A Call To Arms

Now that the Supreme Court has made it clear that it is the constitutional right of Americans to own a handgun for the purpose of self-defense how long will it be before a "gun fight at the OK corral" is an everyday occurrence. Self-defense is the act of defending one's person by physical force. One must assume it will rest with the gun owner to determine whether or not he is under the threat of bodily harm. Fair warning to those of us who choose not to own a handgun. Do not look at your neighbor with even the hint of disapproval, he may feel threatened and exercise his constitutional right to reach for his handgun. So where do we go from here? To arms, to arms - the baddies are coming!

Death Penalty Boutique

There must be something wrong with having the death penalty on the books. A lot of time is being spent in shopping around seeking the best fit for the death penalty. The latest shopping spree by the Supreme Court has ruled out the death penalty for child rape. Prosecutors trying to determine when a death penalty is proper are increasingly faced with tough decisions as to when the death penalty is the best fit. Not unlike shopping in a boutique - if it looks good go for it. If it turns out it is the wrong size let the Supreme Court tailor it. This is no way for a civilized nation to operate. Once and for all abolish the death penalty! (It is interesting that both candidates for the presidency of the United States have voiced their displeasure for the latest Supreme Court ruling. Not only is it interesting, it is disturbing. Anything for a vote, even a human life.)

Flip Fop - So What!

Barack Obama created a bit of a stir when he opted out of public financing for his general campaign. Predictably the media and of course the Republicans accused him of flip flopping (last November Obama indicated that he would participate in public financing). I must admit that at first I was disappointed that he had flip flopped. Upon further reflection I have concluded that too much is made of flip flopping. I would agree that a frequent change in opinions or policies is an indication of weakness and indecisiveness. But what is wrong if one changes course when new information indicates that a previous position was no longer the proper course of action. Such change may be characterized as flip flopping but so what. If it is the right thing to do so be it. Back in November Obama's tremendous ability to draw the financial support of small contributors was unclear. Today its a strength which makes it competitive with the Republicans ingenuity in circumventing the rules of public financing. Strength should never be abandoned even if it evokes accusations of flip flopping. Obama has proven that he can make hard decisions.

About A Dream Ticket

All this talk about a dream ticket of Obama/Clinton is pure nonsense. Clinton has made it clear that she has her own agenda. It almost appears that she is angling to being co-president, ala Bush/Cheney, rather than vice-president. She may even be looking forward to an Obama defeat which would give her a shot at the presidency in 2012. Barack Obama would be better off ignoring Clinton in favor of someone who would work their ass off to elect him. Obama/Clinton is not a dream ticket - it could be McCain's ticket to the White House. As Obama's people go through the vetting process for selecting a Vice- Presidential candidate, it would serve them well to remember " Hell has no fury like a woman scorned". How about William Cohen as Obama's running mate? That is my dream ticket!

Obama Is The Man

Barack Obama will be the Democratic Party's nominee for the office of President of The United States! I couldn't be more proud of my country or the Democratic Party. The last time I felt this way about the Democratic presidential nominee was when John Kennedy won the nomination ( just goes to prove that not only the younger generation is supporting Obama). Barack Obama is our best chance for producing a renaissance in this country.

The Melting Pot On Hold (Hyphenated Americans Re-visited)

Although we still refer to ethnic groups such as Irish-American, German-American, and Italian-American, it is largely symbolic. Education ,mobility and tolerance served to remove the taboos about marrying outside a particular ethnic group or religion and stoked the fires heating the melting pot so that increasingly the descendants of these groups are hard pressed to identify with an ethnic group. Where once they played an important role in shaping politics their modern day political influence as a voting bloc is greatly diminished - they have no political agenda. Any attention received from a political campaign is token at best. They are Americans! Not so with many other ethnic groups. They are Hyphenated -Americans and want to keep it that way.

The melting pot, a.k.a The United States of America, appears to have been put on low heat. Skin color, religion, and misplaced loyalty to a “father country” have doused the flames heating the pot. One has only to look at political campaigns and the rhetoric will convince you that the melting pot has seen its day. Candidates unashamedly court the vote of African-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Arab-Americans, Cuban-Americans and Hispanics, all of whom have a self-serving political agenda. The candidates promise far more than they can deliver and at the same time compromise their party’s social and foreign policy platforms. It even appears that we have added a new hyphenated American to the mix; namely, BC - Americans ( blue-collar Americans). If we believe the media, the latter group is devoted to keeping the other hyphenated Americans in their place.

The melting pot is what has kept this country from degenerating into a bunch of “ tribes”. Until we get it boiling again by developing more acceptance of inter-racial marriages, diminishing the influence of ethnic groups on foreign policy, shoring up the separation of church and state, and fostering education designed for Americans and not designed for a particular ethnic group, we will experience a fragmented society complete with "tribal warfare".