April 15, 2006
The Investigation Continues...
When did this phrase work its way into our news lexicon? The use and abuse of this phrase really struck me a couple of weeks ago, and I have been meaning to blog about it. I was reading the newspaper when I came across a blurb about a local bank discovering what they thought were some suspect one hundred dollar bills. Apparently, the police were notified, the Secret Service was called in, the bills were found to be authentic, yet an "investigation continues." Huh?
If the bills were real, why would the investigation continue? Are they investigating why a bank (usually expert at handling money) would think authentic bills were fakes? Maybe our real bills are too easily confused as bogus? They do look funny. Is the investigation related to how some individual came into possession of the particular series of currency in question? Maybe "the investigation is continuing" wasn't just the lazy journalism of this news reporter at all, but was offered by the Secret Service people so that they could stay on and enjoy a couple more days on sunny Cape Cod. That would be a slick way to buy a day or two off for an overworked Secret Service agent: investigate a report of counterfeit bills (or even plant some), identify the currency as legitimate, and then hang out for a few days under the auspices of a continuing investigation. Maybe the Secret Service has a two day minimum?
Personally, I would like an investigation into why the investigation was continuing, and how many days we paid people to stay here investigating.
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 10:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 05, 2006
From a Soldier's Perspective
"Associated Press KOKOMO, Ind. -- Police posted an around-the-clock security watch at the home of an Indiana soldier killed last week in Iraq after it was vandalized and his family received disturbing phone calls.The home of Sgt. Rickey Jones was egged Saturday, three days after Jones' family learned the 21-year-old and three other soldiers had been killed by a roadside bomb north of Baghdad. His family also received phone calls in which the caller said: "I'm glad your son is dead."
As an American, I feel that it is my duty to speak out against those who would seek to dishonor our soldiers who are in harm's way, protecting our freedoms. The people harassing our soldiers and their mourning families may think their attempts at dissent? are acts of patriotism, but they are acts of cowardice and ignorance instead.
Our soldiers will answer any call to duty we present them with, in defense of our homeland and our allies. Cowards like this reveal a small segment of our population whose only sense of duty is to the destruction of everything this country stands for. Will we answer the call, just as our soldiers have done? Most of us have already met the call to support our soldiers and their families, but it appears that it has now come to answering the call to actively defend our own here at home.
All of our soldiers and their families here at home are in my thoughts this morning. Sharing this along with similar stories, and joining the letter writing campaign in support of this family is the least we can do.
A tip of the hat to Gribbit's Word for this story.
Technorati Tags: National Defense, freedom of speech, Homeland Security, military, Patriotism
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February 20, 2006
A Muslim Viewpoint
A Muslim viewpoint-Editorials/Op-Ed-insider.washingtontimes.com:
"Discrimination is never acceptable, and religious discrimination has been a hateful curse upon mankind for millennia. Ignorance often has played a hand in such vile behavior, but so too at the hands of intellectuals and religious leaders playing politics. Such is occurring today. "
How are we participating in the much needed conversations about this subject as bloggers?
(Via: insider.washingtontimes.com)
People are Talking:
blog, blogging, Muslim, Religion
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:55 AM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2006
Cheney's Fury
Cheney's Fury - Presented by Addicting Games:
Okay, so you knew the Vice President Cheney hunting fiasco would have to be turned into an online game at some point. Games are not a usual part of my online experience, but as this one is related to current events, I couldn't resist a peak.
A tip of the hat to Elephants in Academia for this new game.
Related Technorati Tags:
hunting, politics, Cheney, Vice President Cheney, Dick Cheney, gun safety, games
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:50 PM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2006
The Polarization of America
Divided We Stand, Can a polarized nation win a protracted war? :
"The 2004 election left our country deeply divided over whether our country is deeply divided. For some, America is indeed a polarized nation, perhaps more so today than at any time in living memory. In this view, yesterday's split over Bill Clinton has given way to today's even more acrimonious split between Americans who detest George Bush and Americans who detest John Kerry, and similar divisions will persist as long as angry liberals and angry conservatives continue to confront each other across the political abyss. Others, however, believe that most Americans are moderate centrists, who, although disagreeing over partisan issues in 2004, harbor no deep ideological hostility. I take the former view."
There is no doubt about it, polarization is real and seems to be dividing our country more each year. In my opinion, a major contributor to this growing rift is our collective short-term memories. One need only look at September 11th and the months that followed to see how quickly we forget.
The increasing polarization here in America may very well play a part in our eventual downfall. However, I think it is important that we recognize that it is but a symptom of the underlying disease that is tearing us apart: radical individualism.
Read the entire essay:
Divided We Stand: Can a polarized nation win a protracted war?
by JAMES Q. WILSON
A tip of the hat to Sneakeasy's Joint for this great piece.
File Under:
politics
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:31 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2006
Misdirected Muslim Outrage
"1) The Koran In A Toilet story, as dispersed by Newsweek. Wholescale riots swept the world, with demands for apologies and that the offending parties be turned over to Islamic courts for trial.2) The infamous UK Burger King Ice Cream Lid incident. Burger King sold some ice cream with a lid that featured a stylized drawing of an ice cream cone. Because if you rotated the lid 90 degrees, it had a vague resemblance to the name 'Allah' in Arabic, British Muslims were outraged. BK apologized and withdrew the lids.
3) The Muslim obsession with the foot as unclean has led to some interesting stories. For example, I recall one account of a sneaker whose tread left a mark resembling the word Allah that got some Muslims incensed. Or Nike recalling a bunch of shoes because the stylized flames on the toes resembled Allah's name.
4) Back in 1992, Yokohama had to recall a bunch of tires whose tread -- designed to improve traction -- also seemed to resemble the name of Allah.
What do all these incidents have in common?
They all provoked outrage over insults that were never intended as such, or incidents that simply didn't happen."
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:33 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 13, 2006
'Cyber Storm' Prepares Government For Internet Attack
WSBTV.com - Technology - 'Cyber Storm' Prepares Gov't For Internet Attack:
"WASHINGTON -- The government concluded its Cyber Storm wargame Friday, its biggest-ever exercise to test how it would respond to devastating attacks over the Internet from anti-globalization activists, underground hackers and bloggers.Bloggers?
Participants confirmed parts of the worldwide simulation challenged government officials and industry executives to respond to deliberate misinformation campaigns and activist calls by Internet bloggers, online diarists whose sites include political rantings and musings about current events."
That Washington would include blogs in their "cyber war games" tells of the real power blogs now have in this country. If you previously doubted the might of a simple weblog, here is your sign.
Do you think newspapers or other forms of media have ever been analyzed as threats to Homeland Security?
Obviously, I view weblogs as a powerful communication tool and hope that they are never employed in any concerted efforts at disruption, but what should we make of all this?
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:09 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2006
Liberal Hypocrisy Alert: Former President Jimmy Carter
"...in 1977, Mr. Carter and his attorney general, Griffin B. Bell, authorized warrantless electronic surveillance used in the conviction of two men for spying on behalf of Vietnam.The men, Truong Dinh Hung and Ronald Louis Humphrey, challenged their espionage convictions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which unanimously ruled that the warrantless searches did not violate the men's rights.
In its opinion, the court said the executive branch has the 'inherent authority' to wiretap enemies such as terror plotters and is excused from obtaining warrants when surveillance is 'conducted 'primarily' for foreign intelligence reasons.'"
Along with some other uncouth Democrats, former President Jimmy Carter used Coretta Scott King's funeral as his political soap box to criticize the Bush administration for making the decision to pursue terrorists within this country by eavesdropping on their conversations. Yet again, it is apparent that Liberal outrage is a one way street.
(hat tip to: Stop the ACLU, and Rhymes With Right.)
Technorati Tags:
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 05:41 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 09, 2006
Stop the ACLU: Top Ten Myths of the ACLU
#8. It is a patriotic thing to support the ACLU. "The Truth: If you think the ACLU represents the average American values, then you are sadly misguided. Their absolutist views of liberty go far beyond what most people could ever support. They support the legalization of child porn distribution , and un-regulated prostitution. They are far from the traditional thoughts of patriotism, constantly defending America's enemies, and fighting efforts of military recruiters."
If America's future is important to you, please check out the rest of this post at the above link.
This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 150 blogs already on-board.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:44 AM | Comments (0)
February 07, 2006
Libraries as Terrorist Sanctuaries
TCS Daily - Libraries as Terrorist Sanctuaries:
"Not content merely to make possible homeland security investigations as difficult as possible for the government, librarians nationwide have also taken to regularly destroying computer user lists, posting signs warning patrons of possible FBI surveillance and abuse, and turning off video cameras, as was done in Newton."
After logging onto CLAMS and finding that a book I wanted to read was available, Jesse and I went to the Falmouth Public Library tonight. I read the above story after we had returned home. I didn't notice any signs warning of FBI surveillance while I was at the library tonight, but if there were any, I would not have been concerned. I would have been more concerned if my public library was opposed to their computers being just that: public and subject to law enforcement review. You see, I have nothing to hide, and if such a minor intrusion into my life saves someone else's, it is worth it.
This irrational, misdirected fear is getting out of control. Are the inmates taking over the asylum?
