Repealing the Second Amendment Would Make Us 'Better Than This'

Limiting rights and heaping restrictions on lawful citizens won't make us "Better Than This." The only way to do that is to open our eyes to the reasons our country is violence-prone and do something about it. We live in an "us vs them" society. Whatever differences we have, political party, class, race, language, religion, sexual orientation, and a string of others, are twisted into reasons for us to forget we're Americans and turn us into bitter enemies. In every forum, social website, around the water cooler, in lunchrooms and board rooms, across the dinner table, in the media, even in the halls of Congress, everywhere you turn people are expressing and fostering intolerance. We need to knock it off. Start acting like neighbors. Pulling together. Stop teaching our children the bi @s of their parents. Change the way we interact. THAT.... will make us "Better Than This." If we don't, things will just get worse no matter how many laws we make and rights we lose.
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The Real Scoop on Papa John's and Obamacare

Franchise owners listen to corporate officials, especially when they're the founder and spokesman for the whole business. When you teach people that it's common sense to lower hours so you don't have to pay for insurance, and condone finding loopholes in the law, at least some will follow your lead. While the bottom line is important, the most valuable asset any company has is it's staff. Take better care of your employees, treat them as the important resource they are and they will work harder, be more productive and loyal. Show them the only thing you care about is the almighty dollar and your customers will see it. You'll lose money.



Blaming the backlash of your own words on a reporter is as irresponsible as the message you sent. The enormous cost of your latest advertising gimmick would be much better spent instilling better company values in all your franchises, being a leader in showing the world that a business cares enough about it's crew enough to treat them as human beings. Your bottom line will improve, instead of dwindle as more and more folks get to know the real you and look elsewhere for a common product.
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Gabby Douglas Covers ESSENCE 'Women Of The Year' Issue In Glamorous Black And Gold Dress (PHOTO)

Not to take away from Gabby, who is amazing and beautiful... if this was an article about Michael Phelps in a magazine devoted to promoting how gorgeous, talented and intelligent people with his flesh tone are, it wouldn't matter how gifted a swimmer he is. There would be negative remarks. So many Americans think it's ok to celebrate one pigment over others, as long as it's not the lightest one. And anyone who shares hues is immediately identified as only one end of the spectrum.



If this sounds silly, it is. In reality, we're all a blend of something. That's not who we are, and should have very little bearing. We're Americans, first and foremost. Those among us who excel represent not only themselves and their families but all of us. The hue makes no one better than another, It's what's inside that drives us, makes us improve, makes us beautiful. Gabby and Michael know this. We need to be reminded, and believe it.
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Neil Armstrong Dead: First Man On The Moon Dies At 82

Neil, you were one of the heroes of my youth. Your words echo in so many minds and hearts. Pioneer, explorer, adventurer. You lived a great life, and now you have leaped beyond the moon and into the heavens. Rest well, Mr. Armstrong.
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Mormons' Love-Hate Relationship With America

It's interesting... take a provocative headline, a loosely written, scattered article with quotes by a couple of kooks, an attempt to turn the suffering of Americans into an anecdotal sideline.... and the comment gates open wide for every rumor, juvenile retort, regurgitation of the same 'ol spin and bi as, mixed with a smattering of actual h@. tred. In a blog filled with folks who claim to be progressive and tolerant, in a country founded on principles of freedom. My ancestors simply wanted to live in peace and worship according to their faith, the way all Americans are guaranteed by the Constitution. They were mobbed, beaten, imprisoned, murdered and driven from their homes in the winter by neighbors, fellow Americans and Christians. People who should have known better.



I'm no different than you. We often share the same views on a host of varying subjects. And gratefully I don't have to keep a lookout for mobs. But reading comments like these makes it very clear the underlying intolerance is still there. Feces based on gossip is still being flung. People who are otherwise decent have a bad experience, see something on the net, read it, believe it and use it to cause damage. They equate different with dangerous and feel justified in being offensive.



