African-American?
Jack C. McVickers | Scottsdale
I cringe every time someone in the media refers to Barack Hussain Obama as an African-American. Obama has but a small amount of African blood. His father was predominately an Arab and was proud of that fact. The reporters in the media are very aware of this and yet they misslead the African-American community by referring to Obama as an African-American. One wonders why they continue to do this. If Obama is elected president history will record him as the first Arab-American president, not the first African-American president. Historians will also explore the reason why the media mislead the American people. Some day a real African-American will be elected president and I doubt if he or she will accept the title of being the second African-American president.
Racial identity in Obama's America
Sara Palin’s husband, Todd, is 12 1/2 percent Yu’pik Eskimo.
Since Obama, being only 6 1/4 percent African, identifies himself as the first “African-American” head of the Harvard Law Review and the first “African-American” presidential candidate, then certainly Sara can claim that she is married to an “Eskimo-American (Native-American)”.
I am 6 1/4 percent American Indian (Blackfoot tribe). So in keeping with Obama’s precedent, I hereby claim title to being the first “American-Indian (Native-American)” to be appointed to the City of Scottsdale’s Citizen’s Budget and Bond Review Committee.
Since Obama, being 6 1/4 percent “black”, can claim to be “a black man” then I, being 6 1/4 percent “red”, I can claim to be “a red man.”
Should we call Todd “a yellow man” or do the anthropologists consider Eskimos to be Caucasian? Not having any Eskimo friends I am ignorant in this area and do not want to offend anyone’s sensibility on this touchy issue of race.
Obama’s precedent has opened an entire new world of opportunity for me. As a member of the “American-Indian (Native-American)” minority group, I can now open a business and apply for affirmative action set-aside contracts. Thank you Obama!
Is this a great country or what? We can “be all that we can be” or, thanks to Obama, “we can be whatever we want to be” if it serves our needs.
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Birth certificate
Joe Price | via e-mail
I am not certain if Linda Bentley actually believes that Barack Obama was born in Africa or not, her article points out the confusion that even she has at understanding the mumbo jumbo of her sources, a bizarre website that uses poorly put together images of a birth certificate in a sort of "you suck at Photoshop" conglomeration that is about as convincing as a $3 bill. Even she admits the jargon and images incomprehensible, so why propagate this myth? The racism of Sonoran News is becoming more incredible by the day. To publish smears may sell papers, but it is certainly destroying your credibility, in case you hadn't noticed. I am surprised you don't realize your readers find it insulting to be subjected to your barrage of anti- Obama smears. We are not sheep, and you need to check your facts before publishing lies.
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What do you mean, "WE," Mo-Fo?
J-P. A. Maldonado | Desert Foothills
Barack Hussein Obama claims that the racist USA opposes him because he "doesn't look like those other presidents on dollar bills."
What chutzpah! Those OTHER presidents? I was not aware that he had already served in that capacity!
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Democrats and Global Warming
Ralph Cope | Cave Creek
My life began over 31,000 days ago and I have learned much, one of which is about global warming.
After listening to the hot air expelled from Democrat’s for over 83+ years, I believe that is what has created a strata of heat that is melting the polar ice cap, flooding the coastal region and creating global warming.
I say to you Democrats, if you claim the interest of the planet, stop exhaling for a few years. Preferably forever.
There is an alternative. Perhaps technology can liquefy your hot air for energy. Nothing you have offered is working. God Bless America
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Obama's broken record on life
Roman Stockton | Katy, Texas
The sparks over Sen. Obama's abortion record didn't end when the Civil Forum did. At a post-event interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), reporter David Brody asked a question about Obama's position on the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act (BAIPA). For weeks, the senator's campaign has tried to cover his tracks on the issue, claiming that his vote against the bill was not a vote for infanticide. Instead, his spokespeople said, the Illinois senator stood alone in his opposition because Illinois's bill didn't mirror the federal law. The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) produced documents proving that the state language was identical to Congress's bill.
On Saturday, Obama accused pro-lifers of skewing his record. "They have not been telling the truth," Mr. Obama said. "And I hate to say that people are lying, but here's a situation where folks are lying." He added that it was "ridiculous" to suggest he had ever supported withholding lifesaving treatment for an infant. "...For people to keep on pushing this is offensive," he said in the CBN interview. What's truly offensive, however, is that Obama deceived Americans about his record.
On Sunday, his campaign issued a clarification, stating that Obama did vote against a born-alive bill that was a verbatim version of the federal law. Senator Obama must own up to his record as the only member of the state senate to vote in favor of letting abortion survivors die. Even the most radical, pro-abortion members of the U.S. Senate like Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) don't mirror his heartlessness. All three voted to protect innocent children through the Born-Alive Act. On voting in favor of infanticide, Sen. Barack Obama stands alone.
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Reprehensible activity - Identity Theft
Name withheld by request
I'm writing today to advise you of astounding and reprehensible activity taking place on the Internet which the state has facilitated. In an era when Identity Theft is rampant, especially here in Arizona, how can anyone in their right mind support posting names, birthdates and address information online by state agencies? It seems that a criminal search facility (www.criminalsearches.com) is able to obtain key information from the state and display it for anyone interested.
By providing the information the state has facilitated the pursuit of Identity Theft, but even worse is the fact that some of the criminal detail is blatantly wrong. How in God's name can the state justify posting minor traffic infractions? I can rationalize posting information regarding pedophiles but speeding tickets? Someone needs to get brain cell transplants.
When I was told about the website my curiosity prompted me to visit and check my own name. Wow was I surprised to find a 5- year-old entry (a speeding violation in Carefree - 31 in a 25 zone). It listed key personal information (thankfully not my SSN), and at least in my case, a valid disposition. However when I entered my wife's name the results were more ominous. She had two traffic offenses listed, one of which showed a disposition of 'BAIL/DEPOSIT GIVEN/FORFEITED' while the other showed 'COMPL DISMISSED BY COURT'. The first item is untrue, it is an outrage.
