Hooray For Saturday!

Equality Helps Everyone

Winning Address

I listened again to President-Elect Barack Obama's address from last night.  In my opinion, it was by far the most presidential address this country has heard in a while.  Not only for the message, but by the way it was delivered, with confidence and eloquence.

Vote

Enough!

I used to respect John McCain.  I used to consider him a guy that thought before spoke and acted.

After watching the final debate between him and Barack Obama, I've lost all respect for him.

It's not so much of what he said, but what he didn't say.  His lack of respect for not only his opponent, but the moderator was pretty lame theater. 

Enough of the eye rolling, the huffing and puffing and the blinking.  Good grief the angry blinking!!!

John McCain came across as the most crotchety old fart in the home.  That's right, I said it, old folks home.  Someone please have his nurse bring him his bowl of applesauce.

That temper and lack of calm, scares me to death.  I fear what the future would hold with the temper of John McCain at the wheel.

C'mon Ohio!    

This Just In...

Barack Obama is not a Muslim.

Barack Obama is not an Arab.

Barack Obama is not a terrorist.

After watching all the McCain/Palin rallies this week, it scares me to death to see them stoking the fire of hatred that burns deep in ignorant white people. 

All of a sudden, I worry about the safety of the candidate, for President of the United States, that I am supporting.

That Debate

I watched the second presidential candidate debate a little while ago.

My mind has been made up of who I want to lead this country since the time he declared his candidacy.  However, if it wasn't, Senator John McCain firmed up my decision for me, yet again, by referring to my choice as "that one" in a public forum.

I don't care if Senator John McCain doesn't like Senator Barack Obama, but McCain referring to him as "that one" shows not only his lack of respect for another person, but also his lack of class.

I refer to my children as this one or that one all the time, but I'm an idiot.  That guy is running for president.

VP Debate

The Lady and I are going to sit down together tonight to watch the VP debate.

We were talking about it last night, after seeing Palin's latest space filling nonsense when asked a question from Katie Couric, and both of us agree that she might have wanted to stick with her family first, then Alaska, instead of this whole "Country First" thing she's rolling on now.

Not to be snarky, like Mrs. Palin loves to be, but I think I have a firmer grasp on current events, supreme court decisions and even her own party at this time.  How be it, I've never shot a moose.

I'm thinking I might watch with the laptop tonight, just so I can rattle off knee jerk reactions.  If there is one thing this country loves, it's a tragic drama.  Tonight might shape up to be one of the biggest televised ones ever.

I'm thinking she is going to have to rely on a lot of snarky comments, such as she had in her first two speeches, to even tie.  Crazy as this sounds coming from me, I hope I am wrong and they just talk issues.

Red Stick Splintered

My hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana is in shambles after hurricane Gustav.

The national media is gone, seeing that Gustav didn't put a hit on New Orleans the magnitude as hurricane Katrina, but Baton Rouge is still suffering. 

This report, on NPR today, was the first national news I have heard about Baton Rouge in days.  There are parts of the city that won't have electricity for two more weeks.  I guess the utilities are working as hard as they can.  However, there are still people that need ice and basic necessities.  This is something that should have been taken care of.  

Once again failure, although this time the media is not there to shine light on it.

Letter To The Editor

Here in northern Kentucky, the three counties across the river from the Cincinnati metro area of Ohio, local governments are in preliminary talks about a smoking ban in public places.  I read about these current events on the front page of the small, local newspaper The Florence Recorder.  I was surprised by a comment in the story, so I wrote a letter to the editor.

My original letter to the editor, that was published, regarding comments from a Florence City Councilman: 

The editor titled it:  Statement Was Offensive

On the front page of your July 10th, 2008 edition of the "Florence Recorder", Florence City Councilman Mel Carroll is quoted as saying,

"We need to allow local property owners to decide what type of business they have, rather than have the social elite, professional do-gooders, and what I sometimes refer to as 'behavior Nazis' decide for us how we are going to live and that is what is happening right now."

Perhaps Mr. Carroll spoke without thinking, by stating his judgment of class, which is offensive in it's own right, amongst citizens that do not wish to breathe second hand smoke, but his comparison of those with that viewpoint, to those of the Nazi Party, is inexcusable and worthy of a public apology. 

Maybe it's a lack of education or perhaps it shows a glimpse into one's rational of thinking, but it is disturbing to have a Councilman compare a person that wishes to breathe clean air, to one from the Nazi Party, that executes unthinkable acts of hatred upon others.

Kevin

The following week, these two letters were published in response to mine:

The first the editor titled: Don't Impose Will

In response to Kevin's letter entitled "statement was offensive", I have to wonder who may be uneducated.  If Kevin was a student of history, he'd know that Nazi Germany initiated and led one of the strongest anti-smoking movements in history.  To insist on a public apology from Mel Carroll for simply using the term "behavior Nazi's" is completely absurd.  People that share Kevin's beliefs may not simply be "behavior Nazi's", but in lock step with beliefs that this great country country has fought against since its inception.

We dare not tread down a slippery slope that slowly gives the government more and more control over our everyday lives.  What's next, a government mandate that we must drink diet drinks, for our own good?  Why can't Kevin find another establishment and not impose his will on the masses.

Phil

The second was titled by the editor:  How Are We Baby Boomers Still Alive?

