Similar stories:
•
'Inappropriate' comments
On Oct. 24, as students at Roosevelt Elementary School in Kingsburg participated in a campus event promoting democracy, something unfortunate happened. Invited candidates, advised by school officials not to share personal political statements, chose to advocate for their elections.
Both Margaret Mims and Danny Gilmore told fifth- and sixth-graders to tell their parents to vote for them. School officials were put in the untenable position of either telling the students that their comments were inappropriate or having to write a letter of explanation to all parents.
Under our current laws, candidates may advocate if both sides are present. School officials were mortified that the line had been crossed. Dr. Mark Ford, superintendent, and Melanie Sembritzki, principal, chose to immediately send a letter home stating that the school did not endorse any candidate.
•
Liberal lawmakers defy Obama on Patriot Act
Defying the Obama administration, the House Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to remove from the USA Patriot Act a tool for tracking non-U.S. citizens in anti-terrorism investigations.
The committee, dominated by Democratic liberals, also voted to amend the anti-terrorism law to curb the government's surveillance and seizure powers.
The bill went to the full House on a 16-10 vote along party lines, with Republicans casting all the votes in opposition. GOP lawmakers said the legislation would hinder law enforcement and intelligence agencies in fighting terrorism.
•
'No one else's business'
As a school teacher, I commend Hannah Thomason [letter Dec. 19] for getting involved in politics at such an early age. I, like Hannah, am also heavily involved in politics. However, I would like to address some issues with her argument.
Let's take a look at the purpose of an oath. The only thing that matters in an oath is a man's or woman's word. An oath has nothing to do with respect. It has everything to do with duty and a promise to tell the truth. In the past, the Bible was used to represent a kind of cosmic surveillance only because those particular oath-takers agreed to use the Christian God as the enforcer.
Hannah feels that Rep. Keith Ellison demonstrates disrespect by placing his personal "preferences over the beliefs of the country." Unfortunately for Hannah's argument, the U.S., by law, does not have any beliefs. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (First Amendment).
•
Kathy Nemeth
Age: 56
Occupation: Accounting assistant.
Hobbies: Reading and travel.
•
Iowa AG: States must help protect consumers
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the states should continue to have a role in protecting consumers from fraudulent practices.
Miller is leading a group of 40 state attorneys general in urging Congress to uphold the role of the states in enforcing consumer protection laws.
In the letter released Wednesday, the attorneys general noted weakened consumer protections and limited enforcement authority already have damaged many consumers and the economy. The letter was sent to key congressional leaders as Congress considers legislation to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.
Age: 64
Occupation: Industrial real estate investor.
Hobbies: Wine tasting, fishing, skiing, Aston Martin Owners Club activities.
Bee reader since: 1992.
How many letters: 13 since 1994.
Favorite topics: Politics, social issues.
Why do you write? To influence people's thinking.
Excerpt from recent letter: "I am neither Jewish nor religious and I don't know which group has a legitimate right to which lands in the Mideast, but I favor the Israelis in this conflict because the Palestinians have consistently demonstrated their irrationality and immorality, by killing unarmed Olympic athletes; by purposely blowing up city buses, restaurants and hotels; and by sending hundreds of randomly aimed rockets into Israel."
Reaction to letters: Some good, some bad.
Topic that doesn't get enough attention: The folly of our society's "something for nothing" mentality.
Education: Bachelor's degree in business from Long Beach State, with graduate studies at Whittier College Law School.
Family: Married 35 happy years to my beautiful, intelligent wife, Joy, who is degreed in law and has a personality that matches her name.
Political philosophy: Fiscal conservatism; separation of church and state; minimal socialism; maximum personal freedom; capitalism/free enterprise; rule of law; personal responsibility.
-- Compiled by Pam Rowse
E-Mail
Print
@Nyx.CommentBody@