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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Feds Cut Pork!

by John Stevenson

Well that sounds encouraging.  Oh, wait a sec.  It’s not the wasteful spending kind of pork---it’s the kind of pork we eat.

A Change of Heart

by John Stevenson

I’m a self-confessed climate change denier.  I’ve written on the subject several times in the local newspaper.
  
But a November 2 article in the Washington Post has caused me to reassess.  The article was titled “Arctic Ocean Getting Warm---Seals Vanish and Icebergs Melt.”  It’s not too long, so I quote it here:

Friday, March 25, 2016

Thank Hank

by Chris James
(published August 2015)

A fellow undergraduate once asked if I could name the one individual who was most influential in bringing mankind to the state that it found itself in modern times. Easy: The first Australopithecine to walk upright. He contemptuously disqualified my answer on the grounds that he meant in the modern era, which he defined as beginning with the 14th Century Italian Renaissance. Weirdly, in 2015, this question has returned to haunt me; equally weirdly, I eureka-ed the answer: Henry VIII, King of England (1509-1547). Here's why.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Bias-Free Language

by John Stevenson

When my son was at Cal in the 1980s, there was a student in his living group who was in a wheelchair.  I made the mistake of referring to him as “crippled.”  My son told me that I should not say that.  It was deemed offensive, and I should use the term “handicapped.”  I had meant no offense, but corrected my archaic and apparently insensitive language so as not to embarrass anyone.  Little did I, or my son, or, for that matter, the wheelchair-bound student know that “handicapped” itself would soon be deemed offensive.  It would be replaced by “disabled,” and then by “differently-abled,” and then by “physically-challenged,“ and then by “person who is wheelchair mobile.”   Are you following this?

Gun-related Murders

by John Stevenson
(published June 2013)

Are gun-related murders in the U.S increasing or decreasing?  Conventional wisdom says gun violence is on the rise, right?

A May 2013 Department of Justice (DOJ) report answers the question.  The report covers the period 1993 through 2011, and it’s results are surprising.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Leadership Deficit Disorder

by John Stevenson

During our lifetime, we have seen several presidents called upon by circumstances to rally Americans and others to a dangerous, even existential, challenge.  Here are some examples of presidential leadership, including the iconic and historic rallying cries.

On December 8, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress:  “With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.”

If You See Something….

by John Stevenson
(published December 2015)

In the wake of the recent jihadi terrorist attacks, the government tells us to go about our business but also reminds us to be vigilant: “If you see something, say something.”

In fact, ordinary citizens’ vigilance has helped thwart terrorist attacks.  The shoe bomber, the underpants bomber, the Times Square bomber come quickly to mind.

Remember the “flying Imams”?  In 2006, the six men boarded a US Airways flight, loudly prayed in Arabic, left their assigned seats, took seats near the front, rear, and window exit rows, ordered seat-belt extenders they didn’t need, criticized President Bush and the Iraq War, talked about al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.  They generally scared the heck out of the passengers and crew, and were removed from the plane before takeoff.

Then came the inevitable lawsuit, naming US Airways, the airport authority, and even the passengers who had reported the suspicious behavior.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Refujihad

by John Stevenson
(published November 2015)

Remember the heart-wrenching picture of a Turkish policeman carrying the body of a Syrian toddler who had drowned in the surf?  The child had been on a boat overloaded with refugees fleeing from Syria to Europe.  The photograph became emblematic of the refugee crisis: families on the run from the murderous Assad regime.  But is that an accurate representation of the tide of refugees?

Surely, there are families---lots of them---amongst the horde of humanity sweeping into Europe.  And they are often the focus of the news photos and videos.  But it struck me, as I saw more and more of the coverage, that a disproportionate number of the refugees were men.  Men who appeared to be of military age.

Refujihad---revisited

by John Stevenson

My Nov. 25, 2015 column “Refujihad” pointed out that most of the Muslim asylum seekers flooding into Europe are men, with very few women and children.  It also offered United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees statistics supporting that observation.  Further, it pointed to video evidence that the male refugees are overwhelmingly of military age, although UNHCR does not furnish an age breakdown.

The column’s conclusion was that our administration should at least reconsider its plans to admit Middle-Eastern refugees.  Better, that it should admit only the most vulnerable to persecution.  “Accept those least problematic and most deserving of asylum---Christians, Muslim women and kids.  Turn away those least deserving---military-age Muslim males.”

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Parable of the Triumph of Origin over Performance

by Chris James
(published October 2015)

I have an almost genetic addiction to soccer. Thus, as a faithful follower of the U.S. women's soccer team for many years, their towering performance in winning this year's World Cup went immediately to the top of my "best of" list. Apparently, there were some who did not share my adoration.

The newspaper featured the U.S. women's soccer team's success in their Sports section. Surprisingly, analysis of the team's accomplishments was written by a sports columnist who wouldn't know a soccer ball from a Nerf ball. The explanation for this odd journalistic choice quickly became apparent. After a few obligatory faint praises, Mr. How-Do-You-Spell-Soccer raised his true colors. Through his brilliant and meticulous investigative reporting, he had discovered that, among the 23 team members, only one "ethnic" was represented.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Prison Chaser

by John Stevenson
(published May 2015)

Under cover of describing my luncheon with General William Westmoreland, my April 15 column introduced “prison chaser” detail.