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:50 PM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2006
Liberal Left's Outrage is a One Way Street
What does the Liberal left's formula for progress in this country mean to you? As a Democrat? As a Republican? As an Unenrolled voter? How would you define it, and do you subscribe to it? To me, their blanket judgments of some of the more conservative minded Democrats, and their oft repeated definition of Conservative Republicans says it all:
Conservatives want you to "drink the Kool Aid." They manipulate you into supporting them through fear tactics, as they legislate your civil liberties away. Conservative Republicans have become a real world Big Brother, seeking to watch over and control your lives. Conservatives and the Religious Right are united in their lock-step efforts toward a Fascist, Totalitarian state. They want everyone to subscribe to their beliefs, and show no shame in trampling your individual rights in the process.
Instead of drinking the Conservatives' "Kool Aid," the Liberal left (I am talking about the extreme left throughout this post) seems to prefer their own brand of "progress." Here is where their philosophies make a hard left turn- directly into a ditch. Progress to the Liberal left has become measured by their successes at stretching the boundaries of freedom to its limits. Where most Conservatives feel that some of our freedoms have already been carried too far, the Liberal left is hellbent on making sure that we never look back. Where Conservatives decry the damage many of these so called freedoms have inflicted on traditional, family values, the Liberal left accuses Conservatives of trying to thrust these values upon them. To me, this conflict really comes down to a Jungian understanding of the human mind: that of habitually projecting our inner demons onto others.
How else do we explain that Tom Delay is the poster child for campaign finance improprieties, but equally reprehensible flouting of campaign finance laws by Hillary Clinton have garnered little media attention? How is it that the Bush lied refrain remains so popular, but when Senator Kennedy perpetuates an obviously fabricated story about a student being rousted by government agents because he was looking for a copy of Mao Zedong's "Little Red Book," the endless scream of "LIES!" goes silent? Where is the outrage when national security secrets are released in an obvious attempt to embarrass the current administration, yet spilling secrets that might embarrass a critic of the administration is greeted with full-tilt outrage?
Unfortunately, every ounce of this outrage could just as easily be in reaction to the worst traits of the Liberal left's favorite champions. If the examples were only limited to these few that I have cited, one might be able to ignore the partisan bias. However, the Liberal left's taste for perpetuating hoaxes, and directing their tantrums only at Conservative Republicans has become the rule rather than the exception. Where true Conservatives welcome oversight and equal justice, the Liberal left seems to place their ultimate identity as the rightfully chosen social do-gooders ahead of equal justice, and view oversight as an intrusion (unless it is aimed at their opposition). Outrage at injustice increasingly seems a one way street with the Liberal left.
This week I read a prime example of where the Liberal left would take us if given the chance:
Congresswoman Cyntia McKinney (GA), filed legislation this past November that seeks to immortalize the murdered rapper/gangster, Tupac Shakur (H.R. 4210: Tupac Amaru Shakur Records Collection Act of 2005). The bill would require that a collection of all government records related to the life and death of Tupac Shakur be created at the National Archives, and that a second repository be created at The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain Georgia. This is similar to legislation that was used to bring files about the JFK assassination to light. It is difficult to believe that this woman was actually elected to office.
From Osama bin Laden to Tupac Shakur, living villain to murdered thug, if you are (or were) anti-establishment, you are a friend of the Liberal left. I wish these were just isolated examples of Liberal activists seeking to elevate convicted felons, gangsters, and terrorists to hero status. Thankfully, such twisted ideas of equality have been kept in check by saner minds here in the United States. Liberal special interest groups have all but guaranteed that obstructionist tactics and partisan politics will continue to be standard operating procedure for the Democratic party. When election time rolls around, I am confident that the many voters who share my exasperation with this trend will, in a strong show of unity, vote with the same passion that the Liberal left puts into their hoaxes, ad hominem attacks, blame games, and grandstanding.
Related reading:
Daniel Clark, The Jewish Press: Liberals and Hoaxes- Perfect Together
Govtrak.us: H.R. 4210: Tupac Amaru Shakur Records Collection Act of 2005
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:39 PM | Comments (3)
January 27, 2006
Senator Edward M. Kennedy Supports Fillibuster
From Senator Edward M. Kennedy's Online Office:
"Other than voting to send our men and women to war, there is no more important vote in the Senate than our vote on a Supreme Court nominee. This is a vote of a generation and a test of conscience. Judge Alito does not share the values of equality and justice that make this country strong. He does not deserve a place on the highest court of the land.We owe it to future generations of Americans to oppose this nomination. If Judge Alito is confirmed, he will serve on the court long after President Bush leaves office, and the progress of half a century on the basic rights of all Americans is likely to be rolled back. He's the wrong Justice for justice and the rule of law in America."
Dear Senator Kennedy,
As one of your Massachusetts constituents, I am urging you to put an end to talk of a fillibuster. Many prominent, intelligent Democrats who have sound knowledge of Judge Alito have correctly described him as a worthy, mainstream candidate. I hope that you can find it within yourself to put your politics aside and consider the matter at hand.
This is not the time or the place for grandstanding.
Sincerely,
Andrew W. Bryden
I urge everyone to make their opinion on this vote (pro or con) known to their representatives.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:25 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2006
Swiftboating' Charge is Part of 2006 Campaign
Democracy Project: Democracy Project:
"Dem's 'Swiftboating' Charge is Part of 2006 Campaign"
A recent "Swift Boating" comment to one of my posts on Cape Cod Today reminded me that many are still haunted by the ghosts of elections past. This post at Democracy Project says it all.
(Via Democracy Project.)
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2006
Spy Agency Data After Sept. 11 Led F.B.I. to Dead Ends - New York Times
Spy Agency Data After Sept. 11 Led F.B.I. to Dead Ends - New York Times:
"the comments on the N.S.A. program from the law enforcement and counterterrorism officials, many of them high level, are the first indication that the program was viewed with skepticism by key figures at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency responsible for disrupting plots and investigating terrorism on American soil."
This is also the first public indication that some in the F.B.I. may be unhappy with their post-September 11th, Homeland Security roles. Perhaps this "distaste" for what they deem dead end investigations may have been behind some of their lapses prior to September 11th?
It is typical that the same people who have derided our security errors before September 11th, are often the same people who complain about investigating the same types of leads now.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
Equal Justice or Liberal Perversion?
This morning's post is brought to you by the letter “i,” for insomnia. It seems that at the flick of a switch, this body that once required eight hours of sleep now requires only five or six. Unfortunately, this morning I awoke at 2:30 with echoes of Senator Kennedy's “equal justice,” Alito hearing speech ringing in my ears. We had a preview of Kennedy's partisan judgement of Alito on ABC's This Week, when Kennedy claimed to have read through Alito's voting record:
“I’ve had the good opportunity to read through Judge Alito’s opinions, more than 300 of those, and no one can read through those opinions and not find out that there’s a basic hostility to individual and individual rights, a welcoming to executive authority and power even when it’s excessive , and also the fact that he has so identified with major corporate interests at the expense of individual interests.”
This from a man whose career has relied heavily upon the justice of Senatorial privilege. Kennedy pontificates about the excesses of authority, power and corporate interests at the expense of individual interests, but when it comes to his own financial and personal interests, there is only one word to describe him: HYPOCRITE!
Regardless of the hypocrisy, the facts speak louder than Kennedy's mistaken politics. Yesterday, Kennedy claimed that Alito “has not written one single opinion on the merits in favor of a person of color alleging race discrimination on the job. In fifteen years on the bench, not one.” Well, “Left Said” Ted, did you read his record? Perhaps you couldn't see beyond your nose as it was growing.
From The Committee for Justice:
•In Zubi v. AT&T Corp., 219 F.3d 220 (3d Cir. 2000), Judge Alito dissented from the majority's holding that a man who claimed he was fired because of his race could not sue in federal court. According to Judge Alito, the plaintiff was entitled to sue because a longer statute of limitations applied. The Supreme Court later vindicated Judge Alito's dissent. See Jones v. Donnelly & Sons Co., 541 U.S. 369 (2004).
•In Goosby v. Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc., 228 F.3d 313 (3d Cir. 2000), a race and sex discrimination case, Judge Alito reversed the district court's decision to grant summary judgment to the defendant employer. The Third Circuit ruled that the plaintiff, a black woman, had introduced enough evidence to call into doubt the employer's explanation for why she was given lower-quality assignments.
•In Smith v. Davis, 248 F.3d 249 (3d Cir. 2001), an African-American probation officer brought a claim of race and disability discrimination in violation of Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Judge Alito joined a unanimous decision to reverse the lower court's grant of summary judgment for the defendant employer.
•Judge Alito's dissent in Sheridan v. DuPont, 100 F.3d 1061 (3d Cir. 1996) (en banc), is a principled balancing of the interests of employees and employers, and the Supreme Court later vindicated it. Judge Alito interpreted the Supreme Court's holding in a previous case as requiring that a Title VII plaintiff who produces certain evidence i.e., that the employer's stated reason for the employment decision was false should "usually" but not necessarily "always" be permitted to go to trial.
•The Supreme Court agreed with Judge Alito's Sheridan dissent in Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 530 U.S. 133 (2000). Reeves was a unanimous opinion signed by Justice O'Connor whose seat Judge Alito is poised to take.
