Being truthful always in a loving way (to paraphrase part of Ephesians 4:15) is one of the most important things we can do, as I see it. In my opinion, this is true always.
At least two very different accounts exist of a shooting that occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina earlier this week.
One version states that a white police officer shot an unarmed and disabled African-American man holding a book who was waiting to pick up a child from school.
Another version states that an African-American officer shot an armed man who refused to drop his weapon.
I would love to know the truth and hope the true story will be discovered and disclosed. I hope the police will release video of the incident soon.
But regardless of which story is true (and both may be at least a bit true for all I know), it is horrible that looting, shooting, etc., occurred afterward. That is not the way to respond. Stealing and damaging the property of innocent persons and shooting or otherwise injuring others is not the right way to respond. This seems like madness.
Looting and violence against innocent persons seems to often occur in response to perceived injustices. Pent-up emotions seem to released inappropriately. The best way to prevent this might be to raise up children properly, treat everyone fairly, and to address minor problems before they become major ones. Unfortunately, in our imperfect world that doesn't happen. But I am confident we can do better than we do now.
I strongly support the right of persons to protest peacefully and responsibly. And I'm sorry that the acts of some in Charlotte may reflect poorly on all those who protested peacefully and responsibly.
If the police account of events in Charlotte is wrong, corrective action needs to be taken. And even if it wasn't, corrective action needs to be taken in cases where police abuses have occurred.
Indeed, we need to allow and encourage persons to report injustices and to take actions to investigate and correct them when they are reported. Please, let's all seek to do so, quickly, fairly, and responsibly.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Saturday, September 17, 2016
What Can Help Food Stamp and Medicaid Recipients Live Healthier Lifestyles?
Studies indicate that recipients of food stamps, Medicaid, and other federal government benefits are more likely than the general public to smoke cigarettes, consume more junk food than the general public, and engage in some other activities that are risky to their health more frequently than does the general public.
What can be done to help welfare recipients make better choices and live happier, healthier, more productive lives? A Malbeck Data Institute study published on NationalReport.net in 2014 stated that 89% of those receiving food stamps purchased primarily junk food. A 2015 Centers for Disease Control press release that used "data from the 2014 National Health Survey" found that 29.1% of Medicaid recipients were smokers vs. 16.8% of adults in general.
For one thing, it would be great if food stamp recipients enjoyed easy access to a grocery or supermarket that sells fresh produce and other relatively healthy food options at reasonable prices and shopped there regularly. Too many of them live a significant distance from a supermarket, lack automobiles, and/or have small children that complicate shopping/traveling to a store.
Some persons advocate not allowing the purchase of things like carbonated soft drinks or candy with food stamps. But for now at least the federal government does allow this, although to my surprise vitamins are not allowed to be purchased using food stamps. More details about the food stamp program (officially called "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" or by the acronym SNAP for short) are on the SNAP Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Many taxpayers (who are the ones paying for the SNAP program) are upset that food stamp recipients buy so much junk food. Also, many persons feel that if persons can afford to visit tanning salons, get tattoos, smoke cigarettes, etc., (as some welfare recipients apparently do) that they can afford food and maybe even medical care, and should not be subsidized by the government.
Some states have passes restrictions limiting how welfare benefits (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) can be spent, to help prevent welfare money from being spent on tattoos, piercings, tanning salon visits, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, etc. Some states are also adding specific work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients. An April 16, 2015 NBCNews article reports on a Kansas law that the state's goverrnor had recently signed that may be the most restrictive.
Some of these requirements seem geared toward helping both welfare recipients and the taxpayers who support them. But persons who take this to extreme by seeking to eliminate welfare and food stamps or to cut them off for masses of people without providing them alternatives may not be following what I consider the Christian attitude of "There but for the grace of God go I." Jesus advocated caring for the poor and needy.
But the point that these persons would do well to take better care of their health is a valid one. It is perhaps even more important that welfare recipients with children teach their children how to take care of their health, so that the children do not become abuses of drugs, or overindulge in junk food.
