A Schizephrenic Southern Splinter State The Confederate Flag Flies At Full Staff The View From The U.S. Virgin Islands By JOHN McCARTHY TMV Columnist There’s no denying it. South Carolina has a violent and racist past, with some tolerance mixed in. The mere name “South Carolina” – suggests that it broke away from a larger Carolina – and that would be true. The … [Read more...] about Take Down That Damn Secessionist Flag South Carolina!
Ben Carson criticizes other Republicans for not calling Charleston murders “racist”
It's not often I agree with Republican Presidential candidate Ben Carson. But he has bluntly called out the other Republicans running for President who refuse to call the murders of 9 people by a self-admitted racist who wanted to kill African-Americans "racist." He didn't mince words: Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson on Monday knocked some of the 2016 … [Read more...] about Ben Carson criticizes other Republicans for not calling Charleston murders “racist”
Middle Finger Emoji Can Get You Jail Time In UAE
The middle finger emoji can convey a lot of sentiments — you can use it to display anger and when goofing around. But if you're traveling abroad, then be wary of where and how you use emoji as the icon can potentially put you in jail. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has passed a new Cyber… … [Read more...] about Middle Finger Emoji Can Get You Jail Time In UAE
Charleston shooting: Leader of group cited in ‘Dylann Roof manifesto’ donated to top Republicans
Why is that conservative Republicans have been twisting themselves into political pretzels trying to avoid saying that the massacre by 9 innocents in a church in Charleston was racist when shooter Dylann Roof is clearly a self-avowed racist? That has been a lingering question. Now the Guardian reports that some key Republicans were getting campaign donations from the leader of … [Read more...] about Charleston shooting: Leader of group cited in ‘Dylann Roof manifesto’ donated to top Republicans
Republicans and Denial of Racism
It comes as little surprise that Dylaan Roof, the shooter in Charleston, had posted a racist manifesto and pictures with other racist symbols: Dylann Roof spat on and burned the American flag, but waved the Confederate. He posed for pictures wearing a No. 88 T-shirt, had 88 Facebook friends and wrote that number — white supremacist code for “Heil Hitler”— in the South … [Read more...] about Republicans and Denial of Racism
Esprit De Corp
After talking to a dear friend I served in the military with I started thinking - always a dangerous thing in my case. Yes, I'm going to get a bit philosophical on you and apologize in advance. There are times I feel sorry for those who never served in the military because there is nothing like the bonds that develop between individuals that serve together. My late father … [Read more...] about Esprit De Corp
Politix Update: All Bow Down To The Republican Doctrine Of Perpetual War. Yes, You.
I picked the morning paper off the floor / It was full of other people's little wars / Wouldn't they like their peace / Don't we get bored / And we call for the three great stimulants / Of the exhausted ones /Artifice brutality and innocence ~ JONI MITCHELL "The Three Great Stimulants" While no one would accuse presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary … [Read more...] about Politix Update: All Bow Down To The Republican Doctrine Of Perpetual War. Yes, You.
Charleston and the politics of evasion
WASHINGTON -- We Americans are exceptionally good at evasion when we want to be. Our skills in this sphere are particularly impressive on the matter of race and the subject of guns. Nonsense, you say. Have we not been talking about race and racism for our entire history? Our conversations have been especially intense in recent years -- about the response to President … [Read more...] about Charleston and the politics of evasion
Political Mobilization: Researchers Seek Participants in Online Study (Guest Voice)
Political Mobilization: Researchers Seek Participants in Online Study My name is Raynee Gutting and I am conducting an online survey about people’s personal characteristics and beliefs, and how people become politically active and engaged. The study is brief and interesting, and should help me understand how individuals think about important political issues and American … [Read more...] about Political Mobilization: Researchers Seek Participants in Online Study (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Rebel Flag
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Rebel Flag
SciFi Weekend: Season Finales of Orphan Black, Game of Thrones, and Veep; Hannibal And Creating Monsters; Breaking Bad Cast News
Orphan Black concluded its third season with more answers, bigger questions, a cliff hanger, and several clones together. Last season ended with the clone dance party, and this season began with Helena's dream baby shower. In the third season finale, History Yet To Be Written, several clones were together, seemingly out of danger for the moment, at Alison's victory dinner. … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Season Finales of Orphan Black, Game of Thrones, and Veep; Hannibal And Creating Monsters; Breaking Bad Cast News
After Deadly Shooting, Searching For A Silver Lining
CHARLESTON, South Carolina -- Amid sun, sweat and tears, hundreds gathered Sunday outside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, their dresses, shirts and parasols forming a vivid sea of oranges, pinks, greens and blues that occasionally swayed in unison when the sermon, broadcast on speakers outside the church, turned to song. It was… … [Read more...] about After Deadly Shooting, Searching For A Silver Lining
Liberal is no longer a dirty word: Did moderates contribute to that?