It seems that where Kennedy claims that there is “not one,” there have been several. We have had good opportunity these many years to witness Kennedy's proclivity for using such unfounded accusations and moral condemnation as his political weapon. Equal rights under the law is what makes this country great. Do you suppose Senator Kennedy knows anything about equal justice, aside from paying it lip service? I wonder how Kennedy sleeps at night.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:43 AM | Comments (0)
December 16, 2005
Who You Gonna Call? Intelligence Busters!
Senators Squash Renewal of the Patriot Act
This is not a Pat Robertsonesque condemnation, but a helpful reminder of who took part in putting our country's security in jeopardy during such a dangerous time of war. We can only hope that we (those of us who could not vote to protect ourselves) will not eventually regret today's vote. In fairness, it should be noted that 40 Democrats had the intelligence to support the renewal. Today, the Senators listed below showed their reckless disregard for our national defense:
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Clinton (D-NY) --This is the woman the Democrats want to entrust with protecting us from terrorists in 2008?!?! Do New Yorkers join their Senators and this sorry crowd in returning this country to our pre-September 11th lack of security?
Conrad (D-ND)
Corzine (D-NJ)
Craig (R-ID)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA) --Reason number one for regime change in MA
Kerry (D-MA) --Reason number two for regime change in MA (They flew out of Logan you dopes!)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Sununu (R-NH) --And I admired our neighbor's leadership...
Wyden (D-OR)
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:03 PM | Comments (0)
December 04, 2005
Don't Leave Your Doors Unlocked
Last Friday, the top stories on many news sites were expressions of outrage over the hanging of an admitted drug smuggler in Singapore. This is a difficult subject to broach, because no matter which way I butter the biscuit, I will be maligned for admitting that I had to read further to find out what the big stink was all about. First, where is the outrage over his offense? Drug smuggling is illegal. Newsflash: countries, states, localities, schools, religions, etc. all have rules and laws, and when you break them, and when you get caught (especially when you don't have enough money to get out of jail free) you pay the price. Second, has anyone else noticed that countries that are not known for distributing get out of jail free cards seem to have less crime? Many countries, like our United States, now seem more concerned about the criminal's rights than the rights of their victims. If a criminal's connections are “good,” or the civil liberties, anti-justice campaign of the week is aligned in their favor, they are frequently excused anything short of mass murder.
Please refer to my favorite search engine, Google. A simple query regarding crime rates in the United States reveals the difficulty of finding such figures. Sure, you can find them eventually, but they can't be compared to those of a country like Singapore, that has “cheating” as their most prevalent crime (mostly by con men) and chewing gum in public (nicorette excluded) is a criminal offense. Crime, at least by other societies' definition, and often according to our own written laws, is no longer something we can honestly measure in this country. The phrase “everyone does it” has become the common, American rationalization. It seems we have rationalized justification for nearly every conceivable criminal offense. Only violent crimes appear worthy of our attention any longer. The rest of our crime seems much less troublesome in the shadow of murder and child abuse.
The emotional side of last week's hanging in Singapore was the story of a man who was running drugs to pay for his brother's sins. Nguyen Tuong Van, by all accounts, was a man who was caught in the middle. He had agreed to pay off his druggy brother's debt's by acting as a drug mule himself, and he got arrested in the process. He was nabbed in a country that has strict penalties and zero tolerance for such acts. The popular, sorry excuse in our teenage culture would have been “my bad.” In Singapore, “my bad” isn't good enough, and neither is a sincere apology. Following the rule of law is not a suggestion, it is absolute. There is clear evidence that Singapore society still has hold of something that we may have already lost:
* Singapore had only 481 crimes per 100,000 people in the year 2000. It should be noted that, as I said above, “cheating” was most prevalent of these, with 923 reported offenses. This is in a country of over 4 million people.
* Here in the United States, we suffered more than 11,000 crimes per 100,000 people in the same year, and I am sure that figure does not include chewing gum in public.
I am certainly not advocating capital punishment for such crimes, and I am not suggesting we adopt the laws of other nations. However, shouldn't we at least analyze what seems to be working in other countries? Or do we just forge ahead with the narrow-minded assumption that our monopoly on goodness and correctness will protect us? Laws and their enforcement are obviously not the only solution. The moral decay that has brought our society to these depths can only be addressed in families, churches, schools and communities. But for those who violate our laws, punishment should be absolute. We spend an inordinate amount of time studying and debating things that are broken and not working in this country, and far too little time analyzing what appears to be working here and abroad. In Singapore, the public gets much of the credit for their low crime rate. Close to 40 percent of criminals involved in serious offenses in Singapore are caught with public assistance. Here, a growing percentage of the public actively participates in demonizing and hampering the ability of those whose jobs it is to enforce our laws and protect our freedoms.
Articles about the tragic hanging of Nguyen Tuong Van fail to mention the death he was importing back to Australia with him when he was caught. Nguyen, through the 26,000 doses of heroin he was delivering, was destined to be a killer himself:
* 725 Australians between ages 15 and 44 died from opiate overdoses in 2000.
* In 2000, the hanging “victim's” home region held the distinguished record of claiming more than 36 percent of all Australia's opiate overdose deaths in the 15 to 44 age group.
* Heroin related deaths in Australia have reached an all time high, more than doubling in the past 15 years.
The reports of Nguyen's death also failed to mention the hundreds of crimes perpetrated by addicts in his neighborhood during thefts for drug money. The least of these are stories of elderly women being slammed in the head while having their purses snatched by drug addicts. Singapore's Prime Minister said it best: "We also think that drug trafficking is a crime that deserves the death penalty. The evil inflicted on thousands of people with drug trafficking demands that we must tackle the source by punishing the traffickers rather than trying to pick up the pieces afterwards."
Who are the victims here? In the United States, Australia and other countries in the downward spiral of moral decline, we are increasingly made to feel we are the bad guys just for asking this question. Laws are supposed to protect us and keep order in a civilized society. Singapore's laws reflect the values of its citizens. What right do we have to criticize a society that seems to have gotten it right? Public safety is not something we should have to think of in terms of investing more money in enforcement and prisons. Our safety should be the byproduct of a healthy society, and one that places the values of its law abiding citizens above the rights of their law breakers.
In the meantime, while we ponder this, there is a new web site up in Boston to help citizens keep track of recent violent crimes. Regrettably, rapes are not included, because those are not reported to the public. How many do you think will even see jail time for these crimes? How many of those who do will be quickly released back into our society as part of some misdirected social experiment? Common sense seems to have abandoned us when it comes to fighting crime in this country, and criticizing countries and laws aimed at protecting citizens is a sure sign.
Related articles:
* Singapore Window: Singapore crime rate
* Australian Institute of Criminology: Opiate overdose deaths by sex, 2000
* Boston Online: Boston Violent Crimes
Posted by capecodcyclist at 12:34 PM | Comments (0)
November 12, 2005
Step Up America! It Takes a Country
* Claiming the war in Iraq is about greed for oil.* Vengeful attacks on our President in the wake of hurricane Katrina.
* Blaming the inhuman behavior and bigotry of fundamentalist Muslim terrorists on America.
* Shamelessly ridiculing the religious beliefs of fellow Americans, only to defend our most vile enemies.
* Spreading anti-government propaganda across our nation's college campuses claiming the voice of patriotism
* Joking about terror alerts as though they correspond to the political climate.
The list continues. Have you been witness to this spreading doctrine America? I am certain I am not the only one observing how trendy it has become to be anti-America, anti-religion, and anti-everything. America bashing has become the new fad being flaunted about like the latest fashion. What an irresponsible waste of energy and intelligence.
These self proclaimed “patriots” are taking aim at those who are the only protection between us and a brand of hate that civil rights activists are all too familiar with. This campaign has snowballed into defending the indefensible. The incomprehensible acts of terrorists- these prejudiced, hate filled, animals who are seeking to hijack Islam, are being blindly defended by many who are flying the banner of social justice. It is one thing to campaign for peace, but another thing entirely to campaign against our defenders. We sent our military to the middle east to do battle with an enemy who brought their Muslim supremacist war to our soil. America is doing exactly what we set out to do after September 11th and this important fight continues. All of us should be showing our gratitude and doing everything in our power to support our troops in this effort.
The detractors tell us that disliking President Bush and the war on terror is not the same as disliking America. Yes, this is true. But as citizens of this country, Democrat or Republican, what price are we willing to pay for this lack of support? Will our bond as Americans, who share in the knowledge that our freedoms are a blessing worth defending, bring us together in response to these threats? Or will we allow the anti-war crowd to continue spreading their fallacious arguments? These fanatics do not just think they are the future of the Democratic party, they think they are the future of America. Their bullying tactics and self declared monopoly on goodness and intelligence must be challenged directly, for it is more than just fellow Americans they are alienating- they are driving a stake into the heart of this society that may prove a fatal blow. These social meddlers are using every human weakness as weapons in their dirty work. Natural disasters, racial tensions, wealth disparities, illiteracy, HIV... all symptoms of the human condition are seized upon as ammunition in their campaign to dismantle this republic.
I hope America wakes up to this dangerous trend. It is obvious how important we all feel it is to be in position to claim the political high ground, but there is a rotten stink about us that must be removed regardless of affiliation. Our allegiance to this country should be enough to put differences aside to teach these anti-American crusaders a lesson. It is not too late to reeducate these actively seditious citizens that we are not called the United States for nothing. Defending your country does not require that you be a Republican, approve of President Bush, or his administration's policies. However, tolerating, applauding and encouraging this mockery of our military is treasonous in my book. Defending this country requires our support. Whether we like it or not, we are all faced with a critical fight for this country and its future. We now have the responsibility to support our military and our President in this endeavor. Our leaders must be pressed to finance the security of our soldiers abroad, better support their families here at home, and moved to actively protect peace loving citizens everywhere.
