1). Do you believe in God?/What religion are you? I once believed in God as a child, now I'm almost certain that various gods were created on this planet to enable humans to release the pressures of the world from their shoulders. I truly believe the Bible is one of the best books ever to be compiled and should primarily be viewed more as a collection of stories and parables to learn from than an exact historical account of anything. I got a lot out of being a Christian has a child, yet today I only believe in the morals I learned from it. "Atheist" would probably be the best way to describe my disposition. I think I'm quite spiritual, but not religious.
2). Do you believe in an afterlife? What do you believe happens when you die? No I don't. Herein lies one of my greatest hang-ups on the Christian religion. If I don't believe in heaven, then how can I believe in Jesus' purpose which was to die for his followers so that they could go to heaven? Totally worm food.
3). Are you proud to be from whatever country you are from? I once was a hot-to-trot American and all over the "proud to be an American" thing (though I can't stand "God Bless the USA" - I have a whole other story about that song), yet with each passing year my enthusiasm for it diminishes a little more. But yes I am and I'll correct this phrase to say that I am thankful and grateful to be an American. I don't think anyone should be proud of anything.
4). What is your view on gay marriage? Homosexuality in general? I think two human beings who love each other should have the right to marry each other, regardless of anything. It should be called marriage and if religious people want to be married in a church, they can call it a Christian marriage or whatever they want to call it. People who don't get married in a house of worship should be able to call it marriage too, no matter who is married. The term Civil Union, in my opinion, degrades the meaning of marriage. Homosexuality is great.
5). Do you think sex before marriage is okay? Yes. As long as it's safe and consensual, then hey, go to town.
6). How do you feel that sex education should be handled in schools? It should be taught biologically and safe sex practices should be instructed and encouraged.
7). Do you want to get married and/or have kids? I am married and would like to have kids. That's not something we've decided upon yet and it'll be a few years before we do.
8). Do you think any drugs should be legalized? Do you think there should be an age for drinking? I think marijuana should be legalized because it would lessen the demand for marijuana South of our border where Mexico continues to struggle with years of death and internal strife over drugs and mob wars. It would also create a source of revenue for our states/federal government, something they all need. Marijuana is less addictive and safer than alcohol could ever be. The drinking age should be 14, like I believe it is in Germany, because then teens spend more time drinking around their parents, potentially learning to be more responsible, as opposed to here in America where kids escape their conservative home life at 18 so they can go to college and live it up, drinking for illegally or 3 years until they're 21, by which time drinking loses it's sexiness. Drinking younger = learning responsibility sooner.
9). Pro-Life or Pro-Choice? Pro-Choice. I'm sure I could go on talking about abortion, but all I'll add is that we have to keep it legal and do our best to stop states from enacting laws that make it impossible for women to even have an abortion. If you're against it because of your religion, great, don't get an abortion... freedom of religion.
10). Have any opinions about year-round schooling? Yes, it sounds good to me. Anything we can do to improve our educational system and shorten the time children are in grade school sounds great to me.
11). What do you think about prostitution? Should it be legal? I think Nevada and Amsterdam have it right. I don't think demand for this sort of thing will ever go away because let's face it, men are horn balls. So make it safe, legal and create a safe, drug-free environment for it to transpire in. Otherwise, prostitution, as it is in the majority of our country today (on the street, call-girls, escorts, etc.) is dangerous, demeaning, violent and abhorrent.
12). Do you think men today are too “wimpy” and need to “man up”? How do you feel about gender roles as a whole? I think men should be whatever they want to be. As long as they are comfortable with who they are, then others will appreciate who they are. That's all that matters. Gender roles are a contrivance created by cultural stereotypes. People should live the way they want to and love others the way they want to be loved.
13). Do you think there should be an age to get tattoos/piercings without the consent of a parent? 18. A child is a child, an adult is an adult. Get emancipated... maybe?
14). Do you believe in aliens? Not really. If they're out there, they probably look kinda like us, not green.
