October 26, 2007Coming SundayFed up with speeding drivers who confuse your street with the Martinsville Speedway? You're not alone. Stay tuned. I don't know about you, but I really could do without all the war-mongering about Iran. We haven't yet cleaned up the mess we started in Iraq. How can we even think about Iran? Oh I forgot, thinking hasn't exactly been on display in the minds of the war hawks. Genarlow is free. In case you don't know, Genarlow Wilson is the young man in Georgia who has been in prison for more than two years serving an 11-year sentence for having consensual oral sex with a teen girl. Genarlow, 21, was convicted of aggravated child molestation following a 2003 New Year's Eve party in a hotel room. He was 17, a good student and athlete, when he was videotaped with a 15-year-old girl. Certainly, I can't condone the actions of Genarlow and his sexual benefactor and the obviously raucous party at which they engaged in their act. But neither can I condone the actions of the prosecutor who sought at every turn to keep Genarlow in prison, even after the law under which he was convicted was changed making his crime a misdemeanor. The Georgia Supreme Court ruled today that Genarlow's continued imprisonment amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. May Genarlow begin to put back the pieces of his life and may lessons be learned all around in this one. |
About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
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Comments
[October 27, 2007 1:00 PM]
Bobby Buck : →http://wareandhill.com/contact.htmlIn light of the saber rattling toward Iran by the Bush administration, which has a little more than a year left on the job, I simply can't believe he would lead us into another war as a going-away present. As for Dick Cheney? Would he and the profiteers of the military/industrial complex be capable of such? In a heartbeat! I am glad we have a capable Senator, such as Jim Webb who is trying to rein in what could be a catastrophic mistake, with our involvement in the middle eastern political destiny, nuclear or not. Let Saudi Arabia take the lead, being it's probably the strongest ally with the military capability, Iran notwithstanding, militarily. Or is it that we just don't trust any Muslim nation to do the right thing? We sit concerned of what will happen with Pakistan's nuclear capability in the future, and as to what degree Islam with direct its course of cooperation. There is confirmation that a mutual gas line is underway among Iran, Pakistan, and India, another nuclear power and under another religious influence, primarily Hindu... a sworn enemy to Pakistan. Could it be that common sense is beginning to prevail in the near and middle east, causing these countries to cooperate for the mutual benefit of all involved? This is going to happen despite the Bush/Cheney's unilateral sanctions against Iran. In other words, these virtual next door neighbors don't seem to be moved at all by Iran's accessing nuclear technology. Hopefully, this is not another Bush/Cheney war cry of "weapons of mass destruction" ruse. Lastly, the extreme war talk by the so-called conservative talk show hosts about striking Iran, Islamo-Fascism, etc. is in fact just that, talk, as well as a hypocritical incitement to make more money from the gullible. These talk jockeys aren't about to leave their safe and comfortable digs to go to the front lines and broadcast on a long term basis, while urging the sons and daughters of Americans to shed life and limb in protecting their patriotism for profit...i.e. "great Americans." I addressed this issue in a letter to Rush Limbaugh.