U OF M NEEDS TO STOP DISCRIMINATING!

Monday, October 30, 2006

To: The Detroit News
Re: “Affirmative action ballot issue could be a setback for women”, Oct. 30.


I am surprised that the Detroit News allowed itself to be influenced by the diversionary tactics of opponents of Proposal 2, “ Affirmative action ballot issue could be a setback for women”, Oct. 30 editorial.

California and the state of Washington have passed similar proposals a few years ago and women there have not experienced any setbacks, so why even bring up the argument.

Putting all diversions aside, the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (Proposal 2) is about the University of Michigan and the fact that it is the only school in Michigan still using race as a factor in their admissions policy.

Supporters of Proposal 2 want U of M to stop discriminating and become color blind when accepting or rejecting applicants for admission.



Janusz M Szyszko

YES ON PROPOSAL 2!

Sunday, October 29, 2006


To:     The Canton Observer
Re:     Proposal 2


Proposal 2, a proposal to end discrimination in university admissions, government hiring and government contracting, must have opponents with a lot of money, judging by the TV ads in opposition to the proposal.

The ads show white mothers and their daughters warning us that their health could be placed in jeopardy if the proposal passes. This is a deliberate deception and a diversion tactic knowing full well that in California and the state of Washington, where a similar proposal was passed years ago, nothing of the sort ever occurred.

Let’s face it; it’s all about the University of Michigan. The only university in our state that still uses race as a factor in their admissions policy and they do not want to change.

U of M’s reasons may be well meaning but in my opinion, they are misguided. The voters in Michigan have a chance with Proposal 2, to compel U of M to stop discriminating and become color-blind in their admissions policy.


Janusz M Szyszko

U OF M NEEDS TO BE COLOR BLIND

Sunday, October 29, 2006

To: The Detroit Free Press
Re: “A lot at stake if ban is passed”, Oct. 29


Despite the biased headline, “A lot at stake if ban is passed”, Oct. 29, the article does a fair job in presenting both sides of the Proposal 2 debate.

In the end, it is all about U of M and their battle to keep race as a factor in their admissions policy, even though they are the only school in Michigan that still does that.

TV ads showing white mothers and their white daughters warning us that their health may be in danger if Proposal 2 passes is just a deception because California and the state of Washington, which passed similar proposals, experienced none of what the ads threaten will happen.

It is time to force U of M to stop discriminating and become color blind in their admissions policy.


Janusz M Szyszko

MUSLIM VEILS DOWN UNDER!

Just a quick note on the Muslim Veil debate.

Last week the head Islamic dude in Australia was quoted from a sermon he gave that women who venture in public without covering their faces, invite rape.

He used an example of uncovered meat that is thrown outside and attracts cats and dogs so is a woman without a veil, just like uncovered meat.

Obviously this caused quite a stir down under and around the world. It is good that such ignorance is exposed, especially from such a high figure. Moderate Muslims will have to say something because if they don’t, they risk being lumped with the radicals and that does not bode well for the future of Islam and Muslims in general.

Here again, we can see how out of touch these Muslim clerics (men) are with social reality and still live in their ignorant, backward past.

To them, men have no control or should have any control over their biological desires and therefore they cannot rape, they can only be induced to rape by wily, uncovered women. In their culture, raped women are jailed and not the rapist.

In their culture, they do not see rape as a violent crime; they see it as an act of provoked sexual arousal that is acted upon.

To think that a naked face would provoke rape is just plain ignorance. Rapists rape 90 year old women; is that because they look sexy?

Muslims need to enter the modern world and partake of the wisdom and knowledge that the modern world has been accumulating for all these thousands of years; you can’t live by rules adopted thousands of years ago because those rules were based on ignorance.

I will admit, some beliefs are based on eternal absolutes but some practices are just plain stupid in our world today.


Janusz

MICHIGAN'S ANTI DISCRIMINATION PROPOSAL

I have written about Michigan’s proposal #2 in previous blogs. The proposal would constitutionally ban discrimination in university admissions, government hiring and government contracting. Discrimination defined as pertaining to race, ethnicity, color or gender.

