May 25, 2008

Same Sex Marriage?

Same Sex Marriage?

Bernstein is wrong about Obama. (DAVID S. BERNSTEIN, "California
, matters," Boston Phoenix, May 21, 2008) "Barack Obama respects the
decision of the California Supreme Court."
Saying "thousands of same-sex couples will have tied the knot
with the state's blessing by the time of the November vote" ignores
that opponents will or have filed a petition for a stay of the court
decision until after the November ballot question.
He demands an explanation why Harvard and Yale Law School
educated Obama and Clinton oppose (sic) the decision. He omits noting
the MA decision was flawed. The MA SJC did not have subject matter
jurisdiction. MA Constitution states matters regarding marriage are to
be left to the Governor and the legislature. Is California as corrupt
as MA? Will the state officials there ignore inconvenient
Constitutional and legal prohibitions as the MA officials did?
The compelling reason to oppose this decision is that "no Congress
or state legislature ever voted to declare homosexual unions a
marriage. [. . .] Wherever it has been on the ballot, same-sex
marriage has been voted down." (Pat Buchanan, "Post- Christian
America," Human Events, May 21, 2008)
It is disappointing that the Boston Phoenix joins The New York
Times in advocacy journalism. People need to be informed for democracy
to succeed. Bernstein and his main stream colleagues publish
propaganda not balanced news, doing the work of the PR firms and the
elitists "who know what's best for us."

http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid61948.aspx

Roy Bercaw, Editor Enough Room

Prior Censorship?

Prior Censorship?

Adam Reilly calls it a "modest proposal" to "delay the broadcast of
their next show until the financial details of Debbie DiMasi's
relationship with Saint Aire are fully disclosed." (Adam Reilly,
"Open Book?" Boston Phoenix, May 23, 2008, page 12, News)
The notion of prior censorship comes to mind. Under the Reilly
doctrine any accusation would suffice to censor any broadcast until
the matter was fully disclosed. These are totalitarian standards
expressed in an alleged open minded publication. It is at best
shameful.

http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid61887.aspx

Roy Bercaw, Editor ENOUGH ROOM

May 23, 2008

DNA Not a Panacea

DNA Not a Panacea

DNA is celebrated as "one of the Commonwealth's most important
crime-fighting tools." (Brian R. Ballou, "Huge gains reported at crime
lab's DNA unit," Boston Globe, May 23, 2008) Is it more important than
the integrity of the humans who use it? The same people who gathered
and controlled fingerprint evidence for many years will now use DNA
evidence. Wrongfully convicted
persons know how flawed the former system is. The same justice system
will now have DNA evidence to use against defendants. Will it be
easier or more difficult to overturn a wrongful conviction based on
DNA evidence?
Also celebrated is the "computer network that serves as a national
registry for DNA samples collected from convicted criminals and
arrested individuals." How easy is it to correct a computer error on
credit files? Or the errors about people declared dead by Social
Security computers? One study showed a 40 percent error rate on FBI
computer warrants.
Technology creates benefits and risks. This technology is only
praised for its benefits with no fears of any abuses. What are the
protections from criminal use of this evidence? If Joe Salvati and
Peter Limone were convicted using DNA evidence they would still be in
prison.
Michael O'Keefe, "said the crime lab and the office of the chief
medical examiner have been vastly improved." How improved are the
people who run those offices?

Roy Bercaw - Editor ENOUGH ROOM

See full article at

http://tinyurl.com/68kvup

Huge gains reported at crime lab's DNA unit
Machine speeds process, cuts backlog
By Brian R. Ballou,
Boston Globe Staff
May 23, 2008

Fighting Stigma?

Fighting Stigma?

This article fails to mention any opposition to stigma, "a mark."
It does not address institutionalized unlawful discrimination or the
failure of the "advocates to oppose it. Why is this in the Styles
Section? Is it fashionable?
(GABRIELLE GLASER, "'Mad Pride' Fights a Stigma," The New York Times,
May 11, 2008) It celebrates a system of psychiatric labeling of
humans. There is no questioning of the labels or of what a psychiatric
illness is. This article promotes more of the same.
Psychiatry treats symptoms of illnesses only psychiatrists can
see. Charles Barber says this is new, i.e., accepting psychiatric
illnesses other than depression. Huh? All of these made up illnesses
are accepted by state and US legislatures, courts and journalists who
promote these business illnesses. Psychiatry is a belief system with
no science to back up the propaganda and the treatment using chemicals
to alter human perception.
The Times promotes a dangerous industry that harms humans and
denies many people their basic Constitutional rights. Once again
business trumps law.
Quoting E. Fuller Torrey shows that this is an anti human pro
industry essay. Torrey believes that anyone accused of mental illness
is dangerous, needs to be drugged and loses his or her rights. He is a
funding mechanism for the drug industry. David Oaks works with NAMI
(National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) which is the drug industry
front organization that pretends to be a patient advocate. NAMI
advocates for drug treatment. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights
was not mentioned. CCHR is the only organization to oppose this false
belief system politically. Psychiatry is a system of social control
used by government, corporations and relatives with no due process
protections.

