Abortion Ban in South Dakota
How long has Alito been confirmed now? Well it didn’t take long - South Dakota is on the verge of passing a full-fledged abortion ban. It will definitely be interesting. This law was designed to go head-to-head with Roe vs. Wade. I have no idea how long it will take to reach the high court or when the case will be heard, but be assured - it will get there eventually. My friend made the interesting point that it could come down to a states’ rights decision basically allowing states to make their own laws on abortion.

Dubai Ports Situation
This is kind of a crazy situation because on one hand it has to do with globalization. We had already outsourced the management of the ports to a foreign-owned company. Now the UAE is purchasing the British company. So the foreign ownership is changing and people are up in arms about the new owners. It is going to become more and more common as the government looks for cheap contracts to save money like they do in the private sector.

My co-worker and I were laughing because to some degree we are with Bush on this one. But of course, the Republicans up for office are freaking out about public opinion and so are making a big stink about it all right alongside the Dems. I am just amused about people’s rush to judgement. People make decisions based on sound bites and spin and not facts.

Oh and Hillary Clinton had a great sound bite (I love her speaking almost as much as her husband’s). She said “If 9/11 was due to lack of imagination, and Katrina was due to lack of initiative, then this is due to lack of judgement”. I know some people can’t stand her - but I really dig her.

People Need to Pay Attention Again
At any rate, I hope some of this stuff, espeically the Roe vs. Wade case, gets people paying attention to government again. I agree that watching politicians do their thing grates on me. I see so little in the way of progress. But if I ignore it becuase I find it so frustrating, I am just contributing to the problem. I have to vote and I have to make my voice heard. I would love to carve out some more time to actually write my congressman and senators. I am really working on that. We have to care - it is how change happens. I mean look at the 60s and early 70s and all the grassroots efforts. I know it was an insane time - I was way to young to remember any of it, but there was a raw edge and energy that you can’t deny. With songs like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Ohio” - the music of the time was so informed. I don’t care if you disagree with all my politics, just be involved. The government officials get away with so much crap on both sides of the aisle because they don’t think that anyone is looking or taking notice.

Neil Young and the song Ohio
If you don’t know about the song “Ohio” here is some background:

On May 4, 1970, a student demonstration at Kent State, Ohio left four students dead, one paralyzed, and eight others wounded. This demonstration, meant to be one of many peaceful demonstrations against the war, was ended abruptly and violently when the National Guard fired into the crowd for 13 seconds. The brief shootings ended the lives of students Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer. The distances ranged from 270 feet to 390 feet. Some of these students were not even directly involved. Justified or not by self-defense, the “massacre” sparked a nationwide student strike that closed many colleges and universities.

Immediately after the Kent State shooting, Neil Young composed the song “Ohio” after looking at photos appearing in Life magazine and then taking a walk in the woods. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young went to the studio and recorded the song which was released to radio stations shortly after the killings. Soon, the lyrics “Four dead in Ohio” became an anthem to a generation. In some parts of the country, the song was banned from playlists because of it’s “anti-war” and “anti-Nixon” sentiments.

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.