Is #Respect #Earned Or #Given?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

As you may have guessed from the title, today I'd like to talk about a topic that seems to be coming up more and more, respect. Or, more specifically, what respect means and whether we owe it or others need to earn it. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will disagree with me about some of what I say in this post, but I'm going to give you my two-cents worth, anyway.

My opinion on this is mixed. You see, I do believe that a certain minimal amount of respect is due to all human beings simply by virtue of the fact that they are fellow human beings.  I think it's incumbent upon everyone to show respect for the lives, safety, and physical well-being of everyone else. In other words, no one gets to threaten or jeopardize the lives or safety of others without their consent, no matter who those others may be.

Are there exceptions? Yes, as with most "rules" absolutes don't really work when it comes to respect. For instance, if someone is trying to kill you, you are not required to respect their life so much that you won't defend your own. But, for the most part, that basic respect is owed to everyone.

Also, there is the respect due to the rights that are shared by everyone. If you live in the US, like me, those rights are defined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, but I'd argue that most, if not all, of those rights really are human rights. Though, there are plenty of humans on this planet whose rights are not respected by those in power. Which is an enormous problem, but not one I'm going to address in this post.

But, in my opinion, that's where respect that is owed ends. From there on, I believe respect needs to be earned. What do I mean by that? Well, for instance, I hear pretty often that "we have to respect other people's opinions." Really? Why?  I mean, I agree that we have to respect other people's rights to have opinions that we disagree with insofar as we don't imprison or assault them for holding those opinions. But that doesn't mean we have to respect the opinions themselves, nor does it mean we have to remain silent and refrain from criticizing those opinions.

If someone is a bigot, their bigotry doesn't give anyone the right to physically attack them. And they can't be arrested simply for expressing a bigoted opinion. But others are certainly free to dispute those opinions and to speak out against bigotry. There is no respect due to the idea that some people are somehow inherently superior to other people.

Likewise, when it comes to a position or title a person may hold. Once again, the basic human rights of the person always need to be respected. But they are not due any additional respect just because of a label they claim or job they occupy. Such things aren't suits of armor to be put on to protect someone who has not earned the respect of others from criticism or ridicule.

For instance, I'm repeatedly informed that I "must" respect Donald Trump because he's the President. Oh, I must, must I? And why is that, pray tell? What, precisely, has he done to earn my respect?  Because, generally speaking, I'm not inclined to respect narrow-minded, thoughtless, immature, dangerously and willfully ignorant, bigoted man-children, no matter how many exulted positions they are unqualified for that they have managed to con their way into.

Does that mean that I would condone violence against Trump? Of course not, that would violate the basic respect due to him because of our shared, no matter how tenuous the connection is, humanity. But the fact that I'm against murdering people doesn't mean that Trump is somehow exempt from criticism. On the contrary, now that he has managed to fool enough people to get into the White House, he's the employee of the American public. And just like any employee, he's subject to being reviewed by his employer. And that would be me and thee, my friends.

If a person wants respect for their opinions or their position, I believe that they need to say or do something to earn that respect. If they fail to do so, then no respect is owed. In fact, I would argue that offering respect to those who don't deserve it helps to normalize behavior and attitudes that should be considered extreme and repulsive. And that's something I'm not willing to do.

So, is respect earned or given? My opinion is yes to both and no to both, which I know is hard for many to swallow when so many people seem determined to out extreme each other, but there it is. That's my answer, and I'm sticking to it. ;-)

Peace!

#NewRelease #Announcement: Swiftly Sharpens The Fang By Stuart Kenyon!

New release! Swiftly Sharpens the Fang, the new dystopian novel by Stuart Kenyon - author of the acclaimed SUBNORMAL series - is now available to purchase. For the first fortnight, it will be at a discounted price of 99c/99p. Grab your copy before the price goes up!

Excerpt:

Glancing around the room, Joe noticed no grime or untidiness, and the only smell was that of lemon-infused bleach.
Asim said nothing, preferring to stare at a rack of knives above one of the worktops.

