Preventative measures
As Ann Arbor police made several arrests last week in conjunction with the May 9 Ku Klux Klan rally, the lawyer of several of those charged made accusations that the police are conducting a witch hunt and using tactics reminiscent of police states. While those accusations are probably little more than rhetoric, the AAPD needs to conduct a very thorough investigation that searches out wrongdoing done by all parties involved so that the community can prevent future problems and heal from the latest rally and violence.
Not so secret
Last Tuesday, an appeals court ruled that Secret Service personnel must testify in the ongoing Monica Lewinsky investigation. This decision conflicted with the Secret Service's contention that it should have a confidential relationship with the President and that making agents testify would damage the trust each president puts in the Secret Service. Though absolute trust is necessary between the President and his protectors, the appeals court made the correct ruling - a ruling that should not jeopardize the President's trust or the Secret Service's ability to protect him.
Making change
In session last week, Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation to reform the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS has long been in bad need of reform, and last week's actions should work to create a more efficient, friendly IRS while expanding the rights of taxpayers.
Other issues are at play
I'm not entirely up to date on affirmative action's subtleties, but from what little I know, I see absolutely no way that it will help resolve the economic discrepancies that currently exist in our society.
The way I see it, there are many people in the country, generally those in poor urban or rural districts, that do not receive adequate primary education. As a result, few of these disadvantaged students have the skills to compete with students from wealthier districts or private schools for positions in secondary education.
I went back home to a place I had never even been
A few weeks ago, I traveled with my family up north to go to a family reunion on a scale not before seen in our family. I knew I was going to meet some relatives I had never met before, but I didn't really know what to expect. I found a good deal more than my family tree.
Adulthood is something that I'm not prepared for yet
At work the other day, I wandered into my boss, Rob's, office to see what he was up to, and found him to be on the computer -- the internet to be exact. As I sometimes forget to follow basic social etiquette, I grabbed a chair and began to peer over Rob's shoulder.
07-13-98
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