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In a Developed Country

Posted by Aaron on Thursday, August 16, 2007 3:04:37 PM

On August 8, 2007 the New York Times published an article written by Monica Davey entitled “Collapse is New Ordeal for Somali Community."  This news story, which should have been on the op-ed page, sympathized with the Somali community located near the 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.  According to Davey, these immigrants that once had to endure a life of war, now are force to "deal with family and friends injured or missing in the collapse."  This unfortunate disaster has apparently created new "anxiety" and the feeling they can't escape disaster.  The article goes on to explain that this bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure for these Somali immigrants.  So much so in fact that the locals call the 35W bridge the "Somali Bridge."  The main point the article tries to make, however, is the Somali immigrants came here to escape disaster, and America has let them down by allowing this tragedy to occur.  Abdi Osman, a resident in this community, confirms this point.  "I didn't think that was possible here," said Osman, "In a developed country?  In America? Shame."

On August 10, 2007 the Minneapolis Star Tribune published an article written by Pat Pheifer entitled "Brutal Attack Tears Apart Family, Community."  This article is about Afif Abdiaziz Ahmed, a member of the Somali community.  Ahmed brutally beat his wife for so many years she is now mentally handicapped, and not able to care for herself.  According to Pheifer law enforcement officials feel that it is against Somali culture to report cases of domestic violence.  In other words domestic violence is culturally acceptable within the Minneapolis Somali community.  Powerlineblog.com, which covers this same article in a blog entitled "Taboos" also points out that due to the shortcomings of Somali culture, the Minnesota legislature had to make a law prohibiting the practice of female genital mutilation.  It was also a cultural norm for Somali men to circumcise the clitorises of their wives so they don't receive pleasure from sexual intercourse.

 

Of course, individuals that have seen and experienced the community in question, unlike Davey, know first of all, no one calls the 35W bridge the “Somali Bridge.”  Unfortunately, we also know other characteristics of the Somali Cedar Ave. community.  This is a neighborhood plagued by violence, crime, and unruliness.  It is a place where pizza can’t be delivered due to bad checks and pizza carriers having knifes put in their face.  It’s a place where one can’t walk down the street and feel safe, day or night, from getting mugged and/or beat up.  It’s a place were women can never go to their cars by themselves after work, for fears of their safety.  It’s a place unrecognizable to the social contract of safety America provides.  It’s a place where women have to walk around under the hot summer sun in full Islamic dress.  It’s a place where women are not worthy enough to protest next to a man.  During a Somali political protest in a park, the men were protesting on one side and the women the other, using our developed political system while displaying undeveloped characteristics of their community, a non-belief in women equality.  Sadly, it is place where this undeveloped community is excused under the name of multiculturalism.  So I say, ‘I didn’t think that was possible here.’  ‘In a developed country?’ ‘In America?’ ‘Shame.’
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I'm Sick of Being Called Unpatriotic

Posted by Aaron on Thursday, August 16, 2007 1:20:00 PM
It is curious how one hears people on the left accusing people on the right of calling them unpatriotic.  I follow American politics very closely, and to my recollection, have never heard a Republican call anyone unpatriotic.  My believe is that accusations of this kind are mainly used as a defense strategy, but also act as a means to simplify and stifle political debate.  For example, in 2003 or 2004, John Kerry accused U.S. troops of breaking into the homes of Iraqis and terrorizing innocent women and children.  After his comment many Republicans came out and stated that Kerry's lie was very insulting to our troops.  John Kerry's defense was 'they're calling me unpatriotic.'  It is almost like the phrase 'they're calling me unpatriotic' has turned into a euphemism for 'I said something stupid and don't know how to backtrack.'  So the next time you hear someone say 'I'm sick of people accusing me of being unpatriotic,' know that if it is coming from a politician, they most likely said something offensive about our troops.  If you hear it from citizen, they're probably just gullible.

   
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Culture of Violence

Posted by Aaron on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:17:31 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236183,00.html

I find it amusing when people blame Israel for the violence in their region when the Palestinians can't even refrain from killing each other.  Linked is today's article about a Fatah party member executing a Hamas member, and in response to Fatah murders.
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Letter of Reminiscence

Posted by Aaron on Thursday, November 30, 2006 11:51:05 AM
http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/iran_pres_letter.pdf

I don't like to make comparisons to the Holocaust, however, in Ahmadinejad's latest letter to the American people, he made comments reminiscent to the rhetoric leading up to the Holocaust.  Leading up to the Holocaust, speeches made by Hitler, and propaganda dispersed throughout Germany (including Protocols for the Elders of Zion, which is still a coffee table reader throughout the Middle East), spoke of a secret Jewish conspiracy to spread their influence throughout Europe by taking control over the financial markets.  Here's what Ahmadinejad said of American Jews, “the Zionists” control America “because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural, and media sectors.”  Statements reminiscent to pre-Holocaust rhetoric, mixed with calls to wipe Israel off the map, all while trying to produce a nuclear warhead, should be enough for the world to take a stand against Iran and their hateful ideology.  I once heard from a Holocaust survivor that one of the most important lessons of the Holocaust was that when someone tells you they're going to kill you, you should believe them.

