(This was an email I recently received. Needless to say it made me somewhat ill. It wasn't really the lack of compassion that got me so much, but the ignorance of it. Yes, yes, our society is perfect, and anyone who wants to can become rich and wealthy through hard work and determination. And if everyone wanted to be millionaires, then hell, the system we have here could totally support that. But, as we all know, people are lazy leeches. The education system is perfect. Segregation? Oh, we got rid of that decades ago. If you stay in school you will be successful, because our educational system is set up the right way. The one right way. There is no other way, it is perfect. Anyways... the bill of non-rights gets worse at the end... make sure you finish reading it. And, please... any comments should be rational if we intend to discredit this work of crap.)
*********************
PREPARE YOURSELF.....

Attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye from GA.---(you guessed it, an enlightened Republican)----my addition--the rest is verbatim

This guy should run for President one day….


"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters.


We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."


ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.


ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone – not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.


ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.


ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.


ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care.


ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you free in the electric chair.


ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.


ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.


ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights!


ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!


(lastly…)


ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!


If you agree, share this with a friend. No, you don’t have to, and nothing tragic will befall you if you don’t. I just think it’s about time common sense is allowed to flourish.


Sensible people of the United States speak out because if you do not, who will?

As published in the DI and online at
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2005/02/09/Opinions/Letter.Embrace.Money-857013.shtml

Therese Rogers is correct that somewhere in the chemical bonds of testosterone is stored a stygian desire for violent competition.

The answer is not to stifle it with an all-women voting bloc, as Ms. Rogers writes, but to harness it in the form of greed for money and fame. Harnessed greed and competition have built the extensive knowledge base, infrastructural networks, and even the governments of any countries considered developed.

The problem with war is that no institution has been created to transcend cultures and nations to the end of bringing about harnessed greed on a world-wide scale. The United Nations and the World Trade Organization are the only organizations attempting to do this presently.

There are problematic issues with capitalism, no doubt, but when the alternative is - as Ms. Rogers suggests - foolish pride and bravery that result in primitive brutality, then I believe capitalism is something to look forward to in the 21st century. Let us embrace money for it judges neither race nor creed nor nation.



Sharad Kotagiri Bijanki

sophomore in LAS

This man has a twisted sense of reality. I really like this line "Since Bush’s success in Iraq has laid the basis for negotiation in the Middle East, there is every prospect that Rice may preside over a diplomatic triumph in catalyzing the discussions between Sharon and Abbas."

Bounce, bounce down the court
Playing a game at an Illini fort
Millions of eyes on each shot
Wondering if we will win or not
Orange and blue, the arena gleams
Bragging as one of the top teams
Regarding our fate, we are certainly not insecure
The National Championship, we will procure.

It seems like everybody is wearing the Lance Armstrong "Livestrong" bracelets. I guess it is for cancer. When I see them, I picture a giant mountain of all the discarded bracelets that will be thrown away once the trend is over. A landfill with a sea of bright yellow rings - how is that helping cancer? What if I went around selling chocolate marshmellow carmel bars, for Diabetes. You want the cure, but you don't realize you are holding the problem in your hand.
They're made in China too; are the young workers who breathe in melted plastic fumes for less than a living wage "livestrong?" It's like saying, I'll livestrong, you livepoor.
Only in America would we try to fix a problem with consumption.
I saw a bracelet last night that was black inscribed with "livewrong." That's more like it.
You know what else bothers me lately? The magnetic ribbons for your car that "support the troops." Great idea. Spend a few measley dollars to decorate your gas guzzling car that is the reason our troops are dying int he first place. You know what my troop needs? Not magnets, that's for sure. Perhaps some of his tax money back, or an economy that was strong enough that he didn't have to join the army in the first place.
I don't blame the individual who bought these paraphenalia. I drove home yesterday, and was seething the whole way about all the ribbons I saw on the interstate. But then I changed my tune when I pulled into the driveway of my friend, and his mom had a ribbon on her beat-up Chrysler. She really did buy that to support the troops; her youngest son is in the Navy, and the middle son will leave for the Marines infantry in March. The little magnet from the gas station she is trying to get a part time job from is the only thing she can do to get behind her troops. Sigh.
I'm pointing the finger at our society that can't see the hypocrisy in all these good-will gimmics. The bracelets and the magnets are well meaning, but extremely short sighted.

Because I value the opinions of my friends so highly, I wanted to make this space to give their thoughts the medium they deserve.