French voters thumbed their noses up at French President Chirac and voted to reject the new EU Constitution, plunging the confederation into chaos and throwing the entire ratification procedure into doubt. France, as a founding member of the European Union, was the first European nation to reject it outright.
Chirac has said that he will submit the treaty to the French Parliament to get around a 'no' vote, but since the treaty was defeated 55% to 45%, he may not do that for fear of losing his own job. His approval rating in France is currently at 39%, so he may get rid of his very unpopular Prime Minister. Parliament might also get cold feet since the people who elected them have already spoken on how they feel about the EU Constitution.
The Netherlands also have a ratification vote on Wednesday, and polls suggest that 60% of voters there will vote 'no'. It remains to see if the defeat of the EU constitution in France will make the 'no' vote any stronger in the Netherlands.
While it's enjoyable to see the bombastic Chirac suffer a political setback like this, it probably won't be good for the world economy or for EU foreign affairs around the world. EU efforts in Iran and Africa could well suffer from this election defeat in France.
The jury is still out on what will happen next.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Happy Memorial Day
The United States is observing Memorial Day today, remembering all of America's war dead and remembering those who gave the last full measure of devotion to their country and fellow soldiers on various battlefields around the world.
Happy Memorial Day, and thank you for your dedicated service, veterans.
Here's a web site that has all of America's wars listed, years of conflict numbers of dead and wounded. This site has not been updated in a while, but includes casualties from the Iraq War and Afghan War up to February 23, 2005.
May God bless the soldiers and families of those who continue to be in harm's way around the world. And may His blessings be with the families of soldiers who are being remembered on this day.
Happy Memorial Day, and thank you for your dedicated service, veterans.
Here's a web site that has all of America's wars listed, years of conflict numbers of dead and wounded. This site has not been updated in a while, but includes casualties from the Iraq War and Afghan War up to February 23, 2005.
May God bless the soldiers and families of those who continue to be in harm's way around the world. And may His blessings be with the families of soldiers who are being remembered on this day.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Group Denies Mother (Who Lost her Army/Marine Son in Afghanistan) Honor Because She's Not a U.S. Citizen
A Filipino mother, who is a permanent resident and a taxpayer in the United States, and lost her son in combat in Afghanistan, has been denied a Gold Star by the American Gold Star Mothers Inc., a group that honors moms who lost their sons or daughters in America's wars.
Army Staff Sgt. and U.S. Marine Anthony Lagman was leading his unit to route remaining Taliban and al-Qaeda forces from Afghanistan last year when they came under enemy fire. Sgt. Lagman was killed in action and his name was submitted to AGSM so that they could honor his mother. (He was a Marine and also in the U.S. Army--see this story)
It was not to be. AGSM found out she was not an American citizen and denied her the gold star that her son bought and paid for with his blood and his life.
If he was good enough to be accepted into the Armed Forces of the United States, and good enough to die for his adopted country, it shouldn't matter what nationality HIS MOTHER is. Many foreign nationals enlist in the U.S. military to speed up their U.S. citizenship applications and many of them are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for their new flag and for their fellow U.S. soldiers. Are they any less worthy of being honored than those who were born here?
AGSM has the right to decide on their own rules, but they should keep their rules consistant with the changing make-up of the U.S. Armed Forces. And they should honor this fallen soldier's mom.
Army Staff Sgt. and U.S. Marine Anthony Lagman was leading his unit to route remaining Taliban and al-Qaeda forces from Afghanistan last year when they came under enemy fire. Sgt. Lagman was killed in action and his name was submitted to AGSM so that they could honor his mother. (He was a Marine and also in the U.S. Army--see this story)
It was not to be. AGSM found out she was not an American citizen and denied her the gold star that her son bought and paid for with his blood and his life.
If he was good enough to be accepted into the Armed Forces of the United States, and good enough to die for his adopted country, it shouldn't matter what nationality HIS MOTHER is. Many foreign nationals enlist in the U.S. military to speed up their U.S. citizenship applications and many of them are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for their new flag and for their fellow U.S. soldiers. Are they any less worthy of being honored than those who were born here?
AGSM has the right to decide on their own rules, but they should keep their rules consistant with the changing make-up of the U.S. Armed Forces. And they should honor this fallen soldier's mom.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Filibuster Deal is a Good (If Temporary) One
Conservatives are moaning about the hijacking of their so-called “nuclear option” and liberals are moaning about trading judgeships in exchange for a tenuous cease-fire in the filibuster battle. The more they moan, the more the center cheers. This is a good deal.
Do the Republicans think that if they do away with the judicial filibuster now that the Democrats would be nice enough to give it back if the Democrats recapture control of the Senate?
Republican strategic thinking on this matter is remarkably short-sighted. There is NO way that the Democrats, should they become the majority party in the Senate again, will say “the Republicans took this weapon away from us, but we’re better than they and are GIVING IT BACK so the GOP can use it against OUR nominees for the federal bench.” Is there anyone out there who seriously believes that the Dems would do something like that? The Democrats would likely use the lack of a filibuster to ramrod their candidate through and the Republicans would be left to cry over spilled milk. THEIR spilled milk.
Why would the Republicans give up their only means of stopping a future nominee if they become outnumbered in the Senate AND they have major objections to a particular nominee that a future President nominates?
True, this cease-fire may not hold, but it’s showing the fringes on both sides that they cannot keep ignoring the moderates who make up the majority of both parties. They need to move away from their far right and far left stances and return to a more inclusive center position.
And the Republicans have to start thinking long-term about what they’re doing if they want to keep their majority and power intact.
Get with it, quit crying and belly-aching, and move on.
Do the Republicans think that if they do away with the judicial filibuster now that the Democrats would be nice enough to give it back if the Democrats recapture control of the Senate?
Republican strategic thinking on this matter is remarkably short-sighted. There is NO way that the Democrats, should they become the majority party in the Senate again, will say “the Republicans took this weapon away from us, but we’re better than they and are GIVING IT BACK so the GOP can use it against OUR nominees for the federal bench.” Is there anyone out there who seriously believes that the Dems would do something like that? The Democrats would likely use the lack of a filibuster to ramrod their candidate through and the Republicans would be left to cry over spilled milk. THEIR spilled milk.
Why would the Republicans give up their only means of stopping a future nominee if they become outnumbered in the Senate AND they have major objections to a particular nominee that a future President nominates?
True, this cease-fire may not hold, but it’s showing the fringes on both sides that they cannot keep ignoring the moderates who make up the majority of both parties. They need to move away from their far right and far left stances and return to a more inclusive center position.
And the Republicans have to start thinking long-term about what they’re doing if they want to keep their majority and power intact.
Get with it, quit crying and belly-aching, and move on.
Who’s In Charge of Defending U.S. Capitol Airspace? The Military or Homeland Security?
There is confusion over who is in charge of defending Washington’s airspace from inbound hostile aircraft. The military can shoot down hostiles; Homeland Security wants the same authority.
The Secret Service can also shoot down aircraft that look like they’re going to try to ram the White House by using portable Stinger missiles from their action stations. Their rules of engagement are different from the military’s ROE. Where does Homeland Security fit in here?
There’s not enough airspace for the military, Homeland Security and the Secret Service to operate safely. The Secret Service ROE should remain the same: engage hostile aircraft that get past the fighter umbrella that protects the Capitol. The question then becomes one between the U.S. military and the Department of Homeland Security.
The military is better equipped to handle shooting down inbound aircraft.
The role of Homeland Security should be to clear the airspace around Washington (and across the nation) in the event that the White House or other government buildings come under air attack and missiles need to be fired, either from the ground or by U.S. military aircraft that are pursuing a hostile. The last thing they need is for a fully loaded 757 or one of the new giant Airbuses to get shot down by a wayward missile.
Homeland Security was created to gather information and distribute pertinent information to government, military and law enforcement agencies across the country, not have their Coast Guard or Customs aircraft be armed with Sidewinder missiles and begin shooting down unidentified aircraft approaching Washington’s airspace. They should be providing advanced warning of potential terrorist attacks on targets like Washington, then allowing law enforcement and the military to do their jobs.
The role of the military IS to kill people and break things. Homeland Security doesn’t need to be doing the same thing. They have enough on their plate as it is. Leave the air defense of the Capitol to the military.
Here's the Washington Post story.
The Secret Service can also shoot down aircraft that look like they’re going to try to ram the White House by using portable Stinger missiles from their action stations. Their rules of engagement are different from the military’s ROE. Where does Homeland Security fit in here?
There’s not enough airspace for the military, Homeland Security and the Secret Service to operate safely. The Secret Service ROE should remain the same: engage hostile aircraft that get past the fighter umbrella that protects the Capitol. The question then becomes one between the U.S. military and the Department of Homeland Security.
The military is better equipped to handle shooting down inbound aircraft.
The role of Homeland Security should be to clear the airspace around Washington (and across the nation) in the event that the White House or other government buildings come under air attack and missiles need to be fired, either from the ground or by U.S. military aircraft that are pursuing a hostile. The last thing they need is for a fully loaded 757 or one of the new giant Airbuses to get shot down by a wayward missile.
Homeland Security was created to gather information and distribute pertinent information to government, military and law enforcement agencies across the country, not have their Coast Guard or Customs aircraft be armed with Sidewinder missiles and begin shooting down unidentified aircraft approaching Washington’s airspace. They should be providing advanced warning of potential terrorist attacks on targets like Washington, then allowing law enforcement and the military to do their jobs.
The role of the military IS to kill people and break things. Homeland Security doesn’t need to be doing the same thing. They have enough on their plate as it is. Leave the air defense of the Capitol to the military.
Here's the Washington Post story.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Jackson Trial Winding Down: He’s Going to Get Off—Too Much Reasonable Doubt
Michael Jackson’s trial has entered its final phase and it is widely believed that he will either be acquitted of the most serious charges against him or there will be a hung jury.
The accuser’s testimony has been shot full of holes; his brother and mother have been blown out of the water by revelations that they lied on the stand; and at least two of the celebrities who he was accused of molesting when they were children totally and completely denied it. Macaulay Culkin’s testimony was devastating to the prosecution, as predicted, and the prosecution has failed to produce credible witnesses. How could a prosecution go so badly off course?
This case was so screwed up from day one that an acquittal will be a relief. If, by some stroke of luck that the jury convicts Jackson, there will be appeals for years to come. If there's a hung jury, we may have to go through this entire strange drama again.
This case is still very disturbing, and only highlights that there is a difference between celebrity justice and the ordinary criminal justice system. It shouldn’t be that way, but there it is. OJ and Robert Blake escaped jail time; it looks like MJ will too (unless everyone’s misreading the signs.)
It should be noted that OJ lost the civil suit that followed his acquittal in the criminal case against him; a civil suit just got underway against Robert Blake and he isn’t faring too well; the accuser’s mom in the MJ trial has made hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawsuits against companies and will likely attempt to score big against MJ despite having no credibility whatsoever.
The clock is winding down fast; we’ll know shortly what will happen. Once the jury gets the case, there are two strong possibilities: either they will decide quickly, or they will deadlock and will stay that way. That's ThunderFerret's prediction on the matter.
The accuser’s testimony has been shot full of holes; his brother and mother have been blown out of the water by revelations that they lied on the stand; and at least two of the celebrities who he was accused of molesting when they were children totally and completely denied it. Macaulay Culkin’s testimony was devastating to the prosecution, as predicted, and the prosecution has failed to produce credible witnesses. How could a prosecution go so badly off course?
This case was so screwed up from day one that an acquittal will be a relief. If, by some stroke of luck that the jury convicts Jackson, there will be appeals for years to come. If there's a hung jury, we may have to go through this entire strange drama again.
This case is still very disturbing, and only highlights that there is a difference between celebrity justice and the ordinary criminal justice system. It shouldn’t be that way, but there it is. OJ and Robert Blake escaped jail time; it looks like MJ will too (unless everyone’s misreading the signs.)
It should be noted that OJ lost the civil suit that followed his acquittal in the criminal case against him; a civil suit just got underway against Robert Blake and he isn’t faring too well; the accuser’s mom in the MJ trial has made hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawsuits against companies and will likely attempt to score big against MJ despite having no credibility whatsoever.
The clock is winding down fast; we’ll know shortly what will happen. Once the jury gets the case, there are two strong possibilities: either they will decide quickly, or they will deadlock and will stay that way. That's ThunderFerret's prediction on the matter.
Center Holds Their Ground in the Senate: Compromise Reached on Judicial Filibusters
A moderate group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats made a deal to keep a nasty fight over judicial filibustering from spilling over into other Senate business, and the ideologues from both parties appear to be going along with it.
The deal calls for filibusters not to be used except in “extreme cases” (whatever that bland and unclear language means), and that three out of five judicial nominees will be given up or down votes on whether they get judgeships or not.
The other two are still under filibuster threat, which is widely seen as being the end of those nominations.
While this deal is a compromise and neither side is truly happy with it, it makes more sense to allow all five votes to happen; if the Democrats (or Republicans) feel that a nominee has problems, it’s their duty to convince their colleagues from BOTH sides of the aisle that they should vote ‘no’ on a particular nominee, not simply use the filibuster to prevent a vote from being taken.
As we’ve seen with the Bolton U.N. nomination, the Democrats were successful in getting several of their Republican colleagues on the Senate committee to come around to their point of view on Bolton’s treatment of subordinates. The end result was that the Bolton nomination was sent to the full Senate without the committee’s approval. That’s a group of Senators doing their J-O-B-S and presenting evidence to support their positions that convinced the opposition that the reasoning for the objections was sound.
A Senator discussing his grandmother’s recipe for apple pie for an hour on the Senate floor and then discussing the finer points of chess for an hour during a filibuster is a tremendous waste of taxpayer resources. It stops other legitimate business from being discussed and voted on. So hopefully all sides will use the filibuster sparingly and get on with important Senate business.
The deal calls for filibusters not to be used except in “extreme cases” (whatever that bland and unclear language means), and that three out of five judicial nominees will be given up or down votes on whether they get judgeships or not.
The other two are still under filibuster threat, which is widely seen as being the end of those nominations.
While this deal is a compromise and neither side is truly happy with it, it makes more sense to allow all five votes to happen; if the Democrats (or Republicans) feel that a nominee has problems, it’s their duty to convince their colleagues from BOTH sides of the aisle that they should vote ‘no’ on a particular nominee, not simply use the filibuster to prevent a vote from being taken.
As we’ve seen with the Bolton U.N. nomination, the Democrats were successful in getting several of their Republican colleagues on the Senate committee to come around to their point of view on Bolton’s treatment of subordinates. The end result was that the Bolton nomination was sent to the full Senate without the committee’s approval. That’s a group of Senators doing their J-O-B-S and presenting evidence to support their positions that convinced the opposition that the reasoning for the objections was sound.
A Senator discussing his grandmother’s recipe for apple pie for an hour on the Senate floor and then discussing the finer points of chess for an hour during a filibuster is a tremendous waste of taxpayer resources. It stops other legitimate business from being discussed and voted on. So hopefully all sides will use the filibuster sparingly and get on with important Senate business.
Monday, May 23, 2005
School Bus Brawl Leads to Two Students and Bus Driver Being Arrested
This is a strange one and the D.A.’s going to have fun trying to sort out who did what and who was acting in self-defense.
It started when a 13 year-old refused to obey the instructions of a bus driver, who was already very agitated.
The driver radioed his dispatcher to get a sheriff's deputy out to assist and then screamed at the student to “get up here!” The student screamed back “no!!” so the driver proceeded to the back of the bus. The boy’s 15 year-old brother waited for the bus driver to walk by, got out of his seat, called the bus driver a bad name which caused the driver to whip around, slap him and grab him by the throat.
The student is seen attempting to break away and throwing at least one punch at the driver who used more force to try to subdue the kid. The 13 year old ran to the front of the bus (which he should have done in the first place) and the bus driver came up, closely followed by the older brother, who pushed the driver, threatened to knock his glasses off his face and pushed him again.
So who was the aggressor? The driver started the physical stuff, the older boy threw a punch in what appears to be self-defense, but after the initial brawl ends the boy comes up and pushes the driver twice in an effort to restart the fight.
Striking a school official in Florida is a felony; attacking a student is also a felony; the students have been suspended from school for misbehaving on a bus, and the driver has been suspended with pay.
