The World Around You

Paul at Wizbang should be ashamed of himself. The tsunmai was a horrific event and it is being covered well all over the blogosphere, the coverage of a non-political event cannot and should not be scored on a post-by-post basis. Does having ten posts on the subject as opposed to nine make you a better human being. How childish can you get?

Thanks to Henry at Crooked Timber for the tip.

UPDATE: Just in case you have been out of the loop and would like to help the victims of this horrific tragedy, CNN has a comprehensive list of agencies accepting donations.

UPDATE: And the navel gazing goes on… Paul continually says, “I was just pointing out…” That is a huge load of BS, he was making broad accusations against lefties for their inaction and now wants to criticize others for criticizing the President for the same reason. This once again reminds me why I stopped reading Wizbang a long time ago. Way too much idiotic nonsense for my taste.

UPDATE: Paul is spineless to boot. He posts saying that the left is overreacting to his outright attack and then turns the comments off on that post. What a gutless weasel. He was wrong to begin with and now he is backpedaling by saying the accused are overreacting.

UPDATE: Mark Matson effectively picks Paul apart.

UPDATE: I’ve added Kevin back to the list of the ashamed, because he now wants everyone to shut up, when it was the freaking imbecile who posts on HIS SITE that made the idiotic argument in the first place!

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You have to have priorities when you’re an elected official. Several Alabama legislators are showing their prioritry of fixing something that isn’t broken.

The legislation, House 1 and Senate 4 and 5, are identical measures to solidify the illegality of same-sex marriage in Alabama. Legislators say they are responding to the desire of constituents while opponents say the constitutional amendment, which would have to be ratified in a statewide vote, is unnecessary because it is redundant.

“It’s already illegal for same-sex couples to marry in Alabama,” said the Rev. Robert H. Flanders of the Montgomery Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Still, Flanders said he’s done a handful of marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples since coming to Montgomery in September of last year.

Flanders said those against same-sex marriage are driving the issue, not gay people who want to marry.

Every time Rev. Flanders is quoted in the press I find myself agreeing with him 100%. Conservatives in the national media like to say that the Massachusetts Supreme Court started this fight, but no one has explained how that decision impacts on any other state. These Alabama bills are an effort begun by those who oppose recognition of same sex couples in the same way that interracial marriages were opposed by their forebearers. It is wrong, but I have full confidence we will move in the direction of full rights for all people in due course.

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Parents bribe kids to stay away from drugs, alcohol

So many things bug me about this. It’s just sooo Hoover circa 2004.  I’m not a parent, and I suppose bribing your children is better than having them overdose or drive drunk, so I’m sure someone will tell me to shut up on that account. But I do have children in my life that I love very much, and I would hope that their parents (my sisters) would pursue an alternative to this. There are alternatives to this nauseatingly self-serving and mercenary system, right? (So mercenary, in fact, that two mothers have even built up a cottage industry around it, though they donate a dollar from each sale of their ‘kits’–which include a contract to sign and bracelets for the kids–to DARE).

What if I’m not wealthy enough to bribe my child? What if I’m so wealthy that $1000 wouldn’t be sufficient motivation? What if my children are morally bankrupt and they’d do drugs and drink and simply say they abstained? Speaking of abstaining, are anti-sex bribes next? (for girls only, I guess).

Conventional wisdom (well, this article and this one) says that abstinence pledges (which promise self-respect and/or God’s approval, not money) are relatively effective in the short term. Kids who sign them tend to have sex later. But when they do, they often don’t use birth control (i.e. they don’t exercise appropriate precautions). Could a similar phenomenon result from these bribes? Say the kid stays on the wagon until prom night his senior year, but since he’s never been taught ideas about moderation in drinking or using a designated driver (i.e. taking precautions) he does neither?

I think I’d prefer an ‘honesty’ pledge, that reads something like "I promise to be honest with my parents about my use of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs and about instances when they are offered to me."  In return, the parents could explain rationally (without their checkbook) why reckless behaviors aren’t appropriate and how they can be harmful. The parents would know with which friends these experiences occurred, and take appropriate action. Yeah, that’d be a lot of work, though.

Anyway, as I said, I’m not a parent and I know these parents are acting out of love for their children, but I’d appreciate some other views on this matter–from parents and nonparents.

Crossposted at Local Tint

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Rumsfeld says Iraqis Must Stop Insurgents

"You are going to be the proud owner of 25 million people. You will own all their hopes, aspirations, and problems. You’ll own it all." –Secretary of State Colin Powell to President Bush, regarding a potential Iraq invasion (Summer, 2002).

