Monday, January 16, 2006
"Let Freedom Ring" Rings False
Bush will speak later this afternoon and pay tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. at a celebration dubbed "Let Freedom Ring." I wonder what MLK, Jr. would think about Bush's assault on civil liberties. Here's just a partial list:
--Bush instituted "First Amendment Zones" (also ironically called "Free Speech Zones") or fenced areas where protestors were kept away from his appearances and speeches. Let Freedom Ring.
--Three people in Colorado were removed from a Bush speech simply because they were wearing anti-war t-shirts. Let Freedom Ring.
--The Bush administration paid journalists to write propaganda (for example, the Education Dept. paid journalist Armstrong Williams $240,000 to write positive commentaries on the No Child Left Behind act). Let Freedom Ring.
--In a speech last week, Bush repeated his warning that American citizens who are critical of the government and the war in Iraq are "emboldening" and giving support to the enemy. Let Freedom Ring.
--Bush has been spyiing on American citizens, without a warrant. Let Freedom Ring.
Today "I have a dream" that someday the U.S. will be restored to democracy and will have a leader who respects our Constitution and individual civil liberties.
--Bush instituted "First Amendment Zones" (also ironically called "Free Speech Zones") or fenced areas where protestors were kept away from his appearances and speeches. Let Freedom Ring.
--Three people in Colorado were removed from a Bush speech simply because they were wearing anti-war t-shirts. Let Freedom Ring.
--The Bush administration paid journalists to write propaganda (for example, the Education Dept. paid journalist Armstrong Williams $240,000 to write positive commentaries on the No Child Left Behind act). Let Freedom Ring.
--In a speech last week, Bush repeated his warning that American citizens who are critical of the government and the war in Iraq are "emboldening" and giving support to the enemy. Let Freedom Ring.
--Bush has been spyiing on American citizens, without a warrant. Let Freedom Ring.
Today "I have a dream" that someday the U.S. will be restored to democracy and will have a leader who respects our Constitution and individual civil liberties.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
OK, This is just nuts...
I honestly thought I was reading some sort of joke or parody column, but this story from Reuters is factual. Get this--to combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa, Laura Bush is promoting a program called "Abstinence for Africa."
According to the story, "Bush's trip to Ghana and Nigeria will focus on education and the HIV/AIDS pandemic which the United Nations estimates infects more than 30 million people in Africa. The disease has killed at least 20 million worldwide."
With the promotion of abstinence to fight AIDS, get ready for those numbers to climb even higher.
Reuters AlertNet - US first lady irked by criticism of Bush AIDS plan
According to the story, "Bush's trip to Ghana and Nigeria will focus on education and the HIV/AIDS pandemic which the United Nations estimates infects more than 30 million people in Africa. The disease has killed at least 20 million worldwide."
With the promotion of abstinence to fight AIDS, get ready for those numbers to climb even higher.
Reuters AlertNet - US first lady irked by criticism of Bush AIDS plan
