Who Really Hanged Saddam Hussein?
I began hearing reports that Saddam Hussein would be executed this weekend just a day or so ago. Coupled with that information was speculation that there would be video, either in the mainstream press or on the internet. That such an event might be televised changed the execution from a bad idea to questioning what […]
“Let Them Eat Clones!”
The FDA reports that the meat and milk of cloned animals pose no unique risks to consumers. Looking past my visceral reactions to such news I have to say that I imagine that on the face of the issue the FDA is accurate. I see no reason that a cloned animal that reaches maturity in […]
Massachusetts court rules it can’t force a vote.
I don’t see how conservatives can complain about a court failing to overreach. “Activist courts” has been the battle cry of the right whenever the courts rule that individuals have rights to speech, equal protection, and privacy, among others.
It’s pretty clear here that the legislature itself is using a political maneuver to get around the […]
Anderson Cooper
I don’t dabble in pop culture much. Admittedly, too often I avoid it, and then feel ignorant for the worthwhile bits that I miss. As of today, having watched one full segment of 360°, I’m hardly in a position to evaluate the show or Cooper’s work. The show I saw today, I think was a […]
Anti-gay initiatives: exercising a tyranny of the majority
Updated 12/28/2006 with some additional thoughts and clarifications.
The use of the democratic initiative process has gotten out of hand. The history of the movement is pretty easy to understand. When lawmakers abdicate their responsibility, failing to legislate when legislation is needed, well-meaning people are moved to take the matter to the people.
The problem is […]
Give Kucinich a good look
I want to post substantially more about Dennis Kucinich whom I belive walks the walk with more integrity than most progressive politicians out there. Especially after posting on four of the so-called front-runners. This post is a heads-up to check him out. More to come.
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Episcopals Take Their Crayons and Go Home
Last week nine Virginia Episcopal parishes voted to leave the U.S. Episcopal church to affiliate with the Episcopal Church of Nigeria. (see Harold Meyerson, Dec 20, WashingtonPost.com.)
[The] Anglican archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, … has called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a “satanic attack” on the church, and … supports legislation in his […]
Lay Your Hand on the Koran and Repeat After Me.
I’ve never quite bought into the meaning of swearing on the Bible. I’m sure it is supposed to mean that because the book is held in reverence, the oath-taker will also reverence the truth or the ideal to be upheld. Attaching any additional meaning to the act seems either superstitious or offensive to the devout.
When […]
Progressives: No Hillary Bashing Allowed
OK, forget the title — I’m a free speech kind of guy. Still, whatever you think of the junior senator from New York, this is why I think you should take the spirit of my title to heart.
There are probably several reasons it is so easy to refer to Sen. Clinton by her first name […]
Marriage equality for all: abolish marriage!
There’s a lot to discuss on Gay Marriage Equality, for tonight, let me share this one anecdote.
There is one place where logic cuts through so clearly that it amazes me that the average lay person doesn’t get it. I have a very bright, liberal, open and warm couple of friends, a man and a woman […]
The fundamentalists have it fundamentally wrong
This moring I was listening to NPR. I like their “This I believe” segments, even when I don’t agree with the beliefs of the speakers and writers. This morning Richard Rohr was the presenter. His piece was titled “Utterly Humbled by Mystery.” He developed a portion of a theme I’ve been working on for a […]
Soy Not a Factor
One bit of internet sensationalism going around this week was prompted by this bit of pseudo-science: “Soy Is Making Kids Gay.” It has been hashed out on my (thankfully progressive) neighborhood listserve as well as quoted in the Washington Blade’s “On the Record” section.
While I am not a scientific study nor even alone a scientifically […]
Why blog?
My search is for a mode of expression, a discipline, and an opportunity to write. Leading up to deciding to blog, I formed several entries in my head. They were things that to my thinking needed saying, arguments overlooked on important issues, or personal reflections that wanted articulation or simply to be recorded. I may […]