Apparently not.

Donald Rumsfeld, with what sounds to me like a hint of resignation, says that "the time has come for ordinary Iraqis to realize that they — not the Americans — will ultimately decide who prevails in this conflict."

At the same time, an American officer (Maj. Gen. John Batiste, "whose 1st Infantry Division essentially rules north-central and northeastern Iraq") concedes that intimidation of everyday Iraqis by Iraqis fighting the Americans is proving very effective.

He said death threats are delivered to the mail boxes of Iraqis who cooperate with the Americans or are otherwise circulated in ways that make it difficult to maintain Iraqi loyalty in the face of threats to their families.

What’s a person whose oppressive government has been replaced by occupation, intimidation, savagery, and general lawlessness to do? Really. What are they supposed to do?

* The Pottery Barn rule "You break it, you buy it" was used by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell in a vain attempt to sound caution and prompt reflection amid the feverish buildup to the Iraq War. An interesting aside: According to Wikipedia, Pottery Barn, in fact, has no such rule.

** Crossposted to Local Tint.

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Unlike others in the blogosphere, I am not taking a vacation. No sireee, not me. I’ll be right here, waiting for breaking news. Yep, I’ll be here, watching and waiting. Oh yeah, yep, you won’t catch me napping on the job. No rest for the weary here, no way….yep, none at all.

Now where did I put that egg nog…

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This edition of my weekly column was published in the 12/22/04 Edition of the Wednesday (Prattville) Progress:

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

We have spent entirely too much time during this season of caring and peace bickering over whom the season is really all about. I’m going to pick a fight that I know will frustrate many of you, my dear readers, but I venture into the wilderness anyway. There is a history of celebrations at this time of year that goes back much further than Christ’s birth.

In fact, no one knows when Christ was born, so why do we celebrate it on December 25th? The date was chosen to compete with the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice that were all the rage in ancient civilizations. The Romans celebrated the birth of the god Attis (who they also believed had a virgin birth and was crucified to save mankind) on December 25 and the Greeks celebrated the birth of Dionysus. So the early leaders of the church chose a date with which people were already familiar as a time of celebration.

Even as the date has little relation to the actual date of Jesus’s birth, it is even more difficult to draw connections between any of the practices that we associate with the holiday and the “reason for the season”. Why do we give gifts? I was always taught it was to remember the gifts that the wisemen brought to Jesus. That would make sense, if we did as many European and Latin American countries do and give our gifts on the Epiphany or the Day of the Magi, January 6, but we don’t. Instead we use the occasion of Christ’s birth to give gifts to everyone else. Of course the other reason to give gifts at Christmas is in celebration of Santa Claus.

This is one of those places where stories and traditions get muddled, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. There are lots of histories and traditions around St. Nick, and none are particularly consistent, but that’s all right. In fact, I believe there are many reasons for the season. The birth of Christ is important to Christians, but shouldn’t the celebration of his death and resurrection be even more important? Why do we make such a big deal at Christmas? Because it is bigger than just a celebration of anyone’s birthday. Christmas is about celebrating family and friends and peace and goodwill toward all men. That’s why, when anyone suggests that Christmas is reserved for the Christians, I would call that person the Scrooge to end all Scrooges.

This type of pettiness is not what America, or representatives of any faith are about. As for what we say to people at this time of year, I don’t think it matters very much, as long as it comes from a spirit of caring and love not divisiveness and hate (Bah humbug anyone?). Say whatever you like, it will be received in the spirit in which it is given. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

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If you know of a central Alabamian under the age of 35 whose words and actions honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., consider nominating him/her for the King Spirit Award.

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I’m a high tech person, but I believe the way we vote in Autauga County and the way Montgomery County is looking to vote is the best of both worlds. You receive a paper ballot and complete the arrow next to the candidates of your choide, then you feed the paper through a machine that counts the votes. There’s a paper trail, but you also have an electronic count that can be easily tabulated. I don’t think this way of doing it is precisely the way we should be doing it ad infinitum.

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I have been reading a lot of interesting letters in the Montgomery Advertiser for a good while, and I think it’s time to set the record straight. I’ll begin with this letter from this morning’s paper:

Montgomery Advertiser editorial writers are already on the back of Judge McKathan. He has the Ten Commandments embroidered in gold not only on his judicial robe, as you wrote, but also on his Christian heart.

Activist editorialists, like activist judges, shy away from traditional Christian American practices that we have observed for 200 years. It is disgraceful that we have to fight for the right to display Christmas trees, nativity scenes, say the name Jesus in public, say Merry Christmas, etc.

