Words

Overland High School teacher Jay Bennish, whose lecture in a world geography class last month also included words about capitalism, U.S. foreign policy and the invasion of Iraq, has been sanctioned for not providing students with a School Board rule requiring teachers to present the "other side".

In his lecture he stated:

"...in Bush's State of the Union speech, the president was, in effect, "threatening the whole planet."
"Sounds a lot like the things that Adolf Hitler used to say — we're the only ones who are right, everyone else is backwards," Bennish said.

He told students he was "not saying that Bush and Hitler are exactly the same."

"But," he said, "there's some eerie similarities to the tones that they use."

He talked extensively about U.S. foreign policy and capitalism. At one point, he questioned Bush's stated belief that democracy is the solution to bloodshed in the Middle East.

"Who is probably the single most violent nation on planet Earth?" Bennish asked. "The United States of America, and we're a democracy — quote, unquote."

On capitalism, he questioned whether it did anything to provide "everybody in the world with the basic needs that they need."

"Do you see how this economic system is at odds with humanity, at odds with caring and compassion?" he asked.

At the end of his talk, Bennish told students he was "not in any way implying that you should agree with me. I don't even know if I'm necessarily taking a position. But what I'm trying to do is get you to think about these issues more in-depth."

The School board has suspended him.


Teacher



*****

And now for somthing completely different...But totally related...

May I present to you, Ladies and Gentlemen, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America!

A big hand, if you will:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

There you go Folks, The First Amendment! Give it up. Thanks for coming, First, we don't see you much anymore. It's great to see that you are still kicking, even if it's not all that high.


*****


OK, Because enquiring minds want to know:

Pamela P. Willeford , the third shooter in Vice President Cheney 's recent hunting excursion, apparently has yet to publicly remark on the incident or why she was in Texas at all that day, since she is posted as our ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

...embassy public affairs officer Daniel Wendell said in an e-mail. "In the 2 1/2 years she has been ambassador," he said,... "Ambassador Willeford has been away from post for family and personal travel for a total of 21 weeks."

So every three weeks, Pamela earns a week of vacation. Good gig, that!

Word on the street is that Lynn Cheney doesn't like Pamela.

Personally, I get an "ewwwwww" feeling just thinking about this.

Enjoy your weekend,

Steve