Happy New Years!

First I would like to second Roze’s point that most queer Americans are at least nominally Christian–almost at the same rates as cisgendered heterosexual Americans. The “us” and “them” dichotomy that Kharissa uses is patently false. Denying or minimizing their faith, including denying them the right to join their lives in the eyes of the state and of their God, is an act of derision. It is worth noting that many Judeo-Christian denominations in the United States grant marriages to same sex couples, under that title and in full equality with heterosexual marriages.

In terms of the state, Kharissa, what you are offering is what has been known in the US as “separate but equal”. This kind of legal provision, in which people were entitled to the same rights, but under different names, proved to be unequivocally unfair and untenable. In 1954, 10 years before the civil rights act, Brown v. the Board of Education found these laws unconstitutional. So your recommendation of a “civil union” would most certainly be found unconstitutional, unless you were to remove marriage from legal status altogether and grant only civil unions.

Vincent, I appreciate the struggles that black Americans have had. I can never fully understand the kind of subjugation black Americans have never understood, because it is not my experience. Nor is the experience of a differently abled person. However, I do not believe that rights are a zero sum game. By granting queer people the rights that all people are supposed to have, no one else’s rights will be minimized in any way. I will continue to stand up for your struggle, and know that helping to solidify the rights of ALL people is the only path to a truly just system, and hope that some day you will stand up for me. And even if you do not, I will never believe that your rights should be taken away or diminished, through discrimination in the workforce, in housing, in whom you choose to marry, or by the government in the form of either incarceration or diminished state benefits.

The struggles of queer people, people of color, disabled people, transgendered people, etc are not necessarily comparable but they ARE inherently linked. Oppression of any person or group of people leaves the door open for other kinds of oppression.

In terms of the choice to be gay, in some ways I agree. I can choose to hide my sexuality if I so choose, but you cannot hide being a black American. There is no point in arguing otherwise. However, I should not have to. I shouldn’t have to justify who I love, which is something I CAN’T choose, and I do not expect any others to justify their quality as human beings against the things inherent in them. Additionally, there are many queer black Americans, and those people are at a particular disadvantage, and they need your support, as a member of their community. I do not take part in the misandry hurled so consistently at African American men and boys here in the United States, and neither do any of my friends. Please don’t hurl homophobia back at us.

On a lighter note, almost all animals have scientifically documented homosexual behaviors. Here’s a fun list, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animals_displaying_homosexual_behavior.

In terms of parenting, here’s a great study that just came out. http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/parenting/adolescents-with-lesbian-mothers-describe-their-own-lives/

Finally, I’d like to address the Chik-fil-a issue. Every time I walk past the Chik-fil-a in the student dining hall it is a quiet reminder that despite being born here, despite having voted in three presidential elections (I missed one!) and many more local elections, despite having worked for the New York City government, despite having dedicated my life and career to helping my fellow Americans, this is not my country. I am not a fully recognized citizen here, because, if I were to want to, I can’t marry my partner, share my healthcare with her and the children we may have, be subject to the same benefits (and otherwise!) that come with the legal right to join myself to another person that heterosexual people have. I remember all the times I’ve been called a dyke on the street, once by a police officer, of the time I had a water balloon full of urine thrown at my feet, of my friends in New York City who’ve been violently attacked for holding hands with boyfriends or girlfriends. Words are powerful. Words are even more powerful when there is money behind them. Chik-fil-a is the money behind those words, and it never gets less scary.

FROM VINCENT CANNADY:

Roze I have known thousands of homosexuals in my lifetime. You did not read my comment in detail you seem to just want to find fault with my comment. I chose my words carefully trying not to offend. It seems that when people call me disabled I should get offend as well because I am not disabled but in the converse I am enabled to complete my life. As far as my Christianity. I also have Native American faith in spirituality, We typically mix both faiths for one belief. My children are in a Christian school and we live 125 miles from KC because I do not believe a man should be kissing another man period. That is my belief.I will not force it on you but in America we believe that we should be allowed to believe what we want to believe. Why must everyone be so sensitive to the LGBT community when there are 1,000,000 African American men in jail. The N word is thrown around for entertainment purposes. Disabled people are call retards. You choose to be whatever you want to be when you have a sexuality choice. We do not chose to be “disabled” or African American it is beyond our control. It is not a lifestyle we chose when we are deaf or blind. Something either biological or trauma happened. In my case it was Trauma. But every person I know at one point chooses to be with a man or a woman. If it happens at puberty it happens. Until Scientist prove that it is a genetic default that I chose to believe you have a choice.

As for Christians. I know plenty of Gay Christians. They are fine until we get to the story of Soddam and Gamora. In the Old Testiment. and who says that the bible has all of the answers. It was written by men, inspired from God. But for 100′s of years only white men were allowed to read or write, hence my belief in Spiritualism. But until you show me male lions mating with other male lions I will chose to believe that lifestyle is the deciding factor.

Roze name calling will not solve the problem. I am in no way Malicious towards a Transgender person, you are being accusatory and malicious. Am I wrong to long for the days when men were real men. The days of John Wayne where it was ok to be manly. If Gays and Lesbians would have their way the world would simply disappear for lack of procreation, if scientist did not have a way to artificially inseminate that is. Otherwise men and women together make a child.

