Link
In President Obama's State of the Union Address on Tuesday, he stated that he wanted authorization to combat ISIS but sources say that he is unlikely to send any language to Congress to get full approval to do so. Many Congressmen are saying that him not sending language to Congress is a sign that his administration just does not know what their strategy is and how they will combat the militants. What will happen if Obama gets authorization from Congress to combat ISIS? What will it look like? Well, judging from the fact that in just the five months we have been bombing them we have spent more than a billion dollars, done more than 1,700 airstrikes, and sent more than 2,000 U.S. troops to Iraq, it will probably look a lot like the situation in Afghanistan a year or two ago, resulting in the deaths of thousands of U.S. servicemen and thousands of Iraqi civilians, not to mention economic devastation for Iraq.
I think the way that the U.S. is handling the ISIS threat is reckless and unnecessary. If we want to create a permanent peace in the Middle East, we should not invade Iraq or any other Middle Eastern nation for that matter. When we invade any nation, it results in thousands of civilian deaths. When these innocent civilians die, it just creates more anti-American sentiment and thus more people are likely to join the ISIS cause to combat what they see as violent occupying force. If a foreign power invaded the United States to combat a few thousand terrorists, killing thousands of innocent Americans in the process, would you not be outraged? Would you not be tempted to join the terrorists to try and defend your families and friends? It's the same situation in the Middle East right now, except we are the invading force. The point is, invasion and increased troops numbers in Iraq is not the solution to achieve peace. If we want peace, we need to try something else.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Cheney says torture report is "full of crap"
Link
Recently, Dick Cheney has gone public about his true feelings on the newly released "torture report." Earlier this week, Senate Democrats have published a report about the "enhanced" interrogations that were authorized during the Bush administration. Apparently, Cheney does not agree with the Democrats' findings, calling it "full of crap." Cheney states that the Democrats did not interview any CIA officials that were in office at the time and that the program was designed "to catch the bastards" and "that's exactly what they did."
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the whole report and enhanced interrogation. On one hand, it could be a useful tool for extracting information that could potentially save lives but on the other hand, it's morally wrong. So we face a dilemma. Should we follow our moral compasses and do the right thing, or should we do whatever is necessary to protect the country and its people?
Recently, Dick Cheney has gone public about his true feelings on the newly released "torture report." Earlier this week, Senate Democrats have published a report about the "enhanced" interrogations that were authorized during the Bush administration. Apparently, Cheney does not agree with the Democrats' findings, calling it "full of crap." Cheney states that the Democrats did not interview any CIA officials that were in office at the time and that the program was designed "to catch the bastards" and "that's exactly what they did."
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the whole report and enhanced interrogation. On one hand, it could be a useful tool for extracting information that could potentially save lives but on the other hand, it's morally wrong. So we face a dilemma. Should we follow our moral compasses and do the right thing, or should we do whatever is necessary to protect the country and its people?
"Torture is an impermissible evil. Except under two circumstances. The first is the ticking time bomb. An innocent's life is at stake. The bad guy you have captured possesses information that could save this life. He refuses to divulge. In such a case, the choice is easy."~Charles Krauthammer
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Canadian Family Attempts to Resurrect Husband.....For Six Months.....
Link
Recently, a Canadian family held onto the head of the family for six months and prayed for his resurrection daily. The only way authorities found the dead 52 year old man was after police came to the house to evict them for not making house payments. To prevent the smell from alerting neighbors, the family sealed the house. The deceased husband was a very religious man and his wife even more so. She was given a suspended sentence and told to go to counselling.
Well.... this story definitely got my attention. I get that losing a loved one is a very hard thing to go though, but I didn't think it would drive people to try and resurrect them six months after death. I mean, how would you even put up with a decomposing body in the place where you live? Why would you even want to resurrect a 6 month old zombie-like corpse?
Recently, a Canadian family held onto the head of the family for six months and prayed for his resurrection daily. The only way authorities found the dead 52 year old man was after police came to the house to evict them for not making house payments. To prevent the smell from alerting neighbors, the family sealed the house. The deceased husband was a very religious man and his wife even more so. She was given a suspended sentence and told to go to counselling.
Well.... this story definitely got my attention. I get that losing a loved one is a very hard thing to go though, but I didn't think it would drive people to try and resurrect them six months after death. I mean, how would you even put up with a decomposing body in the place where you live? Why would you even want to resurrect a 6 month old zombie-like corpse?