The proposal has been termed the “anti-affirmative action” proposal because it supposedly would deny minorities and women the extra help they need to make up for past discriminatory practices.

I have supported affirmative action in the past but feel strongly that those days are gone and the field is pretty well level at this point and to continue affirmative action practices in the areas mentioned above, would in fact be discriminatory.

I would like to comment on the campaign AGAINST the proposal; there is NO campaign FOR the proposal except opinion pieces, pro and con, in the print media.

Specifically, I want to comment on the TV spots against the proposal.

What is quite obvious when you view the TV spots is that blacks are NOT pictured or discussed at all. Affirmative action is and has always been associated with discrimination against African-Americans (blacks),

In the TV ads we see only white women (mothers) and daughters; not one black.

In our history, gender discrimination did and probably still does occur but not even close to the discrimination involving race or skin color.

The ads use blatant misinformation (lies) that women’s and girl’s health would be at risk and science education for females would suffer – total bullshit!

In my mind, this ad was formulated to appeal to the white population of Michigan that would normally not respond to an ad favoring affirmative action for blacks.

To understand the motivation for these ads, we need to follow the money trail and see who is paying for this campaign and why.

Obviously the continued affirmative action practices in the areas mentioned at the beginning, is very important to some one or some group(s).

The university admission rules have been discriminatory at the University of Michigan (UofM) in the past and the University has had legal dealings with the Supreme Court in the past. They are flush with flaming liberal money and would definitely contribute millions to this campaign. If this proposal passes, they would be forced to deal with admissions in a FAIR manner – something they do not wish to do.

In the case of UofM, they actually are acting in what they strongly believe in; social activism in favor of minorities (blacks). Their role in this campaign is altruistic and not for monetary gain.

The next two (2) areas are a little different. UofM would still want to see blacks having an advantage in governmental hiring and contracting but who else?

Obviously black businesses that would have an edge in winning government contracts would want this proposal to be defeated and would contribute money to the campaign.

Government hiring policies would benefit the average black worker but they would not have the money to support this campaign.

Another suggestion would be rich, liberal fat cats that have money to burn and really believe in social activism.

The ads that are running are devious, well thought out and cunning. They play on existing prejudices and are not afraid in fabricating facts; professional.

I find this whole business disgusting because the proposal is not judged on its merits but on the spin that people with money put on it; the people are being manipulated!

I guess I should know better by now how politics work and how you really win in politics.

Janusz

BUSH AND RELIGION!

Here is more crap throwing on the Republicans BUT I must insert a little qualifying statement. I am not against Republicans per se. I am all for the OLD Republicans and their Republican political philosophy of small government, little governmental interference in people’s lives, fiscal responsibility and staying out of foreign entanglements – remember THOSE Republicans.

Bush is not a Republican. He is someone pretending to be a Republican. I throw crap at him and all the Republicans that support him – they are also NOT Republicans.

As I have said before, Democrats scare me but to get back to political moderation, we need to throw these pseudo Republicans out on their ass so real Republicans will come out of hiding.

Anyway, I need to throw some crap on Bush’s so called religiosity. His faith-based initiative allowing charities to get federal monies even though they discriminate – only help and hire people of their own faith – was very un-Republican – separation of church and state. His “family values” campaign topic was very successful and all his holier than thou horseshit was, I admit, successful and made all those right wing religious kooks come out of the shed and vote.

Now one of his own, David Kuo (religious zealot) with absolute access to the president and the White House, wrote a damning book (at election time?) titled TEMPTING FAITH: AN INSIDE STORY OF POLITICAL SEDUCTION.

Basically he said that he fell for Bush’s holier than thou stance on issues and believed Bush was sincere and could make a difference in the country by following the dictates of his Christian faith.

Well David soon realized that this religion stuff was just for political gain; a plan designed by Karl Rove but TOTALLY HYPOCRITICAL. He overheard them actually call Evangelical leaders “nuts” and “goofy” for their views.

Personally, I have always thought that ole’ Bush was actually sincere about his faith but I guess I can be wrong – sigh!

David Kuo said he was deceived. The Republicans were and are for the rich and screw the poor – not like Jesus would have liked it. David is a little naïve me thinks to see Republicans as champions of the poor and here is where an oxymoron is created: republicans / poor.

