Students for Life Speech

Speech by Ed Rivet, Michigan Right to Life
For Students for Life
Topic: "Anti-abortion: Pro-hope, Pro-people"
Tuesday, March 31, 7PM
210 Bernhard Center

Guess what day he's speaking?
Happy America First Day
America First Day with Ted Nugent

WSA Follies

Oh, dear.

WSA presidency being contested

The Western Student Association is without a president as the Election Control Board (ECB) contested the results of the 2009 presidential election over charges that the campaign of Nate Knappen and Janine Putnam violated terms of the Election Control Board.

Knappen/Putnam received 60 percent of the vote, with 1,200 votes. Stacy Nordstrand and Courtney Dunsmore got 38 percent with 800, and 40 votes were write in candidates, making up two percent. The election had a record turn out of 2,104 voters, compared to 1,800 last year.

The charges are that Knappen solicited votes with his laptop, which is against the Student Election Code (SEC). Knappen was accused of violating sections 1.4, 2.3, 3.4, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.6, 5.7, and 6.2 of the E.C.B. and was convicted of all but 2.3, 4.1 and 5.7.

Somebody call the police!

Knappen said he allowed about 10 students to vote on his laptop for the candidate of their choice at the flag poles, and said he stopped as soon as the seize and desist was issued.

Side note: what a stupid paper.

After the charges were made, the ECB sent them to the Judicial Committee for further review. They contested the election on Friday at 5:01 p.m.; the poles closed at 5 p.m.

The Judicial Council ruled that Knappen did not maliciously break the rules, but was ignorant.

Of course, we all know that the ECB and Judicial Council are totally unbiased institutions and that nobody on them has ever been a political ally of a candidate.

Side note: 'poles'? Seriously?

A bunch of commenters are passionate about the issue for no apparent reason. One offers this timely reminder.

One cannot ignore the difference between malficience and misficence (I think spelled those correctly).

Thankfully, Western students can rest assured that no matter who wins the election, the WSA will still be a ridiculous waste of time.

POLITICAL UPDATE--The Economy

This update focuses on the economy. Bailouts and stimulus plans are failing to improve the economy. The causes of the recession continue to be explored.

Thomas Sowell: False Solutions and Real Problems
Thomas Sowell: Subsidizing Bad Decisions
Lew Rockwell: Beating Back Obamanomics
Thomas Woods: Unnatural Disaster
William Andersen: It Is Time to Admit the Obvious: The Political Classes Deliberately Are Blocking an Economic Recovery
Ron Paul: Is Spending the Answer?
Steve Sailer: Minority Mortgage Meltdown (contd.) Pay No Attention To That Diversity Mandate Behind The Curtain
Charles Scaliger: Shock & Awe Economics
Gary Benoit: The Inflation Tax
Kurt Williamsen: Economy Killers
William Hoar: Stimulating Government, Not the Economy

See also:
The Recession Reader
The Bailout Reader

The 'R Word'

What's the latest cause on campus?

WMU volunteers fight to end use of the ‘R Word’

Western Michigan University athletes and students are joining forces with local community members for “WMU End the ‘R’ Word day.”

Different volunteers will be stationed around campus to inform the WMU community about the hurtful affects of the use of the words “retard” or “retarded.”

...

There will also be a pledge board for students to sign who also runs the Special Olympics at WMU, Rapelje said.

“People will sign pledging not to use the ‘R’ word,” she said.

Maybe Barack Obama should sign the pledge.

Local News

News from Kalamazoo and Michigan.

Poll buoys Rep. Peter Hoekstra's ambitions to run for Michigan governor
WMU volunteers fight to end use of the ‘R Word’
Debate over Kalamazoo gay-rights ordinance centers on religion
State Rep. Robert Jones says money needed for cleanups
Auction raises funds for local pregnancy center
Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema proposes authority to return foreclosed properties to the tax rolls
Governor appoints former circuit judge William Baillargeon to district court bench in Allegan County

Incredible Shrinking Newspapers

These are hard times for the liberal media.

