How I became a Libertarian:
As a child in the 1950s, Senators Josiah Bailey, Robert Byrd, J. William Fulbright, Al Gore Sr., and Representative Howard W. Smith (among many others) taught me to not be a Democrat because the racial segregation they so strongly supported just seemed wrong to me even as a child.
Later, President John Kennedy and his brother Robert taught me to dream big dreams and that there may be powerful good in either party (and how we mourned, and still do, their deaths, recalled on this 22nd of November).
Presidents Johnson and Nixon taught me that leaders of both parties will lie, cheat, and steal for power and may not be worthy of trust.
President Carter taught me that a good heart may not be enough to qualify a person for the highest office of our land; and that it is not wise to beat a swimming rabbit while there are photographers present.
In the 1990s and early years of this century, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld taught me that patriotism can be twisted for evil purposes and that we should be cautious with government power overseas while John Ashcroft taught me to fear government power at home.
Both Presidents Bush taught me that you can't trust the Republicans to control spending and government bloat.
Recently President Obama has taught me that any opposition to the policies and actions of those in power can be dismissed and marginalized simply by ad hominem attacks on anyone who disagrees.
Then I took this very short quiz:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php
Bingo. I'm a Libertarian.
My original intention with this rant was a short Facebook post, but in writing it I decided I'm simply not up to the fights that such a post would generate.
Showing posts with label equal rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equal rights. Show all posts
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Are we all racists?
The House has rebuked South Carolina's Republican U.S. Representative Joe Wilson for a breach of decorum. Not, apparently, simply because he broke decorum, but because he refused to publicly apologize to the House. Never mind that Mr. Wilson had apologized personally to the man he called a liar, and that man had graciously accepted his apology. Never mind that liberal House members have never apologized for booing our last president.
The Congressional Black Caucus has branded Mr. Wilson's act of calling President Obama a liar as an act of racism. Former president Jimmy Carter says that Mr. Wilson's comments are "based on racism." What is racist about one man calling another a liar? Would it have been an act of racism if President Obama had called Mr. Wilson rude, as did nearly everyone else? (Even Mr. Wilson admitted his act was rude). Would it have been a racist act if Mr. Wilson had called Kanye West a "jackass" as President Obama apparently did? Why must every unpleasant interaction between two people of different color be labeled a racist incident with assumed motives of hate when the same interaction between people of the same color is just a disagreement? Why must insecure and paranoid people imagine motives? And why do we, as a nation, allow them to make political hay of their own ignorant brayings? In the words of Rodney King, "Why can't we just all get along?"
Meanwhile, testing the truth of Brendan Behan's statement that "There is no such thing as bad publicity...", Mr. Wilson may be wearing the House's rebuke as a badge of honor. We note that his home state campaign contributions have surged by well over $1,000,000 in the past few days. Living in our society surely is not EZ.
The Congressional Black Caucus has branded Mr. Wilson's act of calling President Obama a liar as an act of racism. Former president Jimmy Carter says that Mr. Wilson's comments are "based on racism." What is racist about one man calling another a liar? Would it have been an act of racism if President Obama had called Mr. Wilson rude, as did nearly everyone else? (Even Mr. Wilson admitted his act was rude). Would it have been a racist act if Mr. Wilson had called Kanye West a "jackass" as President Obama apparently did? Why must every unpleasant interaction between two people of different color be labeled a racist incident with assumed motives of hate when the same interaction between people of the same color is just a disagreement? Why must insecure and paranoid people imagine motives? And why do we, as a nation, allow them to make political hay of their own ignorant brayings? In the words of Rodney King, "Why can't we just all get along?"
Meanwhile, testing the truth of Brendan Behan's statement that "There is no such thing as bad publicity...", Mr. Wilson may be wearing the House's rebuke as a badge of honor. We note that his home state campaign contributions have surged by well over $1,000,000 in the past few days. Living in our society surely is not EZ.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
National Goals
The goals as stated below are those of Afghanistan, as expressed on their national Web page at http://www.moph.gov.af/strategy-and-policy/strategy-2007-2008-2012-2013/
Other than wanting the U.S. to be a secular rather than an Islamic democracy, and honoring ALL of our heritages, the goals they have stated would be what I would want for my land. I wish them the best of luck, and hope that we in the U.S. can do as well.
"By the solar year 1400 (2020), Afghanistan will be:
A stable Islamic constitutional democracy at peace with itself and its neighbours, standing with full dignity in the international family.
A tolerant, united, and pluralist nation that honors its Islamic heritage and deep aspirations toward participation, justice, and equal rights for all.
A society of hope and prosperity based on a strong private sector-led market economy, social equity, and environmental sustainability."
Nothing is as EZ as it should be!
Other than wanting the U.S. to be a secular rather than an Islamic democracy, and honoring ALL of our heritages, the goals they have stated would be what I would want for my land. I wish them the best of luck, and hope that we in the U.S. can do as well.
"By the solar year 1400 (2020), Afghanistan will be:
A stable Islamic constitutional democracy at peace with itself and its neighbours, standing with full dignity in the international family.
A tolerant, united, and pluralist nation that honors its Islamic heritage and deep aspirations toward participation, justice, and equal rights for all.
A society of hope and prosperity based on a strong private sector-led market economy, social equity, and environmental sustainability."
Nothing is as EZ as it should be!
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