For those whose misfortunes extend to having missed the earlier column, prison chasers supplemented the Military Police who ran Fort Campbell’s stockade.  Prison chasers guarded military inmates who were temporarily outside the stockade---usually for a work detail or for a medical or dental appointment.

Prison chaser was a dreaded detail.  Detailees were armed with shotguns or .45 caliber pistols---of course with live ammunition.

Two-Star Lunch

by John Stevenson
(published April 2015)

In the Army of the 1950s (and maybe today, for all I know) certain work is done by detailees rather than as permanent assignments.  Typical among these are mess duty (kp) and various forms of guard duty.  Like most soldiers who never advanced beyond PFC, I frequently drew such details during my almost-three-years at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

During the summer of 1958, our “full bird” Battalion Commander decided to hold a Battalion picnic, perhaps in honor of the Fourth of July---but I’m not sure.  He invited the Post and Division Commander, General William Westmoreland, and Mrs. Westmoreland.  I happened to draw kp duty that day.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Crusaders and Indians

by John Stevenson

In 1969, Dartmouth College led off the race to rename sports teams.  The school changed its mascot from Indians to Big Green.   Ironically, Dartmouth was originally founded to educate American Indians.

Soon after, Stanford University abandoned its Indians, threw Chief Lightfoot under the bus and, after much debate, became a color.  There followed an avalanche of lemming colleges racing to be next to shed their Indian identities.

Climate Change

by John Stevenson
(published October 2013)

A Newsweek article began: “There are ominous signs that the Earth’s weather patterns have begun to change dramatically…”  It continued: “The evidence…has now begun to accumulate so massively that meteorologists are hard-pressed to keep up with it…” And then:  “…in the most devastating outbreak of tornadoes ever recorded, 148 twisters killed more than 300 people and caused half a billion dollars’ worth of damage in 13 U.S. states.”

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

A Gaga-Gag Order Would Have Been Nice

by Chris James

Being soccer-mad, I am fairly indifferent to American football, but my wife is a bit of a fan. Thus, in the interests of domestic tranquility, I find myself TV-ed by Super Bowl 50 and, pre-game, I am sweatily apprehensive: Lady Gaga is to deliver the National Anthem! The basis of my concern is that, in recent years, many popular divas have been let loose to lustily disembowel the Star Spangled Banner at many a major event.

A New World's Record

by John Stevenson

Tiny Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, is a private predominantly white liberal arts school.  Last December, activist students attending a forum on campus equality called for changes to address long-standing “institutional injustices.”  Among these demands: renaming of Lynch Memorial Hall.  The name “Lynch,” it seems, conjured up the practice of lynching, and thus it had overtones of racial injustice.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

It's Just a Camel

by John Stevenson
(published June 2014)

Just when you think you’ve heard the last word in politically correct silliness, along comes something like this.

The Residence Hall Association at Minnesota’s St. Thomas University planned an event to celebrate the conclusion of final exams.  Central to that event would be the appearance on campus of a real live camel.

The inspiration for the use of the camel was the GEICO TV ad, in which a camel walks through an office asking what day it is.  When one of the office workers finally admits that “it’s hump day,” the camel whoops with delight.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Gun Free Zone

by John Stevenson
(published July 2014)

Sixteen year old Luke Woodham felt like an outcast at Pearl High School, and he apparently also had a less-than-perfect relationship with his mother.  On October 1, 1997, as his mother was getting ready to go out on her morning jog, Woodham killed her by slitting her throat and then bludgeoning her for good measure.

Taking a deer rifle and with his pockets full of ammunition, Woodham then drove Mom’s car to the school.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

An Akademik Lesson

by John Stevenson
(published January 2014)

It was certainly a Happy New Year for the 52 scientists and tourists rescued on January 2, 2015 from the Russian ship Akademik Shokalskiy.  Their ship had gotten stuck amid Antarctic sea ice on Christmas eve.

I don’t know what possessed the tourists to take a pleasure cruise to the Antarctic aboard the Russian ship.  But the scientists were there studying---are you ready for this?---global warming.

Of Beer and Wedding Cake

by John Stevenson

It is hard to imagine a more devout and dedicated person than one willing to give his life for his religion.  Brahim Abdelsam was one of the November 13 Paris suicide bombers.  Despite his unquestionable commitment to Islam, he apparently felt no scruple against selling alcohol.  When Abdelsam wasn’t busy being a suicide bomber, his day job was saloon keeper.  Abdelsam operated Le Beguines, a bar in Brussels.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Faux Indignation

by John Stevenson

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to ensure a hearing for President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.  His reasoning is that we are in a presidential election year, and the new president---whether Republican or Democrat---should be the one to nominate Scalia’s replacement.

Leading Democrats have been quick to criticize Republican “obstructionism.”

The Attorney General's Greatest Fear

by John Stevenson

In his December 6 Oval Office address, to update us on the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), President Obama admonished us against discrimination against American Muslims.  He said we should not “push them away through suspicion and hate” and we should reject proposals that they “should somehow be treated differently.”