The Ann Arbor News is shutting down publication. Several other Michigan papers are cutting down to three days of publication. Still others, including the Gazette, are consolidating some operations.

Ann Arbor News to publish its last edition in July
Kalamazoo Gazette announces changes in Michigan newspaper operations
A letter to readers from Kalamazoo Gazette Publisher James Stephanak

The commenters on the Gazette articles don't seem very sympathetic.

POLITICAL UPDATE--Government

This update focuses on government.

Patrick Krey: A Presidency Fit for a King
Warren Mass: Bill Would Give Feds Control Over Family Farms
Michelle Malkin: Look Beyond the Bogus Bonus Smokescreen
Terry Jeffrey: Obama's Deficit Charade
Chuck Baldwin: Romans 13 Revisited
Jack Kenny: Counting the Cost of the Census
Phyllis Schlafly: Obama's Stimulus
Edwin Vieira: Dangers of "Judicial Supremacy"
Robert Rector: Stimulus Bill Abolishes Welfare Reform Successes
William Hoar: Social Security Sham
Chuck Baldwin: President And Congress Grovel Before The Fed
Ron Paul: Freedom From Government
Don Devine: Victims of Flight 1549?
Steve Sailer: So You Want To Boost The Economy? End Affirmative Action!
Brian Farmer: The Welfare State Is Really Socialism in Disguise

POLITICAL UPDATES are archived here.

POLITICAL UPDATE--Immigration

This update focuses on immigration. Before leaving office, President Bush commuted the sentences of Ramos and Compean, but refused to pardon them. The Senate refused to renew the E-Verify program.

Phyllis Schlafly: E-Verify Is a "Shovel-Ready" Solution
Pat Buchanan: Illegals To Get "Stimulus" Jobs? Left Cannot Survive E-Verify Sell-Out Of Unemployed Americans
Ernest Istook: Quiet Amnesty
Joe Guzzardi: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Rise And Immigration-Related Fall
William Jasper: Amnesty for Aliens (Including Terrorists) Who Serve in Military
Chuck Baldwin: Ramos And Compean Are Going Home. What Took Bush So Long?
Phil Kent: Illegal Immigration Battles Loom with Obama
Chelsea Schilling: Immigrants ravage U.S. infrastructure
Michelle Malkin: The State of Our Borders 2008
Steve Sailer: Sailer’s Next Big Idea: Immigration Brings Diversity Deduction—Not A Diversity Dividend

For more on immigration, see VDARE.com.

Julie Mack Lies about Rush

In her opinion column in the Gazette, Julie Mack lies about Rush Limbaugh.

Opinion Column -- What Rush Limbaugh and I have in common: We both like to talk about Rush

The truth is, the biggest similarity between Rush and myself is that we're both capable of talking for three hours straight. But I like to think my monologues make more sense. Take Limbaugh's spiel about how he hopes President Obama fails -- how stupid is that? Yeah, another Great Depression -- that'll show the Americans who's right!

Limbaugh compares rooting against Obama to rooting against the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Are you kidding me? The Super Bowl is a game. The economic crisis is not. In the Super Bowl, the only thing at risk for those involved is pride. In this recession, the stakes couldn't be higher.

As Rush has explained repeatedly, he hopes that Obama fails at implementing his policies. Rush correctly believes that Obama's policies would cause America to fail. Rooting for America means rooting against Obama.

Julie Mack doubtless disagrees about the effectiveness of Obama's policies, but not to acknowledge that this is the disagreement, not whether America should succeed, is dishonest. Liberals can't debate Rush on the merits of the issues, so they lie about him instead.

Reports on Terrorism Speech

Several media reports cover the speech on terrorism Tuesday on campus. They report 900-1300 people in attendence.

Self-proclaimed ex-terrorists tell Western Michigan University crowd to 'wake up'
Journey through terror
WMU reacts to ‘I want to kill you’ event at Miller Auditorium
WMU Muslim students to protest speakers at Miller Auditorium Tuesday evening
New RSO raises awareness of Islamic terrorism

Previous: Speech on Terrorism

Self Defense

From the Gazette.

