I consider myself quite a learned man, educated, intelligent, civil, considerate to the social good, and most importantly respectful. And as some learned men and women do, I read the paper. I love reading the paper online because there is so much that isn't included in the daily newspaper (could be because they're going green--and I surely hope so, though I am betting a lot gets omitted in editing), and I find it a great source for information...

...until that is, you turn to the Opinion/Life section.

My rant, it begins.

*ahem*

Seriously? How the hell do these GROWN ASS ADULTS get away with some of the immature shit they say?? Like, wow! I have been stricken with such ignorance, it caused my jaw to drop and my palm to make good friends with my face since I am constantly SLAPPING it. Seriously, check your local newspaper, and chances are, they have a website. Go to the Opinion or Life section since I'm sure every paper has one. In mine, we have what is called "Your 2 Cents' Worth" where every jackass and their DHS fearing baby mamas can shoot out the mouth. I guess I'm just shocked because I had the idea that those who put their opinion forward would at least do it in an educated manner, that I would hear from people I considered my intellectual equals and betters. Oh boy was I dead wrong.

Why am I bringing this to attention?

Well, I was told that we have a voice, so we should use it. I myself write letters to the editor and have my opinion heard, but I don't just jump the gun with my words and thoughts, I..y'know..DO MY RESEARCH and make sure everything sounds all nice and neat, and most importantly I try to remain impartial and objective. Its like, every racist, old and stubborn, and uneducated jackass comes out of the woodworks to say something so asinine that you would think the editors would just leave it out because it lacked any value whatsoever. To the subject, the way a voice is heard is grouping public opinion, and a good way to do that is the newspaper medium. But if the messages that I have been reading are average Americans speaking out, then no wonder everything is all to shit.

Everyone wants to have an opinion about something, and I don't mean to say that one person's opinion is any more or less weighted than the other, but I do know that the message can get across if one uses different words, and thus it can mean something different. If we do have a voice, then we must use it, and the only way that will happen is if we make our opinion mean something.

Make your opinion count; that's why I didn't act on the last issue with the DDs, because though I put my opinion out there, it was more or less open ended and had no real significance--I was just speaking my immediate thought. Well, if I wanted something to change, then I needed to give that opinion some meat, if you will, and so I bring this message to you, to the people who watch me--which now should be like, what, three?--and I say this: when you speak, make every word mean something.

Also, be active. That is one thing I want to attack when it comes to that paper. I see the same people troll that place, and these are grown adults in careers and whatever else, and y'know, you can bitch and moan all you want to but unless you ACT, then expect nothing. Our society is growing FAR too comfortable sitting around and complaining, and THAT'S truly what it means to have a voice, because by taking a stance, you're already acting, and when you take that further and actually get up and DO, then you're only helping your cause all the more.

Oh and uh, don't do what all these old farts are doing and just blurt out nonsense because you think you have the right. Everyone is blurting, and no one is listening or hearing. Find the proper approach and follow through.

I write letters to the editor, blog in informative websites, visit my council meetings when I can, go to marches, protests, charities, and take an active interest in the things around me. What are YOU doing?

I wish you luck.