Also, it is wonderful to provide a reasonable amount of professional medical care for the needy. But a willingness to take care of one's health is important. If a Medicaid recipient goes to the doctor for breathing problems and high blood pressure, but refuses to quit smoking or to exercise or to eat a diet that can help lower their blood pressure, the doctor's visit may not be very productive. Often medical professionals treat symptoms only, not the underlying problems.
What can we do to encourage persons to live a healthier lifestyle? These food stamp and Medicaid recipients often have children dependent upon them, and in many cases even have parents that they are caregivers for. I think it would be unfair to the recipients and to those dependent on them to cut off their benefits. But it would be great if we could find a good way to reduce unnecessary expenditures on food stamps and Medicaid, as well as improve to the health of these recipients. That seems like a win-win situation.
What can we do to help unemployed able-bodied welfare recipients who are looking for jobs to find jobs? And what can we do to convince them to live healthier lifestyles?
What can be done to help welfare recipients make better choices and live happier, healthier, more productive lives? A Malbeck Data Institute study published on NationalReport.net in 2014 stated that 89% of those receiving food stamps purchased primarily junk food. A 2015 Centers for Disease Control press release that used "data from the 2014 National Health Survey" found that 29.1% of Medicaid recipients were smokers vs. 16.8% of adults in general.
For one thing, it would be great if food stamp recipients enjoyed easy access to a grocery or supermarket that sells fresh produce and other relatively healthy food options at reasonable prices and shopped there regularly. Too many of them live a significant distance from a supermarket, lack automobiles, and/or have small children that complicate shopping/traveling to a store.
Some persons advocate not allowing the purchase of things like carbonated soft drinks or candy with food stamps. But for now at least the federal government does allow this, although to my surprise vitamins are not allowed to be purchased using food stamps. More details about the food stamp program (officially called "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" or by the acronym SNAP for short) are on the SNAP Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Many taxpayers (who are the ones paying for the SNAP program) are upset that food stamp recipients buy so much junk food. Also, many persons feel that if persons can afford to visit tanning salons, get tattoos, smoke cigarettes, etc., (as some welfare recipients apparently do) that they can afford food and maybe even medical care, and should not be subsidized by the government.
Some states have passes restrictions limiting how welfare benefits (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) can be spent, to help prevent welfare money from being spent on tattoos, piercings, tanning salon visits, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, etc. Some states are also adding specific work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients. An April 16, 2015 NBCNews article reports on a Kansas law that the state's goverrnor had recently signed that may be the most restrictive.
Some of these requirements seem geared toward helping both welfare recipients and the taxpayers who support them. But persons who take this to extreme by seeking to eliminate welfare and food stamps or to cut them off for masses of people without providing them alternatives may not be following what I consider the Christian attitude of "There but for the grace of God go I." Jesus advocated caring for the poor and needy.
But the point that these persons would do well to take better care of their health is a valid one. It is perhaps even more important that welfare recipients with children teach their children how to take care of their health, so that the children do not become abuses of drugs, or overindulge in junk food.
Also, it is wonderful to provide a reasonable amount of professional medical care for the needy. But a willingness to take care of one's health is important. If a Medicaid recipient goes to the doctor for breathing problems and high blood pressure, but refuses to quit smoking or to exercise or to eat a diet that can help lower their blood pressure, the doctor's visit may not be very productive. Often medical professionals treat symptoms only, not the underlying problems.
What can we do to encourage persons to live a healthier lifestyle? These food stamp and Medicaid recipients often have children dependent upon them, and in many cases even have parents that they are caregivers for. I think it would be unfair to the recipients and to those dependent on them to cut off their benefits. But it would be great if we could find a good way to reduce unnecessary expenditures on food stamps and Medicaid, as well as improve to the health of these recipients. That seems like a win-win situation.
What can we do to help unemployed able-bodied welfare recipients who are looking for jobs to find jobs? And what can we do to convince them to live healthier lifestyles?
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Music Can Arouse Various Emotions: Is an International Language in a Sense
Music can arouse a variety of emotions. It can have powerful effects on humans. Music can help make someone joyous, sad, angry, etc.
