Posts Tagged ‘United States’
Taps for the fallen brave – MEMORIAL DAY
Today we remember those who died in our nation’s service. Today we proudly display the American flag, a small flag in the living room window or a huge flag on a flagpole, the size is irrelevant. The flag is flown at half-staff until noon to honor the fallen brave, and then flown at full staff […]
What to do about illegal aliens?
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is challenging a federal government plan to use the Social Security Administration’s “no match” rule to crack down on illegal aliens. Currently they send “no match” letters to employers who have more than 10 employees with a mismatch between their name and their social security number. Previously, there were no incentives […]
A thank-you to mom for all she did – MOTHER’S DAY
The Sunday is Mother’s Day. I would like to remember my mom, the woman dad often referred to as ‘Mother,’ rather than by her name, Alice. He used the term ‘Mother’ when he was referring to her with admiration and respect. Recalling my childhood, I can now appreciate how difficult those years were for us, […]
Should America boycott Beijing?
August 8th is the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This Olympics will open with controversy, just as have some earlier Olympics. The controversy surrounding this Olympics is the ongoing human rights violations attributed to China. Political dissidents in China often face imprisonment, torture, or even death. There is escalating violence […]
Rights and responsibilities of free press
The first amendment of the United States Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press . . .” Conspicuously absent is mention of any responsibility accompanying this right, although Benjamin Franklin, in the Apology for Printers published in 1731, suggested there were responsibilities saying, […]
Human beings all
Last week I wrote an article on homosexuality. To suggest this is a volatile subject is a gross understatement. The number of responses, the intensity of those responses, and the speed of those responses was overwhelming. This could mean the topic should be off limits, it could mean dissenting opinions should not be printed, or […]
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 […]
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 […]
The war we don’t celebrate
Shouldn’t we celebrate the anniversary of a war? Don’t the lost lives deserve recognition? Most wars do deserve celebration; but not all wars. Wars that never seem to end, that have ongoing deaths, are difficult to celebrate. Wars like those in many third world countries seem endless; seem to be a way of life, continuing […]
Interrogation or torture?
The debate continues. What is interrogation and what is torture? Are there situations in which interrogation is inadequate, situations requiring something more? In the abstract, it seems rather easy to determine what is or is not morally acceptable, what is or is not torture. But, how easy is the decision when it’s personal; when the […]
Allow our military to fight the terrorists
Albert Einstein said, “I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” He believed World War III would be nuclear annihilation returning us to the Stone Age. Is he correct? Will there even be a World War III? If there […]
Affirmative action: working as intended?
According to a recent USA Today article, five states may have proposals on their ballots this year to end affirmative action. Is it time to end affirmative action? What was its original purpose? Has it helped reduce discrimination? Has it been applied as intended? In the early 1960s the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was created to […]
“I intend to be among the outlaws”
By June, 2008 the United States Supreme Court may offer some clarification of the Second Amendment and the rights of individuals to own guns. But, their interpretation may be so narrow that it has little impact outside the source of the case, Washington, D.C., leaving the rest of the nation still debating gun control. If […]
“A free people…ought to be armed”
Thomas Jefferson said, “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” But did he foresee guns being used in mass murders, the most recent leaving three dead in Colorado? There a gunman killed two people and wounded two others at a missionary training center in Arvada. Later the same day he killed […]
“Out of many, one”
“The one absolute certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, or preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities. We have but one flag. We must also learn one language and that language is English” stated President Theodore Roosevelt. […]
Birth control for eleven-year-olds?
The Portland, Maine school board is allowing school personnel to dispense birth control to girls as young as eleven without the knowledge or consent of their parents. Is this reasonable or unacceptable? Would you want your eleven year old daughter using birth control without your knowledge? Does availability of birth control promote sexual activity in […]
The price of ‘freeing the oppressed’
How do you propose an acceptable number of dead American military personnel? How do you justify losing even one American life. Are there acceptable deaths? My inability to answer these questions is probably why I did not have the character to serve my country while many of my family members did. Maybe I could never […]
Is there a life not worthy to be lived?
In the United States we have had access to legal abortions for about 25 years and access to voluntary euthanasia in Oregon for about 10 years. Some might question discussing abortion and euthanasia together but isn’t abortion just a form of involuntary euthanasia? What does the future hold for these procedures? If we look at […]
The United States – “One nation under God?”
The funeral of a United States serviceman, who was killed in combat, ignited the debate over God and government. Is it inappropriate to mention God at a military funeral? Did we vote to become an agnostic nation? The debate continues because some individuals and groups believe any mention of God in government violates the “separation […]
Thoughts of a soldier’s father – VETERAN’S DAY
How do I write about the people willing to do what so many of us are not willing to do? How do I write about heroes? The ones “ready to pick up a rifle, ruck up and close with the enemy.” How do I write about Veteran’s Day when I am terrified because I have […]