What if you were playing an online game that you loved? You had to pay to play the game but you loved it so much that you didn’t mind paying what ever amount it was. Now let’s say it involved a virtual deck of cards, that’s right, poker. Right now the government has put a ban on online gambling in the U.S. Because of this ban there has been a large group of people that have popped up and are against the UIGEA (see second paragraph). They are attempting to protect the U.S. players’ rights. One of the largest groups is called the PPA. The PPA or Poker Players Alliance is attempting to gain as many supporters as they can. At this point the PPA has around 993,000 members. In 2006 President Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This act prohibits banks and other institutions from allowing them to put money into accounts. So now, poker players in the U.S. have to stop gambling online for real money.
Poker has been around for quite some time; in fact it is believed that the game was first played in 1829 with a twenty-card deck, according to English actor Joseph Crowell. The most played poker game, Texas Hold ‘em. There isn’t much known about the start of Texas Hold ‘em but The Texas State Legislature eventually recognized Robstown, Texas as the birthplace of Texas Hold ‘em in the 1900s. [1]. Texas Hold ‘em became a big deal and hit popularity around the year 2000. In 2003 it got even bigger when a new champion of World Series of Poker (WSOP) was crowned, by the name of Chris Moneymaker (yes that’s his real last name). Chris Moneymaker earned his spot in the WSOP Main Event by winning an online qualifier. Since 2003 the number of entries have gone up to an increasingly high number. The year 2006, for WSOP, was the highest number of entries of all time at 8,773 entrants and a total prize pool of $12,000,000.
Poker websites allow millions of players to play a game they love, whether for money or not. I believe that if someone wants to gamble online they should be able to. There are kids that are playing games that they have to pay monthly for. Some of the games they actually spend real money to buy accessories for their characters. These are children doing this. So why is it that children, mostly likely with the consent of their parent, can purchase accessories for a fake character online? Why is it that they can pay a monthly or yearly fee yet it’s okay for that to happen? If an adult wants to spend their own money on gambling online, I say why not? There are casinos that are legal in 16 states. So it’s okay for people to go out, take their money and blow it all on at a casino but if they want to sit down an blow it over the computer it’s not allowed?
There are quite a few people who think that gambling in its entirety is wrong. They believe that people lose a lot of things due to gambling. While it may be true that there are gambling addicts out there that due lose houses, cars, etc. because of gambling, that’s not everyone who gambles. If someone has a gambling problem they should get help and there are numbers that they can call. Most casinos, if not all, have phone numbers posted around the casino for gambling help lines. On some, if not most, online poker playing sites they allow you to block your transactions so you can no longer play poker. All I’m saying is that there are a lot of responsible adults in the world who can handle online gambling without a problem. Just because there are gambling addicts out there, doesn’t mean that everyone is. Even if that’s not why the starts UIGEA, it’s something to look into and think about.
I’ve never been a political person but I this is an issue I feel strongly about. I think it violates people’s rights when the government gets involved in a gambling website online probably for only one reason; because they’re not making money off of it. Oops, did I cross the line? Am I wrong? I may be but the government likes to get there grubby hands in everything they can. I love playing online poker, even though I don’t play it for money. I will do what I can to stand behind the PPA and try to help get this bill reversed.
Sign up with the PPA here! Stand up for people’s rights!
That’s right, I said it. Why wouldn’t God hate Fred Phelps? Let’s count the ways:
I think brutally beating your children would constitute a reason for hatred. Of course, Fred Phelps believes if you’re a homosexual than God hates you. Yet it’s okay to beat your children and wife mercilessly? That sounds like a fair trade to me (obvious sarcasm). As Phelps would beat his wife and children he would often scream obscenities at them. Maybe it’s just be but don’t most religious people think that God hates a filthy mouth? A pastor. A father. A sinner. Fred Phelps was nothing more than a sinner, who did more harm against God than he did for him. God hates the sin! Not the sinner! I believe that. I can see where that would be rather truthful though I don’t see how beating your loved ones isn’t a sin. Now there are seven deadly sins - Greed, Gluttony, Envy, Wrath, Pride, Sloth and Lust. Though Fred Phelps didn’t fall under all seven there are a few in there that he did fall under.
Greed - “… In fact, Pastor Phelps defrauded his community of over $200,000 earmarked for a non-profit religious enterprise. It was instead consumed as personal income without paying a single rusty penny in taxes.” [1]
Wrath - ” … . A mattock is a pick-hoe using a wooden handle heavier than a bat. Fred swung it with both hands like a ballplayer and with all his might. “The first blow stunned your whole body…” [2] “Go straight fucking to hell you Goddam fucking son-of-a-bitch. God Damn You! God Damn You!!! God Damn You!!! You Goddam asshole son-of-a- bitch. God Damn You! How dare you, you asshole bastard prick turd. You turd. You lying, mother fucking stinking piece of fucking shit. Fuck you, you lying sack of shit, you. Get the fuck out of my face. Go to hell. I hate you, you bastard. I hate you, you asshole. You Goddam prick asshole bastard, dick, piece of fucking rank stinking fucking garbage that’s as full of shit as anyone could ever be….” [3] Not only did he beat his children and his wife but he used the Lord’s name in vain which is a sin (God’s probably hating the sinner by now, Fred).
Pride - It seems to be that Fred Phelps has no issues showing his pride in demeaning others. He has no issues with saying that “fags” should die. “Jews are the real Nazis…” [4] and said that Ireland is “saturated with fags and dykes at every level of society and government.” [5]. Some of you may not think that this falls under Pride but when a man is showing that a certain race, group of people or ethnicity isn’t as “good” as he is. That’s showing pride.
Though Phelps might not fall under the other four sins, I believe three is enough. A man who preaches about what God believes in is puzzling to me. You see, most preachers follow the outlines of the bible and talk about the truths of the bible. Phelps pulls theories out of his ass and and says that it’s what God believes. From what I understand the Pope is the only one who is closest to God. He’s the one who’s supposed to have the connection and is supposed to be the one who is most “in tune” with the Lord. Not Fred Phelps. Fred Phelps isn’t even in tune with his brain (which is so far gone already, it would seem). I guess I could say that I always kept myself away from most hateful people. It wasn’t until I wrote a piece about gay rights, that a friend told me I should write about this “God hates fags”, “God hates Sweden”, “God hates Ireland” son-of-a-bitch that I really started to feel political.
I’m sure Fred Phelps wants to anger people, he wants a reaction. If God really hated fags, Sweeds and the Irish don’t you think something would have happened by now? What’s a shame is that Fred Phelps makes people want to steer away from religion because everyone loves an insane bigot with hatred for all (note even more sarcasm). I’m proud to say that I don’t believe in what Fred Phelps says. I don’t believe a word of it. What I believe is that people need to run as far away as they possibly can from that man as soon as they can. As a gay female, maybe I’m biased? I sure as fuck am but I really don’t care. Just like he uses the first amendment to back his babbling bullshit, I can also use the first amendment to say that Fred Phelps is a greedy, pride-filled, wrath-encased bigot who needs to get his head out of his ass. I hope everyone who reads this agrees with me and if you don’t you’re just as spiteful as he is.
In closing …
Obviously I’ve stated how I feel about this man who is in fear of everything except himself including but not limited to America, Ireland, Sweden, Mexico, fags, and more! I hope that those of you who read this understand what a sad man he is. He must fear everything that moves and apparently he thinks God does too. God is loving, caring and nurturing. God isn’t a Nazi who wants to rid the world of everyone except Fred Phelps. In fact … if there’s one person he would like to get rid of it would probably be Fred Phelps for ruining God’s name. So Fred Phelps …. I think God hates you.