Ramblin' Man: One-Sided Dialog on Philosophy and Other Rubbish

By Steve Dustcircle

After releasing a collection of poetry and short stories entitled NAPKINS, Steve feels that another collection of writings is due: a decade of commentary (2006-2015)

Some of the articles are encouraging; some are enraging. Some are engaging; and some are previously unreleased.

CONTENTS:

Abandoning the Tough Guy
I Could Have Been an Active Shooter
A Mama's Boy without a Mama
My Father is Alive, But is Dead to Me
School Violins
Wanting Them All

Marital Financial Bliss
Not Getting Shot for a Pizza
Not the Bread-Winner

Always on the Edge of My Seat Popping Pills and Other Normalities

They Don't Have to Be Your Out-Laws
Too Grown for Santa or Other X-Mas Characters
X Out of Christmas

Autumn Leaves Aren't Blue
Gender Wars: Truce from the Male
Leaving Sportsball
Viral Etiquette

Before Your First Gig

Against Theocracy
Death to Peace-Keepers
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
Our Supposed Democracy

The Daughter You Didn't Know I Had
Lying, Cheating, Two-Timing...
Two Wrongs Made a Right Turn

777 is Not the Opposite of 666
As a Religionist: You versus the World
Breaking Up with Jesus
Knowing Everything is Knowing Nothing
Prayer Changes Nothing
The Ten Legalistic Suggestions

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hudson Books
• Release date: Mar 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310332753

Steve Dustcircle

Originally from Chicago, Steve Dustcircle comes from a background in religious ministry and music performance, but now has his hand in many forms of activism, mostly focused on free thought and human rights. He is an amid reader and doer.Steve authored or edited several books: Trump's Cabinet, Leaving Worship, Politics for the Disinterested, Black Panther 101, and many others.Steve has contributed to The Good Men Project, OpEd News, Counter Currents, Ex-ChristianNet, and others. He lives in central Ohio and loves good coffee and stimulating conversation.Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/dustcircle

Book preview

ABOUT THE ARTICLES

Well, after releasing a collection of poetry and short stories entitled NAPKINS a couple of years back, I felt that another collection of writings was due.

Though I had my own blog in which I would post spiritual and cultural articles and stories I've written, I've left Christianity and music in the past decade. The collection of poetry was a compilation of that life. Half of the poems were rough drafts of songs I had never completed, the stories being from my STRTJCKT Publishing days (my old, defunct online publishing site).

Since then, I've gotten involved with human rights, secular politics, civil freedoms, and religious lines. Out of this came most of the following writings, mostly the material under Politics and Spirituality.

At least half of the rest is material published on the website, http://www.GoodMenProject.com. Some of these essays were retitled by the editor, but because this is my book, I kept (or reworked) the original title.

Some of these articles are encouraging. Some are enraging. Some are engaging, and some are previously unreleased—partially because they found no home for publication or had edits requested that I didn't want to make.

I don't claim to be wise, educated or necessarily relevant, but I felt like I had something interesting to say on these topics. At the very least, be entertained. :)

Thank you for reading. Enjoy.

- Steve

GROWTH

Abandoning the Tough Guy

Originally posted on goodmenproject.com

September 13, 2015

I grew up on typical guy films: Action, Horror, and Organized Crime.

My father wasn't much involved in my life after I had left home in my late teens, so the men in film were sort of surrogate fathers to me. Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson.

All were—and are—captivating actors, able to portray their characters precisely. Sadly, as an impressionable teen and young man, you start seeing these films not for the fiction they are, but rather as documentaries and training videos.

Even in high school, several inches under 5-feet tall, I'd stand up to bullies and jocks with a foul mouth and a puffed chest. Sometimes, they'd just laugh at me. Other times, I'd get a justified beating for it. Usually, the beatings weren't as bad as I'd get at home, when I lived there.

Into my adult years, I had a growth spurt, and started attracting females. I dated often, seeking a suitable spouse, but most of these relationships and/or friendships would end. Sometimes they'd end on my walking away, or I'd get dumped.

