Did you know that in Saudi Arabia, if you are unhappy with the government, you can write them a letter and air your grievances?
 
And, if afterwards, you’re still not satisfied, you can use the hand you have left to write another letter.
 
I’ve had it with political correctness in this country.  People that are easily offended think that their right to ‘not being offended’ trumps the 1st amendment.  The offended don’t care that they are offending the non-offended by being offended!  Since when did someone’s right to not be offended supersede my right to offend them?  It hasn’t.
 
There’s a story in the news right now about a statue of a confederate soldier on a college campus somewhere that is being removed and hidden from view because it offended some people.  Well, you know what?  That offends me!  I don’t even know who it is.  But, that brave son of bitch was fighting for his country and putting his life on the line at that time in history.  But, now it hurt someone’s feelings so they want to have the statue removed.  Well that offends me!
 
The 1st Amendment of the US constitution is actually about a lot of different freedoms.  The right to free speech and the right to peacefully assemble are just two of them.  According to our new ‘expert’ in the world, Wikipedia; the 1st amendment guarantees an individual's right to express and to be exposed to a wide range of opinions and views.
 
It was intended to ensure a free exchange of ideas…even if the ideas are unpopular.  Suck it up offended ones; you’re not going to like all the ideas floating around out there, just like I don’t like most of your ideas...like removing historical monuments.
 
The 1st amendment also guarantees an individual's right to physically gather with a group of people to peacefully picket or protest; or to associate with others in groups for economic, political or religious purposes.  The operative word there is peaceful.  Stop throwing rocks and bottles at the police you dummies.
 
Nowhere in the constitution does it say that if you’re offended the world has to stop turning while you cry in the corner of your safe space while history is re-written so as not to offend you.
 
Here in middle Tennessee, one of our universities is about to change the name of a building because some people were offended by actual historical events!  I just don’t understand things like that.  For instance, if I don’t like looking at a statue, I don’t look at it.  If something really bothered me every time I walked past it, I’d act like a grown up and walk another way around it.  If I didn’t like what someone was saying, I wouldn’t listen to them.  I wouldn’t make a federal case about it because I understand that in a free society, even those people whose views I don’t agree with can say whatever they want to say.
 
The last time I checked we still have free speech in this country (although at the current pace that may not last much longer) and I’m going to do everything in my power to preserve that right by speaking my mind. 
 
Because I’m a pretty normal human being, I like some groups of people more than I like other groups of people.  I like some people and I can’t stand other people.  What can I say, I’m a people person! 
 
If something offends you, you have every right afforded to you under the US Constitution to be offended, because last I checked;
 
It’s still a free country…and some people are just fun to offend!

 Why do doctor’s always slap newborn babies right after they are born?
 
To knock the penis’s off the smart ones!
 
I’m a 54 year old American male.  I guess I’m not one of the smart ones because my penis stayed firmly attached.  But, regardless of my intellect, or lack thereof, I’ve never had a problem deciding on which bathroom to use.  And, I’m pretty sure that somewhere around 99.7% of the people in America are just like me.  I’m a guy so I go in the bathrooms that say something like Men, Gents, Dudes, No Chicks Allowed, or the one with the stick figure NOT wearing a skirt.  It never crossed my mind about what bathroom should people use until about 15 years ago when a customer came in my store needing some repair work done.
 
It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, it was early spring, and it was about 10 minutes to closing when he…I mean she…no, I mean he…no she…walked into my store.  This person was very stylish, nice hair, nice shoes, a nice pantsuit, she was very businesslike, and built like an NFL linebacker…with an adam’s apple.  Now I’m a very ‘Live and let Live’ kind of person, so I didn’t really care about this person’s lifestyle choices.  After we concluded our business, she (she introduced herself as a woman so that’s good enough for me) said thank you and left.  As she was walking out, I thought to myself; “I wonder what bathroom she uses?” 
 
She was obviously born a big, strapping, male whose penis stayed intact during the slapping ritual at birth, but started living as a woman at the age of 40.  She worked for the government and used the bathrooms at the state office building, and I’m pretty certain she stands when she pees.  But like I said, I’m a live and let live kind of guy so I just didn’t give it any more thought, until about a month ago.
 