I make no apologies for my beliefs. It is my belief not yours as you make no apologies in your belief. As I have repeatedly mentioned we have a right to believe in what we want to believe. I live 12 miles from Christian Militant and Racist hate groups. 9 years ago they tried to shoot, burn and run me out because my wife is caucasian. I responded in kind. Now they chose to leave me alone.
http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/gayman.asp?xpicked=2&item=gayman
http://www.rickross.com/groups/israel.html

Many people do not like me but they know I will not leave because they do not like my family and the future we represent to America. Now it is live and let live. I suggest that you try that. I did not say stop fighting for your beliefs but answering hate with hate is wrong. I do not hate you for your beliefs and values so leave my belief in a higher power alone. I do not let my kids seeing anyone kiss whether it is man and woman or two men or two women. They are kids. As I said if you converted everyone the world to LGBT our world would be doomed or a place of mad scientists creating kids our of a test tube.

As for Christians. I know plenty of Gay Christians. They are fine until we get to the story of Soddam and Gamora. In the Old Testiment. and who says that the bible has all of the answers. It was written by men, inspired from God. But for 100′s of years only white men were allowed to read or write, hence my belief in Spiritualism. But until you show me male lions mating with other male lions I will chose to believe that lifestyle is the deciding factor.

Roze name calling will not solve the problem. I am in no way Malicious towards a Transgender person, you are being accusatory and malicious. Am I wrong to long for the days when men were real men. The days of John Wayne where it was ok to be manly. If Gays and Lesbians would have their way the world would simply disappear for lack of procreation, if scientist did not have a way to artificially inseminate that is. Otherwise men and women together make a child.

I make no apologies for my beliefs. It is my belief not yours as you make no apologies in your belief. As I have repeatedly mentioned we have a right to believe in what we want to believe. I live 12 miles from Christian Militant and Racist hate groups. 9 years ago they tried to shoot, burn and run me out because my wife is caucasian. I responded in kind. Now they chose to leave me alone.
http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/gayman.asp?xpicked=2&item=gayman
http://www.rickross.com/groups/israel.html

Many people do not like me but they know I will not leave because they do not like my family and the future we represent to America. Now it is live and let live. I suggest that you try that. I did not say stop fighting for your beliefs but answering hate with hate is wrong. I do not hate you for your beliefs and values so leave my belief in a higher power alone. I do not let my kids seeing anyone kiss whether it is man and woman or two men or two women. They are kids. As I said if you converted everyone the world to LGBT our world would be doomed or a place of mad scientists creating kids our of a test tube.

Further, no ones children are being “forced” to witness “Steve and Steve” showing public displays of affection. It shows to me a lack of allowing children to understand that love comes in many forms and instilling a close-minded precedent for upcoming generations. This is not a means of aiding the Civil Rights Movement.

Your implications are that you chose to be a Christian, which I would like to believe isn’t entirely the message you want to portray. Again, the age old argument about homosexuality being a choice is a charged accusation, one in which I strongly attest to being false.

My next question is “how many people in the UMKC LGBTQIA community have you actually encountered?” Again, your word choice of “flamboyant” is offensive.

I’m confused as to how this article and the statements you’re making seem to claim that homosexuality and Christianity do not coincide– that anyone who identifies as anything other than a cisgender heterosexual cannot possibly follow a Christian faith. This is not true, I know numerous Christian homosexuals that are strongly invested in their faith.

And belittling a transgender male and insinuating they do not classify as a male in the same way you do is quite frankly a malicious statement to make.

I too wonder if UMKC was considered a Christian school would we be rated the fifth best school to attend for diversity(LBGT Diversity). I have written a Yahoo! article about the marriage saga in Missouri- http://voices.yahoo.com/marriage-between-man-woman-missouri-11552140.html?cat=9.

Why are we Christians demonized for having an ethical belief in life? In the African American culture we commonly frown on the Gay lifestyle. I am not discriminatory. I run a group call Disabled Students in Higher Education. Our group is inclusive. We have a gay disabled officer in our group. But since she came out to me she has not returned. I never said anything about her lifestyle. In fact I am quite sure she chose the lifestyle after being abused in the military. Hate by anyone is wrong. The problem I have is that members of UMKC’s LBGT community are flamboyant about their choice of lifestyle but I must be silent about mine. I cannot voice my support for man and woman being married without being called a “gay basher.” I never bash anyone for their choices.

My mothers best friends have always been Gay, not that she was Gay. She was so flamboyant they just gravitated towards her. I on the other hand went to Church with my Grandparents(on both sides). My father’s family members are avowed Christians.

Attending UMKC you learn to respect diversity. I was assigned a seat beside a young Transgender person in my communication studies class. He made a speech about not being your “traditional” man. I followed up his speech with my own speech about “where have all the real men gone”. I miss the days where John Wayne, Shaft, Jim Kelly, Bruce Lee were our heroes. Even the empty chair talking to Clint Eastwood is a male hero of mine. Sorry if I offend but in channeling Rodney King I must say “Can’t we all just not get along”.

I will not force my views on you if you do the same for me. If I do not hate on you, leave my belief in God, Family, and home alone. When I arrive at UMKC everyday. I am still the God fearing man I was when I left my home. I just don’t talk about my beliefs unless I am asked.

In short, the only thing these fake christians love is the sound of their own ignorant voices bounces off the tacky walls of their various mega-mall churches.

As for marriage, I have been traditionally married for nearly twenty years. I have three traditional children. We will not eat at Chik-fil-hate because the CEO is a weapons-grade asshole, and the food is wretched. This corporation has no place on our campus. It’s a “pox” on the face of God, as are his followers who lack the humility, the LOVE, to be like Jesus. Faith alone, Kharissa. There is no commandment to defend traditional marriage. There is no commandment to vote Republican. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe Jesus ever said a word about homosexuality.

