I do not know how that is possible. By now I am sure that we all thought that President Bush would have rained down the bombs on Saddam and we would all be safer. (I honestly don't believe that we would be any safer, and I hope that you don't believe that either). Did you watch the President's State of the Union? I did and though I must admit that it was great on delivery, I was not impressed.

I still don't see why we are spending so much money on war when so many Americans and others who live here in this land of opportunity are in need and unemployed. Ok! It's not about oil! So what the hell is it about? Don't tell me it's to get rid of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.

To show the blatant double standard, let's see if the U.S. complies with an order from the World Court, officially known as the International Court of Justice. The World Court, is the U.N.'s court for resolving disputes between nations. It has no power to enforce its decisions, and the United States has disregarded them in the past. However, last Wednesday, the Court ordered that the United States must temporarily stay the execution of three Mexican citizens on death row in Texas and Oklahoma.

I am quite sure that should the U.S. not comply, there will be no nation threatening sanctions or piling up their military at our border ready to attack. I am also quite sure that the U.N. Security Council will not be sanctioning the U.S. But isn't it ironic that we are about to rain terror on a country for something that we ourselves don't do.

To the President and the U.S. Congress I say it's time to stop the double standard.

Now One love.

Dwight

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK

Counting Down To Graduation May 21, 2003 -- The End of Law School

The Confession By Stephen E. Jordan, II I have a confession to admit. And I’m sure that after you read this, I’ll get mail—(hate-mail, I’ll presuppose). I’ve existed under the notion that I could breathe with such undisclosed information. However, I’ve felt it in my esophagus, my belly, my loins. I’ve felt it in my toes. Now there is an ardent need for a public announcement. And, there is a reason I make my declaration public—simply because there’s about to be a modification. And I’ve always moved on feeling, as should you. Not only am I a part of this change, but I AM this change. What is this secret I carry on concealed in my pants pocket, you ask? It’s uncomplicated. Yet to many Americans--because I do not pursue unalienable civil rights as a citizen, my moral duty, to complete such a five-minute task—I will be shunned because I don’t do this. Obviously I will be an outsider to the Nth degree more so than I was before this announcement. This (treacherous, in your eyes—the eyes of a die-hard American citizen) secret is—I’ve never voted. Yes, that’s correct. I am not registered to vote, nor do I have any plan to register anytime in the near (or far, for that matter) future. Every American has this right—this magnificent right to vote. However, we mustn’t get this confused with a moral duty. Rights, throughout time, have blended into Moral Duties. I have the right to vote—but I do not. Why? I have the right to choose. Perhaps my in-depth research, my keen eye for observing, my inspection of a corrupt, perfidious government seemingly run by deceitful idiots who can’t pronounce—let alone spell—bourgeoisie, perhaps my views will change. If that were the case, I’d apologize. Thus at the moment, there is nothing to be sorry for. I will not rewind my words and re-record them. I am not a Democrat. I am not a Republican. I am not a hetero. I am not a homo. My motivation behind my means is merely the ability of being eagle-eyed, the fly on the wall, able to see, face on, what the hell is the problem. And, the Highfalutin claim our people are blind, while the Undereducated claim our people are traumatized. These are excuses. My goal is to supply Reason. And, too, I will supply reason behind my previously stated confession. Some would say I’m a revolutionary, and ten years from now, I don’t want to be remembered that way, but it’s fate—there’s a pattern, and I’ve already started sewing the fabric. Still, I am no revolutionary. I am no activist. My words are real and will be raw. When particular words are used—simple words—it forces a regime to get their panties in an unclean bind. The authority is left wiping their own selves clean, cat-like, tongue and all. So, dear Reader, you ask me what’s my goal, what’s my drive, what has motivated me to write. I am left to answer that--my fondness and dedication to exploring the limits of free expression. It’s simple. * * * The Rhyme and Reason It’s explicitly understandable that as liberated as Americans may assume themselves, this imaginary freedom is delineated, minimized by a dominant hand vigorously carting its citizens into line—kicking and screaming, of course. Support of this lies in the reality that all men must register with civil service. Just go to the local post office, they say; college students, just fill out the FAFSA forms and check the box, if you forgot last year—and heaven forbid you forget! Though there’s not been a military draft in ages, in my lifetime, for that matter—I question, would I be the first to jump-ship if a draft were in effect? Of course, I’m far from ignorant. The “Do Unto Others” theory must be applied appropriately in this case. What has the country done for you? If the answer is obviously “nothing. Nothing at all” then your response must be the same. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Un-oddly enough, many of our backs still suffer itches that can’t seem to be reached. The unfulfilled promises, such hollow words, of the government are what we live by-- being filtered in language, in thought, in writing. Everything is under the same control as one nation under a god that many of the citizens seem to have misplaced until a time of crisis. And only then, the elected official plays the role of god—the burglar, the banker. The primitive life is satisfying. Caveman-like is how we should live—but I’d still want to have a computer somewhere, or at the very least, I’d study cuneiform, and with a blade of flint, I would still write. But the caveman way of life is tempting, very simple. The pleasure the caveman—a hermit—must have is remarkable. It’s not the fact that he must not abide by rules and regulations—because he does. The difference lies in the actuality that he’s not shackled to a land, forcefully lured to register fingerprints, codes, passwords to supposedly protect him, but actually dehumanizes. Simplicity is the life. He is the hunter and gatherer. He does not and will not bend over to such a level, exposing himself to a nation, making his self-worth a “popularity contest”. Ambrose Bierce, in his cynical, yet honest ways said, “An election is nothing more than an advanced auction of stolen goods.” Let truth be said. Let truth be heard. Let the truth be that I cannot take part, fully appreciate a nation birthed under stolen-good tenants. Under a personal-sworn contract, I refuse to be akin to crime; therefore I refuse to take part in voting in an election. Voting is coercion, subservience, and perhaps even hints of a feudal system, leaving minorities in ghettoes (expanding day by day) classified as the serfs, the court jesters, and the step-and-fetch-it.       More of Stephen From Whence Valentine Came... As Valentine's Day approaches, I decided to do some research and this is what I found. There are different stories that explain the origins of Valentine's Day, but the most famous story is that of Saint Valentine, the Roman Christian martyr. The legend goes that Emperor Claudius II of Rome was involved in a very violent and unpopular campaign. Claudius II believed that Roman men did not join the military forces because they did not want to leave their loved ones behind. In response he called off all marriages and engagements in Rome. Saint Valentine, a Roman priest, secretly aided the marriage of Rome's lovely couples. He was then brought before the Emperor to be killed. It is said that he was killed February 14, 269 AD, he wrote a goodbye letter to the jailer's daughter signed "Your Valentine." This started the tradition of sending love notes on February 14. Saint Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. Other traditions: In the Middle Ages young men and women would draw a name from a bowl to designate their Valentine (now that's fate!) They would wear the name of their Valentine on their sleeve for one week (that's where the saying 'you wear you heart on your sleeve came from.') In some countries a beau will send a gal a piece of clothing, if she keeps it she agrees to marry him (personally I think a diamond ring is a lot more charming) It was believed that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on February 14, she would marry a sailor, a sparrow and she would marry poor but live happy, a goldfinch she'd marry a millionaire. (I don't think I've ever seen a goldfinch!!) In England, centuries ago, children went caroling on Valentine's Day "Good morning to you, valentine, curl your locks as I do mine, two before and three behind, good morning to you, valentine." Today we still have many symbolic traditions that are used on Valentine's Day. Roses are very popular flowers, with very powerful meanings: White-true love and purity, Red-love and passion, Yellow-friendship, Pink-friendship or sweetheart, Black-goodbye (not very romantic.) Then we all know the fat little cherub, Cupid. Cupid was the mischievous son of the Goddess of Love. The myth is anyone that was hit by Cupid's arrow would fall in love with the first person he or she sees. Love knots came from the Muslim tradition, where women would pledge their love with messages woven into carpets. Today people still send love knots. The most common romantic symbol associated with Valentine's Day is the heart. When you give someone your heart it is the center of your existence, it symbolizes the most profound, and noblest of human emotions. Throughout the ages the heart has been a symbol of love around the world, on Valentine's Day and every other day of the year. This Valentine's Day take the time to remind your loved ones, whether it be that special someone, your family or your friends, that they are loved and appreciated.