Something is a brewing in North Carolina and Mississippi that is called the bathroom bill. And to be quite honest, I don’t know what it’s about, but it has something to do with people like my customer choosing to use a bathroom that matches their lifestyle, not their birthstyle.  I can’t take a side on the issue because I don’t know enough to speak intelligently on the subject.  In order to do that, I’d have to care enough to research it, and I don’t care enough to do that. 
 
Just like when the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed a few decades ago, it didn’t affect 99.7% of the US population, but their struggle was real.  They fought hard for their rights.  Even though they were a very small percentage of the population, they needed their voice heard and they fought for decades to get that law enacted.  And, you want to know what?  The 99.7% of Americans that weren’t affected still aren’t.  We now have wider doors, ramps AND stairs, and automatic doors that are just as much a part of our modern landscape as the Starbucks on the corner, and the Starbucks on that other corner over there, and the Starbucks in the Target, and the Starbucks in the shopping center that the Target is in.
 
So, what’s going to happen with all of this?  Beats the hell out of me, I use the Men’s room so it’s just not on my radar screen.  But, I’m keeping popcorn handy because it’s going to be a lively show while it runs its course. 
 
Like I said, the struggle is real; it’s just not my struggle.

© Copyright Chuck Koehler/Koehler’s Khronicles 2016

 Here in America we have seat belt laws.  These laws are in place for a good reason.  It has been proven over and over again that seat belts save lives and reduce injuries in the event of an accident. 


Yes, I know that there a still people out there that will dispute these findings, but I personally support the legislation that enacted these laws.  I mention this law for one reason.  I know that there are some people out there that feel that this is the government overreaching and shoving their whims down our collective throats.  I also know that a lot of people feel that way because that’s what our government does best…shoves things down our collective throats.  I think it’s time for change.
 
Somewhere along the line, our elected officials got it in their collective heads that their personal or party ideology was what got them elected.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Elected officials are actually elected to be representatives of the people.  They are not supposed to be up there on that hill imposing the government’s will on their constituents.  They are supposed to be up there imposing our will on the government.
 
Every time I hear about party leaders pressuring a representative to change their vote on something to tow the party line, it burns my butt.  When did they decide that they know better than me what I want to happen?  Since I’ve voted in every election since I was old enough to vote, I kind of know what I want my elected leaders to do…represent me, not promote their own personal agenda.
 
Here in Nashville, about a decade or so ago, we had a city councilman introduce legislation that was incredibly stupid and controversial.  In fact, it was so stupid I can’t even remember what the particular legislation was about.  What I do remember though, was that this particular councilman was dragged through the mud in the press for even thinking that this was a good idea.  His response was something like; “This is not my idea and I’m not really in favor of it.  I was elected to represent the viewpoints of all of my constituents and this is what they want, not what I want.  My job is to represent them, not represent myself.” 
 
 Bravo young man.  You get it.
 
During this period of time, I was running for city council as well.  And to tell you the truth, I’ve never felt more like a prostitute in my life than the time I was campaigning for elected office.  I had to go to meetings and gatherings that I didn’t care about.  I had to listen to people tell me ideas that I thought were stupid as hell.  I had to act interested in things that bored the crap out of me.  But, the one thing that stood out for me the most was this; 51% of the population can be wrong!
 
Our elected officials fall into the trap of thinking that they know what’s right for us.  They think their opinion is worth more than ours because they are elected officials.  But in reality, we the people didn’t send them up there to impose their ideals on us.  We sent them up there to impose our ideals on the government, even if they think we’re wrong.  If 51% of the population wants something to happen, then they need to make it happen.  If it turns out to be a colossal failure, then I’m pretty certain that 51% of the population will want our elected representatives to change it to something better. 
 
Our elected official’s job is not to save us from ourselves.  Their job is to do what we want, even if we’re wrong…except in the case of seatbelts.  They actually got that one right.   
 
© Copyright Chuck Koehler/Koehler’s Khronicles 2016