I also want to note that if Bush were to send a letter to the Iranian people they would not be allowed to read it. 
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Bush in Dubai

Posted by Aaron on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:41:35 AM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061121/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_defending_bush

Recently in Dubai President Bush 41 spoke to a forum of college students.  During this conference Bush responded to a critical comment from a student about the United States.  The student stated that he believed US wars were created to open up markets for American companies and globalization was contrived for America's benefit and at the expense for the rest of the world.  Humorously, and somewhat accurately, President Bush responded "I think that's weird and it's nuts."   Bush also said "to suggest that everything we do is because we're hungry for money, I think that's crazy.  I think you need to go back to school."  The only thing that Bush's statement misses is that the idea of America exploiting other countries through globalization for their own benefit is exactly what is taught to college students all over the world.  Neo-Marxism if you will.  Bush should of ended his statement by saying 'I think you need to open up your mind and engage in independent research.'
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Al Qaeda Embolden

Posted by Aaron on Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:08:26 PM
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20061110-112644-2345r.htm

"The American people have put their feet on the right path."  This was one of Al Qaeda's takes on the Democratic victories in the midterm election.  Individuals can read into that however they please.  However, it basically comes down to perception.  Because Al Qaeda perceives the Democratic Party as weak, the midterm election has caused our enemy to become embolden.  That being said, though the Democrats did not deserve to win control the Congress, the Republicans did not deserve to keep it.  So blame of this emboldenment can be given to both political parties.

Fortunately, since the Democrats that were successful in the midterm election ran on a somewhat of a conservative platform, which included victory in Iraq, a division will be created in the Democratic controlled Congress.  The only Senate race that did have a 'get out of Iraq as soon as possible' Democrat, Ned Lamont, lost by ten points.  In result, this division will be between these mandated, more moderate Democrats, and the leadership of the Democratic Party that possesses this 'get out of Iraq as soon as possible' philosophy.  Leadership v. mandate will cause gridlock within this new Democratic Congress, which should make it possible to continue the  pursuit of victory in Iraq.
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Election Day Thoughts

Posted by Aaron on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 6:49:18 PM
http://www.ac4vr.com/reports/072005/default.html

Election day has reminded me of a study that came out shortly after the 2004 election.  The study, conducted by The American Center for Voting Rights, looked at allegations of voting fraud and intimidation, and then documented whether the allegation resulted in criminal prosecution.  This study found that members of the Democratic Party overwhelming were responsible for committing voter fraud and intimidation. 

After viewing this study, I found it interesting that although it had been the Republicans that were victims of the vast majority of voter fraud and intimidation, it was still the far-left Democrats that were crying that the election was stolen from Kerry, and that it was their votes that were suppressed.  At times it kind of seems like Democrats actually want to be victims.

It is also going to interesting to follow how candidates respond to close defeats as will probably be the case in Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, and Missouri.   Watch how when a Repubican loses in a close election he will concede, but when a Democrat loses a close one he will not concede, demand a re-count, and take his claims to a court of law.


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A Nov. Surprised Gone Amuck

Posted by Aaron on Saturday, November 04, 2006 1:30:34 PM
I find it interesting that neither of the two major political parties can use yesterday's New York Times article, which spoke of the the withdrawal of documents from a governmental web-site on Iraq's prewar nuclear program, as a political advantage.  The Republicans can't use the story as a November surprise because it has been reported that some of the documents on the site possessed information that could be useful to countries or groups searching for the knowhow in regard to producing a nuclear bomb.  The Democrats can't use it as their November surprise because they've been trying to convinced the American public over the past four years that Sadaam didn't have nuclear aspirations, and posed no threat to the U.S., and this story proves otherwise.  If the Democrats cried foul and yelled 'Hey look the Republicans are careless with national security because they made public documents on Sadaam's nuclear program,' the Republicans could just respond 'I thought you said Sadaam didn't have a nuclear program.' 
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Reason Terrorist Are Supporting Democrats

Posted by Aaron on Thursday, November 02, 2006 5:41:47 PM
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20061101-091538-2187r.htm

This op-ed by Jack Kingston that appeared in today's Washington Times may provide an explanation for why Islamic terrorist in the Middle East support the Democrats in this year's mid-term elections.
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Why Does Islamic Terror Support Democrats?