Whatever REALLY happened to this boy, may his soul rest in peace.

1. Redistributing wealth is the defining feature separating socialism from American capitalism. Redistributing wealth has also been unsuccessful in promoting prosperity throughout history.

The Republican party has seemingly succeeded in associating every kind of policy designed to help the poor with terms like class warfare and socialism as practiced in the countries mentioned in the comment.
Now as a starter, I see no reason why we should evaluate redistributive policies only according to socialist countries of present and past times. Non-socialist countries have made extensive use of policies that can be described in this way as well. (In fact, this seems to be what the author of the comment argues against, so I do not understand why she does not just evaluate the success of such policies in the US).
If we want to evaluate such policies now, we would need to define what we understand by ‘prosperous’. If we narrow our focus solely to economic growth as shown by the change of the gross domestic product (GDP) of a nation, then the answer will be unclear. Ask three economists and you will get five answers. In my opinion, it is likely to have an positive effect as, to put it simply, redistributive policies tend to move income from folks who use a comparatively small amount of income for consumption to people who spend a large portion. Consumption expenditure makes up roughly 70 percent of US GDP, so changes to consumption are of vital importance to economic growth. Additionally, if companies are faced with robust sales, they are likely to be upbeat about the future and will tend to invest more, which is another important part of GDP. Lastly, one might also note that the evolution of large scale redistributive policies in the US is historically associated with a.) getting the US out of the Great Depression and b.) leading to a long period of robust income growth.
Apart from that, one might add that it has to be asked what constitutes prosperity. If we do not only concentrate on the quite arbitrarily selected measure of economic growth but have a look at social figures as well, one can see that (e.g. Fullbrook 2012) countries with more redistributive policies than the US are healthier, more educated, and have a higher degree of gender equality besides the more obvious effect of more income equality (which, in itself, is a positive thing if we consider negative psychological effects of inequality on individuals (Wilkinson/Pickett 2009).

2. People are unemployed, because they are lazy. Taking away their welfare benefits will make them more self dependent by working.

Two things are to be said about this: first, we are currently experiencing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The problem here is certainly not a lack of supply of, but demand for labor. Secondly, the notion that large numbers of people would willingly be content for a prolonged period of time with a lifestyle that is associated with an income in the amount that the US welfare system pays is just beyond me. In fact, the famous Cato Institute studies (e.g. 1995, 2012) purportedly showing that there is no incentive to work is largely negated by the ubiquity of people actually receiving welfare and working. If we want to reduce welfare spending and get people to live dignified lives with stable employment, we need to make sure that employment opportunities associated with incomes sufficient to let people live such a life actually exist. As long as the private sector does not provide these jobs, we might have to look elsewhere.

3. Whatever income people receive by participating in the economy is the amount that they deserve.

I am not sure whether the author of the comment actually shares this notion (her application of the Jefferson quote leads me to think that this is indeed the case though), but since this idea has also been a prominent one in the political debate of the past couple of months I am tempted to include it anyway.
Completely setting aside the issue of power relations within the economy and assuming that the income to the individual forthcoming through the market process is, in fact, the “just” one, there is still the issue of the economic and social conditions you are born into. Mitt Romney did not “build that” all by himself, his career was, to a considerable degree, made possible by his father’s wealth.
The so often cited ‘American dream’ is, apart from a few chance events, largely a myth. There is hardly any country in the Western hemisphere that has less upward social mobility than the USA (NYT/De Parle, 2012), meaning nothing else than the education and income of your mother and father is an excellent predictor of the education and income of yourself. So if you want to provide every American with equal opportunity at achieving success, there is no way around at least a certain degree of redistribution.

I think it is important that we as an academic community do not let us get fooled by blatant ideology and instead try to stick to the facts and endeavor to find out why things are how they are and what should or should not be done about it.

Regards,

Christian Spanberger

A few points of contention with the piece “Obama-Romney video wars”.

1. While Romney may be against using the government to help the poor he has happily supported the conservative nanny-state that uses government programs to distribute income upwards.

2. As “The Spirit Level” by Wilkinson and Pickett documents with extensive data, countries with higher levels of inequality, such as the United States, do much worse on a host of social indicators such as crime and life expectancy. Countries like Denmark have succeeded using high taxes and generous social benefits, while Japan has been successful by limiting income inequality in the first place.

3. The government does not need to take money from one person to give it to another. The federal government (and the FED) creates the money so it can choose to give money to welfare recipients (both the poor or the corporate kind) and it doesn’t have to take it from someone else.

There are so many facets of your argument that are just plain wrong, but to deal with all of them appropriately would require a thesis length paper. Alas, I will try to hit a few of the worst offenses.

1.) Where is it stated that 47% of Americans are “dependent”? Should we just take Mitt at his word? More importantly, however, we need to define what dependent means. Does dependent on “Government” (a nice ambiguous term) mean those who recieve Social Security and Medicare, in which case you say to let your grandparents starve and have their ailements untreated (even though they paid into the system)? Or do we better define “dependent” as college students who finance their education with State (like subsidized, i.e. lower tuition, for state residents) and Federal (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans etc) assistance? If that’s the case, then practically none of us can say anything, and if we do we’re foolish.

2.) If you listened to President Obama’s 1998 speech at Loyola, you should have noticed that he said he believed in redistribution so that everyone has a shot. So really, it sounds like he is talking about equal opportunities for minorities and women! He’s no “modern day socialist”.

