Query
I was listening to a morning talk-radio show today, and the on-air personalities were talking about some comments that a player for the Colorado Rockies made on he would feel if he played with a teammate who was openly homosexual. Inevitably, the guy who reports all the sports news for the show made a somewhat offhand comparison between a person who has homosexual tendencies and race. When one considers the presumptions that are involved, why do so many people do this? It would seem to me that if homosexual orientation is equivalent to race or ethnicity, then it should follow that persons of a particular race or ethnicity ought to be expected to behave in a certain manner. But since we all know that this mentality amounts to racism, it absolutley mystifies me why so many people make homosexuality the equivalent of race (unless, of course, they're all racists).
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Positively Orwellian
California review board recommends omitting "insensitive" words and phrases from textbooks.
The Founding Fathers, for instance, are now referred to as "The Framers," in an apparent effort to make them sound less male-dominant. And there will be no more reading about Mount Rushmore, where the faces of four U.S. presidents are carved into stone, because it appears to offend some American-Indian groups...Snowman? No more. Melt that image and replace with Snowperson. Want to sail away on a yacht? No, again. It’s too elitist.
California review board recommends omitting "insensitive" words and phrases from textbooks.
The Founding Fathers, for instance, are now referred to as "The Framers," in an apparent effort to make them sound less male-dominant. And there will be no more reading about Mount Rushmore, where the faces of four U.S. presidents are carved into stone, because it appears to offend some American-Indian groups...Snowman? No more. Melt that image and replace with Snowperson. Want to sail away on a yacht? No, again. It’s too elitist.
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Hell Hath No Fury...
An allegedly lovesick 20-year-old woman is being blamed for making a threat that diverted a cruise ship and cost taxpayers a lot of money.
Kelley Marie Ferguson, 20, from Laguna Hills, Calif. was apparently not happy to be on board the Legend of the Seas. Four days after leaving Mexico, prosecutors said she wrote two notes she hoped would force the ship to turn back.
Keep in mind she did this because she missed her boyfriend. I'd sure hate to see how she would react if her boyfirend ever broke up with her.
An allegedly lovesick 20-year-old woman is being blamed for making a threat that diverted a cruise ship and cost taxpayers a lot of money.
Kelley Marie Ferguson, 20, from Laguna Hills, Calif. was apparently not happy to be on board the Legend of the Seas. Four days after leaving Mexico, prosecutors said she wrote two notes she hoped would force the ship to turn back.
Keep in mind she did this because she missed her boyfriend. I'd sure hate to see how she would react if her boyfirend ever broke up with her.
Will of the People Shmill of the Smeeple
City Council of the People's Republic of Davis approve resolution urging the State of California to ignore Prop. 22 and officially recognize "gay marriages".
"I have the deepest respect for those of you who hold this as a religious belief, that marriage is between a man and woman," Mayor Susie Boyd told the public. "... (However,) I think that the civil rights and the legal issues are really what we need to grapple with tonight, and marriage provides certain protections and benefits ... that are people's rights."
How Cuomo-esque. She respects people of traditional religious faith so much that she is willing to attack them by pushing for further state recognition of intrinsically disordered conduct and minimizing the institution of marriage to one of material and legal benefits.
City Council of the People's Republic of Davis approve resolution urging the State of California to ignore Prop. 22 and officially recognize "gay marriages".
"I have the deepest respect for those of you who hold this as a religious belief, that marriage is between a man and woman," Mayor Susie Boyd told the public. "... (However,) I think that the civil rights and the legal issues are really what we need to grapple with tonight, and marriage provides certain protections and benefits ... that are people's rights."
How Cuomo-esque. She respects people of traditional religious faith so much that she is willing to attack them by pushing for further state recognition of intrinsically disordered conduct and minimizing the institution of marriage to one of material and legal benefits.
Monday, April 28, 2003
Battle for the Social Moderate Mind
Stanley Kurtz ruminates on the Santorum flap and how it will seem almost trivial when compared to the impending rumble over "gay marriages".
Stanley Kurtz ruminates on the Santorum flap and how it will seem almost trivial when compared to the impending rumble over "gay marriages".
Friday, April 25, 2003
Toot Toot!
Newark, CA Planning Commission rejects independent Protestant church's conditional use permit application.
Attorneys with the Pacific Justice Institute, a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of churches, said the city would be in violation of the law if it denies Fremont Bible Fellowship's application.
The Religious Land Use Act, passed in 2000, "prohibits cities from outright excluding churches from areas simply because they are religious institutions, unless they have compelling reason," said attorney Roger Ho.
Newark, CA Planning Commission rejects independent Protestant church's conditional use permit application.
