Oct

31

John Freshwater is a Liar

Posted on October 31, 2008 at 6:01 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | 5 Comments 


In a contract termination hearing, testimony indicates that John Freshwater, a teacher suspended for promoting his religion, apparently burned a second child with what he describes as an “X”, but others describe as a cross.

MOUNT VERNON— A second Mount Vernon student said his 8th grade science teacher burned a cross on his arm with an electrical device, but that he didn’t tell his parents or complain about the incident.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

In the past Freshwater has stated that it was not a cross, but an “X.” Students and teachers have reported that he kept a Bible on his desk, had his classroom adorned with Christian materials, gave students a handout critical of evolution, and said Catholics were not Christians. He frequently taught the concept of intelligent design even though he was told not to in 2003.

The problem is, his own friend, Dave Daubenmire, gave him up. Daubenmire, a former London High School football coach whose district was sued in 1999 by the ACLU because he required his players to pray before football games said this.

With the exception of the cross-burning episode … I believe John Freshwater is teaching the values of the parents in the Mount Vernon school district…

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

Freshwater’s own friend refers to his behavior as a cross-burning. A report commissioned by the school board said as much.

The report confirms that Freshwater burned crosses onto students’ arms, using an electrostatic device, in December. Freshwater told investigators the marks were Xs, not crosses. But all of the students interviewed in the investigation reported being branded with crosses. The investigation report includes a photo of one student’s arm with a long vertical line and a short horizontal line running through it.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

Here’s a link to the picture.  Whatever religion you believe in, whatever religious text you subscribe to, I’m certain lying is not part of its dogma. Our pluralistic society is what has allowed Chiritianity and other religions  to flourish. The separation of church and state was one of the central tenets of the The Constitution. Efforts by Freshwater and  Daubenmire will lead to the destruction of the “American Ideal.” If we continue upon the path that the right wing fundametalist evangelical Christians want us to pursue, we will end up like citizens of other monotheists. Poor, silent, and ripe for attack. With George W. Bush as president, the evidence is already comming in.

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Oct

23

Dispatch’s Expected Endorsement of McCain

Posted on October 23, 2008 at 11:39 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Today The Other Paper had an excellent piece on The Columbus Dispatch endorsing McCain for President. One point in the article I thought was important in showing the flawed rationale of the editorial staff. Here’s what the Dispatch said.

At a time when the nation faces serious problems … the president should have an extensive resume and long experience grappling with tough decisions.

But as The Other Paper rightly pointed out.

If the urgent choice is between tested and untested, as the paper suggests, you might wonder how the editorial board would justify endorsing the other half of the Republican ticket—first-term Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin.

The man is 72 and has had health problems. His decision to pick Palin appears to be a political one and not one of an experienced, tested leader. The Dispatch endorsement never mentioned Palin. It also never mentioned Biden. Who as The Other Paper points out.

In a true showing of evenhandedness, the editorial totally ignored Sen. Joe Biden and his extensive foreign policy experience…

The Other Paper points out that The Dispatch has not endorsed a Democrat since 1916. I know The Dispatch is a conservative newspaper. But if you truly believe there have been no worthy Democratic candidates since 1916, you do not have an editorial board, you have the Wolfe family’s rubber stamp.

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Oct

23

World Income Gap Is Widening

Posted on October 23, 2008 at 11:16 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International, National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


A new report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated that the income gap is growing worldwide, especially in America. Particularly interesting was this comment regarding the United States.

The United States is the country with the highest inequality level and poverty rate across the OECD… Since 2000, income inequality has increased rapidly, continuing a long-term trend that goes back to the 1970s.

It has been rising since the 1970’s so the Democrats deserve some blame. But it began to increase rapidly when Bush took office, which is more evidence that the trickle down theory does not work.

The sad thing is there were smart people who could see our economic meltdown coming. This from a 2007 New York Times article about a study of newly release IRS data from Professors Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty of the Paris School of Economics at Berkeley.

Income inequality grew significantly in 2005, with the top 1 percent of Americans — those with incomes that year of more than $348,000 — receiving their largest share of national income since 1928, analysis of newly released tax data shows.

Of course, we all know what happened in 1929. Our economic difficulties were predictable and the Bush administration chose to ignore it.

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Oct

10

Buckeye Steve Stivers is Red Faced

Posted on October 10, 2008 at 11:09 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


When Steve Stivers who is running for Ohio’s 15 Congressional District visited the offices of Ohio State’s The Lantern student newspaper he tried to use his affiliation as a graduate of the university as a plus.

When Steve Stivers visited Ohio State Tuesday night, he made sure to show school pride.

“I wore my red tie today,” he said to the Lantern editorial staff with a grin.

Sorry Steve. Your school colors are scarlet and gray. You should have worn a scarlet tie.

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