^.^
The following is a letter to the editors at the Branding Iron, the campus nwespaper at the University of Wyoming. My comments on the situation follow...
---
^.^
Ms. Humphrey has done it again.
If the BI wanted to prove that it is in the camp of the far Left,
Ms. Humphrey has provided ample proof. Her latest waste of
ink goes on about diversity and the beliefs of other groups
of people, and how the Kinsey Sicks production represents
the University of Wyoming because there are people whose
sexual tendencies differ from the norm.
But what about the "norm" for Wyoming? Unlike what
Hollywood and the Wyoming Tourism Board might have
you think, Brokeback Mountain does not even come close
to representing the culture of Wyoming, and the culture
of this state is one of the reasons students come to
Laramie for higher education.
What is wrong with presenting Conservative, or even
simply mainstream culture at UW, Ms. Humphrey?
Why must everything that is anti-American, anti-
Christian, anti-White, and anti-male be extolled
praised, and pushed by the BI and Ms. Humphrey
in particular? What about whose who happen to BE
Christian, white, male, or those who happen to support
our President, and his Iraq policies? Why does the BI
neglect this segment of our culture?
John Brengman
UW alumni
2004 graduate, History BA
---
Now, one thing I forgot to put in this letter is that I don't have any problem with diversity. It is a valuable lesson that must be learned before young people are confronted by it in the "real world".
However, to say that a trans-gendered performance such as Kinsey Sicks represents the University of Wyoming, or this state in general not only ignores the true culture of the state of Wyoming, but it offends a LOT of people, both on and off the campus. If Ms. Humphrey was talking about the culture of San Francisco, or Berkeley, or Columbia University, perhaps she would be correct in saying that a trans-gendered performance where one man gropes the breasts of another man (dressed up as a woman) represents the mainstream of thought and culture.
Such a thing is far from the mainstream of thought and culture in Wyoming. Recent history in this very city is an example of just how that is not the case, and if the man being groped in the picture presented on the front page of the Branding Iron on October 10th were a woman, I doubt Ms. Humphrey would have written such a glowing commentary. Just as at the same time, Ms. Humphrey feels she can be as anti-Christian, and anti-Bush as she pleases, but she doesn't say a damned thing about the values that most Americans hold dear. She has proven herself to be a real Liberalista. Once again, if the picture on the front page of the BI had been of a man groping a woman, I doubt Ms. Humphrey would have praised it as trans-gendered expression within the context of "art".
But why not? If the extreme homosexual "culture" is to be praised, why not write an editorial supporting the groping of women? My letter to the BI was meant to support the REAL mainstream in society, but this article is meant to suggest not only that, but that the other extreme is also possible. As George Carlin once said, "I think rape is hilarious."
My point is that while we have the right of freedom of speech, and that freedom is expressed at the risk of offending others, there are two lines that have to be watched. The BI crossed the first line when Ms. Humphrey extolled the virtues of the gay lifestyle...once again showing her Liberalista slant. The BI crossed the second line by publishing a photo of an act that would be grounds for disciplinary measures from the university, and criminal charges from the police had it not been within the context of "art".
Ms. Humphrey needs to wake up and realize that she's not in New York City or San Francisco.
---
John B.
Blogger Guy
Friday, October 13, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Oh For the Good Old (Cold War) Days
^.^
Time for a short history lesson, or two...
Back in the 1960s, President Kennedy was told that there were nuclear missiles located in Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Kennedy reacted by establishing a blockade around Cuba, challenging any Soviet ships that came close. The globe came the closest it has ever came to a nuclear war, but the Soviets blinked and pulled the nuclear weapons out of Cuba. The US later pulled some missiles out of Turkey.
In the 1980s, President Reagan met in Iceland with Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. The positions of the two men were as different as their ideologies. Mr. Gorbachev told President Reagan that the Soviet Union would dismantle a number of nukes if the United States would dismantle the same number of weapons. Mr. Reagan basically replied: "No, YOU dismantle your nukes, we're going to build 'Star Wars'."
The press of course, thought that Mr. Reagan was ruining the summit, and Mr. George Schultz said at the time that it was one of Mr. Reagan's finest moments. Mr. Schultz of course was Mr. Reagan's Secretary of State.