'You know why I'm here,' Steve stated, opening the can of cola he'd taken from the fridge.

'Well, I may have an inkling —'
'It wasn't a question, Asim. For my young apprentice's benefit, I'm here because you've been breaking the rules. Disrespecting my code.' Steve turned to his nephew. 'Asim, here, has been selling class As to minors. Remember what I said about keeping crime amongst the criminal? Well, in my humble opinion, a minor doesn't have the maturity to choose a life on the wrong side of the law, and can't really be classed as a criminal.'
Joe regarded the frightened entrepreneur with distaste.

'And last week, a fourteen year-old kid who lives five minutes from here was run over and killed on the High Street. Remember?'
'Yeah,' Joe confirmed. 'Wasn't he running from the cops?'
'He was. After pinching some toiletries from Easy Save to pay for his habit.' Steve looked at Asim, his eyes cold. 'If you'd have followed the rules, Asim, young Archie would still be alive.'

'I... I...' The accused was shaking. 'He looked older than he was! He told me he was eighteen.'
Ignoring Asim's pleas, Steve turned to Joe. 'What do you think?'

The younger man hid his consternation with a sneer. He was expected to attack Asim, which was no more than the man deserved, but what gave him the right to be judge, jury and executioner? Unable to meet his uncle's stare, he focussed on the pathetic figure in their company, feeling the pressure grow with every passing second. Just as his uncle was about to speak again, Joe stepped forwards and felled Asim with a single punch.

The proprietor hit his head on an oven door's handle as he slumped, and he lay still.

'Fucking nice shot!' Steve applauded, squatting beside Asim. 'Jesus, you've not killed another, have you?'

Blanching, Joe had to steady himself by leaning on a grill. 'Fuck off...'
'Nah, he'll live. Still breathing, pulse strong. Good job really, he's a nice little earner.'
Joe breathed again.

'Now,' Steve began. 'Unfortunately for our little Pablo Escobar wannabe, the punishment doesn't fit the crime. Yet. You can't send a schoolboy to his grave and get away with a slap around the chops.'
'Okay,' Joe said guardedly. They weren't going to execute Asim - if they were, Steve wouldn't have been relieved that Joe's punch was non-lethal. So how did his uncle plan to castigate his errant business associate?

'What do you reckon, Joe? A life for a life?'
'No.' Joe said quickly. 'Make him live with his crime.'
'Good thinking.' Steve looked around the kitchen until his eyes found the knife rack, from which he took the largest tool, a cleaver. 'What's a little council estate scally's life worth? His bollocks? An eye?'
'Ah... I don't know. You're the expert, Steve.' Joe was beginning to feel queasy.

'I'm not really, but don't tell anyone I said that.'
When Steve winked, Joe scented the unmistakable odour of faeces.
'Just for a bit of symbolism, I'm going to go for his hand. He dealt the drugs with his hand, it was his greedy, nature which led him to commit this crime. Poetic, almost. Right. Lie him flat.'
With leaden arms and a churning gut, Joe dropped to all fours and did as instructed.

Asim groaned; he was on the brink of regaining consciousness.
Please God, don't let him wake before the deed is done, Joe prayed.

'Hold his arm straight,' Steve said, the urgency obvious in his tone. 'Jesus, he's a slovenly bastard, this knife couldn't slice through hot butter.' There was the sound of metal scraping.
For some reason, the idea of watching Steve sharpen the blade was almost as horrific as the butchery that was to follow. Joe kept his eyes on Asim.

'Right,' Steve said. 'We ready?'
Joe gulped.

'Hold his arm very still.'
The younger man felt tears come to his closed eyes. 'Are you sure we need to do this, Steve? I mean, can we not just —'

A whistle, a thud, and the spatter of warm fluid on Joe's arms and face cut him short.