Roy Bercaw - Editor ENOUGH ROOM

Full article at

http://tinyurl.com/6mbu4f

'Mad Pride' Fights a Stigma
The New York Times
By GABRIELLE GLASER
Published: May 11, 2008

May 15, 2008

A Memorial Service in memory of Rose Ciampi



A Memorial Service in memory of Rose Ciampi, will be held at the


Kaji Aso Studio
40 St. Stephens St.
Boston
May 24, 2008 Saturday
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

St. Stephens St. (runs from Mass Ave.) is behind Symphony Hall
Kajo Aso is 1/2 block from Mass Ave.
Symphony "T" Stop on the "E" line; or
take # 1 bus from Harvard along Mass Ave to St. Stephens St.
just before Symphony Hall, 1 block before Huntington Ave.
Parking at Westland St. garage

Rose's Friend Bonnie
says, "Please come."

[Please forward to any and all interested persons and appropriate lists.]

May 13, 2008

DiMasi, the Governor and the Casinos

DiMasi, the Governor and the Casinos

This editorial should be called dealing out DiMasi. ("Smoking out
DiMasi," Boston Globe Editorial, May 13, 2008) It sounds like another
advocacy (lobbying?) piece for the casinos. Are the ethics complaints
motivated by casino interests and the Governor's failure to deliver?
The Speaker's letter is a political document. But the news reports are
not legal documents admissable as evidence either. Do journalists have
more credibility than the Speaker?
Why should an exception be made in the procedure of the Ethics
Commission for the Speaker? Has the idea of equal protection
of the laws, so important to the SJC for same sex marriage, become
variable now?
Why are casinos exempt from the need to air out their chambers? Gasp!
--
Roy Bercaw - Editor
ENOUGH ROOM
Cambridge MA USA
enoughroom.blogspot.com
enoughroomvideo.blogspot.com

Smoking out DiMasi
Boston Globe Editorial
May 13, 2008
(c) Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.

May 11, 2008

Dope Causes Mental Illness Causes Crime?

Dope Causes Mental Illness Causes Crime?

"Someone whocares," says [in comments to article] (Jessica Heslam
and Jessica Fargen, "High teens down and out of it," May 10, 2008)
"Unfortunately we live in a society where the authority is the truth
rather than the truth being the authority." That applies to most
authorative studies and reports. The desire to conform and to obey
authority is well documented by other authorities.
Several other alleged addictions besides smoking dope are
suggested as causing or exacerbating depression. But gambling is
omitted. Is that because Harvard Law and MA Governor Cadillac Deval
Patrick, promotes casinos?
More importantly scientific studies show that healthy young
brains are damaged physically by Ritalin. But schools and
psychiatrists and taxpayers continue to promote and fund ingesting
harmful chemicals. 5-year-old babies are killed by drug company
cocktails and the obedient politicians stay paid and permit this abuse
to grow.

Roy Bercaw - Editor ENOUGH ROOM

[Article comments]
http://tinyurl.com/6d6dcm

High teens down and out of it
White House study shows link between depression, pot use
By Jessica Heslam and Jessica Fargen
Saturday, May 10, 2008 - Updated 13h ago

May 8, 2008

Best of City Policies Ever

Best of City Policies Ever
by Barbara Broussard

Noah in 2008
In the year 2008, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in
the United States, and said, 'Once again, the earth has become wicked and
over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and
save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans. He gave Noah the
blueprints, saying, 'You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the
unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.' Six months later, the Lord looked down
and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.'Noah!' He roared, 'I'm about to
start the rain! Where is the Ark?''Forgive me, Lord,' begged Noah, 'but things
have changed. I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector
about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the
neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height
limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. Then
the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs
of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for
the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but
they would hear nothing of it. Getting the wood was another problem. There's a
ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince
the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go! When I
started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted
that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the
accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so
many animals in a confined space. Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the
Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.
I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how
many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration and
Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want
to work. The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire
only Union workers with Ark-building experience. To make matters worse, the IRS
seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with
endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years
for me to finish this Ark.' Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine,
and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked,
'You mean you're not going to destroy the world?' 'No,' said the Lord. 'The
government beat me to it.'