Honolulu BS move over BO

Honolulu is engaging in a war against the poor, the aged and abandoned, and the unfortunate; all for the benefit of a newly “conscious” moneyed class.  Those of us who live in large cities, cities with effective and vital public transportation systems, sometimes ride the bus. We recognize the importance of the bus providing affordable transportation for everyone.  The city of Honolulu has decided to  penalize hygiene.  According to local news, “Under the bill, if you or something you bring on the bus smells bad, you could be asked to get off, or be issued a police citation. That would carry a fine of up to $500, maybe even up to six months in jail.” This new measure, proposed by the city of Honolulu is really an assault on the traditional user of bus services for  promoting the service to a new “green class”  one that is turned off by the prospect of sharing a bus with those that may be unable to maintain their hygiene in a manner that we would prefer.

This is classicism repackaged as civic concern and I am ashamed that any civic institution would levy, without any compassion, such a large fine on any facet of their citizenry; especially one that could not easily afford to pay it.  Furthermore, it is taking the one method of “convenient” transportation that needs it most.  I hope that the citizens of Honolulu would reflect upon the true ramifications of this law and ensure that all citizens can depend on dependable transportation, but I am not particularly hopeful.  What do you think?

France vs. Burqa?

Even before its inception the entity now known as the United States of America has shared much in common with the French nation. The idea of revolution, an uneasy relationship with the British, and perhaps belief in man inaliable rights. Today, the French Republic has established yet another concrete connection to the American mindset, intolerance. Today, according to The Guardian (UK) has denied citizenship to a morrocan woman because she wears a burqa. Evidently, immigration feels that the burqa and what it represents are completely at odds with the french concept of fraternite’ liberte’ egalite’. The established argument is that the the traditional head covering is representative of female subservience to men, and therefore is in direct conflict with what it means to be French. One could argue about the state of ethnic, and gender egalite’ in France, especially after the election that brought President Sarkozy to power.

Whatever your feeling on that election, and the issue of gender and security that took place in the minds of the french polity, one cannot argue the rammifications of this action in an increasingly xenophobic nation. I personaly have no personal experiences with the burqa or the lifestyle it entails, but this condemnation of culture as not worthy for French citizenship is a staggering step in modern immigration doctrine. It is interesting that we here in the United States are going through some of the same growing pains with concerns over employment, immigration, as well as struggling to maintain a “American” identity in the face of large scale immigration. France, like the United States, has established its culturally unilateralist credentials.

Obama vs. Spying?

On 9 June 2008 the United States Senate voted on HR6304; amending the foreign intelligence service act enacted in 1978. This current revision to this measure was best described by Ryan Singel of the WIRED blog world as granting “retroactive amnesty to the telecoms that aided the presidents five- year secret, warrantless wiretapping of Americans, and to expanding the government’s authority to sift through U.S. communications.”

The ramifications of this measure can be an more than likely will be damning for the personal liberties of American citizens in the electronic age. Barack Obama showed his ability to be a bipartisan politico by voting with the Executive branch bloc (looking to exercise those ever expanding Presidential powers in 2009 perhaps?) while his defeated rival for the hearts and minds of Americans hoping to escape the similar power hungry machinations of the last two terms, voted against. The Senator of hope and change voted against his fellow Senator from Ohio, Dick Durbin, and most importantly, against his “constituency” in the presidential race to come. Will it cost him? I doubt it the Gentleman from Chicago seems to be Gotti-esque when it comes to negative press.

We made him the presumptive nomine for the presidency, I hope he doesn’t make us rue that day as one of infamy.