(note: I respond to the things I’ve written here in the very next post)

It interests me to hear on news broadcasts what drives people to select a presidential candidate. It seems like this time around, more than ever, a great many people are making this democratic primary an emotional choice. For the first time in history, an African American has a legitimate shot at the White House. For the second time in history, a woman has a legitimate shot. Both of these people are remarkable individuals, and indeed remarkable candidates. Nevertheless, I believe that should a majority of democrats nominate a candidate based on their emotional feelings regarding a candidate’s gender or the color of their skin, we will have further proof that our democracy is broken. (more…)

… and Nick’s response to my article is certainly an intelligently crafted one. Though I could, however, childishly point out that his argument is guilty of a logical fallacy called the appeal to common practice, I believe I will refrain from such and instead focus on the question he ended with:

“Do current attitudes toward illegal immigrants characterize a depraved United States, fat on its own glory, turning a back on the ideals it claims for its past?

(more…)

In a recent commentary, Phil Loring expressed some awkwardness regarding a perceived contradiction between a movement to save Ellis Island and the grass roots furor overillegal immigration which probably had a share in defeating Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the Dream Act, and New York state’s Driver’s License initiative. There is an important distinction, however, which has been overlooked in his commentary. Whatever your feelings towards Ellis Island, it was a processing center for immigrants. By definition, those immigrants admitted through the Island station were legal. There is no connection between those immigrants and measures in Texas and Florida that are designed to prevent illegal immigration. (more…)

Its been a while, I know. I apologize for the long absence to everyone subscribed. When I got back home following my honeymoon school and life just refused to slow down. I realize now that its less a matter of slowing life down and more a matter of making a point to take at least 30 minutes two write something here.

The need finally came this morning, when I saw a commercial for the Save Ellis Island organization. The commercial brought together actors, athletes, role models, making a plea to help them save this hugely important monument to American History. And indeed it is a great monument, to the young and idealistic years of our nation. A lot of great things happened at the hospital at Ellis Island, and i believe that it should not be allowed to fall into ruin. (more…)