You can't have your cake and eat it too

In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, it is not surprising that once again we will seek measures to protect ourselves from domestic violence. Once again, we will be frustrated that in doing so we will sacrifice some cherished liberties. Frank Bruni’s New York Times, 4/27 Op-Ed column, “The Lesson of Boston” puts it all in perspective.

As Mr. Bruni concluded:

“While we can and will figure out small ways to be safer, we have to come to terms with the reality that we’ll never be safe, not with unrestricted travel through cyberspace. Not with the Second Amendment. Not with the privacy we expect. Not with the liberty we demand.

That’s the bargain we’ve made. It’s imperfect, but it’s the right one.”

It is a sad commentary that there are those in this world who would prey upon the innocent to advance their own bloodthirsty agendas. They have always existed and unfortunately always will. There are measures we can take to make our lives safer but as the battle moves forward which should remember that old cliché, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too”.

Of Pessimists,Realists And Optimists

Monday morning; a new week. Will wonders never cease; the sun is shining. The optimist in me says that it will be a week bereft of tragedies. The realist in me insists that I modify that last statement to "a week bereft of major tragedies". Demanding equal time, the pessimist in me says that the worse is yet to come. To hell with the pessimist! Humor the realist! Long live the optimist!

Cherry Picking Constitutional Rights

Dzhokhnar Tsamaev, the alleged Boston Marathon bomber, is being held by the FBI and apparently has not been Mirandized. Just as the Second Amendment gives American Citizens the right to bear arms, the Constitution provides rights for those accused of a crime. They have the right to remain silent, and the right to an attorney. The right to bear arms is interpreted literally by those opposing legislation intended to curb gun violence. The right to remain silent and the right to an attorney is treated more liberally. If public safety is involved, these Miranda rights can be waived in an effort to get information from the accused. This smells of hypocrisy. Massacres involving guns do not warrant the passage of legislation limiting the right to bear arms. Massacres involving bombs do warrant a delay in reading the accused his rights. If limiting  the rights of an accused American citizen in the interest of public safety is justified, why is it not justified to implement meaningful background checks in order to reduce gun violence in the interest of public safety? Was the Boston Marathon massacre anymore heinous than the Newtown massacre? It made more noise, but that is hardly a reason for it receiving more attention. The Newtown dead are as dead as the Boston dead. Picking and choosing  what rights we are willing to compromise is a dangerous game. I do not disagree with delaying Miranda rights to gain information on the source of bomb materials and the whereabouts of possibly additional bombs. I do not agree that the right to bear arms is infringed by efforts to limit their possession to responsible citizens.

All terrorists were not created equal

We are angry and mortified that 'terrorists', foreign or domestic committed a crime against humanity at the finish line of the Boston Marathon and well we should be. It is ironic that at the same time the Senate found it difficult to garner enough votes to pass a watered down gun control bill which at least provided for expanded background checks. In view of the Newtown massacre, one would have thought that some form of gun control legislation would sail through Congress much as the Patriot Act did after 9/11. Apparently when it comes to legislation, in the eyes of Congress all terrorists were not created equal.

Monday Morning Moaning

The Indians have an off day today, which means that the evening TV viewing will be lean. Since its Monday, I expected my favorite TV series, Monday Mornings, to fill the gap. Monday Mornings is based on Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s book; you guessed it, Monday Mornings. It follows the lives of doctors at Chelsea General Hospital. The episodes so far have been fascinating, especially those featuring neurosurgery.

Much to my dismay, Monday Mornings is not on tonight. No baseball, no Monday Mornings - what a bummer. To make matters worse, I have discovered that the final episode of the season aired last Monday. As Dr. Sung Park would be prone to say, "the series dead" - at least for the season.

In my opinion, it is a no-brainer that the show should return for another season. I admit that in addition to enjoying the show, I was getting the hang of neurosurgery. With at least five more episodes I am sure that I could learn to wield a scalpel with the best of them and that the Cleveland Clinic would welcome me (as a patient for sure).    



 

Are Judges Replacing School Principals?

 A recent article in the New York Times about the impact of school police officers, points out that “As school districts across the country consider placing more police officers in schools, youth advocates and judges are raising alarm about what they have seen in the schools where officers are already stationed: a surge in criminal charges against children for misbehavior that many believe is better handled in the principal’s office.” One could almost conclude that in lieu of going after the real criminals, gun abusers, we have chosen to revere the second amendment as equivalent to one of the Ten Commandments, even if it means turning some of our students into quasi criminals.


Looking at a picture of “school monitors” in a school hallway brought two things to my mind. Am I looking at a reform school? What ever happened to student hall monitors?

The answer to the first question is no, but if the NRA has its way, guns in schools will be as commonplace as blackboards (or is it whiteboards these days). In addition to reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic our precious ones will study Gun Rights.