Roaring in agony and strengthened by panic, their victim broke free of the hands that restrained him and rolled away.
'You've just had a little accident in the kitchen, Farooq,' Steve said loudly, as if to an elderly person. 'Occupational hazard. That's what you'll tell the hospital. Okay?'

Sobbing, the takeaway owner confirmed his understanding.

After steeling himself, Joe opened his eyes, and his attention was immediately seized by the detached, bleeding finger on the floor: it looked like a slug that had slivered through ketchup. He wiped blood off his face and turned to his uncle, his mouth opening to speak before closing again.

My Review of Swiftly Sharpens The Fang by Stuart Kenyon:
Joseph Travis seems like a regular guy. He has friends he likes to hang out with, an intelligent, beautiful girlfriend he loves, and he enjoys living it up on the weekends. His job is soul-killing, but that's not anything that most of us can't identify with. And the hobby he enjoys the most is boxing, a little violent, but he's a healthy young man with a frustrating and sedentary job, and he needs an outlet for his energy and aggression.  All-in-all, he seems like a regular Joe (pun intended) with just enough of an edge to make him interesting.

Joseph is even rather liberal and enlightened in his outlook and attitudes. In a world where bigotry and intolerance are becoming more and more blatant and accepted, he maintains an open-minded position, willing to listen and educate himself about the various viewpoints. But, overall, he isn't inclined to hate anyone or blame entire segments of the population for the problems created by a few. That is, until things start to change.

It's subtle at first, but through a series of unfortunate events, some of them at least partially his fault, Joseph's worldview starts to change. He begins to see malicious intentions where none exist and to ascribe malevolent characteristics to groups of people after observing them in only one or two individuals. In short, his open, tolerant nature changes to one of bigotry and hate. And it's frightening how easily and naturally the devolution of his attitudes occurs.

The thing I liked most about this story is that it illustrates how easily a person's point of view can be shaped by the people and society around them. Most people look with askance at those who subscribe to violent, extremist ideologies. After all, it's hard to imagine how anyone could come to hate others so much that they would be willing to commit murder over a political or religious philosophical difference.  And yet, terrorism is becoming increasingly common, so something must be radicalizing people. Because no terrorist ever sprung up out of a vacuum. Something must happen to turn "normal" people into terrorists, but what?

That's a question that Swiftly Sharpens The Fang attempts to answer, and the method for such a conversion that Stuart Kenyon illustrates in this novel is both surprising and frightening. Because Joseph Travis really is just a normal guy. He has had a couple of severe traumas in his life but overall he's just like most of us, he works, plays when he can, and tries to make connections with other people so he can figure out where he fits into society. There is no burning passion in him; no dominating ideology, extreme or otherwise. He's just a guy living his life and the process by which he comes to adopt extreme philosophies is terrifying because of its very banality and insidiousness.

Joseph isn't a deeply thoughtful or reflective person. He isn't stupid, but he doesn't take a lot of time to analyze the people around him. Like many of us, he's too caught up in his own life and concerns to take much time to research the things he reads in the media or hears from his friends, so he tends to take them at face value. The few times he does take the trouble to fact-check something, he finds that what he had heard or read either wasn't entirely true or wasn't the whole picture. But he fails to keep that in mind when the next heavily biased article or self-interested "friend" presents him with an inflammatory story or statistic.

As his attitudes and actions become more extreme, Joseph loses more and more of the moderating influences in his life. He gives up the job he hates to immerse himself more in the new society he has discovered. Friends who share his previous, more open-minded outlook either avoid him because they disapprove of his behavior, or he avoids them because they now make him uncomfortable. And, instead of viewing that discomfort as the warning that it is, Joseph instead gets closer to his new "friends." Because doing so is easier and it feels better, which is the same reaction that most of us would have, if we're honest.