Here’s a link to the video of the incident. But this is a story that can have no happy ending. The driver and the brothers deserve what they’re going to get because they all crossed lines that should never have been crossed in the first place.
It started when a 13 year-old refused to obey the instructions of a bus driver, who was already very agitated.
The driver radioed his dispatcher to get a sheriff's deputy out to assist and then screamed at the student to “get up here!” The student screamed back “no!!” so the driver proceeded to the back of the bus. The boy’s 15 year-old brother waited for the bus driver to walk by, got out of his seat, called the bus driver a bad name which caused the driver to whip around, slap him and grab him by the throat.
The student is seen attempting to break away and throwing at least one punch at the driver who used more force to try to subdue the kid. The 13 year old ran to the front of the bus (which he should have done in the first place) and the bus driver came up, closely followed by the older brother, who pushed the driver, threatened to knock his glasses off his face and pushed him again.
So who was the aggressor? The driver started the physical stuff, the older boy threw a punch in what appears to be self-defense, but after the initial brawl ends the boy comes up and pushes the driver twice in an effort to restart the fight.
Striking a school official in Florida is a felony; attacking a student is also a felony; the students have been suspended from school for misbehaving on a bus, and the driver has been suspended with pay.
Here’s a link to the video of the incident. But this is a story that can have no happy ending. The driver and the brothers deserve what they’re going to get because they all crossed lines that should never have been crossed in the first place.
Saddam Jail Pictures Circulate Around the World: So What?
Pictures of Saddam Hussein in various stages of dress appeared in the British tabloid “The Sun” and other magazines around the world. The photos have deeply embarrassed the former Iraqi dictator as well as the U.S. military.
Why is the U.S. military embarrassed? Is Saddam being sexually abused by U.S. troops in the photos? No. Is Saddam being beaten in the photos by U.S. troops? No. Is he being tortured by U.S. troops in the photos? No. Is he doing his laundry in his undergarments in the photos? Yes. Is he sleeping in the photos? Yes.
Saddam is a prisoner of the sovereign Iraqi government and is no longer a prisoner of war. Therefore, the Geneva Convention does not apply in this case with regard to releasing photos of POWs for public interest. He’s a common criminal now, accused of horrific crimes.
As far as the photos being taken while he was in U.S. custody, it is not official U.S. military policy to take and release humiliating photos of prisoners. The photos of prisoners being abused at Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad were taken by soldiers who were NOT (arguably) acting under orders from the Department of Defense. Those soldiers in the Abu Ghraib photos are in the process of going through the military justice system.
The Pentagon has denied releasing any photos to the Sun or any other newspaper. The Sun says that the U.S. military was trying to break the spirit of the insurgency by releasing the photos.
It’s more likely that a guard at Camp Cropper (where Saddam is being held) either sold or gave the photos to the Sun and hoped that it would help to break the spirit of the insurgency. But the Sun attributed the statement to “unnamed sources” in the U.S. military. (More “unnamed sources” idiocy.)
What the U.S. military should do (and is doing) is find the idiot who took and sold the photos to the paper and bring the party responsible up on charges for violating U.S. military policy. And the Iraqi government should be talking to the Sun for violating whatever policy they have about humiliation of prisoners.
The only reason that the U.S. military is making a big deal out of this is that they don’t want to offend Arab sensibilities more than they already have been from the Abu Ghraib scandal, the retracted Newsweek report of the desecration of the Quran at Guantanemo Bay and the reported mistreatment of prisoners at U.S. military facilities around the world.
That's why the U.S. military is embarrassed about this mini-scandal. If they had been treating prisoners humanely all along, this story may well have gotten a "so what?" from the very people that the military is now afraid of offending further. This is very unfortunate.
Why is the U.S. military embarrassed? Is Saddam being sexually abused by U.S. troops in the photos? No. Is Saddam being beaten in the photos by U.S. troops? No. Is he being tortured by U.S. troops in the photos? No. Is he doing his laundry in his undergarments in the photos? Yes. Is he sleeping in the photos? Yes.
Saddam is a prisoner of the sovereign Iraqi government and is no longer a prisoner of war. Therefore, the Geneva Convention does not apply in this case with regard to releasing photos of POWs for public interest. He’s a common criminal now, accused of horrific crimes.
As far as the photos being taken while he was in U.S. custody, it is not official U.S. military policy to take and release humiliating photos of prisoners. The photos of prisoners being abused at Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad were taken by soldiers who were NOT (arguably) acting under orders from the Department of Defense. Those soldiers in the Abu Ghraib photos are in the process of going through the military justice system.
The Pentagon has denied releasing any photos to the Sun or any other newspaper. The Sun says that the U.S. military was trying to break the spirit of the insurgency by releasing the photos.
It’s more likely that a guard at Camp Cropper (where Saddam is being held) either sold or gave the photos to the Sun and hoped that it would help to break the spirit of the insurgency. But the Sun attributed the statement to “unnamed sources” in the U.S. military. (More “unnamed sources” idiocy.)
What the U.S. military should do (and is doing) is find the idiot who took and sold the photos to the paper and bring the party responsible up on charges for violating U.S. military policy. And the Iraqi government should be talking to the Sun for violating whatever policy they have about humiliation of prisoners.
The only reason that the U.S. military is making a big deal out of this is that they don’t want to offend Arab sensibilities more than they already have been from the Abu Ghraib scandal, the retracted Newsweek report of the desecration of the Quran at Guantanemo Bay and the reported mistreatment of prisoners at U.S. military facilities around the world.
That's why the U.S. military is embarrassed about this mini-scandal. If they had been treating prisoners humanely all along, this story may well have gotten a "so what?" from the very people that the military is now afraid of offending further. This is very unfortunate.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
“Nuclear Option” Talk is Nothing New—Congress is Making Political Hay to Their Cost
Eliminating the filibuster is a bad idea.
Everyone is agreed that, as a historical note, both parties have enjoyed the type of advantage that the Republicans currently have in the House and in the Senate.
For all the screaming they are doing about Democratic filibusters, the Republicans have taken advantage of using filibusters too: Senate Bill 1454 was filibustered by the Republicans, led by Trent Lott. They stopped President Clinton's choice for surgeon general from happening via filibuster (for good reason), they stopped Richard Paez from getting a judicial post via a filibuster. Senate Leader Frist joined in that one.
Before they go banning the filibuster, they should realize that they WILL be the minority party again and they may NEED the filibuster to fight the majority party for what's important to the Republicans. Anyone remember Jim Jeffords, the Vermont Republican who became an independent and swung control of the Senate back to the Democrats? Who is to say that something similar couldn't happen again?
Both parties have had BIG election day disasters in the past. Are the Republicans that confident that they will NEVER lose control of one or both houses of Congress? They are fools if they think that. The Democrats ought to check their attitudes too.
So, both sides need to cool down and work together to get the business of the American people done. By all means, change the rules, but don't get rid of filibusters.
Everyone is agreed that, as a historical note, both parties have enjoyed the type of advantage that the Republicans currently have in the House and in the Senate.
For all the screaming they are doing about Democratic filibusters, the Republicans have taken advantage of using filibusters too: Senate Bill 1454 was filibustered by the Republicans, led by Trent Lott. They stopped President Clinton's choice for surgeon general from happening via filibuster (for good reason), they stopped Richard Paez from getting a judicial post via a filibuster. Senate Leader Frist joined in that one.
Before they go banning the filibuster, they should realize that they WILL be the minority party again and they may NEED the filibuster to fight the majority party for what's important to the Republicans. Anyone remember Jim Jeffords, the Vermont Republican who became an independent and swung control of the Senate back to the Democrats? Who is to say that something similar couldn't happen again?
Both parties have had BIG election day disasters in the past. Are the Republicans that confident that they will NEVER lose control of one or both houses of Congress? They are fools if they think that. The Democrats ought to check their attitudes too.
So, both sides need to cool down and work together to get the business of the American people done. By all means, change the rules, but don't get rid of filibusters.
Trump Comes Up With Really Bad Idea for World Trade Center Site
Donald Trump went out on a limb today, calling the Freedom Tower a “piece of crap” and has endorsed a rival design that is closely modeled on the destroyed towers.
Why is Trump endorsing a design that has already failed? “Bigger and better” is definitely not better.
If those towers hadn’t collapsed, we would be measuring the body count in the hundreds, not in the thousands. Most of the casualties happened when the towers went down, not when the jumbo jets hit.
But, with the Freedom Tower design under review and the entire project in disarray, everybody is putting in their two cents.
They should never again put 25,000+ people into a death trap like the old World Trade Center. Those offices and businesses should be underground so that they will never be vulnerable to terrorist strikes from the air.
The World Trade Center was a symbol of New York and of the United States; it was attacked twice and destroyed once; it will be attacked again if it is rebuilt as it was before, so it should be hardened to protect the people who work within. It is easier to stop a terrorist bomber at a security gate than it is to stop a hijacked 767 going 500mph and heading toward a 1,368 foot high target.
So Trump’s dead wrong about his idea. It would be a symbolic move to rebuild bigger towers and pack them full of people. Nothing more.
It's a failed design and a bad idea, Mr. Trump.
Why is Trump endorsing a design that has already failed? “Bigger and better” is definitely not better.
If those towers hadn’t collapsed, we would be measuring the body count in the hundreds, not in the thousands. Most of the casualties happened when the towers went down, not when the jumbo jets hit.
But, with the Freedom Tower design under review and the entire project in disarray, everybody is putting in their two cents.
They should never again put 25,000+ people into a death trap like the old World Trade Center. Those offices and businesses should be underground so that they will never be vulnerable to terrorist strikes from the air.
The World Trade Center was a symbol of New York and of the United States; it was attacked twice and destroyed once; it will be attacked again if it is rebuilt as it was before, so it should be hardened to protect the people who work within. It is easier to stop a terrorist bomber at a security gate than it is to stop a hijacked 767 going 500mph and heading toward a 1,368 foot high target.
So Trump’s dead wrong about his idea. It would be a symbolic move to rebuild bigger towers and pack them full of people. Nothing more.
It's a failed design and a bad idea, Mr. Trump.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
White House Reporters Jump All Over Press Secretary: More Bumbling and Loss of Journalistic Integrity
As Newsweek magazine continues to reel from international criticism of its retraction of a story that the Quran had been desecrated at Guantanemo Bay, White House reporters jumped all over President Bush's press secretary at a briefing today. Here's a partial transcript:
Q With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, at that podium, speaking with the authority of the President of the United States, to tell an American magazine what they should print?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not telling them. I'm saying that we would encourage them to help --
Q You're pressuring them.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm saying that we would encourage them --
Q It's not pressure?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, this report caused serious damage to the image of the United States abroad. And Newsweek has said that they got it wrong. I think Newsweek recognizes the responsibility they have. We appreciate the step that they took by retracting the story. Now we would encourage them to move forward and do all that they can to help repair the damage that has been done by this report. And that's all I'm saying. But, no, you're absolutely right, it's not my position to get into telling people what they can and cannot report....
Q Are you asking them to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you're saying here?
MR. McCLELLAN: Elisabeth, let me finish my sentence. Our military --
Q You've already said what you're -- I know what -- how it ends.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm coming to your question, and you're not letting me have a chance to respond. But our military goes out of their way to handle the Koran with care and respect. There are policies and practices that are in place. This report was wrong. Newsweek, itself, stated that it was wrong. And so now I think it's incumbent and -- incumbent upon Newsweek to do their part to help repair the damage. And they can do that through ways that they see best, but one way that would be good would be to point out what the policies and practices are in that part of the world, because it's in that region where this report has been exploited and used to cause lasting damage to the image of the United States of America. It has had serious consequences. And so that's all I'm saying, is that we would encourage them to take steps to help repair the damage. And I think that they recognize the importance of doing that. That's all I'm saying.
From here it looks like the White House is not interfering with the free press: it's the free press interfering with American foreign policy! Fifteen people who had nothing to do with this false (and retracted) story from Newsweek lost their lives and dozens more were injured. Now the diplomats have to clean up Newsweek's mess. What a waste of resources.
And all because Newsweek didn't do their homework. They didn't get corroboration from THREE SOURCES. If they had, there wouldn't have been an issue. It would have been another case of prisoner abuse and utter disrespect for Islam's most sacred text. But instead we are left with confusion over who did what and why. Again.
This is much worse than the CBS scandal; no one died from their attempts to discredit President Bush during the Presidential campaign.
Can't trust the government to tell the truth, can't trust the press either.
Q With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, at that podium, speaking with the authority of the President of the United States, to tell an American magazine what they should print?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not telling them. I'm saying that we would encourage them to help --
Q You're pressuring them.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm saying that we would encourage them --
Q It's not pressure?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, this report caused serious damage to the image of the United States abroad. And Newsweek has said that they got it wrong. I think Newsweek recognizes the responsibility they have. We appreciate the step that they took by retracting the story. Now we would encourage them to move forward and do all that they can to help repair the damage that has been done by this report. And that's all I'm saying. But, no, you're absolutely right, it's not my position to get into telling people what they can and cannot report....
Q Are you asking them to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you're saying here?
MR. McCLELLAN: Elisabeth, let me finish my sentence. Our military --
Q You've already said what you're -- I know what -- how it ends.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm coming to your question, and you're not letting me have a chance to respond. But our military goes out of their way to handle the Koran with care and respect. There are policies and practices that are in place. This report was wrong. Newsweek, itself, stated that it was wrong. And so now I think it's incumbent and -- incumbent upon Newsweek to do their part to help repair the damage. And they can do that through ways that they see best, but one way that would be good would be to point out what the policies and practices are in that part of the world, because it's in that region where this report has been exploited and used to cause lasting damage to the image of the United States of America. It has had serious consequences. And so that's all I'm saying, is that we would encourage them to take steps to help repair the damage. And I think that they recognize the importance of doing that. That's all I'm saying.
From here it looks like the White House is not interfering with the free press: it's the free press interfering with American foreign policy! Fifteen people who had nothing to do with this false (and retracted) story from Newsweek lost their lives and dozens more were injured. Now the diplomats have to clean up Newsweek's mess. What a waste of resources.
And all because Newsweek didn't do their homework. They didn't get corroboration from THREE SOURCES. If they had, there wouldn't have been an issue. It would have been another case of prisoner abuse and utter disrespect for Islam's most sacred text. But instead we are left with confusion over who did what and why. Again.
This is much worse than the CBS scandal; no one died from their attempts to discredit President Bush during the Presidential campaign.
Can't trust the government to tell the truth, can't trust the press either.
Controversial U.S. Army School of the Americas Not on Base Closure List
The U.S. Army School of the Americas (now called the Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC)), which is based at Fort Benning, Georgia, is not on the closure list.
Fort Benning is important to leave alone, but it can do without the SOA/WHINSEC, which trains Central and South American commandos from countries that have very poor human rights records and are unafraid to use their military to keep their governments in power. Many of the commandos trained at SOA have turned their weapons on their own people to suppress freedom and democracy.
The most recent incident was in Columbia, where the Columbian Army 17th and 11th Brigades slaughtered civilians at the San José de Apartadó Peace Community near Urabá, Colombia, on February 21, 2005. The dead included women and children. The brigade leaders were graduates of the School of the Americas. Among those killed was Luis Eduardo Guerra, who was an outspoken opponent of the SOA and a Columbian democracy advocate.
The U.S. uses the SOA to fight the war on drugs and is failing because the commandos are not using their training to stop drug lords in their countries. These men are terrorists, not allies in the war on drugs or terror.
Here's a list of other notable graduates of the School. This school causes more problems than it solves. Why should this vicious cycle continue? Close it, and use the facility to do something useful, like train Iraqi or Afghan security forces.
Fort Benning is important to leave alone, but it can do without the SOA/WHINSEC, which trains Central and South American commandos from countries that have very poor human rights records and are unafraid to use their military to keep their governments in power. Many of the commandos trained at SOA have turned their weapons on their own people to suppress freedom and democracy.
The most recent incident was in Columbia, where the Columbian Army 17th and 11th Brigades slaughtered civilians at the San José de Apartadó Peace Community near Urabá, Colombia, on February 21, 2005. The dead included women and children. The brigade leaders were graduates of the School of the Americas. Among those killed was Luis Eduardo Guerra, who was an outspoken opponent of the SOA and a Columbian democracy advocate.
