"Only the simple-minded believe that there are simple answers to complex issues."
Excerpt from "Balance of Force" http://bit.ly/GTSmith555
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April 11, 2020
The Challenge of Poetry
I'm in the process of moving my blogs to Google's Blogsite. The following post was originally dated December 5, 2016.
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As a writer, poetry is a most challenging endeavor. However, not all poetry is good poetry. The classic rules of meter, rhyme, and structure are ignored in much of the writing today. While the classic forms of poetry should not shackle the writer, neither should they be ignored. Free-form has its place, but writing without some modicum of discipline is often just print on a page – in fact, the lack of form and structure often detracts from the writing.
Excerpt from "Poet of the Park", which can be found at:
http://bit.ly/GTSmith555
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As a writer, poetry is a most challenging endeavor. However, not all poetry is good poetry. The classic rules of meter, rhyme, and structure are ignored in much of the writing today. While the classic forms of poetry should not shackle the writer, neither should they be ignored. Free-form has its place, but writing without some modicum of discipline is often just print on a page – in fact, the lack of form and structure often detracts from the writing.
Excerpt from "Poet of the Park", which can be found at:
http://bit.ly/GTSmith555
Book Launch - Balance of Force
I'm in the process of moving my blogs to Google's Blogsite. The following post was originally dated November/December 2016.
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My book "Balance of Force" is finally available on Amazon at http://bit.ly/GTSmith555. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Bryce Campbell had always wanted to be a sailor on the high seas, until he narrowly escaped death at the hands of pirates. Now, he is fighting back the only way he knows how - by taking the fight to them.
April 9, 2020
Regarding Gun Control and Mental Illness
I have three problems with the MSN.COM news article, "After Trump blames mental illness for mass shootings, health agencies ordered to hold all posts on issue" (08-20-2019). See the links below for the online article.
First, this smacks of dictatorial behavior, denying first amendment rights. Science should not be prohibited from publishing research, as long as it is based upon hard data and fact, and not innuendo.
Second, the idea that "mental illness" is an excuse for unacceptable behavior is ridiculous. I wrote a blog piece on this (https://gtsmith5x4.blogspot.com/2017/11/violence-and-mental-illness-excuse.html). If "mental illness" is so obvious that it indicates an imminent threat, then those persons should absolutely not be able to acquire guns or any other weapon.
Third, while "see something, say something" is valid, the "red flag" suggestion raises some very serious issues. The intent of a "red flag" is to bring a potential threat to the attention of the authorities, who will then investigate and take the appropriate action. However, it will ALWAYS be true that one is innocent until proven guilty. Being accused of "red flag" behavior should never be a permanent mark against a person in some file somewhere if it proves to be false. And, like "swatting", it should never be used to harass the innocent.
There are some very significant questions and issues that need to be resolved around the issues of gun control. Foremost among them is the re-establishment of personal responsibility for one's actions.
https://a.msn.com/r/2/AAG4MYk?m=en-us&a=1
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/after-trump-blames-mental-illness-for-mass-shootings-health-agencies-ordered-to-hold-all-posts-on-issue/ar-AAG4MYk
First, this smacks of dictatorial behavior, denying first amendment rights. Science should not be prohibited from publishing research, as long as it is based upon hard data and fact, and not innuendo.
Second, the idea that "mental illness" is an excuse for unacceptable behavior is ridiculous. I wrote a blog piece on this (https://gtsmith5x4.blogspot.com/2017/11/violence-and-mental-illness-excuse.html). If "mental illness" is so obvious that it indicates an imminent threat, then those persons should absolutely not be able to acquire guns or any other weapon.
Third, while "see something, say something" is valid, the "red flag" suggestion raises some very serious issues. The intent of a "red flag" is to bring a potential threat to the attention of the authorities, who will then investigate and take the appropriate action. However, it will ALWAYS be true that one is innocent until proven guilty. Being accused of "red flag" behavior should never be a permanent mark against a person in some file somewhere if it proves to be false. And, like "swatting", it should never be used to harass the innocent.
There are some very significant questions and issues that need to be resolved around the issues of gun control. Foremost among them is the re-establishment of personal responsibility for one's actions.
https://a.msn.com/r/2/AAG4MYk?m=en-us&a=1
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/after-trump-blames-mental-illness-for-mass-shootings-health-agencies-ordered-to-hold-all-posts-on-issue/ar-AAG4MYk
April 6, 2020
Balance of Force update - Nebula Files
With the coronavirus isolation protocol in place, I'm getting some time to work on the sequel to "Balance of Force", a story of piracy and survival. I'm currently on the first draft, but it's coming together very well. Watch my social networking for updates.
Author's Blog: http://gts555writer.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GTS555.writer
Twitter: @GTS555writer
Stay well, stay safe.
Author's Blog: http://gts555writer.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GTS555.writer
Twitter: @GTS555writer
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