Tuesday, June 28, 2011

That Pesky Dream Act; Rainbow Speedos? Where's Romney; Poland & Other Countries Toast Reagan; Something Fishy About This Whitey Bulger Capture

For the Fourth of July week, we've changed our template to reflect the holiday. God Bless Our Troops and God Bless America!

Onion headline: "Plaxico Burress Returns Home To His Family, Accidentally Shoots Them."

  • You know those low, hanging pants on many young people, especially African-Americans? Cops actually love that fashion statement. Apparently, those hanging pants are so low when thugs  try to run away from the cops, they trip over themselves.
  • As an immigrant myself, I want all immigrants, legal and illegal, to go through the appropriate and legal process to become citizens if that's their desire. Any amnesty is just not right--it puts millions ahead of the line of millions who have been following the rules for years. Having said that, I support the Dream Act. The Act provides legal residency and eventual chance for illegals brought to the U.S. as children to become American citizens. And don't believe what many on the Right who say it's "back-door" amnesty. It's not. These individuals must prove they came to the U.S. before the age of 16. They must have lived here for at least 5 years. They cannot have a criminal record. They will have to earn a diploma or GED. They must earn admission to college or serve in our military. Once they serve or enter college, they can have a CHANCE to earn legal status. Those are a lot of hoops to jump through. It's not an easy process by any means. In other words, they have to earn American citizenship. What's wrong with that?
  • One more caveat. I'll even go further. If an immigrant joins our military and takes the oath to protect our country, that immigrant should automatically become a citizen.  In other words, right after he or she takes the military oath, take them to the nearest available room and have them take the oath for citizenship. If an immigrant is willing to die for our country then have them die as an American.
  • New York Public School Up-Date: MS 344, the Academy of Collaborative Education in Harlem (you know with a name like that--there's trouble), just two of 88 eighth-graders last year passed the state math or reading exams. The school was highlighted in a NY Post piece last week because the students are running the school and running it into the ground. According to the Post, "MS 344...is a hellhole were teachers should get combat pay--they are cursed, assaulted and sometimes groped." The principal, according to this story, appears not to really care. Staff complain she's always late and barely leaves her office.  She's also hired friends and family members to work at the school. One of her friends that she hired was busted in 2009 on charges he conspired to steal more than $100,000 in Social Security benefits.
  • Yesterday, New York City held its annual Gay Pride Parade. It was actually more of a celebration than advocacy since NY passed its gay marriage bill the previous day. I have no problem with either of these events. But I do have one bit of advice for our gay brothers and sisters: dump the Rainbow Speedos. It's bad enough Speedos look weird even on the beach, but wearing them on 5th Ave. in NYC?--not cool.
  • And then there are the real jerks. Someone or some group vandalized 51 floats in Chicago for their Gay Pride parade. And then there's the jerks who overreact to it by considering the vandalism a "hate crime." I've often said I'm opposed to any crime being labeled a "hate" crime because I don't believe if you're gay, black, brown or whatever--your life happens to have any more value than anyone else's life. Sorry. We're in this all together. Hate crime legislation is purely PC gone wild.
  • This reminds me of the Left. They always remind everyone else to be tolerant; yet, they can be the most intolerant group of folks anywhere.
  • Has anyone seen Mitt Romney lately?
  • As many know, Ronald Reagan is greatly admired across all of Eastern Europe. I tell the story when I used to visit my parents in Poland for many years, I noticed two portraits on the walls of many homes: Ronald Reagan and the other of Pope John Paul II. Eastern European countries will be honoring Reagan on his 100th Birthday. Events will include a special Mass in Poland to special sessions in parliaments in other countries. Why do they still admire him so much? Because he backed his speeches with deeds. He gave those countries, while under Soviet rule, financial, diplomatic and rhetorical support. Petr Gandalovic, the Czech ambassador to the U.S. said, "Reagan showed that America was going to stand up to the Soviet military expansion and it was not going to withdraw from its firm positions...That was sort of inspiring to us." Too bad, the same can't be said today.
  • There's something that's bothering me about this capture of Whitey Bulger. For example, did you know that he regularly crossed the border into Mexico for medications? Did you know he returned to the Boston area--"armed to the teeth"-- several times during the last 20 years when he was on the lam?  Did you know he would go to Vegas to gamble? Just sayin' (USA Today).
  • USA soccer team was booed when it played Mexico this weekend. The game was played in the United States. I guess Mexicans are learning quickly how good our Constitution is compared to their own. As one commentator said, "Congratulations Mexico! Your finest athletes are now No. 1 in a teenage girls sport."

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