Best of the Left of College Station: 2009

Sphere: Related Content Should College Station Bars Quit Smoking?

Although some will argue otherwise, this is not an issue of civil liberties; this is an issue of public health. The amendment to the ordinance that would ban smoking in public restaurants and bars does not infringe on someone’s right to smoke in the same way that not allowing someone to protest in the middle of University Drive does not infringe on someone’s First Amendment rights. There are already regulations in place to protect the public’s health in restaurants and bars, public health codes prevent unsanitary conditions and protect the public; this regulation will extend the protection of the public health to include protection from second hand smoke.

Searching for Gorbachev

Possibly one of largest mistakes, among many, in Iraq was not fully understanding the culture and the politics of the Iraqis. This mistake was probably the largest contributing factor to the quagmire that the United States military was imbedded in after the invasion and subsequent fall of the Iraqi regime. If we want to successful deal with our enemies then we must first understand them, and we must not look to conventional wisdom. If we can successful deal with Iran then it opens many doors for the United States in foreign policy, on of which could be a resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Protecting Dogma Over Life

“Life must always be protected.” Except if that life happens to be a pregnant girl, a pregnant nine year old girl, a pregnant nine year old girl carrying twins, a pregnant nine year old girl that will probably die if she carries the twins to term, a pregnant nine year old girl that will probably die if she carries the twins to term who was raped by her father. A nine year old girl in Brazil was raped by, by some accounts perhaps since she was six years old, and was impregnated by her father. The girl recently underwent an abortion to terminate the pregnancy, and the Catholic Church has expressed outrage over the incident; not that the girl was raped but that she had an abortion.

President Obama to Continue Con-Missions

What this really says is that there is a lack of trust in the United States justice system, and it also suggests that the commissions may be the only way to actually convict many of the detainees of anything. Despite the fact that the Bush Administration has done anything and everything possible to make it difficult to impossible to prosecute terrorist under United States law, it is important that terrorist be brought to justice in a real court room, not a con-mission. Congressman Peter King suggested that the very idea of having a terrorist standing trial within walking distance of the September 11th terrorist attacks is “offensive” and “dangerous.” When it concerns prosecuting the detainees that were involved in terrorist activities; there is no more fitting place than in the shadow of ground zero.

Beginning of the End of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell?

Perhaps one of the most disappointed constituencies of President Barack Obama has been the GLBT community, and a specific point of contention has been the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Obama made a campaign promise to the GLBT community to repeal DADT, and many have felt that the Administration has not moved fast enough on the issue. At the end of June, Obama met with GLBT community leaders at the White House and told them that he hopes “to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps.” It was at this even that Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach, a decorated Air Force pilot who is being discharged under DADT, told the President that he needed his help. “We’re going to get this done,” is the answer that Obama gave Fehrenbach. Perhaps Murphy is just the person to get this done, and give open gay and lesbian people the same opportunity to serve that I had.

Undercurrent of Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers

Why should we worry about a doctor having to wear a bullet proof vest, and patients having to drive from a time zone away only to have to walk through protesters and doors of bullet proof glass? Because what those that are against reproductive rights will not tell you are the stories of the women who are grateful for those doctors and who sometimes owe their lives to those doctors. The protesters who stand outside the gates of reproductive health clinics will tell you the stories of women who regret their abortions, but they will not tell you the stories of the women who do not regret the care that was given to them after making one of the most difficult decisions of their life. This is not about pro-choice, or anti-choice, pro-abortion, or anti-abortion. This is about life; the life of women that do not see this debate in rhetorical platitudes but in real life colors that paint their lives with painful choices that they can make because of the brave souls like Doctor Tiller.

Why Progressives Should Be Calling for a Town Hall with Chet Edwards

Congressman Edwards is a conservative Democrat, and any attempt to paint him as a liberal is disingenuous at best. While there are issues that Edwards supports that progressives have agreed with, progressives that have support Edwards becuase he is better than the alternative. However, the alternative now seems to be not too far away from an obstructionist Republican, which will be plentiful in this year’s Republican primary in the 17th Congressional District. What Edwards needs to realize is that while his moderate record garners him bipartisan support in a conservative district, the people that knock on doors and make phones calls for his campaign are the same people that have the most legitimate concerns.

The Forgotten Flags

Almost three thousand American flags surround the Freedom from Terrorism Memorial on the campus of Texas A&M University, each of the flags represent an American that died during the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. However, in our quest to “never forget” we have already forgotten: Americans were not the only victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. We have forgotten that among the American flags there should also be 221 flags of 40 other countries. We have forgotten that the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks did not just touch Americans; it has touched people throughout the world.

The Coalition for Life Lies to Women

Every day during 40 Days for Life protesters stand in front of the fence at the Planned Parenthood in Bryan, and every day they spread misinformation and lies to the patients that utilize the clinic for reproductive health care. The protesters regularly attempt to pass information to the clients of Planned Parenthood both verbally and in written form. However, much of the information that the protesters try and give the clients is both intellectually dishonest and factually incorrect. Often false information is given about the services provided at Planned Parenthood and the facts about abortion and reproductive health care.

Young, Conservative, and Intolerant

Universities are places that are designed to foster debate, but in many ways it seems like the Young Conservatives are not interested in debate. From the rhetoric that is expressed it seems much more like they are more interested in telling anyone who holds a different point of view that their views are wrong. It is this type of political discourse that has become indicative of the larger national political discussion, the idea that concessions on any issue or compromise on any level is out of the question. The Young Conservative have never seemed interested in meaningful debate or an attempt to reach consensus, they are much more interested in engaging in political combat. Some of us, on both sides of the ideological isle, are more interested in actually making meaningful contributions to the larger political discussion. Some of us understand the irony in shouting “No more taxes!” while attending a public university. Some of us still believe that public service is not something that should be mocked, but something that should be encouraged. Some of believe that it is what you believe in that should define you, not just what you are against.

Conversion of Convenience: The Revealing Truth Behind Why the Director of a Planned Parenthood Joined the Coalition for Life

From several interviews with confidential sources it has become clear that Johnson conversion is one of convenience and that the entire story that she has promoting in the media is a fabrication. This spiritual conversion is nothing more than a disgruntled employee who saw an opportunity to seek revenge against her former employer and benefit financially in the process. It is unlikely that this will affect her future career as a spokeswoman for the anti-choice community, but the media should take this into account and actually ask critical questions. There is more to this story than a “change of heart.”

Obama’s War: Choosing Escalation and Occupation

The President spoke about the number of terrorist that are recruited and trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and that attacks are being planned there. However, terrorist are recruited and trained throughout the world, and the terrorist attacks on western countries where planned throughout the world. The root of terrorism cannot be fought with soldiers and tanks, but with construction workers and bulldozers. Foreign aid, not foreign invasion, is the best weapon against terrorism. When I voted for President Obama I voted for a President that would end, rather than extended, two wars.