But That's Just My Personal Opinion....

The Trouble with Rebellion

2011-02-03T22:00:00.000-08:00

I'd be remiss as a political blogger if I didn't make mention of the complete chaos in Egypt and the entire Middle East right now. The problem is, I don't really know how I feel about it.I have a friend who is so excited because the people have risen up to throw off the yoke of tyranny. That sounds good, right? Tyranny is bad, right? Dictatorships are bad. Lack of democracy is bad.But here's the

Sweden's Suicide Bombing a Lesson to the Open-Minded

2010-12-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

Let the suicide bombing (even if they decline to call it that) yesterday in Sweden be a lesson to the "open societies" of the world.The prime minister of Sweden deemed the attacks "unacceptable" because "Sweden is an open society." Apparently he was under the impression that this made his country impervious to terrorism. Too many people, governments, and societies believe that the Muslim threat

Cargo screening and mail bombs

2010-12-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

I know I'm a bit behind the times on this topic, but it's still bothering me.Remember the bomb scare with the packages that were being shipped from Yemen to synagogues in the United States? You know why that was possible? They don't scan cargo.So passengers have to undergo a whole slew of stupid, invasive procedures to make sure they don't have bombs in their underwear, but anyone can put a bomb

Mark Yudof Responds to My Question

2010-12-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

December 1, 2010 Dear Ms. Katz: Thank you for your e-mail of November 5 expressing your concerns about UC policies on student reports of intimidation, fear, and unease, particularly by Jewish students. It was good of you to come to my talk in Irvine and to take the time to write and share your thoughts and experiences with me. I am sharing your e-mail with Chancellor Fox so that she, too,

In Memorian: Harold L. Katz

2010-11-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

My Grandpa, Harold L. Katz, passed away a week ago today. He was my partner in crime in terms of politics and activism. You can find one of his trademark, long comments on one of my posts here.He died at his desk, as he always said he would. His staff thought he was asleep. He suffered no pain.I can not begin to describe what Grandpa meant to me, what a remarkable man he was. He always wore a

Divided We Fall

2010-11-21T22:53:00.000-08:00

We in the pro-Israel community are fighting a very real war. We are fighting propaganda, misinformation, hate speakers, intimidation tactics, double standards, apathy, ignorance, and plain old antisemitism.And yet the biggest threat we face is from within. The division of the Jewish community is real and it is dangerous. We can not afford to be at odds with each other. We need a united front to

Jonathan Last on Obama

2010-11-21T12:24:00.000-08:00

American Narcissus | The Weekly Standard American Narcissus The vanity of Barack ObamaBy Jonathan Last Email Hide To forward this article to a friend, please fill out the form below: * Required Fields Your Name: * Your Email: * Your Friend's Name: * Your Friend's Email: *

Congress as Guinea Pig

2010-11-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

The much-touted rumor that congress voted to exempt itself from healthcare reform may or may not be true, but it gave me an idea.Any new law or bill that congress wants to pass must be tested on congress. For a period of time-say a year- the bill would apply only to the people who voted on it. Let them suffer their own mistakes before they inflict them on the rest of us.Just think! It's the

But it's not my policies they don't like!

2010-11-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

I love it.Last Wednesday, our esteemed president gave a news conference, where he apparently dismissed the idea that the American People don't like his policies concerning the economy, saying,"If right now we had 5% unemployment instead of 9.6%...people would have more confidence in those policy choices."Um, yes. Exactly. Let me rephrase that for all of you: "If my policies worked, people would

My Question for Mark Yudof

2010-11-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday Mark Yudof, UC President, spoke to the Jewish community in Newport Beach. I was made aware of the event by Gary Fouse who thought it might be a great opportunity for me to share some of my experiences.The event was strictly controlled. The audience was permitted to submit questions, but not ask them themselves. A moderator selected and read questions -and I quote- "as true to life

California maybe not so hopelessly liberal after all?

2010-11-04T00:09:00.001-07:00

Carly Fiorina ran a tough race. She had everything against her, running as an "orthodox conservative" in an infamously liberal state.In fact, Mike Zapler writes that "...Fiorina ignored conventional wisdom that only socially moderate Republicans have a prayer of winning in deep blue California." http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16507266He also quotes Bruce Cain, UC Berkeley professor

UCI Rises, UCSD Falls

2010-06-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I concluded my undergraduate education at the University of California, San Diego. UCSD is divided into 6 different undergraduate residential colleges and each college has its own commencement ceremony. My college was Eleanor Roosevelt College, with an international focus, and the goal of producing scholars who are also global citizens.5 PM on Sunday, June 13th, found me sitting

Just some food for thought....

2010-06-01T23:28:00.001-07:00

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,85555888001_1991530,00.html?xid=aol-direct

There's Something to be Said for Appearances, or, Actions Speak Louder Than Words

2010-06-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Chancellor Mary Anne Fox has referred to the ongoing struggle at UCSD as “discourse and debate” between people who are both “rational and respectful,” as if we merely disagreed over which side of the bread to butter. She is either blind or indifferent, because I have seen very little discourse or debate, and even less respect and rationality.Every day I am more uncomfortable and even frightened

Hypocrisy

2010-05-31T23:33:00.000-07:00

On Monday, May 10th, the Muslim Student Association (MSA), and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) kicked off their week-long event, Justice in Palestine Week at UCSD. Also called Apartheid Week, also called Hate Week, depending on who you ask. The first amendment allows any citizen of this country to say

It's just an opinion

2010-05-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not here to convince anyone.I'm just here to say my piece.Share my two cents.Show you how I think.After all, it's just my personal opinion.