New York Terror Trials

People are mad that we are not putting these guys through a military tribunal or whatever they want to call it. But let us remember this, when they were captured we more than likely called them unlawful combatants... which excludes them from article 4.1.3 of the Geneva Conventions. - Members of regular armed forces who profess allegiance to a government or an authority not recognized by the Detaining Power.

Unlawful Combatants - individuals ... to be detained, and, when tried, to be tried for violations of the laws of war and other applicable laws by military tribunals." May be detained or prosecuted under the domestic law of the detaining state for such action.

"The judgement quoted the 1958 ICRC commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention: Every person in enemy hands must be either a prisoner of war and, as such, be covered by the Third Convention; or a civilian covered by the Fourth Convention. Furthermore, "There is no intermediate status; nobody in enemy hands can be outside the law,"

So it comes down to this, do we uphold the part of america that holds its faith in due process and a right to it? We are signers of the Geneva Conventions and the "unlawful combatant" presidential order was seen as undermining and a work around of those conventions by human rights groups. We should not weaken our resolve by letting go of the little shoe strings that hold our country together. We are a part of the world stage and should live by and hold ourselves and others to the agreements we make.

You will NOT go to jail if you dont have health insurance under the house bill.

One part of the misinformation going around is that you will go to jail if you don't have or buy health insurance. What the FACT about this is (which i totally am not a fan of, i think is bullshit, but in the terms of shared risk it is necessary, sigh...) is that you will be given a tax if you do not have health insurance. And of course not paying federal income tax can lead to jail time, a total of 100 people went to jail in 2008 for willingly not paying taxes. So the logical connection for opponents is that "If you don't have health insurance you will go to jail" Here are a few pointers - "The additional tax does not apply ... if the person's income is below the threshold for filing a Federal income tax return." "Hardship cases" are exempted from the tax. From Section 501(f) Section 501 a) TAX IMPOSED.-In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of- (1) the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over (2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer. (b) LIMITATIONS.- (1) TAX LIMITED TO AVERAGE PREMIUM.- (A) IN GENERAL.-The tax imposed under subsection (a) with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed the applicable national average premium for such taxable year. "Hardship cases" are exempted from the tax. From Section 501(f): (f) REGULATIONS.-The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations or other guidance (developed in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner) which provide- [...] (2) a waiver of the application of subsection (a) in cases of hardship, including a process for applying for such a waiver.

So, I heard someone on Fox News O'Rielly program call the Muslims a "protected species."

Much how after September 2001 many Muslims were targeted, many Arabic people were targeted just for having a similar name, this incident in Ft. Hood is going to spurn the same reactions out of people. The religious indignation that we have is astounding. And how a radical view of a religion ends up totally ruining any good word that can be taught and lived.

First Amendment - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Did we not come to America for our religious freedoms, to escape the pursecutions. Was the Gun Powder plot in 1605, that is being falsely used by some political agents for their fight against healthcare reform, not a reaction to the discrimination against English Catholics.

I may not be religious anymore but I do believe in the tenants of our founding and the freedoms that we offer. We should defend ourselves against the extremist viewpoints of every religion and be open to the freedoms allowed for someone to worship their Lord.