To start my first post, I'll try to give everyone a run-down of how this blog will work. Mostly, I will write  about current events. These will be often political in nature because political current events seem to make the largest waves in the media. Feel free to comment on what I write, but please keep them informational or, at the very least, constructive in their manner of criticism.

    This is not a current event for most people, but I am reading a book, called The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom by Robert A. Levy and William Mellor. Currently, I am approximately a quarter of the way through it. It is very interesting in its assertions, a good many of which are moot, but interesting none-the-less. Also, the authors seem slightly on the extreme side. However, this book has re-acclimated me to a sad, yet important truth in American politics: no matter how well-intended a piece of legislation or act of an official is, if it, even in the slightest manner, over steps the bounds that branch of government, it must not be allowed because it will open the door to abuses made in the future by other, probably less well-intending, officials. Anyway, let us move on to a current debate in my city.

    Saturday, April 9, a man had become annoyingly intoxicated. The security staff had been complained to by multiple persons in this man's section, so they asked him to leave. He began to leave his section, and arrived on one of the landings when he shoved a security personnel member and began shouting profanities at this person and the police officers that were nearby. The police asked him to leave, but instead he became more aggressive. The policemen attempted to taser him, but the probes would not penetrated the thick clothing the man was wearing. He took a fighting stance, so the police hit him with their batons to subdue him and arrested him.

    Many people in the area have termed this occurrence as police brutality, but let us examine the facts. First, the man in question was at least in the mid-200 pound range, a rather large man. Second, he was intoxicated to a very extreme level. Third, he was angry, and at least semi-violent based on his action throughout the night, and specifically in this brief ten minute span. If you were a cop, would you want to attempt to wrestle with this 250 lb, drunk, probably to the point of feeling very little pain, and angry individual, and probably allow him access to your gun while wrestling? I didn't think so. Plus, continuing to talk to this individual, or wrestle bare-handed with him would possibly cause harm to a number of helpless bystanders. Once again, not a good idea.

      This incident speaks to an even larger problem within our society: lack of personal responsibility/sense of entitlement. I have been to a number of sporting events, and drinking at them is a huge problem. Drinking alcoholic beverages at sporting events is not a problem in itself (I like to have a beer or two when I'm watching my favorite teams), but many take it too far; they drink to the point of intoxication beyond all self-control. Unfortunately, the justification of almost of these fans is the same, "I bought a ticket so I deserve to drink/ I am entitled to drink as much alcohol as I want; it's fun." They completely forget that everyone else has purchased a ticket as well. Don't the other 59, 69, 79, 89,000 fans deserve to enjoy themselves too? Besides, as with the screaming "fire" in a crowded theater rule goes, your right to enjoy yourself/speak freely ends as soon as someone else's well-being or safety is infringed by it. That's what we seem to forget today. We seem to forget that we have to share this country with the other 300,000,000 Americans and this world with the other 6 billion persons in it.