I give you these glimpses into history as a way to compare the way these issues were handled as opposed to the way the rhetoric from North Korea and its insane sycophant leader are dealt with.
For instance, the NoKo nutjob running the country says that he's developing nuclear weapons to defend his country from an attack from the United States, but when the United States says that they are strengthening our missile defenses to respond to such a threat, the NoKos call the move a provocation.
Most recently, I have been listening to the rhetoric coming from the NoKo leaders. Remember now, this is a man who loves James Bond movies, French wine, and porbography. He has said that any sanctions levelled against North Korea will be considered an act of war.
What the HELL does he think nuclear tests are? A box of chocolate and a dozen roses?
The Liberalistas in this country are now whining that we should talk in bi-lateral talks with North Korea, while the Bush administration says that the multi-lateral talks are designed to put some pressure on the NoKos...the logic goes that if the NoKos violate an agreement with the 6-party talks, the NoKos will be ticking off five countries, not just simply the United States.
The Bush administration has the right idea. With the insanity that exists at the top of the leadership of North Korea, to agree to face-to-face, two-party talks would be the height of stupidity.
---
John B.
Blogger Guy
Time for a short history lesson, or two...
Back in the 1960s, President Kennedy was told that there were nuclear missiles located in Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Kennedy reacted by establishing a blockade around Cuba, challenging any Soviet ships that came close. The globe came the closest it has ever came to a nuclear war, but the Soviets blinked and pulled the nuclear weapons out of Cuba. The US later pulled some missiles out of Turkey.
In the 1980s, President Reagan met in Iceland with Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. The positions of the two men were as different as their ideologies. Mr. Gorbachev told President Reagan that the Soviet Union would dismantle a number of nukes if the United States would dismantle the same number of weapons. Mr. Reagan basically replied: "No, YOU dismantle your nukes, we're going to build 'Star Wars'."
The press of course, thought that Mr. Reagan was ruining the summit, and Mr. George Schultz said at the time that it was one of Mr. Reagan's finest moments. Mr. Schultz of course was Mr. Reagan's Secretary of State.
I give you these glimpses into history as a way to compare the way these issues were handled as opposed to the way the rhetoric from North Korea and its insane sycophant leader are dealt with.
For instance, the NoKo nutjob running the country says that he's developing nuclear weapons to defend his country from an attack from the United States, but when the United States says that they are strengthening our missile defenses to respond to such a threat, the NoKos call the move a provocation.
Most recently, I have been listening to the rhetoric coming from the NoKo leaders. Remember now, this is a man who loves James Bond movies, French wine, and porbography. He has said that any sanctions levelled against North Korea will be considered an act of war.
What the HELL does he think nuclear tests are? A box of chocolate and a dozen roses?
The Liberalistas in this country are now whining that we should talk in bi-lateral talks with North Korea, while the Bush administration says that the multi-lateral talks are designed to put some pressure on the NoKos...the logic goes that if the NoKos violate an agreement with the 6-party talks, the NoKos will be ticking off five countries, not just simply the United States.
The Bush administration has the right idea. With the insanity that exists at the top of the leadership of North Korea, to agree to face-to-face, two-party talks would be the height of stupidity.
---
John B.
Blogger Guy
Thursday, October 05, 2006
When You Have Half the Story...
^.^
Quite a number of recent events have proven to be very disturbing. As if the murder of six Amish schoolgirls in Lancaster County, PA was not enough, the fanatic nuts at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS were about to protest at the funerals of these schoolgirls, and were only stopped when FOX News' Mike Gallagher gave them an hour of air time on his show to spout their message.
Also recently, an anti-abortion group protested at the University of Wyoming, the protest was complete with pictures of unborn fetuses and such. This came a week after ANOTHER group of radical religious protestors showed up on campus.
Before I get into the Westboro situation, I need to address these groups that come onto campus.
In fact, I have noticed two different reactions from college campuses when confronted by messages or groups they don't like. On the one hand, you have places like Columbia University, whose students staged a violent interruption of a set of speeches being given by the Minutemen, the group stationing itself along our southern border to assist the US Border Patrol. The scene turned into full-blown chaos in something I'd expect out of the Muslim world.
