Here We Go!

Two things before I take advantage of this great day and hike with the kids at Proud Lake or head to the playground at Central Park with them:

First, "diversity" again. It has, I think and admit, a noble purpose. But the diversity folks don't think. Their mantra that "all people and all cultures deserve acceptance and respect" (words right out of one of their group's mission statements) is intellectually puerile. Consider the harm being done by the diversity movement's actions.

At Gitmo, it was insisted (by guess who?) that the detainees (can you say "terrorist murderers?") received Qurans. But the detainees (continue to think "terrorist murderers") claim the US soldiers are infidels and by touching their holiest of books would be commiting sacrilege. So, what do we do (obviously not to satisfy the detainees, but the diversity folks)? We have our soldiers wear gloves to dispense the Qurans. Harmless you say? Consider this question. What does this do, acceding to the demands of the, OK, let's just say it, "terrorist murderers?" What does the diversity folks' insistence that we "accept and respect" these wishes or demands? What it does is legitimize the bigotry, the hatred, the violent actions of the "terrorist murderers." It puts their philosophies/beliefs on the same level of legitimacy as ours. How very, very foolish.

Consider other things the diversity folks insist on in these instances: the "Tickle Me Muhammad" episode in Sudan; the Muhammad cartoons in the Netherlands; the Islamic film in Denmark--well, the list goes on. By agreeing that these are offensive to Islamists, the diversity folks fuel the idea that their murdering ways are culturally the equivalent of our ways of individual freedom. They allow a tyranny against liberty, all in the name of "diversity."

As I teach in my history classes, actions have consequences. Things don't just happen, "Poof, magic!" The diversity folks must have been absent on those days.

Second, before heading outside, I received an e-mail from Sen Stabenow, touting her speech on the Senate floor that lambasted the bonuses given to AIG execs and the double standards imposed on the finance and auto bailouts. Agreed. But the hyprocrisy is almost nauseating. First, the bonuses were part of legal contracts. The Supremes have for a couple centuries now (going back to 1810 and Fletcher v Peck) upheld the sanctity of legal contracts--read the Constitution. Also, while you have the Constitution handy, look up "bills of attainder" and "ex post facto laws;" you might easily conclude they are unconstitutional. Second, the "stimulus" package (others' words, not mine) included provisions for the bonuses to be paid. Didn't our illustrious federal lawmakers, including Sen Stabenow, not read the bill before passing it? It is beyond me how someone who passed this--and I will assume she read it before voting yes and who would admit to voting yes on something she wasn't aware of?--that is, validating bonuses, can now rant and rave about them. Third, why isn't Sen Stabenow on every talk show, every single one of them (I know the "conservative" shows would love to have her on this), criticizing her Congressional colleagues for their votes and their "double standards?" Now that would take a bit more political courage than making a speech on the floor of the Sen that only diehard C-Span viewers might see. Perhaps we could send her a copy of Kennedy's Profiles in Courage? Fourth, what is the rush on all of this? Fifth, Sen Stabenow ignores the Congressional guilt in much of this mess. There is no mention of CRA, of Fanny and Freddie, of the repeal of Glass-Steagall, of the incredible incompetence of her colleagues Dodd, Frank, Waters, etc. If the bonuses are to be taxed, why not the bonuses of Franklin Raines and the other political appointees who ruined Freddie and Fannie? Why not charges against them--what would happen to them had they run, say Enron, instead of Freddie and Fannie? Why not seek charges or at least censure against Frank, Waters, Dodd, and their ilk who assured us that Freddie and Fannie were on solid financial footing?

Yes, I wrote all this in a letter to Sen Stabenow, but we all know what's going to become of my ideas. And, we all know what most other people are going to do about the ruination of our economy and, perhaps, nation...nothing, just like they do despite their own kids' schools being ruined.

Out to "a park."