Music Is an International Language in a Sense
"Music is the universal language of mankind" stated Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1835. I prefer to state that music is a form of international language, international in the sense that musical tunes can be conveyed to and recognized by persons of various languages. But music is not a universal language, because persons differ in the extent to which they understand and benefit from music, as well as in their tastes in it. Some even dislike most if not all music.
My Perspective
For me, music is a sideline, and not a centerpiece. I usually just listen to music in the background while I am doing something else, such as washing dishes. And even when doing things like washing dishes, I often do other things than listen to music, including listening to news or a sermon message on the radio, or just quietly meditating.
Me and Musical Instruments
I appreciate the talents of those who read music and/or play various instruments well. But I can not read music. Nor can I play an instrument. I do still have a cheap flute that I may have owned for decades, pictured below in two photos.
But I can't play a tune on it.
My Music Tastes
The time I love music most is during the Christmas season. I enjoy listening to Christmas music, both contemporary songs and traditional Christian hymns. It gets me even more in a positive frame of mind, instilling the Christmas Spirit I guess one could say. The fact that many stores play Christmas music during the season indicates that it is effective or perceived as being effective for the stores. [Disclosure: My current second job is working as a part-time store clerk.]
I also enjoy listening to positive uplifting contemporary Christian songs by artists like Michael W. Smith, as well as a few classic hymns like "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace." Some soft rock songs appeal to me, too, including several by Simon & Garfunkel and by the Beatles from the 1960s to 1970. As a kid I also liked the positive, upbeat Fifth Dimension song "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In." Perhaps one reason I loved that song is the fact that I am an Aquarian; but, I also liked its uplifting message.
I generally dislike the country songs that tell a sad story, and the Christmas song "Blue Christmas." I think listening to sad songs like those contributes toward making one sad. I think there is a correlation between persons who enjoy listening to that type of music and persons who suffer from depression. I admit that this is based on my observations of some persons rather than a scientific study. However, in a later section of this article I briefly refer to a study that indicated a correlation between depression and listening to music.
What I call "message" songs also impact people, in my opinion. These songs promote some type of message, whether it be "peace," "love," "patriotism," or something else.
I like some message songs like "One Tin Soldier" by Coven and "Indian Reservation" by Paul Revere and the Raiders. I think some songs can inspire one to take positive actions, and some can make one angry. And playing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." is a tradition at some Fourth of July festivals; it seems to help instill pride in the United States. I enjoy hearing it.
Patriotism and "The Star-Spangled Banner"
And the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before sporting events in the United States is one way to help instill national unity and patriotism, as well as respect for the United States flag that is displayed at such occasions. But it is important not to confuse patriotism with nationalism. True patriotism requires putting obedience to the highest righteous authority (which I call God) above nationalism. As United States Senator Carl Schurz defined patriotism long before I was born: "My country right or wrong. When right to keep right; when wrong, to put right." I respect those who choose not to stand for the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Music and Depression
Many talk about the therapeutic effect of music, but I think often those who are most heavily involved in listening to music seem to be more depressed than the average person. A journal article published in 2011 based on data from an earlier study of teens indicated a correlation (not necessarily causation) between depression and listening to music more than the average person, as reported by various news pieces, including a Time.com article.
Those of us who are actively doing constructive things are perhaps happier than those passively retreating into listening to music or even playing music. Even positive, upbeat music I think needs to be kept in the proper perspective, being a sideline rather than a centerpiece of one's life.
Music in Perspective
Often the real world sounds of birds singing, cats purring, dogs barking happily, ocean waves, or water running over a waterfall can be more peaceful and relaxing than the artificial man-made musical sounds, as I see it. Man-made music needs to be kept in proper perspective.
I think persons walking around with headphones on listening to music instead of conversing with passersby or listening to natural sounds miss out on a lot, as well as possibly endangering lives if they don't hear cars and other things around them due to the headphones.
Yes, music can have a variety of effects on people. Let's enjoy its benefits, but let's also keep it in perspective.