In January 1945, while in boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., we fell out on Sundays and were marched to church. While in high school in Selma, the Bible was read to us. This is the America that I know and love.

The editorialist wrote that the issue would be the same if McKathan’s embroidered words were those of the Koran. If that were so, there would be hordes of sickening left-wingers to support him in that case. That certain element just wants Jesus out of the picture.

I would say to the sick lot: Jesus was the one who spoke this world into existence. (Ephesians 3:9.) He died a cruel death that we may be forgiven of our sins.

Voltaire, the French philosopher, once prophesied that in the not-too-distant future the Bible would be extinct. Today, in the house that he made that statement, the Bible is published. He had a horrible death. The nurse who attended him said that she would not attend an atheist on his deathbed for all the crown jewels.

Frank Hardy
Montgomery

Oh Mr. Hardy, it’s wonderful that you have such strong religious convictions and I respect them, but the America that you “know and love” is not the America that we live in today. There are hundreds of thousands of students who study the Bible in school every day, they attend Christian schools.

I also have a question for you, if Ashley McKathan has the Ten Commandments embroidered on his “Christian heart”, why does he need to have them on his judicial robes? No one is against Christianity sir, what people are against are public officials, in that official capacity, stating a preference for one religion over the other. How can anyone who does not espouse to the same beliefs as Ashley believe they are going to receive a fair shake? Judges wear black robes for a reason and adorning them with anything is extremely prejudicial and wrong.

You notice we aren’t having a fight over whether Johnny Hardy can wear the Ten Commandments on his shirt to work at the local assembly plant. Do you know why? Because that’s not the government’s business! That’s his right! But public officials are different. That is why Roy Moore is out of a job and if Ashley doesn’t change his tune, he will find himself in the same boat. They are paid very well to do a job, and a large portion of that job is maintaining impartiality. Having any statement embroidered on your robes is anything but impartial. Let Ashley proclaim his faith in any way he cares to, but he cannot proclaim it when he is serving in judgement of those who may not share it.

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Today’s Headlines at AL Hotline:

Birmingham News: Shelby, Spann Oppose Commuting Lindh’s Sentence

Birmingham News: St. Clair school board chairman apologizes for remark called slur

Mobile Register: Feds uphold Tariffs Sought by Shrimpers

Not much going on today in Alabama politics. Everyone is getting ready for the holidays.

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I’m comforted somewhat to hear the Mobile Register confirm that Gerald Allen’s bill has not even a remote possibility of passing, but I would like to seem some prominent politicians take him to task for demagoguery.

Regardless of the attention, legislators on both sides of the aisle are saying privately that Allen’s bill has no shot of passing — and may not even come up for discussion.

Among the more prominent public statements, House Majority Leader Ken Guin , a Carbon Hill Democrat, said, “That’s Nazi book burning. It’s dead on arrival. Nobody thinks that’s a good idea.”

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I think Paul Hubbert is laying a big figure on the table for teacher pay raises so that if that objective is not met he can portray it as a slight to teachers. I have no doubt they deserve a raise, after going two years without, but the amount needs to be negotiated. I would wager there will be at least a 5% raise.

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The following is my weekly column that appeared in the 12/15/04 edition of the Wednesday (Prattville) Progress:

Complete strangers are much more willing to approach you when you have a cute baby in tow. I’ve noticed this immutable fact ever since my now six-month-old daughter was born and we started to take her out in public. We frequent the same stores and public places where previously no one paid us any attention, but now many people stop to tell us what a cute baby we have.

I can think of only a few times when someone has told me how attractive my wife and I’m almost certain no one has said the same to my wife. Yet a miniature version of us generates almost constant adoration. If I could bottle whatever it is that makes people so attracted to babies, I could make a fortune. Come to think of it, a lot for people have already used that idea; the Gerber baby, the Michelin baby, the various movies starring babies (Look Who’s Talking, Baby Geniuses, etc.). We have an attachment to our young, which is a very good thing.

Yet that doesn’t fully explain why you are more outgoing toward people with babies. I mean, few strangers walk up to the parents of a ten year old and say, “What a beautiful daughter you have.” You may still get the occasional complement from a friend or family member, but there aren’t nearly as many compliments coming from strangers.

Another question I have about these encounters is how I’m supposed to respond. I always say thank you, but I’m never sure if that should be the end of the conversation. I’m just liable to walk away. I’m not trying to be rude, but I’m just not sure where to go from there. Now, my wife is a natural conversationalist and will talk to anyone about anything, so, no problem for her. She’s more than happy to tell you anything you want to know and if you’re a new mom you may as well park it for the next half hour. Of course, she claims this is just a woman thing.

