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Grief isn't an automatic validation for a cause
NY Times via Kansas City Star ^
| Jun. 13, 2006
| JOHN TIERNEY
Posted on 06/14/2006 12:39:23 AM PDT by neverdem
Michael Berg, a Green Party candidate for Congress in Delaware, announced on national television that he regretted the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He didnt blame al-Zarqawi for beheading an American contractor. The man responsible was President Bush the real terrorist.
Any other politician would have been vilified for saying that. But Berg, as the father of the American who was beheaded, belongs to a new politically invulnerable class. Arguing with someone in mourning just isnt done unless, of course, you are Ann Coulter and you have a new book to sell.
She managed to offend everyone from Hillary Clinton to Bill OReilly by suggesting that some of the activist widows of the Sept. 11 victims were enjoying their husbands deaths. Thats over the top even for Coulter. But she has identified a real problem: How do you conduct a political argument with grieving relatives?
Coulter faults liberals for exploiting victims and their relatives as human shields for their arguments against the war and in favor of gun control. But conservatives use these tactics, too. Bush had the parents of a slain Iraqi soldier stand up during the State of the Union address as a tacit endorsement of his policy.
America is supposed to be a government of laws, not men, but the surest way to pass a law is to name it after someone, ideally a girl or woman. Dozens of states have passed Megans laws. Theres another measure against sex offenders in Ohio called Nicoles Law, not to be confused with the Nicoles Law in Massachusetts, which requires carbon-monoxide detectors in homes.
There is a federal Katies Law (giving money to rural police agencies), a New Mexico Katies Law (requiring DNA samples to be collected from suspects), and a Minnesota Katies Law (providing money to track...)
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: grief
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Grief is reliable motivation for political action, the dems and the nanny state.
1
posted on
06/14/2006 12:39:24 AM PDT
by
neverdem
To: neverdem
2
posted on
06/14/2006 12:45:32 AM PDT
by
LibertarianInExile
('Is' and 'amnesty' both have clear, plain meanings. Are Bill, McQueeg and the President related?)
To: neverdem
There's way too much showy "grief" and demonstrative emotion constantly dripping all over modern life.
Everyone should just shut up, go home, close the door and grieve alone or with family. Inside and without the TV cameras asking "What were you feeling?".
"Feelings",..bah humbug. Just shut up.
3
posted on
06/14/2006 12:50:03 AM PDT
by
garyhope
To: neverdem
"She managed to offend everyone from Hillary Clinton to Bill OReilly by suggesting that some of the activist widows of the Sept. 11 victims were enjoying their husbands deaths. Thats over the top even for Coulter. But she has identified a real problem: How do you conduct a political argument with grieving relatives?" ----
Yep.
4
posted on
06/14/2006 1:06:12 AM PDT
by
beyond the sea
(Scientists Are Itching to Blame Poison Ivy's Effect on Global Warming)
To: Mike Bates; Darkwolf377; sinkspur; Peach; Steve_Seattle; johnny7; derllak; outlawcam; Echo Talon; ..
excellent article (Coulter) ............. ping
5
posted on
06/14/2006 1:14:01 AM PDT
by
beyond the sea
(Scientists Are Itching to Blame Poison Ivy's Effect on Global Warming)
To: neverdem
Grief isn't an automatic validation for a cause So true.
The syndrome that your title encapsulates is behind a lot of the nanny-statism that we are experiencing now as a society/world.
6
posted on
06/14/2006 1:14:27 AM PDT
by
Looking4Truth
(Radical muslims and illegal immigrants: One group wants to kill U.S and the other invade U.S.)
To: neverdem
"Whether they support the war or not, they are expressing their personal views and not necessarily even their slain childrens."
"Cindy Sheehan camped outside President Bushs ranch in Texas to protest the war, but her son re-enlisted before his death." -----
Yes.
7
posted on
06/14/2006 1:18:28 AM PDT
by
beyond the sea
(Scientists Are Itching to Blame Poison Ivy's Effect on Global Warming)
To: neverdem
She managed to offend everyone from Hillary Clinton to Bill OReilly I guess by Bill O'Reilly's logic since she is being attacked by BOTH sides it proves that she is "fair & balanced" :D
To: neverdem
The world doesnt need a Johns law.Unless it's:
****
No loitering in the men's room.
9
posted on
06/14/2006 1:20:34 AM PDT
by
beyond the sea
(Scientists Are Itching to Blame Poison Ivy's Effect on Global Warming)
To: beyond the sea
To: Echo Talon
11
posted on
06/14/2006 1:21:09 AM PDT
by
beyond the sea
(Scientists Are Itching to Blame Poison Ivy's Effect on Global Warming)
To: neverdem
Bush had the parents of a slain Iraqi soldier stand up during the State of the Union address as a tacit endorsement of his policy. I do not agree that that is the same thing...
To: beyond the sea
Johns law: you poke it, you own it! :)
To: Echo Talon
14
posted on
06/14/2006 1:29:00 AM PDT
by
beyond the sea
(Scientists Are Itching to Blame Poison Ivy's Effect on Global Warming)
To: sauropod
15
posted on
06/14/2006 1:49:34 AM PDT
by
sauropod
("Heaven on my left, Hell on my right and the Angel of Death behind me" - Dune)
To: neverdem
She managed to offend everyone from Hillary Clinton to Bill OReilly
Wow! That's like the entire political spectrum from Paleo-Condescending Elitist to Neo-Condescending Elitist.
To: Echo Talon
The parents stood, they did not start running at the mouth
To: boxerblues
The parents stood, they did not start running at the mouth exactly
To: neverdem
Politics are about emotions; especially the last 40 years.
No intellectual basis quite often.
19
posted on
06/14/2006 2:21:01 AM PDT
by
Finalapproach29er
(Americans need to remember Osama's "strong horse" -"weak horse" analogy. Let's stop acting weak.)
To: neverdem
I give the grieving parents or relations of a slain family member great leeway when it comes to expressing their grief. But this guy Berg is not just expressing grief, he's mounting a political campaign. Just as the Jersey Girl did. That makes them open for criticism. The whole argument of being beyond criticism simply because one has suffered a loss is a ridiculous contention.
If a person goes into public arena, they are subject to the sames rules as anyone else. David Berg is not granted immunity because he has suffered a tragedy. Millions of Americans have suffered tragedies. That does not make them exempt either if they choose to transport their grief into the public scene.
20
posted on
06/14/2006 2:53:10 AM PDT
by
driftless
( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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