We have a long way to go before we live up the the ideals of the founding fathers. Before we treat each other with tolerance. Before we are worthy of the name Americans.
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Anderson Cooper Comes Out: 'The Fact Is, I'm Gay'

What's important is being comfortable in your own skin. Being true to yourself, kind and tolerant toward others. Finding love. That's what matters. Having a press conference or telling the world on tv isn't coming out. It's showboating. Feeding ego, raising ratings. That doesn't make anyone courageous or a hero. Real coming out is actually an inward thing... when you can finally be honest with yourself, not with millions of folks you don't know.
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Planet's Evaporating Atmosphere Tied To Eruption Of Exoplanet HD 189733b's Parent Star

Here's one... The universe is vast, and amazing like our own world. And while we've learned much from studying both, we've only scratched the surface. The more we learn, the more apparent how much more there is we don't understand yet. In other words, the more we know... the less we know. No one has a lock on truth. Not scientists, not religious, nor any other field of study. It behooves all of us to have an open mind. To be willing to learn, because every year something we thought true becomes understood differently. Everyone can look into the expanse of space, and the depths of the oceans, and feel awe. It's so silly to close our minds and and feign superiority over someone else. Both are destructive and self-limiting. And completely against the processes by which we learn.
About Space
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Protecting Mothers and Children From HIV: A Call to Action

Good article and message, Dr. Goosby. May I add my two cents...

Education... So many areas of Africa live by old traditions that prevent women from having rights or protecting themselves. And if children are known to be infected they are often mistreated by family and friends, and even abandoned to die.



Second... pharmaceutical companies making untold billions developing ever more expensive long-term treatments. We understand enough about HIV/AIDS now to be doing trials of cures. Other diseases as well. We've been promised for half a century and more that we're on the "verge of a cure" for (insert disease here). But since profits rule the industry there are no cures. Why save and improve a person's life with one treatment when you can keep them going indefinitely for a few thousand a month! What the world needs are manageable prices, donated treatments and an open-minded reward system for cures, without regard to who developed them or what profits would be made or lost.
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Frank Ocean And The Eagles' Don Henley: Odd Future Member Caught In 'Hotel California' Dispute

Where's the mention of Don Felder? He wrote the music for Hotel California, arranged it, and did the stunning acoustic revisit later. He has first position in the writers' credit, followed by Henley and Frey, who together wrote the lyrics. Yet it's always about Henley. Just like the Eagles are always about the two reigning egos, the rest are nameless support dogs who eat their scraps. The new guitarist on their last tour played all the notes, but the finesse and magic were missing. Felder gave the music its heart and soul. Without him the Eagles are largely just a nostalgia act.
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Black LGBT Celebrities: 11 Living Legends (PHOTOS)

Seems a little one-sided when some races and groups are encouraged to celebrate themselves­, wave banners, put up icons and heroes and shout to the world how wonderful they are for their particular difference­. But if other races and groups did the same thing there'd be cries of intoleranc­e. In a time when we need to work together more than ever, we continue to separate ourselves. Us vs them. Tolerance can't be won that way, but through taking down walls, shaking hands and sitting together at the table.
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Rick Santorum On Opposition To Abortion In Cases Of Rape: 'Make The Best Out Of A Bad Situation'

I think abortion should be treated as a serious issue, a last resort. Too many use it like another form of birth control. A casual fix for an inconvenie­nce.



There are situations where it should and must be considered­, as should other alternativ­es, like the long waiting lists and high fees for those who want to adopt.



But no one has a right to force their beliefs on everyone. And how can someone honestly expect a child, or anyone else, to love and raise a product of ra. pe or in cest? How can they guilt anyone into a life of continual renewal and reminder of the crimes against them? How can any decent person condemn a child to never being able to receive the love and nurturing they need to grow up healthy and whole? And there's the answer... this candidate has no decency. He puts on a show to pander for votes, but in the end he cares nothing for anyone but himself.
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