Volume I No. 67
 04-12-03
 Thank God No One Was Listening
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2003

 This was the week that the malevolent monster Saddam Hussein,
 was removed from power. Or more acccurately, he and the rest of
 his evil cadre silently slinked away. Vanishing without a trace. 
 Never mind, that Herr Hussein might actually have been vaporized 
 in a surprise bombing by the coalition forces. -- Via an Air Force
 B1.

 Back home in the States, two politicians from the right side of 
 the aisle should give thanks that the Iraq War still dominates 
 the news coverage. Because these two were guilty of politically 
 obtuse statements that at any other time would have been endlessly 
 debated on the talk shows and cause for great controversy.

 Secretary of Education Roderick R. Paige was quoted in an article
 in the Baptist Press. "I would prefer to have a child in a school 
 that has a strong appreciation for the values of the Christian 
 community, where a child is taught to have a strong faith."

 Interesting.

 But if that isn't enough to make your hair stand-on-end in fear
 of an educator who should possess the same cultural "understanding" 
 of all American school children. Regardless of their background.

 Paige was further quoted. "...Christian schools and Christian 
 universities are growing as a result of a strong value system...
 That's not the case in a public school, where there are so many 
 different kids with different kinds of values."

 In fairness, it must be stated that Secretary Paige is a very religious
 man. In fact, a church deacon. But, once again a prominent member 
 of the Bush administration apparently holds the view that his
 personal religious beliefs are somehow more precious and correct
 than the beliefs of many, many, individuals in the U.S. who may 
 not be Christian, or hold dear the same moral and religious values 
 as Christians.

 What else is the assumption to be drawn from the above quotes?

 Paige's remarks are incredibly insensitive. And the defense - put
 forth by his office - is that his words were taken out of context.

 Where hasn't one heard that excuse before?

 Paige is entitled to hold whatever religious or political beliefs 
 he cares to. But to make such a statement while he serves the
 nation in the capacity of Secretary of Education was foolish. 

 It may come as a surprise to Secretary Paige, but there do exist 
 communities in the United States where Christianity is not the 
 majority faith. What are these citizens to make of such indelicate 
 comments by the Bush administration's man on-the-point for 
 education? Are they to passively accept that the individual 
 sitting in such an important government office, believes that
 their values are somehow less than?

 Secretary Paige. Thank Saddam Hussein for being the predictable 
 self-obsessed dictator and and not having the good sense to go 
 into exile. He certainly bought you an out on this one.

 Meanwhile, over in the House of Representatives. In the midst
 of a debate involving a measure concerning guns, Republican Rep. 
 Barbara Cubin of Wyoming had the bad sense to associate the 
 entire African-American community with chronic drug abusers.

 Her quote.

 "My sons...are blond-haired and blue-eyed. One admendment
 today said we could not sell guns to anybody under drug treatment.
 So does that mean if you go into a black community, you cannot
 sell a gun to any black person..."

 Ooops!

 No. No. No. Representative Cubin. It is very incorrect to use racial
 association this way. Especially when you are not of the race you 
 are referencing. -- Bad mistake. Don't even go there. It makes 
 people think that you are the insensitive sort. -- Or worse.

 Just ask Trent Lott what effect these kind of "innocent" slips 
 of the tongue can have on your political career.

 To further the magnitude of her mistake, Representative Cubin
 argued not to have here remarks striken from the record. { and
 they were not } Fellow Republicans predictably buried their 
 heads in the sand, and refused to accept that the Congresswoman's 
 words were indeed inappropriate, regardless if any offense to 
 African-Americans was actually intended.

 My, my, my.

 Has every politician in DC taken leave of their senses? The Iraq 
 War needs to be done with ASAP. The country really needs
 to get back to focusing on domestic issues. -- And to take note
 of the off the wall opinions being expressed by people in power.
 When they think no one is paying attention.

 But, maybe somewhere right now, two politicos are breathing 
 just a little bit easier.

 Saddam Hussein was good for something afterall.
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2003

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