New Links are Available

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been tinkering with the links on the site. At first, there was only going to be Liberal links. I feel that diversity is important, and I like to practice what I preach. So, I added some Conservative links. I figured at worst, "know thy enemy" is not a bad policy.

I started by adding them on an Idiot of the Week forum, but that was too negative. I may not like their veiws, but I do not need to deride them. Besides, I prefer sarcasm to rudeness.

I have added a Conservative Voices set of links as a result. The top dog in the list is a former Marine aviator--the only pilots in the military that complete Basic Combat Training--who is now a lawyer. He is well-informed, articulate, and his blogs are pretty interesting reading. For those of you who are a little squeemish, rest assured--he is sane.

There is also a new addition to the writing links this week: Fanatical Apathy. This blog is just downright funny. I found myself chuckling with his interpretation of Rumsfeld double-speak, and his history of Delay Rule writing (or re-writing). Very funny. Very funny.

If you have a link that should be added, post a comment and let me know.

And He Shall Remove All Who Oppose Him

Be warned. Be wary. We may live in a monosyllabic, singular, olive drab country soon. Although this may be similar to the "ditto-head" culture popular with so many Limbaugh-ites, it happens to frighten me. And, it may happen in the not-so-distant future. Our glorious comander-in-chief has replaced the leaders of the US Commission of Civil Rights with people who agree with him. Two more dissenters from within the Government have been removed and effectively silenced.

Why should we care?

This is a good place for an analogy. Let's say that you are hungry and do not feel inclined to cook this evening. When selecting the restaurant you will patronize, you may consider a restaurant that serves Chinese food, or Mexican food. You may consider a drive-through, or a sit-down meal. You may consider how much money you have in your wallet. The point is--you have options.

Right now, in our very own government, our leaders are removing politicians and employees that appear to be voices of dissent. The executive branch is systematically eliminating program directors, scientists and experts from our government. And, this current story of the US Commission of Civil Rights is just another very poignant example.

let's go back to our dining analogy. You are looking for a place to eat. This time, however, you have a new constraint. There are now no longer any Chinese restaurants. They were banned because the government does not like some of the ingredients. So, they passed a law, or changed the Constitution, or said that the sale of Chinese food was affecting Interstate Commerce, or something. But, you can't go anymore. Restaurants can't serve the stuff, and you can't buy it.

The truth was that someone in the Administration felt that Chinese food was terrible for you. Or, someone from the Organization of Chinese Restaurant Owners angered a politician at a dinner party. Or, even worse, it could be retribution because many Chinese people are Buddhist, and unless they become Christian and accept the Lord, Jesus Christ, as their savior, they really don't HAVE a place in our country! They belong in China with the other heathens of the world. Right?

Here's were the analogy ends, and you have to step up and step in. Dissention is crucial to the world. When people disagree with you, it tests your arguments and ultimately makes them richer. You have to incorporate more diverse ideas into what you do or say. It may lead to more research, and it may lead you to change your opinion. The argument may also expose just how right you were. Regardless--the outcome makes you better.

Disagreements create better meetings, work groups, classrooms, products, friendships, news, relationships, policies, and yes, even better government. Keep people who disagree with you around--they will teach you things about yourself and your knowledge that you may never discover otherwise.

Ask your Senators and Representatives to encourage diversity in our government. Request or foster State and local diversity. Vote for politicians that you may disagree with, but who will be best for your neghborhood or country. Express your opinions with your loved ones--especially if you disagree.

If you do not bring diversity into our country, then you are to blame when we all have to eat bland, tasteless food, in some olive-drab mess hall catered by Haliburton.

Article from the NY Times

Bush Replaces Head of Panel on Civil Rights

By JOHN FILES

Published: December 7, 2004

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 - President Bush sought to reshape the United States Commission on Civil Rights on Monday, announcing a replacement for its chairwoman, Mary Frances Berry, who has been critical of his civil rights policies.

Mr. Bush appointed two new members to the commission and designated one of them, Gerald A. Reynolds, as chairman. Mr. Reynolds, a former assistant secretary in the Department of Education's Civil Rights Office, will replace Ms. Berry, whose term expired on Sunday, according to the White House.

But, according to a report by The Associated Press, Ms. Berry contends that the leaders of the commission retain their positions until midnight on Jan. 21, 2005.

Mr. Bush also designated a current Republican board member, Abigail Thernstrom, to replace Cruz Reynoso, as vice chairman.

Claire Buchan, a White House spokeswoman, said of Ms. Berry and Mr. Reynoso, "The president appreciates their service; their term expired yesterday." Ms. Buchan declined to discuss the matter further.

The open seat created by Mr. Reynoso's departure will be filled by Ashley L. Taylor, a former Virginia deputy attorney general.

The president, who received 11 percent of the black vote in November, up from 8 percent in 2000, has had a strained relationship with the civil rights organization. Last week, Ms. Berry and Mr. Reynoso sent the White House a 166-page report highly critical of Mr. Bush's record on civil rights. A cover letter told Mr. Bush that his civil rights policies "further divide an already deeply torn nation."

Ms. Berry, 66, a history professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has sparred with other presidents since she was appointed to the commission by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. President Reagan removed her from the commission, but she was reinstated after a lawsuit . Ms. Berry was also critical of the way Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida handled the disputed presidential election in that state four years ago.

The eight-member panel investigates civil rights complaints and reports its findings. It has no enforcement power.