3.) Your notions of capitalism and socialism are bizarre. Capitalism isn’t the system by which we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. Perhaps the system you describe is more akin to Jefferson’s agrarian ideal (he deplored capitalists), but it isn’t capitalism. Instead, capitalism has many many many forms, all of which are prefaced on the idea that owners of property have privileged status above all others. So basically, if you don’t own property, or can’t sell your labor to a capitalist (like in a recession): YOUR SCREWED.

4.)Your concept of redistribution is all wrong too. In Maoist China, all rights were taken away, it was feudalism 101. The United States “redistribution” scheme, also called Social Security, Medicare/caid, and Unemployment insurance have been FANTASICALLY successful. Now, unlike before the Great Depression, if you become unemployed you won’t starve!!! YAYYY “Socialism”. Plus, with the advent of that socialist overreach called Medicare, your grandparents might not have to go bankrupt because some capitalist insurance company won’t cover them. What about public education? Score another one for the redistribution team (UMKC is a public institution as well).

5.) I’ll admit that there are some offenders of the welfare scheme. They suck taxpayer money out of the system and then blame society. No, I’m not talking about single, working mothers. I’m talking about Exon Mobil, GE, Romney- the list goes on and on. They get huge tax subsidies from the government on top of the Bush/Obama tax cuts, and yet, those capitalist heros haven’t gone on huge hiring sprees. In the old days, those subsidies were called Corporate Welfare, and if there is any country with capitalists dependent on the Nanny State, it is America.

So,before you blame Obama (he has no real power to create jobs-the Government does own industries) about unemployment and dependence, take a long look at the Capitalist Heros and ask them why they’ve been asleep on the job. There are millions of people willing and able to work, and yet they go jobless because of those corporate welfare queens.

In conclusion, I think if you’re concerned about spending other people’s money, you should pay back your parents with interest, and step away from the dark side of the force and join us progressives on the light side. But, what would I know, I’m just an economics graduate assistant-a ward of the state!

Thanks,

Christian – Economics iPhD Student.

I think people who don’t understand the intricacies of our tax code might believe Romney. But Romney, as many conservatives do, only talks about federal INCOME tax most of the time.

As a person who has made good money and a person who has received a $10 paycheck for one hour of work-training during a 2 week period, I can tell you that federal income tax is not the only tax there is.

First off, on that $10, I paid 62 cents to Social Security and 15 cents to Medicare. Even the poorest of the poor pay 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare (not Medicaid) on every dollar they earn. That’s 7.65%

However, when a worker makes $110,100 in a year, then they do not pay any more Social Security tax for that year. That’s only on wages – not on passive income such as investments, etc. So, rich people get a 6.2% pay raise courtesy of the federal government. They also don’t pay any SS or Medicare on personal investments. Remember, most of Romney’s income is from his investments.

Further, that 7.65% is regressive, as is the state and local sales tax people pay. As is the property tax people pay – if they own property.

What a regressive tax mean is that if the sales tax a person paid was calculated as a percentage of a person’s income – and not as a percentage of the purchases – a lower-income person’s total annual sales tax would equate to a higher income tax rate.

Conservatives love to talk about the progressive nature of our federal INCOME tax system. But they never seem to talk much about the very regressive nature of Social Security tax, Medicare tax, sales tax and property tax.

I’d guess (and would love to see data on this) that a lower-income person who does not pay any INCOME tax still pays a significant portion of his INCOME on the regressive taxes mentioned above.

Sincerely,

a tax preparer and an economist wannabe

Thanks,
Emma

You should include some inventors and other in the system stakeholders. Please contact us as below.

They should have called the bill the America STOPS Inventing Act or ASIA, because that’s where it is sending all our jobs.

“This is not a patent reform bill” Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) complained, despite other democrats praising the overhaul. “This is a big corporation patent giveaway that tramples on the right of small inventors.”

“patent reform”

Senator Cantwell is right. Just because they call it “reform” doesn’t mean it is. The agents of banks, huge multinationals, and China are at it again trying to brain wash and bankrupt America.

The patent bill is nothing less than another monumental federal giveaway for banks, huge multinationals, and China and an off shoring job killing nightmare for America. Even the leading patent expert in China has stated the bill will help them steal our inventions. Who are the supporters of this bill working for??

Patent reform is a fraud on America. This bill will not do what they claim it will. What it will do is help large multinational corporations maintain their monopolies by robbing and killing their small entity and startup competitors (so it will do exactly what the large multinationals paid for) and with them the jobs they would have created. The bill will make it harder and more expensive for small firms to get and enforce their patents. Without patents we cant get funded. Yet small entities create the lion’s share of new jobs. According to recent studies by the Kauffman Foundation and economists at the U.S. Census Bureau, “startups aren’t everything when it comes to job growth. They’re the only thing.” This bill is a wholesale slaughter of US jobs. Those wishing to help fight this bill should contact us as below.

Small entities and inventors have been given far too little voice on this bill when one considers that they rely far more heavily on the patent system than do large firms who can control their markets by their size alone. The smaller the firm, the more they rely on patents -especially startups and individual inventors. Congress tinkering with patent law while gagging inventors is like a surgeon operating before examining the patient.

Please see http://truereform.piausa.org/default.html for a different/opposing view on patent reform.
http://docs.piausa.org/

The intent of my column was not to attack efforts to preserve the historic core of the Plaza. I AGREE with Save the Plaza’s efforts to preserve the Balcony Building, and more recently, the restaurant façade that was trashed by Seasons 52 because they embody the very architectural details that make the Plaza Kansas City’s crowning jewel.

