Domestic Terrorism
If Osama Bin Ladin and The Ku Klux Klan ever join forces, then the world will know terror in ways we can hardly imagine. The Ku Klux Klan has been practicing terrorism in this country for over a century, yet we have never seen any 'homeland security advisory'. Less than a decade ago Timothy McVeigh and his little band of militants were terrorist as surely as were the 19 men who were flew air planes into buildings on Sept 11th. Yet everyone seems to have forgotten Oklahoma City. Men, women, and children died that day. Firemen, policemen and men and women on the street stepped up and became hero's. Is there a 'memorial fund' for the victims of that black day? The Middle East does not have a patent on terrorism. The Ku Klux Klan is a terrorist organization every bit as much as Al Quida. Why is it that the government of this country only became 'outraged' when the vicitms where New Yorkers, and Washitonians? Or was it even the people that outraged them so much? Could it have been that they (the terrorist) dared to take down the single greatest monument to the almighty dollar in this country? Terrorism has been around for a long time. Why is the government only beginning to take it seriously now? The Black Commentator has an excellent article on this subject.
posted by wanda at 10:43 PM

I guess I lean a little more to the left than I thought. At least according to this test I do. It's a fairly interesting test. The questions are more in depth than most of the silly little quizzes we take. Go and take it for yourself and see where YOU stand.
Go take the test .
posted by wanda at 3:33 AM

Howard Dean was absoutely preposterous and well out of the mainstream when he said the nation "hasn't been made any safer" since we've caught Saddam Hussein...
Oh, by the way, there's a slim chance that you might be blown to smithereens
later this week...
But don't let that stop you from getting on the plane to visit Grandma...
Buh-bye! Don't worry!
Have a good time!
And Merry Christmas to you too!
posted by wanda at 1:49 AM

Can someone please explain this to me:

GDP Surged in Q3, Government Confirms

"First it was discounted toys, then cheap consumer electronics. The next big markdown for U.S. retailers may be profit forecasts."

How can BOTH these statements be correct?
If the economy is up and there was growth in the third quarter, why aren't people spending more money? It is Christmas after all. Maybe people are afraid to trust their government anymore.
posted by wanda at 3:31 PM

Here in the Real World

While visiting over at Don's today, I read his post titled "Condi and the Terrorist". There for a brief moment I was swayed by his writing. It all sounded so good. Everything wrapped up in Ricepaper and tied with red, white & blue Bush ribbons. Such a pretty package. I even commented that it was well put (and it was, it had me all warm and fuzzy there for a bit). But, something about it kept bothering me. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, so I went back and read it again. That's when it hit me. The last few lines. Whoa, wait a minute, did he just say what I think I just read? Surely not. Then again.
Don, I don't mean to single you out or to be picking on you, but since you opened the door, this gives me a chance to say something that has been on my mind for sometime now. So here it is. If anyone is offended or insulted by what I have to say, well then you are in good company because I have been offended many times in the past few months. I tried to take it all in stride, but at some point a person has to stand up for what they believe. This is my stand.
Most of my adult life I have prided myself on being an Independent. I have never allowed party lines to determine my opinion of an individual. I've met some Democrats that were over the top, and I've met some Republicans that were as well. I have also always thought of myself as being a bit on the conservative side. My theory has most often been if it has roots, and its working don't mess with it. I am also a religious person. Not so much organized religion as personal spirtual beliefs. Abortion has always been an emotional issue for me. I am divided within myself over it. I don't agree with it and I don't believe it would work for me, but neither do I presume to think I have the right or responsibility to tell another woman what she can or cannot do with her body.
My point here is that I am not nor have I ever been a liberal or a Democrat. My allegience, loyalty and my vote belong to the person I believe will do what is best for this country. ALL of the country. Not just the upper class. Had I had the option in 2000 I would have voted for John Mc Cain. I believe that John McCain would have been the best man to sit in the Presidents chair in many a year. John, by the way is a Republican. Not a far right winger, but a Republican all the same. Had I been a resident of California this past fall, I would have voted for Arnold Schwarzenneger, again not a strong right winger but a Republican all the same. These choices are what I believe shows that I am willing to see both sides of the issues and accept what is best for the largest number of people.
However over the past few months I have felt myself being pushed more and more into the Democratic camp. Why? Because of the bullying, holier than thou, self-aggrandizing, arrogant, obnoxious, double standards attitude of the Republicans. At least 95% of them anyway. They have this way of implying that if you don't agree with them, you are either stupid, unpatriotic, unimformed, or morally deficent. And quite possibly all of the above. Their absolute hatred of President Clinton borders on obsessive. So much so that ANY thing President Bush does must be compared in contrast to President Clinton. It's as if President Bush cannot stand on his own and must attain his success by being the complete opposite of his predecessor. Which may well be true.
Then there is their attitude toward the lower class. If you are poor, unemployed, elderly, or sick, well then it must be what you deserve because you are lazy and stupid. Why should 'their' tax dollars be used to enable you in your lazy lifestyle? Especially when those dollars are so much better spent on rebuilding foreign countries ($87 BILLION). Screw the poor, if they don't want to be poor then let them get off their asses and work. So what if there are no jobs. I've got a job so they can find one too. One of the few Republicans that I have encountered in the blogoshpere, that has shown any compassion or understanding for the plight of the unemployed and less fortunate is Jen . She is also one of the very few Repulicans that I have come across who does not harbor a deeply troubling and irrational hatred of President Clinton. She has never 'poked fun' at me and my ideas, nor has she condesendingly commented on my political point of view. I believe that she respects me and considers me to be an intelligent, informed woman who just happens not to see things exactly the way she does.
On the other hand, I have yet to encounter a Democrat, a Liberal or an Independent blogger who was rude, or condesending toward me. In fact every blogger that I have encountered has welcomed me and offered to share their point of view with me. While they do point out the obvious failings of the current administration, they don't compare this President with former Presidents. They focus on the problems this country is facing right now and the ones we will surely be facing if we continue on the path we are now walking. They don't imply that they are smarter or better informed than I am and that I need to be educated or shown the 'right' way of thinking. Is it any wonder that they are getting through?
If there is one thing that will cost Republicans the election in 2004 I believe it will be this attitude. November 2004 is a long way off and a lot of people are going to get tired of being treated like second class citizens.
I was never a big fan of President George H.W. Bush's. But, the day I saw him put aside his personal politics and present an award (an award named in his honor) to his son's arch enemy, I realized here is a man who can see the good and bad and the need to find a middle ground between the two. It's too bad there aren't more Republicans out there willing to do the same.

posted by wanda at 10:12 PM