Our President has responded to the threats posed us by terrorists who seek the destruction of the West and all of our allies. We may not all be ambassadors, terrorism experts, or soldiers capable of military service, but we all have the opportunity to, at the very least, accept the responsibilities of our citizenship as those in our military and our President have. We have all been called upon to step up and do our part in defending this great nation.
Originally Posted: October 13, 2005, Cape Cod Today
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)
The Enemy Within
“It is easy, however, to be patriotic in piping times of peace, and in the sunny hour of prosperity. It is national sorrow- it is war, with its attendant perils and horrors, that tests this passion, and winnows from the masses those who, with all their love of life, still love their country more.” ~ Joseph Holt
Too much energy has been wasted arguing the necessity of war in Iraq. There should be no argument. The danger is obvious. It is unfortunate, but there are enemies in our midst with whom debates of importance to America are pointless. Granted, there are true peace loving folk who hold the immature belief that if we are just kind and loving, the rest of the world will be nice in return. Their pursuit of peace is a worthy endeavor, but this child like view of the world around us is a fantasy that we can not currently afford to entertain. There is another segment of the population who is not so noble. They are willfully ignorant of the realities of the world. Should we blame their foolishness on television, biased education, mainstream media, upbringing, or some combination of, or lack in, all of the above? I would suggest all of the above; but a large part of the blame must fall on irresponsible, crackpots in the media. A sizable portion of our population is so entertainment obsessed that their politics must be spoon fed them by the media and their favorite entertainers. The alarming results are twofold. For some of our less involved citizens, current events seem to have been unwillingly accepted as an irritating interruption in their normal broadcast day. They are willing to accept everything they hear and read, just so long as politics do not interfere with their viewing enjoyment. For others, the result is much more diabolical. This seditious group is convinced their hatred of America is not only justified but an example of true patriotism. A true patriot would not blindly support their country after all. They are correct in this argument; however, a true patriot would support their country in a cause that is both just and critical to our survival!
We are plagued with absent minded liberals who have been hanging on the edge of their seats, monitoring “the drama level” they giddily perceive to be rising in Washington and across the country. These bottom of the barrel liberals may find pleading for the return of oral sex to the White House a comical aspersion on our current President, but the state of our country is no joke. This is not entertainment people, this is our future. Step away from the reality TV and look at the world around you. News is not a late night talk show host's monologue or the cover of the National Enquirer. Unfortunately, these hopeful, juvenile yearnings for some Washington D.C. soap opera will soon be without focus. A little discontent in the ranks is necessary to remind us of our solidarity of purpose. Our common bond is our patriotic support for this country. True patriots may be found on both sides of the aisle, despite what some would have us think. Petty differences and pointed attacks by those who would rather we roll over and wait for our enemies to come to us will not sway our beliefs.
I don't think I have had any more pride and conviction in my ideals than what I have felt in recent weeks. I have also found a deeper respect for those on both sides of the aisle who remain calmly above the partisan treachery that seems rampant as of late. Thanks to those who so deeply hate our President and what America represents, we can all clearly see an enemy that we should not underestimate. Our enemies within America have exposed themselves through their dirty work. They can not help themselves, but show the true character assassins and shameless cowards they are. We can not and will not let these subversive movements or irresponsible pacifists determine the fate of our nation. There is a time for promoting peace and there is a time for standing up for what we believe in and represent. Now is the time to stand up and wave that flag. Anything less is a disgrace.
Originally Posted: October 7, 2005, Cape Cod Today
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:07 AM | Comments (0)
October 08, 2005
Debunking the Liberal Monopoly on Goodness
“If this is what integrity looks like, let's bring back Oval Office **** jobs.”
This example of liberal perversion is from Arianna Huffington in The Huffington Post (the famous martyr Cindy Sheehan posts to this same site). I find this quote to be not only objectionable, but a perfect example of the shameless lack of morals observed in those attacking the President. Perhaps I will not receive criticisms telling me I should not be using my blog to blast opinions I don't agree with, since this quote is not from a local blogger.
We should be afraid. We should be very, very afraid. Why? Because this is truly how these people think. The liberal left is beyond reproach and so caught up in their “goodness” that it is impossible in their thinking processes to conceive of anyone but themselves having these principles. Liberals seem to think they have some sort of monopoly on clear, rational thought. It becomes increasingly apparent that they have a monopoly on a twisted sense of right and wrong, and fact and fiction as well. A comment like the above makes perfect sense to them, while explaining the real dangers posed us by terrorists, for example, somehow does not compute.
Speaking of the real dangers of terrorists- after House Majority Leader Tom Delay stepped down, many liberals were suggesting that the terror level would soon be elevated or that a chief Al Qaeda operative would be taken down. They honestly believe that our terror level warnings and Al Qaeda battle successes are somehow tied to the ups and downs of Republican politics. Are these the people you want in the White House or any other place of authority? Terrorists are a very real danger to all of us. Where were these people on September eleventh? Irresponsible and ignorant are only the beginning of the words that come to mind...
When these people come down from their high horses and wake up to reality, I will stop blogging about them. Until then, these people have some serious cleaning up to do before claiming the moral high ground.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:46 PM | Comments (0)
Bloggers and Mainstream Media: Knowledge vs. Credentials
“If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. Were an opinion a personal possession of no value except to the owner; if to be obstructed in the enjoyment of it were simply a private injury, it would make some difference whether the injury was inflicted only on a few persons or on many. But the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.” — On Liberty, John Stuart Mill
I have been thinking some this week about criticisms that were recently posted here on Cape Cod Today. After I quoted a blog that offended me, it was stated that this was not what blogging was all about. Based on people's reactions, I was concerned that there was some blogging etiquette that I might have missed. Subsequently, in researching this, I have found these fears were unwarranted. As a matter of fact, quite the contrary, it seems that many politically minded individuals find this to be exactly what blogging is all about. As a perfect example, the same offended person (who shall remain nameless) actually uses this method themselves when they quote our President in their blog and pontificate about matters political. Yet, when I quoted this blogarreah and was offended by it, I was somehow traveling a different road. An interesting bit of hypocrisy...
This week is Banned Books Week; I honestly hope we will never have the need to invoke Banned Blogs Week. The American Library Association uses Banned Book Week to “emphasize the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.” I don't think there are many of us who would question this freedom. However, I do think it is critical to remember that this same freedom also guarantees all of us the right to express our disgust at any of this free expression we find repulsive. I am not sure when these freedoms came to apply only to the liberal viewpoint, but a bit of self correction in this area might be in order.
The blog was considered on the cutting edge of the web not all that long ago. When the weblog had its beginning, it was simply defined as an often-updated site that directed people to outside articles on the web (and to other shared pages); these sites often included comments about their links. The blog is still that and so much more. The Blogfather recently forwarded a New York Times article to me that, in part, examined the effects that “upstart” bloggers are having on “the conventional news media.” While the article provides an interesting look into the mainstream media's fear of losing their audience, its exploration of blogs reveals a self-centeredness that bespeaks why their fears are justified. The article's description of bloggers as “mostly amateurs” is the key to where mainstream media is losing its audience. What much of the media fails to recognize is that it is “mostly amateurs” who are their audience, and “mostly amateurs” whose dollars pay their salaries. The problem with the journalistic establishment is that they are thoroughly convinced of their superiority and goodness and that the only way to salvation is by following their lead. The mainstream media has become so blind to their own bias, that they have repulsed many people who used to rely on them for their news. The media somehow misses that they have forced their own audience, their consumers, to take on the amateur endeavor of reporting news to professional standards. There is nothing professional about simply reporting the news, but it takes professionalism to report it without letting feelings and preconceived notions color the reporting of it.
Journalists and mainstream media still seem reluctant to embrace the blogosphere and they obviously underestimate the intelligence of its participants. It also seems that any technology that benefits them is worthy, but any that empower us are suspect. The New York Times article admits to the advantages the blogger has over the traditional journalist, but seeks to explain these advantages away. It is apparent that it is the rare professional journalist who would accept a blogger as their equal. The media is under the impression that they have a captive audience and are dependent on what they view as our limited knowledge. This will be the downfall of the elite news media; they presume their credentials place them above the rest of us. Until the media gets over themselves and accept views contrary to their own agendas as equally deserving of respect- the media will find far more escaping them than advertising dollars. The blog is not going to replace the media, any more than a camera phone will replace a photo journalist. Until the mainstream media views bloggers as their equals and embraces these new technologies as a benefit to us all, they may very well find themselves left behind... lost in the dust of antiquity.
My Blogisms for the week:
You may disagree with other's views, but do not propose to tell anyone what blogging is about. The web log is as unique to each one of us as we are different from each other.
In libraries there are books on subjects we would never elect to read – in blogs we can rarely escape that we wish we hadn't.
Bloggers are no different than the authors who grace our library shelves... only their critics are closer and quicker to respond.