However, I saw the amount of energy focused on preventing the demolition of the Neptune Apartments misguided, when there are other structures or far greater historical significance that have been- and continue to be- neglected and demolished without any public backlash.

I realize scale can be somewhat subjective, although I do not believe a mid-rise office structure would have been out of place at the site of the Neptune apartments, when Valencia Place and Townsend Place are literally the same distance (if not closer) to 47th Street, and are similar in height and scale to the proposed office building.

Also, 46th Terrace, the address of the Neptune Apartments, is indeed on the periphery of the Plaza, and not “at the center of the primary street, which would be either Nichols Road, 47th Street, or Ward Parkway.

As far as a downtown location, I believe that would have been a win-win situation. Unfortunately, that is not what Polsinelli wanted.

I believe the decision to build on the site of the unfinished West Edge project has been announced is a better alternative to the site of the Neptune because it leaves exist residential intact and will spruce up one of the biggest eyesores in the Plaza area.

If anything I wrote came off as a personal attack or “name-calling,” it was not intended as such. I believe the statement “…Save the Plaza is NOT the miniscule clan of neighborhood association vigilantes and architectural tightwads one might expect it to be” led some to interpret what I wrote as an attack, when in fact it very clearly is not when one pays close attention to the sentence structure.

I will not respond to the people who responded by attacking my character, age, journalistic ability/integrity, etc., because I do not believe they are qualified to make those evaluations. Responding to personal attacks and character assassinations only dignifies such hostile contempt.

I share your concern that many people are ignorant of the urban context in which they live and far too many buildings in Kansas City have been sacrificed over the years to neglect or the exigencies of parking. The point behind the Save the Plaza organization is not that they wish to save a mediocre sixties apartment building, but that this proposed building is overscaled for its lot and violates the Plaza Plan that the citizens of Kansas City agreed upon and assumed represented a good solution to balance the intimate, user-friendly scale of the Plaza with the need for growth and development.

This is not always true.

Ask yourself:

1. WHEN did you put in my order?

2. Did you put in my order CORRECTLY?

3. Did you FORGET to put in my order entirely?

4. Did you FORGET anything I ordered?

5. Did you bring out the WRONG FOOD the first time around, because you didn’t VERIFY WHAT you were bringing me?

6. Did you FORGET OR DELAY GETTING MY ORDER TO ME?

7. Did you DROP my food on the floor?

These things CAN HAPPEN!!

Sometimes taking a long time or a longer time has A LOT to do with the server:

We have had at least 3 TIMES where servers FORGOT to put food orders into the computer. We also have at least 4 times servers forget to get bar drinks from the bar.

We also have had delays due to that the servers delayed putting orders into the computer when they COULD have such as deciding to buss a table first or decide instead of a mini-greet(I’ll be right with you all), they decided to take like 6 people’s drink/appetizer orders instead of putting in our food orders. I can understand if they call you over, but if they don’t, you should be putting that order into the computer not delaying our food. The longer you wait to put in orders, the LONGER WE WAIT!!

Also, if your server put in your order wrong, that’s THEIR FAULT you are waiting longer for your food, because the kitchen staff only knows what’s on the ticket, PERIOD!!

My husband and I have had wrong food put into the computer and even stupid servers bring it out that took the order even. You have to be stupid to not even LOOK at WHAT you are bringing the person. Act like it’s your food. I was once brought quesadillas when I ordered bbq chicken nachos. The waiter was too LAZY to COMPARE his written order to the food. Turns out, he admitted pressing a wrong button. So not only did he delay my food from getting to me by bringing me the completely wrong food, but also put in the order wrong to begin with. So he made 2 mistakes. That was the fault of the waiter, not the kitchen staff.

Also, if your server FORGETS something from the kitchen even though they put in the order correctly, that’s on YOUR SERVER, NOT the kitchen staff since your server brought you your food. They have full control of what is in their hands they are taking you.

Condiments are the most common thing to be forgotten. That is the server’s fault no matter who brings you your food, because my server can offer to bring those out ahead of time.

A waiter that my husband and I had grabbed the wrong entrée from the kitchen has to do with the wrong food as well as time. This waiter not only admitted he didn’t compare the WRITTEN ORDER with the entrées he was bringing out by saying he grabbed the wrong entrée from the kitchen, but also we saw he had other entrées for another table that he brought out on a tray that he put on a tray jack which he didn’t ONCE get his pad of paper out to see WHICH ENTRÉE WENT WITH WHICH TABLE!! I saw with my own 2 EYES he didn’t EVER get his pad of paper to make sure he was bringing his customers the correct items. So 2 times he could have caught his mistake, but didn’t *****TRY***** HIS BEST AS HE SHOULD HAVE, because that’s HIS JOB**!! So this wasn’t even REAL MISTAKE, it was a LACK OF ***EFFORT**** and BEING LAZY!! Go work at MCDONALD’S IF YOU WANT TO NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU HAND PEOPLE YOU DUMB SERVERS!!

He admitted that he grabbed the wrong entrée from the kitchen. He brought my husband fried shrimp w/fries when he ordered crawfish au gratin w/baked potato. So it was HIS fault my husband’s food took longer to get to him due to HE didn’t check over his written order BEFORE bringing out all the entrées he brought out.

If your server delays going to get your food when they DO have a chance to run it, but they are chit-chatting about personal stuff, that is for sure their fault.

I would say 90% of the time your server had SOMETHING to do with how long you waited for your food by the fact that they didn’t go put the order in as quickly as they could have in a fair manner that is. I don’t expect our server to put in orders if they have food/drinks/request that came BEFORE we ordered, because they were BEFORE us, but when it is our turn, don’t DISRESPECT OUR TURN by INTENTIONALLY DELAYING our food.