I've been quiet and listening and enduring the past 15 years.  I just want to someone to explain how we are the largest group (baby boomers) alive today.  Believe or not we were put in cars with smokers, held in the hospital while our mothers smoked and while pregnant she smoked.  I must say they did find nicotine in our hair, we went to groceries, courthouses and everywhere else and the workers were there will all that second-hand smoke and golly gee, we are alive and not being doctored every week for allergies as a lot of our younger citizens seem to be.

My point is (like poor councilman, Mr. Carroll) grow up people.  We will die when our time comes and we can't fight life for ever.  Your children like ours will be fine and if someone says a word like Nazi, grow up.  Lord help us if someone says something to offend us.

You will get your wish and someday, the government will tell you what to do and you won't have to worry about second-hand smoke killing us off.

Keep our freedom as long as we can and let people decide for themselves what is best for them and their property.  I can promise you we will still be alive -even with smoking- to whine about something else in a few years; fast food, colas, fat, helmets, guns, drinking, etc.  See Big Brother, all kinds of bad things that someone needs to take away so I don't get sick.

Debra

The one thing I noticed about both of these letters is that both authors think I am for a smoking ban, when I make no reference to being for or against it in my original letter.  However passionate their responses are, they did not get my point..

So today the paper arrives, as it does every Thursday, and there is another letter published in response to mine.

The letter is titled by the editor:  Regulate Rudeness?

Kevin (July 17 letter) needs to check all his facts before writing about an individual such as Mel Carroll, longtime educator and city councilman.  Carroll is no different than any of the other citizens in this country; he has the right to his opinion.  It is irrelevant what the issue is.

I quit smoking in 1991 because I chose to do so.  I do not enjoy the smell of smoke now, but I'm able to choose which establishments I patronize, and that's as it should be.  If Kevin does not wish to smell smoke, he should not blame Mr. Carroll or any of the current business owners; instead, he should investigate his smoke-free dining/bar options and make his decisions accordingly.

Mr. Carroll has been a staunch supporter of the development of Florence and has been responsible for many progressive changes in our community.  I am not exactly certain how long Kevin has lived in our community, but his comment concerning Mr. Carroll's level of education was incorrect and offensive.  Mr. Carroll does not smoke, but he believes in a business owner's right to choose how he runs his establishment.

I hope Kevin thinks about it before he spouts off again about an individual in our community.  My husband and I do not dine out or go to bars frequently, but when we do, we are disturbed by other people's behavior more than the smoking.  Adults who cannot manage to keep their children behaving or keep their problems  private are offensive to other diners: perhaps we should put a ban on public rudeness ... what do you think?

E. Paulette

Yet another response that got published that did not get my point.  I wrote a response to the two previous letters and it did not get published.  Here it is:

My original letter that was published in your July 17th edition made no reference to me being for or against a smoking ban.

The point I was trying to make is, instead of saying, "We need to allow local property owners to decide what type of business they have, rather than have the social elite, professional do-gooders, and what I refer to as 'behavior Nazis' decide for us how we are going to live and this is what is happening right now.", why couldn't Mr. Carroll just refer to that group of citizens as non-smokers?  By mentioning a class status and referring to a group as "behavior Nazis", I feel the Florence Councilman crossed a line, as if trying to alienate a group of people.  A group, that based on last weeks chatroom question that was published in this very paper, seems to be the majority.

In the responses to my original letter, Debra said that I should "grow up" and Phil asked, "Why can't Kevin find another establishment and not impose his will on the masses?".  When I read or hear ignorant, judgmental statements from others in a public forum, the only will I try to impose on them is to think, before they speak.  Sure, I've heard worse comments from others here in Northern Kentucky and other places I've lived, but if these statements continue to go on without someone questioning them, then will we as a community ever grow up

Kevin

Maybe the editor would have titled that one: Beating A Dead Horse.  I don't feel I need to say this, but for the record, I think an individual business owner should be able to choose if they allow smoking in their establishment.  I have the option of patronizing it or not.

It's true what the media was saying a while back about Kentucky.  Since we moved here, I've heard and read so many derogatory comments about people based on class, race, and so on.  This the same part of the country with a steeple on every corner.

I can't say I'm not guilty of this, because with all the narrow minds and ignorant statements around me for the past two years, I can't help but wonder if the "Hillbilly" stereotype will ever end. 

I guess that makes me hypocrite number one.

J Mac & Dem Two

J Mac pretty much captures the republican nomination for president, with the fancy haired Mitt suspending his campaign and saving some of his fortune.  However Huckabee will make noise as long as he stays in.  If I was him I would stick around for fun, even if not spending a dime.

It's too bad we vote for someone to be the court jester for the nation.  I would give the nod to Huckabee.  He's sly, has a very quick wit about him, and scares me enough to make me laugh nervously, even when he is serious.  There is one person he isn't making laugh now, that would be Romney.

With John McCain being the republican nominee, the democrats have to realize that Hillary Clinton cannot beat him.  Barack Obama can.  Obama I think could beat McCain by a large margin.  I hope those that are voting in the upcoming democratic primaries are thinking about this.

My thoughts about Hillary Clinton are not because she is a woman, I would vote for a woman in a instant if I thought she was the person for the job.  However, I believe she is not the right person for the country now.