As his new "friends" become more central to his world, Joseph works harder and harder to earn their approval. After all, it's just human nature to want to be liked by those around us. And he ignores anything that might contradict what his "friends" tell him.  Even his own experiences aren't enough to cut through the fog of disinformation that surrounds Joseph. When something happens that proves the lies that his "friends" are telling him, he rationalizes or dismisses it as a fluke.  How many of us have made excuses for the people we like or admire, even when, if we are honest, we know they are wrong?

Overall, this novel paints a detailed picture of how easily and quickly people can slide into extremism and violence. Mr. Kenyon does a fantastic job of illustrating the dangers inherent in existing in an echo chamber and allowing emotion rather than logic to rule our actions. Simply by failing to verify the accuracy of the information we consume, refusing to entertain the thoughts put forward by opposing voices, and by allowing ourselves to be loyal to personalities rather than principles, any one of us might follow in Joseph Travis's footsteps.  In a world that is becoming more and more polarized, Swiftly Sharpens The Fang is a timely reminder that we need to be careful how partisan we allow ourselves to become. Objective truths do still exist and they do still matter, and it's up to every one of us to seek them out and not allow ourselves to be deceived by those with ulterior motives.

Like Mr. Kenyon's other book, Subnormal, I gave this book five stars and, once again, I'd like to give it more if I could. There are adult themes and situations in this novel that wouldn't be appropriate for children, but I think everyone from juniors and seniors in high school and older should read this story. I think we could all do with the reminders that it offers.

#NewRelease #Announcement: #Borderlines By L E Fitzpatrick!

Genre: Dystopian paranormal thriller

Book Description: BORDER LINES.

When the perfect job comes up, Charlie doesn't think twice about taking it. This is the break he's been looking for and nobody, not even the rest of his team, can persuade him otherwise.

The job means working for an old enemy and crossing the border into London. Both are risky, but Charlie has no idea how high the stakes really are. The team will have to confront their past, each other and a killer who is closer than they realize. But can they all make it out of the city alive?

"We all remember that kid in Piccadilly. That determined look he had on his face as he willed all those people to him. Just using his mind, he pulled them close then blew them all to pieces. It could be anyone. Your neighbour, your friend, your lover. Remain vigilant. Reachers are everywhere."

Border Lines is the second book in L.E. Fitzpatrick's Reachers series.

Excerpt

He switched off the engine anyway and an uncertain lull settled in the car. If John wasn't going in it meant that Rachel didn't have to go either. She couldn't help being tempted, it would be a lot easier than confronting Darcy.

"You can stay if you want Rach," Charlie offered.

She shook her head, being part of the family meant taking the good and the bad. For everything good she would have to overcome something bad. She had her new shoes, it was time now to confront Darcy.

"What are we waiting for?"

Charlie's mobility was improving by the day. The damage from the stab wounds in his back was never going to completely heal, but he was coping with the residual pain now and learning how to use his body again. Using his crutch, he made every move look effortless. He pivoted himself out of the car and swung around to open the door for Rachel.

The rain fell in heavy sheets. They were soaked before they even reached the porch. There was a makeshift door left ajar and, inside, the remains of the old chapel battled against the elements leaking through the holes in the roof. Decaying pews were haphazardly scattered as though someone had tried to shield them from the water, but the roof was in such a state now it poured just as heavily inside as it did out.

The windows on the left side of the building had survived. Their modest stained glass darkened by the absence of the sun. The right side were long gone, unable to stand the decades of storms battering the country.

It was a chapel once belonging to the Church of England and now occupied by Catholics. The effect was a strange one. The statue of the virgin and a few indistinguishable saints were perched on nearby pews, as out of place as an atheist in the house of God. Rachel inspected them with a slight fondness. She wasn't particularly religious, but these were symbols from her childhood.

Charlie walked passed the statues. He headed into the vestry calling Darcy's name while Rachel walked around the dark nave trying to make out the stone saints. A large, crucified Christ hung over the altar. It was too big for the size of the church, looming over the nave and scrutinising parishioners. Rachel remembered a similar icon from her childhood, and how the nuns had got so angry with her when she happened to query Jesus' apparent Aryan ethnicity. A smile touched her lips at the memory. She glanced up at this Jesus and was surprised to see his bare black feet. Then frowned when she noticed the cuffs of his jeans. Her eyes widened as she saw a face she hadn't seen since she was a little girl.