Oshtemo Township homeowner fires shots at burglars

OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP -- An armed homeowner in Oshtemo Township scared off a pair of burglars earlier this week when he fired two shots from his gun, police said Tuesday.

No one was injured, according to a press release from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.

Police said two suspects broke into the house in the 7000 block of West H Avenue Monday afternoon. They were confronted by the armed homeowner, who fired two shots before the suspects fled in a small vehicle.

Deputies located the vehicle and arrested one of the suspects, an 18-year-old man, lodging him on home invasion charges at the Kalamazoo County Jail.

Police continue to look for the second suspect, who was only described as a "small individual with longer hair," the press release said.

Haenicke Memorial Service

The video is available here.

Robert Jones Supports Crossdressers Over Christians

State Rep. Robert Jones wants to discriminate against Christians and others who don't want to hire crossdressers and others with particular 'sexual orientations' and 'gender identities'.

Forum on gay/lesbian discrimination protection set for Monday

Meanwhile, State Rep. Robert Jones, D-Kalamazoo, is co-sponsoring legislation that would give statewide reach to gay protections proposed in Kalamazoo's rescinded ordinance.

House Bill 4192, introduced by Rep. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, would amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to add "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" to the classes protected from discrimination in Michigan employment, housing, public accommodations, public service and educational facilities.

The bill also would require contractors to provide statements that their employment practices do not discriminate against gays, lesbians and transgender individuals.

If the bill becomes law, it would provide, on a statewide basis, all the protections now being debated here.

The bill is being pushed by radical leftist billionaire Jon Stryker.

The Michigan Secretary of State's Web site shows Kalamazoo billionaire and political benefactor Jon Stryker made campaign contributions to Warren, the bill's sponsor, and at least five of the bill's eight co-sponsors, including Jones.

Jones said donations from Stryker, who heavily bankrolls state and national gay-rights causes, had no influence on reintroducing the bill.

"Not at all," said Jones. "(Stryker) contributed the maximum $500 to my campaign, and I have not been solicited to support this."

Jones wants to punish anyone who disagrees with Stryker's 'gay rights' agenda.

See also:
The Effects of 'Sexual Orientation' and 'Gender Identity' Nondiscrimination Ordinances
Kalamazoo to Persecute Christians

POLITICAL UPDATE--Sovereignty

This update focuses on sovereignty. The United Nations, European Union, and more theaten national sovereignty and promote world government.

William Jasper: The G20 Push to "Supersize" the IMF
Charles Scaliger: Agenda Behind Brown's "Global New Deal"
Willaim Jasper: LOST: Law of the Sea Treaty
Chelsea Schilling: United Nations' threat: No more parental rights
John McManus: EU Déjà Vu in the Caribbean
Chuck Baldwin: A Very Real New World Order
Chuck Baldwin: More On The New World Order
Kelly Taylor: Trans Texas Corridor Renamed, Not Dead
Jerome Corsi: Is the Trans-Texas Corridor dead?

More information:
United Nations: Eagle Forum: United Nations
North American Union: Eagle Forum Stop SPP
Trans-Texas Corridor: Corridor Watch

Speech on Terrorism

There is an event that students may be interested in on campus Tuesday.

'Ex-terrorists' turned peace activists to speak at Western Michigan University

KALAMAZOO -- Two self-described ex-terrorists whose appearances have been met with controversy on campuses around the country are set to speak Tuesday at Western Michigan University.

Author and speaker Walid Shoebat said he was a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and committed acts of terror, such as planting a bomb on a bank in Israel, in the name of Islam.

But since his conversion to Christianity 16 years ago, Shoebat said his call is now to wake up Americans to the threat of fundamentalist Islamic views.

"What I'm trying to reach are the people who are in the middle who don't know the danger, who don't understand how the radical mindset functions," Shoebat said Thursday in a phone interview with the Kalamazoo Gazette.

He's appeared on CNN, Fox News and numerous other media outlets.

Shoebat and the other speaker, Kamal Saleem, say they are now peace activists, but critics have accused them of inciting hatred against Islam.

