David Letterman's tribute to Johnny Carson, beginning with a monologue that turned out to be all jokes submitted by the man himself, was very touching and clearly from the heart. It also helped those like myself who did not watch Johnny too often to remember just what was so special about the man. And, the two clearly had a special connection. Dave surely deeply respected the man as he surely does Regis Philbin -- the man Letterman argues is the closest person on television today as important and well loved.
Chosing Death: Michael Ross is a serial killer that asked Connecticut to execute him, possibly leading to the first execution in the state in forty-five years, making it about the time Ross (who was convicted in the murders of eight) was born. Ross said last year that he wanted to stop all his appeals so that the pain of his victim's families will end. This will not occur -- the pain is unlikely ever to truly be extinguished, though some of the family members might feel better once he is executed. We should not really care about death wishes of convicted serial murderers. Letting Ross feel better does not warrant diminishing society by executing him.
[The principle holds but the execution has been delayed because of suspicion Ross is not competent to make the decision, basically because the stress of death row drove him crazy. The argument in part suggested that the stress, not free will per se, led him to want to die. I do not gainsay the conditions can drive someone crazy, but choosing execution can still be a rational choice given the alternatives. It still would not require the state to do the deed.]
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It's How You Teach Them: A study sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has determined that many high school students are ignorant of and/or not that concerned about the Bill of Rights. For instance, seventeen percent felt that people should not be allowed to express unpopular views (nearly all teachers and principals agreed they should be), while seventy-five percent thought flag burning was illegal.
Since school children generally do care about free expression when it applies to them, clearly on some level they care about such matters. Likewise, when they feel schools unfairly target them (aka 'due process'). The problem is showing them just what is at stake, why this stuff should concern them. To show them how exciting and interesting this stuff truly is.
Many liberals are convinced that the public at large really does not accept the current regime. The assurance in their voices is a bit scary because the public really is much more divided and conflicted than that.* The genius of the administration and its allies is that it is able to take certain concerns and worries of the nation, not always the better angels of their natures, and use it to gain power and influence. These concerns and worries are potentially dangerous. The role of the loyal opposition must be to show that a different way is possible. Politics is about selling; truth and right helps, but it is not enough.
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* An article today concerning the problems many science teachers have respecting evolution suggests the complexities we must face. Studies have shown that as much as over forty percent of the population do not believe that humans evolved from lower forms of life, though some accept animals did evolve in some fashion.
This does not mean they all oppose teaching evolution in schools or want creation science to be taught along side in science classes. Nonetheless, an underlining concern is present, one that can be seized by crafty campaigns that support such moves. Another way is possible, though a small group will remain deeply opposed, but we do not help ourselves that much by ignoring the breadth of such concerns.