Elections, Body Scans, and Religion

Well, it has been a while since I've graced these pages and a lot has happened over the last six weeks or so. The recent general election is probably the most obvious event, but there are a couple of other issues that you may have overlooked.Let's break it down....

The November general election provided a resounding rejection of the Democratic agenda. Republicans should be careful not to read this as an endorsement of THEIR agenda. I think what most Americans are saying is "do something!". Most of us are tired of double-digit unemployment, a stagnant economy, and a housing market that can't seem to get off the ground. Most of all, we're tired of a government that doesn't seem to get it. They're unresponsive to the people who elected them and seem more concerned with playing all the political angles than in fixing anything. The sad fact is that I don't see much improvement over the next 2 years. If anything, it may get worse. If they couldn't get anything done with a Democratic President, House and Senate, what makes you think they'll get any more done now? One thing we did prove, however, is that we WILL vote you out of office. Maybe that's the wake up call they needed. None of these guys wants to have to go out and get a real job. Just remember, 2012 isn't that far away.

Have you heard all the uproar about the full body scans at the airport? I flew out of Nashville a couple of weeks ago and had to go through it. It's a little slower than before, but if it helps make things safer, so be it. For all those who are complaining, I have one word for you.......Greyhound! If you don't like going through security at the airport, take the bus. My guess is that a couple of trips to the West Coast via Greyhound will make that "unreasonable search" at the airport look pretty harmless. Hey, it's ok with me if they have the National Guard on every plane with an M16 locked and loaded. It seems to work pretty well for the Israeli's. It's really pretty simple - if you want to fly, go through the scanner. If not, get there some other way. I wish everything was this simple.

Finally, here's a little piece of news that may have gotten by you:

RALEIGH, N.C. — A soft-spoken 14-year-old's nose piercing has landed her a suspension from school and forced her into the middle of a fight over her First Amendment right to exercise her religion. Ariana Iacono says she just wants to be a normal teenager at Clayton High School, about 15 miles southeast of Raleigh. She has been suspended three times this year because her nose ring violates the Johnston County school system's dress code. "I think it's kind of stupid for them to kick me out of school for a nose piercing," she said. "It's in the First Amendment for me to have freedom of religion."

Iacono and her mother, Nikki, belong to the Church of Body Modification, a small group unfamiliar to rural North Carolina, but one with a clergy, a statement of beliefs and a formal process for accepting new members. It's enough to draw the interest of the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has contacted school officials with concerns that the rights of the Iaconos are being violated by the suspension.

The Iaconos say the school system is ignoring its own dress code policy, which allows exemptions on religious grounds. The effect, Nikki Iacono, 32, says, is that Johnston County school officials are setting themselves up as judges of what constitutes a "real" religion. "We pretty much flat-out asked them, what guidelines are you following? What do you need to establish a sincere religious belief?" she said. "We were told that if we were Hindu, or she were Muslim, it would be different."

On Tuesday, after her first suspension ended, Ariana went back to school with her mother — and her nose stud. She was suspended again, this time for five days. When she came back to school Tuesday with the nose stud, she was suspended again. A Johnston County schools spokeswoman declined to comment on the situation, saying it's against the law to publicly discuss a particular student's disciplinary matters. Richard Ivey, the Iaconos' Raleigh-based minister in the church, believes it's a case of officials dismissing something unfamiliar.

So now piercing, aka body modification, is a religion? And the ACLU, aka American Communist Lawyers Union, is interested? Well isn't it comforting to know that they're spending their time on meaningful issues? I mean, what difference does it make that little Johnny can't add 2 plus 2 as long as he gets to exercise his rights as a card-carrying member of the Church of Body Modification? Let's make sure he gets to show off the scabbed-over hole in his lip with the metal stud run through it while he worships. Can't be too careful when it comes to separation of church and state.

Let me leave you with this. As the politicians settle in for the lame duck session of congress, and everyone has their hand out, remember one thing: Government cannot give anything to anyone that they first have not taken away from someone else.

Till next time..........