Mr. Kuo took his story to “60 Minutes” and everywhere else he could so he could sell his book or alert people about the real Bush and his use of religion strictly to get votes.

Who to believe?

Janusz

ELECTION ANTICS OF THE GOP!

Elections are near and the Republicans are pulling out all the stops.

Bush was screaming that the Democrats don’t support our troops so don’t vote for them. He must not have heard that our troops don’t support the war either and some have started public protests – can’t see supporting troops that don’t want any part of this stupid, useless war.

Republicans are screaming that the Democrats are responsible for the FOLEY affair – I am not kidding. They say that the Democrats knew about Foley for a long time but waited till now to go public – heh? The Republicans knew they had a pervert on board for over 5 years and were never planning to do anything about it – dumb asses!

Rush Limbaugh made fun of Michael J. Fox asking for stem cell research votes to help people like him (Parkinson’s disease). Ole Rush said Fox was just acting when he could not control his movements. His own listeners called to tell him Fox was NOT acting – another dumb ass!

Bush, desperate to put a good spin on the Iraq war has announced that he will no longer use the phrase “stay the course” because it means he will stay there until all our soldiers have been killed – dumb ass!

The Bush Administration announced that the Iraqi leadership have agreed to a timetable for the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq and for Iraqis to take over those duties – the Iraqis denied they agreed to any such thing – what? Iraq has a civil war in progress NO ONE IS IN CHARGE INCLUDING US – duh!

Seems like the more they try the more desperate they appear – hope people see this and vote accordingly – the republicans are out of control – period!


Janusz

REPUBLICANS NEED TO BE TOUGHT A LESSON!

Sunday, October 22, 2006


To” The Detroit News
Re: Bouchard should be our next U.S. senator”, Oct. 22


Although I agree with the News that Mike Bouchard is the better choice to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate, “Bouchard should be our next U.S. senator”, Oct. 22, I feel strongly that at this critical time in our nation’s history, Republicans need to be knocked off their high horse. The Republicans need to return to their political roots; they have lost their way under their current leadership and the best way to tell them so is to slap them out of power. Sorry, but it has to be done for their own good as well as ours.


Janusz M Szyszko

MORE ON THE VEIL - NIQAB!

Here is more on the Muslim veil debate.

An article in the Detroit Free Press reported about a woman who wore a NIQAB; a veil covering the whole head except the eyes, to court. The case involved a rental car overcharge. The woman converted to Islam some time ago and appears to be a black American.

Anyway, the judge told her to remove the veil only when she is testifying so he can see her face and judge if she is telling the truth. She refused and so the judge threw the case out.

Here are some facts. A MINORITY of Muslim women wears the NIQAB and they are mostly of YEMENI decent. Also, Muslims DO NOT consider the wearing of the NIQAB as some sort of religious symbol or requirement. Still Muslims say that it is a bona fide religious practice and should be respected as a civil right.

There are no rules governing the wearing of a NIQAB in a courtroom. Each judge decides for himself what he or she will allow but in a court of law, where serious matters are decided, for a jury NOT to see a person’s face while they are testifying is just plain unacceptable.

Janusz

DETROIT SCHOOL SYSTEM STILL THE SAME!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

To: The Detroit Free Press
Re: “Iffy references taint DPS bids”, Oct.22.


I was not surprised to read that the Detroit Public School system awarded million dollar contracts to companies with questionable credentials, “Iffy references taint DPS bids”, Oct.22.

For all the screaming and hollering that Detroiters did to get their schools back under their control, the issue of competence is still front and center and Detroiters obviously cannot deliver.

Detroit school children deserve a school system run by professionals that have their welfare as their main concern and not how they can use the system to enrich themselves and their friends.

________

What needs to be said about the Detroit Public School system is that RACE is the main obstacle. Detroit blacks were outraged when the state of Michigan took over the school system. They said the white man is telling them how to educate their children.

The problem was and is, black Detroiters had the school system under their control for many years and they failed miserably. Let us put it this way - their children's education was not the concern - it was all about power and money.

