An 8th grade student was suspended and later arrested for wearing a T-shirt with an NRA logo, a picture of a hunting rifle, and stating “PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS” in bold letters. He now faces charges of obstruction and disturbing the education process. This is despite the school dress policy containing no explicit prohibitions on having images of guns on clothing. The school does have a rule against clothes that “display violence.” Continue reading “Do Juveniles have Rights?”
Author: chrismtwo
Every day I try to learn and experience new things. The infinite wonder of the universe provides endless opportunity for adventures. My favorite thing is to enjoy these adventures with friends, and to share my stories with others.
At the very core, all people are storytellers. Whether it is a full length motion picture or a chat over a cup of coffee, most of what makes up the human experience is the communication of ideas. For this reason, I am always looking for opportunities to write. I would like to share what I've seen with as many people as possible.
Jason Collins is Gay. So What?
Jason Collins became the first active, male, U.S. athlete playing a major, professional, team-sport to come out as being homosexual this week. Those qualifying adjectives deserve a little more explanation. There have already been openly homosexual athletes who met each single qualification, but only Collins satisfies all five at once. Continue reading “Jason Collins is Gay. So What?”
Is Affirmative Action on the Way Out?
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating on a case which will have vast implications for years to come, Fisher v. the University of Texas at Austin. The case involves a white woman who is alleging that the University’s acceptance process discriminated against her based on her race, in violation of the 14th Amendment, by giving preferential treatment to minority races. Continue reading “Is Affirmative Action on the Way Out?”
Negotiating with Iran
New Secretary of State John Kerry is offering the Iranian government the opportunity to hold bilateral talks directly with Washington. This is a strong departure from former multi-nation talks that usually involved the Permanent U.N. Security Council Members plus Germany (P5+1). At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a statement this week indicating that Iran continues to violate the terms of existing U.N. Security Resolutions in their attempts at enriching uranium to the point that it may be used for military purposes. Continue reading “Negotiating with Iran”
Gang of Eight Immigration Reform Bill Seeks Bipartisan Solution
The bill introduced by the bipartisan Gang of Eight, called the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, has been met with mixed and muted responses in the shadow of the Boston Marathon Bombing. Some senators, including immigration reform supporter Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), have urged the Senate to tap the breaks and re-evaluate immigration channels before moving forward with the bill. In any case, the many provisions of the 844 page law will be debated during the upcoming weeks. Continue reading “Gang of Eight Immigration Reform Bill Seeks Bipartisan Solution”
Perceptions of Homosexuality
In May, the Boy Scouts will decide whether to lift their outright ban on openly homosexual scouts and troop leaders. Certainly, as the Supreme Court ruled in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, this decision is ultimately up to the Scouts. We should ask ourselves, however, if barring people from participation in an organization is “morally straight”. Continue reading “Perceptions of Homosexuality”
Homosexuality in Religion
During an interview on a plane ride from Brazil, Pope Francis was discussing a few issues with reporters. He was being asked about an alleged “gay lobby” in the Vatican, rumors of which have been buzzing around Italy. Reports range from a group of gay priests who are friends and meet for lunch, to a lobby that is attempting to influence Vatican policy. The Pope was trying to distinguish between being gay, and being a lobby, indicated that the latter would be a real problem. Then he said something interesting. Continue reading “Homosexuality in Religion”
Hoarding
An estimated 5 to 14 million people in the U.S. are compulsive hoarders, over double the number of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (3.3 million). Yet compulsive hoarding is not a diagnosable mental disorder… yet. This May, Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome (or Hoarding Disorder) will be included in the new DSM-V. Continue reading “Hoarding”
Hiring a Contractor
How exactly do you find a contractor to remodel your home without getting ripped off? That is the million dollar question, literally. Countless people across the nation are being left with leaky ceilings, moldy walls, and a huge bill to boot. Taking a few steps before signing the contract can prevent huge problems down the road and land you a contractor worth their salt… and your money. Continue reading “Hiring a Contractor”
Gut Check
It is easy to get caught in the undertow of life. You are born onto a path which takes you through school, into work, into marriage, children, and retirement. There are expectations. Get up, eat breakfast, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, and go to bed. The routine lulls you to sleep, and before you know it, you can be living a nightmare. You ask “how did I get here?” when you should be asking “where do I want to go next?” Continue reading “Gut Check”
Ronin Pen 