As for the second question, I guess that student hall monitors have gone the way of the horse and buggy. The demise may have come when it became apparent that with many parents opting out of parenting responsibilities, it would be necessary to supply the monitors with bullet proof vests in addition to a cute white brownie belt.

Parents accepting parenting responsibilities - could that be the clue to regaining school safety. Children do not become bad and adopt fantasies of mass murder because of a genetic problem. It is not the responsibility of teachers to teach them civil behavior. Until parents and guardians take control of our children our schools will become a place to be dreaded. Parents opting for armed personnel in schools are essentially saying ‘it’s your job; I’m much to busy to be a parent’.

I realize that it is not as simple as I have inferred. Parenting is not an easy job nor is it easily accepted. I doubt that much will change when it comes to modern parenting. I just hope that the collateral damage from the path we have chosen will not be too great.

Restoring Order

My blog has absolutely no effect on restoring order to the world. In spite of my ranting and raving, the NRA still rules this country, Obama's liberalism has yet to flower, war is still a way of life  - or should I say a bloody instrument of population control and  last but by no means least, Chief Wahoo is still held hostage by the Cleveland Indians. I don't feel bad, not even disappointed. I never really set out to change the world. Hell, these days I have enough trouble changing myself.

 Over the weekend I discovered that I'm still capable of restoring order to something - my garage. It was hard work but the results were great. The junk is piled up for disposal, the outdoor furniture is outdoors, the Weber is ready to be fired up and  everything else is where it belongs including the car.

In spite of the crap I read on today's front page, I'm at peace with my surroundings. Oh yes, I'm still getting home delivery of the local rag but I'm betting the ranch that in spite of their claims to continue home delivery three times a week, by the end of the year there will be no paper by the garage door. I guess that would be in keeping with the emphasis on going green. Everyone wants me to go paperless including the newspaper publisher. I haven't heard from Charmin yet.

Apologies To The Plain Dealer

Yesterday's post, "Shame On The Plain Dealer" went too far in criticizing The Plain Dealer's plans for curtailed home delivery. What I didn't learn from the early releases of the announcement is that their plans also include an E-Edition which lets you navigate a replica of the printed newspaper. As I understand it, you can flip through pages and skim headlines just as you would with the printed newspaper in your hands. Articles, photos, games and comics can be viewed with the click of a button. Cleveland.com and the E-Edition are separate entities.

If this is like the New York Times e-edition the change will be palatable. Still if one is not computer literate they are screwed. At best, The Plain dealer is joining the forces that say don't worry about today's seniors, they won't be around very long. Our business plan should focus on tomorrow's seniors who were brought up with an I - phone or Android as a pacifier.

Thanks to John Kroll, On Line Editor of The Plain Dealer, for setting me straight on the E-Edition.

Shame on The Plain Dealer

The Cleveland Plain Dealer finally dropped the other shoe and announced today that it will deliver papers only three times per week, but it will print every day. This rip off of subscribers will take place this summer. As a subscriber for home delivery, I will be given the privilege of accessing cleveland.com to read the paper on  non-delivery days. cleveland .com is one of the worst web sites I have encountered. Just when things are looking up for Cleveland, The Plain Dealer is reminding all that Cleveland's glory days are not destined to return. Of course, The Plain Dealer sees it as an opportunity for innovation. They can start by coming into the twenty-first century themselves and design a web site worthy of being called an e-paper. Lost in all this is the fate of the independent contractors who deliver the paper. I wonder how many will continue to do so. How long will the three times per week delivery be viable? Can't wait for an entrepreneur to give The Plain Dealer some competition.

I've gotten used to reading my news on the computer. The High Primal has not. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. SHAME ON THE PLAIN DEALER.

Come this summer the paper will be delivered three times a week ( if I continue to subscribe) and the mail will be delivered five times a week. What a way to run a railroad.

A Flawed No.1

Most political agendas are based on making our country #1. I suspect it is because political strategists conclude that our preoccupation with being #1 in sports also applies to world affairs. For the most part the strategy succeeds or more accurately we succeed in rationalizing that we are #1 in the world. The cornerstone of this strategy is military strength. Being #1 in military strength however, does not necessarily make us a leader of nations and that is really what being #1 has been all about. Somehow or other in the past several decades we have successfully weaned ourselves from the necessity of being smarter than anyone else and working harder than anyone else in order to be a leader of nations. Military strength alone makes us a bully. Military strength combined with educational strengths and strong work ethics makes us a leader.

An eye opener was an op-ed column in the New York Times by Thomas L. Friedman titled “We’re No. 1(1)”. The column was written on 9/11/10 and is as true today as it was then. As Mr. Friedman pointed out, until we learn to postpone gratification, invest for the future, work harder than the next guy and hold our kids to the highest expectations we will be concede our leadership position to the likes of China and India.