Suggested Reading:
* Rebecca Blood, Weblogs: a History and Perspective
* Stefanie Olsen ,CNET News.com, Intelligence in the Internet Age
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:41 PM | Comments (0)
“This country is not worth dying for” Anti-war Protester, Cindy Sheehan
“This country is not worth dying for” Anti-war Protester, Cindy Sheehan
~from transcript of Pro-Stewart Rally, San Fransisco State University, April 27, 2005
How does that statement make you feel? Yes, we all feel the pain of this woman and try to understand her loss, but does this statement move you as an American? Is America not worth dying for? Are not your neighbors, the people you met today, your coworkers, family or friends worth dying for? Because that is what we would be saying if we spoke the words above. If we had all of those people with us on a cruise ship and we knew the ship was sinking, would we do whatever it took to get only ourselves to the life rafts because these others just aren't worth saving? Please explain the difference to me. Try to picture America as the cruise ship. We know there is a very real danger to the ship, yet all of these people just aren't worth the sacrifice? What was September eleventh, a hoax? Do you think Saddam Hussein, if given the opportunity, would not have done anything in his power to bring harm to any one of us? Do you think there is some game being played with American lives?
America and her protection is worth every ounce of blood that has been spilled. Regardless of race, political affiliation, beliefs or status, this country affords us all an equal opportunity in the pursuit of happiness. It is the men and women of the armed forces who preserve and protect that opportunity for us on a daily basis. We owe them all a deep debt of gratitude and all of the backing we can provide. Every available resource should go into insuring that no unnecessary blood is shed and that no existing means of protecting our soldiers has been neglected. Our military is the single most important element standing between us and a hornets nest of terrorists that will do anything in their power to stomp out the America we know and love.
The amazing generosity we have witnessed in relief efforts following the recent storms that have pounded our country should be equaled by a daily outpouring of thanks and support to the men, women and families of those serving in our military. Were there more widespread support for the victims of war, as we respond to the victims of natural disasters, we can only hope that the Cindy Sheehan's of this country would feel more comforted that their child did not die in vain. They might see some real example that something good is being protected by their son or their daughter. What are we showing the parents and families of our military personnel? We certainly aren't giving them the respect they deserve. There are many groups out there to show your support, but the America Supports You website has the most comprehensive list of ways you can help. Regardless of your beliefs, I hope you will see fit to give something back to the men and women who guarantee us the freedoms we enjoy.
In Loving Memory of
SFC Robert Edward Rooney
July 8, 1960 – September 25, 2003
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:37 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2005
American Politics are Killing Progress
America on the Edge
America is on the brink of a serious catastrophe, and it is not a storm with a name. Major issues are being ignored, as a conflicted public bickers. Those of us who have not grown completely apathetic to our republic's politics, spar about war in Iraq, our government's response to natural disaster (hurricanes Katrina and Rita), global warming, race, class and the role of government in all of the above. While debate in any form maintains open lines of communication, the arguments themselves tend to take form and shadow the real issues. The passions of our convictions often keep us from being part of the solution. Emotions take the focus off of the causes we support, and all of our frustration ends up being cast as a blanket over every perceived opponent in sight. These unfocused attacks on all things government, all Democrats, all Republicans, all liberals, all conservatives, all socialists, etc. serve no purpose but to alienate and divide the people who must work together toward progress.
America Has Serious Issues
In oil shortages and fuel prices we have real issues that affect us all. The following quote is an example of how passion for this issue gets the best of us, and the all encompassing blanket of blame makes forward progress an impossibility:
“Those who scoff at Peak Oil, and argue that Peak is not real, are missing the only important point. The criminal acts of this Empire—from 9/11 to the sequential oil war under the "war on terrorism" rubric, to the USA PATRIOT Act and militarization of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast (a rehearsal for the military control of the United States under post-Peak conditions), and unfolding economic crises—are continuing, as if Peak is real. The entire argument has been rendered academic by actual events. It is time to stop wasting time.”Larry Chin, Online Journal Associate Editor
Whether you agree with these comments or not (if you do, please seek help), you have to agree that there is no room for debate or forward progress here- no possibility of finding common ground we can begin a discussion on. Even someone, like myself, who agrees peak oil is a serious issue is left unable to support or work with someone of these convictions. Such fantastic conspiracy theories only alienate those who might otherwise be interested in the same goal.
In Iraq, we are witnessing the war on terrorism in progress. We need to appropriately address the very real issues of unacceptable armor for our troops and lack of adequate support for the troops and their families from those of us safe at home (including our government). Instead of talk about the real issues of the Iraq war, we get tirades like this:
“George Bush needs to stop talking, admit the mistakes of his all around failed administration, pull our troops out of occupied New Orleans and Iraq, and excuse his self from power.”Cindy Sheehan, anti-war, anti-Bush activist
Ms. Sheehan has become the poster woman for the anti-war and anti-Bush movements. Cape Cod Today commenter “Since 1969” described her best: “she [Ms. Sheehan] is intoxicated with her own celebrity and reliving her youth as are many of the anti-war people.” Hate for the President seems the driving force behind the agendas of these activists, and there is no communicating with hate. There is no possibility of a sensible dialogue with people so intent on destroying our country, our government and our military.
While the media anxiously backpedals on its post-Katrina coverage, trying to get the facts separated from the propaganda that was originally reported as news, we are left with very serious questions about FEMA and a government grown too big for its britches. When we have FEMA people telling disaster victims who have no phone service or internet to call a phone number or go to a web site for aid- we have a serious problem (and there is nothing political about it). The problem here is a bureaucracy grown too big to handle. We can focus on FEMA, President Bush, Homeland Security or anyone else we want to blame, but our government monster has just grown too damn big to function effectively. The answer is less government, not more... which brings me to tax cuts.
Several times in recent weeks I have witnessed numerous assaults on conservatives that included the subject of tax cuts- comments such as these from right here on the Cape Cod Today web site:
“I bet you and the rest of your right-wing kook friends have a pool going as to when the 2000th American soldier will die in Iraq. I'm sure you and your buddies will get your rocks off over that while spending your undeserved tax cut!” Mr. Mike
For now, I am talking about tax cuts, I will ignore the incredibly stupid implication that any true American wishes harm on our troops. What tax cut could possibly be undeserved? That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever and perhaps will ever hear. Regardless of who receives a tax cut, whether it is a large corporation or you and I, taxes are our money! Perhaps you are in a situation that somehow allows you to live tax free, but the majority of us are not. I, for one, find the current drain on my pay check unconscionable. It is also a proven fact that tax cuts boost the economy and bring in... more tax revenues! Again, bigger government and more government spending on programs is not the answer- lower taxes and limiting government is.
Issues of race, class and poverty: we have a critical breakdown of the family unit, entire communities completely dysfunctional, and a rampant decline in values that are the real causes behind all of these. We can create government programs until all of our resources are exhausted, but without addressing these issues, these problems will never be fixed. These issues deserve far more space and attention than a short paragraph, but I do no purport to have all of the solutions. That those who bring these problems up are marked as racist or uncaring speaks to the perpetuation of this dilemma itself. Real solutions start at the individual and community level and are something we should all have a hand in.
Global warming should not have to be an accepted, proven fact or debated. Regardless of your take on the issue, the simple fact is we are seriously screwing with our environment. Many of those crusading on global warming have been lost in the debate and have lost focus on the real issue of reducing pollution. For example, a recent Google search turned up only one organization in our country with an “Idle Free” program that seeks to limit automotive emissions by idling vehicles. Everyone is so caught up in the argument, that real solutions are not even addressed. Canada and other countries have the right idea with “idle free zones” where you will face fines if caught idling a car or truck. I have called businesses that charge the company I work for fuel surcharges for deliveries and asked them why they don't institute a no-idle policy for their trucks if they are so affected by fuel prices... no answer to that one. The question isn't even part of our consciousness here in the United States, and that is because we are too busy arguing and finger pointing to look at our own behaviors. On Cape Cod we have the unique opportunity to have the first wind farm in the country right in our back yard. Here we have a perfect example of progress that is being killed by politics.
Opportunity for Progress
In Technology and Democracy, Daniel J Boorstin defines the democratic society as one which is ruled by the ideal of equality, and the desire to give “everything to everybody.” Electronic media and new technologies have often perpetuated the separation and divisions between us. Now, with internet technologies such as blogging we have succeeded in leveling the playing field, and offer everyone the opportunity to participate. In the blog, we have found a means of breaking down the walls between us; we have also removed the barriers that prohibited our experience of reality. Where other technologies have made it easier for us to avoid meaningful contact and communication with others, the blog has made immediate, intelligent interaction between people commonplace again. Yes, for many the blog is a simple means of self expression, a means of communicating with the inner self, no feedback required. For others it is just a game, a hobby or a fad. Businesses are now adopting them to communicate with customers, to encourage peer to peer communication, and to keep stock holders updated. We have blogs on every subject, from history to collecting stamps. Friends keep tabs on each other and parents share their daily trials. But it is public blogs, reporting news and expressing opinion, that have reversed years of technology induced isolation. Although the communication is limited by our being hidden behind computer screens (and often the anonymity of screen names), it is real dialogue. At least in communication we have hope of progress, because without it there would be none.
