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It is interesting to me that I don't always know what is insensitive because I don't know the meaning of words at times.  Very often, friends have to clue me in on the meaning of words and phrases.  What I find astounding is that so much of the music my granddaughter listens to on the airwaves is so much worse than what I've heard discussed to date.
   
Some of the words of the rap music may have a beat to be desired - but the words are appalling - denigrating women and girls.  Denigrating police and public officials.  Totally disrespectful of the ordinary person/families.  It should not be a shock to anyone that this kind of talk is happening these days with greater frequency.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could start a movement of honesty, courtesy and respect for ALL others no matter how different?

This country has been a "dream country" for immigrants and settlers of old.  Freedom of speech - YES - but let there be a balance.  Let it be freedom of speech with respect towards our fellow man (generic man).......

[ed note: oriole provides a view from Westby (welcome back oriole).  Viroqua High School students had a very successful set of Diversity Day presentations today.  KickTime is working to get video of the event available on the site.]

Specter: Now wait a minute, wait a minute. The Constitution says you can't take it away except in the case of invasion or rebellion. Doesn't that mean you have the right of habeas corpus?

Gonzales: I meant by that comment that the Constitution doesn't say that every individual in the United States or every citizen has or is assured the right of habeas corpus. It doesn't say that. It simply says that the right of habeas corpus shall not be suspended.

Article I, Section 9:

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Here is the video and Leahy's spirited reply:

Earlier Leahy slammed Gonzalez about torture, via_C&L

And a very busy day is covered by C&L that includes firing 10 Senate approved US attorneys.

Nice letters to Leahy might be in order.

Recently a letter was published in the Dunn County News authored by Jane Redig and John Williams. In their letter discussing the so called marriage amendment they point out accurately that gay people are unable to marry in this state. Existing law prohibits such marriages.

They wrote, "So we have to ask, what is the purpose of this amendment?"

What a good question to ask. You see, once you begin to answer that question you find yourself asking, "If it is so important to ban something already banned, why was it not banned sooner?"

This referendum could have been held last year. Or, in April we could have voted on the issue. In fact, mid September found the polls open statewide for primary balloting. Why was my marriage of 23 years left unprotected for so long? Why was it placed on this Tuesday's ballot?

The vote is being held Tuesday to gather support for one political partys candidates.

No matter what you believe on the issue of marriage, most of us know it is morally wrong to pit one group of people against another for pure political gain.

Thank you
Joe Plouff

History, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.  Ambrose Bierce, Civil War veteran, author, social critic

The past is malleable and flexible, changing as our recollection interprets and re-explains what has happened.  Peter Berger

I had an odd occurrence in the garden this year.  A small section where I planted leftover pepper plants did not produce. This is odd because I am the self-proclaimed Pepper Queen.  Peppers abound on my plants.  I have gallons of frozen and dried red peppers and have given away bushels full for many years, including this one. But in this small section, though the plants matured and grew lush, few peppers appeared - too late to ripen.

Some of my friends regularly have this problem and I have chalked it up to soil that is too fertile. Why bother to set fruit and seed for the next generation while sucking up fertilizer like there's no tomorrow?  I am not sure if I heard that somewhere or just made it up.  It is a window onto my gardening method that I do not even care.  But it did make me pause long enough to reflect that our gardens are the sum of the soil they are planted in.

The world is against the death penalty, few countries continue to use it as a punishment, the ultimate punishment, and yet in Wisconsin we have the decision before us on this November's ballot.

World Day against the death penalty organization has an emphasis this year that it is a "Failure of Justice." Their press release is here and a Wisconsin organization has a website here that has many resources for making the case against making Wisconsin a death penalty state.