Yearly Archives: 2004

Dump Duhbya

Bush is the first to present himself explicitly as the warrior hero

War and Peace: Campus engaged in great dichotomy – Words on war By Carolyn Gonzales

David Margolin, adjunct research assistant professor of linguistics in the College of Arts and Sciences, says that language tactics used by United States presidents during wartime have changed. “We have gone from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,’ to the current administration telling Americans, ‘Be afraid, be very afraid,’” Margolin said.

Letters-to-the-Editor

Cal Thomas is a selfish idiot

Cal Thomas

More than 40 million children have been killed legally in America since the Supreme Court imposed Roe vs. Wade on the nation 32 years ago next month. Democrats seem unconcerned that so many discarded members of the human family are not with us.

“Unconcerned”? Does Cal really mean Democrats are sub-human baby killers? Doesn’t he really think we delight in killing and crave more babies to quench our endless satanic appetites?

Idiot. Cal Thomas is a selfish idiot. No one wants abortion; no one likes abortion. What we want is freedom and control over our own lives. We want to decide for ourselves if and when we are ready to be parents. We don’t want our children born by accident. We don’t want our children born into dire poverty. We don’t want our children born into homes without a father or with an abusive mate. We don’t want children having children. We don’t want 50 year old women forced to bear children. We don’t want anyone forced to bear a child she isn’t able to love and care for. We don’t want our sisters, mothers, daughters, wives, girlfriends to die. We want the freedom to decide our own medical options. We don?t want old men who will never have to face this terrible choice deciding our fate.

Cal, it’s none of your goddamn business. I suggest you work to reduce poverty and to make sure everyone has access to birth control and the knowledge to use it. Then we will respect your “concern.”

Cal ends with: What would be wrong with laws that empower women through additional information, even while abortion remains legal?

What a disingenuous ass. Cal knows fully well that the Radical Right is working every day to deny information to women and to deny options. He is in no way interested in empowering or informing women. But, like the snake in the bible, he speaks pleasantly and reasonably. He says what he needs to say to advance his cause: the destruction of your freedom and rights. mjh

Get out and protect your rights:
January 22, 2005
2pm to 5pm
Albuquerque Civic Plaza
Read more….

Rally on Civic Plaza

Theirs

Gracious Republicans

Rossi calls for another election By CHRIS McGANN

“A revote would be the best solution for the people of our state,” [Republican Dino] Rossi said at a news conference in Bellevue. “The people of Washington deserve to know if their governor was elected fair and square.” …

Rossi’s spokeswoman, Mary Lane: “I don’t think the voters in this state have an appetite for an illegitimate governor.”

Neither the state constitution nor state statutes provide for a second gubernatorial election. …

“There is a process in place and you can’t just willy-nilly set up new elections,” [Seattle University political science professor Erik] Olsen said.

Asked what advantages or pitfalls might await Rossi should he refuse to concede, Olsen said, “There is something to be said in a democratic political culture for being gracious when you lose — but I would not second-guess him if he has some legitimate legal challenges.”

However, Olsen said there is a danger that Rossi could be seen as a sore loser.

“There is a real risk for Dino Rossi if he contests this election too much — that he’s excessively partisan, excessively ambitious and that he doesn’t respect the process,” Olsen said.

So much for graciously accepting defeat, as Al Gore and John Kerry did. Republicans never stop fighting — and they think that’s a positive attribute. mjh

Letters-to-the-Editor

Am I Moral?

In the election, 20% of voters indicated “moral values” (a very vague phrase) guided their choice. Though this is a small percentage, certainly smaller than the percentage that believe all people were created equal or that there should be a wall separating church and state, nonetheless, this small percentage has us all atwitter. My question to those with such certainty: am I moral?

I have never killed, robbed or beaten anyone. If I have been cruel, I hope it was a long time ago. Am I moral?

My moral superiors need no more time or information to judge me, but let me add something. I am a middle aged white straight male who has been loyal to his beloved wife for 23 years. I own a very small business. I vote and pay taxes. I am sometimes nice to strangers. Am I moral?

I don’t mean to exaggerate, but my small circle of friends includes people not exactly like me: women, gays, some people of color, Republicans, young and old, church goers, Jews and gentiles. Am I moral?

Finally, if there is still any doubt in anyone’s mind, let me stress: I don’t believe in god and the Bible guides me less than Aesop’s Fables. I joke that I’m an “antagnostic,” one who doubts there is a god but wouldn’t like him if there were one. For some of our fellow citizens, I might as well have just shown my cloven hooves and tail. And yet, without a church or spiritual leader, I’ve lead a moderate life that just doesn’t strike me as immoral or *not* guided by moral values. At least I am not working every day to compel others to think the same way I do or become second-class citizens. I’m not exploiting cultural divisions to consolidate power and warp this country into something the Founders would revolt against. THAT would be immoral. mjh

Happy Holidays!