TresSugar

Should We Scrap Marriage Altogether?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:00:30 -0700

This week we talked a lot about marriage. Vermont's legislature overrode the governor's veto to legalize gay marriage, and Washington DC pushed forward a law that would recognize legal same-sex marriages from other states.

Back on the straight marriage front (am I making a statement by calling it that?), one columnist said we should all be doing more of it, specifically those with kids. Froma Harrop wrote that "the seriousness of the legal bond between the parents - as well as from parent to child - helps foster a partnership in childrearing, even if that bond later dissolves in divorce."

But Colorado has just turned this whole debate on its head, by passing a law that allows any two unrelated adults to become a pair of "designated beneficiaries." What does that mean? Beneficiaried couples can inherit property without a will, make medical decisions for one another, sue for wrongful death, and enjoy other benefits of a legal partnership commonly known as marriage. So two gay, or straight, or non-romantically involved people can enter into one of these contracts all the same.

Would you rather see a total separation of legal unions and religious ones?

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Student Suspended for Anti-Obama T-shirt - Free Speech?

LibertySugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:00:19 -0700

A fifth grader from Colorado wore a homemade T-shirt - that said: "Obama is a terrorist's best friend" - just long enough to get suspended from school. On a day when students wore red, white, and blue to show patriotism, the 11-year-old son of a "proud conservative" decided to show his political opinion, too. The school told the boy to change shirts, turn it inside out, or face suspension. He chose suspension.

The school, which won't discuss the case specifically, says it respects a student's right to wear specific clothing, but looks into cases that might disrupt the learning environment. The father, who most likely predicted that the school would ask his son to remove the shirt, has plans to bring a lawsuit on the basis of free speech. Who do you think should win?

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US Plant Fires Praying Workers, Denmark Stops Fasting Kids

LibertySugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:01:01 -0700

An unprecedented conflict has erupted between Muslim workers and management at JBS Swift & Co.'s Colorado meat packing factory, regarding when employees can pray in observance to Ramadan. Over 200 workers walked out during a shift, since management would not give them an official sunset break for prayer. As a result, the company fired half of them.

The union plans to file suit, but hopes the employees will get their jobs back without a court-battle. Right now, many that still have jobs have offered financial help to those who got fired. Sounds like the Swift plant has a different approach to Ramadan than the Tyson plant in Tennessee that agreed to give union workers the end of Ramadan off instead of Labor Day.

Meanwhile in Denmark, a municipal committee in Odense decided to call for principals and parents to stop children who are fasting for Ramadan. City officials say it's not so much politics or religion that prompted the push against fasting, but concerns over student health and ability to lean while hungry.

How should employers and teachers accommodate those observing Ramadan?

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Three States Consider Banning Affirmative Action: Right Move?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:45:47 -0700

With one comment John McCain made Sunday that he supports an Arizona initiative that would ban hiring practices that favor one group over another McCain has brought attention to similar calls in two other states. He said that the initiative gives "the people of Arizona the opportunity to end preferential treatment based on race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin by state or local governments."

Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska are all considering ballot initiatives that ban affirmative action hiring practices. Sunday's comment combined with one 10 years ago where McCain called affirmative action "divisive" shows the anti-affirmative-action campaign is gaining steam toward their ultimate goal of getting "either the Supreme Court or the Congress to get the policy changed at the national level."

The crux of the argument being debated in the initiatives is whether it's a ban on discrimination or an attack on programs that help women and minorities. Which do you think it is?

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Not Guilty! DNA Evidence Clears JonBenet Ramsey's Parents

CitizenSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:45:03 -0700

Nope, your browser hasn't crashed back to 1996 - the Boulder, CO, district attorney has just announced that new DNA tests have cleared JonBenet Ramsey's entire family in the killing of the 6-year-old beauty queen, 12 years ago.

The tests point to an "unexplained third party" as the culprit in the crime from DNA left behind in skin cells, one who is presumably still at large.

It's been confirmed that prosecutors no longer consider any member of the Ramsey family to be a suspect, though for years her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, were thought to be under an "umbrella of suspicion" in the girl's slaying.

For this the DA apologized, saying, "To the extent that this office has added to the distress suffered by the Ramsey family at any time or to any degree, I offer my deepest apology."

Throughout the unsolved murder saga, with suspicion cast on the family, and John Mark Karr inexplicably and falsely confessing to the crime, father John Ramsey has maintained all along that he believes the case will be solved. JonBenet's mother Patsy Ramsey died in 2006 of ovarian cancer at the age of 49.

Considering this new information and the botched initial investigation, will we ever know who killed JonBenet?

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Vietnam Veteran Graduates From High School at 60 Years Old

CitizenSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:00:47 -0700

In Colorado this weekend, hundreds of high school seniors turned their tassels and graduated - one of them had just been waiting for it longer than the others. Forty-two years longer, to be exact. Dennis Collins, now 60, walked across the stage on Saturday and collected the diploma that he'd sacrificed by heading off to Vietnam in 1966.

Collins says of his decision to go, “Vietnam was becoming a big issue. It was just kind of what you did. I was raised to believe you served your country and whenever you got out, you served your community.” He continues, “In Vietnam, you didn’t like it or not like it. It was something you did because it was something your country said to do. … It was my duty to do it, and I did it.” To see how Collins was able to graduate and more scenes from this Memorial Day, read more.

The program that allowed Collins to get his diploma is called Operation Recognition. It was enacted in 2003 and authorizes veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to receive their high school diplomas. The program recognizes the “sacrifice and contribution of those who honorably served our country."