Were we less focused on the popular seek and destroy mentality found in blog comments and forums, we might find more similarities between us. Unfortunately, there are some for whom common ground is not possible. Several times in my blogs, I have pointed to this mentality as being the scourge that molded me into the conservative I have become. If a “Christian” handed me a bible tract telling me I was going to hell as I walked down Main Street in Hyannis I would be offended. What is “Christian” about judging someone you have never seen in your church? In politics we suffer the same affliction, and I have yet to have anyone address this in any comments here. In my post, How Katrina Turned Me Republican, I honestly explained my aversion to the rudeness and self-centeredness of these attackers. This article has since been described as “transparent Republican propaganda.” Unfortunately, there is nothing transparent about what I am saying– I hide nothing of my distaste for rudeness and personal attacks on people based on their beliefs. The pervasiveness of this disgusting habit is the single most overlooked and unarguable cause behind my registering as a Republican. Most people take serious issue with being judged (and verbally assaulted) by anyone who does not know them. Although our beliefs may differ, we share many common needs and goals. We can only hope that the more we are exposed to “the other side” here in the blogoshpere, the more human we may seem to each other.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
September 25, 2005
Cultural Prejudice and Religious Intolerance Alive and Well on Cape Cod
The following remarks are quoted from the Cape Cod Today blog, RappCity. In case you were tired as I was, and did not read completely through this post, here is JC's opinion of those who differ in their views:
“The Bubba is Bursting
Now in my humble opinion (hit comment for yours), most of the truly misinformed people in this country get their news from the local pulpit on Sunday, and/or from the "Butte-Mesa Canyon, West Yahoo-Land Newspaper." The OP-ED pages in that town are not usually very open-minded, nor given to the opinions of many "outsiders" (Like anyone else in the USA)! I think the local library in Butte-Mesa Canyon also has a permanent, "Out to Lunch" sign on its door.
But, now that Satellite Dishes and cable, have brought many of these folks "inside the barn"...”
Now maybe I am wrong, but I take this attack as maligning people who get their news from the local pulpit (or anywhere else that conflicts with his or her narrow minded views). The rest of the dialogue I will let you judge for yourselves.
It is just this kind of disrespectful zealousness, painting people of differing views as being somehow inferior, that has so alienated good, conscientious people from the left. When the next elections roll around, you had better check your well informed cap at the door, because we “misinformed people” don't take kindly to being called “out to lunch Bubbas.” Now that we are “inside the barn,” and have the opportunity to observe your web pages, forums, blogs and comments, the principles and religious intolerance of the left have become increasingly visible.
It was John F. Kennedy who said, “forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” We will not soon forget the aspersions cast, or who so belittled our views after this natural disaster.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)
September 24, 2005
Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath: Where Are We Headed?
This entry contains my copied comments from RappCity's post: "Nature is an Awesome Force" GW Bush
You had me right there with you JC, right up until “Especially if Mr.[President] Bush gets the Supreme Court he wants and women don't even have a "morning after" pill to take with their morning after coffee.” Although I can agree with you on most points (aside from your unquestioning certainty about global warming) I am curious about your population control philosophy. Is that really the answer? Abortion and the morning after pill? I am just trying to get you to clarify what you are saying there. If earth's immune system is trying to fight anything off, I would propose that it is the steady decline of morals and personal responsibility that this statement represents.
“Seeing sick, starving, homeless people on our front steps is something a little harder to ignore.”
While this statement on the outside is very caring and understanding of a sensitive topic, it ignores the underlying issues behind it. What we were confronted with after hurricane Katrina was a segment of our population that was “set up for the fall.” Much of the poverty in our country can be traced back to years of learned reliance on welfare. We have a whole segment of the population that could not help themselves if given the tools to do so because they are so conditioned to having someone else do it for them. For every poverty stricken person who was waiting for rescue in New Orleans, I can show you a person new to this country (perhaps not even here legally), unable to speak the language, and yet completely capable of beginning a life here – and able to evacuate themselves and others in their community. I am not saying there should not have been better evacuation plans. There certainly should have. I am saying that we are not addressing the real problems resulting from overwhelming teenage pregnancy, absentee fathers, welfare reliance and dropout rates. It takes a responsible family to raise a responsible child and we are completely ignoring this issue. We have a whole segment of our population caught in a cycle of degeneracy: broken families, welfare, crime, violence, drugs and alcohol abuse. These are all symptoms of a disease that nobody likes to admit plagues America: decaying moral values.
You can poo poo Pat Robertson and his ilk, but they are on to something that some seem too willing to overlook. They are very conscious (more than most of us) of the deterioration of our values, families and communities. The good works of these faith-based organizations are shunned, ignored or unnoticed by those offended by the idea of religion. The battle these groups are fighting to preserve our country's moral fiber should be accepted by all of us as critical to the survival of our society. The path we are headed down is a dark one. Even one who does not believe in evil should be able to recognize that. When headlines read of newborns dumped in trash heaps and we have different levels of sex offenders on our streets, it is time we woke up and recognized the seriousness of our degenerating society. Regardless of beliefs, we all have a common interest in climbing out of this hole we are digging for America. We are kidding ourselves if we think there was that much difference between what we witnessed in New Orleans before and after Katrina. What we saw was a snapshot of what this society is becoming. It quickly degenerated into a pit of hopelessness, moral decay and suffering. To blame government for this free fall into misery is both ignorant and wrong.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:00 PM | Comments (0)
Progressives and Conservatives: Face to Face With Poverty
The reaction to and politicizing of hurricane Katrina and its tragic aftermath will forever change the way many of us view the media in this country. For some, this tragedy has also been an education in the dangers posed us by the misdirected activists of this country. While the shock of the storm and the subsequent inundation of New Orleans were the focus of our attention, we were quickly distracted from the task at hand by these misguided fanatics. It is from these activists we first heard grossly exaggerated death tolls. The day that Katrina hit, they were blanketing the internet with duplicate messages declaring that Bush had cut levee funding. Later, they desecrated victims by using images of dead bodies as ammunition in their attacks on America. Claims of government indifference and negligence were aimed at a system they feel unjust, and they obviously hoped that the chaos and turmoil would foster some support for their socialist views. Through mass distribution of pamphlets, web sites, blogs, and emails, they sought to perpetuate the mistrust of our government, even suggesting intentional harm aimed at those in poverty. For them, this natural disaster supported their conspiracy theories regarding the haves versus the have nots. They lay blame for post-hurricane events on our entire social system and government. Hurricane Katrina exposed issues of poverty that most of us previously felt more comfortable just to ignore. This is perhaps the one area where we might find some measure of agreement, but when we broach the subject of causes and solutions all reason disintegrates.
“Man is man because he is free to operate within the framework of his destiny. He is free to deliberate, to make decisions, and to choose between alternatives. He is distinguished from animals by his freedom to do evil or to do good and to walk the high road of beauty or tread the low road of ugly degeneracy.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr., The Measures of Man, 1959
Today we have come to a crossroads, where those in positions of influence (our leaders and the media) must either stand up and speak the truth or accept the consequences of denial. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of the low road of degeneracy, and in this hurricane's aftermath we witnessed the results of that road being traveled. When it comes to poverty, in black communities in particular, it seems everyone is afraid to address many of the causes. We have issues of teenage pregnancy, fatherless children, illiteracy, high school dropout rates, and all the illegal activities that inherently accompany these: violence, crime, drugs, guns, prostitution, etc. This is not to say that any of these are unique to a particular race, but in recognizing poverty as an unequally black issue, these are problems that must be acknowledged. For fear of being called racist, there are few who venture into this territory. The few that dare to speak out, whether they are themselves minorities or not, are quickly demonized by a press looking to feel good about themselves for defending those they view as incapable, or by those who seek to continue in the current system and its failings.
Some of the remarks showing the greatest courage, honesty and understanding after this disaster have come from Linda Chavez, the President of the Center for Equal Opportunity in Virginia. I will not lapse into my media bias thoughts here, but this is a fine example. Rather than correctly describing her as head of an Equal Opportunity organization, the media makes the point to label her as “a former Bush nominee for secretary of labor.” The quote she has most been criticized for in the media is the one many of us wished to say but dared not. Chavez characterized many of Katrina’s victims as people “for whom sitting and waiting is a way of life.” I wish I could find where and when this quote was made, but I could not find any references to its source. I must admit that since reading this comment, I admire Linda Chavez more than any commentator on this issue. Her article today was especially eye opening, as she questioned what happened to the 200,000 plus Hispanics who were living in or around New Orleans before the storm:
“The city's Hispanics didn't need the cavalry to come to the rescue, even though many of them are very poor. They did what immigrants always do: They relied on informal networks of family, friends and fellow countrymen, and pooled their resources to get out while they could. Fear of being deported was no doubt a big motivator for some not to stick around, but the loss of work probably played an even bigger role in their decision.”