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Laura Ingraham calls to end birthright citizenship
http://www.salon.com/2014/11/17/laura_ingraham_wants_to_change_constitution_to_strip_immigrants_children_of_citizenship/
Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham has criticized the GOP on not taking a stronger stance on citizenship and immigration. She went even further and said on radio that she thinks that the 14th amendment's citizenship clause should be repealed in order to prevent illegal immigrants from illegally crossing into the U.S. and having children on American soil, thus automatically making them U.S. citizens.
Personally, I believe that the citizenship clause should be modified in order to deal with the illegal immigration in this country. I believe that only children of U.S. citizens should be granted citizenship, not just anyone who has a child in this country just so that they can live here. If people want to live in this country, they should go through the proper immigration process and then become naturalized.
Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham has criticized the GOP on not taking a stronger stance on citizenship and immigration. She went even further and said on radio that she thinks that the 14th amendment's citizenship clause should be repealed in order to prevent illegal immigrants from illegally crossing into the U.S. and having children on American soil, thus automatically making them U.S. citizens.
Personally, I believe that the citizenship clause should be modified in order to deal with the illegal immigration in this country. I believe that only children of U.S. citizens should be granted citizenship, not just anyone who has a child in this country just so that they can live here. If people want to live in this country, they should go through the proper immigration process and then become naturalized.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Young Black Senators Make History
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/2014/11/05/black-senators-make-history/18481235/
After the Midterm elections, two black senators from both the Democratic and Republican parties have been elected. Since 1870, only 9 senators have served in the Senate and hopefully with the election of these two men that number will increase. Many also believe that the traditional Senate demographic of old white men will also begin to bend and that maybe a new trend will start.
I think that it is good to have minorities represented in the Senate so that they have their voices heard too. I think it is even better that one of the men is from the deep south because that might mean that racism is waning in the traditional racist hot spot. I also think that USA Today is making too big of a deal out of this too because, in the words of Morgan Freeman (God), "The only way to stop racism is to stop talking about it." (it went something like that I think).
After the Midterm elections, two black senators from both the Democratic and Republican parties have been elected. Since 1870, only 9 senators have served in the Senate and hopefully with the election of these two men that number will increase. Many also believe that the traditional Senate demographic of old white men will also begin to bend and that maybe a new trend will start.
I think that it is good to have minorities represented in the Senate so that they have their voices heard too. I think it is even better that one of the men is from the deep south because that might mean that racism is waning in the traditional racist hot spot. I also think that USA Today is making too big of a deal out of this too because, in the words of Morgan Freeman (God), "The only way to stop racism is to stop talking about it." (it went something like that I think).
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
South Dakota may be turning Democrat
http://www.npr.org/2014/10/16/356728087/in-south-dakota-a-three-way-senate-race-draws-national-attention
For many years, South Dakota has been strongly Republican, but in this year's elections, Democrat Rick Weiland is gaining support. And now a third candidate, Larry Pressler, is running as an independent, making it even harder for the other two candidates. As the fight for the Senate ensues, South Dakota is getting a lot of attention, because what happens in our state may have a drastic impact in the Senate and the future of the country.
Although I support Rounds, I think that it's good that there's more competition now because now more people have their voices heard and it looks more like a democracy rather than a single-party dictatorship.
For many years, South Dakota has been strongly Republican, but in this year's elections, Democrat Rick Weiland is gaining support. And now a third candidate, Larry Pressler, is running as an independent, making it even harder for the other two candidates. As the fight for the Senate ensues, South Dakota is getting a lot of attention, because what happens in our state may have a drastic impact in the Senate and the future of the country.
Although I support Rounds, I think that it's good that there's more competition now because now more people have their voices heard and it looks more like a democracy rather than a single-party dictatorship.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
$4 billion price tag for midterm elections
http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2014/10/22/analysis-midterm-election-will-cost-nearly-4-billion/
Midterm elections this year are going to cost about $4 billion dollars, making this year the most expensive midterm ever. This expensive election means more annoying political TV ads, radio ads, phone calls, and more junk mail for everybody. The non-partisan center for Responsive Politics says that political groups are spending about $19.4 million dollars a day.
I think that $4 billion is a ridiculous amount of money used for campaigning. Political candidates should actually use that money to help people instead of just furthering their own interests. They should really make a law limiting the amount of money spent on campaigning.
Midterm elections this year are going to cost about $4 billion dollars, making this year the most expensive midterm ever. This expensive election means more annoying political TV ads, radio ads, phone calls, and more junk mail for everybody. The non-partisan center for Responsive Politics says that political groups are spending about $19.4 million dollars a day.
I think that $4 billion is a ridiculous amount of money used for campaigning. Political candidates should actually use that money to help people instead of just furthering their own interests. They should really make a law limiting the amount of money spent on campaigning.
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