Collins graduating class was delighted to have him. “They all applauded. I didn’t ask them to do that. They had an excitement all of their own. … It was exciting to me the students showed that enthusiasm. I think it did mean something to them.” said their high school principal. Collins was thankful to everyone who made his graduation possible. He said, "Most of all, I want to thank the kids for taking on an old fart like me. They’re making an old man’s dream come true.”

Colorado remembered Dennis Collins service - here are some more scenes of remembrance from around the country this Memorial Day.

View 10 Photos ›

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Abstinence Dance? Are Purity Balls the Answer to Teen Sex?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:45:51 -0700

In Colorado over the weekend, around 70 young women attended a debutante-style event - though they weren't announcing their eligibility. Quite the opposite. The girls and their fathers were all participating in the ninth annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball.

The event marks a commitment to remain pure and formalizes the father's role in his daughter's moral development. The dads read aloud a covenant “before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity.”

Though the event is meant to keep the girls chaste, the dads like the reminder. “It’s also good for me,” said one. “It inspires me to be spiritual and moral in turn. If I’m holding them to such high standards, you can be sure I won’t be cheating on their mother.”

The annual gala costs around $10,000 to throw (financed by ticket sales) and this year about 150 people attended the purity ceremony and dance. What do the girls get out of pledging their purity to their dads? One said, “something I need from dad is affirmation, being told I’m beautiful. If we don’t get it from home, we will go out to the culture and get it from them.” The silent vows include sentiments like this one: “I promise to God and myself and my family that I will stay pure in my thoughts and actions until I marry.”

Though studies show decreased condom use among those who pledge abstinence and, um slip, is the act of making the promise publicly a step in the right direction? Is it nice that the fathers are so involved in their daughters' sexuality, or does it strike you as odd? Have you been to a purity ball?

For more pics of the event, the New York Times has a pristine slideshow.

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Colorado and Florida! Your State Legislatures at Work!

CitizenSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:00:25 -0700

The Florida Senate just passed an amendment to impose a $60 fine on Truck Nutz the oh-so-classy novelty item that adorns vehicle trailer hitches that resemble "the dangling southern end of a northbound bull." The proposal would make displaying bull genitalia reproductions on a vehicle subject to a $60 fine, moving violations and points against a driver license.

In debate, Sen. Jim King said he had a set on one of his vehicles, describing his ride as "all pimped out." He clarified the point saying they are no more than "an expression of truckliness." He's since removed his balls at his wife's request. Perhaps more to the point, Sen. Steve Geller said of the debate, "I find it shocking we'd tell people with metallic testicles on their bumpers that this is a violation. There's got to be better things for us to spend time debating."

Not to be outdone, in the surprising things you hear in state legislatures departments, to check out what went down in Colorado, read more. In the Colorado legislature, State Rep. Douglas Bruce made a somewhat indelicate comment during debate on a bill set to allow the state to help immigrant workers get temporary federal visas. The measure is intended to ease a shortage of farm workers in the state. He said,

"I would like to have the opportunity to state at the microphone why I don't think we need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in Colorado."

The comment drew gasps from his fellow lawmakers. Rep. Bruce narrowly escaped censure for his remarks, which he creatively defended using the dictionary. Oh, and this guy has been censured before, for kicking a photographer during opening prayer.

So? Which is worse? Passing a law on jalopy genitalia or calling immigrants peasants? Or that this happens in government at all?

Front Page: VA Tech, Iraqi Deserters, CO Fires, India Bus Crash

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:01:40 -0700

VA Tech: Today marks the one-year anniversary of the shootings at Virginia Tech. The tragic event was the most deadly shooting spree in modern US history, when 23-year-old student Cho Seung-hui shot 27 students and five staff members before killing himself. The day will be marked with ceremonies and remembrance.
Iraqi Deserters: A company of Iraqi soldiers abandoned their positions last night in Sadr City, defying American soldiers commanding them to hold the line against Shiite militias. A US company commander in the 25th Infantry Division confronted the Iraqi major who was leading his troops away from the Sadr City fight, saying, “if you turn around and go back up the street those soldiers will follow you. If you tuck tail and cowardly run away they will follow up that way, too.” The desertion by the 50 Iraqi soldiers left a large and important stretch of frontline road undefended.

CO Fires: Wildfires raged over 11 square miles in Colorado last night, forcing hundreds to evacuate and leaving three dead. The three fires broke out following a dry March, and Gov. Bill Ritter has declared a state of emergency, freeing up state resources to help fight the fires.
India Bus Crash: In India at least 44 people have been killed after their bus plunged into a river. Most of the dead are children as the bus had been transporting students to an exam. Four children have been rescued from the wreckage. Road accidents in India claim thousands of lives every year, and most are blamed on reckless driving and poorly maintained roads.

Guides Hope Public Will Have Big Love For Polygamy Tours

TresSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:10:00 -0700

Has Big Love only intensified your curiosity about the mysterious lives of polygamists? Perhaps you should book your next vacation to Arizona, where former fundamentalist Mormons have launched a tour of a polygamous colony.

Starting next weekend, outsiders will get an inside look with "The Polygamy Experience: A Guided Tour of Colorado City." The tour is not for the passingly curious, as it lasts four hours and involves meetings with people who have been exiled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Even so, it promises to be respectful. The guides will educate tourists on the history of fundamentalist Mormonism and explain why they take more than one wife in the first place. Paying customers will also learn what's behind the prairie dresses and long braids.

The tour costs $70 for adults and $60 for children (children, really?). Would you shell out the money to see polygamy up close?

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