Category Archives: US News
Making Trouble Elsewhere
I am not well read on Christopher Hitchens, and I find his support of the Iraq War inexplicable, but on the other hand he had the nerve to take on Mother Theresa.
Are they sipping tea together somewhere on the edge of eternity, or is there a space large enough in collective memory that spirits can rest, or unrest?
He suffered a terrible final illness with grace and without self-pity. Not so unusual, but a fine example to leave us. He was a passionate and compulsive writer– of his many vices, most of all addicted to the word.
Here’s a link to my minister, who posted one of Christopher Hitchens’ bravest moments, on the waterboard.
BBC has a nice eulogy.
Nomi posted a nice link to one of Christopher Hitchens’ best sayings, on the difference between dogs and cats.
Story Behind the Story
I’m linking to Xavier Onassis, EMT because once again we see in the news that a fire department stood by while a house burned.
This is the second incident of this kind from Obion County, Tennessee.
When I blogged about this the first time, Xavier responded with a passionate and informed comment in defense of the firefighters, who have seen their resources stretched to the breaking point. As so often is the case, this may be good workers and citizens caught in a failing system.
He challenges Progresives…
A very popular position among progressives:
The firefighters who responded and did not control the fire are immoral cowards, motivated by Tea Party or Libertarian ideology;
they are so petty that they think it serves that woman right to lose her home because she did not pay $75;
they are too stupid and incapable of independent decision making to know when to break the rules.From this position, the guilty parties are the first responders on scene and the mayor of South Fulton, Tennessee. Blame is placed at the very bottom of the chain of command, for not refusing to follow departmental guidelines when someone is in need. Support for these firefighters is viewed as immoral under this breakdown.
The rest of his post outlines the damage, starting with Reaganomics, to the essential foundations of a working community. Go visit Medic 343 for another view than what you will see in the headlines.
And thanks to friend, Sekanblogger, at Kansas Mediocrity, for help finding the link.
The Silent Passing of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
The following is from Kmareka’s West Coast correspondent, Elaine Hirsch.
Elaine Hirsch is kind of a jack-of-all-interests, from education and history to medicine and videogames. This makes it difficult to choose just one life path, so she is currently working as a writer for various education-related sites and writing about all these things instead. Currently, she writes for onlinephd.org.
The Silent Passing of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Ten days after the solemn ceremony commemorating the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, a momentous piece of legislation was enacted in the United States. Any student of history should remember September 20th, 2011 as the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and as the beginning of a new era for gay rights in America, but instead the moment was eclipsed in the national news.
The history of DADT and its eventual repeal is an important chapter for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights community. In the all-male American military service of yore, sodomy was considered a grave violation which merited discharge, but homosexual preferences or tendencies were not specifically addressed until around World War II. Military psychiatrists deemed homosexuality a deviant behavior, and thus not suitable among servicemen. This rather extreme and disparaging view was soon eschewed and replaced by a more tacit “no sex between servicemen” regulation, although gay members of the military continued to be unfairly discharged. The issue of homosexuality in the military was mostly an afterthought during the Vietnam War era, when simply maintaining troop levels was the main concern.
The notorious cases against Fannie Mae Clackum and Leonard Matlovich of the United States Air Force led to the adoption of a policy by the Department of Defense which essentially outlawed homosexuality in the military. By the 1990s, the LGBT rights community raised awareness of this unfair policy and public opinion began to sway against the narrow-minded stance it represented.
It took the brutal murder of a gay sailor serving in Japan to bring the issue to a level of national interest. Radioman Petty Officer Third Class Allen R. Schindler, Jr. was only 22 years old when he was stomped to death by a shipmate because of his sexual orientation in 1992. The young sailor’s murder prompted presidential candidate Bill Clinton to announce his intention to repeal anti-gay military policy, but Congress quickly moved to make it federal law instead. This was a shrewd political move that forced the Clinton White House to attempt a repeal. The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is the compromise reached in lieu of overturning the gay ban in the military.
Originally the policy was called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue.” This was the phrase chosen by sociologist Charles Moskos, who was instrumental in drafting a policy that didn’t explicitly permit homosexuals to serve in the military, but neither allowed them to be discharged as long as they “served in silence.” The original name of the policy was shortened almost as soon as the policy was adopted, but it was also known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Harass.”
As an official policy, DADT was challenged numerous times. The inadequacy of the policy was depicted in at least two films: Serving in Silence (1997) and Soldier’s Girl (2003). Serving in Silence is based on the life of Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, an Army nurse who served in the Washington National Guard. Colonel Cammermeyer was honorably discharged in 1992 against her will when she came out as a lesbian. She appealed the discharge in federal district court and was reinstated and allowed to retire.
