Dog-Gone Chapman Thoughts

GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society.

WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW - November 28, 2007

Dog-Gone Chapman Thoughts
A Message from Dick Rowland

The recent flap over the racist epithets of Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman in a secretly taped and sold recording bring to mind several thoughts.

First, Dog has been an accident looking for a place to happen. Now it has happened. It was almost inevitable, considering his obvious lack of discipline or self-control coupled with intense public attention on everything he did.

Second, I am prepared to accept his contrite apologies. Why? He emphasized his principal complaint with the individual he verbally attacked was lack of character. I think that in anger he was casting about for more to say and wandered into politically incorrect territory.

Third, the compulsion in America to be politically correct has been a very worrisome development for some time now. And it keeps getting worse. Remember, the people of Nazi Germany were politically correct. Ditto Stalin in USSR. Then there is Cuba and North Korea today. Exaggeration? Certainly. But where is it heading?

Fourth, in their reactions, the public and the media did not bother to consider the facts, circumstances, or human fragility. Instead, the network and the big advertisers simply dropped him like a hot potato.

Fifth, there are the reprehensible ones who make their living feeding on and perpetuating and fostering victimhood. They make a living keeping victim groups victims. They have the incentive of power, money, and fame (or all three) as they work to cause, manifest, foster, and extend victim problems, real or perceived, into perpetuity. They were on to this situation in spades.

Sixth, the Black Victimhood Industry (BVI) people want you to feel guilty. Don't. You did not do anything. Dog did. The ones that ought to be guilt-ridden should be the ones who want opportunities like Dog presents to grow like a cancer. Then their power will grow.

Seventh, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me" is a mature reaction to hateful talk. President Bush handles such daily. And the things said about him have substance, as they mostly relate to something he did, didn't do etc. A racial slur is empty. A person's ancestry is a complete and utter accident. None of us had/have control over it. To use a racial slur about another is to reveal, like a neon sign, utter stupidity. In other words, an empty head. Which goes well with an empty word.

Now let's practice our maturity and get over it.

IN THE NEWS - HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTARIES
Grassroot Institute is regularly featured in news articles and broadcasts around the state. Here is a sample of some of our recent articles, research stories, and other articles of interest.

Media, Global Warming, and Junk Science
By Michael R. Fox, Ph.D.

I am always amazed that in a nation of high technology and science the media are so spectacularly and relentlessly ignorant of the scientific processes. Worse, many interest groups exploit this to their own advantage and agendas. Over the years the media have lost their curiosity and the willingness to do their own homework.

On November 2, 2007, the national meeting of U.S. Conference of Mayors convened with a veritable love fest with past President Bill Clinton and a teleconference with Al Gore. Much of the love fest centered upon global warming, the pending doom, the spreads of diseases, rising tides, and what the mayors were planning to do about it. The media local and national were in their predictable swoon, with the notion of a hard media question completely absent.

(To read more, click here.)

U.S. House Approves Race-Based Government in Hawaii
By Project 21

Editor’s Note: Last month, the black leadership network Project 21 issued a press release criticizing the U.S. Houses of Representatives for their passage of the Akaka Bill. "It is contemptibly dishonest, not to mention completely disingenuous, for the very politicians who are best known for decrying racial division to eagerly push legislation to institutionalize race as the guiding principle for a body of government within our United States," said Project 21 Chairman Mychal Massie. "Instead of representing all people equally, regardless of race and ethnicity, it seems congressional leaders want to ram this legislation through before logic and cooler heads can prevail."

Project 21 promotes the views of African-Americans whose entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to family, and commitment to individual responsibility has not traditionally been echoed by the nation's civil rights establishment. It is an initiative of the National Center for Public Policy Research, a communications and research foundation supportive of a strong national defense and dedicated to providing free market solutions to today's public policy problems.

You can read the Project 21 press release here.

FRESH PERSPECTIVE

How Bad is Education in Hawaii?
By Kenli Schoolland

Isn't it rather pathetic that a majority (56 percent) of 8th grade Hawaii students have "below basic" knowledge of Science? Mathematics and Reading are only slightly better, with more than 40 percent of Hawaii students in the "below basic" knowledge category in those subjects.