Posted by Aaron on Thursday, November 02, 2006 4:50:15 PM
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52747

It was only a matter of time.  Recently, Islamic terror leaders in the Middle East have anounced their support for the Democratic Party in this year's mid term election.  I wonder why? 
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More of Kerry's Past Haunts Him

Posted by Aaron on Thursday, November 02, 2006 4:39:22 PM
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/02/D8L542784.html

Another comment has emerged from Kerry's past that speaks of his dislike for the U.S. Armed Forces, and the brave individuals that volunteer to put their lives on the line to make America a safer place.  In 1972, on a questionnaire he filled out that was related to his House of Representatives bid, John Kerry proclaimed that he was "convinced a volunteer army would be an army of the poor and the black and the brown," and that he had "fear having a professional army that views the perpetuation of war crimes as simply 'doing its job.'"   Therefore, the idea that our volunteer military consists of the uneducated is an old viewpoint of Kerry's that he probably still holds today. 
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Proof About MSM Bias

Posted by Aaron on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 5:36:34 PM
A new study has recently emerged that takes a look at three major television news companies, I assume NBC, CBS, and ABC, and how they cover the two major political parties.  The study found that 77% of stories about the Democratic Party are favorable, while 88% of stories written about the Republican Party are unfavorable.  This comes as no surprise since research studies also find that 80% to 90% of all professors that teach liberal arts in our American university system, which journalism studies are a part of, consider themselves on the left of the American political spectrum.  Students in our liberal arts are indoctrinated into thinking that the Republican Party is evil.  This is probably the only time our college students believe in moral absolutism.
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Kerry's Weapons of Mass Distortion

Posted by Aaron on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 5:59:47 PM
In 1971 Senator John Kerry went before the Senate Foreign Relations Commitee and told them lies about great atrocities that were being conducted by U.S. forces against the South Vietnamese.  Recently, Senator Kerry stated in an interview on Face the Nation that American soldiers were going into Iraqi homes and terrorizing Iraqi women and children.  So we shouldn't be surprised by Kerry's recent statement about our Armed Forces.  Yesterday, his dislike for our Armed Forces spilt over into a discussion about education.  He said, "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well.  And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."  In other words, only idiots join the military.  This guy was almost our Commander in Chief by the way.  Today, instead of apologizing, Kerry was out defending himself.  His defense: "I apologize to no one for my criticism of the President and his broken policy in Iraq."  How stupid does this pompous, arrogant, stuck up New Englander think Americans are.   Kerry was not talking about Iraq, nor the President, he was talking about education, and how individuals who don't achieve in our educational system are limited to joining the military.  Talk about Weapons of Mass Distortion.
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Embryonic Stem Cell Controversy Simplified

Posted by Aaron on Thursday, October 26, 2006 4:00:05 PM
I want a cure for Parkinson's disease.  However, current scientific research has shown that embryonic stem cell research shows no promising means of curing this disease.  California, which has allocated 9 billion dollars of state money to embryonic stem cell research, claims that this area of science will have absolutely no medical value for at least 15 years.  Because of the unpromising outlook for medical benefits resulting from embryonic stem cell research, private donors have naturally failed to allocate money to its cause.  This causes advocates of embryonic stem cell research to look to government for financial backing.  While it is easier to convince people of liberal states, like California, to put money toward an unpromising cause, it is harder to convince the Federal government to allocate money to this type of cause.  Add onto this the fact that embryonic stem cell research includes the destroying of the embryo, and it only becomes more difficult.  Therefore, individuals that are against tax payer money going toward embryonic stem cell research, should not be accused of being anti-cure or anti-science.  If anything, individuals that are against tax payer money going toward embryonic stem cell research should be thought of as pro-cure and pro-science.  Pro-cure because they would rather have their money go toward research that has not been a medical failure.  Pro-science because those against embryonic stem cell research are normally for adult stem cell research, which has shown promising medical results and benefits in scientific trails. 

 
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Zell Miller RNC Part 3

Posted by Aaron on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:13:52 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQ_urqKT6E&mode=related&search=

Here's part three of Zell Miller's RNC keynote speech.  Though the 2004 election is something of the past, Zell Miller identifies aspects of the Democratic Party that still plagues it today.
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