Soldier’s Girl portrays the tragic murder of Private First Class Barry Winchell, an infantryman in the 101st Airborne Division who was brutally murdered by a fellow soldier who believed PFC Winchell was involved in a relationship with transgendered showgirl Calpernia Addams. PFC Winchell’s murder infuriated President Clinton, who immediately ordered a review of the DADT policy. Lieutenant General Timothy Maude, a top Army officer who sympathized with the LGBT military community, personally met with PFC Winchell’s grieving parents.
The White House under President George W. Bush didn’t do much to advance the repeal of DADT, but presidential candidate Barack Obama made it a campaign promise. In 2010, efforts to repeal DADT and grant homosexuals the right to serve in the US military began in earnest. The efforts were silent but swift, and ultimately successful. The lack of news media attention shouldn’t detract from the sheer significance of the change represented by the repeal. The end of DADT marks a major achievement in the progress of civil rights in America. It may’ve passed in relative silence, but it should be remembered with fanfare.
Occupy Providence Today
UPDATE: A picture of the throngs in downtown Providence!
From the Occupy Providence Facebook Page, a public service announcement…
On Saturday, October 15th at 5pm Rhode Islanders will gather in Burnside Park (Downtown Providence) to express a feeling of mass injustice and stand in solidarity with those occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square. This will be done as part of an international day of action in conjunction with the occupation of dozens of other cities around the country and the world.
If you feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world, the members of the Occupy Providence General Assembly (OPGA) are your allies. Members of the OP General Assembly have been meeting in Burnside Park everyday since Oct 1st, and are committed to non-violence; to maintaining a safe, alcohol free, drug free, and harassment/discrimination free space for all voices to be heard. The OP General Assembly does not endorse any political candidate or party in any way.
The Occupation of Burnside Park will begin at 5pm, followed by:
1. A rally & march against corporate greed and corporate crime2. An autonomous picnic: bring your own food but also consider that an unaffiliated group known as “Food Not Banks” suggested that it may be bringing enough share!
3. The October 15th Occupy Providence General Assembly (where folks share ideas, come to agreement, and vote on how to move forward)
4. Entertainment (songs, stories, dancing, meditation, music, and more)!!
5. Vigil
This is an inclusive event for people and families of all ages:
Drugs, Alcohol, Discrimination, Harassment, and Violent behavior are NOT WELCOME.The Occupation starts at 5p and will last, I hope, for as many days, nights, weeks, and months (?) as it takes to come to a consensus on how best to challenge corporate greed, which places profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality; the corporations which run our government, destroy our environment, and control our lives.
We are the 99%, standing in opposition to rule by the 1%.
Come to Burnside Park at 5pm on October 15th and let your voice be heard!
THINGS TO BRING:
lanterns, flash flights, batteries, video cameras, signs (your sign is your legal proof of political expression and your right to exercise free speech), writing materials, tarps, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, warm clothes, food, water, games, yoga mats, books, patience, respect, ideas and information to share, friends who are lawyers, friends with CPR and medical training, friends with non-violence training, & other fitting supply donations for an indefinite occupation!THINGS NOT TO BRING:
bullhorns, amplifiers, amplification systems, generators, propane grills, gas grills, anything with an open flame, drugs, alcohol, weapons, excess garbage; anything the police can say violates a noise or other city ordinance or requires a permit we don’t have; any thing that will give the police leverage to disrupt the occupationOP GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAFE SPACE REQUIREMENTS:
*Occupy Providence is a completely non-violent movement; violence and property destruction/defacing are not welcome, and do not represent us.*Discrimination or harassment based on race, sex, gender, orientation, age, or anything else are not welcome. This includes any sexist, homophobic, trans-phobic, racist, or ageist behavior, speech, chanting, writing, etc.
*We are a drug and alcohol free assembly and occupation. Cigarette smokers are asked to please smoke at a respectful distance from non-smokers.
Please forward widely this invite WIDELY.
If you have ideas on how to help with press stuff, please contact: OccupyProvidenceMedia@gmail.com
Sincerely,
~Jared
(member of the Occupy Providence Direct Action Working Group)
The Providence Journal reports that organizers are coordinating with public safety officials…
PROVIDENCE — Members of the grass-roots group Occupy Providence met Thursday with Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré for what were called fruitful and amicable discussions about a protest planned for Saturday in a downtown city park.
The city is willing to waive the $10 application fee for the park-use permit and a requirement that the group get $500,000 in liability insurance, as is typical for gatherings of 100 or more, Paré said.
“The thought is we’re going to accommodate them,” Paré said late Thursday. “They certainly have something they want to say. They are, in my mind, a peaceful group.”