To that, Shoebat said: "If you can't deal with the message you just destroy the messenger."

Some students complain

Controversy has brewed a bit at WMU, too, as some students complained to the administration about posters promoting that appearance by Shoebat and Saleem at Miller Auditorium.

Promotional fliers on campus are emblazoned with the words "Why We Want to Kill You" and depicts two people, heads shrouding except for their eyes.

"We have had several complaints from students who are offended by the language on the poster, who see that as inappropriate language on a campus," said Cheryl Roland, university spokeswoman.

"We have people, not just students, but faculty and staff members as well who question the wisdom of using language like, "Why we want to kill you?" Roland said.

Halim Naeem, a WMU graduate student, said he was taken aback by the poster. "I think it's very offensive," he said.

Researching Shoebat online, Naeem said he feels Shoebat's message is to "equate Islam and hatred of America and terrorism. It's pretty troubling."

New group is sponsor

Their appearance is being sponsored by International Conservatives, a new WMU student group not tied to any umbrella organization that formed to bring Shoebat to campus and "promote conservative ideals," said Chris McCann, the group's president.

A senior who wants one day to teach history, McCann said he learned of Shoebat from a friend at another university, did some research on him and thought his message was one the WMU community should hear.

"I have always been strongly pro-Israel," McCann said.

"(Shoebat is) offering a message from a perspective that has not been heard from by most people. He understands the terrorist mindset because he was once a terrorist."

McCann said posters promoting the appearance at Miller have been torn down repeatedly since his four-member group began displaying them.

"I don't think there is anything that should be considered offensive about the posters. It is two former terrorists, so there is nothing misleading about it because it is the garb the men actually used to wear, and it's condemning terrorism," McCann said.

Shoebat said he was born in Bethlehem to a Muslim father and an American mother, was raised to hate Israel and terrorize Jewish people, and once was jailed in Jerusalem for inciting violence against the nation.

He later began to question his religious upbringing and beliefs, began to read the Bible and educate himself about Christianity and was ultimately converted, he said.

Today, Shoebat is an American citizen and has lived in the United States for about 30 years. To protect his family against backlash, he lives under an assumed name with his wife and children.

Robert Jones Wants to Raise Your Taxes

State Representative Robert Jones never met a tax increase he didn't like. Jones happily voted for the largest tax increase in Michigan history back in 2007. Now, Jones has a new plan.

There's embarrassing and then there are these local Dems

According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, Representative Robert Jones yesterday introduced legislation to raise taxes on home sales specifically to fund new housing projects for people who can't afford to buy homes.

Jones bill would raise taxes to aid homeless

LANSING -- State Rep. Robert Jones has reintroduced a bill that would allow counties to raise real-estate transfer taxes to fund housing projects for the homeless.

Representatives from homeless advocacy groups Michigan People's Action and the Michigan Organizing Project said Jones' bill fulfills "a pledge he made to the homeless people of Kalamazoo last year."

...

The bill sponsored by Jones, D-Kalamazoo, would allow Michigan counties to increase real-estate transfer taxes by 25 cents for each $500 of real property value sold and earmark the added revenue for a county "housing trust fund for the homeless." For example, the measure would add $50 to the transfer tax paid at closing on a home that sells for $100,000.

This bill would punish homeowners who have already seen their homevalues drop significantly, and it would mean less affordable housing for folks looking to buy.

That's Robert Jones' plan for housing.

Remembering Doctor Haenicke

The recent death of Diether Haenicke unleashed an outpouring of praise from across the Kalamazoo community. Haenicke served as president of Western Michigan University 1985-1998, and as interim president 2006-2007.

Many tributes have correctly noted Haenicke's accomplishments as President of Western. Western became a research university thanks in large part to his efforts, several major buildings were built or renovated on campus during his tenure, Western attracted a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and more.

Others have noted his distinguished record of scholarship. While I haven't personally evaluated it, I'm sure that it's everything people say it is.

Still others have noted his community involvement. He was active with many fine organizations, and wrote a popular column for the Gazette.