Attorneys with the Pacific Justice Institute, a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of churches, said the city would be in violation of the law if it denies Fremont Bible Fellowship's application.
The Religious Land Use Act, passed in 2000, "prohibits cities from outright excluding churches from areas simply because they are religious institutions, unless they have compelling reason," said attorney Roger Ho.
Unintelligent and Unconventional Thinking?
Hardly.
"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything." -- Senator Rick Santorum, 2003
"It would be difficult, except by fiat, to limit the claimed right to homosexual conduct while leaving exposed to prosecution adultery, incest, and other sexual crimes even though they are committed in the home. We are unwilling to start down that road." -- U.S. Supreme Court Majority Opinion, Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986)
Hardly.
"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything." -- Senator Rick Santorum, 2003
"It would be difficult, except by fiat, to limit the claimed right to homosexual conduct while leaving exposed to prosecution adultery, incest, and other sexual crimes even though they are committed in the home. We are unwilling to start down that road." -- U.S. Supreme Court Majority Opinion, Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986)
Court Says File Sharing Tools are Legal
Link via Drudge.
In an almost complete reversal of previous victories for the record labels and movie studios, federal court Judge Stephen Wilson ruled that Streamcast--parent of the Morpheus software--and Grokster were not liable for copyright infringements that took place using their software... "Defendants distribute and support software, the users of which can and do choose to employ it for both lawful and unlawful ends," Wilson wrote in his opinion, released Friday. "Grokster and Streamcast are not significantly different from companies that sell home video recorders or copy machines, both of which can be and are used to infringe copyrights."
Link via Drudge.
In an almost complete reversal of previous victories for the record labels and movie studios, federal court Judge Stephen Wilson ruled that Streamcast--parent of the Morpheus software--and Grokster were not liable for copyright infringements that took place using their software... "Defendants distribute and support software, the users of which can and do choose to employ it for both lawful and unlawful ends," Wilson wrote in his opinion, released Friday. "Grokster and Streamcast are not significantly different from companies that sell home video recorders or copy machines, both of which can be and are used to infringe copyrights."
Darwin Award Candidate
A court appearance for a traffic citation turned into a more serious problem for a Carlsbad teen when he dropped a marijuana joint in the courtroom.
This story reminds me of the anti-drug commercial with the egg and the frying pan. Classic.
A court appearance for a traffic citation turned into a more serious problem for a Carlsbad teen when he dropped a marijuana joint in the courtroom.
This story reminds me of the anti-drug commercial with the egg and the frying pan. Classic.
Strange Bedfellows in "We Just Don't Do It" Case
Former Bush v. Gore adversaries team up in support of the company made famous by Michael Jordan.
At issue is whether Nike, the athletic apparel maker, can be sued by private individuals like California activist Marc Kasky under state unfair competition laws for statements the company has made in defense of its overseas labor practices.
[Lawrence] Tribe, representing Nike, couldn't be happier that his former adversary [U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson] will be at his side. "The two of us have known, respected and liked one another for many years. That's been true when we have opposed one another and when we have supported one another," Tribe says. "I much prefer to be arguing with Ted than against him."
Former Bush v. Gore adversaries team up in support of the company made famous by Michael Jordan.
At issue is whether Nike, the athletic apparel maker, can be sued by private individuals like California activist Marc Kasky under state unfair competition laws for statements the company has made in defense of its overseas labor practices.
[Lawrence] Tribe, representing Nike, couldn't be happier that his former adversary [U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson] will be at his side. "The two of us have known, respected and liked one another for many years. That's been true when we have opposed one another and when we have supported one another," Tribe says. "I much prefer to be arguing with Ted than against him."
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Teacher's Aide Fights Suspension for Wearing Cross Necklace
What are the chances that this school would probably have no problem with an employee wearing something like a pro-gay rainbow flag lapel pin?
What are the chances that this school would probably have no problem with an employee wearing something like a pro-gay rainbow flag lapel pin?
Order to Cut Life Support for Abused Baby Upheld
Wednesday's action by [California's] highest court could lead to a murder charge against the father if little Christopher Ibarra dies.
A juvenile court had previously ruled that life support be discontinued for Christopher, and the 4th District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February. The appeals court concluded that Christopher was left in a persistent, vegetative state, neurologically devastated and was receiving no benefit from life support.
I happen to know the attorney for the father in this case, and as the news story indicates, he tried to argue that the state should not be in the business of deciding whether to end the life of an innocent and defenseless child. I see his point to some extent, but I'm not so sure that ordering life support to be terminated in this kind of a situation can be rightly characterized as an affirmative act of killing. It seems to be more in line with terminally ill patients who don't want to artificially prolong their life, and would rather allow what is afflicting them to run its natural course. In this case, the state is not responsible for this child's imminent death, but rather his dirt bag of a father.