It appears (and now there is proof) that people in control, enriched themselves and their friends. Yup, they gave out contracts and jobs to incompetent people but at least they were black and therefore the money stayed in black hands.

For this reason, many middle class blacks have moved out or at least have taken their children out of Detroit schools. They are not stupid, they can see what is going on but yet, they do not dare to stand up and criticize what is going on - they just leave.

The subject of race is still very touchy and people do not want to raise their voices when they see problems out of fear of being called racist. Certain blacks (Detroit) have learned to play the race card to their advantage and in Detroit, they play it all the time.

Our governor is a democrat and so will not do anything to help Detroit kids out of fear of alienating the black vote. Well I am saying it is time to quit playing the race game and stand up for the kids in Detroit. They deserve better and we deserve better.

Without a decent education, the kids in Detroit are doomed to poverty and incarceration. It is time to stand up and be heard!

Janusz

MORE ON THE VEIL DEBATE!

Here is a little more on the veil that some Muslim women are required (want?) to wear as a sign of modesty and the debate in England.

It appears that the politician that started this whole thing requested Muslim women that come to visit him and want to talk to him, to remove their veil covering their face. He said he had trouble talking to someone with a mask.

Well, I agree. In our culture, if you are hiding your face behind a mask you are trying to hide your identity and usually for a good reason, you are committing a crime and don’t want anyone to identify you.

In my family, it is actually impolite to address someone in sunglasses unless you are outside in a blaring sunlight and everyone has sunglasses on. I think it is only human nature to want to see the person you are talking to.

I am obviously still having some problems with denying someone the freedom to dress as they wish and am just arranging my thoughts to come to terms with this – please bear with me.

Janusz

BUSH WANTS VICTORY IN IRAQ!

Here is more on that commission headed by James A. Baker, III that is looking for a way out of the Iraq mess.

It appears that some of my suggestions, especially the one about splitting Iraq into three parts have been bandied about by the commission and leaked out to the public. The administration quickly called such a plan as a “nonstarter”.

When asked why they would not consider splitting the country into three parts, the press secretary responded that President Bush and Vice-President Chaney would only consider plans that would grant the Americans “Victory” in Iraq.

The even boohooed the idea of gradually reducing our military presence there because it does not grant the U.S. a “victory”.

Well here you have it ladies and gentlemen, the way out of our quagmire; all you have to do is come up with a plan that would grant us victory.

You obviously have to define what the word victory really means in the Iraqi context. If it means peace in Iraq, we will be there forever. If it means a democratic, unified Iraq, we will be there forever.

In my judgment victory in Iraq is impossible by any standards of measure and especially in a way that would allow President Bush to come out of this a hero – will never happen.

What else you got Georgie Porgy?


Janusz

SHOULD MUSLIM WOMEN BE ALLOWED?

An interesting debate is taking place in the U.K. It appears that Jack Straw, the leader in the House of Commons has objected to Muslim women in Britain wearing veils over their faces with only the eyes showing. He said veils cause “separation” from society?

PM Blair has sort of seconded Snow’s views. He made comments about the difficulty of integration into British society while wearing a veil.

It appears that Britain, like France, has also taken a stance against women covering their faces while attending and teaching in schools. They have a logical reason – no one can understand them when their faces and mouths are covered – good point.

Another point of ridiculousness is not allowing pictures for ID cards or licenses to be taken without a veil – give me a break!

Muslim women state that the veil is a sign of modesty in their culture and not wearing one makes them feel uncomfortable. Modesty has its place in polite society and we do cross the bounds of modesty all the time – just visit one of our shopping malls but the human face was never something that offended anyone’s sense of modesty, in any culture at any time in our history. I think it has more to do with the rules Muslim men folk have made up and not about how Muslim women actually feel.

I remember traveling to Malaysia which is a partly Muslim country. The women there observed the dress customs but the material they used was silk, multi-colored and clinging. They wore a lot of makeup and what they did show was very good looking.

I believe women are the same all over the world; they want to look good and that is, I believe, a biological trait – trying to attract the male gaze for biological reasons, etc. – they cannot help it! To make them cover up is against nature and satisfies only male jealousy which appears to be an epidemic among Muslim men – hell, they even have 90 years old women cover up and where is the logic there?

