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Daily Archives: March 3, 2006
Why is anti-Bush teacher a national news story?
March 3, 20061:37 p.m.
One of our bloggers wanted a thread started on the Denver high school teacher (in photo) who made comments in his social studies class critical of capitalism, the U.S. invasion of Iraq and President Bush, which a student taped (click here for link to audio). About 150 high school students walked out of class Thursday in protest of the teacher being placed on administrative leave while the school district investigates. Yes, the teacher was over the top and inappropriate at times, and should have offered and encouraged competing opinions, as the district policy states. But is this really a national news story? One teacher in one high school in one state?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Kansas on sidelines in a culture war debate?
March 3, 200612:09 a.m.
It’s probably inevitable that the “morning-after pill” debates now under way in many state legislatures will reach Kansas, which is usually fertile ground for such social controversies. But so far, lawmakers seem preoccupied with more pressing issues.
Many states, prompted by pharmacists’ refusal on moral grounds to fill emergency contraceptive requests, are considering bills that would require pharmacists to fill prescriptions. Some states are looking at restricting access through parental notification or other measures.
Kansas law is vague on a pharmacist’s authority to withhold drugs, according to Debra Billingsley, executive director of the Kansas Board of Pharmacy, who told the Lawrence Journal-World that pharmacists could cite “professional discretion” in denying drug requests, although the law is silent on doing so for moral reasons.
It might help to clarify Kansas law to ensure consumers have access to emergency contraception, but do we trust state lawmakers to do it?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Rosy rhetoric is getting old
March 3, 200612:07 a.m.
Even conservative columnist George Will is growing tired of the President Bush’s rote, rosy assessments about Iraq. Will writes in his latest column: “Last week, in the latest iteration of a familiar speech (the enemy is ‘brutal,’ ‘we’re on the offensive,’ ‘freedom is on the march’) that should be retired, the president said, ‘This is a moment of choosing for the Iraqi people.’ Meaning what? Who is to choose, and by what mechanism? Most Iraqis already ‘chose’ — meaning prefer — peace. But in 1917 there were only a few thousand Bolsheviks among 150 million Russians — and the Bolsheviks succeeded in hijacking the country for seven decades.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The Oscar for ‘truthiness’ goes to . . .
March 3, 200612:03 a.m.
With the Academy Awards coming up Sunday, the Los Angeles Times put the Best Picture nominees to the truth test. They all came up short: “Munich,” for leaving out how the Mossad killed an innocent waiter instead of a targeted Black September leader. “Capote,” for misrepresenting how much Truman Capote manipulated the legal process and the killers. “Crash,” for portraying Los Angeles as far more of a “simmering, racist hellbroth” than it is. “Brokeback Mountain,” for casting white Aussie Heath Ledger in a role written for a Latino. And “Good Night, and Good Luck,” for giving Edward R. Murrow more credit than he deserves for bringing down Joe McCarthy. None of this will matter, regrettably, as the movies come to overshadow the facts that inspired them. But let the viewer beware.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
No shortage of Shocker pride today
March 3, 200612:01 a.m.
It’s a moment to savor, in part because it’s been so long in coming: The Wichita State University Shockers are the Missouri Valley Conference champions and seeded No. 1 in the conference tournament going into their first game this afternoon in St. Louis. The 14 sellouts at Charles Koch Arena, the suddenly trendy black-and-gold merchandise, the community buzz about a championship season — all have been sweet affirmation for men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon, athletic director Jim Schaus and the players and die-hard fans. No matter what happens next, the Shockers, their university and their hometown already have won big.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
