Let Freedom Ring in 2010
July 3, 2010
There is so much interesting news, that it is hard to know where to start. So, I'll start with the news that KSL, the flagship radio station of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) will is dropping the Shawn Hannity Show. I listen in the morning to KSL, as Doug Wright is often interesting and thought-provoking. And I have become an increasing fan of the Nightside Project, as Ethan Millard is a breath of fresh air in Utah. But, Hannity is a hater. He not only knows that Republicans are always right and Democrats wrong. He believes that the Democrats are deliberately working to hurt our country. I do not much like Republicans; and I certainly am not a Democrat. But I do not think that they (including Harry Reid, the highest ranking LDS Church member ever in US Government) is deliberately out to destroy what is good in the country. I express my thanks to KSL in the hope of more civil dialogue in the future. Yes, another Salt Lake station (that I do not listen to) will pick up the Hannity broadcast, and most likely improve their ratings. More power to them.
In another pleasant surprise, the Freedom Festival in Provo gave its Freedom award this year to Greg Mortensen, one of my personal heroes. Mr. Mortensen, a former professional mountain climber, and a nurse, has built 131 new schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and brought education, especially to girls, who would never have received it otherwise. The Freedom Festival has often been the exclusive neighborhood for right wing Republican politicians, like Shawn Hannity. I congratulate them for their intelligent choice this year. And if you do not know of Mr. Mortensen, pick up his book, "Three Cups of Tea" which is one of the most inspiring books I have read.
This morning the papers reported that a high ranking Davis County police officer was caught in a "sting" or undercover operation in which Layton City police set up in a hotel and invited men to make appointments for anticpated sexual activity. Now, I don't know the details of the operation. I don't know if they advertised outright for sex, or whether they suggested they were escorts. Whatever you may think of that business, escort agencies are perfectly legal; and making an appointmen with one is no crime. But the clear implication of the articles was that the officer was caught trying to pay for sex. Layton City has a history of enticing escorts from Salt Lake City and then arresting them for sex solicitation. I wonder if they feel they have a problem that no other Davis County City has. And I wonder why they feel this is a good use of limited resources. Are they just bored? Why is it their business what two consenting adults do in one of their hotel rooms? The notion that the police have the power to protect public morals is obviously archaic, and is probably without legal standing since the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision of Lawrence v. Texas. So, one little part of me says that this police officer got what he probably deserved; and a much bigger part of me says that it is neither my business nor that of the Layton police, and that he should have been left alone, just like everyone else.
In this weekend that we celebrate our freedoms, we must take note that our country has a long way to go to be truly free. People still get arrested for having (or wanting to have)sex, for possessing a small quantity of a "weed" that grows well nearly anywhere, for walking across the border to pick fruit and vegetables for Americans who feel that the work is too demeaning, and many other silly things. The government finds it convenient to instill fear into people, so that they can engage in oppressive surveillance of their citizens. And taxes are simply too high at a time when people have less money.
Sometime this weekend I will sit down and watch one of my favorite movies, 1776, which I watch at this time very year to celebrate Independence Day. And then I will celebrate my birthday on Tuesday. Please consider helping with my celebration of freedom and life. Please consider going to my website at www.andrewmccullough.org/contributions.html and making a small ($10?) donation to my campaign for Governor (don't let it bother you that the site may refer to "Attorney General" -- the account has been transferred). And then tell a friend about my campaign to bring freedom to Utah, even if Utah does not really know what to do with it. Together we can help make Freedom ring!
There is so much interesting news, that it is hard to know where to start. So, I'll start with the news that KSL, the flagship radio station of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) will is dropping the Shawn Hannity Show. I listen in the morning to KSL, as Doug Wright is often interesting and thought-provoking. And I have become an increasing fan of the Nightside Project, as Ethan Millard is a breath of fresh air in Utah. But, Hannity is a hater. He not only knows that Republicans are always right and Democrats wrong. He believes that the Democrats are deliberately working to hurt our country. I do not much like Republicans; and I certainly am not a Democrat. But I do not think that they (including Harry Reid, the highest ranking LDS Church member ever in US Government) is deliberately out to destroy what is good in the country. I express my thanks to KSL in the hope of more civil dialogue in the future. Yes, another Salt Lake station (that I do not listen to) will pick up the Hannity broadcast, and most likely improve their ratings. More power to them.
In another pleasant surprise, the Freedom Festival in Provo gave its Freedom award this year to Greg Mortensen, one of my personal heroes. Mr. Mortensen, a former professional mountain climber, and a nurse, has built 131 new schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and brought education, especially to girls, who would never have received it otherwise. The Freedom Festival has often been the exclusive neighborhood for right wing Republican politicians, like Shawn Hannity. I congratulate them for their intelligent choice this year. And if you do not know of Mr. Mortensen, pick up his book, "Three Cups of Tea" which is one of the most inspiring books I have read.
This morning the papers reported that a high ranking Davis County police officer was caught in a "sting" or undercover operation in which Layton City police set up in a hotel and invited men to make appointments for anticpated sexual activity. Now, I don't know the details of the operation. I don't know if they advertised outright for sex, or whether they suggested they were escorts. Whatever you may think of that business, escort agencies are perfectly legal; and making an appointmen with one is no crime. But the clear implication of the articles was that the officer was caught trying to pay for sex. Layton City has a history of enticing escorts from Salt Lake City and then arresting them for sex solicitation. I wonder if they feel they have a problem that no other Davis County City has. And I wonder why they feel this is a good use of limited resources. Are they just bored? Why is it their business what two consenting adults do in one of their hotel rooms? The notion that the police have the power to protect public morals is obviously archaic, and is probably without legal standing since the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision of Lawrence v. Texas. So, one little part of me says that this police officer got what he probably deserved; and a much bigger part of me says that it is neither my business nor that of the Layton police, and that he should have been left alone, just like everyone else.
In this weekend that we celebrate our freedoms, we must take note that our country has a long way to go to be truly free. People still get arrested for having (or wanting to have)sex, for possessing a small quantity of a "weed" that grows well nearly anywhere, for walking across the border to pick fruit and vegetables for Americans who feel that the work is too demeaning, and many other silly things. The government finds it convenient to instill fear into people, so that they can engage in oppressive surveillance of their citizens. And taxes are simply too high at a time when people have less money.
Sometime this weekend I will sit down and watch one of my favorite movies, 1776, which I watch at this time very year to celebrate Independence Day. And then I will celebrate my birthday on Tuesday. Please consider helping with my celebration of freedom and life. Please consider going to my website at www.andrewmccullough.org/contributions.html and making a small ($10?) donation to my campaign for Governor (don't let it bother you that the site may refer to "Attorney General" -- the account has been transferred). And then tell a friend about my campaign to bring freedom to Utah, even if Utah does not really know what to do with it. Together we can help make Freedom ring!
posted by Andrew McCullough @ 5:32 PM
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