The Hatter's Explanation

West of Shockoe: I really couldn't be more proud of this ranking

2007-05-13T11:34:00.000-04:00

West of Shockoe: I really couldn't be more proud of this ranking

Another fine blogpost from one of DWJ's valued contributors - Phriendly Jaime!

Read it. Comment it. Link to it.

Immigration Protest

2007-04-27T11:49:00.000-04:00

I think that it would be fun to stage a protest against illegal immigrants in front of the state capital building.

My plans are to have lots of signs written in English saying that we should police our borders, deport all illegal immigrants, stop giving them free health care, food, housing, and education, etc. We would also have an abundant supply of Mexican flags, lighter fluid, and matches.

Anyone with me?

Living In a Post-VT Culture

2007-04-24T00:16:00.000-04:00

A professor at the Boston-based Catholic liberal arts school Emmanuel was fired on Thursday after saying "pow," while pointing a marker at a student - during a classroom discussion about the VT shootings!

Emmanuel issued a press release saying that it does not condone discriminatory or obscene language.

How exactly is that discriminatory? I guess he only did it to a few students. Obscene? As far as I know it wasn't obscene. It was definitely "too soon," though, judging by Emmanuel's knee-jerk reaction.

While Emmanuel has every right to fire professors at will, in my opinion... this was not something that should have led to a firing. It is an abridgment of free speech, something that has been happening quite often in the news lately. If students in the room had been offended and had clamored for his removal, then I would be more understanding. But according to that article a student in the room did the same to the professor - "pow!" - was he expelled, or at least suspended? The article does not say, but I suspect not.

If it was truly "discriminatory or obscene gestures," then punishment should be applied across the board. But as the facts stand, this is simply an issue of free speech being reigned in - legally... but not wisely.

cross-posted at: Daily Whackjob and Oregon Trail.

New Gun Laws

2007-04-23T00:16:00.000-04:00

Check out I’m Not Emeril for an open post on gun control.

He asks –
“...describe a new, tougher gun law that would have prevented any of the school shootings in our country’s history. Or. for that matter, any shooting involving victims in a “gun free zone”, whether it be a school, airport, government building, courthouse, store or restaurant.”

Go here for the discussion.

I am legitimately wondering what my more liberal brethren have to say about this.

If for some reason you don’t want to discuss it over there, then feel free to use the comment section over at this post at Daily Whackjob for proposing your new legislative ideas.

Egyptian Torture vs. American Torture

2007-04-22T20:33:00.000-04:00

Apparently Egypt arrested an engineer on charges of spying for Israel.

The courts found him guilty, in part on the basis of a confession he claims was extracted through torture.

I do not know whether the man is guilty or not. I do know that Egypt has an illustrious history of torture.

Anyone care to guess why America is vilified for detaining possible terrorists and "torturing" them by keeping them in solitary at Guantanamo, but Egypt can freely electrify or otherwise torture their prisoners without an international rebuke?

The America hatred abroad is sickening. The world would be much worse off without America, whether they admit it or not. Ungrateful bastards.

No Laughing Matter -- Students Threats Taken Seriously

2007-04-20T01:33:00.000-04:00

Apparently some asinine student decided he could identify with the VT murderer.

Wrong time to make such a threat.

If someone jokes about wanting to shoot and kill people, then now it has to be taken seriously. If someone writes macabre plays, it will be taken seriously. And if campus officials even hear about a shooting threat... everything will shut down.

This isn't a matter of 1st Amendment rights being abridged, it is about safety. Just as the student had the right to make those threats, those in charge had the right to listen to his threats - and take very appropriate actions against him.

I am a big fan of the Bill of Rights. But I am also a realist.

This kid messed up and is facing the consequences. He has no legitimate grounds to sue the state. This is the equivalent of shouting "Fire!" It makes people panic. When they panic, stupid things happen.

Agree/disagree?

Bombs Away

2007-04-19T22:21:00.000-04:00

Ok, so McCain just lost some of his "viable candidate points."

Amusing joke, "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb" Iran - no? (I agree with the spirit of the remark, I just don't think statements like that are becoming of a presidential candidate.)

I think that Iran intends to continue on its course towards nuclear weapons. If that happens, we are left with the question, "How should America react?" Tough question, no?

