It Should Work Both Ways

He was ostracized for his beliefs surrounding same sex marriage. So much so, his company decided to no longer employ him.

He fought critics, and tried taking his message to the media, so he could be better understood.

No, I'm not talking about Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson, although I certainly could be. This is about Chris Kluwe.

He's a former punter with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

In September of 2012 Kluwe made comments in an open letter about same sex marriage, supporting the rights of same sex couples to get married. You may have remembered seeing something about it, because it went viral.

After making the comments, Kluwe says the special teams co-ordinator of the Vikes - Mike Priefer - began using homophobic language during meetings, something the kicker says didn't happen prior. During one meeting, Kluwe says his immediate boss said something about "gathering up all the gays on an island and nuke it til it glows." At the same time, he'd been questioned by the head coach as to whether he was going to still support gay marriage openly. Kluwe replied he was.

Then, after the 2012-13 season, Kluwe was cut by the Vikings. It's something that does happen often in the NFL, but the timing was curious. Kluwe's leg was as dependable as ever, he was kicking inline with his career average.

Now, Kluwe believes his beliefs are what led to his dismissal.

Whether or not that's the case, it's hard not to see the irony in this.

Over the past few weeks, Phil Robertson was turfed off his family's television show, for religious beliefs he espoused in an interview, only for A&E to backtrack on its decision, after speaking with the Duck Dynasty family and 'special advocacy' groups.

My question is, where are these groups now? They argued Phil should be able to say what he believes, because of freedom of religion, and free speech. Kluwe, did nothing more than that - speaking his mind on a religious issue, and not backing down when asked to do so.

These special interest groups that hammered A&E into allowing Phil back into the fold, should be rallying outside the gates of Malls of America Field in Minnesota.

But they won't.

For most of them, freedom of religion only applies to their close-minded view.

Chardon Shooting: Why?

On Monday, one 17-year-old teen fired a handgun into a crowded cafeteria in Suburban Ohio, killing 3 students, and seriously injuring three more.

These random acts continue to happen in the United States, and for the most part we don't know why.

Many people say bullying is the cause. These kids aren't prepared for the world around them - get teased and bullied in school - and then lose their patience, and so it would seem, their sanity.

Time and time again, we hear from people who say they would love to transport kids to 5 years into the future, and show them none of what happens in high school bullying matters. In many cases, bullies end up on the welfare line, while the victims of bullying are leading the world in research, or scientific discovery, or show financial prowess.

Many say we need to get rid of bullying in schools to ensure incidents like the killing of three students at Chardon High School never happens again.

But I'm not so sure.

Bullying is still used as an adult - it just comes in different forms. For adults to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. We play favourites, as our 'mini-me's' do on the playground. We have friends, and foes. We have people we consider friends and colleagues, while others are associates, and co-workers.

Bullying is a way of life, for as well. However, our minds are, for the most part - fully developed. We can distinguish what we see, hear and feel, and move on. If bullying didn't exist in adults, there would be no anxiety disorder, depression, or insecurities in us.

Dealing with bullying as a child is a necessary evil for children, so they can exist as adults.

And it will always be that way, until adults can put their bullying aside too.

Fear and Hairpieces in Las Vegas

Republican candidate Mitt Romney got the support of a well known Real Esate magnate Thursday.

The Donald. The Hairpiece. The Bazillionaire.

Donald Trump made the announcement out of one of his many ritzy hotels, in glitzy Las Vegas. The city of excess.

In a way, it's almost perfect that Mitt Romney (rich) was endorsed by Donald Trump (richer) here. It's the one place where you can see, in a very real way, how people become when they have money.

The idea of Reaganomics is, as I understand them, is pretty well the trickle down effect.

That those with the money, will spend more money, and hire people with the cash that they accrue.

But that never happens.

Businesses have shareholders, who all demand better profit margins at whatever cost. People who run businesses have no choice but to cut back on staff, on spending in order to help those rich people become richer.

And it makes sense. If you won $40 on a slot machine in Vegas, you wouldn't share the winnings with your friends. You would bet it again. And again and again. Say you have that lucky streak, and make $40 into $1,000 - would you share THAT with your friends?

Probably not. You'd say you played the system, and won. Taking credit for lady luck, as it were.

And that, for the most part, is how business in America works; and how Trump and Romney have made their Millions.

I don't fault them for that - they've played the system and won. But to expect that they will help funnel millions of dollars into the American economy to help those who need it the most?

I wouldn't bet on it.

What's Best for Syria?

The people that live in Syria want their President Bashar Assad to step down.

That's what The West, and some Arab countries want you to think - though there are now holes being poked in that assumption.

A new study shows that 55% of Syrians want President Assad to stay in power, going against what Western Media has led us to believe.

Canadian Foreign Affairs, and the US Secretary of State have both been on the offensive, talking about the atrocities that occur in Syria daily.

They talk about the thousands of Syrian protesters who have been killed, or arrested just for being in opposition of the Syrian President.

Now, truth be told, it is difficult to see what is happening in that Middle Eastern Country, because of journalists being banned from the country for the most part. But it does appear to most people that atrocities are being committed on a regular basis.

So why do the Syrian people not want to go ahead with regime change?

There are a few theories out there. Many of those people live in the capital of Damascus, where few of the protests actually take place. If you don't see atrocities in your hometown, and widespread news comes to your town later, then it's not as bad as you think.

There's also the thinking that Syrians believe there could be mass war, and ethnic cleansing if Assad is ousted from power.

Right now, there is a draft measure before the United Nations Security Council, much like there was before the UN went into Libya, though Russia and China are denouncing the move.

In all likelihood, Assad will leave power one way or another - but will it be a case of doing what's best for the country? Or is big brother doing more harm than good?

Is Honour Killing Really Unique in Canada?

A day after 3 members of the same family were found guilty in an honour killing in Montreal, you would have a hard time finding anyone who disagreed with the verdict.

Mohammad Shafia, his son Hamed and his second wife Tooba Yahya have been convicted, by a Canadian jury, on four counts of first degree murder, in the deaths of Shafia's three teenage daughters, and his first wife in a polygamist marriage.

For the record, I think they got it right.

Now, I was not following the trial as closesly as some observers did; in fact there are some who believe that a book is in the works as several writers were in attendance for the full trial.

And that's where I have a problem with it.

While there is something to be said about the difference in cultures that resulted in the deaths of four vibrant individuals, it should be said that these deaths aren't the only ones that can be attributed to so-called honour.

Thousands of women are beaten, abused, emotionally attacked and even killed every year, because men feel that their honour is betrayed. In almost every case, women are attacked because they have challenged their partner in some way.

Whether it be turning down their sexual advances, or not fulfilling their partners unrealistic desires in other ways - it is always their misguided sense of honour that ends up being 'degraded,' which leads to the abuse.

Yet, we look at the Shafia murder trial as being an anomaly - a freak incident that allows us to look at a different culture, and find reason to hate it.

And to author a book about such a trial, makes us devalue the effect abuse has here at home. It's all around us. We don't need to buy the latest Harper and Collins offering to see it. Just look down your street.