The U.S. uses the SOA to fight the war on drugs and is failing because the commandos are not using their training to stop drug lords in their countries. These men are terrorists, not allies in the war on drugs or terror.
Here's a list of other notable graduates of the School. This school causes more problems than it solves. Why should this vicious cycle continue? Close it, and use the facility to do something useful, like train Iraqi or Afghan security forces.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Public Displays of Affection Should Be Regulated by Schools: Girl Should Be Given Detention
This so-called controversy in Oregon about a 14-year-old girl getting detention for hugging her boyfriend isn't anything new. And it is not as big a deal as she is making it out to be. Get over it, girl, and hit the books. Kiss your boyfriend over the summer.
"Public Displays of Affection" or PDAs are closely monitored in many schools across Michigan. While some districts don't touch the issue, others have rules which govern the conduct of students while they are on school property or on school-sponsored activities. This is a good thing.
Look at the benefits of restricting/banning PDAs: fewer dramatic (and sometimes spectacular) break-ups in the hallways between classes (or IN the classrooms), less peer pressure to become sexually active, and more restraint (due to enforced rules of respecting one another's space) on what they decide to do when they're alone (and off school grounds) with their "significant other." Break-ups are always worse when there's a sexual or high-contact component to the relationship, and high school campus "90210" scenes are prime breeding grounds for trouble between teens who are having problems with their interpersonal relationships.
Those schools who don't address this issue are more likely to have a major problem with sexual tension which is very distracting to hormone-crazed teens and allows a very bad culture to take root in the hallways of schools and in the classrooms themselves.
Teachers in schools that had few rules about PDAs and made the switch after having major trouble with their students agree: the restrictions helped improve respect between the genders, helped with more of the blow-ups by reducing the tension, and destroyed the culture that says teens have to be sexually active in order to be cool. This is from a conversation that ThunderFerret had with a high school teacher yesterday.
Further, it's disgusting to walk through a school hallway and see a guy and a girl doing all kinds of stuff with their tongues in public. Educationally, it's very distracting and shouldn't be allowed in schools. If they want to work on their love life, they should do it on their own time.
So this Oregon school should stick to their rules and have the girl serve the detention. Rules are there to be followed, not changed because some 14 year-old decides she wants to swap spit with her boyfriend in the hallway. And Mom should be encouraging the schools to keep her daughter's behavior under control.
"Public Displays of Affection" or PDAs are closely monitored in many schools across Michigan. While some districts don't touch the issue, others have rules which govern the conduct of students while they are on school property or on school-sponsored activities. This is a good thing.
Look at the benefits of restricting/banning PDAs: fewer dramatic (and sometimes spectacular) break-ups in the hallways between classes (or IN the classrooms), less peer pressure to become sexually active, and more restraint (due to enforced rules of respecting one another's space) on what they decide to do when they're alone (and off school grounds) with their "significant other." Break-ups are always worse when there's a sexual or high-contact component to the relationship, and high school campus "90210" scenes are prime breeding grounds for trouble between teens who are having problems with their interpersonal relationships.
Those schools who don't address this issue are more likely to have a major problem with sexual tension which is very distracting to hormone-crazed teens and allows a very bad culture to take root in the hallways of schools and in the classrooms themselves.
Teachers in schools that had few rules about PDAs and made the switch after having major trouble with their students agree: the restrictions helped improve respect between the genders, helped with more of the blow-ups by reducing the tension, and destroyed the culture that says teens have to be sexually active in order to be cool. This is from a conversation that ThunderFerret had with a high school teacher yesterday.
Further, it's disgusting to walk through a school hallway and see a guy and a girl doing all kinds of stuff with their tongues in public. Educationally, it's very distracting and shouldn't be allowed in schools. If they want to work on their love life, they should do it on their own time.
So this Oregon school should stick to their rules and have the girl serve the detention. Rules are there to be followed, not changed because some 14 year-old decides she wants to swap spit with her boyfriend in the hallway. And Mom should be encouraging the schools to keep her daughter's behavior under control.
Newsweek Magazine Screws Up EXPLOSIVE Quran Desecration Story
Newsweek recently reported that U.S. military investigators desecrated a Quran by flushing it down a toilet in an effort to break Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners into talking.
Today the editor sent out an apology saying “We regret that we got any part of our story wrong and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in its midst."
Too little, too late. Riots are breaking out all over the Muslim world in response to this story. People have died, others have been injured, and anti-U.S. sentiment is now on the rise in countries like Afghanistan, which can ill-afford an uprising against the peacekeepers and the fledgling elected government. In the Muslim world, desecrating a Quran is punishable by death.
The extremists in Muslim countries won’t accept Newsweek’s apology or explanation of what it did. They now have their cause. Thanks for nothing, Newsweek.
In basic journalism classes, they say at least THREE sources are to be used, not two, but Newsweek had to have their scoop and printed the information from two questionable sources without considering the consequences if their information was incorrect.
Did they miss the lessons that CBS provided when “60 Minutes” took shortcuts on a story?
Here's the story.
Today the editor sent out an apology saying “We regret that we got any part of our story wrong and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in its midst."
Too little, too late. Riots are breaking out all over the Muslim world in response to this story. People have died, others have been injured, and anti-U.S. sentiment is now on the rise in countries like Afghanistan, which can ill-afford an uprising against the peacekeepers and the fledgling elected government. In the Muslim world, desecrating a Quran is punishable by death.
The extremists in Muslim countries won’t accept Newsweek’s apology or explanation of what it did. They now have their cause. Thanks for nothing, Newsweek.
In basic journalism classes, they say at least THREE sources are to be used, not two, but Newsweek had to have their scoop and printed the information from two questionable sources without considering the consequences if their information was incorrect.
Did they miss the lessons that CBS provided when “60 Minutes” took shortcuts on a story?
Here's the story.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
U.S. Military Rights to Bases in Uzbekistan Come at a Terrible Price
The media has been reporting heavy fighting in parts of Uzbekistan as freedom fighters attempt to overthrow their repressive government. Why is the United States government silent about what’s been happening over there?
Here’s why: the U.S. military is using Uzbek territory as a staging area for missions into Afghanistan. The Uzbeks signed onto the war on terror shortly after the September 11th terrorist strikes against the United States; in return, the Bush Administration has been very generous in trade concessions and in overlooking a few details about the Uzbek government.
It is a totalitarian government, headed up by iron-fisted President Islam Karimov, who has no bones about crushing free speech, a free press, and other liberties enjoyed by other nations in the region. Because he is a staunch ally of the United States, the human rights violations are recorded and then ignored.
The U.S. cannot keep doing this; Uzbekistan could turn into another Iran and we don’t need another one. The government of Uzbekistan is blaming radical Islamic groups for the violence that has beset the country; but if it turns into a general uprising, and the U.S. keeps supporting the dictator’s side, it could turn into a repeat of the overthrow of the Shah of Iran.
Human rights are not to be thrown away for the sake of an arrangement between a U.S. government that is already very secretive and a maniac who rivals Saddam Hussein in his brutal treatment of his people. That has to stop.
The U.S. has a moral obligation to speak out openly about what the government of this former Soviet republic has done to Uzbeks to keep itself in power.
Get with it, State Department!
Here’s why: the U.S. military is using Uzbek territory as a staging area for missions into Afghanistan. The Uzbeks signed onto the war on terror shortly after the September 11th terrorist strikes against the United States; in return, the Bush Administration has been very generous in trade concessions and in overlooking a few details about the Uzbek government.
It is a totalitarian government, headed up by iron-fisted President Islam Karimov, who has no bones about crushing free speech, a free press, and other liberties enjoyed by other nations in the region. Because he is a staunch ally of the United States, the human rights violations are recorded and then ignored.
The U.S. cannot keep doing this; Uzbekistan could turn into another Iran and we don’t need another one. The government of Uzbekistan is blaming radical Islamic groups for the violence that has beset the country; but if it turns into a general uprising, and the U.S. keeps supporting the dictator’s side, it could turn into a repeat of the overthrow of the Shah of Iran.
Human rights are not to be thrown away for the sake of an arrangement between a U.S. government that is already very secretive and a maniac who rivals Saddam Hussein in his brutal treatment of his people. That has to stop.
The U.S. has a moral obligation to speak out openly about what the government of this former Soviet republic has done to Uzbeks to keep itself in power.
Get with it, State Department!
Security Alert at White House Proves System Works
Last week’s emergency evacuation of federal government buildings in Washington following a violation of restricted airspace around the Capitol was an example of a well-designed system working.
What conclusions should the ground controllers reach if they cannot make radio contact, visual emergency signals being used directly in front of the approaching aircraft are being ignored, and the aircraft is already over a densely populated area?
Experts agree that airliners may be harder to take over now, so the next terrorist attack may come from a smaller aircraft from an unsecured airfield that terrorists have stolen.
We may have to face the reality that terrorists may succeed in ramming their captured aircraft into federal buildings, but their hopes of inflicting mass casualties will hopefully be dashed because their intended targets will have scattered for cover IF the system is used as designed.
A working government must be maintained, regardless of the condition of the capitol itself. And if that means that government employees are ordered to run for their lives when Washington airspace is violated, SO BE IT.
What conclusions should the ground controllers reach if they cannot make radio contact, visual emergency signals being used directly in front of the approaching aircraft are being ignored, and the aircraft is already over a densely populated area?
Experts agree that airliners may be harder to take over now, so the next terrorist attack may come from a smaller aircraft from an unsecured airfield that terrorists have stolen.
We may have to face the reality that terrorists may succeed in ramming their captured aircraft into federal buildings, but their hopes of inflicting mass casualties will hopefully be dashed because their intended targets will have scattered for cover IF the system is used as designed.
A working government must be maintained, regardless of the condition of the capitol itself. And if that means that government employees are ordered to run for their lives when Washington airspace is violated, SO BE IT.
U.S. Should Turn Over Posada Carriles for Trial in Venezuela
Venezuela has requested the United States turn over a former CIA informant for trial after declassified FBI documents revealed that he was responsible for blowing a Cuban airliner out of the sky in 1976.
The Cuban-born Venezuelan, Posada Carriles, has requested asylum in the U.S.
American officials are said to be examining the case very carefully. Hopefully the asylum request will be denied and Carriles will be handed over for trial.
He is not an American citizen, he is a terrorist who happened to work for the CIA. We should not allow terrorists safe refuge in our country. A terrorist is a terrorist. Period.
Here's the BBC story. And who cares about what Fidel Castro wants! He can go fly a kite.
The Cuban-born Venezuelan, Posada Carriles, has requested asylum in the U.S.
American officials are said to be examining the case very carefully. Hopefully the asylum request will be denied and Carriles will be handed over for trial.
He is not an American citizen, he is a terrorist who happened to work for the CIA. We should not allow terrorists safe refuge in our country. A terrorist is a terrorist. Period.
Here's the BBC story. And who cares about what Fidel Castro wants! He can go fly a kite.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Marines Recall 5,000+ Armor Vests Because They Won’t Stop a Bullet
The U.S. Marine Corps recalled 5,277 bullet-proof vests that the Marines issued to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Djibouti after a newspaper broke the story that some of the vests tested failed to stop a 9mm round, which is a minimum Marine Corps standard for body armor.
The vests, which were made by the Point Blank Body Armor of Pompano Beach, Florida, failed several tests. The Marines equipped their soldiers in forward combat areas with the vests, and it was only after the Marine Corps Times broke the story that they issued the recall.
The “Outer Tactical Vest” is part of the Interceptor body armor outfit and received much praise from the military and body armor experts. It’s very unfortunate that this batch of vests did not perform to minimum standards, and it’s even more unfortunate that the Marines did not prevent this vest from being issued when the problem was first discovered last year.
“Good enough” is NOT good enough. Not when it comes to saving lives of troops in harm’s way.
It should be noted that not all the vests tested failed. There were a couple of batches that did fail and those batches were sent along with the rest to the military for distribution to the troops.
It should also be noted that the Marines requested a waiver for the affected vests.
Here’s the story as reported by CBS, and here’s a link page from the Marine Corps Times that has all the documentation on the story. Why didn't the Marines do more to stop this from happening, and why did they wait for the press to get wind of the story before doing something to correct the problem?
The vests, which were made by the Point Blank Body Armor of Pompano Beach, Florida, failed several tests. The Marines equipped their soldiers in forward combat areas with the vests, and it was only after the Marine Corps Times broke the story that they issued the recall.
The “Outer Tactical Vest” is part of the Interceptor body armor outfit and received much praise from the military and body armor experts. It’s very unfortunate that this batch of vests did not perform to minimum standards, and it’s even more unfortunate that the Marines did not prevent this vest from being issued when the problem was first discovered last year.
“Good enough” is NOT good enough. Not when it comes to saving lives of troops in harm’s way.
It should be noted that not all the vests tested failed. There were a couple of batches that did fail and those batches were sent along with the rest to the military for distribution to the troops.
It should also be noted that the Marines requested a waiver for the affected vests.
Here’s the story as reported by CBS, and here’s a link page from the Marine Corps Times that has all the documentation on the story. Why didn't the Marines do more to stop this from happening, and why did they wait for the press to get wind of the story before doing something to correct the problem?
Monday, May 09, 2005
White Supremacists Disrupt Boston-Area Holocaust Remembrances
In a disgusting display of racial hatred, a group of white supremacists from Arkansas (?) crashed a Holocaust memorial service that survivors, their families, government officials and the general public were attending in the Boston area. It was to note the liberation of all the Nazi death camps as German armies were surrendering and the war was ending in Europe sixty years ago on Sunday.
Members of the so-called White Revolution clashed with an angry crowd, and the police were hard-pressed to keep people from tearing other people apart. Two people were arrested, and at least one police officer was injured in the line of duty after scuffles broke out where there was a limited police presence.
The Governor of Massachusetts was there and said "Today of all days, to have white supremacists come here from Arkansas, is most disappointing. I wish they'd go back home where the came from and bury themselves under the rocks that they crawled out from."
The presence of neo-Nazis and other groups at Holocaust commemorations around the world is very disappointing. They show up where they’re not wanted and make people hate their despicable cause even more.
Here's the story.
Members of the so-called White Revolution clashed with an angry crowd, and the police were hard-pressed to keep people from tearing other people apart. Two people were arrested, and at least one police officer was injured in the line of duty after scuffles broke out where there was a limited police presence.
The Governor of Massachusetts was there and said "Today of all days, to have white supremacists come here from Arkansas, is most disappointing. I wish they'd go back home where the came from and bury themselves under the rocks that they crawled out from."
The presence of neo-Nazis and other groups at Holocaust commemorations around the world is very disappointing. They show up where they’re not wanted and make people hate their despicable cause even more.
Here's the story.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Boy Dies After Camp Counselors Deny Him Access to His Emergency Inhaler
This story raises more questions than answers.
A 13-year-old boy at a camp for troubled teens died after being denied access to his emergency inhaler.
According to the CBS News story, the boy was being restrained "by counselors who said he was acting belligerently" and that the boy had asked for his inhaler in the first fifteen minutes of being "restrained", (whatever that entails).
The camp emergency medical technician saw no outward signs of the boy being in respitory distress and said "no" due to the boy's past history of asking for the inhaler whenever he was being restrained.
Some 90 minutes later, the boy went limp from oxygen deprivation and died the next day in the hospital.
What on earth happened here?
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation and the people involved in this story are on administrative leave.
People go into full-blown asthma attacks all the time; anything can trigger them. It could be laughing too much, or stress, or being emotionally upset by something, or could be exercise-induced.
If they had to use physical force to restrain this kid, it stands to reason that he might have been physically resisting the counselors, and triggered an asthma attack that got worse until the airflow was restricted enough that he had a stroke or heart attack.
He would have known that he wasn't getting maximum air into his lungs and asked for help. He didn't get it.
They should NEVER have ignored someone's request for their inhaler. What were they thinking? Didn't they know anything about asthma? This was a very poor judgment call on the part of the EMT. Was he/she experienced in camp-style setting, or was this EMT a rookie to camp operations? Were there standing medical orders on what to do in certain situations, and were they followed? And what changes will be made to Georgia's troubled-youth camp procedures to make sure that something like this never happens again?