We could -

- Continue with the (useless) United Nations, trying to convince them to willingly give up their newly-acquired toys.
- Attack them.
- Let them be until they attack/threaten us (possible) or Israel (more likely).

Which option is best? Politics has been ineffective in the Middle East. Will it ever work? I doubt. They understand force. But should we attack them? That, too, would turn into a poorly managed fiasco. After a year we would not have the country fully stabilized, and certain segments of our population would be whining that we should give up. But should we wait until we are in imminent danger to take action (even then, what action would we take)?

I honestly am not sure.

What are ya'lls opinions?

Mind of a Madman

2007-04-18T22:05:00.000-04:00

Wow.

I just... still can't believe this.

It's a nightmare. :sigh:

Hearing his voice, watching his face say those awful things... how could this have happened?

Seems like he was influenced not only by the left, but also by the right, with some perverted misunderstanding of Christianity (sorry Riley, your theory looks like it is dead in the water).

Keep praying.

Light within Darkness

2007-04-18T17:11:00.000-04:00

The day after 32 people were slaughtered at VT, the Supreme Court has upheld an end to a rather different slaughter.

Read about it here.

A revisit of Roe vs. Wade, anyone?

Virginia Tech

2007-04-18T16:50:00.001-04:00

I found out last night that one of the girls that died was my friends roommate. [girl on the far right was a victim... the girl to her left is my friend] Sigh. This whole situation is surreal.

This blog wishes to publicly express its love, support, and prayers to the Virginia Tech community - especially to the family and friends of the victims of this horrific incident.

If you haven't watched the video of their convocation from yesterday yet, I suggest you do. Powerful. An hour well spent.

Exploitation.

2007-04-18T14:47:00.000-04:00

I've listened to Imus on and off, over the years. His job, in my understanding, was to be funny and controversial. He did his job well.

He crossed lines, but unless I am mistaken, that was what was supposed to do.

(I am not a fan of his. I think he is crude and annoying. A cantankerous old man that is respected by more people than he deserves.)

Apparently he made some comments about Rutgers women's basketball team. Called them "nappy headed ho's" or something.

If that offended you... get over it. You have more important things in life to worry about than what a man who was paid to be controversial said, especially when it wasn't directed at you.

He lost his job. Why? Because of our culture and also when he said it. The week leading up to Easter - a week that normally does not have many honest news stories. Because of that, the media spin-demons were ready to eat him alive, blowing his comments out of proportion just to fill up their docket. We are a youtube culture. In the past, Imus' remarks would have been noticed by a few people, but lost in the shuffle. Now, certain self-appointed media watchdog groups [read: self-aggrandizing, self-appointed, self-serving, politically motivated pricks] can take those comments, foist them into the spotlight, post them on youtube to ensure that everyone notices and can't avoid hearing the relentless babble about the evils of Imus.

He lost his job because of pressure from supposed "black leaders" like the "Reverend” Al Sharpton. Remember the Duke Lacrosse players that he maligned several months ago? He raved to the media about how vile they were for raping some poor, stupid, stripper. Why? Because she was black. If she had been white this "humanitarian" would not have cared. Then what happened? After his diatribes against the INNOCENT "privileged white athletes"... the black whore was discovered to be lying. Whoopsie! Apparently Sharpton defended the wrong harlot. Better luck next time! However, since she was lying, he now maligned innocent college sports players... just as Imus did to the Rutgers players.

Imus at least apologized. Sharpton simply refuses to acknowledge his mistake. Why is Imus now shunned by anyone that desires a future in the public eye, while Sharpton is being treat as if her were a hero for his actions?

The members of the Rutgers’ lady basketball team are the real heroines. They faced a man who had publicly shamed them, talked with him, accepted his apology, and moved on. Why did people want to hold Don Imus accountable for a stupid remark that he had apologized for when the people who could legitimately be offended by the comment had already forgiven him?

I do not support provocative racial statements. I consider them to be useless. However, I do not think this ordeal deserves the attention it has received. But certain people are abusing the Rutgers' ladies situation to garner attention... those people are even more in the wrong than Imus.

Final words: Let it go.

Humble Beginnings

2007-04-18T12:23:00.000-04:00

First posting.

Not much to say, I have to get to class.

I hope to post a mini-sermon on Revelations 3, specifically the section about Laodicea, later.

I have something written up about Imus, and am in the process of writing an opinion about the irreverent reverend, Al Sharpton.

Grace be with you all.