These are abysmal results, and one wonders who is at fault. Hawaii consistently ranks in the lowest five states in the nation for the quality of education. How can this be when the government in 2002-2003 was spending $1,489,092,000 on education?

(To read more, click here.)

Opportunity for Young Adults:
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of high school and college students. In addition to work appearing on GRIH’s website, their work is also submitted to Hawaii Reporter. Submissions are welcome from any interested young adult, and we will publish work that is clearly written and grammatically sound. For earlier Fresh Perspectives please click here.

Contact: wendy@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.

TRY OUR BLOGS
Use these links to access various topics.

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Hearings by the State of Hawaii Temporary Advisory Committee on Bioprospecting

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Hawaii State Senate Education Committee informational briefing on charter schools

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Day v. Apoliona motion to intervene

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>The 2008 Authoritarian Olympics

Read what others have written or add your own thoughts. Click here for more blogs.

LIBERTY NETWORK

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a member of an extensive international liberty network of organizations that promote more individual autonomy and less governmental involvement in human affairs.

GRIH president Dick Rowland will be in Washington, DC from December 2-6 attending a State Policy Network networking meeting.
Did you miss Paul Jacob's keynote speech at the November 3rd Annual Dinner? You're in luck as it will be broadcast on Channel 54 on this schedule:

         Sunday, December 16th -- 3:00 PM
         Tuesday, December 18th -- 8:30 PM
         Sunday, December 23rd -- 3:30 PM
         Monday, December 24th -- 8:30 PM
GRIH welcomes new temporary employee Mika Yasunaga, who started work November 26th.
Greg Rehmke of Economic Thinking visited Hawaii last week to speak with high school and college students at GRIH-sponsored meetings about development economics, global economics and free market economics. Greg met with/spoke to 19 Punahou and Iolani debaters about economics in sub-Saharan Africa; approximately 20 members of Ken Schoolland's HPU global economics class; 10 extemporaneous speakers at Punahou and Iolani about the economic aspects of their speaking topics; over 80 Iolani economics students about China's economic growth and its impact on the US; and finished the week giving some economics background to 21 home school students and some of their parents for their Lincoln-Douglas debate program. We plan to have Greg come again in 2008 to work with us on an expanded program.
GRIH seeks one or more individuals willing to endure up to six months of clerical work (to learn the center-right think tank business) who could then be promoted to handle some amount of program work. Funding for program work in the youth program and government/tax areas is available now. Funds for programs in other areas forthcoming. We seek college graduates or individuals with an equivalent amount of work experience. Applicants must be able to type and format Word documents; send, reply to and forward Outlook e-mail with various attachments; enter data in Excel work sheets; and have fair understanding of Windows XP file management and experience with standard office equipment. We are looking for individuals who have something to show from their life experience that they can bring to the job. Good writing skills, knowledge of current events or American government, If this sounds like you or someone you know, call Wendy at the GRIH office (808)591-9193 or e-mail resume to wendy@grassrootinstitute.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

All of the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are available on our website.

Friday, November 30th GRIH is sponsoring a showing of the Acton Institute's "The Call of the Entrepreneur."
The 57 minute film will be shown at 3:30 pm in HPU's Warmer Auditorium, 1060 Bishop Street, Penthouse. From 4:30 - 5:00 PM, there will be a roundtable of local entrepreneurs sharing personal stories and their comments on the film. Open to HPU students and the community. Light refreshments will be served. There is no admission fee. Sponsored by HPU Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE@HPU), GRIH, Entrepreneurship Center of HPU and The Acton Institute. Seating is limited to 80. Call Wendy at the office or email wendy@grassrootinstitute.org so seats can be saved for you.

How fast does the state spend your money?
State spending is out of control. Watch the dollars fly out the window.....

Have an Institute speaker at your next meeting!
From taxation to education, from health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is ready to address your group regarding the important policy issues facing all citizens of Hawaii. Call (808) 591-9193 to check availability and make arrangements, or e-mail us at wendy@grassrootinstitute.org .

Grassroot Institute is a proud member of the State Policy Network and Townhall..

SUPPORT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY

The Institute operates only through the generous donations of friends and benefactors from around Hawaii and the United States, and even the smallest of donations can be used to accomplish great things for the future of our beloved state.

Will you consider becoming a supporter today? It is quick, easy and secure! Click here!