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Politics | November 18, 2009

Random thoughts, volume two

Patricia O'Malley's photo
Pittsburgh Public Policy Examiner

·       This business about President Obama bowing to Japanese Emperor Akihito is just another piece of the Republicans’ distraction campaign.  It’s the same thing as a handshake. If I enter a mosque, I will remove my shoes. I may cover my hair. I will not wear a burqa. We each have to decide where we will draw the line. America is the same place today as it was last week. Is America really so weak that the president’s simple gesture of courtesy can bring it all crashing down around us?

·       A basic knowledge of civics  should be required for high school graduation.

·       If we stop lying to our kids that marijuana is dangerous, then maybe they’ll believe that heroin really is dangerous.

·       Another Republican distraction is the claim that Obama can’t be commander-in-chief because he never served in the military. So if we follow that “logic”, then every president must be a diplomat, financier, economist, supreme court justice, attorney, rancher, environmentalist, engineer, farmer, corporate executive, small business owner, labor leader, IRS agent, historian, securities dealer, prison inmate, librarian, social worker, geologist, artist, mail carrier, real estate developer, airline pilot, doctor, commercial fisherman, bus driver, meteorologist, oil wildcatter, nuclear physicist, teacher, spy, police officer, astronaut, and legislator. She/he also has to look good in a suit, dance well, and have some endearing quality. Only Barbie could pull that off.  This argument has always been stupid. That's what the cabinet,  joint chiefs of staff,  and executive office of the president are for.

·       Some people are too stupid to be walking around loose.

·       If you’re so opposed to government-run health care, then why aren’t you leading a campaign to abolish medicare, military, and VA  care? Go ahead. I dare you.
 
·       I have always wanted to visit France, but I won’t as long as the French government approves of child rape. Polanski belongs in prison.
 
·       People throughout the US are taking this recession more seriously than the 80s because it affects white collar workers.
 
·       Believe me, I know how hard the 80s recession was, but Pittsburgh LOOKS better since the mills closed. As unemployment rose, levels of air and water pollution fell. I wish we could get Mayor Ravenstahl to do his job and enforce the building codes to clean up the rest of the place.
 
·       Backstage at the G-20  was quite a scene. Reporters were interviewing each other. I got into some great conversations with reporters from Great Britain, Spain, France, China, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, and Austria. I gave history and geography lessons of the city. I also had conversations with police/military officers from the city, state, Army and AF reserve, customs, border patrol, secret service, TSA, Philadelphia, Reading. I especially enjoyed talking to Philip McGrath, editor of FoxTales, the Fox Chapel Area High School newspaper. Many local tourists came to town just to see the situation. And yes, I had to explain what the Strip District is.
 
·       The first tentative reports of a vaccine for HIV/AIDS are heartening and heartbreaking. My brother died of AIDS in 1993.
 
·       Once again, if you want peace, work for justice.
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Pittsburgh Public Policy Examiner

Pat O'Malley has been a social service provider and public policy advocate since 1982. She is now a freelance writer and consultant for nonprofit...

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