I suppose we should respect cultural differences BUT we are not the ones trying to integrate into their culture! So do the Brits and the Frogs have a point?

Many immigrants bring their style of dress with them to their adopted country but many if not all eventually take on the dress of the country they have adopted – they want to fit in.

In my own area, we have many from India. I see the older Indians still wearing their traditional dress as they take their walks around the neighborhood. I do not see that many younger Indians doing the same. I would never dream of not allowing them to wear what they want to but why is covering your face DIFFERENT; because it’s mandatory?

Desert dwellers covered their faces (men and women) to keep the sand out of their mouths. People that still live in the desert continue to cover their faces while in the desert, but they take the wraps off when they come out of the desert. Western cowboys did the same as evidenced by all those movies of cowboys on cattle drives.

I guess what I am saying is that ancient traditions have a place in culture and many of us celebrate those traditions on special occasions where we dress up in historic garb to commemorate those times but I think the total covering of the female body including the face in today’s world is a perversion of culture and tradition that occurred at a time in history where religious leaders were trying to dominate the population especially the females and to bring them into total domination by males. Hell, the same thing happened in Christianity – remember women having to cover their heads before entering a church – the men did not have to.

We have seen in Afghanistan when the Taliban was no longer in power and women threw away their head to toe coverings but the religious police started beating them until they went back to wearing those burkas. To me this is proof that this is a male rule specifically adopted and enforced by males to dominate the women in their society.

If we are to consider ourselves, in the West, as somewhat socially progressive, then we must stand by our principals and if we are convinced that the facial veil is a repressive rule for domination, we should not allow it in our land.

I know this thought process was a little rambling but I am just trying to get my bearings on this issue. I think it is a crucial issue for our society and maybe for the world as a whole because this one issue may expose the dark side of Islamic culture that has nothing to do with Islam or the Quran. This may actually embolden moderate Muslims to stand up and make their voices heard – finally and just in time!

Janusz

DADDY TO W'S RESCUE!

I have a feeling that Daddy Bush asked his old friend and Secretary of State, James Baker (76) to save his boy’s ass by figuring out a way to get out of Iraq. He needs to do this or W will be known in history books as the idiot who put this country in unnecessary danger and screwed up the world for decades.

The elder Bush has the same last name and does not want this to reflect on him, after all, he IS the father and technically responsible for his son’s actions.

James Baker has put together a bi-partisan commission that WILL come up with a plan to end the Iraq quagmire – I can’t wait to see what they will come up with.

If you pay attention, the sectarian killing in Iraq has intensified to ridiculous levels; bodies all over and continuous slaughter. American soldiers are killed as they get in the way of Muslims killing Muslims.

I don’t think you can no longer deny that a civil war is in progress.

I have always maintained that splitting the country into three parts is the only answer; Kurds, Shiites & Sunnis.

Some say we need more troops on the ground in Iraq – why? We can keep everyone in their homes for how long? As soon as we turn our heads – slaughter anew.

We will not force democracy on these people – never. It has to develop naturally.

Oil revenue is the problem. We have to work out where all three (3) sectors will share in the oil wealth – that is the biggest problem; all else can be worked out by just separating the groups.

I hope Baker and his boys can see what realistically be done in the area and not be blinded like Bush was by idealism and total, abject IGNORANCE.

They need to remember that thousands are dying every month so whatever they come up with could not make things worst. We are at the point that anything and I mean anything, is better that the current situation.

Janusz

ELECTIONS IN MICHIGAN - MY VOTES!

Just mailed my absentee ballot for mid term elections in Michigan.

On a national level our incumbent senator is Debbie Stabenow (Democrat) challenged by Mike Bouchard (Republican). I do not like Ms. Stabenow because she is a confirmed socialist and union sympathizer with no independent thought processing capabilities. Mike had Bush stump for him which indicated to me at least, that he is a dye in the wool Republican with no independent thought processes either. Most other Republicans are at least distancing themselves from Bush to stand a chance at the elections but not ole’ Mike, which to me is a sign he is not in touch with the current political reality out there.

