October 14, 2011 at 3:23 pm
The United States – often recognized as a beacon of freedom to the world, though perhaps more so in the past than in the present. The original colonists came here seeking a fresh start, a land of unrivaled opportunity, and a reprieve from the oppression of the British Crown. Immigrants in more recent times come for similar reasons. They come to escape oppression, to pursue new opportunity, to endeavor to better themselves and their families by taking advantage of the freedoms we here take for granted. The ultimate reason is the freedom to determine one’s own destiny. At one time, this was the single most appealing feature of the land of Lady Liberty to others around the world. Slowly, the United States is slipping from its previous grandeur. As the citizens sit back and allow themselves to be lulled into oblivion by mind-melting television shows and the latest in fashion, football or celebrity gossip the freedom and liberty that we take for granted is being stripped away. Like an onion, each layer is slowly removed and eventually, it will be gone entirely. With each layer compromised come the stinging tears of those who witness the degradation. We are not yet past […]
September 23, 2011 at 7:39 pm
There is a protest taking place in New York City. A rag-tag group of passionate citizens are making their voices heard regarding the economic mess taking place in our country, and the world. The goal of the protest is simple; to occupy Wall St. for an extended period of time to draw attention to the misdoings of our banking institutions. The protest began on Saturday, 9/17. Around 1,000 protestors showed up. That number has fluctuated over the following days of the protest. A few hundred have been camping out overnight. The protestors are non-violent and receiving significant support from the Internet. The protest was suggested by the Canadian magazine AdBusters and has been heavily promoted by the “hacktivist” group known as Anonymous. The protest website (https://occupywallst.org/) is updated frequently on the current activities of the protestors. Twitter is also being utilized heavily as a medium of communication from the people on the ground to the rest of the world. Donations are being taken for the protest in general, and for food, camping supplies, and other needs. The goal of the leaderless group is to occupy Wall St. for a few months in an effort to express their anger with what […]
August 4, 2011 at 5:54 pm
The saga of the Great Debt Ceiling Crisis of 2011 came to a disappointing end Tuesday when President Obama signed into law the lousy “compromise” that was sent to him by Congress. Let us look back on the events that brought us to the pathetic end of the over-hyped debt ceiling “crisis”. The President addressed the nation on Monday July 25, in the hope of frightening the American people into a blind, thoughtless frenzy that would have them pressure their respective members of Congress into a “compromise”. The days following his speech brought the introduction of several plans by various leaders in Washington DC. The primary of those being one from House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) – who incidentally filibustered his own bill for more than 20 hours. In the President’s speech Monday he did his very best to explain the problem to the American people. He did so by: Demonizing tax cuts as an expense to the government – as if the money belongs to the government, and the government is being inconvenienced in allowing you to have it, as their gift to you. This money belongs to you! The government has […]
June 28, 2011 at 12:37 pm
For months now we have been hearing about the absurd and intrusive screening processes of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). First we had to all remove our shoes and belts, and then we had to be subjected to random pat downs, x-ray scanners, and “enhanced” pat downs for anyone who protested. The horror stories of the TSA just keep coming. The latest headline involves a 95-year-old cancer patient. The elderly Florida woman was traveling with her daughter Jean Weber, through Northwest Florida Regional Airport. When they reached the TSA security checkpoint Weber’s mother was wheeled off to a screening area walled off with glass partitions where an invasive pat down was conducted. A TSA agent reported to Weber that “something suspicious” was felt on her mother’s leg. At that point the 95-year-old was taken into a private, closed screening room. When the TSA agent emerged from the private screening room they informed Weber that her mother’s incontinence undergarment was “wet and firm” and could therefore not be checked thoroughly. Weber was asked to take her mother to a bathroom and remove the undergarment, forcing the elderly woman whose name was not released to go through the airport without any underwear. […]