The Politico has a piece that focuses on what's making the buzz in political circles: a new poll suggesting that "liberal" is no longer a dirty word -- a word perceived as so dirty that liberals started calling themselves progressive (which they never would if the attack on the word "liberal" had not come about): Dmocrats have been running away from the “liberal” label for … [Read more...] about Liberal is no longer a dirty word: Did moderates contribute to that?
Honoring All Military Dads
It is difficult to write and post lengthy stories while traveling abroad. However, after reading Ron Beasley’s touching tribute to his “military Dad” who served in World War II, both in Europe and in the Pacific, and who passed away 12 years ago, I would be very remiss not to honor all our military Dads -- those who have gone before us and those who are still with us, many … [Read more...] about Honoring All Military Dads
Book Review: ‘Bela Lugosi In Person’ captures the stage, personal appearance career of screen ‘Dracula’
'Bela Lugosi In Person' captures the stage, personal appearance career of screen 'Dracula' Review by Doug Gibson Gary D. Rhodes has been writing books on Bela Lugosi for a generation but the last several years he's moved toward deconstructing the first film Dracula's career and life, doing some admirable research into various aspects of Lugosi's career. Several years ago, … [Read more...] about Book Review: ‘Bela Lugosi In Person’ captures the stage, personal appearance career of screen ‘Dracula’
For Father’s Day, Counting Our Blessings (Guest Voice)
For Father's Day, Counting Our Blessings By Tom Purcell I was swapping dad stories with a friend and laughing hard. Then my friend got quiet and said something that hit me hard. "God, I wish my father was still alive." I'm one of the luckiest sons on earth because my dad is healthy, and I pray he stays so for a good long while. But I wake in the middle of the night … [Read more...] about For Father’s Day, Counting Our Blessings (Guest Voice)
Father’s Day Musings
It's been over 12 years since my father died but I still think of him everyday. He was part of the "great generation" who fought the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific. He was awarded the Bronze Star India. He didn't die rich but did die honest and left the world a better place. He hated my long hair and beard but was very proud that I held over 30 patents. We … [Read more...] about Father’s Day Musings
On the Road – and the Canals – in the ‘Low Countries’
What does one do when traveling and there is so much to see but so little time to write (home) about it? Take and post pictures, of course. So here are a few -- the stories maybe later. The delightful northern Holland town of Giethoorn -- appropriately referred to as the “Venice of the North” -- where everyone and everything goes by boat …even the … [Read more...] about On the Road – and the Canals – in the ‘Low Countries’
Church killer spawned by a racist society (Guest Voice)
Church killer spawned by a racist society By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California (SDONA) –That scary-eyed, sick young man in Charleston who sat among God-fearing people in church for an hour and then began to murder them says he wanted to start a racial war. Really? That war is well under way and even that factoid hasn’t crossed your little Nazi brain. All you did … [Read more...] about Church killer spawned by a racist society (Guest Voice)
Here’s Why Repealing Obamacare Would be a Financial Disaster
This past Friday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation reviewed the main provisions of President Barack Obama’s healthcare plan, formally known as the Patient Proection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The CBO found repealing the ACA would increase the federal deficit by at least $137 billion, while leaving 19 millions of… … [Read more...] about Here’s Why Repealing Obamacare Would be a Financial Disaster