"Charlie!" she screamed.

Darcy was stripped at the waist. His ribs poked out of his leathery skin, an omen of malnutrition. His arms had been tied with bloody ropes to a crude cross constructed from a broken pew. There had been no rope left for his feet so instead a belt held the eighty-year-old's legs in place. There were other marks too – burns on his chest and face, dried blood on his bruised body. How long had he been up there?

"Get John!" Charlie said.

About the Author

L E Fitzpatrick is a writer of dark adventure stories and thrillers. Under the watchful eye of her beloved rescue Staffordshire Bull Terrier, she leaps from trains and climbs down buildings, all from the front room of a tiny cottage in the middle of the Welsh countryside.

Inspired by cult film and TV, L E Fitzpatrick’s fiction is a collection of twisted worlds and realities, broken characters, and high action. She enjoys pushing the boundaries of her imagination and creating hugely entertaining stories.

THE RUNNING GAME, is the first in her paranormal thriller series, set in dystopia London under the Creativia label and now BORDER LINES is the second instalment of the Reachers series.



Books by L.E.Fritzpatrick
Running Game
Dark Waters
Anthology Dark
Safe Haven
Family
The lost Sheppard
Traitors Day
Harvest
Flames and Blood



How to find L.E.FritzPatrick

Author page at publisher - http://www.creativia.org/scifi-thrillers-dark-adventures-le-fitzpatrick.html
Face book fan page - https://www.facebook.com/lefitzpatrickbooks/
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/L-E-Fitzpatrick/e/B005DD5CE8
Twitter - https://twitter.com/L_E_Fitzpatrick
Website – www.lefitzpatrick.com

For The #Love Of #Books #Valentine #Giveaway! $135 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new Valentine giveaway!  Please take a moment to check out the Love Of Books Valentine Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 100 prizes, and the grand prize is $135 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#NewAndImproved Rarity From The #Hollow By Robert Eggleton!

Hey Everyone!!

Those of you who follow this blog may remember Robert Eggleton and his special book, Rarity from the Hollow, from the interview I did with him a while back. If not, you can find that interview here: Interview With Robert Eggleton.  Well, I said at the time his book sounded interesting, but he contacted me recently to let me know he has made it even more so!  I'll let him tell you about the changes himself.

Robert Eggleton:
The book cover was changed to emphasize that it is a children's story for adults with a science fiction backdrop. A new blurb was written. Some of the stronger language was toned down, the political allegory was strengthened, and a formatting error which affected the internal dialogue in the first edition was fixed. It reads much more smoothly. As you are aware, author proceeds support the prevention of child abuse and there will always be kids in need, so if and whenever you have time to check it out would be fine. Anything that you can do to help get the word out would be appreciated. Given the recent presidential elections, I thought that you may also be interested in the Political Allegory section below.

Blurb:

Lacy Dawn's father relives the Gulf War, her mother's teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in the hollow is hard. She has one advantage -- an android was inserted into her life and is working with her to cure her parents. But, he wants something in exchange. It's up to her to save the Universe. Lacy Dawn doesn't mind saving the universe, but her family and friends come first.

Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire.

Political Allegory:

You may be interested in this press release: http://www.pr4us.com/pr-2618-trump-presidency-predicted-in.html. The original © was 2006. You would have to read the novel to find out how Lacy Dawn, the protagonist, convinced Mr. Rump (Bernie Sanders) to help talk Mr. Prump (Donald Trump) into saving the universe. The political allegory includes pressing issues that America is fighting about today, including illegal immigration and the refugee crisis, extreme capitalism / consumerism…. Mr. Prump was a projection of Donald Trump based on the TV show, The Apprentice. Part of the negotiations in the story occur in the only high rise on planet Shptiludrp (Shop Until You Drop), a giant shopping mall and the center of economic governance, now more easily identifiable as Trump Tower. There is no political advocacy in the story, other than sensitizing readers to the huge social problem of child maltreatment, but the allegory is much more obvious now that Donald Trump is a household name. A similar press release: http://www.pr.com/press-release/695122 .