If the food is cold, sometimes it is the server’s fault that they didn’t bring your food due to that you were chit-chatting with your friends or customers instead of bringing out the food.

So a lot of times, IT IS your server’s fault that your food gets delayed.

“There’s no excuse for giving a dollar on a $40 tab, unless your server was hitting on your girlfriend and whispering racial epithets in your ear as you order.”

There is, it’s called BAD, HORRIBLE SERVICE!!

“If you’re short on time, tell your waiter so he can tell the kitchen to hurry.”

Sorry, but that is just UNFAIR to the other customer’s time and hunger for you to do that. The things you can do that would be fair would be to give the check and ring it up BEFORE they get their food. Bring them a box if they think they will have leftovers with a bag. Putting in the order as soon as possible would help tremendously.

You have NO RIGHT to delay my order for someone else if just because they didn’t want to go to a fast food restaurant instead. We all have turns, so let us have ours at the time we are supposed to by not getting that person’s food rushed before ours. BE FAIR IF YOU WANT US TO PAY YOU FAIRLY when tip time comes.

If you do this, that means it’s YOUR FAULT you delayed our food from getting to us so you could get rushed someone else’s food. That’s just morally wrong to CUT, it is and you know it.

“So it takes him a few minutes to remember to bring you breadsticks before your salad but after you order or after the appetizer.”

No remembering needed if you WRITE DOWN tasks that need to be done. You follow the lists of tasks. Now, yes, you can overlook something, but in general, it shouldn’t be tried to be remembered by memory alone.

“Say thank you when your server refills your water or brings your food out.”

I ALWAYS DO THAT, ALWAYS(only a few times if they have pissed me off have I not said that)!! The thing is, a lot of times, servers don’t say they are sorry when they mess up. Your server forgets your ranch, no sorry to speak of, no matter how nice you are about it, they don’t say anything and then I even say “Thank you” thinking maybe a “sorry” will come out of their mouth, but NO, it hardly ever does.

Being nice is a 2-way street.

Q: How do Birthers form a car pool?

A: They meet at work.

Q: What does a Birther have in common with a beer bottle?

A: They’re both empty from the neck up.

Isn’t it a shame how 99.999% of the Birthers give the whole movement a bad name?

A Liberal walked into a bar and asked the bartender, “Hey, have you heard the latest Birther joke?” The bartender replied coldly, “No. And I’ll have you know I’m Birther.” That’s OK,” said the Liberal. “I’ll talk slowly.”

Did you hear about the Birther that refused to go to Canada because he couldn’t speak the language?

Q: How do you drive birthers mad?
A: Put them in the Oval Office and tell them that the President’s Kenyan birth certificate is in the corner.

Q: If you’re paddling upstream in a canoe and a wheel falls off, how many pancakes will fit in a doghouse?
A: Ask a Birfer. That question would make perfect sense to them.

Q: What skill must be learned for a Scout to earn a Birther Merit Badge?

A: The Scout must demonstrate the ability to figuratively tie the United States Constitution into a hangman’s noose.

Q: What do you call 10 Birthers standing ear to ear?
A: A wind tunnel.

Q: Why didn’t the birther want to vacation in Honolulu?
A: He didn’t want to leave the country.

Q: Why do birthers pee their pants at large outdoor rallies?

A: They’re afraid the porta-potties are FEMA camps.

Q: How do you tell which is the groom at a Birther wedding?
A: He’s the guy wearing the CLEAN wifebeater.

A Birther walks in to a pizza place and orders a pie. The pizza man asks him, “Should I cut it into six pieces or eight?” The Birther answers “Cut it into six; I couldn’t eat eight.”

Q: What swivels around, moves up and down, and has a sticky top?
A: Orly’s Taitz’ dental chair.

Q: What did the Birther girl say while having sex?
A: Get off me Dad, you’re crushing my smokes!

Why the derision? BECAUSE THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE ABSURDITIES CAN COMMIT ATROCITIES.

No matter how you slice it, Obama is NOT a natural born citizen and is NOT eligible to be the POTUS. If you disagree, present some of those “facts and evidence” you claim.

Why would a writer fill up article space refuting birther arguments point by point? Because it would be wasted words, not evidence that someone hasn’t done their homework. Why won’t the President release his birth certificate? Maybe because he has an actual job to do that doesn’t include appeasing conspiracy-theorists, not evidence that he is hiding something.

But of course, when there is an agenda on the table, when people decide their conclusion first and choose what premises support that conclusion second, facts and evidence become irrelevant.

Regardless of place of birth, Barry was born with foreign citizenship, inherited from his foreign father. His own campaign web site and fact check admit this.

Figththesmears:
[quote] When Barack Obama Jr. was born on Aug. 4,1961, in Honolulu, Kenya was a British colony, still part of the United Kingdom’s dwindling empire. As a Kenyan native, Barack Obama Sr. was a British subject whose citizenship status was governed by The British Nationality Act of 1948. That same act governed the status of Obama Sr.‘s children. [end quote]
http://fightthesmears.com/articles/5/birthcertificate.html

factcheck:
[quote] In other words, at the time of his birth, Barack Obama Jr. was both a U.S. citizen (by virtue of being born in Hawaii)* and a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (or the UKC) by virtue of being born to a father who was a citizen of the UKC. [/end quote]
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/does_barack_obama_have_kenyan_citizenship.html

The Constitution requires Senators and Reps to be “citizens.” The Constitution requires the President to be a “natural born citizen.”

