Long Time, No Post

Last week, a federal judge ruled that the NSA’s eavesdropping program was unconstitutional. Basically, after 9/11, the NSA started wiretapping people’s phones without court orders in the name of national security. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said of the eavesdropping, "The program is carefully administered and targets only international phone calls coming into or out of the United States where one of the parties on the call is a suspected al Qaeda or affiliated terrorist. So, why can’t you get a court order. Anyhoo, US District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor ruled that the program violates the separation of powers doctrine, the Administrative Procedures Act, the First and Fourth Amendments, the FISA, and Title III. Bush is pissed and the government is appealing. What’s more fucked up: that so many people clearly want people’s (i.e. Muslims who aren’t white) civil rights violated in the name of “fighting terrorism” (sidebar: I HATE that phrase. Hate it. It’s like a free pass for whomever is saying it to be terrorists themselves. Deconstruct the word. Does it even mean what it really means anymore? All it does is freak people out. Yes, there are real “terrorists”, but it’s bullshit to claim we are fighting “terrorism” when we are subjective about who and what fits in that category.) OR that JonBenet Ramsey got WAY, WAY, WAY more media attention than this important ruling? As my friend Graham said (and I don’t quote, but paraphrase), “If JonBenet Ramsey’s name was Shaquitta Johnson, nobody would have ever given a fuck, especially ten years later.”

The St Louis School District, for about $20,000 has hired security for School Board President Veronica O’Brien. Ma’am? I’ve seen your house. Your pool is bigger than my entire property. Hire your own damn security if your words and deeds are getting your ass in trouble. If you want to read disturbing stuff, read the message boards at SLPS Watch (http://slswatch.pubdef.net/) (ironically run by Peter Downs) and see what parents and teachers have to say about SLPS. Those of us who are fortunate to teach in other places have no idea.

Finally, school has started and our newly-renovated building is awesome. I love the beginning of school because everyone is in such an enthusiastic mood.