Archive for February, 2008
Even military critics enjoy free speech
Thomas Jefferson said, “My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!” Proof of his statement echoes from the Berkeley, California city council chambers. They approved sending a letter to the Marine Corp Recruiting office informing the marines they were “not welcome” in Berkeley. The council added, “If recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.” During that council meeting they also derided the marines with statements like “trained killers” and “the president’s own gangsters.” How should we respond to this anti-military, anti-American behavior? Is it acceptable for elected officials to behave this way? Should there be consequences for their choices? In the aftermath of the Berkeley council’s statements, U.S. senators introduced legislation to rescind $2.3 million of federal transportation funds to Berkeley. Following the news of the proposed legislation, the Berkeley city council voted to not send the letter while the mayor of Berkeley, Tom Bates, said the city did not mean to offend anyone in the military. Does he expect us to believe their statements were not intentionally offensive? The city council believed they were taking a principled, difficult position. But as soon as they learned of potential consequences resulting from their actions, they quickly abandoned their position suggesting their principles are negotiable. But, they still refused to apologize to the Marines, saying they were only “clarifying their position,” and statements like “trained killers” did not warrant an apology.
Why my friend came to America
I asked my friend, “Why did you come to America?” He questioned with tears in his eyes and a quiver in his voice, “Why did I come to America?” Why would a man leave his country, his heritage, the only home he knew? Why would a man leave his country with no guarantees of the life that lay ahead? Why would he move his family around the world to a foreign land, a foreign language, and start a new life? Moreover, why pick the United States over all other choices?
Was comment about Tiger Woods racist?
Last month during a golf tournament, anchor Kelly Tilghman was joking with her co-host that young golfers have no chance of winning because Tiger Woods is just too good. Her co-host said, “To take Tiger on, maybe (the young players) should just gang up for a while.” To which she responded their only chance would be to “lynch him in a back alley.”
The role of abortion in the United States
Last week’s column on abortion generated interesting comments. As I suspected, most were either pro abortion or anti abortion. This kind of issue rarely leaves few people undecided. With this in mind, I would like to continue the discussion in a more direct way, hoping to generate amiable debate of this difficult and emotionally charged issue.
