All Lives Matter

All lives matter
Except for those you don't like.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Except for those with skin that's non-white.

All lives matter
Except for those our military bombs overseas.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Except for those in non-western countries.

All lives matter
Except for those who are poor.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Except for those you deplore.

All lives matter
Except for those that disagree with you.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Except for those you devalue.

All lives matter
Except for those who are not allies.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Except for those you demonize.

All lives matter
Except for those who are not straight.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Except for those you berate.

All lives matter
Except for those that must flee.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Except for those that are refugee.

All lives matter

Except for those with a different or no god.

Let's be honest. 

All lives matter

As long as they can be ruled with an iron rod.

All lives matter
Except for those tattered and torn.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Until they are born.

All lives matter
Yes, it's easy to say.
Let's be honest.
All lives matter
Is just a fucking cliche.

--Randal D. Anderson
November 30, 2015

Worry

I worry about my wife,
And her daily battle with cancer.
I worry about my mother,
And her minute-by-minute struggle with Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris (PRP)
I worry about my oldest son,
His seizures, his learning disabilities, and if he'll ever have the skills to live independently.
I worry about my youngest son,
And if he is being damaged by the struggles we have at home.

I worry about my voice,
And if anyone will ever again hear how I truly sound.
I worry about my heart,
And how each time I get sick could mean my death.
I worry about my friends,
And the struggles they, too, must endure.
I worry about my students,
And the challenges they face trying to get an education.

I worry about my country,
And all the hatred and anger that is so prevalent.
I worry about politics,
And how the truth is whatever one wants it to be.
I worry about the Republican party,
And their espoused hatred toward everyone who is not a rich, straight white male.
Then I worry about all the women, and all the other males,
That continue to vote for them.

I worry about war,
And how so many die just so few can earn a profit.
I worry about terrorism,
And how that ideology can't be defeated by more violence.
I worry about the atrocities,
And how easy it is to motivate people to commit them.
I worry about humanity,
And how some people are more valued than others.

I worry about fear,
And how it is used to foster hatred.
I worry about extremists.
And the ideology they promote.
I worry about retaliation,
And the fear and ignorance that breeds it.
I worry about violence,
And the innocent caught in its wake.

I worry about women worldwide,
And how so many are treated as property.
I worry about children worldwide,
And the horrors so many have been forced to experience.
I worry about slavery,
And how widespread it is still used for sex and labor.
I worry about poverty,
And how so much of the world is in it.

I worry about inequality,

And how so much is owned and controlled by so few.

I worry about society,
And the way many want to keep the chasm of classes.

I worry about capitalism,

And how everything is about the all-mighty dollar.

I worry about socialism,

And how so many prefer societal inequality instead.

I worry about healthcare,
And how some think it is not an inalienable right.
I worry about water,
And how some think the same way.
I worry about the planet,
And the damage we humans have done to it.
I worry about facts,
And how if they don't fit one's opinion, then they can't be true.

I worry about science and mathematics,
And how so few people choose to understand them.
I worry about religion,
And how frequently it is misused and abused throughout the world.
I worry about persecution,
And how religion is used to justify horrors beyond imagination.
I worry about history,
And how some try to rewrite it for their own gain.

I worry about the future,

And the world my children will inherit.

I worry about death,

And how my oldest son will survive once I am gone. 

I worry about love,
And how so few ever find it.
I worry about life,
And wish everyone found all of it worth treasuring.

--Randal D. Anderson
November 15, 2015

Hooray to California

Hooray to California for passing SB 277 and SB 792. It's an important step because their entire purpose is to protect public health. Unfortunately, people like Jim Carrey don't see it the same way. He went on a tirade on Twitter spouting off his displeasure with SB 277 passing. And we should listen to Jim Carrey on public health matters because?

The passing of the bills have also "awoken a sleeping giant" among the California anti-vaxxers. Yes, Jim Carrey is one of them. He and his other anti-vaccination celebrity friends are dangerous because, well, their famous. Famous people have the potential to affect millions of people by the things they say; even when they say stupid things.

The anti-vaxxers spin vaccinations as a choice. They are worried about vaccinations being harmful for their kids. Never mind the fact that most of the anti-vax crowd were actually vaccinated when they were children, thus they didn't get the opportunity to suffer and possibly die from these same diseases they run the risk of exposing to their unvaccinated children.

Now if this was just about "choice", then there wouldn't be an issue.

But this is not about "choice". This is about public health.

Government does a lot, both good and bad, but it's main function is to protect the people. Public health falls into that category. As the Disneyland fiasco has shown, not getting vaccinated is a public health issue.

If not vaccinating your child only affected your specific child, then so be it. Let evolution decide if your family genes get to continue on or not. But the choice of not vaccinating your child affects a lot more than just your specific child.

