LETTERS: Disrespecting our veterans' sacrifices

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What a sad statement to have to hear that the UC Irvine student government considered removing the American flag from their lobby. As a vet, I fully support freedom of speech, but that freedom always comes at a cost. Our soldiers and nation deserve more than some student body making a mockery of the flag and the blood, sweat and the loss of life expended making sure that these freedoms exist, not to mention ensuring the flag that represents this nation flies or is displayed where people want it to be.

People come from around the world to this nation because it offers a quality of life and a quality of people without exception. It is rare that people come because their countries are so much better than ours. Is it that hard to show respect for what this nation does for people immigrating here?

Regarding freedom of speech, Id like to make this point: Soldiers lay down their lives for the flag, so maybe the university student body can stop accepting federal grants.

We are a great nation. Maybe a little respect for the flag for which it stands would not be too much to ask.

John Friske

Menifee

Liberals not to blame

After reading John W. Burns Liberals dragging down California [Letters, March 9], Ive come to the conclusion that he may need some assistance.

Burns complains that progressive liberals are dragging down the state. Perhaps he would feel better living in a state where folks share his conservative views. States like Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia or Alabama might be just right.

Never mind the fact that these states have some of the lowest levels of education and some of the most severe problems with their infrastructure, as well as some of the worst living conditions in the country.

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LETTERS: Disrespecting our veterans' sacrifices

S.C. legislators debating changes to strengthen Freedom of Information Act

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COLUMBIA Leonard Riley Jr. knows his First Amendment rights, and his rights to public information, and he knows when theyve been violated.

Dissatisfied with the management policies at the Medical University of South Carolina, Riley and other activists organized a silent protest of the universitys board of trustees meetings last fall. He said they had intended to go to every meeting until their complaints were acknowledged.

But at their second appearance, the trustees abruptly decided that the previous protest had been unruly and distracting. The protesters were provided just five seats and prohibited from displaying their signs, an action that Riley considered a violation of their freedom of speech.

If a public meeting is happening, we have a right to be there, he said this week. This was a violation of my rights under the Constitution of the United States.

The restrictions didnt last long, and Riley, chair of the Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment, said the protests will continue until the board gives them an audience.

Rileys experience is just one example of an attempt to infringe upon South Carolinas Freedom of Information Act. The FOI Act outlines citizens access to public information controlled by state agencies and legislators.

After three S.C. Supreme Court decisions last year weakened the FOI Act, state lawmakers have introduced five bills this session intended to strengthen and clarify state laws.

We need to open up the secrets of agencies and local governments to public scrutiny, said John Crangle, chair of the states chapter of Common Cause, a citizens lobby for democracy reform. Thats what we need in South Carolina.

If passed, the bills would designate an office of FOI review; lift legislators exemption from FOI; require an agenda for public meetings; and disclose cause of death from autopsy reports.

Patricia OConnor, chair of the South Carolina Press Associations FOI committee and a journalism professor at Coastal Carolina University, said the bills could set a tone for further strengthening of open government and the FOI bill in South Carolina.

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S.C. legislators debating changes to strengthen Freedom of Information Act

#251 Debate – Christopher Hitchens vs Douglas Wilson – Atheism vs Christianity – 2008 – Video

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#251 Debate - Christopher Hitchens vs Douglas Wilson - Atheism vs Christianity - 2008
Westminster Theological Seminary 10 December 2008 #251 Debate - Christopher Hitchens vs Douglas Wilson - Atheism vs Christianity - 2008.

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#251 Debate - Christopher Hitchens vs Douglas Wilson - Atheism vs Christianity - 2008 - Video

Our True Nature as The Divine Spark – Barbara Marx Hubbard – Video

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Our True Nature as The Divine Spark - Barbara Marx Hubbard
Barbara Marx Hubbard is President of The Foundation for Conscious Evolution. A speaker, social innovator and author of five books, Barbara is an evolutionary educator, communicating the new...

By: The Fuji Declaration

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Our True Nature as The Divine Spark - Barbara Marx Hubbard - Video