I urge your readers to write their state representatives and demand an end to this stupidity. Once information is posted on the Internet it is there forever, there is no recall or never mind. False criminal (traffic violations) information is inexcusable.
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Vote: Zoning and Walmart
Sam Anderer | Cave Creek
Response to Aug 20, 2008 Your View.
Re: Vote, general plan and zoning changes Cave Creek Rd/Carefree Hwy southeast corner, Town Council and Walmart
There are other considerations:
(1) Distance to current Walmarts: Anthem, Deer Valley, E. Bell, W. Bell at 7th Ave, and cost of gas.
(2) The property values have already dropped due to our current mortgage crises.
(3) Won't create any more traffic than we have now: traffic has to flow in and out of the area regardless. With a Walmart "etc." here, there might be less flow out, thus reducing emissions and fuel consumption.
(4) If Town Council is smart, provisions for our high schoolers to get some work experience, instead of Walmart hiring illegal aliens (insurgents).
All Walmart has to do is go a short distance either west or south and Phoenix gains the sales tax and we still inherit any negatives.
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Applauding Carefree’s improvements
John and Denise Turner | Carefree
Regarding the proposed lighting and signage improvements for Downtown Carefree, I would like to applaud the Council and planning staff for a job well done. Having seen the Council’s presentation firsthand, these improvements were obviously well-researched and studied before asking for the public input.
A town government with fiduciary responsibility recognizes that a healthy downtown retail and restaurant area needs adequate lighting, signage, and marketing to decrease the vacancies; and makes wise use of the tax revenue from its merchants to invest in the town.
This is a much-needed step in the right direction, and will begin to renew pride in our town’s appearance. Additionally, building landlords will hopefully recognize this as an opportunity to improve any neglected areas to take advantage of this “fresh look” that’s on the way.
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Letter to Mr. Cantoni
Rich Dobbs | Cave Creek
Dear Mr. Cantoni,
After reading your article regarding the use of the term "Hispanic", it appears you missed your calling. You should be a politician. It's been a long time since I have read an article so long that said so little. I thought only politicians had the ability to talk so long without actually saying anything of relevance. You have obviously missed the point of the conversation completely but that's what happens when you're more interested in the correctness of the vocabulary than the meaning or intent of the message.
I am obviously not a professional writer or columnist like you so please excuse me if you find my message inadequate by way of your definition of proper vocabulary usage. Please try to understand the content without judging the message by whether or not I used proper form.
The fact of the matter is, our economy, lifestyle, and possibly our very freedom is in jeopardy if the matter of illegal immigration is not addressed properly and immediately. I live in the Southwest and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see the impact illegal immigration is having on our society. I am not questioning that we have a place in this society for people of other countries and ethnic backgrounds but I do question the illegal way they come into this country, their motives for staying, and what they do when they're here especially when it is illegal by the definition of the law.
I have been to Ellis Island and seen the history of other immigrants coming into this country and the way they have integrated into our society and this is not the case with immigrants today, at least the ones crossing our borders illegally from Mexico by the thousands.
THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. If you come here to live from another country, enter the country legally, learn to speak English and learn our laws and abide by them. Get a job legally, pay taxes legally like the rest us, support the economic system already in place legally, and don't demand a free ride while burning our flag and demanding the same legal rights granted to legal citizens of this country when you don't have those rights. It doesn't matter where you came from or what the technical definition or the spelling of your heritage is, this is America. If you want to live in America don't come here and demand that the rest of us Americans change our laws and ideals to suit you because you're Hispanic or Chinese or Polish or anything else. Don't expect us to pay for your children and their education, your hospital care, your food, and then give you Social Security when you haven't put a dime into the system to support it. Be an American or go back where you came from. Everyone knows what the term “Hispanic” refers to so don't try to make it more complicated than it really is.
You're comments regarding how the use of the term "Hispanic" stinks is nothing more than smoking mirrors. We have existing laws regarding illegal aliens and illegal immigration and they are not being enforced. The problems regarding illegal immigration stem primarily from the people from Mexico coming to this country illegally. What is it about the word "illegal" you don't understand? These people refer to themselves as Hispanic and have since they started coming here illegally. Why don't you ask them to correct their own terminology?
The only thing I smell that is stinking is your long winded say nothing article on the use of the term ‘Hispanic’.
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Obama’s unsound energy plan
Donald A. Moskowitz | Londonderry, New Hampshire
Senator Obama’s energy policy consists of trying to reign in speculation of oil in the markets, promoting alternative energy sources and increasing the mileage standards of automobiles.
First, the automobile manufacturers have been increasing mileage standards for years, and they are currently producing smaller, fuel efficient cars which get 35 to 45 miles per gallon.
Second, alternative energy sources, e.g. wind, solar, thermal, hydro, tides can only provide a very small portion, maybe 10 percent to 15 percent, of our energy requirements.
Third, the supposed speculation of oil in the markets has its root cause in classic economic conditions. Since the demand for oil is approximately equal to the available supply, prices are high, and any perturbations in the supply of oil puts upward pressure on prices. Supply is controlled by OPEC, domestic production, and U.S. refineries. To increase supply we have to increase domestic oil production and build refineries. On the demand side, gasoline consumption has been steadily decreasing in the U.S. due to less travel, a switch to smaller cars, car pooling and the increased use of mass transit systems.
Unfortunately Senator Obama came up with an untenable program, because he does not have the experience and good judgement to make sound decisions. John McCain will increase domestic oil production, build nuclear power plants, promote alternative energy sources and encourage reduced gasoline consumption
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