I was a generous type, almost clingy and insecure, so I'm sure that played into it, regarding the confident, experienced ladies. Sometimes, I'd imagine W.W.S.R.D. (What Would Sam Rothstein Do?), the lead character in the film, Casino. Of course, if something about the woman wasn't right, I'd kick her to the curb.

I don't know if my religious upbringing had anything to do with it, but I'm sure I felt that I had entitlement, that I deserved something excellent and perfect.

In a way, I do deserve someone awesome, but it didn't come in the form that I thought.

I had met a friend, and we had chatted online for several years. Through this time, my mind developed, and my emotions became more mature. This woman endeared our friendship, and encouraged me in all of the dreams of mine I shared with her.

Just shy of my 30th birthday, I asked this friend to give me a shot. At this point I had not dated anyone in several years, the time I spent developing my character. I didn't necessarily set out to internally grow, but it happened nonetheless.

This maturity attracted my friend to me, and we ended up getting engaged the same day we finally met in person.

Something changes when you're not trying to be something or someone else. I had to become a man on my own, without mimicking tough guys on TV.

I'm not an action star, I'm not a monster, and I'm certainly not a corrupted person of power. But I'm somehow great and big in my wife's eyes.

I Could Have Been an Active Shooter

Originally posted on goodmenproject.com

October 18, 2015

I stole from my dad often, things I felt I needed. I took coins to buy candy. I took a bottle of liquor for playing hooky. I took various things to build things like insect boards, a skateboard, and many other things.

But I never stole my dad's gun. Reason? He didn't have one. If he had had one, I might have taken it.

You see, I was a little guy in middle school and high school. And a little guy with a big mouth doesn't exactly earn friends easily. I tried to be intimidating, to scare off the bullies. But it wasn't of avail. I tried to be into sports, but I found watching it boring and participating unexciting.

I either listened to heavy metal—or gangster rap—depending on what crowd I was trying fit into. I didn't want to be common, boring or known for being intelligent. But I didn't want to be a loser, loner or nerd. All of my music and TV idols were raw, rowdy and rambunctious.

I got a lot of flack for it. I'd get sneered at, mocked, laughed at, teased, pushed around, beat up, and even had my life threatened.

I've been chased home. I've been cornered and jumped a few times. And I always vowed revenge. I hated my peers. I hated my teachers for not saying anything when they saw it. I hated my dad for also putting me through similar things at home. And I hated myself.

Fortunately, I never brought a gun to school. Fortunately, I never used bullying to set an example of classmates and my abusive father. Fortunately, I was able to move on with my life, go to other schools, become an adult, gain employment, and seem to be liked by my current peers.

Seeing things in perspective when you're younger is hard to do. The brain is still growing and developing. Philosophy and worldview are a constant change, as well. A younger person does not understand permanence. One decision, no matter how courageous, could change absolutely everything. Sure, eliminating a few headaches seems tempting, but there's no returning after the long term consequences happen.

My life I would have right now. If I had access to shooting up a classroom, I could be dead now. Or I could be in prison for life or on death row. I wouldn't have the wonderful things I have now.

I have a wonderful wife who cherishes me and encourages me in all I do. I have a nice house with tons of great books. I have an adorable, intelligent cat that I had rescued as a kitten. I have a few small businesses that are exciting, as I deal with collectibles, vintage goods and antiques. I write books and articles, also, which is a good way to channel pent-up feelings, memories and problems.

My life is good, and I wouldn't have had what I now have if I became an active shooter.

A Mama's Boy without a Mama

Originally posted on goodmenproject.com

January 10, 2016

Death came home to me at 10 years old.

My mother caught cancer the year previous, and though we were told—and my dad being gently honest with us—she would eventually die, I held hope that mother would always be there.

When I was 8 years old, my mother was complaining about a lump in her neck. Sheltered from most of the details, my mom and dad eventually sat my 7 year old brother and I down to tell us that Mommy was sick.

Sick? No biggie. I’ve been sick. Everyone’s been sick. Take a load off, Mommy, I’ve got cereal. Relax. But what was I to know? I’m only 8. I can barely see over the kitchen table, let alone being to help out with good advice.

One and a half years, my mother was in and out of the hospital, going to doctor’s appointments, sometimes in ICU or