Wish you would have voted DeVos!

Reading today's State News headlines, I had to laugh.
One of the front page headlines read, "Mich. gov't faced with possible shutdown". The state government will have to suspend or terminate many programs when the money is gone, according to the State News. Michigan could be out of money as early as May, which is only days away. Gov. Granholm has been unable to balance the budget or jump start the Michigan economy.
What happened to that plan for the economy that she so fervently advocated during the last election season? Fortunately, I have the peace of mind because I know that I did not vote for her. The people of Michigan, a perpetual blue state, voted her back into office despite the state of the economy under her watch. Well now the people of Michigan will be in a blue mood as well as a blue political stance.
Now it is never solely the government's fault nor responsibility to fix the economy. But I still don't know how people voted for the woman who had been the governor of the state with the worst economy in the nation. If that doesn't scream CHANGE, then nothing does. Dick DeVos, while not the most elequent speaker or experienced legislator, was a businessman. And that is exactly where Michigan needs help. He seemed like the obvious choice for Michigan, but apparently no one else wanted to "join his team for change".
And now Michigan is at an all time low, and needing to shut down programs. Never in Michigan's history has this happened.
To celebrate I think every Michigan citizen who voted for Granholm should by a shirt that says "Last One out Turns off the Light". I am planning on breaking out my Dick DeVos for Governor hoodie and wearing it proud while the rest of the government falls apart.

Could Have Been You

About 31 students from a Virginia college are dead and at least 22 others are injured, according to MSNBC.
Today has left me at a loss for words, but also with the urge to somehow mark this tragedic date in American history. I have been sitting in my dorm room for the last half hour trying to write a meaningful and though-provoking blog, but I have retyped this blog entry four times already.
As both a journalist and a college student, this event has shocked and angered me to the very core. As a new journalist, I now realize how daunting and difficult it must be for journalists to report and carry the nation through a day like today. I am actually very impressed with the coverage I have seen and read so far. Fox News has been interviewing students, police officers, and school officials in a tasteful, yet informative manner. A man, whose son died in Columbine, even offered and interview to comment on how difficult it will be for parents of victims to find information. I can only hope that one day I will be able to handle a time of crisis with the same professional and genueinely sympathetic manner.

As a college student, the words "this could have been me" have been streaming through my mind. These students woke up in their dorm rooms just like mine and began their day, probably dreading class or work. The next thing they knew, a shooter had opened fire.
If that wasn't terrible enough, he moved to a classroom building across campus, that is similar to Michigan State's Wells Hall and opened fire killing about 30 others. I keep wondering how many of those students almost skipped class and stayed in bed today. If only they would have all submitted to that temptation.
These shootings occurred almost 2 hours apart, according to Cnn. What shocked me most was the absence of a plan that would warn students to stay at home and prevent them from coming to campus after the first shooting. How is Michigan State any different and would we be prepared if this had occurred on our campus? If someone where to open fire in Case Hall, how would I know? I hope that the university will now consider students safety on campus, because the unthinkable has happened in Virginia and it could happen here.
It is so easy today to worry about national safety, especially with the War in Iraq. Even talk about securing our nations borders from Mexico and Canada are major concerns of policy makers and citizens today. But what about the safety of students on campuses all over the country?
I know, as a student living in a dorm, I increasingly vulnerable today. Anyone can walk into this building carrying any hidden weapon and no one would ever know. It would be a large and expensive task to create increased security or even a warning system on campus that could prevent future shootings.
But we can't put a cost on safety of those pursuing higher education. Universities around the country need to invest in a plan, no matter how expensive, because it will save them from the grief of having to explain to parents that their children were murdered.

May God be with the victims and families of this tragedy.

Protest Etiquette

Students from Columbia University were punished for disrupting speakers from the Minuteman Project. Eight students stormed the stage and attacks erupted, preventing the speakers from continuing their presentations.
These students were punished for their attack on free speech and received warning and censures that will stay on their transcripts until graduation.
But the spokesperson for the Minuteman Project, Tim Bueler, said to the New York Times that the disciplinary actions were "a travesty to justice." The Minutemen Project members felt that the punishments were not serious enough considering the protesters violated the presenters' free speech.
The Minutemen Project members strongly oppose illegal immigration, and they are not the first college student group to be silenced on this issue.
Michigan State University's Young Americans for Freedom group sponsored Congressman Tom Tancredo to speak about why he opposes illegal immigration. But, like at Columbia, protesters disrupted the event and inhibited the speaker from continuing.
At least in both cases the protesters have been condemned or punished for their actions.
But a word of advice for protesters, while you have the same right to freedom of speech as those you disagree with, please remember protest etiquette next time.
Instead of storming the stage in liberal rage, try some good old fashioned picket signs. Stand outside the room the speaker is in and talk to people as they enter the room. While the presentation is going on, actually allow it to continue! This civilized approach will be much more effective and even keep censures off your transcripts. Protesters in general need to learn that violence, flag burning, swearing, and other offensive behavior does not win you any points with the other side. Try a new approach and you actually protect free speech and gain respect for your position.

Hating the Freedom Lovers!?

MSU's Young Americans for Freedom student group (YAF) was classified as a hate group on the Southern Poverty Law Center's (SPL) list of hate groups in America.
Thats right, the campus group that supports secure borders, anti-affirmitive action legislation, pro-life work, and actually voicing the conservative cause is now ranked up there with KKK and Nazi groups.
Yes, because supporting LEGAL immigration and non-discrimination practices in college applications is the same as lynching blacks and killing Jews.
Yes, YAF is a more conservative and activist group, but even liberally minded MSU officials said in the State News that YAF has done nothing to deter from MSU's anti-discrimination politicies.
Whatever happened to freedom of speech? This year alone, YAF events have been interrupted and attacked by left-wingers who can't even have the decency to hold a civilized debate with YAF memebers. Instead they pulld the fire alarm, kicked YAF members,and vandalized vehicles when the group brought Congressman Tom Tancredo to speak about immigration policies. Who are the haters there? Certainly not the people who did the attacking and disrupting a public speech made by a U.S. Congressman. But according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, it was YAF who displayed the hatred for illegal immigration.
YAF is already despised by the liberals on campus, but does this make them a hate group?
YAF and other conservative leaders on campus have done a sophisticated and classy job of responding to recent attacks and criticisms.
YAF president Kyle Bristow keeps his opinions and beliefs even when they get him recalled from ASMSU. During a Proposal 2 debate with a Democratic candidate for the Michigan House, Bristow was collective and respectufl of the other side, all while battleing booing and degrading shouts from the crowd.
If YAF is to be compared to the Nazis then I say "Heil Bristow!"
Even if you don't agree with YAFs stances or events, at least be smart enough to remember that freedom of speech is still a part of the Constitution, even when you don't like what is being said.