DUAL STINGS

TASER TROUBLE JUST PROVES THE HYPOCRISY OF THE LEFT. VIET NAM VETERAN AND PAST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SENATOR JOHN KERRY, RECENTLY WAS PEPPERED WITH QUESTIONS FROM A YOUNG JOURNALIST AT A FLORIDA COLLEGE. WHEN HE WAS TASERED, KERRY NEITHER DEFENDED NOR DISMISSED HIS FELLOW, LIBERAL SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINE IN THE WAR AGAINST REPUBLICANS. ARMED WITH THE WEAPON OF WORDS, WORDS GUARANTEED UNDER THE 1ST AMENDMENT OF FREE SPEECH, I THOUGHT HE WAS SAFE IN THE BOSOM OF HIS PROTESTING BUDDY, MR. KERRY. NO WAY. FREEDOM OF SPEECH DEFENDED BY THE LIBERALS FROM THE 60'S ONWARD AND SUPPOSEDLY DENIED WITH THE ADVENT OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION - STOPPED WHEN IT PREVENTED MR. KERRY FROM EXPRESSING HIS OPINIONS. KERRY'S COWARDICE AND INACTION AND HYPOCRITICAL ELITISM, PROVIDE A COUNTERPOINT TO HIS FELLOW PROGRESSIVE (LIBERAL), SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON, WHO WISHES TO REMOVE FREE CHOICE FROM AMERICANS REGARDING THEIR HEALTH CARE. AS SHE SAID, HEALTH CARE WILL BE MANDATORY AND UNIVERSAL, BUT CITIZENS WILL BE FREE TO CHOOSE OPTIONS.

LACK OF FREEDOM IN THE AGENDA OF LIBERAL POLITICS CONTRASTS WITH TOO MUCH OF IT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS EARLY AS 5TH GRADE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONCERT BAND. NO REQUEST WILL BE DENIED. INSTRUMENTS, SOME COSTING AS MUCH AS $3,000, CAN BE PURCHASED, EVEN AS 'RENT-TO-OWN.' THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AT ONE SCHOOL, LEAPED FROM 30 TO 160 IN JUST A YEAR. MAYBE THE PROMISE OF A TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD EVERY 4 YEARS PROVIDES INCENTIVE. THE COLLEGE, BAND DIRECTOR SEES THE TRIP AS HAVING "AN EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE." HE LAMENTS HIS "GRUELING SCHEDULE" AS A MUSIC MAJOR WHEN HE WAS IN COLLEGE. COULD AN ACADEMIC MAJOR BE MORE GRUELING? THE POPULARITY OF A MUSIC PROGRAM SHOWS THAT FREE CHOICE HAS SCRAPPED ACADEMICS IN EDUCATION.

WHAT DO THESE TWO BITS OF INFORMATION HAVE IN COMMON? CAN BOTH THE DEATH OF FREEDOM AND THE DEATH OF INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS BE GOOD? NO, THEY ARE DUAL STINGS ON AMERICA'S CONSCIENCE.