Which brings me to another observation. I would say that about ninety percent of the remarks on our child come from women. So maybe my wife is right. We do studies on a variety of odd things; I wonder if there is a study comparing the sexes on this issue. I couldn’t find one on the World Wide Web, but I’d be surprised if something along these lines has not been done.

I don’t want you to infer from my musings that I have any problems with this practice whatsoever. It’s just one of those things that I never would have known about had my wife and I not been blessed with a wonderful baby girl. Maybe it’s one of those natural phenomena that ensures the perpetuation of the species. Or maybe there’s just nothing quite like a smiling baby to put people in good spirits and they want to share their pleasure with the proud parents. Either way, it’s okay with me.

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I laughed out loud at this quote, buried in a Mobile Register story on a Christmas poll.

While Alabama people express belief in the Bible’s account, Norman McCrummen, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Mobile, questioned “what effect that belief is having on our culture.”

“Where Christian values are respected, there is going to be courtesy and respect and tolerance in the best sense of the word,” he said.

All over the country, in Europe, and even in Bible Belt states like Alabama, “general courtesy and respect for others is in decline. We must remember that the basic tenet of Christianity is thinking of others and their welfare,” he said.

I’m sorry, but that is bust out loud funny. To make the argument that Alabama is more tolerant and respectful had me rolling on the floor. Alabama is a lot of things and I would certainly agree that if you are a member of the majority (i.e. Christian-Baptist, white, etc.) you are tolerated, but heaven forbid the minority (i.e. not Baptist, not Christian, not white) looks for any tolerance.

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I think we should be quite wary of a school board president that uses the verb form “might can”. All the praying in the world can’t fix grammar like that.

“Why fix it if it isn’t broken?” school board member Hazel Fournier asked Thomas during the Tuesday board meeting.

“Teachers need to know their boundaries, and we need to stand behind them,” Thomas said.

“Amen,” added newly elected board member Bill Meredith.

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I will be praying hard this weekend that God tells Roy not to run,

“I’ll be praying about it and considering it,” Moore said at a meeting with reporters.

Moore was ousted from his job as Alabama’s chief justice in November 2003 for refusing to follow a federal judge’s order to remove his 5,280-pound Ten Commandments monument from public display in the state judicial building. He appealed his ouster to the U.S. Supreme Court, but lost.

**UPDATE: Mac will be praying as well.

**UPDATE: Crossposted at Polstate.com

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I can understand why the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus would be threatening a filibuster if any revisions are made to what was proposed in Amendment 2 that was rejected by Alabama citizens. But if they are going to do that, they need to propose an alternative scenario, because there is no reason to put the same language that has already been rejected back on the ballot again.

I also found the quote from John Giles enlightening:

“We support removing the racist language,” Giles said of the Christian Coalition. “That position is firm.

“The right to an education, however, is the centerpiece to lawsuits in 50 percent of the states today. Next, will there be a right to a job? No child in the 1950s or in 2004 has been denied a public education at the taxpayers’ expense,” Giles said. “It is a gift, not a right.”

At least we know where the “Christian” Coalition stands. You have no right to an education, get in the back of the line. That seems like a very “Christian” thing to believe.

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Tampa Bay Devil Rays General Manager Chuck LaMar gave some insight into where former Biscuits will be next year and who may be coming to Montgomery in the spring during an online chat yesterday. Specifically, he ended the speculation about BJ Upton, he will start the season in AAA Durham rather than with the big club, but that once he is called up again he will be in Tampa to stay. LaMar left the door open to Joey Gathright staying in the mix in the Tampa Bay outfield, though they would prefer he gets another half season in Durham.

As for next year’s Biscuits, we can expect 2003 #1 draft pick Delmon Young to start the season in Montgomery. LaMar also suggested that Class A breakout player Elijah Dukes (.332 - .416 - .540 - 8 - 34 - 16 SB in 58 games) will be roaming the outfield of Riverwalk Stadium this season.

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I added the quotation marks in the headline, because I’m not sure what kind of “judge” Ashley McKathan is. A judge would take great care in ensuring that his impartiality is not questioned. Ashley is doing the exact opposite. He seems very proud of the national attention he is garnering. I just hope he realizes that the press coverage will not continue to be as positive as it is when the backlash begins. I also hope he realizes that his shenanigans could cost him his job.

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