The comment section over at the ODE website have been hosting some discussion on the recent string of commentaries on race relations. Since some people seem afraid to engage in debate here on our site, some of us have been mixing it up over there. Check out the discussions on recent pieces by Diego Hernandez, Ty Schwoeffermann,  and our own Andrea Blaser.

On a related note, I really wish the ODE would stop moderating comments. What are you afraid of? You guys refused to post one of my comments a while back… was it because I linked to this site? Here we are linking to you, now get over yourselves and stop censoring.

The Hamas government recently pulled a Palestinian children’s television program from the air that included a militant Mickey Mouse clone. Farfour, which means “butterfly,” bore an uncanny resemblance to the Disney icon. He appeared on the show “Tomorrow’s Pioneers” where he taught kids about the important things in life: being confident, setting goals, and working together.

“You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists,” Farfour squeaked in a recent episode. “We will return the Islamic community to its former greatness, and liberate Jerusalem, God willing, liberate Iraq, God willing, and liberate all the countries of the Muslims invaded by the murderers.”

Well, you got to start ‘em early these days. Thankfully, Veggie Tales is the only religious cartoon subverting American children. On a side note, I would love to see an army of Disney lawyers bring down the hammer on this.

Add this story to the list of reasons you may not want to live in Tacoma:

Someone left a dead newborn deer dressed up as a baby in a basket outside of a downtown theater. The outfit included a bib that read, “You think I’m cute? You should see my aunt.”

Eeesh. It seems like the stress of the city might be getting to someone. Also, this morbid stunt sounds like something right up Nice Pete’s alley.

Our own Andrea Blaser, managing editor for the OC (not publisher), wrote a beautifully moving and well-substantiated commentary in today’s Ol’ Dirty. I encourage all to read for an honest and courageous point about the current “racism issue.”

I know we have a well-educated readership, and that most of you probably know by now that Governor Kulongoski signed two gay rights bills into effect yesterday, but I thought I’d provide an opportunity to discuss the measures. These bills are a great victory for the cause of individual liberty, and I heartily commend the Oregon legislature for finding the courage to extend basic rights to Oregon citizens. Volokh Conspiracy does bring up the question of our 2004 constitutional amendment which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, raising the possibility of a legal challenge to the new law. Here’s hoping it fails, and makes Lon Mabon a little more depressed as a result.

I am going to jump on the bigotry bandwagon and post this story about Al Sharpton saying that Mormons do not believe in God. I know for a fact that Mormons believe in God because two of them came to my door last Saturday, and they must have said Jesus Christ about 50 times.

On Monday, Sharpton said in a debate that “those of us who believe in God” will defeat Mitt Romney for the White House.

Romney is a former governor of Massachusetts and a devout Mormon.

Sharpton goes on to claim, like all people who say stupid things, that his quote was taken out of context. He even goes so far as to blame the Romney campaign for blowing things out of proportion and trying to stir up controversy.

What we have here is another sign of the oncoming apocalypse. The day Al Sharpton gets away with accusing someone of stirring up controversy for publicity’s sake is the day Satan unleashes the hounds of hell.

Diego Hernandez, who we last saw losing the election for EMU Board Senate Seat 6, wrote a letter to the editor in yesterday’s Ol’ Dirty Emerald in response to Sean Jin’s criticism of Ty Schwoeffermann’s guest commentary from last Friday.

While Jin’s letter was critical of “people of color” who held contemptuous attitudes toward white people, it was written in a rather conciliatory tone:

As one that identifies as a minority, I feel that it is my responsibility to emphasize how important it is to practice what we preach, and that the true solution to racism and ethnic bigotry is to create positive connections amongst different cliques and groups on campus. While I cannot fully understand the hardships and frustrations that many people of color have endeavored through to be where they are now, I have come to the firm conviction that community connection and communication is the ultimate key to equalizing opportunities for people of color.

Now, let’s contrast Jin’s words with those of Hernandez:

Sean Jin said that he had never experienced racism before he came to the University and it was not until people of color started “expressing their hatred and contempt for whites” that he saw ethnic bigotry… To assume that people of color only have hatred toward white people is bigotry. If standing up to racism and if fighting for equality is hatred, then so be it.

All right! Throw an accusation of bigotry at your editorial opponent. Way to come out swinging!

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I have finally decided how I will choose who I will be voting for in the Primary elections this year. The AP asked all the ‘08 candidates “What is your favorite food to cook?” It seems to me that John Edwards doesn’t know what side of the line he’s on. I guess its true: Republicans are meat-eating hawks and Democrats are, well, everybody else.

DEMOCRATS:

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: Pasta

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: “I’m a lousy cook, but I make pretty good soft scrambled eggs.”

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: “An August New England dinner: Lobster, corn and tomatoes.”

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Hamburgers

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Hot water, according to his wife, Elizabeth. Doesn’t cook. A vegan, he favors fresh fruits and vegetables.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Chili

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Diet milkshake

—

REPUBLICANS:

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback: Beef

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Hamburgers or steak on the grill

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Ribeye steak on the grill

California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Chicken fried venison.

Arizona Sen. John McCain: Baby-back ribs

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Hot dog

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Doesn’t cook.