Wednesday's action by [California's] highest court could lead to a murder charge against the father if little Christopher Ibarra dies.
A juvenile court had previously ruled that life support be discontinued for Christopher, and the 4th District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February. The appeals court concluded that Christopher was left in a persistent, vegetative state, neurologically devastated and was receiving no benefit from life support.
I happen to know the attorney for the father in this case, and as the news story indicates, he tried to argue that the state should not be in the business of deciding whether to end the life of an innocent and defenseless child. I see his point to some extent, but I'm not so sure that ordering life support to be terminated in this kind of a situation can be rightly characterized as an affirmative act of killing. It seems to be more in line with terminally ill patients who don't want to artificially prolong their life, and would rather allow what is afflicting them to run its natural course. In this case, the state is not responsible for this child's imminent death, but rather his dirt bag of a father.
Santorum Must Be Doing Something Right
'Cause now the polygamists are attacking him. Wonder if the pro-gay groups and their morally relativistic sympathizers will join forces with them.
'Cause now the polygamists are attacking him. Wonder if the pro-gay groups and their morally relativistic sympathizers will join forces with them.
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Rick Santorum Rocks!
Here's the interview that's got the Liberal Left wringing their hands and calling for Santorum's head.
Update: Santorum defends his comments. The one thing I don't get is why he feels he has to deny that practicing gay men are not the moral (or immoral) equivalent of adulterers or polygamists. Deviant behavior is deviant behavior. Moreover, being gay is no more equivalent to being black than being an adulterer is equivalent to being Asian. As such, there is nothing bigoted about opposing people who defend and/or practice homosexuality.
Here's the interview that's got the Liberal Left wringing their hands and calling for Santorum's head.
Update: Santorum defends his comments. The one thing I don't get is why he feels he has to deny that practicing gay men are not the moral (or immoral) equivalent of adulterers or polygamists. Deviant behavior is deviant behavior. Moreover, being gay is no more equivalent to being black than being an adulterer is equivalent to being Asian. As such, there is nothing bigoted about opposing people who defend and/or practice homosexuality.
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Different Strokes...
For some women, Ari Fleischer is The Man.
But women who hold onto fantasies of being swept away by their bald-headed Prince Ari will have to keep on dreaming: Alas, Fleischer, 42, married 26-year-old Rebecca Davis in late 2002.
For some women, Ari Fleischer is The Man.
But women who hold onto fantasies of being swept away by their bald-headed Prince Ari will have to keep on dreaming: Alas, Fleischer, 42, married 26-year-old Rebecca Davis in late 2002.
Monday, April 21, 2003
Ethics Violation?
Regarding the Laci Peterson murder, is California Attorney General Bill Lockyer allowed to make brazen comments that could taint a potential jury pool? Several times over the weekend, Lockyer has been shown on television news reports saying that he believes the case against Scott Peterson is a "slam dunk". In light of this, and the fact that this is a high profile case, I'm not sure it can be legitimately argued that Scott Peterson will be afforded an impartial jury of his peers. I'd appreciate it if anyone can help me out on this.
Regarding the Laci Peterson murder, is California Attorney General Bill Lockyer allowed to make brazen comments that could taint a potential jury pool? Several times over the weekend, Lockyer has been shown on television news reports saying that he believes the case against Scott Peterson is a "slam dunk". In light of this, and the fact that this is a high profile case, I'm not sure it can be legitimately argued that Scott Peterson will be afforded an impartial jury of his peers. I'd appreciate it if anyone can help me out on this.
Miranda Revisited
The SCOTUS has agreed to review a case where police seized critical evidence after only reading a suspect part of his Miranda rights.
The SCOTUS has agreed to review a case where police seized critical evidence after only reading a suspect part of his Miranda rights.
Saddam Sarandan's T.V. Movie Bombs
Has CBS hired Baghdad Bob as a spokesman?
"Sure, [ICE BOUND] was a disappointment in the ratings," a CBS source said Monday from New York. "But Susan's acting was terrific and we are very proud to have aired the movie."
Has CBS hired Baghdad Bob as a spokesman?
"Sure, [ICE BOUND] was a disappointment in the ratings," a CBS source said Monday from New York. "But Susan's acting was terrific and we are very proud to have aired the movie."
Moderate Lefebvre-ites Coming Back
The Rome daily newspaper Il Messaggero said that this would mark a victory for the Pope in the battle for the “soul of the Church”, which had been going on since Vatican II in the 1960s.
The Rome daily newspaper Il Messaggero said that this would mark a victory for the Pope in the battle for the “soul of the Church”, which had been going on since Vatican II in the 1960s.
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