AL teacher keeps job after using Obama assassination as math example
In Alabama,
a math teacher used the hypothetical assassination of President Obama as a geometry example. Coach Gregory Harrison of Corner High School, Jefferson County, Alabama, has forfeited 10 days of pay, will undergo "sensitivity training" and has apologized for "the inappropriate comments" and an "error in judgement."
Now, joking about Lincoln and Booth could be considered "inappropriate".
Definitely Kennedy and Oswald
or King and Ray. But joking about someone who isn't dead and who gets regular death threats? And is the goddamned president, is black, and you're in fucking Alabama?
That's "inappropriate"? Let's flip this around. Imagine if a student were given the task of writing a word problem for a geometry lesson; if that student had used ANYONE living, they would have been expelled. Gone. Fini. Imagine if an Alabama student had done that about President Bush (43) during his presidency? Wanna guess there'd be criminal charges for "terroristic threats" by the local cops?
You know I'm right. So how come this teacher gets a (hard) slap on the wrist? Is it because it was Obama and not Bush? Is it because he's a teacher, not a student? Is it because "Coach" wins games and is popular?
Let's ask one of his former students:
Shea Cameron, one of Harrison's former students and supporters on the Facebook page "Keep Coach Harrison," says she understands the need for consequences, but doesn't think Harrison recieved an "accurate punishment."
"I believe that the example that the student gave was if you were to shoot the presidents ear off and Coach Harrison said that would be the point of tangency," she said.
"I honestly don't believe a reprimand was necessary," Cameron said. "I believe that he had a lapse in judgement, absolutely, but it was not intended to harm anyone."
Teachers should set the example for students to follow. This goes beyond "inappropriate" or an "error in judgement." The man should have been fired. Obviously, the community at large thinks this kind of thing is ok and would do nothing to deter it.
So the next time some kid gets expelled or arrested for joking about something like this, bring up Coach Gregory Harrison of Corner High School, Jefferson County, Alabama. Ask why he gets to keep his job.
Labels: alabama, assassination, corner high school, education, gregory harrison, high school, jefferson county, obama, police, president, terrorism
GA Rep Mark Hatfield Introduces Citizenship Bill Because He Likes To Talk
On Wednesday, Georgia State Representative J. Mark Hatfield, (R - Waycross)
introduced a bill requiring that anyone running in a Presidential primary in the state of Georgia would have to prove they meet the citizenship requirement of the Constitution.
When did the good Mr. Hatfield introduce it? Eight calendar days before the end of the legislative session. With only three days of active session to act upon it. How can the good Mr. Hatfield expect to pass it? Well, he doesn't:
Hatfield acknowledged that there's not enough time remaining in this year's legislative session to bring up his bill for a vote, but he introduced it anyway "to start a conversation" in Georgia, with the idea of re-introducing the bill in time for consideration in next year's legislative session.
Hmm. He could have introduced it earlier this year. He could have introduced it last year. He could have introduced it the year before that, when one of the Republicans on the primary ballot was not born in the U.S. and his citizenship was in question. He didn't. He waited until absolutely nothing could be done except his bantering about it while he runs for re-election.
And he still isn't convinced that Obama is a natural born citizen and eligible to be president.
11Alive News asked Hatfield, "Do you consider yourself a 'birther?'"
"No. I wouldn't say that, at all. I'm simply a citizen who is concerned, to make sure that the Constitution is upheld and enforced."
"So you don't know one way or the other whether he is a citizen of the United States?"
"Well, of course not. I have not been given any sort of proof, one way or the other."
Uh huh. Obama's birth certificate has been presented along with birth announcements in newspapers. If say you don't know Obama's a natural born citizen, you're either a moron or a liar.
Georgia State Representative Mark Hatfield (R - Waycross) is either a moron or a liar.
Labels: 2010 georgia legislative session, birther, georgia, legislature, mark hatfield, obama, politics, racism
We're not discriminating, it's just gender bias!
From the
Associated Press:
In a letter to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the federal appeals court judge said she is convinced that the club does not practice "invidious discrimination" and that her membership in it did not violate judicial ethics.
Firstly, "invidious discrimination" is redundant since "invidious" means "discriminatory". I know this because I looked it up. If you're going to use a word I have to look up, at least use it like you aren't named Debra Jo and married to your cousin.
Secondly, YES, if you are a member of a club which prohibits membership based on gender, it IS discriminatory. Where the fuck did Obama find this person?
I want to support her because she's Obama's pick. Flat out, she is just as, if not more, qualified judicially than either Alito or Roberts. Compared to Harriett Myers, she's King Fucking Solomon. But I'm getting less and less impressed by her interpretation of the law. She is not a "liberal" judge. She's a former prosecutor; she follows the law to the letter, even when it contradicts justice; she has the (common) oppressive view of minors, that they are property and lacking in rights; she supports Roe v. Wade.
Yeah, that last one is the clincher. Nothing else matters as long as she favors allowing you to put a pair of scissors in your son's skull before he exits your body. She isn't liberal and she isn't progressive. She's in favor of abortion rights. That's her major selling point, quickly followed by her genitalia and her ethnic background--I don't know that the last two were a requirement for nomination, only that they're being used for promotional purposes.
I want a justice who recognizes that
the 4th, 5th and 6th amendments try to codify a basic tenet of the Framers: Do not EVER give the government the benefit of the doubt and the law must favor the citizen
in all things, especially when accused.
If the letter or the spirit of the law favors the citizen, that is which should be followed.
I want a justice who knows THAT.
Labels: constitution, justice, law, obama, politics, scotus, sotomayor
QOTD: Hangings
"I'd vote for giuliani before obama, because at least we'd have the option of hanging giuliani from a tree when he pulls off what he wants, where as with obama, we'll be hesitant..."
A comment to the Republican debate in New Hampshire (ABC)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8854768252124327801
Labels: giuliani, obama, qotd