Linda Chavez offers thoughtful and obvious analysis of the crisis of poverty we are witnessing here in this country. Here on Cape Cod, I have had only one direct contact with a young married man who was with the New Orleans evacuees here at Camp Edwards. He was attempting to get a used truck he had purchased repaired so he could safely travel back to New Orleans and his job as a waiter. Taking his wife to see some of the country and getting back to work were this fellow's only concerns. My sister spent fifteen hours cramped in a vehicle trying to get out of Louisiana after fleeing New Orleans. Her final destination a day after this journey was Washington D.C. - to try and get her old job back and look for an apartment. I am sure there are many more like her that traveled off to find new work. There have been stories in local papers across the country of incidents with another sort of evacuee. I will call them the “uninterested in working” type. We had complaints that there were no decent gun shops, complaints that the camp ground's pool had not been cleaned, complaints that bars and liquor stores were not open twenty four hours, complaints about drinking restrictions at their housing, and complaints that living quarters were cramped. These are but a few of the examples (I am sure there are many more). What is the issue of a woman who arrived here on Cape Cod carrying her thirteenth child, and what of men so dependent on drugs and alcohol they could not function? Evacuee's frequent trips to the local Wal Mart have included public drinking binges at the storefront and lots of merchandise being purchased. We can not blame them for replacing lost goods, but in times like this, responsible people have priorities like the young man I met. Countless thousands work to rebuild their lives and their home states along the gulf coast, while these users of the system waste away their meager allowances and complain about their conditions, their location and their situations.
On Tuesday I received a comment to one of my posts that I found worthy of repeating: tired of the negativity wrote: “The goal for society should be FORWARD THINKING, not restrictions, not "witch" (liberal) hunts, not casting aspersions, etc...” In premise, I would have to agree that our primary aim should be forward thinking- a quality I feel we all sorely lack. However, when forward thinking must be based solely on your beliefs, that is actually limited or restricted thinking. When contrary opinions are considered “casting aspersions,” and seeking to see fair and unbiased reporting is considered a “witch hunt,” we have gone back to the dark ages have we not? True progress will only come when contrary opinions aren't equated with attacks and we are honest in dealing with very real issues we face in this nation. This country shows its true colors in responding to tragedies of this magnitude. Could we maintain half of that effort in addressing the real problems underlying the wounds that have been opened, we might begin the healing process. Personal attacks accomplish nothing but alienating us from each other. Love of country and concern for people of all races spans both sides of the aisle. Are we ready to confront the truth?
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:54 PM | Comments (0)
If It Takes a Village to Raise a Child...
Which Village Taught You to Hate America?
Despite the playful title, I am really quite serious about this question. I had hoped that people might deliberately read this with an open mind. However, I am afraid the chances of my escaping the typical liberal tongue lashings are doubtful. It would be nice to toss aside the labels (liberal, conservative), throw down the gloves and get down to the real, underlying causes here. However, the emotional pull runs deep and violent arrogance seems a rampant addiction. Just how have we gotten to this point?
It seems everyone considers themselves an activist today. We have peace activists, environmental activists, political activists, human rights activists, animal rights activists... you get the idea. Without activists, it seems we would have no positive action at all. The world would be a sewer of filth, violence and ignorance. Do you think that is really the case? Why? The average, non-activist person does not share the same goals, beliefs and morals as you? The problem I see here, and correct me if I am wrong (as I know you will), is that if you aren't my kind of activist, then you must be part of the problem. It is the “if I haven't seen you in MY church on Sunday, you must be goin' to hell” mentality that I am talking about. It is the attitude that most turns me off about some religious groups. This is also the motivation behind my recent decision to officially register as a Republican. I can't stand being judged without evidence of my guilt, or at least being given the opportunity to prove my innocence. If my beliefs fall outside your prejudicial bubble of reality, I have been forever lost to the dark side. Good riddance, sayonara, have a nice life in Bush land with your undeserved tax cut idiot. Very intelligent and grown up sounding, don't you think?
So, back to the causes. Was it the influence of teachers telling you America had it all wrong? Perhaps it was some feeling of being disconnected, some urge to be part of something. The liberal left seems to be the self-appointed champion of every worthy cause, yet they will not accept that there are others who share these same values. The most militant liberals actually perpetuate and actively participate in much of the prejudice and lack of progress they claim to be crusading against. It seems that for many of us, some sort of “group-think” kicks in at some point along the line. In political or philosophical debates, the dialogues become somewhat predictable. The response to any dissenting point of view is first, downgrade the opposition to the lower form of life that they are through a personal verbal assault, second, place a recognizable label on the offender so as to identify them to your side as the enemy, third, take their opposing view and twist it beyond recognition to suit your predetermined beliefs about the label you have chosen for this person. But, wait a minute. There was something I just slipped in there you missed. I said, “the label you have chosen for this person.” We are talking about people here, fellow human beings, and that seems to be something we have forgotten.
In Human Options, Norman Cousins describes the pervasive nature of prejudice and discrimination:
“The great failure of education... throughout the world, is that it has made people tribe-conscious rather than species conscious. It has placed limited identification ahead of ultimate identification. It has attached value to the things man does but not what man is...”
It is this concentration on the differences between us rather than our many similarities that seems to be the root of not only extreme acts of prejudice, but also the more subtle ones I am addressing here. In school we learned that these were called stereotypes: over-generalized beliefs about a group of people. These more subtle forms of discrimination often have life-changing effects on a prejudged individual's behavior. It is for this reason and others that the liberal left scares the heck out of me, as I probably do them. Now, I have outlined in clear, easy to understand writing the causes as I see them. So, what is to be done?
This phenomenon of discriminating between people with differing views is not limited to modern America. I will again venture into the work of those more knowledgeable in these areas than I. In Status and Conformity, Richard W. Murphy describes this apparent “evolutionary” need:
“In every society throughout history, individuals have been classified into categories that rate them as being inferior or superior to one another. The criteria by which people are arrayed [in this stratification, or classification into categories] ...vary from culture to culture, or even within a culture. These criteria may include occupation, religion, race, wealth, knowledge, age, sex, appearance... and many other factors.”
Even the experts verify that dividing ourselves seems to be an innate human trait that has repeated itself throughout history. We also find that there are often “mini-groups” within these groups we have segmented ourselves into. The danger arises when our primary ambition in life becomes inclusion or acceptance in one of these “Inner Rings” as C.S. Lewis so eloquently described them. Lewis warns of the potential for a person to become a “scoundrel ...an unscrupulous, treacherous, ruthless, egotist” in abandoning morals, ethics and beliefs to be part of an “inner ring.” There seem to be many on both sides of the aisle who have fallen into this trap of late.
Yes, I have beliefs that differ from yours. I am an intelligent human being, and I am entitled to my opinions. We need to start treating each other as the individuals we are – not be so quick to judge or condemn. Our diversity in America necessitates different views. Until we are capable of respecting these differences, instead of judging, rejecting or attempting to change them, the rifts between us will only grow deeper. “What village taught you to hate America?,” is a question that can be taken in different ways. How you choose to interpret it will be the path you choose. Regardless of what you divine of this, there is really no place for such hate.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:48 PM | Comments (0)
September 18, 2005
How Katrina Turned me Republican
I find it personally insulting that the media has all but written President Bush's obituary in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately for the media, we have met the enemy and they are us. Many of us recognize that we have been our own worst enemies in our response to this disaster and the preparedness beforehand (the media included). The conduct of left wingers over the past several weeks has erased any lingering doubts in my mind as to why I have been leaning more toward the conservative side as each year passes. Any progressive views that I share with the left (such as environmental concerns and energy conservation) will remain secondary to the belief that the Republicans are our only hope of maintaining and protecting everything that makes America great.
While people were just beginning to be plucked from roof tops in New Orleans, the anti-America, blame-government-first, Bush-haters were immediately on the hunt for a political spin they could put on this tragedy. A situation that boggled the mind, that left us all in horror at its magnitude, was immediately turned into an attack on our President and evidence for his impeachment. This is the most disgusting example of muck raking we have ever witnessed in this country. Accusations were even floated about racism playing a part in the chaotic response to this catastrophe. Never mind that Louisiana has been primarily Democrat since the civil rights movement. Who cares that our system is set up in such a way that local and state authorities respond first? Forget about the Democrats broken promises to the people of Louisiana and utterly failing them. We should ignore that this was one of the swiftest federal responses to a disaster in history. The liberals smelled blood and seized the opportunity.
For anyone who still needs to know my justification for changing my status as a lifelong Independent, I would refer you to the information highway - the internet. The evidence is here, for us all to see. The vicious, mean-spirited, verbal attacks are forever recorded in blog posts, comments, articles and forums at each click of the mouse. Were I less inclined toward the patriotic view that America is worth every ounce of blood and protection we can afford, I might have been swept up in some of the initial concerns. I am willing and capable of admitting wrong. However, the bitter, nasty, combative attacks of more educated than, better informed than, holier than thou, liberals who swarmed to their keyboards would have been enough to forever repulse me from ever wanting to be identified with this kind of self-centered, hate. With fellow citizens like this, who needs enemies? If you doubt this liberal proclivity for rudeness, you are in denial; examine the evidence for yourselves.
Originally, this post was to include examples of the attitudes and language used. Later, I decided to remove these. Enough is enough. Having to preface the copied comments with apologies for the language used was enough for me to realize they weren't worth repeating. Should you choose to investigate the validity of my claims, there are personal attacks by the hundreds in articles, blogs, and forums across the web. I have read them, and I am sickened by them. This only magnifies my disgust at their having used this death, destruction and misery to further their own premeditated agendas.
A word to the wise (or the unwise in this instance): should you wish to convince people of your beliefs, it is advisable that you not belittle or verbally assault them. Most people don't respond to that sort of enticement, although the few that I was witness to handled it quite well. I was left with the perception that these people were so enthralled with their own wit, so convinced of their saintliness, that they had no equals.