Lots of questions in a very troubling story.
A 13-year-old boy at a camp for troubled teens died after being denied access to his emergency inhaler.
According to the CBS News story, the boy was being restrained "by counselors who said he was acting belligerently" and that the boy had asked for his inhaler in the first fifteen minutes of being "restrained", (whatever that entails).
The camp emergency medical technician saw no outward signs of the boy being in respitory distress and said "no" due to the boy's past history of asking for the inhaler whenever he was being restrained.
Some 90 minutes later, the boy went limp from oxygen deprivation and died the next day in the hospital.
What on earth happened here?
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation and the people involved in this story are on administrative leave.
People go into full-blown asthma attacks all the time; anything can trigger them. It could be laughing too much, or stress, or being emotionally upset by something, or could be exercise-induced.
If they had to use physical force to restrain this kid, it stands to reason that he might have been physically resisting the counselors, and triggered an asthma attack that got worse until the airflow was restricted enough that he had a stroke or heart attack.
He would have known that he wasn't getting maximum air into his lungs and asked for help. He didn't get it.
They should NEVER have ignored someone's request for their inhaler. What were they thinking? Didn't they know anything about asthma? This was a very poor judgment call on the part of the EMT. Was he/she experienced in camp-style setting, or was this EMT a rookie to camp operations? Were there standing medical orders on what to do in certain situations, and were they followed? And what changes will be made to Georgia's troubled-youth camp procedures to make sure that something like this never happens again?
Lots of questions in a very troubling story.
Putin is Thinking and Talking Like a Soviet: Democracy in Danger in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s very public lamentations of the collapse of the Soviet Union as THE “catastrophic geopolitical event” of the 20th Century, and his defending the Red Army’s occupation of the Baltics after World War II as being “at the invitation of the Baltic countries themselves” is proof that Russian democracy is backsliding toward a dictatorship.
He is refusing to discuss the fifty-plus year occupation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in terms that the people of those nations can relate to. He won’t touch the conduct of Russian Black Beret soldiers who went on a rampage in the Baltics after those nations broke away from the USSR. And he won’t express regret at the misery that the Soviet Union brought to the people of the Baltics.
Putin’s demanding that the United States stop “interfering in Russia’s traditional sphere of influence” is also very troubling. The last time anyone checked, Russia’s sphere of influence is the Russian Federation, not the former Soviet republics. Russia’s control of Russian territory itself is also questionable, given the fact that they can barely control Chechnya.
Putin is a barely-reformed Soviet who will return Russia to neo-communist control and work to re-establish his Soviet Union. Let’s call a spade a spade: NATO is needed to stop Russia from threatening countries like Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Georgia, Belarus, and other former republics of the USSR that are quite happy to have their independence from Russia.
Democracies rarely go to war against one another; dictators do wage war against each other and against democracies. It’s in Russia’s best interests to have stable democracies on its borders. If Putin is worried about war between Russia and the nations that border it, then he should focus on strengthening Russian democracy and quit cracking down on free markets, on the media and on living up to the promises that he has made to the Russian people.
And he should stop the Cold War rhetoric that has been coming from the Kremlin. It’s making his neighbors nervous.
He is refusing to discuss the fifty-plus year occupation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in terms that the people of those nations can relate to. He won’t touch the conduct of Russian Black Beret soldiers who went on a rampage in the Baltics after those nations broke away from the USSR. And he won’t express regret at the misery that the Soviet Union brought to the people of the Baltics.
Putin’s demanding that the United States stop “interfering in Russia’s traditional sphere of influence” is also very troubling. The last time anyone checked, Russia’s sphere of influence is the Russian Federation, not the former Soviet republics. Russia’s control of Russian territory itself is also questionable, given the fact that they can barely control Chechnya.
Putin is a barely-reformed Soviet who will return Russia to neo-communist control and work to re-establish his Soviet Union. Let’s call a spade a spade: NATO is needed to stop Russia from threatening countries like Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Georgia, Belarus, and other former republics of the USSR that are quite happy to have their independence from Russia.
Democracies rarely go to war against one another; dictators do wage war against each other and against democracies. It’s in Russia’s best interests to have stable democracies on its borders. If Putin is worried about war between Russia and the nations that border it, then he should focus on strengthening Russian democracy and quit cracking down on free markets, on the media and on living up to the promises that he has made to the Russian people.
And he should stop the Cold War rhetoric that has been coming from the Kremlin. It’s making his neighbors nervous.
Happy Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, wherever you may be.
Have a great holiday!
Have a great holiday!
Photographer Who Took Photo of U.S. Army Soldier Carrying Wounded Iraqi Child to Hospital Has an Excellent Blog
Michael Yon, author of "Danger Close," is currently in Iraq and has an AMAZING blog that tells of his travels with the 1st Infantry Division (among other units) and their experiences in and around Mosul, Iraq.
Here's his link. It's definitely worth watching for updates. He was the photographer who snapped the now-famous photo of the U.S. Army soldier carrying a severely wounded Iraqi child to an Army hospital following a terrorist bombing a few days ago.
He follows up on many of his stories and the difference in coverage between what the networks report and what this guy reports are like night and day.
The media didn't bother to report that the same U.S. Army unit that was attacked in Mosul (where the famous photo was taken) went back to the same neighborhood the next day to see what they could do to help the families that had wounded or dead family members that the terrorists had hurt to get at the Americans. It's a very facinating read and goes to remind everyone that there's always more than one side to a story.
I hope you enjoy reading his blog as much as I did.
Here's his link. It's definitely worth watching for updates. He was the photographer who snapped the now-famous photo of the U.S. Army soldier carrying a severely wounded Iraqi child to an Army hospital following a terrorist bombing a few days ago.
He follows up on many of his stories and the difference in coverage between what the networks report and what this guy reports are like night and day.
The media didn't bother to report that the same U.S. Army unit that was attacked in Mosul (where the famous photo was taken) went back to the same neighborhood the next day to see what they could do to help the families that had wounded or dead family members that the terrorists had hurt to get at the Americans. It's a very facinating read and goes to remind everyone that there's always more than one side to a story.
I hope you enjoy reading his blog as much as I did.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Threatened North Korean Nuclear Test Will Lead to North Korea’s Downfall
North Korea is moving toward conducting a nuclear test and some nations involved in the six-way talks with North Korea are threatening to take the North Korean problem to the U.N. Security Council. Pyongyang has said that if the Security Council imposes sanctions that it would consider it a “declaration of war.”
What could the North Koreans do?
They could attack South Korea with the third largest army in the world, or hit Japan with Nodong missiles, or attack U.S. Navy ships that are in the region.
But it’s more likely they would do something to keep the United States and South Korea off-balance and not get into a shooting war with them. The North Koreans might do this by attacking the vast US/South Korean minefields that are between the two Koreas with heavy artillery fire and then stopping once the minefields in the DMZ and south of the DMZ were reduced or neutralized.
The U.S. has used these mines to keep the million-soldier North Korean Army from crossing the DMZ for decades, and North Korea employs minefields of it's own to keep the U.S./UN/South Korean armies from invading the North (or to keep their own people from escaping south). It is estimated that there are over a million mines planted into the DMZ (here's a report). And that's just the mines used by South Korea and the U.S.!
This would fit into North Korea’s pattern of negotiation. They always like to talk from a position of strength. But if they persist in their recklessness they may find themselves embroiled in a war that they cannot win. It would mean the end of North Korea as we know it (a united Korea free from communism would be good, but not at the cost of thousands of Korean, American and Japanese lives).
It’s very doubtful that it would escalate into a localized nuclear exchange between the United States military and North Korea, but if a war were to start, there’s no telling how it might end. The loss of life could be catastrophic.
North Korea’s communist government has to realize that it’s finished if the talks are unsuccessful. They have everything to lose by going forward with their nuclear weapons program. Hopefully they stop their blustering and start to talk business.
Then it can get around to...voting their government out of existence, outlawing the Communist Party, holding free elections and bringing their leaders up on crimes against humanity.
What could the North Koreans do?
They could attack South Korea with the third largest army in the world, or hit Japan with Nodong missiles, or attack U.S. Navy ships that are in the region.
But it’s more likely they would do something to keep the United States and South Korea off-balance and not get into a shooting war with them. The North Koreans might do this by attacking the vast US/South Korean minefields that are between the two Koreas with heavy artillery fire and then stopping once the minefields in the DMZ and south of the DMZ were reduced or neutralized.
The U.S. has used these mines to keep the million-soldier North Korean Army from crossing the DMZ for decades, and North Korea employs minefields of it's own to keep the U.S./UN/South Korean armies from invading the North (or to keep their own people from escaping south). It is estimated that there are over a million mines planted into the DMZ (here's a report). And that's just the mines used by South Korea and the U.S.!
This would fit into North Korea’s pattern of negotiation. They always like to talk from a position of strength. But if they persist in their recklessness they may find themselves embroiled in a war that they cannot win. It would mean the end of North Korea as we know it (a united Korea free from communism would be good, but not at the cost of thousands of Korean, American and Japanese lives).
It’s very doubtful that it would escalate into a localized nuclear exchange between the United States military and North Korea, but if a war were to start, there’s no telling how it might end. The loss of life could be catastrophic.
North Korea’s communist government has to realize that it’s finished if the talks are unsuccessful. They have everything to lose by going forward with their nuclear weapons program. Hopefully they stop their blustering and start to talk business.
Then it can get around to...voting their government out of existence, outlawing the Communist Party, holding free elections and bringing their leaders up on crimes against humanity.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Photo Captures Horror of War and Terrorism
This photo ran in newspapers all around the world today. It's captured international attention and casts the U.S. military in a way that has not yet been seen since the start of the war in Iraq. Photos like this are few and far in between since the international media doesn't want to put the U.S. in a good light in Iraq.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
New Star Wars Movie Denounced by Some as a Bloodbath: So What? (SPOILERS)
Before you read any further, this post does contain some spoilers for the new Star Wars film. Stop reading here if you don't want part of the story revealed. Otherwise, please scroll down.
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George Lucas is taking flak from parents' groups for showing so much violence in the upcoming “Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith.” Specifically, the violence mentioned was the Jedi being annihilated by the Sith and the murder of the Jedi younglings by Anakin and the clonetroopers.
Also, Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader is said to be particularly gruesome as he will sustain severe injuries at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi before he bursts into flames next to a lake of lava. Palpatine’s injuries at Mace Windu’s hands which leads to his disfigurement was said to be nasty too.
The film has received a PG-13 rating for a very good reason. Some parents are unhappy with that fact. Up until now, parents could let their kids go to Star Wars without them, but now that there’s a PG-13 rating on “Revenge of the Sith” they have to go with the children if they’re under the age of 13. Too bad. Get over it. That’s what the real problem is.
On the other side of the coin, some Star Wars fans have felt that George Lucas pulled his punches in the first two movies of the new trilogy. “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” were very good movies, but once again, they were geared toward a younger audience. Jar Jar Binks, anyone?
“The Phantom Menace” felt like it had been sterilized of any dirt and grime. “Attack of the Clones” was better, but still Lucas held back. Some felt he should have shown Anakin killing more Tusken Raiders in a fit of rage after his mom died of her injuries and showed more Jedi being slaughtered on Geonosis. They thought the same thing about the titanic first battle between the Republic Clonetroopers and the Federation droid army toward the end of Episode II, but Lucas wanted a PG rating and cut stuff out.
Lucas is telling his story and can do so any way that he wants.
If one needs another perspective, look at the title of the franchise: “Star Wars.” Not “Star Kids” or “Star Barney” or “Star Wimps.” Star WARS.
Wars involve violence, do they not? They involve killing, do they not? Lucas has to establish that Vader helped the Emperor wipe out the Jedi. If Lucas was really mean-spirited about it, Jar Jar Binks would have been beheaded by a swipe of Anakin’s lightsaber in “Revenge of the Sith.” Doubtless this would have pleased many older fans, but would have been terribly upsetting to the kiddies who continue to dress up as Jar Jar at Halloween.
The speculation will finally end on May 19th. It has a PG-13 rating. So what? It’s about time!
Kids should be accompanied by a parent as a lot of bad stuff will be happening in this film. Better yet, parents should screen the film before allowing their under-13 children to see it.
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George Lucas is taking flak from parents' groups for showing so much violence in the upcoming “Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith.” Specifically, the violence mentioned was the Jedi being annihilated by the Sith and the murder of the Jedi younglings by Anakin and the clonetroopers.
Also, Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader is said to be particularly gruesome as he will sustain severe injuries at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi before he bursts into flames next to a lake of lava. Palpatine’s injuries at Mace Windu’s hands which leads to his disfigurement was said to be nasty too.
The film has received a PG-13 rating for a very good reason. Some parents are unhappy with that fact. Up until now, parents could let their kids go to Star Wars without them, but now that there’s a PG-13 rating on “Revenge of the Sith” they have to go with the children if they’re under the age of 13. Too bad. Get over it. That’s what the real problem is.
On the other side of the coin, some Star Wars fans have felt that George Lucas pulled his punches in the first two movies of the new trilogy. “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” were very good movies, but once again, they were geared toward a younger audience. Jar Jar Binks, anyone?
“The Phantom Menace” felt like it had been sterilized of any dirt and grime. “Attack of the Clones” was better, but still Lucas held back. Some felt he should have shown Anakin killing more Tusken Raiders in a fit of rage after his mom died of her injuries and showed more Jedi being slaughtered on Geonosis. They thought the same thing about the titanic first battle between the Republic Clonetroopers and the Federation droid army toward the end of Episode II, but Lucas wanted a PG rating and cut stuff out.
Lucas is telling his story and can do so any way that he wants.
If one needs another perspective, look at the title of the franchise: “Star Wars.” Not “Star Kids” or “Star Barney” or “Star Wimps.” Star WARS.
Wars involve violence, do they not? They involve killing, do they not? Lucas has to establish that Vader helped the Emperor wipe out the Jedi. If Lucas was really mean-spirited about it, Jar Jar Binks would have been beheaded by a swipe of Anakin’s lightsaber in “Revenge of the Sith.” Doubtless this would have pleased many older fans, but would have been terribly upsetting to the kiddies who continue to dress up as Jar Jar at Halloween.
The speculation will finally end on May 19th. It has a PG-13 rating. So what? It’s about time!
Kids should be accompanied by a parent as a lot of bad stuff will be happening in this film. Better yet, parents should screen the film before allowing their under-13 children to see it.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Brain-Damaged Firefighter Wakes Up After 10 Years of Silence
A firefighter who was severely brain-damaged "woke up" after being silent for a decade and began speaking to his family and doctors.
He was injured fighting a house fire in 1995 and was buried under rubble after the burning roof collapsed. His air supply was cut for several minutes and he was left comatose for ten weeks. Afterwards he was in a non-responsive state.
According to the story, doctors say that it's unusual for a long-term patient to recover after ten years like this. The word of the day appears to be "amazing."
Here's the story.
He was injured fighting a house fire in 1995 and was buried under rubble after the burning roof collapsed. His air supply was cut for several minutes and he was left comatose for ten weeks. Afterwards he was in a non-responsive state.
According to the story, doctors say that it's unusual for a long-term patient to recover after ten years like this. The word of the day appears to be "amazing."
Here's the story.
Time for New News: Get Over the Runaway Bride
It’s time for the media to give the so-called “runaway bride” and her jilted fiancé room to breathe and to make their decisions on what they’re going to do next without national attention on them.
They should cover whether or not the bill for the four day search that was launched to find her will be sent to her, as that is a matter of public interest since it was taxpayer money that was spent to muster their entire police department into search parties.
They should also cover any criminal proceedings that may occur.
But leave the personal stuff alone; the press should be hanging out at city hall and the courthouse, not in front of her house reporting every little tidbit.
We’ve heard enough about this already.
They should cover whether or not the bill for the four day search that was launched to find her will be sent to her, as that is a matter of public interest since it was taxpayer money that was spent to muster their entire police department into search parties.
They should also cover any criminal proceedings that may occur.
But leave the personal stuff alone; the press should be hanging out at city hall and the courthouse, not in front of her house reporting every little tidbit.
We’ve heard enough about this already.