Both do not thrill me but as I have stated before, the Republicans need to be taught a lesson and to do that, we cannot replace a Democrat with a Republican so Debbie gets my reluctant vote.

As far as the Michigan governor position, I went with Granholm (Democrat) because DeVos is a religious kook. He probably knows more about business than Granholm does but I do not want him positioned for a run at the presidency; we already have a religious kook as president and that must never happen again.

Locally, I don’t really care about party affiliation. I voted for mainly incumbents that were doing a good job already.

We had quite a few proposals.

Could not vote to allow hunting of Morning Doves; go hunt deer, the herd is already too big.

Yes on banning discrimination in school admissions, government jobs and government contracting. Many said the proposal really went after affirmative action and you can read it that way but in these specific areas, we need to admit and hire based on ability, not skin color. I have written about this previously at some length.

Proposals asking for money to be constitutionally mandated for specific areas (education and conservation), sorry, I don’t like mandating fiscal policy through constitutional means; it ties the hands of the legislators who need room to maneuver when it comes to money matters.

We also had a proposal restricting the government from taking private land under eminent domain and giving to another private individual. Usually this government power is reserved for taking private land for the public good like building highways and not for private use even though it might benefit the general public. If you really need the land, let’s make sure the owner is fairly and well compensated.

In the next few weeks, political debate will absolutely accelerate. Hope people are really paying attention and not just voting party, gender or looks; how about the issues this time!

Janusz

NO MORE PURGATORY - LIMBO?

Religious matters just cannot leave me alone – they keep popping out screaming for comments!

The Vatican is considering changing their centuries old view that babies that die before they are baptized go to “limbo” or as I was taught “purgatory” which is a place between heaven and hell – but neither.

In general, not a good place to be but I suppose preferable to hell. You were basically stuck forever – imagine!

Martin Luther started the Protestant revolution based in part on the practice by Catholic clerics of selling indulgences – pay me to get your mother out of purgatory – or I guess, your un-baptized deceased baby.

Some clerics were quoted in my paper as saying this is really a non-issue and I want to say as loudly as possible – SORRY, BUT YOUR NOT GETTING OFF SO EASILY.

My parents plotted on kidnapping (so to speak) my children to take them and get them secretly baptized because they could not bear the thought of them in purgatory if something (god forbid) happened to them and they died before getting baptized.

For centuries, people agonized because of this; all the way till now and the Church wants to just say oops, we made a tiny error in thinking.

People believe the Church speaks for God. They actually think the Catholic Church knows what God thinks and wants. The Church has made these people believe this and now after centuries, they want to say they misunderstood God?

I want the Church to admit to all those billions of faithful that they have NO idea what God thinks or even that He exists; they only believe they do.

I want them to do penance for the zillions they have deceived throughout the centuries and I want them to apologize to my parents for putting them through all this unnecessary bullshit (of course I let them baptize my kids – if it meant so much to them – could I stand against it – it meant nothing to me but so much to them, even though we now know it was all a lie).

Janusz

MARK FOLEY AND THE ELECTIONS!

Mark Foley, the Republican that liked male pages in Congress and sent them “naughty” emails is a big story and may affect the elections?

Well let us see why the Republicans should fear the Foley factor.

Foley was /is a perv.; that is a fact. The Republican leadership knew it and knew it for a long time – some say since 2000. What did they do; they told him to behave!

They were willing to overlook his perverse actions which may or may not have led to physical sexual abuse of teenage males, all for politics.

This from the party that told us they are the protectors of American moral standards, family values and Christian ideals – bullshit – they would obviously sell their mothers into slavery just to keep a Republican majority in the House.

They deserve to lose this election and their majority in the House just so they can learn a lesson. They need to be knocked off their high horse and their air of superiority over mere mortals – they need to get their asses kicked big time.

I am not saying that Democrats are any better and I am not for Democrats being in charge either but Republicans need to be taught some humility and they need to return to their philosophical basics which were forgotten when Bush/Rowe brainwashed them into believing their religious values horseshit.

We need a strong Republican party in this country; we do not have a real Republican party at this moment – lets build one by first destroying what today calls itself the GOP.

Janusz