This is not to say that there were not civil dialogues. There were those who, although they shared the same beliefs, were quick to chastise these egomaniacs for their hateful attacks. There are still civilized people out there. Agreements were reached on failures, just not on their causes. Although willing to agree that partisan politics was robbing the American people of their due, no consensus could be reached as to a solution.
What I found most comical about several of the more nasty of these individuals, was that when called out on their behavior, or repeatedly faced with opinions they did not want to read, they "stomped" away, never to return. One such individual (who continuously used profanity in attacking those who disagreed with him), went so far as to disallow and close all comments to his blog. His justification for this was so conservatives could not "spread their propaganda." Okay, I can understand and accept that. What I found most laughable was his complaining in his own posts that his comments were being deleted from other sites. So, let me get this straight. You don't allow comments on your own site, you viciously lash out at anyone who disagrees with you, and yet you are wondering why your comments are being deleted? It wouldn't have anything to do with your nasty disposition, would it?
There is another recent trend I have noticed in the blogosphere that bears mentioning. When someone disagrees with a commenter, they will often criticize them for commenting anonymously. Well "Mr.X," I find it interesting that you are criticizing someone for commenting anonymously when your comments are so clearly yours "Mr.X." This has occurred on numerous occasions, on numerous sites, and they don't seem to see the hypocrisy in it. Unless the person is proud to stand behind their beliefs, how on earth are we to know whether the name on a comment is real or fictitious? Just for the record, I always include my full name with any comments on what I consider a serious issue (except here, I just use “Drew”).
As of this week, I am officially a Republican. Until we are free of people like this at the "moderate" center of the Democratic party, they may be surprised at the results of future elections. Until some alternative party comes along that is not so bent on their own chosen crusades that they ignore reality, my status will remain unchanged. I have been motivated to get more involved, and I am sure I am not the only one.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:30 PM | Comments (0)
See No, Hear No, Speak No Bias: Liberal Bias in the Mainstream Media
The mainstream media in America owes us all an apology. Coverage of Hurricane Katrina down south has been the most glaring example of liberal bias in the media to date. It was journalism without the “J.” It was “our”nalism; they were giving us what they thought “our” version of events should be. The liberal left was waiting for an opportunity to pounce on the President, and pounce it did.
Here are some words that you would expect to hear in the wake of a huge natural disaster: disaster, storm, flood, destruction, relief, water, aid, emergency, mobilization, National Guard, Coast Guard, search and rescue, etc. Instead, these are the words we heard: President George W. Bush plays guitar, Condoleeza Rice shops for shoes, Vice President Dick Cheney vacations, Halliburton gets contracts, etc. In the wake of a disaster, the only reports we typically hear of any President are two things: 1) “The President has declared “”“disaster location”” a state of emergency,” and 2) “The President flew out to survey the damage today.” Most of us have witnessed a few disasters (of course, none comparable to this) and we are aware of the role the President normally plays in the aftermath. A President that had exhibited panic in the face of this disaster would have transferred that panic to the public. I have to feel that regardless of the President's, or any one on his his Cabinet members', actions after this catastrophe, the media had a predetermined scapegoat. The President did everything in his power correctly in this situation, yet the media and the left wing elite began this attack on President Bush before this storm's dead were even cold. Any blame, if you can find blame after a natural disaster, remains firmly planted on people and circumstances wholly out of our President's control.
This is not about deflecting blame from the President. This is about responsible, unbiased journalism. In Hurricane Katrina reporting we were fed an Alphabet Soup full of capital “L's” for liberal. What upsets you more as an American... as a media consumer? Being fed news that has been plagiarized, or being fed news with blatant, unashamed bias? Personally, I would rather read something that someone felt worthy enough to repeat, than a report that the media considered me too ignorant to draw my own conclusions from the facts. And lets talk about facts. The media is very quick to excommunicate anyone who fabricates or plagiarizes, yet what of the convenient omission of facts pertinent to the story? What of twisting words to suit liberal opinion? What of flagrant attacks on our President thrown into “factual” event updates? These abuses offend me more, and should offend good journalists more, than any borrowed story line.
Without freedom of the press, we would be silenced. There would be no opportunity for discourse. All of our criticisms would be stifled. Keeping the dialogue open between parties is a healthy and important part of the democratic process. However, all this said, the mainstream media needs to seriously consider whether it truly wants to remain mainstream. The who, what, when, where and why are critical to reporting – feelings and opinions are for editorializing. As an American, when I want editorializing I will BLOG, watch or participate in a debate, listen to talk radio or read the editorial page. When I want the news, I look to the news pages and listen to and watch news reports. It is this part of the process that I am finding increasingly difficult. Where can I find the news without hunting it down myself? The media owes us an answer to this question.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:28 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2005
The Pledge of Allegiance in Our Schools: Are judges violating our Constitutional freedoms?
The Innocence of Childhood
Some of my greatest childhood memories revolve around the Henry T. Wing School in Sandwich. For me, the 70's were wonderful years of plaid pants, bowl haircuts (scotch tape in my case), and a voracious appetite for learning. The anniversary of our country in 1976 brings back great memories of an American flag design contest and participation in a bicentennial parade wearing colonial garb. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and learning the words to such songs as God Bless America, America the Beautiful (authored by one of our locals, Katherine Lee Bates), My Country Tis of Thee, and the Star Spangled Banner were all part of my elementary education. There were many other wonderful tunes as well – some patriotic, some popular, and a few from other cultures and religions. Perhaps it was just me, but I don't remember thinking about the word “God” in these oaths and lyrics. There was certainly never anything taught us in public schools about any concept or reality of “God” and, as near as I can tell, our teachers' respect of varied beliefs has never changed. So, where does this current attack on the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools come from, and what purpose does it serve?
Violating Our Inalienable Rights
Thomas Jefferson on the first amendment and religion:
"One of the amendments to the Constitution... expressly declares that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press,' thereby guarding in the same sentence and under the same words, the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press; insomuch that whatever violates either throws down the sanctuary which covers the others." -Draft Kentucky Resolutions, 1798
In the question of The Pledge of Allegiance, displaying The Ten Commandments, or any other recent issue of our freedoms, it may not be Congress usurping these rights, but our judiciary certainly is. Our Constitution very clearly prohibits any federal legislation or interference by any form of government in matters of religion at all. Yet, our representatives sit idly by while the Judicial branch, sworn to uphold our laws, twists the letter of the law to their fancy. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that this is a malicious attack on our religious freedoms. This is a matter of human beings (judges) acting individually on what they feel to be correct. Our laws were not meant to be open to interpretative analysis; they were meant to be clear cut, unbiased protection of our rights. This trend is comparable to the liberal slant in the media. Unfortunately, the personal beliefs of individual journalists often influence their approach to reporting. We now have judges who allow personal beliefs, those of others in their social circles, and in some instances, even the opinion of foreign powers, to prevent them from following Constitutional law. The subject of religion is explicitly declared off-limits to federal judges, yet they continue to make rulings affecting individuals and states on matters of religion and our freedoms. The implications in this should have us all up at arms, yet we do nothing.
Our founders never considered that judges might someday misinterpret the separation of church and state. They certainly never considered the possibility that our Constitution might be used to justify the separation of religion from our civic and public lives. It was just this sort of oppression that they were resisting and wished to prevent from recurring. Our forefathers' primary mission was the protection of people of all faiths. They sought to lay down a blueprint for a government under which a moral and just society could flourish. Gradually, the foundations of this society are being chipped away at, bit by bit. As a result, we are a nation awash in crime, our families and communities are disintegrating, and the values that our founders sought to perpetuate have gone by the wayside.
Is it American's growing hate of politics or simply boredom that has created this apathy toward these abuses by our judiciary? Is it the lack of media attention to such attacks on our rights? Perhaps Americans agree with these rulings or are not moved to question the legal grounds for such actions. Whatever the causes, these judgements seem to rely on the fact that the Constitution has not been read closely or will be ignored. The first and tenth amendments clearly give powers over such matters exclusively to individuals and states, and they bar any form of federal intervention. These judges choose bits and pieces of the Constitution that suit them and throw out the rest. That these rulings are rendered in favor of those purporting moral convictions, should have us all questioning our values. What morally sound religious ideas could possibly conflict with these people's values? The majority of laws that we follow are central to the beliefs and teachings of most religions. How does uttering the word “God” do any harm to a child, regardless of their upbringing or beliefs?
Those who claim to be morally opposed to the word “God” being part of their children's educations have simply not matured in their morality. True morality does not have a problem with other peoples' religious beliefs. On the contrary, mature, adult morality supports and shows an unselfish interest in learning and accepting the religions of others. The pledge of allegiance does not teach our children about “God” or what to believe. It honors the convictions of our forefathers who gifted us the freedom to follow and practice the beliefs of our choice. In upholding our laws and protecting our freedoms, our judiciary must first acknowledge the role that our founders' religious beliefs played in the creation of this country. They must protect people of all faiths (and those with none) from any infringement on their most deeply held beliefs. Banning the public use of the word “God” from the school lives of our children is the most base violation of these rights. Our values suffer enough in this country without denying our founding fathers' beliefs in a divine influence on this country's beginnings.
The Declaration of Independence holds that we have the right to alter or abolish a government body that does not stick to these principles. We may fast be approaching that point.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 05:27 PM | Comments (1)