The other side of the coin is displayed in places like the University of Wyoming. Since I live here in Laramie, where the univsersity is located, I get to watch the reaction of the students here to pretty much anything that happens. The reaction of the UW students to the radical groups that showed up here has been "Why do these people have to inflict themselves on us?" This is problematic only in that the UW students don't understand that although the message these people present is reprehensible, they have a First Amendment right to be on campus...something that the students at Columbia University seem to have forgotten.
Now to the Westboro nuts...
The message that these "Christians" put out is that God hates sin, God hates the sinner, and sinners are going to Hell. They think that just about everyone outside of their church fall into the category of the unwashed sinners, so we're all doomed to eternal torment.
The thing is that while elements of their message are correct, the delivery sucks. These idiots stand outside funerals for US military men, they threatened to do the same in the case of the Amish schoolgirls, and they routinely show up here in Laramie every October to celebrate the death of Matt Sheppard.
The Westboro nuts are good at hammering home the God is vengeful message, but they fail to complete the other half of the story. Yes, God is a wrathful God, and he hates the Sin that all of us have because of Adam, and therefore, he hates the unrepentant sinner. However, through the grace of God, and by the sacrifice of his Son, we have a way to be redeemed.
The Westboro church members, most of which belong to ONE family don't seem to understand this fundamental part of the Christian faith. Instead, it seems as though only members of the Westboro church are redeemed...Christianity to them is a rather exclusive group...namely themselves.
There is also the idea that men should not be judging other men in matters such as this. And thankfully we aren't given that power. If we were, Hitler wouldn't have had to used the Nazis as the vehicle for his horrid crimes.
He could have entered the Church and risen to a position of power.
---
John B.
Blogger Guy
Quite a number of recent events have proven to be very disturbing. As if the murder of six Amish schoolgirls in Lancaster County, PA was not enough, the fanatic nuts at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS were about to protest at the funerals of these schoolgirls, and were only stopped when FOX News' Mike Gallagher gave them an hour of air time on his show to spout their message.
Also recently, an anti-abortion group protested at the University of Wyoming, the protest was complete with pictures of unborn fetuses and such. This came a week after ANOTHER group of radical religious protestors showed up on campus.
Before I get into the Westboro situation, I need to address these groups that come onto campus.
In fact, I have noticed two different reactions from college campuses when confronted by messages or groups they don't like. On the one hand, you have places like Columbia University, whose students staged a violent interruption of a set of speeches being given by the Minutemen, the group stationing itself along our southern border to assist the US Border Patrol. The scene turned into full-blown chaos in something I'd expect out of the Muslim world.
The other side of the coin is displayed in places like the University of Wyoming. Since I live here in Laramie, where the univsersity is located, I get to watch the reaction of the students here to pretty much anything that happens. The reaction of the UW students to the radical groups that showed up here has been "Why do these people have to inflict themselves on us?" This is problematic only in that the UW students don't understand that although the message these people present is reprehensible, they have a First Amendment right to be on campus...something that the students at Columbia University seem to have forgotten.
Now to the Westboro nuts...
The message that these "Christians" put out is that God hates sin, God hates the sinner, and sinners are going to Hell. They think that just about everyone outside of their church fall into the category of the unwashed sinners, so we're all doomed to eternal torment.
The thing is that while elements of their message are correct, the delivery sucks. These idiots stand outside funerals for US military men, they threatened to do the same in the case of the Amish schoolgirls, and they routinely show up here in Laramie every October to celebrate the death of Matt Sheppard.
The Westboro nuts are good at hammering home the God is vengeful message, but they fail to complete the other half of the story. Yes, God is a wrathful God, and he hates the Sin that all of us have because of Adam, and therefore, he hates the unrepentant sinner. However, through the grace of God, and by the sacrifice of his Son, we have a way to be redeemed.
The Westboro church members, most of which belong to ONE family don't seem to understand this fundamental part of the Christian faith. Instead, it seems as though only members of the Westboro church are redeemed...Christianity to them is a rather exclusive group...namely themselves.
There is also the idea that men should not be judging other men in matters such as this. And thankfully we aren't given that power. If we were, Hitler wouldn't have had to used the Nazis as the vehicle for his horrid crimes.
He could have entered the Church and risen to a position of power.
---
John B.
Blogger Guy
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