
in doing so -- the pro-gun crowd, of which I proudly am a member. But I have found that changing the opinion of the other side is darn near impossible, only slightly harder than parting the Red Sea. I could possibly stand a chance in influencing my own side, so here goes.
I Don't Own Any Marky Mark Underroos. No, Really!
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I deny all charges! |
Mark Wahlberg, This Is Your Life!
Wahlberg grew up tough in a rough section of Boston, MA called Dorchester, gaining attention from the Boston Police multiple times in his youth. He was a drug addict by the time he was 13, as well as a dealer. He was involved in a few racially charged, violent incidents, one of which left a Vietnamese man blinded in one eye as a result of the beating he gave him. After serving time for yet another assault when he was 21, he was released with a new outlook on life. He had a real turning point while incarcerated, seeing that the life which he carved out for himself was leading to his destruction; a realization that kept him on the right path in his
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Wahlberg, with his wife and children |
Back To The Present
So what did he say to get all this controversy brewing with the pro-gun people? Here is what is commonly quoted on most of the websites:
“Certainly, I haven’t used a gun anywhere other than on a movie set and I’d like to see if we could take them all away. It would be a beautiful thing.”
Wow. When you take it in that context, he definitely seems like the typical gun grabber who's eager to trample the ol' 2A to make it happen. However, the full quote paints a slightly different picture:
“Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away. Unfortunately, you can’t do that so you hope that good people in the world have them to protect the people who can’t protect themselves. Certainly, I haven’t used a gun anywhere other than on a movie set and I’d like to see if we could take them all away. It would be a beautiful thing.”
Perhaps I'm seeing things somewhat differently than most, but it seems like he understands the need for guns while still having a personal dislike for them. In his fantasy world, which he realizes does not exist, the guns would disappear. But he lives in the real world, so he tempers his fantasy with reality. I, too, would love to live in a world where guns were not needed for anything more than target practice and hunting. But we don't! It's a big, bad world filled with lots of big, bad people and I personally like the fact that we have the option of defending ourselves, rather than waiting for the so-called "First Responders" to do the job for us.
So he doesn't like guns -- okey dokey. Now that's what us folks 'round these here parts like to call...an "opinion." Now if his name were say, Dianne Feinstein or Chris Christie...well, that would be a whole 'nother story! See they like to take their "opinion" and make it "reality" by leveraging their political power, thereby changing a lot of people's lives in a real quick hurry, all because they deem it to be "best" for the people to restrict and usurp their God-given, Constitutional rights.
It's A Little Complicated...But Aren't We All?
Is it a tad bit hypocritical to make his millions while using firearms and violence, the very objects and ideals which he rails against in the real world? Yeah, I think so, especially in light of his rather shady history. Or perhaps, it's BECAUSE of his past that he has those feelings, I don't know. Is Wahlberg the Hollywood poster boy for gun rights? Hardly. But he's certainly not the worst enemy to gun rights this country has ever seen. He's no Michael "Bowling For Columbine" Moore, who's making films that can sway public opinion with half-truths and outright lies. Last I checked, we still had some freedom of thought in America. At this point that's all it is...I've not seen where he had done anything more than express a dislike. At times he's a bit crass about voicing his opinion. Wahlberg mouthed off to Charlton Heston regarding guns when he met him; quite rudely, in my opinion. But, hey, we also have the freedom to be a snide little putz as well. Conversely, he's also used his winsome words in defense of our soldiers; he seems to be very pro-military. So, there's two sides to every coin, right?
Stand Together
One of America's greatest strengths, in my opinion, is in its diversity of opinion, and, more importantly, its ability to have that diversity. We should be able to live side by side with people of differing thought and still walk away at the end of the day as friends or at least not hating each other. Truly good neighbors will say, "Live and let live', whether they are Conservatives, Moderates, Liberals, or Libertarians. I believe all of these ideologies can live side by side, as long as you mind your business and subscribe to a small government mentality. The Progressives are the ones to beware.
They like BIG government, wield it to control everyone's lives, and have infected both parties. John McCain is a Republican Progressive. So is Speaker of the House, John Boehner. Makes sense; after all, the Progressive movement was launched to national fame by Republican President Theodore Roosevelt.

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