Occupy Providence is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street, a protest in New York City’s financial district that has stretched across a month and attracted thousands of supporters dismayed by the state of the economy and the political system. Protests, which emphasize nonviolence, are planned Saturday in 1,400 cities, including Providence.
As of this writing, the sun is up, the sky is blue– looks like good weather for a day in the park.
CIVIC: Today at 10am, a group from Occupy Providence is cleaning the park, and would welcome volunteers. Please carpool if you plan to attend any Occupy events today.
DON’T FORGET: Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘nonviolence strategy’ was not just moral, it was pragmatic. Anyone trying to incite may be a provocateur, or just a loose cannon. Civility is the tool of the powerful, and we have the power.
It’s All Obama’s Fault
Violent crime has shown large declines in the past two years..
Violent crime fell significantly last year in cities across the U.S., according to preliminary federal statistics, challenging the widely held belief that recessions drive up crime rates.
The incidence of violent crimes such as murder, rape and aggravated assault was down 5.5% from 2008, and 6.9% in big cities. It fell 2.4% in long-troubled Detroit and plunged 16.6% in Phoenix, despite a perception of rising crime that has fueled an immigration backlash.
The early figures, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, indicate a third straight year of decreases, along with a sharply accelerating rate of decline.
This good news, of course, is due to multiple factors, though the Wall Street Journalarticle does mention that stimulus money helped keep police on the street. I wonder if the greying of America is part of the picture? You get old, mellow out, just don’t get into robbing banks the way you used to. Just a thought.
What Would Jackie Chan Do?
I always liked Jackie Chan, who has practiced martial arts since his early childhood, and chose a sweet and comic screen persona that contrasts with his formidable athletic skills.
He doesn’t come across as a bully, or a man who confuses his movie roles with his real life. Steven Seagal is another story…
An Arizona man is suing Steven Seagal after the actor-turned-lawman mowed down his fence in a tank as part of an animal cruelty raid by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s SWAT team that left 100 chickens dead. Yep, a tank. Oh, and the man says they also shot his puppy.
Rough justice for an incorrigible animal abuser, or a shameless reality TV stunt that victimized an innocent man and his beloved animals? That’s for the courts to sort out.
Okay. As we get older, even the supernaturally gifted martial artists slow down, so maybe Seagal needed a tank to go after those chickens, which can give you a nasty peck if you face them unarmed. We’ll probably never find out who shot the puppy.
I used to study Aikido. It’s a Japanese martial art that takes respect very seriously. Seagal lived in Japan as a young man, married a woman whose family was instrumental in the dojo where he was a student, and then left Miyako Fujitani and their children when opportunity called in the USA. His history with women since has appeared to be a series of ‘trading up’ marriages and divorces.
Miyako Fujitani is a pioneer in women’s martial arts and a respected master teacher in the Aikido community. She is not making headlines for running over chickens so you’ve probably never heard of her. But she’s the real deal.
Miyako Fujitani Sensei wrote a book, ‘Precious Time’, that she excerpts here..
Now I have made up my mind to live my own life, this remaining precious life, by following my inner voice and the wisdom gained from my bitter struggle with fate. By writing this book, I hoped to be released from my burdens, having had to carry on by myself after Steven Seagal abruptly left for the USA, leaving behind our family, the dojo, and me.
I think she speaks for many women who keep faith with their children and their responsibilities, unsung heroines, most of them.
It’s so easy for a movie tough guy to get an outsize place in public life. Sheriff Joe Arpaio gets all kinds of attention for stunts that debase his public trust. And California is bailing out from years of their Governator. So it matters when poseurs grab the spotlight and define the role.
Terrorizing Parents
I can only read the awful story about the murder of eight-year-old Leibby Kletzky with the most profound sympathy for his family and community.
We try so hard to protect our children without stifling their desire for independence– in fact they have to be allowed to go out into the world if they are to learn to live in the world.
I’m not surprised that the suspect came from the neighborhood. I have no idea how parents can guard against someone whose behavior is insane.
I wonder if Levi Aron was hiding in plain sight. There will be all kinds of attention paid to him, which likely is one motivation for psychopaths looking for fame. But we desperately want to know how to recognize and guard against any threat to our children, so he’ll get his fifteen minutes and more.
Terror is the only word for the effect of such a crime on all the good people trying to live in peace.
Unregulated Loaded Gun
Ignorance can be remedied, but there’s no cure for stupidity. This is really scary…
A freshman Arizona state Senator may be in need of some gun safety lessons.
