There is a wonderful character on Whoopi Goldberg’s new sitcom–a handyman named Naseem, who identifies himself as a Persian from the Middle East and gets furious when he is mistaken for an Arab. Much of the show’s humor comes from the fact that he sees an obvious distinction that is invisible to everyone else. A recent discussion about gay rights and the transgendered community made me think about Naseem.
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When Inmates Run the Asylum
Is it just me, or is the whole world being run by lunatics?
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Log Cabin Republicans
A few months ago, I got an email from Toledo, Ohio. Someone in Log Cabin Republicans had read, ‘What?s a Nice Republican Girl Like Me Doing in the ACLU,’ and wanted me to speak to their chapter. I explained that I would be happy to speak, but that I was no longer Republican.
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Conservative Flavors
Personally, I’m not a fan of labels like conservative and liberal. In this era of talk radio, ‘fair and balanced’ television and other venues for political invective, the terms have become accusations rather than descriptions?a substitute for analysis used by voters too lazy to figure out whether they agree with a candidate’s positions. It’s easier just to vote for the guy wearing the appropriate label.
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The Child Protection Dilemma
There is an old story about two businessmen who take a quarrel to the village Rabbi. He listens to the first man’s side, and says "You are right." The second man then gives his version of the argument, and again the Rabbi says "You are right." At that point, an onlooker protests "They can’t both be right!" to which the Rabbi responds "Ah yes. You also are right."
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