I am certainly not the only OC bloghead who loves Radley Balko’s The Agitator. Now, for a limited time only, our own alumnus Mark Hemingway will be sharing guest blogger duties at TA, while Balko suns himself in beautiful Buenos Aires. Hemingway has written hilarious and informative pieces for the Weekly Standard and elsewhere. Good luck at The Agitator, Mark… we’ll be watching.

In today’s Dirty, a Eugene resident named Mark Frisbee helps university/city relations by insulting college students. Now, why would a resident of the community insult college students? Could it be that the resident has problems with the parties that happen? Or the stench of multicultural groups as they whine and cajole about the latest Jesse Jackson stunt they’ve pulled? No, all he is complaining about is the opinion of one man on the plight of food.

The column in question was written by Tyler Graf, who talks about the culture of food and how the “food police” are basically spoiling it for everyone out in the world. Mr. Frisbee responds to Graf, stating “If it were not for you destroying the planet we share and inhumanely and unnecessarily taking the lives of animals simply to satisfy your taste buds, I would leave you to your own slow, artery-clogged death.” So, Frisbee starts off by citing the issue of the environment and connecting it with the direct consumption of meat by humans. Very Carrie Packwood-Freeman-ish, and also so very wrong.

The kicker in this piece, however, is the last sentences of the piece: “Get used to the “Food Police” being in your face. For as long as there are slow learners like yourself running around, there will the members of the “Food Police” there to guide you down the right path.” *gasp* Oh NO! The Food Gestapo is going to come and take me away for eating a steak in front of a vegan. Oh the humanity! Oh the horror!

The issue brings up a pet peeve of mine: other people telling me that I cannot eat what I want to eat because it affects others. Yes, I know that what I eat can affect others, but I do not care. I eat because I can. I eat because I must, in order to survive. I eat meat because I like it. For me, there is nothing like hickory-smoked venison, a side of yukon gold potatoes, some lightly steamed green beans, and a glass of red wine.

It is people like Mark Frisbee on this issue, Tipper Gore on the music industry, and others who are the problems…attempting to restrict people rather than letting them be individuals.

Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to kill a fish and have some sushi.

The Retro Issue is done. Please enjoy it responsibly.

Former OC Editor-in-Chief and man-about-town Pete Hunt sent me this article in the Village Voice concerning racist hack* Kenneth Eng. If you’re not familiar with Eng, back in February he wrote an article for the Bay Area-based newspaper AsianWeek titled “Why I Hate Blacks.” As you might expect, the piece is downright awful and far worse than any diatribe Ty Schwoeffermann has ever written, which is saying a lot. AsianWeek took the column down from its website, but blogger Phil Yu reposted it, noting that Eng has also written pieces entitled “Proof That Whites Inherently Hate Us” and “Why I Hate Asians.” (At least we know Eng’s an equal opportunity racist.)

In the ensuing media uproar, Eng appeared on Fox News to defend the piece in question, but immediately attempted to promote his self-published book, “Dragons: Lexicon Triumvirate,” which–as you may deduce from the title–is about dragons.

In April, Eng garnered attention again by posting a video on YouTube, in which he stated that reading about the Virginia Tech shooting was the “funniest thing [he] ever read in [his] life.”

Now Eng is trying to claim credit for Seung-Hui Cho’s murderous rampage, and tells the Voice that he once planned to go own his own shooting spree at NYU, but couldn’t afford a firearm. Jeebus.

Again, I dislike bringing attention to more racist nonsense–especially when it’s obviously being used to promote a terrible-looking book–but, on the other hand, it’s sadly entertaining.

Oh, and then there’s this guy, who doesn’t appear to be racist but is probably a little nuts.

*Two for two this month!

I just recieved the following email desribing a precautionary closure of the Lillis Business Complex:

Over the weekend, the University of Oregon learned of a bomb threat made against the Lillis Business Complex. Upon receiving the threat, the UO Department of Public Safety immediately contacted the Eugene Police Department and locked down the complex. Law enforcement experts then conducted a sweep of the facilities. No explosive device was found. While UO and law enforcement officials do not believe the threat is credible, the decision has been made to close the buildings on Monday, May 7, 2007 as a precaution. As a result, all classes, activities and other business scheduled in the Lillis
Business Complex have been cancelled on Monday. The complex will reopen on Tuesday, May 8 at 7 a.m.

Dave Frohnmayer

President, University of Oregon

Hm. Any coincidence that this one was called in around midterms?

Now head out for an El Dorado, kids.

That is all.

Much as I loathe to bring attention to anything Ty Schwoeffermann writes, especially since I regard him as a racist hack*, it is hard to ignore his excruciatingly shrill guest commentary in today’s Ol’ Dirty.

Schwoeffermann starts out in typical style with an opening sentence filled with glaring factual errors and legal inaccuracies:

When the Brown v. Board of Education verdict forced public schools to desegregate on May 17, 1954, the national conscious officially reconciled the half decade of Jim Crow laws.

A “half decade” of Jim Crow laws? If Schwoeffermann is trying to make the point that we need more African-American history classes using himself as an example, well then, I guess he’s doing a bang-up job right off the bat.

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