There are people, both children and adults, who, for actual medical reasons, can not get vaccinations. Thus, they never had a "choice". They are left vulnerable to the public around them. And some of those in the public have chosen to not vaccinate their children because of their "personal beliefs".

"Personal beliefs" is not a medical reason.

Fortunately, SB 277 eliminates the "personal beliefs" exemption.

Public health, like climate change, should be determined by the actual science, not ignorance and fear. Jim Carrey and his ilk are not scientists. They are concerned parents who think they know more than actual scientists.

But the science shows that vaccines are safe.

The science shows that vaccines do not cause autism.

The state I live in, Washington, has just confirmed the first death in the U.S. caused be measles in 12 years.

If the anti-vax movement does not stop, then there will be more unnecessary death and suffering from diseases we long thought were no longer much of a concern. Hooray to California for having the strength to make this change.

It is unfortunate that in this country we depend highly on science and technology but yet it is scorned, even feared. It is certainly not respected.

I'll Be Lost For Awhile

For now,
I stumble through my existence.

Always

Always

Thinking of you.

I feel you in the soothing temperament of the breeze,

Gently caressing my skin,

Enveloping my soul.

I hear you in the quiet solitude of the night,

Softly whispering my name,

Stirring me from slumber.

For now,

I’ll be lost for awhile.

Always

Always

Thinking of you.

--Randal D. Anderson

June 15, 2015

When Forever Ends

When Forever Ends

When forever ends,

Be there

Holding their hand,

Kissing their lips,

Reminiscing about the life you both shared.

For at that moment,

As you wipe away the dust from faded memories,

Everything else no longer matters.

Hold on to those moments.

Cherish those memories.

Unfortunately,

We have but a short time to create them.

For whether your time together

Is measured in months, years, or decades,

The love you shared will be what’s remembered,

When forever ends.

--Randal D. Anderson
June 19, 2015

Fading Away

My son, I have something to tell you.
Yes it's cancer, please try not to cry.
I have but a few months of still breathing,
So today I begin saying goodbye.

I'll be doing some national drug trials.
Helping them learn from what I go through.
No, there's no pain, I really do feel good.
Yeah, the doctors find that very strange, too.

Mom and I will keep you updated often.
She and I have things to take care of right now.
I need to go but know that I love you.
I'm going to make the most of what time will allow.

Hey son, yes it's dad, how are you now?
Oh, I'm doing well and still there's no pain.
Yes, everything is all taken care of.
I forgot I liked hearing the rain.

We were hoping to visit you all, soon.
But now we're not sure if we can.
We'll know more when I get tested next week.
Yeah, nothing ever goes as you plan.

Well son, another cancer has hit me.
This one so rare there's no name.
I'm now out of the national drug trial.
With all other meds, yes I did do the same.

They now give me a week left to be here.
We'll see how true that turns out to be.
I'm saying my final goodbyes now.
Please try not to find tears for me.

I know that it's hard but stay strong son.
Your wife and your boys need you too.
Your mom will be well taken care of.
I'll talk with you soon. I love you.

Well son, there's a lot going on here.

It's strange knowing that you're going to die.

So many people stop over to visit.

I'm glad I have time to say goodbye.

I really have lived a good life, now

And I'm proud of the man you've become.

Take care of your wife and my grandsons.

I hear the rhythm of my final drum.

Hey son, it's been almost a month now.

Guess those doctors were wrong after all.

Yeah, I'm weak and I tire real easy.

I need to go rest now, I love you all.

Well son, thank you for the videos.

I love those boys so much, yes I do.

It's getting harder to type on my phone now.

Just know how much I love you.

Hey son, I'm getting real weak, now.

I sleep for most of the day.

When awake I feel pain all through me.

I feel I'm starting to fade away.

Well son, I don't ... will ... long now.

It's ... harder ... remember things ... knew.

Need ... go back ... sleep ...

I know ... time ... almost through.

... son, know... love you.

... tired. ... sleep. ... pain.

... love the boys, ... your mom, ... your wife.

I think ... in ... brain.

... son, ... tired ... rest, now.

... what I ... to do.

I've ... good life.

... love you.

...

--Randal D. Anderson
June 13, 2015

It's Time To Go

I've seen my last sunset
Felt my last breeze
Heard my last rainfall
Dance among the trees.

I've walked my last mile
Cried my last tear
Dreamed my last dream
It was beautifully clear.

I've sung my last song
Danced my last dance
Played my last role
In this lifetime of chance.

I've felt your last touch
Tasted your last kiss
Loved your last smile
Now I head to the abyss.

I've written my last story
Starred in my last show
Taken my last breath
It's now time to go.

--Randal D. Anderson
June 5, 2015