Utah Pirate Radio

Giving Soul Fires

You’ve made me laugh
You’ve made me cry
And kept me warm, by making me dry
You my friend have a heart of gold
A heart that I once had but then sold

I thought that I was being quiet bold, being so bitter and cold
But slowly I realized; I sold my only soul
Love is what I truely sought

Even with these words that I speak
My life still feels dim and meek
So now I will give and give
Until my once small heart is soon big
And then may I have a true reason to live

Copyright Ryan Richard Thompson 1999-2008

A poem that I wrote for two friends.

http://www.poetry.com/dotnet/P4288015/999/2/display.aspx

When I speak with people about activism, or politics, or religion etc..

A lot of the time I get a response like this.

“I don’t get too involved with politics or religion, because I live my life exclusively for my children”.

Or.. 

“Live and let live, you shouldn’t be so concerned”.

Or.. 

“I only vote (fill in the party here), so I don’t want to hear about Ralph Nader“.

This post mainly addresses the notion that not talking about religion or politics and focusing only on raising your children is better than raising your children as well as being active in a more global way.

I have a serious issue with people who think that just living their day to day life (Wake up, feed the kids, go to work, come home, fix dinner, and celebrate holidays) is the most noble way to help their children.  To advert their attention away from global, national, state, or moral issues is somehow going to help their children.

Listen, if everyone had THAT idea during such things as the American Revolution, WWII, or during the civil rights movements then I gaurantee you that we would see a lot less freedom for our children!

Picture this.   A religion controlled state, where the King and the Church are one in the same, and religion is mandatory, and if you speak out about it you are labeled a heretic and killed in a public display of medieval torture and embarassment.

Or how about being a part of a society that is trying to build a master race, and you aren’t a part of that race and you get rushed away to a gas chamber.

Or how about getting some crap introduced into law like the Patriot Act, that stomps on just about all of our constitutional rights, adverts Habeas Corpus, and reduces the rights of all Americans to the rights of suspected insurgents. 

And you think ignoring THIS is going to somehow benefit your children?  Your apathy will somehow be their saving grace? 

Every time a government has assumed too much control over a people, it has always becauase the people are too distracted with their menial day-to-day lives and they ignore the fact that their freedom is disappearing.

Now I respect anyone and everyone fighting to raise their children right.  But raising your children right should include educating them on their RIGHTS.  As well as showing them how to excercise their rights!

Freedom isn’t free, it MUST be fought for!  Not just in battle gear and a Humvee!  But you must excercise your rights in order for them to remain yours.  If you fail to excercise your rights, much like not excercising your muscles..  You will lose them.

Wisdom from Voltaire:
“So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.”

The summary of my visit to Utah is that I spoke with a bunch of random people, either in the hospital or in my daily affairs, eating, shopping, visiting with friends and family… 
The common story is that people are complaining of losing a lot of loved ones to depression.

There is such an epidemic in Utah with depression, and depression treatments, suicide and attempted suicide.    It is a sad state of affairs that I call  “Spiritual Depression“.

Utah is high in morality, but bankrupt in true spirituality.  Utah is hung up on a beauracracy and has lost site of a relationship with the one true God.  The contrast between a true relationship with God, and the systematic worship rut that Utahans (generally speaking) are in is what has corrupted this society with depression, and depression treatments.

I will be asking God to help our Utah brothers and sister discover that wonderful, wholesome relationship with Jesus.  So that they may be able to move beyond the system or religion, and hopefully be able to find the relationship that their hearts desire with their creator.

Along with this, I found a sense of fear to recognize that there is a problem.  I found that people in Utah seem to feel that staying true to their heritage, is to deny that there is any problem.  This theory is not only based on my personal convictions, but also statements made by Dr. Curt Canning, the head of the Utah Psychiatric Association. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/03/eveningnews/main510918.shtml

And lastly to address Cannabis usage and support in Utah.  What a joke it has become.  Those that I used to go to school with that used Cannabis and understood the goodness of Cannabis, who I would expect to be the first to support and advocate, as well as be active in the movement of legalization pretend as if though they have forgot about Cannabis, or conveinently have moved on with life. 

I think Utah and Utahans have been conditioned to not speak out.  Not support things that they know are right despite public opinion.  It’s not even apathy so much as fear, and cowardice. 

Well, I for one will not stand for it.  I traveled to Utah, I bought a few sacks of ganja, and I publicly filmed myself partaking in Cannabis.  I also passed my sack around on my grandma’s front pourch to my family members to introduce them to this amazing plant.
I was suprised at the acceptance that my family revealed.

So on with more activism. 

It was ol’ Ben Franklin that said  (some say Voltair said this first).  “Those who would sacrifice freedom for security, deserve neither”. 
I agree! 

If apathy or fear consumes you.  What good are you?  Start living, instead of just surviving.  Embrace your freedom!

Ryan Thompson
Utah Pirate Radio editor

Dear friend,

  Though we weren’t real close lately, I still cared.  I enjoyed your honesty, your passion, your sweet tender care for your children.  The way your friends lovingly spoke about you when your name was ever mentioned. 
I am so honored and blessed to have known you.  You loved many of the same people that I love. 
You went through many of the same battles that I went through.
We grew up together, even as imperfect, goofy teenage kids smoking pot in front of Circle C and playing pinball.  Fun times kiddo! 
I remember when you and Annie K drove around with me off and on all summer when I had my little sports car. 
Damn you are one cool chick.  I am going to be deeply saddened ’till the end of my days knowing that you are missing from this world that needs more of your courage and honesty and care.

Why do so many have to go this way?!  

Your children, friends and family have a Katie sized void in our hearts.  Damnit! 

Say hello to my brother for me if you meet up.  Thanks for coming to his funeral.  Thanks for being there when I needed you most sweety!

Sincerely your friend for always,

  With love and pain,

Ryan

 
Since the obituary won’t remain online forever, I am posting it here.

 

Dear friend, you will be missed

 

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-2e7e3ccde522fd06b0ca4044a2abab51}

This is a place for written discussions, as well as a place for anyone who has a questions for the broadcaster while they are on-air or off-air. 

 Until we get our phone system upgraded, this is the place to get in voice your thoughts.
This place can also be used even after we get a working phone system.

Thanks!  

~Captain Elder Pirate