A natural born citizen can not have multiple allegiances owed from birth.

Even the modern day state department recognizes the issues with a dual national:

“Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person’s allegiance.

However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there.”
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

Barry might be a “citizen”, but he never was a “natural born citizen.”

You might want to read this article that is about UMKC and Kansas City.

http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2010/12/08/how-to-create-a-crisis-and-steal-a-nation/

“Can’t respond much at this time. Too busy with all of the chaos coming at us these days. May be out of work soon! Crazy stuff. Simply urge you to lay off the birther angle at this time. Strongly urge. To proceed is at your own peril. Please take warning seriously. This is not a small town cop shop situation here. Let someone else try and make name on this one.
Don’t blame you as it was me who brought up subject last time. Since then heard repeated rumors/confirmations of attempted “purge” coming down the pike. WH/media going on the offensive bigtime on issue. Has already started as you probably know. Talking very specific, very confrontational, very scary stuff here. Don’t wish to drag you into that. Much bigger fish are circling this. They can survive what could be coming. Not sure about me. Let the big players handle this now. This thing will either break out big or disappear. Apologize for past doubt/ridicule. There is something there. 100% certain of it. God help us.
Respond more in 1-2 weeks. Have much better grasp of situation at that time. Too crazy right now. -Deleted- was as shocking a moment in career. WH and union thugs are kicking our ass and now this. Never seen anything like it. People who thought -deleted- were tough have no idea. This is whole other level. Too old for this. Too dumb for this. Or both.

http://habledash.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1063:white-house-insider-obamas-birth-certificate-is-serious-issue-proceed-with-caution&catid=45:the-nook&Itemid=59

Rather that spouting leftist lies, students should be inquisitive enough to keep an open mind until they’ve collected and evaluated all the relevant facts; something this student has clearly failed to do.

Let’s cut to the chase. The arguments all boil down to the same question: “What is the definition of ‘natural born citizen”? The definition supported by numerous SCOTUS judges, the author of the 14th Amendment and deVatel in his famous compilation The Law of Nations is:

A person is natural born if s/he is born on the soil
of parents who are citizens.

Obama’s father was not a U.S. citizen. He was, however, a British subject which subjectivity passed automatically to the children per British law. Dual allegiance and a non-citizen father – double jeopardy.

Obama is keeping the best available evidence secret. That is established fact, not theory. Let’s just add suppression of evidence to the other charges of election fraud, campaign finance violations and filing fraudulent documents in all 50 states.

No matter what you might think there is no escaping that AKA Obama is not practicing the virtue of full disclosure.

In 1961, the Public Health Services, U. S Department of Health, Education and Welfare, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Division published the “Vital Statistics of the United States

Here is a blank copy of the Standard Certificate of Live Birth used by all states including Hawaii., This is the information being hidden by Obama.

http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2009/07/blank-birth-certificate-form-aka-obama.html

Plus read the article that is included with the blank copy.

Here is what a real Hawaiian Birth Certificate looks like:
http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2010/02/obama-faces-fellow-hawaiian-with-real.html

If you are not suspicious of a man who hides his history I have a bridge in the desert I want to sell you.

If you are unwilling to call for an investigation of a man who attempts to sell you a bridge in the desert I have some beach front property in Florida at the intersection of I75 and Florida # 29 that I want you to buy.

If you place a down payment on a contract for the bridge in the desert and the beach front property in the swamp I would conclude that you voted for Obama

Do you really think AKA Obama would have won the election if all the things he is hiding were made known?

Do you really think AKA Obama will be able to finish his first term if all the things he is hiding are made known?

The only conspiracy is the media and the obots who suppress the revelation of AKA Obama’s history
Obama “I have nothing to hide but I’m hiding it.”
http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2009/04/aka-obama-fans-all-together-now-say-omg.html

http://motherjones.com/

Yes, they have a plan—and it may not be crazy

— By David Corn

“Can Obama run and win without getting on all 50 state ballots? I don’t think so.”

The birthers have a plan to end Barack Obama’s presidency—and in Arizona, they’re making progress

No matter what you might think there is no escaping that AKA Obama is not practicing the virtue of full disclosure.

The entire reason there is a professional field known as forensic document examination is that a great deal can be told from examination of the original document itself. Much, much less can be told by looking at a photocopy of a document and very little, if anything at all, can be told from looking at a digital image that purports to be an image of an original document. Too much opportunity for adulteration, no opportunity to examine the paper, the ink, any impressions made on the paper, etc. These online arguments discussing images (especially photographic images) are like people studying animals by examining scat.

Forensic document examiner Sandra Ramsey Lines,

http://www.asqde.org/SRLines/SandraRLines.htm

a Former Federal Examiner with a long history of expert testimony in state and federal courts, has testified in an affidavit that states, in part:

“I can state with certainty that the COLB presented on the internet by the various groups, which include the “Daily Kos,” the Obama Campaign, “Factcheck.org” and others cannot be relied upon as genuine. Software such as Adobe Photoshop can produce complete images or alter images that appear to be genuine; therefore, any image offered on the internet cannot be relied upon as being a copy of the authentic document.” Sandra Ramsey Lines summary is also posted at U. S. Law Blog.