Florida’s Expanded Self-Defense Law Falls Short on a Few Details
The State of Florida has enacted a new law that expands a person’s right to open fire on people that may or may not be threatening them or their families.
This is a law that is just waiting to be used and abused. It goes way past legitimate self-defense.
What will happen when someone comes knocking on an armed citizen’s door at night? Instead of finding out who’s knocking, will they open fire and kill a pizza man trying to find out where someone lives so he can deliver a pepperoni pizza? Instead of being prosecuted for criminal neglect as they should be, the armed citizen might claim self-defense and it will be legal because they thought the pizza man was trying to break in.
This law, while intending to protect people from criminals, also puts innocent life in the crosshairs as well.
Perhaps instead of letting people out of jail so soon, they ought to hold onto dangerous criminals longer and get rid of the gangs on the streets that threaten people. By getting the idiots into jail and keeping them there, they reduce the possibility of a situation where someone is forced to open fire to defend themselves from a criminal who means to do them harm.
The bill is not entirely bad. But it’s too broad and may allow criminal action to take place in the guise of legitimate self-defense.
A person does have a right to defend his or her family. But where does the line exist between using deadly force to deal with a perceived imminent threat, and outright self-defense?
The courts have to be able to determine that, and this law cuts them out of the process.
Someone who actually breaks into a house or attacks someone and gets shot should not be able to sue or press charges as is the case these days. That part of the new Florida law is entirely correct. It rights a wrong that has been responsible for sending the victim to jail and allowing the criminal to sue for damages. For what? Restraint of trade?
So, they ought to look at this law again, and make sure that the law is clearly spelled out so that there are no loopholes. Legitimate defense is one thing, but for a law to say that a person can now open fire WITHOUT trying to escape their attacker first is way out of line. It turns no-choice defense into aggression.
And it will be the untrained nincompoops that own handguns and have had no training whatsoever who will be quick on the trigger and slow on the common sense.
This is a law that is just waiting to be used and abused. It goes way past legitimate self-defense.
What will happen when someone comes knocking on an armed citizen’s door at night? Instead of finding out who’s knocking, will they open fire and kill a pizza man trying to find out where someone lives so he can deliver a pepperoni pizza? Instead of being prosecuted for criminal neglect as they should be, the armed citizen might claim self-defense and it will be legal because they thought the pizza man was trying to break in.
This law, while intending to protect people from criminals, also puts innocent life in the crosshairs as well.
Perhaps instead of letting people out of jail so soon, they ought to hold onto dangerous criminals longer and get rid of the gangs on the streets that threaten people. By getting the idiots into jail and keeping them there, they reduce the possibility of a situation where someone is forced to open fire to defend themselves from a criminal who means to do them harm.
The bill is not entirely bad. But it’s too broad and may allow criminal action to take place in the guise of legitimate self-defense.
A person does have a right to defend his or her family. But where does the line exist between using deadly force to deal with a perceived imminent threat, and outright self-defense?
The courts have to be able to determine that, and this law cuts them out of the process.
Someone who actually breaks into a house or attacks someone and gets shot should not be able to sue or press charges as is the case these days. That part of the new Florida law is entirely correct. It rights a wrong that has been responsible for sending the victim to jail and allowing the criminal to sue for damages. For what? Restraint of trade?
So, they ought to look at this law again, and make sure that the law is clearly spelled out so that there are no loopholes. Legitimate defense is one thing, but for a law to say that a person can now open fire WITHOUT trying to escape their attacker first is way out of line. It turns no-choice defense into aggression.
And it will be the untrained nincompoops that own handguns and have had no training whatsoever who will be quick on the trigger and slow on the common sense.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Laura Bush’s Roasting of President Bush…Priceless
The media has made a huge deal out of First Lady Laura Bush’s comedy routine at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, and rightly so.
It’s about time that Laura got to show off what she can do. Her roasting of her husband was…priceless. Despite the joke about the male horse, which some overnight armchair reporters said went a little far, her punch lines and delivery was nearly perfect.
People are looking forward to seeing and hearing what Letterman and Leno have to say on their shows tonight about her performance.
The White House is said to be extremely pleased with the First Lady’s takeover of the President’s speech. He was an extremely good sport about it.
It’s about time that Laura got to show off what she can do. Her roasting of her husband was…priceless. Despite the joke about the male horse, which some overnight armchair reporters said went a little far, her punch lines and delivery was nearly perfect.
People are looking forward to seeing and hearing what Letterman and Leno have to say on their shows tonight about her performance.
The White House is said to be extremely pleased with the First Lady’s takeover of the President’s speech. He was an extremely good sport about it.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Two Teens Feared Lost at Sea Found Safe and Sound
In a miraculous turn of events, two teenagers who were feared dead were found safe, six days and one hundred miles away from where they went off course. The pair were on a Sunfish sailboat and put in around Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, despite a small boat warning due to high winds and tide.
The boys realized they were in serious trouble almost immediately, and attempted to swim back to shore with the sailboat in tow, but the tide was too strong and they were swept out to sea. They were swept northward and were spotted six days later off of Cape Fear, North Carolina.
Here’s the story. What a happy ending!
The boys realized they were in serious trouble almost immediately, and attempted to swim back to shore with the sailboat in tow, but the tide was too strong and they were swept out to sea. They were swept northward and were spotted six days later off of Cape Fear, North Carolina.
Here’s the story. What a happy ending!
Another Pro Wrestler Dies Young: Conflicting Stories on What Happened
Chris Candido, a wrestler working for the TNA promotion passed away this morning at the age of 33. He had suffered an injury at a pay-per-view on Sunday and had surgery on Monday to correct the problem. It’s not clear what happened to him after that.
Pro wrestling has had a major problem for a long while: their wrestlers, while bigger and stronger than any of the previous generations, use steroids and other drugs that cause heart attacks and major health maladies. They also take more chances in and out of the ring too.
As a result, today’s stars die younger than the previous generations of stars before them.
Here’s an incomplete list of well-known wrestlers/managers that have died before their time (not in any particular order & which North American promotions they made their names in are included in parenthesis):
- Chris Candido, 33, cause unknown (TNA)
- Road Warrior Hawk, 34, heart attack (NWA, AWA, WCW, WWF/WWE)
- “Mr. Perfect” Curt Henning, 44, cocaine-induced heart attack (WWF, WCW)
- Chris Adams, 46, murdered (UWF, WCW)
- Renegade, 27, suicide (WCW)
- “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer, 32, heroin overdose (NWA)
- Bruiser Brody, 42, murdered (Many promotions)
- Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, 40, heart failure (WCCW)
- “Crash” Holly, 32, suicide (WWE)
- Brian Pillman, 35, heart attack (WCW, WWF)
- Yokozuna, 34, heart failure (WWF)
- Eddie Gilbert, 33, heart attack (Mid-South, UWF, WCW)
- Miss Elizabeth, 42, drug overdose (WWF, WCW)
- “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, 39, heart attack (WWF)
- Gino Hernandez, 29, suicide (NWA, WCCW)
- Dino Bravo, 45, murdered (AWA, WWF)
- Hercules Hernandez, 47, heart attack (Mid-South, NWA, WWF)
- “Ravishing” Rick Rude, 40, heart attack (WCCW, NWA, WWF, ECW, WCW)
- Owen Hart, 34, died in ring from 78-foot fall off of ceiling (Stampede, USWA, WWF/WWE)
- Pitbull II, 36, oxycontin drug overdose (ECW, NWA)
- Russ Hass, 27, heart attack (MCW Southern)
- David Von Erich, 25, drug overdose (WCCW/NWA)
- Mike Von Erich, 23, suicide (WCCW)
- Chris Von Erich, 21, suicide (WCCW)
- “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich, 33, suicide (WCCW, NWA, USWA, WWF)
There were others. When one considers how few pro wrestlers there are, the incidence of deaths from "other than natural causes" or "cancer" is alarmingly high. It's much higher than many other professions.
It’s very sad to see so many wrestlers that I grew up with dying so young. The Von Erichs kept killing themselves; that was hard to believe. Die-hard fans were heartbroken over all the Von Erich brothers but one (Kevin) going to their graves. Wrestling’s “first family” was gone forever.
Wrestling needs to clean up its act and get their talent away from drugs that are killing their best and brightest stars. Steroids are dangerous and they are illegal. The wrestlers don’t need watermelon-sized muscles to be excellent performers. Many of the performers above were top-card draws for the promotions; why aren’t the promotions being stricter on drug testing?
This is why pro wrestling isn’t fun to watch anymore. Too many heart attacks and drug overdoses and the resulting devastation to the wrestlers' families, friends and fans. The message that the promotions send to their young fans is too raunchy as well; that needs to be substantially changed.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Word Games and the Federal Budget: Dems & Reps Love ‘Em
When reading about President Bush’s $2.6 trillion federal budget being signed into law, one must read between the lines. Whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican in the White House, the other side ALWAYS criticizes the President’s budget.
Here’s the real deal:
The way that politicians define a “cut” is if this year’s increase in funding is smaller than last year’s. For instance, if the Federal Gobbledegook Program (my example, not a real program) got a 10% increase in budget last year, and will get a 7% increase this year, in political terms that’s a “cut.” Politicians ignore the fact that the Federal Gobbledegook Program is still getting a 7% increase over last year’s budget. It’s a nasty word game that they play.
Further, they take the 3% “cut” and multiply it out by five or ten years and then get on TV and say that the budget will take billions out of a program over five years or ten years.
Republicans did the same thing when Clinton was in office; now the Democrats are raking Bush over the coals for his “cuts” to health, education and so forth. Yet, miraculously, all of the programs that received “cuts” this year are still ahead of where they were in last year’s budget.
Word games are a politician’s favorite game. And the media plays right along.
Here’s the real deal:
The way that politicians define a “cut” is if this year’s increase in funding is smaller than last year’s. For instance, if the Federal Gobbledegook Program (my example, not a real program) got a 10% increase in budget last year, and will get a 7% increase this year, in political terms that’s a “cut.” Politicians ignore the fact that the Federal Gobbledegook Program is still getting a 7% increase over last year’s budget. It’s a nasty word game that they play.
Further, they take the 3% “cut” and multiply it out by five or ten years and then get on TV and say that the budget will take billions out of a program over five years or ten years.
Republicans did the same thing when Clinton was in office; now the Democrats are raking Bush over the coals for his “cuts” to health, education and so forth. Yet, miraculously, all of the programs that received “cuts” this year are still ahead of where they were in last year’s budget.
Word games are a politician’s favorite game. And the media plays right along.
Gone But Not Forgotten: MIAs Remembered on 30th Anniversary of the End of the Vietnam War
Thirty years ago today, North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon and ended the Vietnam War. In observances over there and over here, both sides remembered the horror of war and the loss of so many.
The loss of over 58,000 U.S. soldiers still haunts our nation and the 1,800 men still missing and unaccounted for is a reminder of what still needs to be done.
The recovery of all the men listed as “Missing in Action” will finally close a painful chapter of American history. Until this is accomplished, those families will continue to languish. That isn’t right.
Thirty years is too long to wait to learn that a love one died on some distant battlefield or died in a prisoner of war camp. This issue must be resolved; we owe it to those families, to the men who fought and died there, and to the tens of thousands of veterans who made it home.
The loss of over 58,000 U.S. soldiers still haunts our nation and the 1,800 men still missing and unaccounted for is a reminder of what still needs to be done.
The recovery of all the men listed as “Missing in Action” will finally close a painful chapter of American history. Until this is accomplished, those families will continue to languish. That isn’t right.
Thirty years is too long to wait to learn that a love one died on some distant battlefield or died in a prisoner of war camp. This issue must be resolved; we owe it to those families, to the men who fought and died there, and to the tens of thousands of veterans who made it home.
NASA Moves Launch of Space Shuttle From May to July
NASA is backing away from its overaggressive launch schedule for the space shuttle Discovery by moving the launch date from May to July. This is not a set-back; it is a very good move.
NASA needs more time to complete the modifications to the Discovery and work to implement all the recommendations of the Columbia Disaster commission that NASA put together to investigate the causes of the break-up of shuttle Columbia over Texas two years ago.
The space agency had been making noise recently, saying that they were going to have to water down the recommendations in order to be able to launch the shuttle in May. Unacceptable!
NASA shouldn’t even consider igniting a rocket booster that blasts seven human beings, a 4.3 million pound machine with three engines and tens of thousands of moving parts, a large fuel tank filled with 1.6 million pounds of propellant, two solid rocket boosters and the hopes and dreams of an entire nation into space by weakening their own safety rules.
Hopefully they’ll delay it again (if they have to) in order to fix the problems.
NASA needs more time to complete the modifications to the Discovery and work to implement all the recommendations of the Columbia Disaster commission that NASA put together to investigate the causes of the break-up of shuttle Columbia over Texas two years ago.
The space agency had been making noise recently, saying that they were going to have to water down the recommendations in order to be able to launch the shuttle in May. Unacceptable!
NASA shouldn’t even consider igniting a rocket booster that blasts seven human beings, a 4.3 million pound machine with three engines and tens of thousands of moving parts, a large fuel tank filled with 1.6 million pounds of propellant, two solid rocket boosters and the hopes and dreams of an entire nation into space by weakening their own safety rules.
Hopefully they’ll delay it again (if they have to) in order to fix the problems.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Prosecution’s Star Witness Testifies in Favor of Jackson
Michael Jackson’s ex-wife is causing the prosecutors in his child molestation case to have kittens.
Her testimony today is not what the prosecution expected to hear. She admitted that what she said in a 2003 Jackson-produced rebuttal video to Martin Bashir’s “Living with Michael Jackson” production was NOT scripted as the prosecution has said. Here’s the story.
This is another indication of what's going to happen when the jury gets the case.
There will be a hung jury; Jackson will walk away a free man.
The prosecution case is falling apart faster and faster. Judging from the parade of highly questionable witnesses, it's safe to say that the prosecution killed their own case.
And the circus continues (on the taxpayer dime, mind you). It doesn't matter if Jackson did what they say he did or not. Not anymore. The prosecution made that possible. And all in the name of settling a decade-old grudge. So much for justice being served.
If by some stroke of fate Jackson is convicted (highly unlikely), there's enough prosecutor screw-ups floating around to have Jackson appeals for years to come. Also on the taxpayer dime. Celebrity justice, anyone?
Her testimony today is not what the prosecution expected to hear. She admitted that what she said in a 2003 Jackson-produced rebuttal video to Martin Bashir’s “Living with Michael Jackson” production was NOT scripted as the prosecution has said. Here’s the story.
This is another indication of what's going to happen when the jury gets the case.
There will be a hung jury; Jackson will walk away a free man.
The prosecution case is falling apart faster and faster. Judging from the parade of highly questionable witnesses, it's safe to say that the prosecution killed their own case.
And the circus continues (on the taxpayer dime, mind you). It doesn't matter if Jackson did what they say he did or not. Not anymore. The prosecution made that possible. And all in the name of settling a decade-old grudge. So much for justice being served.
If by some stroke of fate Jackson is convicted (highly unlikely), there's enough prosecutor screw-ups floating around to have Jackson appeals for years to come. Also on the taxpayer dime. Celebrity justice, anyone?
House Ethics Committee Needs to Get to Work and Quit Wasting Time
The politically powerful (and influenced) House Ethics Committee needs to get to work. They’ve been arguing about which rules to follow for months. Enough!
Here’s a few thoughts: the idea of politicians sitting in judgment of their own peers is utterly stupid and self-defeating. That committee should vote itself out of existence and a committee of judges should take over that job (IF the House is serious about ethics).
That panel of judges should be independent and not have any relationships with anyone in Congress. It would be like an independent counsel and their recommendations would be passed on to the full House for consideration.
The half-measures and changing of rules when an investigation is in progress must end!
Here’s a few thoughts: the idea of politicians sitting in judgment of their own peers is utterly stupid and self-defeating. That committee should vote itself out of existence and a committee of judges should take over that job (IF the House is serious about ethics).
That panel of judges should be independent and not have any relationships with anyone in Congress. It would be like an independent counsel and their recommendations would be passed on to the full House for consideration.
The half-measures and changing of rules when an investigation is in progress must end!