15). Do you believe in regrets? Do you have any terrible ones? Yes. The only regrets I have aren't terrible ones. I wish I had stayed in college instead of joining the Army and I wish had gotten a degree in something less specific than Film and Television. Had I finished school in the 90's, I'd probably living more of a high life these days, but who knows...
16). What do you want to happen to your body when you die? Creamation. Scattered off the coast of Poipu Beach, Kauai.
17). How about that cloning stuff? I find cloning genetic material a great medical advancement, but replicating entire beings is bunk.
18). What is your take on people who self harm (cutting, burning, scratching etc etc.)? It's always perplexed me. I don't understand it and think people should be treated for it, if possible.
19). Do you think high schools should give out free contraceptives? Yes. Kids will have sex no matter what.
20). What do you think about plastic surgery? Other than those who do it to correct a birth defect or a debilitating injury, I personally think it's fraudulent and regard it as fashion. If others want to feel better about themselves by doing that, by all means, knock yourself out. I won't do it, ever.
21). What do you think about the death penalty? I once thought it was ok, but considering how broken our judicial system is, especially in states like Texas where they kill more prisoners than anywhere else, yet have more cases get overturned, I just don't trust it. Is it better to kill someone in cold blood illegally or to do it in retribution, legally, because it's "legal?" This is why we should not be killing people.
22). Do you say your country’s national anthem/pledge of allegiance when it is said/listened to? Always.
23). What do you think about thinspo? Huh? OK... so I looked it up. It's terrible. Why would anyone think that anorexia or bulimia are healthy things that women should undertake to make themselves skinny? Wrong.
24). Euthanasia – Your thoughts? I think people shouldn't have to suffer at the end of their lives. They should have a choice to end their lives and we should encourage people who want to do that to put it into their end-of-life planning. It's otherwise been referred to as "Death Panels." Stupid Palin.
25). Do you think violent video games should be banned? No. Stupid parents shouldn't substitute video gaming for books, homework and parenting. I have no problem with video games or TV, but if they are a bigger part of your child's life than you are, then you should work on that.
26). Which do you think should be taught in schools: Evolution or creationism? If you want to go to a private school that teaches your children creationism, thus subjecting your children to decades of ridicule, then hey, go for it. Evolution is science, therefore reality, which should always supersede religion in our public schools.
27). “Illegal” downloading – Yay or nay? Music: I know for a fact that artists and record labels will deliberately "leak" albums early to create a buzz, so if it's an album release out early, I don't see much problem with that. If you love a certain small artist that doesn't rake in the cash, then pay for it and go see them perform live. I only download music for big name artists who aren't starving. I wrote something about this last Summer.
Films: Don't be a cheapskate... get Netflix.
In general: if you can't afford it and don't make a daily habit of it, I see no harm in it, but ultimately you are stealing from someone trying to make a living at what they do best. You can be convicted of it. I think people should buy things if they can, especially if they're downloading only as a result of laziness.
28). Do you think zero tolerance policies are effective in achieving their objectives? No. It's as bad as having a unforgiving parent in the home. It only makes the child rebel.
29). Do you feel as though women should be able to walk around topless like men? Why or why not? I find this to be a bogus question. Technically it depends upon where you live. I mean, in the depths of Africa and South America this happens every day. Our society has determined it wrong and quite honestly, I think women would generally be colder. No, I think it would be weird and I also think it's a stupid question. If it were to happen though, I wouldn't complain and would keep my hands to myself.
28). Do you think zero tolerance policies are effective in achieving their objectives? No. It's as bad as having a unforgiving parent in the home. It only makes the child rebel.
29). Do you feel as though women should be able to walk around topless like men? Why or why not? I find this to be a bogus question. Technically it depends upon where you live. I mean, in the depths of Africa and South America this happens every day. Our society has determined it wrong and quite honestly, I think women would generally be colder. No, I think it would be weird and I also think it's a stupid question. If it were to happen though, I wouldn't complain and would keep my hands to myself.
30). Do you think the internet should be censored?
No. It's fine the way it is.