NOTE:
This article was last revised February 16, 2023.
Music Is an International Language in a Sense
"Music is the universal language of mankind" stated Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1835. I prefer to state that music is a form of international language, international in the sense that musical tunes can be conveyed to and recognized by persons of various languages. But music is not a universal language, because persons differ in the extent to which they understand and benefit from music, as well as in their tastes in it. Some even dislike most if not all music.
My Perspective
For me, music is a sideline, and not a centerpiece. I usually just listen to music in the background while I am doing something else, such as washing dishes. And even when doing things like washing dishes, I often do other things than listen to music, including listening to news or a sermon message on the radio, or just quietly meditating.
Me and Musical Instruments
I appreciate the talents of those who read music and/or play various instruments well. But I can not read music. Nor can I play an instrument. I do still have a cheap flute that I may have owned for decades, pictured below in two photos.
My Music Tastes
The time I love music most is during the Christmas season. I enjoy listening to Christmas music, both contemporary songs and traditional Christian hymns. It gets me even more in a positive frame of mind, instilling the Christmas Spirit I guess one could say. The fact that many stores play Christmas music during the season indicates that it is effective or perceived as being effective for the stores. [Disclosure: My current second job is working as a part-time store clerk.]
I also enjoy listening to positive uplifting contemporary Christian songs by artists like Michael W. Smith, as well as a few classic hymns like "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace." Some soft rock songs appeal to me, too, including several by Simon & Garfunkel and by the Beatles from the 1960s to 1970. As a kid I also liked the positive, upbeat Fifth Dimension song "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In." Perhaps one reason I loved that song is the fact that I am an Aquarian; but, I also liked its uplifting message.
I generally dislike the country songs that tell a sad story, and the Christmas song "Blue Christmas." I think listening to sad songs like those contributes toward making one sad. I think there is a correlation between persons who enjoy listening to that type of music and persons who suffer from depression. I admit that this is based on my observations of some persons rather than a scientific study. However, in a later section of this article I briefly refer to a study that indicated a correlation between depression and listening to music.
What I call "message" songs also impact people, in my opinion. These songs promote some type of message, whether it be "peace," "love," "patriotism," or something else.
I like some message songs like "One Tin Soldier" by Coven and "Indian Reservation" by Paul Revere and the Raiders. I think some songs can inspire one to take positive actions, and some can make one angry. And playing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." is a tradition at some Fourth of July festivals; it seems to help instill pride in the United States. I enjoy hearing it.
Patriotism and "The Star-Spangled Banner"
And the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before sporting events in the United States is one way to help instill national unity and patriotism, as well as respect for the United States flag that is displayed at such occasions. But it is important not to confuse patriotism with nationalism. True patriotism requires putting obedience to the highest righteous authority (which I call God) above nationalism. As United States Senator Carl Schurz defined patriotism long before I was born: "My country right or wrong. When right to keep right; when wrong, to put right." I respect those who choose not to stand for the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Music and Depression
Many talk about the therapeutic effect of music, but I think often those who are most heavily involved in listening to music seem to be more depressed than the average person. A journal article published in 2011 based on data from an earlier study of teens indicated a correlation (not necessarily causation) between depression and listening to music more than the average person, as reported by various news pieces, including a Time.com article.
Those of us who are actively doing constructive things are perhaps happier than those passively retreating into listening to music or even playing music. Even positive, upbeat music I think needs to be kept in the proper perspective, being a sideline rather than a centerpiece of one's life.
Music in Perspective
Often the real world sounds of birds singing, cats purring, dogs barking happily, ocean waves, or water running over a waterfall can be more peaceful and relaxing than the artificial man-made musical sounds, as I see it. Man-made music needs to be kept in proper perspective.
I think persons walking around with headphones on listening to music instead of conversing with passersby or listening to natural sounds miss out on a lot, as well as possibly endangering lives if they don't hear cars and other things around them due to the headphones.
Yes, music can have a variety of effects on people. Let's enjoy its benefits, but let's also keep it in perspective.
NOTE:
This article was last revised February 16, 2023.
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