Most commonly, people have remarked what a wonderful person he was. The consensus is that he was genuinely warm and caring, witty and charming.

This post will focus on an aspect of Dr. Haenicke that was less known: his politics.

Haenicke was a dues-paying member of the Republican party. He was a frequent donor to Republican candidates and he endorsed State Rep. Jack Hoogendyk during his 2006 primary campaign.

Haenicke was a conservative on issues related to education.

He supported the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative to end racial preferrences in college admissions in 2006. He was not outspoken about it after his sudden assumption of the interim presidency, but he resisted efforts to oppose it. That made him a very rare (unique?) university president to oppose racial preferrences.

Haenicke took a variety of steps to save money on campus while improving services.

Haenicke made wise financial decisions that eliminated unnecessary expenditures. He canceled the purchase of a building from Pfizer that would have cost $2 million per year to operate. He also reversed Bailey's decision to give free room and board to Kalamazoo Promise students, who already get full ride scholarships.

At the same time, Haenicke also improved student services. He reopened the Ombudsman's office, which had been closed by Bailey. He also significantly increased library hours. His administration was responsive to the suggestions of the Western Student Association on that and other issues. He worked to improve services to students by requiring administrators to answer their phones.

He opposed the radical left in education, as in this column on Bill Ayers.

He cancelled the "First Steps Scholars" program to give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.

Also rare among college administrators, he did not bow before the idol of diversity, and did not pander to racial pressure groups.

After his talk, I approached him and told him how I, as a Muslim, was offended by his remarks. He replied, unapologetically, with a smile: "Of course you are.'' President Haenicke, when you deny the humanity of another, you diminish your own. [author's note: hahahahahahaha!]

Haenicke was a friend of the WMU College Republicans. He devoted one of his Gazette columns to praising the group.

I sat next to Jim, a WMU criminal justice major from Ann Arbor, a bright, well-spoken and well-mannered young man. I asked him what his guess was regarding the political leanings of students on our campus. He thought that it was 50-50, with the liberal half being very outspoken and visible in classes and the conservative half smartly holding back in class discussions and public pronouncements. They know that their opinions are not popular with many of their teachers. My own observation is that Jim has it right, but it is a guess.

Since conservative views are so seldom heard on campus, the College Republicans must be thanked. Under the fine leadership of Matt Hall and Ashley Allen, who both served as presidents of this student group, they have invited to campus, year after year, conservative speakers who address controversial issues that usually trigger horror among academics: affirmative action, racial preferences, illegal immigration, campus speech codes, and other such hot-button topics.

Ward Connerly, the African-American who fought for abolishing racial preferences in California, spoke here, as did Justice Roy Moore who placed a monument with the Ten Commandments in his Alabama courthouse, and Dinesh D'Souza, Pat Buchanan, Michelle Malkin, Reginald Jones, and Alan Kors, the noted Princeton- and Harvard-educated historian who gained national prominence for defending the academic rights of students.

I heard Haenicke speak a number of times, but only met him once. It was at Bronco Bash, when he walked up to our College Republican table. He shook hands with us and we exchanged a few words.

I'll miss Dr. Haenicke, and I know I'm far from the only one.

Previous: Thank You, Doctor Haenicke

Speechless

There has been controversy recently over the documentary Speechless: Silencing the Christians. The documentary covers the efforts by 'gay rights' activists to suppress the freedom of speech of opponents of their agenda.

The film was produced by the American Family Association, which recently made an agreement with WOOD TV to pay to broadcast it. Outraged by the calumny that they would ever try to stop Christians from expressing their point of view, 'gay rights' activists demanded that WOOD not show the film. WOOD eventually gave in.

Sides Ramp Up For Gay Rights Fight
Anti-gay TV program stirs up controversy
WOOD-TV considers airing paid program decrying 'radical homosexual agenda'

You can see the documentary for yourself here: Silencing Christians One Hour Special



The controversy locally is related to the 'gay rights' ordinance passed and later repealed by the Kalamazoo City Commission. The ordinance would have banned 'discrimination' by businesses or landlords on the basis of 'sexual orientation' or 'gender identity'. The ordinance was repealed after citizens collected enough signatures to force a vote on the issue. The commission is seeking a compromise to avoid a public vote, but it isn't clear that such a compromise is possible.

