanning the pages.
"Ah, there I am.", he said. He had the page open to the Weekly's 2012 Election Guide, which gave some background on the various candidate running for office. Then he turned to me, stuck out his hand, and said, "Hi, I'm Brandon Patrick. I'm running for State Representative."
I glanced down at the paper, and was privately relieved to see he was a Democrat. He went back to reading, then said,
"Ouch, wish they hadn't included that little gem."
I asked him to explain. He pointed to the paper and said, "Last year, I worked as an aide to Paul Cunningham."
I couldn't help but laugh. Paul Cunningham is a city councilman who got into hot water on a recent trip to San Diego by drinking too much, and making some inappropriate comments to some female colleagues. It's the sort of boorishness that the male of the species engages in at least once during his life. They usually get past this type of silliness while they're fairly young - a process that is usually helped along by a poke in the snout, and a stern talking-to by an older friend or relative.
We spoke a little more, then he took his leave.
When I got home that night, I did a little online research, and was appropriately impressed. But I think what impressed me more was that, when talking to him, he was honest without that slight hesitation that most politicians have when considering how that honesty might affect them politically. There was also none of that using-a-lot-of-words-to-say-nothing thing that seems to be a prerequisite for politicians.
So, if I were allowed to do so, I'd vote for him. He's well-spoken, honest, has a firm grasp of the issues, and some good ideas.
And, if nothing else, there something endearing about a politician that occasionally has to scrounge for change like the rest of us.
Then he asked, "Have you got a copy of the (Tucson) Weekly?"
I indicated where they were. He went and grabbed one, brought it back, and started scanning the pages.
"Ah, there I am.", he said. He had the page open to the Weekly's 2012 Election Guide, which gave some background on the various candidate running for office. Then he turned to me, stuck out his hand, and said, "Hi, I'm Brandon Patrick. I'm running for State Representative."
I glanced down at the paper, and was privately relieved to see he was a Democrat. He went back to reading, then said,
"Ouch, wish they hadn't included that little gem."
I asked him to explain. He pointed to the paper and said, "Last year, I worked as an aide to Paul Cunningham."
I couldn't help but laugh. Paul Cunningham is a city councilman who got into hot water on a recent trip to San Diego by drinking too much, and making some inappropriate comments to some female colleagues. It's the sort of boorishness that the male of the species engages in at least once during his life. They usually get past this type of silliness while they're fairly young - a process that is usually helped along by a poke in the snout, and a stern talking-to by an older friend or relative.
We spoke a little more, then he took his leave.
When I got home that night, I did a little online research, and was appropriately impressed. But I think what impressed me more was that, when talking to him, he was honest without that slight hesitation that most politicians have when considering how that honesty might affect them politically. There was also none of that using-a-lot-of-words-to-say-nothing thing that seems to be a prerequisite for politicians.
So, if I were allowed to do so, I'd vote for him. He's well-spoken, honest, has a firm grasp of the issues, and some good ideas.
And, if nothing else, there something endearing about a politician that occasionally has to scrounge for change like the rest of us.
Tag & Release
Recently, former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini wrote a letter to the editor of the UA's newspaper, The Daily Wildcat. The letter was in response to an op-ed expressing concern over DeConcini's involvement with CCA (Corrections Corp. of America) as a member of its board of directors. DeConcini is also a member of the Arizona Board of Regents.
In the letter, he calls the students' concerns "irresponsible journalism", and tells them to stay off his lawn. Ok, I made that last part up. He stated that, "The CCA took no role in the creation or passage of SB1070."
I'm not sure which to be offended by. The lie itself, or the insult to my intelligence. CCA, MTC, Gov. Brewer, Russel Pearce, and the glue that binds them all: ALEC, all had a great deal of input on that legislation. They were scouting areas close to the border for potential prison sites a year before anyone heard of SB1070.
DeConcini also stated that the CCA doesn't involve itself with regard to sentencing or incarceration legislation (see the beginning of the previous paragraph). This is demonstrably false. They've been lobbying for tougher sentencing laws for decades.
The concept of attaching a profit motive to the loss of anyone's liberty is something which I find abhorrent. It obviously lends itself to abuse by both the private and public sector. For the private sector, profit of course. For the government, I suspect it's kind of a tag and release program. They get your fingerprints, your DNA, and those pesky civil rights, including that of voting.
It's something that cheapens the concept of liberty itself. Society must necessarily bear a burden when taking someone's freedom. Otherwise, freedom becomes just another commodity to be bought and sold.
Over the last two decades, I've seen rights slowly and insidiously transformed into privileges granted by the state. I can see a future where those who can afford it, order items off the Bill of Rights as though it were a fast food menu.
If bearing this burden leaves a bad taste in your mouth, too bad.
If being a free society were easy, everyone would do it.
In the letter, he calls the students' concerns "irresponsible journalism", and tells them to stay off his lawn. Ok, I made that last part up. He stated that, "The CCA took no role in the creation or passage of SB1070."
I'm not sure which to be offended by. The lie itself, or the insult to my intelligence. CCA, MTC, Gov. Brewer, Russel Pearce, and the glue that binds them all: ALEC, all had a great deal of input on that legislation. They were scouting areas close to the border for potential prison sites a year before anyone heard of SB1070.
DeConcini also stated that the CCA doesn't involve itself with regard to sentencing or incarceration legislation (see the beginning of the previous paragraph). This is demonstrably false. They've been lobbying for tougher sentencing laws for decades.
The concept of attaching a profit motive to the loss of anyone's liberty is something which I find abhorrent. It obviously lends itself to abuse by both the private and public sector. For the private sector, profit of course. For the government, I suspect it's kind of a tag and release program. They get your fingerprints, your DNA, and those pesky civil rights, including that of voting.
It's something that cheapens the concept of liberty itself. Society must necessarily bear a burden when taking someone's freedom. Otherwise, freedom becomes just another commodity to be bought and sold.
Over the last two decades, I've seen rights slowly and insidiously transformed into privileges granted by the state. I can see a future where those who can afford it, order items off the Bill of Rights as though it were a fast food menu.
If bearing this burden leaves a bad taste in your mouth, too bad.
If being a free society were easy, everyone would do it.
Lazy Thinking & a Risk-Free Existence
I read an article on Huffpo citing a study claiming that conservatives are lazy thinkers (calling Dr. Obvious). There was some heated discussion in the comments section as to whether conservatism caused lazy thinking, or vice versa. To me, it doesn't really matter.
My major problem with conservative policies is that they lack foresight. In my home state of Arizona, almost every piece of legislation produced by our Republican controlled legislature seems to be a reaction to some perceived threat.
My major problem with conservative policies is that they lack foresight. In my home state of Arizona, almost every piece of legislation produced by our Republican controlled legislature seems to be a reaction to some perceived threat.
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