Excerpted from:
http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2009/04/aka-obama-fans-all-together-now-say-omg.html

Who Certified AKA Obama as “Natural Born”?
http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-from-obama-file-one-of-best.html

1) Marriage license between Obama’s father (Barack Sr.) and mother (Stanley Ann Dunham) — not found, not released
2) Obama’s baptism records — sealed
3) Obama’s adoption records — sealed
4) Records of Obama’s and his mother’s repatriation as US citizens on return from Indonesia — not found, not released
5) Name change (Barry Soetero to Barack Hussein Obama) records — not found, not released
6) Noelani Elementary School (Hawaii) — not released
7) Punahou School financial aid or school records — not released
8) Occidental College financial aid records — not released. (These records were, however, subpoenaed but Obama lawyers succeeded in quashing the subpoena in court. No other Occidental records have been released.)
9) Columbia College records — not released
10) Columbia senior thesis — not released
11) Harvard Law School records (not mentioned below, but not released)
12) Obama’s law client list — sealed
13) Obama’s files from career as an Illinois State Senator — sealed
14) Obama’s record with Illinois State Bar Association — sealed
15) Obama’s medical records — not released
16) Obama’s passport records — not released

I am amazed at your ability to string so many words together without sharing any useful information at all. I assume you are aware that the President has never released his original, long-form birth certificate. Neither hospital in Hawaii has claimed his birth there, and Kapiolani (where Obama has claimed to have been born) has denied having any record of the event. It’s a legitimate question that deserves an answer.

Aside from that, you appear to be either manifestly ignorant of, or cavalierly unconcerned with, both the Constitutional requirements that presidents be NATURAL BORN CITIZENS and Obama’s own personal history as detailed in his book, Dream of My (Communist) Father. According to Obama’s own narrative, he was adopted by Lolo Soetoro, a citizen of Indonesia, and moved to Indonesia as a child, where he attended school. Under international adoption law, set by treaty (the Geneva Convention), children adopted by a citizen of a country different from the country of the child’s birth, become natural-born citizens of the adopted parent’s country and (this is important, so pay attention) relinquish and surrender citizenship in the country of their birth. Indonesian law at the time also required Indonesian citizenship for students.

Additionally, Obama traveled to Pakistan in 1981, where he was able to gain entry into a Muslim nation, ruled by military junta, that, as a matter of policy, refused admittance to Americans. So, what kind of passport was Obama traveling on, I wonder? Don’t bother answering, as it would probably require an actual, real-live journalist to find out the answer.

Throw in the fact that, according to records, Obama’s mama started classes in Seattle, 1000+ miles away from Hawaii, 10 days after giving birth to him, and you quickly get into the realm of political thrillers. But I’m sure you’ll never trouble yourself with looking to any of that, because those of us who want nothing more to know who exactly the hell is running this country, and whether this rule is constitutional, are just racist hatemongers, and we should be comfortable to keep our heads in the sand with the you and the rest of the lobotomized lemmings.

The Southern Poverty Law Center takes research very seriously, and it would have been a grave omission indeed had we not sought comment from the subject of our report. The decision to forfeit the opportunity to talk with the SPLC rests with him.

Sincerely,
Leah Nelson

For the record, you are not being bullied or harassed and I find it insensitive that you would call it that.

Full disclosure: I am not a UMKC student or alum. I’m just an embarrassed Kansas Citian, and your paper is pushing me to side with the movement. If I were a UMKC student, I would certainly make a stink about your funding situation.

“It is hard to understand that UMKC, soon to be my Alma Mater, is so hasty to add finance fees to my account,” the student wrote. “The last I checked, UMKC is a non-profit organization, not a credit card company. Yet still they operate like a credit card company with additional finance fees.”

How is it that for the amount of money we spend on tuition, which granted, is considerably less than some schools, how does UMKC not have the resources to come up with that money? Or find a solution to not penalize every student for “university debt”??

If the people who were ostensibly accountable (the ones with the fancy hyphens in their titles) for the material being published did not review their brilliant editorials in the past, then who is “collectively” bearing the responsibility? I (and I am sure that others who were disgusted with your last edition) am glad to hear that you will be implementing a “zero tolerance cultural insensitivity policy,” but I don’t know that your “however” clause really does much to excuse any of you (perhaps it is an issue of a conjunction?) in higher positions. If anything, those who were most accountable for the paper, and its standing on campus and in the community ought to be held doubly responsible for not reviewing the material before it was sent to print.

“The U-News staff also believes this incident is an opportunity for individuals and groups on campus and in the community to recognize and discuss biases and prejudices in our society.”

Great. I am glad to hear that your staff is open for dialogue. I hope this is not an empty promise, and that you intend to notify the community and the student body about any possible opportunities for open discussion on campus with your staff.

Also: I think that one thing which was not addressed in either of the apologies has to do with the egregious stylistic errors in Nikki’s piece and the question of the integrity and value of the “Forum”/”cultur editor” pieces at all. One of the most frustrating things about Nikki’s article was that it was absolutely meaningless, riddled with tautologies, superfluous detail, inappropriate in its use of colloquialisms (the most glaring mistake of the article), and just poorly-written–to be offensive is bad enough all ready, but when an insulting article is neither substantiated by any kind of rhetorical flourish, nor has a point (I mean, what was the point? Nikki gets stared at? So what???!!!) then most readers wonder why they waste their time reading your paper. Many of the people with whom I have shared this article and your newspaper have been surprised that this came from a university at all. I hope that this is also something upon which you and your staff will reflect. We are students! “Cultural” or discussion-based pieces should be thought-provoking, original, innovative, and (dare I say it?) avant-garde? I hope to see better coming from your newspaper soon.

-Note: Angela Sims is the Vice- President of UMKC Black Law Student Association: Collegiate Student Division, and not BLSA (the UMKC law school chapter) or NBLSA (the national organization).