With a public forum on the issue approaching, 'gay rights' activists are shamelessly lying about the issues involved.

"That's totally up to them, in their own churches in their own communities," said spokesman Shawn Brier. "All we're saying is that we want the right to do what we want as well."

No, they want the power to force other people to do what they want. That's the whole point of the ordinance and the $500 per day fine is would levy.

"It's spelled out in the constitution, that no groups can be discriminated against," said Brier.

What? Where is that in the Constitution? If no groups can be discriminated against, then you can't discriminate against businesses that don't want to hire crossdressers.

'Gay rights' activists won't stop until they have the power to punish everyone who disagrees with them.

Previous:
Ordinance Repealed!
The Effects of 'Sexual Orientation' and 'Gender Identity' Nondiscrimination Ordinances
Kalamazoo to Persecute Christians

Liberal Victims on Display

The Flint Journal has an article on killings in self-denfense.

When deaths are deemed justifiable, self-defense laws don't console families

Are these the least sympathetic victims ever? Ann Coulter's new book, Guilty, focuses on the phenomenon of phony liberal 'victims' who are either victimizing others or are responsible for their own plights.

When you ask Joyce Dye about her brother, there's a slight pause.

The Flint woman had only three short weeks to get reacquainted with Paul Lee Jr. before he was killed. He was fatally shot June 13 as he tried to rob LT's Clothing and Accessories on Clio Road.

He'd only recently been released from prison after serving 20 years. It was a stupid mistake, Dye acknowledged -- but did he deserve to die? She doesn't think so.

Trying to rob a store isn't a 'mistake', it's a crime.

She believes her brother's death -- and his life -- were written off in part because of his past criminal history. Lee went to prison in 1986 for second-degree murder.

"(The store owner) didn't have to shoot him eight times to knock him down," Dye said. "It's just goofy. That's the hard part, that nobody faced charges in his death."

Yes, let's punish the people he attacked.

Paul Lee's mother, Alice Rawls, said that because her son was on parole from a shooting, she believes police and prosecutors didn't give his death a second glance.

Rawls of Grand Blanc Township remains convinced that her son was set up by someone angry about a previous shooting that landed him in prison more than 20 years ago.

She said Lee was getting his life back on track [apparently not!] and was up for a promotion at work.

Assistant manager of robbery?

If all these weepy family members had stopped making excuses for and enabling their criminal relatives, maybe they wouldn't have gotten to the point where they forced someone to take their lives in self-defense.

The Clowns of Detroit

Nolan Finley has an incredible article in the Detroit News. Read it all.

Commentary: Elect a crazy council, get crazy results

Nowhere is Michigan's brain drain on greater display than in the Detroit City Council chambers.
My hopes for Detroit's future faded as I watched the tape of last Tuesday's council meeting, the one that considered the Cobo Center expansion deal.

It was a tragic circus, a festival of ignorance that confirmed the No. 1 obstacle to Detroit's progress is the bargain basement leaders that city voters elect. The black nationalism that is now the dominant ideology of the council was on proud display, both at the table and in the audience.

Speakers advocating for the deal were taunted by the crowd and cut short by Council President Monica Conyers, who presided over the hearing like an angry bulldog; whites were advised by the citizens to, "Go home."

Opponents were allowed to rant and ramble on uninterrupted about "those people" who want to steal Detroit's assets and profit from the city's labors.

A pitiful Teamster official who practically crawled to the table on his knees expressing profuse respect for this disrespectful body was battered by both the crowd and the council.

When he dared suggest that an improved Cobo Center would create more good-paying jobs for union workers, Conyers reminded him, "Those workers look like you; they don't look like me."
Desperate, he invoked President Barack Obama's message of unity and was angrily warned, "Don't yousay his name here."

Mark Sanford for President?

Plain Right

Will Mr. Sanford go to Washington?