Chemical Safety Bill Needs to Pass in Congress Soon
The two houses of Congress have been batting around a bill that will require additional security at the nation’s 15,000 chemical plants. It has been stalled due to the introduction of amendments to the bill that attempt to regulate the chemical companies themselves.
Security concerns need to be separated from all other considerations at this time.
The bill should focus on getting more security fences, guards, cameras, and emergency response services in place to stop terrorists from trying to start huge chemical fires or explosions near the population centers.
The focus needs to move away from the government trying to tell the companies which chemicals they can use and which ones they cannot.
Instead, chemical plants should have an assigned classification based on the chemicals that are there and build the new security measures around that rating. The classifications should be based on chemicals that have the most potential to be damaging or destructive to humans should those chemicals be set on fire or blown up by terrorist bombs. The higher the plant is on the classification list, the more security it needs.
There may already have such a classification system in place, but security must be upgraded at all plants, not just some of them.
This bill needs to happen NOW. And this should be part of the Homeland Security budget as well. Protecting America’s chemical plants should be a joint operation between the companies and the government. This cannot wait any longer.
Security concerns need to be separated from all other considerations at this time.
The bill should focus on getting more security fences, guards, cameras, and emergency response services in place to stop terrorists from trying to start huge chemical fires or explosions near the population centers.
The focus needs to move away from the government trying to tell the companies which chemicals they can use and which ones they cannot.
Instead, chemical plants should have an assigned classification based on the chemicals that are there and build the new security measures around that rating. The classifications should be based on chemicals that have the most potential to be damaging or destructive to humans should those chemicals be set on fire or blown up by terrorist bombs. The higher the plant is on the classification list, the more security it needs.
There may already have such a classification system in place, but security must be upgraded at all plants, not just some of them.
This bill needs to happen NOW. And this should be part of the Homeland Security budget as well. Protecting America’s chemical plants should be a joint operation between the companies and the government. This cannot wait any longer.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Michigan Newspaper Suffers Anthrax Scare
The Midland Daily News was partially closed yesterday as HazMat teams removed an envelope containing a white powder that was sent to the editor of the paper.
The substance proved not to be anthrax, but no chances were being taken. Seven workers at the Daily News were sent to the hospital and everyone else was quarantined for several hours.
It's very unfortunate that people continue to do stuff like this; it's another form of domestic terrorism. Hopefully the police will be able to get some fingerprints and make an arrest. They need to make an example of someone for this "joke" that was in very poor taste.
Midland is home to the world headquarters of Dow Chemical as well as several Dow chemical plants, so the powder is being tested for other properties other than anthrax as well.
Here's the story.
The substance proved not to be anthrax, but no chances were being taken. Seven workers at the Daily News were sent to the hospital and everyone else was quarantined for several hours.
It's very unfortunate that people continue to do stuff like this; it's another form of domestic terrorism. Hopefully the police will be able to get some fingerprints and make an arrest. They need to make an example of someone for this "joke" that was in very poor taste.
Midland is home to the world headquarters of Dow Chemical as well as several Dow chemical plants, so the powder is being tested for other properties other than anthrax as well.
Here's the story.
Doctor Proposes New CPR Technique
MSNBC reported a story about a doctor who wants to change how CPR is done. Currently the American Heart Association and the Red Cross teach adult CPR with a 15:2 chest compression to rescue breath ratio. To review, here is the technique from start to finish (for an unconscious adult who is NOT choking) :
- Survey the Scene
- Determine Responsiveness
- Call 911
- Head Tilt/Chin Lift
- Look, Listen & Feel for Breathing
- 2 Rescue Breaths
- Check Pulse--No Pulse, Start CPR. (We'll assume there is no pulse).
- Start four cycles of 15 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths.
- After the fourth cycle of 15:2, recheck pulse. If pulse present, continue rescue breathing. If no pulse present, go for another four cycles of 15:2.
The doctor in this story says to skip the rescue breaths and just do chest compressions. He says that the current CPR technique is causing more people to die and has convinced Tucson, AZ, to use his technique. Early results appear promising, but more research needs to be done.
A note to all CPR-trained people: unless/until the American Medical Association says otherwise (as well as the Red Cross and American Heart Association), continue the current technique. If they go with any new techniques, you'll get the new training the next time you go to recertify. This is still in the early stages of development.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
GOP Control of Congress Remains in Danger Over Schiavo Case
During the debate over Terri Schiavo's fate, GOP lawmakers tried to intervene in the case by transferring the case from district into federal courts.
The federal judges subsequently thumbed their noses at the Congress and allowed Terri to die. The culture of death won another victory.
The general feeling out there is that the GOP intervened for the wrong reasons; and that it has given the general public the impression that the Republicans have gone too far to the right. This situation is on the same level as that funeral service for Minnesota Democrat Paul Wellstone which the Democrats hijacked and turned into an all-out political rally. Democrats lost big-time in the elections after that debacle.
In the Schiavo controversy, the politically damaging memo that was circulated in GOP ranks said that Republican lawmakers should intervene as it would play well with their conservative supporters back home. Bad move. The aide who circulated this memo was sent packing.
Then came the attempt to call the comatose Terri to Capitol Hill to testify before Congress. They knew full well that Terri wasn't going to be able to speak to them, but they did it to get the tube re-inserted. It was a delaying tactic; nothing more. Terry's deterioration continued while this was happening. This was totally ineffective and caused the loss of precious time.
Then came the quick decision from Congress to transfer the case from state into federal courts via a newly passed law, for which President Bush cut short his holiday and returned to Washington so he could be on hand to sign it. The GOP went out on a limb on this one and hoped that the courts would take advantage of their "good" legislation to get the case into their courtrooms and save Terri's life. They didn't. Schiavo died.
Congress should have gone about this differently. The sad truth is that from the moment the case was transferred to federal court, Terri was doomed. This was a state matter, not a federal one. Those federal judges who thumbed their noses up at Congress were not about to tell Congress that it was out of line because they might have been impeached by the same lawmakers who passed this ill-considered and hastily drawn-up bill.
The GOP really needs to move a little left; the Democrats need to move a little right and the moderates need to raise hell with the leadership of both parties for leaving them behind. As it stands now the GOP will probably lose some seats because of their blunders in the Schiavo case, but how many depends on what they do to court ALL their bases of support.
Make no mistake: that tube should have been reinserted; the judges in Florida were wrong to allow the tube to be removed; this was no woman in a mere coma. Some think Terri's condition was something new or was a twist on something old, but now that she's gone, further research on Terri's condition is not possible.
Someday, someone else will display the same signs and symptoms as Terri and it may be recognized as a new medical condition that is worthy of study. And hopefully Terri's name will be remembered when that day comes.
Get your act together, Congress, and knock off the stupid political games and grandstanding!
The federal judges subsequently thumbed their noses at the Congress and allowed Terri to die. The culture of death won another victory.
The general feeling out there is that the GOP intervened for the wrong reasons; and that it has given the general public the impression that the Republicans have gone too far to the right. This situation is on the same level as that funeral service for Minnesota Democrat Paul Wellstone which the Democrats hijacked and turned into an all-out political rally. Democrats lost big-time in the elections after that debacle.
In the Schiavo controversy, the politically damaging memo that was circulated in GOP ranks said that Republican lawmakers should intervene as it would play well with their conservative supporters back home. Bad move. The aide who circulated this memo was sent packing.
Then came the attempt to call the comatose Terri to Capitol Hill to testify before Congress. They knew full well that Terri wasn't going to be able to speak to them, but they did it to get the tube re-inserted. It was a delaying tactic; nothing more. Terry's deterioration continued while this was happening. This was totally ineffective and caused the loss of precious time.
Then came the quick decision from Congress to transfer the case from state into federal courts via a newly passed law, for which President Bush cut short his holiday and returned to Washington so he could be on hand to sign it. The GOP went out on a limb on this one and hoped that the courts would take advantage of their "good" legislation to get the case into their courtrooms and save Terri's life. They didn't. Schiavo died.
Congress should have gone about this differently. The sad truth is that from the moment the case was transferred to federal court, Terri was doomed. This was a state matter, not a federal one. Those federal judges who thumbed their noses up at Congress were not about to tell Congress that it was out of line because they might have been impeached by the same lawmakers who passed this ill-considered and hastily drawn-up bill.
The GOP really needs to move a little left; the Democrats need to move a little right and the moderates need to raise hell with the leadership of both parties for leaving them behind. As it stands now the GOP will probably lose some seats because of their blunders in the Schiavo case, but how many depends on what they do to court ALL their bases of support.
Make no mistake: that tube should have been reinserted; the judges in Florida were wrong to allow the tube to be removed; this was no woman in a mere coma. Some think Terri's condition was something new or was a twist on something old, but now that she's gone, further research on Terri's condition is not possible.
Someday, someone else will display the same signs and symptoms as Terri and it may be recognized as a new medical condition that is worthy of study. And hopefully Terri's name will be remembered when that day comes.
Get your act together, Congress, and knock off the stupid political games and grandstanding!
Friday, April 22, 2005
NASA Still Rushing to Get Shuttle Operational--Bad Move
A New York Times story indicated that documents leaked to the paper show that NASA is having problems meeting the standards laid out by the space shuttle accident board and that they are looking for ways to loosen up some of the standards to get the shuttle into space faster.
Bad move.
NASA really ought to delay launching any shuttles for a year and fix the problems. What's it going to take to really change the culture at NASA? Another destroyed shuttle? Another seven bodies? People on the ground getting killed by another Columbia-style break-up? A seven-ton piece of the shuttle crashing into a school?
Perhaps it is time to retire the current shuttle fleet in favor of a stronger design that is more resistant to penetration by debris. If NASA can't operate it's equipment with minimal actual risk and has to play with rules to get the shuttles off the ground, it is not acceptable.
The other part of this is that there are risks to space flight. Those risks have to be dealt with as things happen. Softening the rules increases those risks unnecessarily.
Bad move.
NASA really ought to delay launching any shuttles for a year and fix the problems. What's it going to take to really change the culture at NASA? Another destroyed shuttle? Another seven bodies? People on the ground getting killed by another Columbia-style break-up? A seven-ton piece of the shuttle crashing into a school?
Perhaps it is time to retire the current shuttle fleet in favor of a stronger design that is more resistant to penetration by debris. If NASA can't operate it's equipment with minimal actual risk and has to play with rules to get the shuttles off the ground, it is not acceptable.
The other part of this is that there are risks to space flight. Those risks have to be dealt with as things happen. Softening the rules increases those risks unnecessarily.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Myanmar Government Accused of Using Chemical Weapons on Rebels
The government of Myanmar (in southeast Asia bordering Thailand) has been accused by human rights watchdog groups of using chemical weapons on rebel forces two months ago.
There has been a long-running war between the government there and rebels who represent a wide variety of interests, including the country's fledgling democracy movement. It is feared that mustard gas canisters were airbursted inside rebel lines as the government fights to maintain its military junta that came to power in 1962.
If it is found that they did use chemical weapons, the international community should isolate Myanmar diplomatically and economically until all of their stockpiles of chemical weapons are either destroyed or surrendered.
Any country that uses chemical weapons for any reason should be barred from possessing them in the future.
Here's the report.
There has been a long-running war between the government there and rebels who represent a wide variety of interests, including the country's fledgling democracy movement. It is feared that mustard gas canisters were airbursted inside rebel lines as the government fights to maintain its military junta that came to power in 1962.
If it is found that they did use chemical weapons, the international community should isolate Myanmar diplomatically and economically until all of their stockpiles of chemical weapons are either destroyed or surrendered.
Any country that uses chemical weapons for any reason should be barred from possessing them in the future.
Here's the report.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Endgame Approaching in Jackson Case: Culkin to Testify
Sources are saying that Macaulay Culkin will be testifying on Michael Jackson's behalf soon in the molestation trial of the singer.
Endgame.
Culkin's testimony could make or break either side's case. If he says that nothing happened and isn't destroyed by the prosecution's cross examination, it'll be another nail in the coffin of the prosecution's case.
If he testifies that Jackson did abuse him, it could be enough to revive the prosecution's dying case IF he survives the defense's proven ability to destroy the credibility of witnesses.
In either case, it will be interesting to hear what he has to say. Here's the CNN story.
Endgame.
Culkin's testimony could make or break either side's case. If he says that nothing happened and isn't destroyed by the prosecution's cross examination, it'll be another nail in the coffin of the prosecution's case.
If he testifies that Jackson did abuse him, it could be enough to revive the prosecution's dying case IF he survives the defense's proven ability to destroy the credibility of witnesses.
In either case, it will be interesting to hear what he has to say. Here's the CNN story.
Interesting Note on Bolton Confirmation Hearings
It's interesting to note that President Bush's nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is being criticized for being a screamer to his subordinates.
Managers and owners should sit up and take note of this situation. How they treat their employees may come back to haunt them when they least expect it. Bolton's nomination may be terminated over that very possibility. There's a lot of politics in play, but in the end, here's the bottom line:
No one likes a jerk for a boss.
"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." --Scott Adams
Managers and owners should sit up and take note of this situation. How they treat their employees may come back to haunt them when they least expect it. Bolton's nomination may be terminated over that very possibility. There's a lot of politics in play, but in the end, here's the bottom line:
No one likes a jerk for a boss.
"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." --Scott Adams
World Press Did a Decent Job of Covering Announcement of New Pope
Thank you to the world press for observing Catholic traditions on electing a new Pope. No one violated the secrecy edict that the cardinals had put into place, so everyone learned of the new pope at the same time.
They did a good job of covering the news of the new pope's election, but the analysis of Benedict XVI's possible direction of the future Catholic church was mixed at best. Liberal observers were much more critical while conservative observers were much more supportive.
The players all fell in as expected: CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN and ABC all highlighted the negatives of the new Pope's past writings and actions, while Fox News covered the new Pope in a party atmosphere. The Fox News coverage was much more enjoyable. They were also able to cover the "controversies" (disagreements actually) around Benedict XVI without ruining the moment.
Someone needs to explain to the networks that there is no such thing as a "liberal" Catholic. Either a person is or is not a Catholic. And that person has to live with and by their decision.
They did a good job of covering the news of the new pope's election, but the analysis of Benedict XVI's possible direction of the future Catholic church was mixed at best. Liberal observers were much more critical while conservative observers were much more supportive.
The players all fell in as expected: CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN and ABC all highlighted the negatives of the new Pope's past writings and actions, while Fox News covered the new Pope in a party atmosphere. The Fox News coverage was much more enjoyable. They were also able to cover the "controversies" (disagreements actually) around Benedict XVI without ruining the moment.
Someone needs to explain to the networks that there is no such thing as a "liberal" Catholic. Either a person is or is not a Catholic. And that person has to live with and by their decision.
DeLay's Criticism of Justice Kennedy Raises Important Questions
Tom DeLay went on the attack yesterday, criticizing Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's decisions from the bench, saying that the Justice uses the Internet to do scholarly research on legal issues and bases his decisions on international law.
While DeLay's criticisms are political and part of a huge political firefight between Democrats and Republicans, his comments do raise a couple of red flags:
While DeLay's criticisms are political and part of a huge political firefight between Democrats and Republicans, his comments do raise a couple of red flags:
- Is the Supreme Court supposed to look at international law when deciding on U.S. Constitutional issues? The supreme law of the land is the United States Constitution, not the United Nations or any international treaty that the U.S. has signed. There have been rumblings that some of the Justices were researching international treaties and basing their decisions on those treaties, and not the Constitution. That is hard to believe, but the Justices should be basing their decisions exclusively on the U.S. Constitution. There should not be an international flavor to American legal practices.
- Looking on the Internet for ironclad legal insight is a risky thing to do for a Supreme Court Justice. Anyone can change information posted on the Internet. Doesn't the high court have its own database with every legal decision ever made in it, that is constantly scrutinized by batteries of attorneys and so forth for accuracy? Justices should be looking at legal opinions there, and not at web sites that may have glaring mistakes or personal opinions mixed in there.
So DeLay's comments, while aimed at his detractors who want him out of his job in the House, did raise some good talking points. Here's the original story.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
German Cardinal Is Elected Pope--First German Pope in 1,000 Years
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany was elected as the Catholic Church's new leader and assumed the papal name of Pope Benedict XVI.
Benedict XVI is much older than when John Paul II was elected; he's 78. The last pope to be in his upper 70's when he was elected was back in 1730.
