Author: R J Adams

“At least 22 people have been killed and 21 more injured after a gunman went on the rampage at the campus of Virginia Tech university in Virginia, search US.” Quote from a BBC link HERE.

“Take my weapon? When you pry it from my cold, mind dead hands!” ~ Charlton Heston.

Filed under: Evil breeds evil

“US students attending sexual abstinence classes are no more likely to abstain from sex than those who do not, according to a new study…….”

So begins a BBC report into the effects of so-called “abstinence classes” instigated by religious organizations throughout the US and funded to the tune of $176 million per year by the US government.

Why?

Why is it so important that American teenagers should abstain from sex until they marry, given that half of US marriages end in divorce, and most likely another 25% persevere in circumstances detrimental to both partners and their offspring?

Right-wing America wants to keep its teens ignorant of sexual matters, fearing sex education could encourage them to experiment sexually, with the devastating result of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

In the 21st century it is hard to imagine anyone believing ignorance more acceptable than education. After all, wasn’t it ignorance that created the racist intolerance of the fifties? Isn’t ignorance the excuse for virtually every racist, sexist, hate crime committed in this country since time immemorial?

Education equals knowledge, and knowledge is truth – not to be confused with indoctrination, which is someone else’s truth. Therein lies the crux of this matter, and many others.

This has more to do with the parents than their offspring. It’s about their ego-based guilt and fear, rather than truly caring for the child’s welfare.

Let’s face it, sexually transmitted disease is a relative rarity in western nations and sex education is the finest way to teach prevention. Everything we do carries some risk, and that includes having sex. Teaching kids how best to minimize those risks is sensible. Attempting to enforce abstinence is not only ineffective, but stupid. The resultant ignorance means more possibility of pregnancy or STD’s, when the abstainer buckles under the weight of his/her natural desires.

And, let’s be honest, what we are discussing here is exactly that – natural desires. Probably the strongest natural desire we ever experience. Those who advocate “abstention” are telling their children to suppress the strongest emotions they will ever have, at a time when those desires are approaching their zenith.

That parents are prepared to force their offspring into such a guilt-ridden and confusing situation, says little for the love the parent holds for the child, but an awful lot about parental fears and insecurity.

Filed under: Mis-information

Looking for evidence of corruption in the White House? Look no further than George Bush’s bolstering of the head of the World Bank – old pal, Paul Wolfowitz – in his corrupt hour of need.

Has anyone noticed how Bush’s appointees continue to be supported by the US president, even when it is perfectly obvious they are either corrupt or incompetent?

Who will ever forget that infamous line from a devastated New Orleans – “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job…….” or the misguided support offered to Harriet Miers, or more recently, Alberto Gonzales?

Let’s face it, Bush couldn’t pick a working snowflake in a Colorado blizzard. “Jobs for the boys” is his criteria, and nothing else matters – least of all, qualifications and experience. Wolfowitz was simply part of the strategy.

Having ‘their man’ in charge of the World Bank would have been expeditious, given the expected easy victory in Iraq. Poor old, bankrupt, Iraq would have benefited from World Bank money to rebuild the infrastructure ready for the oil moguls to move in. Unfortunately, the insurgency – oops, sorry, “terrorists” – put paid to that. Of course, the ever optimistic Mister Bush is still hopeful his “surge” will solve the Administration’s problems and render Wolfowitz’s position useful once more.

It was remiss of Mister W to assist his girlfriend in a leg-up to a tax-free $193,000, particularly as he is hated and despised by all the Bank’s employees, who were champing at the bit for any opportunity to shop him to the Executive Board.

There is no doubt Wolfowitz is guilty of a corrupt act. Why else would he apologize so profusely?

Is it not reasonable for America to expect its highest official to condemn such actions? Why, then, is the President of the United States supporting the continued presence of this dishonest individual in a position of such authority?

Surely, this advocation of admitted corruption can hardly be described as the act of a moral president?

Filed under: Moral degeneration