Sally Kern

Mar. 13th, 2008 06:01 am
parilafk: (Default)
Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm certain you have heard about the remarks of Sally Kern, suggesting that homosexuality was a bigger threat than terrorism.

Now, my 11-year old niece has a good reason for not remembering the attack on the Murrah Building in April 1995 -- it's because she wasn't even born yet. But a 60+ year old woman should remember that day, even if she wasn't a resident of the state she now represents.

When I heard the remarks, I was stunned that she seemed to have forgotten. Well, apparently, some of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing have heard her and one person in particular, decided he wanted to tell Kern what a horrific mistake she's made.

Here's a letter I found on my f-list page, and I'm reproducing it here.

Letter From High School Senior To Sally Kern

Today my nephew attempted to deliver a letter to Sally Kern but was stopped by a highway patrol man. With his permission I am distributing the letter to all news stations and thought I would include it here.

Maybe we can all stand to learn a listen from this smart, loving, young man. He more than most has reason to hate. He lost his mother, my sister, in the Murrah Building bombing.

Elizabeth
Rep Kern:

On April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City a terrorist detonated a bomb that killed my mother and 167 others. 19 children died that day. Had I not had the chicken pox that day, the body count would've likely have included one more. Over 800 other Oklahomans were injured that day and many of those still suffer through their permanent wounds.

That terrorist was neither a homosexual or was he involved in Islam. He was an extremist Christian forcing his views through a body count. He held his beliefs and made those who didn't live up to them pay with their lives.

As you were not a resident of Oklahoma on that day, it could be explained why you so carelessly chose words saying that the homosexual agenda is worst than terrorism. I can most certainly tell you through my own experience that is not true. I am sure there are many people in your voting district that laid a loved one to death after the terrorist attack on Oklahoma City. I kind of doubt you'll find one of them that will agree with you.

I was five years old when my mother died. I remember what a beautiful, wise, and remarkable woman she was. I miss her. Your harsh words and misguided beliefs brought me to tears, because you told me that my mother's killer was a better person than a group of people that are seeking safety and tolerance for themselves.

As someone left motherless and victimized by terrorists, I say to you very clearly you are absolutely wrong.

You represent a district in Oklahoma City and you very coldly express a lack of love, sympathy or understanding for what they've been through. Can I ask if you might have chosen wiser words were you a real Oklahoman that was here to share the suffering with Oklahoma City? Might your heart be a bit less cold had you been around to see the small bodies of children being pulled out of rubble and carried away by weeping firemen?

I've spent 12 years in Oklahoma public schools and never once have I had anyone try to force a gay agenda on me. I have seen, however, many gay students beat up and there's never a day in school that has went by when I haven't heard the word **** slung at someone. I've been called gay slurs many times and they hurt and I am not even gay so I can just imagine how a real gay person feels. You were a school teacher and you have seen those things too. How could you care so little about the suffering of some of your students?

Let me tell you the result of your words in my school. Every openly gay and suspected gay in the school were having to walk together Monday for protection. They looked scared. They've already experienced enough hate and now your words gave other students even more motivation to sneer at them and call them names. Afterall, you are a teacher and a lawmaker, many young people have taken your words to heart. That happens when you assume a role of responsibility in your community. I seriously think before this week ends that some kids here will be going home bruised and bloody because of what you said.

I wish you could've met my mom. Maybe she could've guided you in how a real Christian should be acting and speaking.

I have not had a mother for nearly 13 years now and wonder if there were fewer people like you around, people with more love and tolerance in their hearts instead of strife, if my mom would be here to watch me graduate from high school this spring. Now she won't be there. So I'll be packing my things and leaving Oklahoma to go to college elsewhere and one day be a writer and I have no intentions to ever return here. I have no doubt that people like you will incite crazy people to build more bombs and kill more people again. I don't want to be here for that. I just can't go through that again.

You may just see me as a kid, but let me try to teach you something. The old saying is sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you. Well, your words hurt me. Your words disrespected the memory of my mom. Your words can cause others to pick up sticks and stones and hurt others.

Sincerely

Tucker

You know, I have to say something. As much as I think Scientology is a joke, I just can't believe that the same people don't put this level of effort and organization into something that actually fucking matters.
parilafk: (Default)
The latest news/smear on Ron Paul is about numerous financial and political newsletters bearing his name that were published in the 80s that contained ideas and phrases that are generally, uh... "unpresidential".

Paul says that he did not write the articles in the newsletters.

Paul supporters say that the story, recently published in The New Republic is a smear tactic, another in a long line of Republican mouthpieces trying to minimize Paul in his presidential bid.

Critics of Ron Paul are pointing to his signature on this solicitation letter, which espouses similar beliefs as his newsletters and solicits subscriptions to the newsletters in Paul's name, as proof that he's a loony.


Now, I agree that the timing is suspect, but what do you guys think about this whole thing? Is it likely that such newsletters could exist and Paul not sue or otherwise take legal, documented action against the authors, if they were misrepresenting him?

OOH, the ideas and beliefs seem a bit at odds with what I've heard about Ron Paul, so it's hard for me to believe.

OTOH, I find it hard to believe Paul's explanation/excuse, especially given his presidential aspirations in the 80s (he first ran for office on the Libertarian ticket in 1988). Why let his name continue to be associated with these ideas, if they didn't reflect some truth?

So, what do you think?
parilafk: (Default)

The Republican debates according to a 9-year old

Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 01:59:36 AM PST

I've avoided watching the debates until now because I saw them as little more than exercises in media manipulation.  This time, I wanted to watch the Republican debate just to hear the other candidates respond to Ron Paul.  Unfortunately, I had a scheduling conflict so I asked a kid to take notes for me.  As the debate began, I drew a quick seating chart of the candidates to help the kid keep track of who said what and then ran off.  BTW - this is not snark.  This is a straight rendition from a 9 year old.  The only changes I made were for spelling errors (except the names).

It must have been more difficult than I thought to keep track of all the new names.  That's the only reason I can think of to explain why this  reporter devised a new naming strategy to keep track of the candidates.  Aside from that, it seems they got all the high points.

Follow me below the fold for the 9-year old's rendition of a fight between Sarge, Wrinkles, Bunny Ears, Oily, Beagle Eyes and Carrot Face...  


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