And yes, he is an ultra-conservative. Many liberals around the world are dismayed over the new Pope's stand on abortion, homosexuality, female priests, celibate priests, the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, and other polarizing issues. Conservatives are pleased that the church won't be undergoing radical changes and will continue to fight against secularism and will not give in to so-called "liberal" Catholics who want to "modernize" the church.
Some people don't seem to realize that the cardinals are dead-set against relativism and chose a man who would fight it tooth and nail. People also have to understand that the cardinals did not want another long reign and so chose an older man as the pontiff.
Also, because Pope John Paul II's reign was so long, his influence will be felt for a long time to come. To have a more liberal pope at this time would have risked splitting the church even more than it is already. By introducing change more slowly, the church can adapt better in the long run, instead of rocking the boat so soon after John Paul II's death. That's what some of the cardinals are saying.
For those who were hoping for a Latin American, African or Asian pope, they still might. But in the meantime, Benedict XVI is the rightful leader of the Catholic Church and deserves the religious allegiance of the world's Catholics.
May his voice protect the innocent and defend the weak; may he use his his strength as the leader of a billion Catholics worldwide to continue the church's opposition to polarizing issues (abortion, death penalty, gay marriage, etc), and resist the same type of secularization that has taken hold of some of the other Christian religions.
Finally, may he take steps to bridge the gaps between Catholics and Jews by opening up the Vatican archives of Pope Pius XII to scholars to settle the matter of the Holocaust. Only after the truth is known can there be moves toward settlement of differences between the Vatican and the world's Jewish people on this divisive issue. For this pope to come out and directly apologize for the Vatican's inaction during World War II would mean a great deal to the survivors.
The smart money says this pope will live up to his reputation on some issues and bend a bit on others. Changes will probably be minimal, but new ways of thinking about issues may come out. This man is said to be a brilliant theologian, so the church may reflect that in it's thinking.
Benedict XVI is much older than when John Paul II was elected; he's 78. The last pope to be in his upper 70's when he was elected was back in 1730.
And yes, he is an ultra-conservative. Many liberals around the world are dismayed over the new Pope's stand on abortion, homosexuality, female priests, celibate priests, the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, and other polarizing issues. Conservatives are pleased that the church won't be undergoing radical changes and will continue to fight against secularism and will not give in to so-called "liberal" Catholics who want to "modernize" the church.
Some people don't seem to realize that the cardinals are dead-set against relativism and chose a man who would fight it tooth and nail. People also have to understand that the cardinals did not want another long reign and so chose an older man as the pontiff.
Also, because Pope John Paul II's reign was so long, his influence will be felt for a long time to come. To have a more liberal pope at this time would have risked splitting the church even more than it is already. By introducing change more slowly, the church can adapt better in the long run, instead of rocking the boat so soon after John Paul II's death. That's what some of the cardinals are saying.
For those who were hoping for a Latin American, African or Asian pope, they still might. But in the meantime, Benedict XVI is the rightful leader of the Catholic Church and deserves the religious allegiance of the world's Catholics.
May his voice protect the innocent and defend the weak; may he use his his strength as the leader of a billion Catholics worldwide to continue the church's opposition to polarizing issues (abortion, death penalty, gay marriage, etc), and resist the same type of secularization that has taken hold of some of the other Christian religions.
Finally, may he take steps to bridge the gaps between Catholics and Jews by opening up the Vatican archives of Pope Pius XII to scholars to settle the matter of the Holocaust. Only after the truth is known can there be moves toward settlement of differences between the Vatican and the world's Jewish people on this divisive issue. For this pope to come out and directly apologize for the Vatican's inaction during World War II would mean a great deal to the survivors.
The smart money says this pope will live up to his reputation on some issues and bend a bit on others. Changes will probably be minimal, but new ways of thinking about issues may come out. This man is said to be a brilliant theologian, so the church may reflect that in it's thinking.
Monday, April 18, 2005
World Press Should Honor Vatican Traditions of Electing New Pope
The world press should respect the secrecy of the papal conclaves going on in Vatican City as they strive to elect Pope John Paul II's successor. In today's day and age, the rush is always on for the networks to be the first to break the news to their viewers.
There's no need to "scoop" their competitors in this case. All they need to do is focus their cameras on the Sistine Chapel's chimney twice a day (1200 and 1900 GMT+2). If the smoke coming out of the chimney is white, the new Pope will be presented to the world one hour later.
The cardinals and attendants face excommunication from the church if they reveal what's happening in there. They're not going to talk. The Swiss Guards won't either. So the media should wait like everyone else.
There's no need to "scoop" their competitors in this case. All they need to do is focus their cameras on the Sistine Chapel's chimney twice a day (1200 and 1900 GMT+2). If the smoke coming out of the chimney is white, the new Pope will be presented to the world one hour later.
The cardinals and attendants face excommunication from the church if they reveal what's happening in there. They're not going to talk. The Swiss Guards won't either. So the media should wait like everyone else.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Tom DeLay Situation: Get Rid of 'Em All
The Democrats are currently engaged in a campaign to get the GOP leader of the House to step down for perceived abuses of power. The Republicans have done this to Democratic leaders in the past too.
The Republicans in charge of the ethics committee keep switching rules back and forth to suit their particular needs and to shield their people from the full weight of the ethics committee from coming down on their offending members. Democrats have done this in the past too.
It's been said that vulnerabilities are exploitable weaknesses. That saying holds water in the U.S. Congress.
Here's how the American people should handle this: next election time, vote for a breath of fresh air and get new people in there who aren't moldy from too much time in politics. This is why there is a strong push for term limits in many U.S. states.
Congress should follow its own rules and not be allowed to change rules to protect their people.
The Republicans in charge of the ethics committee keep switching rules back and forth to suit their particular needs and to shield their people from the full weight of the ethics committee from coming down on their offending members. Democrats have done this in the past too.
It's been said that vulnerabilities are exploitable weaknesses. That saying holds water in the U.S. Congress.
Here's how the American people should handle this: next election time, vote for a breath of fresh air and get new people in there who aren't moldy from too much time in politics. This is why there is a strong push for term limits in many U.S. states.
Congress should follow its own rules and not be allowed to change rules to protect their people.
Changes Needed in Judicial Confirmation Process
There should be a law requiring the Senate to have a 'yes' or 'no' vote within a certain timeframe of EVERY nominated person under consideration for a federal judgeship.
For members on both sides of the aisle to delay judicial nominees is not right and it is not fair. If there is a problem with a particular nominee, bring it up, ask the nominee about it, then allow the vote to happen.
Let these people get on their lives instead of making them wait months or even years for a Senate vote.
Filibustering should end at the end of the timeframe and the vote should then be taken.
For members on both sides of the aisle to delay judicial nominees is not right and it is not fair. If there is a problem with a particular nominee, bring it up, ask the nominee about it, then allow the vote to happen.
Let these people get on their lives instead of making them wait months or even years for a Senate vote.
Filibustering should end at the end of the timeframe and the vote should then be taken.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Two Families Declare War on Each Other After Their Teens Begin Dating
Talk about something from the pages of Mark Twain, who wrote of family blood feuds in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn!
Two families who don't like each other went at it with guns blazing after a teen from one of the families began dating another teen from the other family. The shoot-out left six wounded and no one is talking to the police.
The Crescent City Police Department in Florida is watching members of both families very closely to make sure that this feud is over and that there will be no reprisals.
Here's the story. Unbelievable!
Two families who don't like each other went at it with guns blazing after a teen from one of the families began dating another teen from the other family. The shoot-out left six wounded and no one is talking to the police.
The Crescent City Police Department in Florida is watching members of both families very closely to make sure that this feud is over and that there will be no reprisals.
Here's the story. Unbelievable!
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Violent Chinese Demonstrations at Japanese Embassy & Businesses in Beijing Prompt Japanese Call for Apology
In the latest escalation between Japan and China over a blazing World War II history row, Japan is demanding a Chinese apology for the damage done to its embassy in Beijing, for the damage to their ambassador's residence and for damage to Japanese-owned Beijing companies and shops. The Japanese are also demanding compensation to foot the bills for repairing everything.
This was after thousands of angry rock and bottle-throwing Chinese civilians pelted the Japanese embassy and destroyed several businesses as an anti-Japanese rally quickly became violent. Here's what happened.
Japan angered China by its apparent "whitewash" of Japanese atrocities before and during World War II with regards to its invasion of China in Japanese middle-school history texts. The situation has not improved and has caused severe diplomatic problems between Japan and China.
There was already tension over disputed islands in the South China Sea, the recent incursion of a Chinese Navy submarine into sovereign Japanese waters, and disputes over underwater gas fields which lay beneath the seabed and between the two Asian economic superpowers. The history textbooks, written by Japanese nationalists, are causing no small amount of headaches in Beijing and Tokyo.
It's too bad all of these things are happening at the same time. It has not been helpful to the six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear problem, nor has it helped ease tensions between China and Taiwan. In addition, Beijing and some of the other Asian nations are uneasy about Japanese troops going overseas on peacekeeping missions or Japan's limited participation in the Iraq War.
Japan could throw water on the fire by taking another look at the textbooks and perhaps delay the release of the offensive textbooks for a while until a suitable alternative can be found. The two nations are trading partners, but that may be affected next if things don't improve on the other issues.
Hopefully they settle their differences without it escalating any further.
This was after thousands of angry rock and bottle-throwing Chinese civilians pelted the Japanese embassy and destroyed several businesses as an anti-Japanese rally quickly became violent. Here's what happened.
Japan angered China by its apparent "whitewash" of Japanese atrocities before and during World War II with regards to its invasion of China in Japanese middle-school history texts. The situation has not improved and has caused severe diplomatic problems between Japan and China.
There was already tension over disputed islands in the South China Sea, the recent incursion of a Chinese Navy submarine into sovereign Japanese waters, and disputes over underwater gas fields which lay beneath the seabed and between the two Asian economic superpowers. The history textbooks, written by Japanese nationalists, are causing no small amount of headaches in Beijing and Tokyo.
It's too bad all of these things are happening at the same time. It has not been helpful to the six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear problem, nor has it helped ease tensions between China and Taiwan. In addition, Beijing and some of the other Asian nations are uneasy about Japanese troops going overseas on peacekeeping missions or Japan's limited participation in the Iraq War.
Japan could throw water on the fire by taking another look at the textbooks and perhaps delay the release of the offensive textbooks for a while until a suitable alternative can be found. The two nations are trading partners, but that may be affected next if things don't improve on the other issues.
Hopefully they settle their differences without it escalating any further.
KKK & Nazi Auction Cancelled For the Wrong Reasons
Recently an auction that was to be held in Mason, Michigan, and featured Nazi and KKK auction items was cancelled due to apparent KKK efforts to recruit new members in the area that the auction was to be held. Here's that part of the story.
It was a good decision made for bad reasons.
It's unfortunate that the auctioneers even scheduled the event, which drew very negative international press attention to the area, and was an insult to all the victims of Nazi genocide and KKK atrocities over the years.
It's very appropriate for it NOT to be held since ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp by the advancing U.S. 3rd Army are being held in Germany today.
Some 56,000 people were killed at the Buchenwald death camp. Some were worked to death, others were shot, others were killed in sickening medical experiments by Nazi doctors. Here's the story.
THAT'S why the auction in Michigan should have been cancelled. Not because the Ku Klux Klowns put out literature, or because someone who was attempting to pressure the auction to be cancelled produced and distributed some venomous literature which looked like it was KKK material.
The KKK and other white supremacist groups adopted Nazi ideas, symbols and beliefs; they need to be fought aggressively and having a KKK auction is not conducive to accomplishing that.
For Nazi and KKK auctions, rallies and parades to be accepted by mainstream America is a bad precedent and gives a green light to malcontents to come in, have their parades and protests and then to leave the area (that didn't want the auctions and protests in the first place) in worse shape than they found it.
The auctioneer is wondering what to do with the "artifacts." Destroying them seems to be a good solution.
It was a good decision made for bad reasons.
It's unfortunate that the auctioneers even scheduled the event, which drew very negative international press attention to the area, and was an insult to all the victims of Nazi genocide and KKK atrocities over the years.
It's very appropriate for it NOT to be held since ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp by the advancing U.S. 3rd Army are being held in Germany today.
Some 56,000 people were killed at the Buchenwald death camp. Some were worked to death, others were shot, others were killed in sickening medical experiments by Nazi doctors. Here's the story.
THAT'S why the auction in Michigan should have been cancelled. Not because the Ku Klux Klowns put out literature, or because someone who was attempting to pressure the auction to be cancelled produced and distributed some venomous literature which looked like it was KKK material.
The KKK and other white supremacist groups adopted Nazi ideas, symbols and beliefs; they need to be fought aggressively and having a KKK auction is not conducive to accomplishing that.
For Nazi and KKK auctions, rallies and parades to be accepted by mainstream America is a bad precedent and gives a green light to malcontents to come in, have their parades and protests and then to leave the area (that didn't want the auctions and protests in the first place) in worse shape than they found it.
The auctioneer is wondering what to do with the "artifacts." Destroying them seems to be a good solution.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Michael Jackson May Get Off: Case Not Going Well for Prosecution
Defense attorneys in the Michael Jackson case have demolished several of the prosecution witnesses, getting them to admit to lying on the stand. The accuser's brother, an ex-guard, an ex-maid and a few others have been painted in a very bad way, and it can only help the defense case.
The prosecution's notion of bringing up past accusations to gain ground is not working. While the tabloids have enjoyed printing every detail of every accusation, money appears to be a huge factor in this case and it's crippled the prosecution's effort to convince the jury that Jackson is a child molester.
The Jackson defense has said that $20 million was paid out to the 1993 accuser to make the case go away because Jackson didn't want his name dragged through the mud back then. He did not admit that he abused the kid; he just wanted the accusations to go away.
Jackson's accuser's mom has a reputation for suing people for everything in sight. The accuser himself has a lengthy juvenile record. So many prosecution witnesses have credibility issues that it's downright shocking that the prosecution put them on the stand, knowing full well that an experienced defense attorney would zero in on those weaknesses. Here's one story. Many have tried to sue Jackson; some succeeded, most failed.
The defense case is about to begin, and a star-studded celebrity circus seems likely. The prosecution will have to attack the credibility of the defense witnesses.
There's no doubt that Jackson is odd. There's almost universal agreement on that point. Lapses in judgment...definitely. Having someone else's kid sleep in his bed with him was not a brainstorm on Jackson's part. And Jackson himself is his own worst enemy. He will lose the case if he takes the stand. Most of his press conferences on these cases have been unbelievable disasters.
If the prosecution wants to win this case, it needs to stop the parade of unreliable witnesses, and focus on presenting facts in the current case. The strategy of presenting past accusations has distracted attention from the "here and now" and the prosecution must do a better job of communicating what it feels Jackson may have done to the twelve jurors. That's a huge job. And they need to prosecute Jackson in court, not in the media.
The defense has to keep Jackson in his seat and continue doing what it's been doing. They need to settle the Culkin question by getting him on the stand and take him out of the equation. Here's another story.
No matter which way this thing goes, it's doubtful that the truth will emerge from the garbage in this case and real closure will not happen. Celebrity justice is like that. Remember OJ?
The prosecution's notion of bringing up past accusations to gain ground is not working. While the tabloids have enjoyed printing every detail of every accusation, money appears to be a huge factor in this case and it's crippled the prosecution's effort to convince the jury that Jackson is a child molester.
The Jackson defense has said that $20 million was paid out to the 1993 accuser to make the case go away because Jackson didn't want his name dragged through the mud back then. He did not admit that he abused the kid; he just wanted the accusations to go away.
Jackson's accuser's mom has a reputation for suing people for everything in sight. The accuser himself has a lengthy juvenile record. So many prosecution witnesses have credibility issues that it's downright shocking that the prosecution put them on the stand, knowing full well that an experienced defense attorney would zero in on those weaknesses. Here's one story. Many have tried to sue Jackson; some succeeded, most failed.
The defense case is about to begin, and a star-studded celebrity circus seems likely. The prosecution will have to attack the credibility of the defense witnesses.