Social Commentary:

My work utilizes SF/F cross-genre as a backdrop. It is not hard science fiction and includes elements of fantasy, everyday horror, a ghost -- so it's a little paranormal, true-love type romance, mystery, and adventure. The content addresses social issues: poverty, domestic violence, child maltreatment, local and intergalactic economics, mental health concerns – including PTSD experienced by Veterans and the medicinal use of marijuana for treatment of Bipolar Disorder, Capitalism, and touches on the role of Jesus: “Jesus is everybody’s friend, not just humans.”


About the Author:

I recently retired after 52 years of contributions into the U.S. Social Security fund so that I could write and promote my fiction. I’m a former mental health psychotherapist in West Virginia. But, after coming home drained from working with child abuse victims, I didn't have the energy left to begin its self-promotion. Author proceeds have been donated to a child abuse prevention program in my home state. http://www.childhswv.org/ A listing of services that are supported can be found here: http://mountainrhinestones.blogspot.com/2015/06/review-giveaway-rarity-from-hollow-by.html.


The Press:

Dog Horn Publishing is a traditional small press located in Leeds. Adam Lowe is the owner. http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow The press also showcases other semi avant garde titles and publishes a popular magazine for the GLBTQ community (Vada).


Purchase links:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/robert-eggleton/rarity-from-the-hollow/paperback/product-22910478.html
http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B017REIA44
http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow


Public Author Contacts:
http://www.lacydawnadventures.com
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32993259-rarity-from-the-hollow
https://www.facebook.com/Lacy-Dawn-Adventures-573354432693864/
https://twitter.com/roberteggleton1

https://plus.google.com/b/108662084126982201049/108662084126982201049/posts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-eggleton-909b154b?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

#APC #Spotlight: The #Running #Game By L E Fitzpatrick!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got L E Fitzpatrick in my APC spotlight, today!  L E is an active and supportive member of  the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her cyberpunk sci-fi thriller novel, The Running Game, looks really interesting. Here's the description:

Rachel’s father called it the running game. Count the exits, calculate the routes, and always be ready to run.

On the surface, Rachel is just an ordinary doctor, but she has a secret. Rachel is a Reacher, wanted by the government and the criminal underworld for her telekinetic powers.

Charlie and his brother John have a reputation for doing the impossible. But after losing his family, Charlie is a broken mess and John is barely keeping him afloat. In desperation, they take a job from a ruthless crime lord, only to discover the girl they are hunting is a Reacher... one of their own kind.

With the help of dangerous and dubious allies, can Rachel turn the game around and save herself?

Sounds pretty good, huh? :-) If you agree, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 464

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Four-Hundred-Sixty-Four:

I have spent the past two planetary rotations alternately attempting to avoid the infant felid and convince my hominid-servant that the creature is both unnecessary and a disruption to my work. Unfortunately, I have failed on both fronts. My hominid-servant seems to grow more and more enamored with the small irritant and the infant seems determined to shadow my every move!

The creature is orange. Orange! I ask you, could there be a more obnoxious color? And it makes high-pitched mewing sounds that set my teeth on edge. What possessed my hominid-servant to acquire such a pernicious pest, I will never understand. But she absolutely dotes on it!

My fur has started to come out with increasing frequency, and I believe it must be an effect of the stress. I will end this entry so that I can retreat to one of the few places in my domicile that the miniscule felid is unable to reach. And my hominid-servant can be damned with her screeching and arm flapping over sitting on the horizontal platforms!

Poor Thoth! It's hard when those around us refuse to recognize our needs. You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-)  Happy reading, everyone!