Richard Ruelas, a reporter for The Arizona Republic, found himself staring down the barrel of Republican state Sen. Lori Klein’s raspberry-pink firearm during a recent interview at the Capitol.
“Oh, it’s so cute,” Klein said of the .380 Ruger that she carries in purse at all times.
While the loaded pistol had no safety and the laser pointer was centered on the reporter’s chest, Klein explained that there was no need to worry.
“I just didn’t have my hand on the trigger,” she said.
I wonder if the Arizona NRA will condemn Sen.Klein for this stupid and arrogant stunt. Does this count as assault? I think it’s actionable.
‘The gun just went off’ has been said many times, but juries tend to be unsympathetic. James Langevin could tell this fool a thing or two about the dangers of getting careless with guns.
Cuts Are Taxes
Yesterday I sat in my hot car with the radio on listening to the President’s speech and press conference on the pending debt limit.
I agree with some of the President’s critics that Social Security and Medicare have to be protected. There are too many people who want to raid these programs for short-term gain. The ‘privatization’ idea is scary. Who wants to find out at retirement that the stock market has crashed and there’s no income, or trade Medicare for a coupon and a booklet of private insurances that might accept you? Radical dismantling is not the way.
But we are looking at a demographic bulge, my own generation. We may have to raise the retirement age over time. I’m not totally ‘hands off Social Security’. Maybe I should be. There are so many bad faith efforts to ‘improve’ what is one of the programs that’s actually working.
Medicare will always need adjusting. You can’t say ‘hands off’ a huge community hospital and resolve not to change a thing. A program that big and complicated is organic and will need to change and improve as a natural function of serving the increasing number of Americans using it. I don’t think it’s realistic to think we can save money with cuts– Medicare would function better if it were expanded to cover more people, in fact. We can use the money more efficiently. Waste and fraud are like the dishes– you can’t just do them once, it’s a constant chore. Medicare has vast documentation of the effectiveness of medical treatments and is a first line of defense against our tax dollars being wasted on medical procedures that are ineffective or even harmful. Unfortunately, public health experts are attacked with cries of ‘rationing’ and ‘death panels’ if they publish study results that question accepted practices. A recent paper on the right age for starting routine screening mammograms in women without known risk factors made headlines– apparently no one noticed the word ‘routine’. On the other hand, lack of an affordable national health insurance option has us in such a state of insecurity it’s no wonder there’s panic.
So, that’s the ‘entitlement’ side of the debate.
The other side is taxes. Listening to the Republican vows of ‘no tax increases’ is like being back in the holy roller church. I think it’s a religious thing. How else could taxes be a terrible, disabling punishment to the rich, and cuts a bracing, fortifying tonic to the poor. Why does loose money make rich people industrious and poor people lazy? Are the rich really different from you and me?
‘Cuts’ are a tax increase. They are a regressive tax that is highest for those most in need. The tax on the poor has always been heavy, but in this economy the tax has been rising for the middle class as well.
Everyone pays sales tax. Sales tax is a higher proportion of income for low-income people. Everyone who owns property pays taxes. As the Federal government shrinks, the states have to pick up the slack, so our state taxes go up.
When public transit cuts routes and increases wait times, that’s a tax on the poor. Time is money, no more so than when you work for minimum wage. When neighborhood schools close and the scramble to get the kids out of the house in the morning gets tougher, that’s a tax. When ‘deregulation’ allows polluters to foul the air, and your kid gets asthma, and your Rite Care insurance gets cut, and you take on a second job to afford the inhalers– that’s robbery. And that example is not fiction.
It’s discouraging to hear the President use the phrase ‘lean and mean’. How about ‘thin and nasty’? That’s the state of most programs for the public good. Forget the phrase, ‘safety net’. We’re all invested in the public good.
Medicare and Social Security are the healthiest programs. They need constant adjustment, and I can understand the Democrat’s ‘hands off’ when the Republicans are itching to make those adjustments with an ax. But ‘hands off’ is not realistic.
‘No taxes’ is even crazier. I pay taxes, you pay taxes– the world will not end if the Kardashians pay taxes. If the deficit is a fire in the house, but you can’t touch the water in the swimming pool because Biff needs to do his laps in the morning, how serious is this really?
I heard a woman on the radio, a registered Republican, who said she would not mind paying more taxes if she knew the money would be used for the public good. I would not mind paying more taxes if the money went to health care, education, public safety and job creation. And if everyone paid their fair share.
When a library closes, when a park is neglected, when a bridge fails and construction workers are idle– that’s a tax. When elderly and disabled people see their benefits shrink, that’s a tax. The middle class, the low-wage workers, the poor and the people who depend on public assistance are maxed out. It’s time for the the people who have benefited most to do the right thing.