One person could make or break the entire case: former child-star Macaulay Culkin. The prosecution seems unwilling to call Culkin as a witness but the Jackson defense might since two or three prosecution witnesses have testified seeing Jackson abusing Culkin. He has released statements saying that nothing happened. His testimony could turn the tide in either direction.
There's no doubt that Jackson is odd. There's almost universal agreement on that point. Lapses in judgment...definitely. Having someone else's kid sleep in his bed with him was not a brainstorm on Jackson's part. And Jackson himself is his own worst enemy. He will lose the case if he takes the stand. Most of his press conferences on these cases have been unbelievable disasters.
If the prosecution wants to win this case, it needs to stop the parade of unreliable witnesses, and focus on presenting facts in the current case. The strategy of presenting past accusations has distracted attention from the "here and now" and the prosecution must do a better job of communicating what it feels Jackson may have done to the twelve jurors. That's a huge job. And they need to prosecute Jackson in court, not in the media.
The defense has to keep Jackson in his seat and continue doing what it's been doing. They need to settle the Culkin question by getting him on the stand and take him out of the equation. Here's another story.
No matter which way this thing goes, it's doubtful that the truth will emerge from the garbage in this case and real closure will not happen. Celebrity justice is like that. Remember OJ?
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Rwanda Observes Horrific Anniversary of Start of Genocide
On this date in 1994, Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana 's aircraft was shot down over Kigali, Rwanda, and within hours of that assassination, machete-wielding Hutus took to the streets of Rwanda and began slaughtering their Tutsi neighbors and moderate Hutus who protested the killings. The Rwandan military joined in
Close to a million people lost their lives over the following one hundred days.
Eleven years later, 760,000 people are accused of participating in the slaughter. That's 10% of Rwanda's remaining population.
Here's the story.
How can the U.N. NOT change the way it confronts genocide in the face of such a colossal failure?
Close to a million people lost their lives over the following one hundred days.
Eleven years later, 760,000 people are accused of participating in the slaughter. That's 10% of Rwanda's remaining population.
Here's the story.
How can the U.N. NOT change the way it confronts genocide in the face of such a colossal failure?
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
NASA Rush to Launch Discovery Next Month Is A Bad Idea
NASA is in a huge hurry to get the space shuttle Discovery off the ground and back into space, despite being worried about foam coming off the shuttle's external fuel tank and causing the type of damage that doomed the Columbia two years ago.
According to NASA, a repair kit that could allow spacewalking astronauts to repair damage to the wings or body of the shuttle is still two years away from being completed.
Discovery was scheduled to be rolled out today, but NASA engineers detected a crack in the external fuel tank. This does not bode well for NASA's over-aggressive schedule to launch the shuttle and get the shuttle program back on track. After some delay, the engineers decided to continue the roll-out despite the "inperfections" in the tank.
The shuttle design has not been altered so that it deflects foam coming off the external fuel tank at 500 mph; the external tank has not been altered enough either. It's a disaster waiting to occur again. It's amazing that the Columbia disaster didn't happen long before it did. Two hundred changes have been made, but they're still worried about the foam problem.
NASA should slow things down and get the problems fixed properly.
According to NASA, a repair kit that could allow spacewalking astronauts to repair damage to the wings or body of the shuttle is still two years away from being completed.
Discovery was scheduled to be rolled out today, but NASA engineers detected a crack in the external fuel tank. This does not bode well for NASA's over-aggressive schedule to launch the shuttle and get the shuttle program back on track. After some delay, the engineers decided to continue the roll-out despite the "inperfections" in the tank.
The shuttle design has not been altered so that it deflects foam coming off the external fuel tank at 500 mph; the external tank has not been altered enough either. It's a disaster waiting to occur again. It's amazing that the Columbia disaster didn't happen long before it did. Two hundred changes have been made, but they're still worried about the foam problem.
NASA should slow things down and get the problems fixed properly.
Too Much Pope Coverage? NOT!!
There is an online debate going on as to whether the TV networks are covering the Pope's funeral too much and ignoring other stories from around the world.
Not according to the ratings.
Early indications are that 2 billion people will watch the funeral Mass on Friday, which would be the largest audience in the history of television.
All the networks are reporting increased ratings since the Pope passed away on Saturday.
John Paul II has earned the coverage he's getting. Saturday's post on the Pope explains why.
Not according to the ratings.
Early indications are that 2 billion people will watch the funeral Mass on Friday, which would be the largest audience in the history of television.
All the networks are reporting increased ratings since the Pope passed away on Saturday.
John Paul II has earned the coverage he's getting. Saturday's post on the Pope explains why.
Opposition to Patriot Act Grows
With the Patriot Act coming up for renewal at the end of 2006, civil libertarians are revving up their campaign to either stop that from happening or make significant alterations that bring it back into line with the Constitution.
Some of the controversial aspects of the current bill include: unlimited federal access to medical records, library records, school records, video store rental records, credit reports, limited restrictions on wiretaps, electronic eavesdropping, surveillance without due cause, reduced reasons for search warrants, pen/trap orders (written phone tap orders) and subpoenas with limited veto power from the judge. All they have to do is tell the judge that the person is a suspect under the auspices of the Patriot Act and BOOM! The investigators can take a liberal interpretation of Constitutional protections. They can also "sneak and peek" (secretly enter a house, look around for what they want, without a warrant) under the current Patriot Act.
The Patriot Act has already been abused by the FBI. It's been used to charge people with crimes who would be better charged under prior laws. Take for example the multiple cases of lasers being fired at aircraft cockpits from the ground as the aircraft were taking off or landing.
Instead of charging the individual with crimes such as interfering with a flight crew, public endangerment, negligence and so forth, the FBI used the Patriot Act. In the first case, they admitted that there was no terrorism involved, but the man's actions were "foolhardy and negligent." (Here's that story.)
The man involved was also not under investigation for terrorism beforehand, as the Patriot Act was intended for. He may well get off for his stupidity and for the FBI misusing the Patriot Act. The penalties under the other laws are more severe than violations of the Patriot Act in that case.
It should be noted that five state governments and 375 communities in 43 other states have passed anti-Patriot Act measures to register their displeasure with the Act.
The new Attorney General wants it renewed in its entirety (here's that part of the story), but that's not a smart idea. The government is already taking liberties with it's new power to fight terrorism.
A government having that much power available and is as secretive as this one is something to be feared and should be denied further power UNLESS there is a checks-and-balances system to correct abuses.
Either change it or get rid of it.
Some of the controversial aspects of the current bill include: unlimited federal access to medical records, library records, school records, video store rental records, credit reports, limited restrictions on wiretaps, electronic eavesdropping, surveillance without due cause, reduced reasons for search warrants, pen/trap orders (written phone tap orders) and subpoenas with limited veto power from the judge. All they have to do is tell the judge that the person is a suspect under the auspices of the Patriot Act and BOOM! The investigators can take a liberal interpretation of Constitutional protections. They can also "sneak and peek" (secretly enter a house, look around for what they want, without a warrant) under the current Patriot Act.
The Patriot Act has already been abused by the FBI. It's been used to charge people with crimes who would be better charged under prior laws. Take for example the multiple cases of lasers being fired at aircraft cockpits from the ground as the aircraft were taking off or landing.
Instead of charging the individual with crimes such as interfering with a flight crew, public endangerment, negligence and so forth, the FBI used the Patriot Act. In the first case, they admitted that there was no terrorism involved, but the man's actions were "foolhardy and negligent." (Here's that story.)
The man involved was also not under investigation for terrorism beforehand, as the Patriot Act was intended for. He may well get off for his stupidity and for the FBI misusing the Patriot Act. The penalties under the other laws are more severe than violations of the Patriot Act in that case.
It should be noted that five state governments and 375 communities in 43 other states have passed anti-Patriot Act measures to register their displeasure with the Act.
The new Attorney General wants it renewed in its entirety (here's that part of the story), but that's not a smart idea. The government is already taking liberties with it's new power to fight terrorism.
A government having that much power available and is as secretive as this one is something to be feared and should be denied further power UNLESS there is a checks-and-balances system to correct abuses.
Either change it or get rid of it.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Japanese Rewrite of School History Texts Angers China and South Korea
Japan is rewriting history...literally. And they are angering their neighbors.
Middle-school text books have continued to minimize wrongs done in Japan's role in World War II and have chosen to gloss over the more unpleasant parts of Japan's wartime role. South Korea and China have expressed disappointment that Japan continues to "...justify and glorify wrongs committed in the past." (BBC Story)
China and South Korea were two nations that were invaded and occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army during the years prior to and during the war. The Chinese were particularly offended by the textbook describing the Nanjing Massacre, in which 300,000 Chinese civilians were slaughtered, as an "incident." China also doesn't want Japan to get a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council because of ongoing border and history disputes.
South Korea is upset because the textbook describes an ongoing border dispute between Japan and South Korea as an "illegal South Korean occupation" of disputed islands that are between the two countries and are claimed by both nations. The texts also skip over the part where 200,000 Korean women were used as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers.
Protests have been occurring in both South Korea and China in the last few weeks over these problems.
Japan should really tone it down if it wants to have the support of its neighbors in other matters. Why Japan is doing it now is a mystery, but it undermines Japanese democracy, openness and credibility when it tries to rewrite history in this way.
Middle-school text books have continued to minimize wrongs done in Japan's role in World War II and have chosen to gloss over the more unpleasant parts of Japan's wartime role. South Korea and China have expressed disappointment that Japan continues to "...justify and glorify wrongs committed in the past." (BBC Story)
China and South Korea were two nations that were invaded and occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army during the years prior to and during the war. The Chinese were particularly offended by the textbook describing the Nanjing Massacre, in which 300,000 Chinese civilians were slaughtered, as an "incident." China also doesn't want Japan to get a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council because of ongoing border and history disputes.
South Korea is upset because the textbook describes an ongoing border dispute between Japan and South Korea as an "illegal South Korean occupation" of disputed islands that are between the two countries and are claimed by both nations. The texts also skip over the part where 200,000 Korean women were used as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers.
Protests have been occurring in both South Korea and China in the last few weeks over these problems.
Japan should really tone it down if it wants to have the support of its neighbors in other matters. Why Japan is doing it now is a mystery, but it undermines Japanese democracy, openness and credibility when it tries to rewrite history in this way.
Darfur Referred to International Criminal Court: Too Little, Too Late
The U.N. Security Council referred the slaughter in the Darfur region of Sudan to the International Criminal Court, abrogating its responsibility for dealing with the situation.
Once again the United Nations failed to stop the attempted slaughter of one ethnic group by another. And it dares to say that Sudan failed to stop the slaughter from happening? Did the pot just call the kettle black??! Here's the Reuters story.
Sudan was participating in the annihilation of the Christians and had no interest in heeding the warnings of the United Nations. It's a paper tiger and Sudan knew that. The government of Sudan has no issue in blaming certain individuals so long as it doesn't get caught in the same net. It watched as the U.N. went running out of Rwanda in 1994 and saw an opportunity to use the Arab militias to get rid of a group of people that it didn't like.
300,000 dead later, the inept U.N. Security Council turned the situation over to the Hague. Sudan's going to get away with this. Somehow "miscarriage of justice" doesn't even begin to cover it.
Once again the United Nations failed to stop the attempted slaughter of one ethnic group by another. And it dares to say that Sudan failed to stop the slaughter from happening? Did the pot just call the kettle black??! Here's the Reuters story.
Sudan was participating in the annihilation of the Christians and had no interest in heeding the warnings of the United Nations. It's a paper tiger and Sudan knew that. The government of Sudan has no issue in blaming certain individuals so long as it doesn't get caught in the same net. It watched as the U.N. went running out of Rwanda in 1994 and saw an opportunity to use the Arab militias to get rid of a group of people that it didn't like.
300,000 dead later, the inept U.N. Security Council turned the situation over to the Hague. Sudan's going to get away with this. Somehow "miscarriage of justice" doesn't even begin to cover it.
Rwandan Hutus Declare End to Their Armed Struggle
Rwandan Hutus who participated in the killing of 1,000,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994 have declared an end to their armed struggle after promises of safety from the Rwandan government.
This was achieved after the Hutus moved into the eastern part of Congo and began killing people there too after being driven from Rwanda by government military forces. They quickly wore out their welcome in Congo and had engaged in a guerilla war against the Congolese military.
This particular faction is referred to as the FLDR and has some 10,000 members. The FLDR was filmed killing Tutsis with machetes by international camera crews who were covering the genocide in 1994.
It should be noted that the Rwandan government did not promise amnesty, only safety from retaliation from their victims' families who survived the slaughter. Ethnic strife has plagued the region since before 1994 and the end of hostilities is a good start to rebuilding the region.
Having said all that, hopefully the U.N. war crimes tribunal will begin holding trials for the guilty and begin the long process of establishing the rule of law to make certain that something on this scale does not reoccur.
Since the U.N. failed to stop the killing in 1994, they should do their jobs now and make sure that it doesn't happen again.
This was achieved after the Hutus moved into the eastern part of Congo and began killing people there too after being driven from Rwanda by government military forces. They quickly wore out their welcome in Congo and had engaged in a guerilla war against the Congolese military.
This particular faction is referred to as the FLDR and has some 10,000 members. The FLDR was filmed killing Tutsis with machetes by international camera crews who were covering the genocide in 1994.
It should be noted that the Rwandan government did not promise amnesty, only safety from retaliation from their victims' families who survived the slaughter. Ethnic strife has plagued the region since before 1994 and the end of hostilities is a good start to rebuilding the region.
Having said all that, hopefully the U.N. war crimes tribunal will begin holding trials for the guilty and begin the long process of establishing the rule of law to make certain that something on this scale does not reoccur.
Since the U.N. failed to stop the killing in 1994, they should do their jobs now and make sure that it doesn't happen again.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Minuteman Project Update: Volunteers Partially Deployed, No Problems Yet
Law enforcement agencies in the southwest are reporting that Minuteman Project volunteers are fanning out along the Mexico/Arizona border. Just moments after a group of Minutemen arrived at their posts, a group of illegals was spotted and the Minutemen contacted the Border Patrol. Eighteen arrests were made.
It's still too soon to see if this project will help stem the tide of illegals coming over the border, but early indications look fine.
There is also a question as to whether a smear campaign is going on against the Minutemen. Some have accused them of being white supremacists, others have called them vigilantes. Some undoubtably do have those characteristics, but not all of them. For the media and the government to label them all as troublemakers is wrong.
If the government were to do a better job of keeping control of the border, these civilian groups coming in to "assist" would be unnecessary.
Just watch: if there is a single incident, the media, government and ACLU will be quick to brand the entire idea as racist, unfair and vigilante. They will also take action to end the Minuteman project in a New York minute.
Here's the update.
It's still too soon to see if this project will help stem the tide of illegals coming over the border, but early indications look fine.
There is also a question as to whether a smear campaign is going on against the Minutemen. Some have accused them of being white supremacists, others have called them vigilantes. Some undoubtably do have those characteristics, but not all of them. For the media and the government to label them all as troublemakers is wrong.
If the government were to do a better job of keeping control of the border, these civilian groups coming in to "assist" would be unnecessary.
Just watch: if there is a single incident, the media, government and ACLU will be quick to brand the entire idea as racist, unfair and vigilante. They will also take action to end the Minuteman project in a New York minute.
Here's the update.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
End of an Era: Pope John Paul II Passes Away
Catholics around the world are mourning the passing of Pope John Paul II, who taught the world how to live and then taught the world how to die.
The world has lost a champion of the poor, of the unborn, of the helpless, of decency and optimism; in a world beset by evil tidings, he was often the lone voice of compassion for those who had no voice of their own.
He will always be remembered as a leading international advocate of human rights, as a scholar and writer, as a major catalyst in the fall of communism, as a healer of divisions that lasted for over a thousand years; of healing rifts between Catholics, Jews, Muslims and other Christian denominations that split off from the Catholic faith hundreds of years ago.
He is also the most-seen man in existence, visiting at least 125 countries for a total of over 200 foreign visits during his reign as supreme pontiff.
John Paul II knew that the job of the pope was not to make decisions that were popular; it was to make people more conscious of sin and to turn people away from it. Some did; others exercised their God-given free will and ignored the voice of wisdom.
John Paul II’s strength on behalf of religious freedom and human dignity will be missed.
Farewell, Holy Father.
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