Having for the most part lost the battle to get creationism into our publish schools, the religious right, with surprising help from Jewish groups, are now campaigning to get "ex-gay" literature into the classroom.  The scary part is, schools may not have a way to stop it.  If they are going to allow gays and lesbians a forum in the school system then they will be forced to do the same for the so-called "ex-gay" movement.  I don’t know who I should feel the most sadness for:  the young men and women who will be even more confused, or the idiots who think they’ve "cured" themselves of homosexuality.  These people may go on to marry and have children, but deep down they will never "cure" themselves of being gay.  It will always be a part of them no matter how much they try to suppress it.

I’ve been a Springsteen fan for nearly 20 years.  There’s very little of his music that I haven’t heard and enjoyed.  His songs have always had a very pro-American undertone to them.  Not overtly political, his songs always spoke about small-town life, about the everyday man, and sometimes about those who serve their country and aren’t always treated well.  Three Springsteen songs rank as my favorites:  "Born to Run," a recent song "Devils & Dust," and "Born in the USA."  A lot of people assume that "Born in the USA" is some patriotic anthem in the vein of "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood; and while it is a pro-American song, those who think it’s the same as Greenwood’s aren’t really listening to the lyrics.

Since the release of The Rising, a CD filled with ruminations about September 11, 2001, and its aftermath, Springsteen has been overtly political like never before.  The most interesting of all is that this overt political view has been very anti-Bush and pro-Democrats.  Apparently, this political Springsteen isn’t going away.  I wouldn’t say that Springsteen is anti-Republican or pro-Democrats, I would just say that he disagrees with President Bush and isn’t afraid to speak his mind.  Of course, he’s at a point in his long career where pissing off some radio stations, or Conservatives, or fans won’t really matter.  For that reason, the backlash that may or may not happen will be nothing compared to the Dixie Chicks brouhaha.  Of course, rock fans aren’t as close-minded as country fans seem to be, so that’s a plus, as well. 

I don’t spend a lot of time writing about Iran mostly because I doubt I could intelligently discuss both sides of the issue since, sadly, I pay little attention to it.  I know, it’s a dangerous flaw; however, here’s what I can say: their so-called "president" is a complete wacko, not to mention Holocaust denier and Jew hater.  That alone makes him a despicable bastard in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be welcome in Germany or any country for that matter.  If we profess to be free people in American and throughout Europe then even opinions we find disgusting and stupid should be allowed in society.  If we want to show Iran want it means to be a democratically free world, then people must act like it.  Moreover, Jewish leaders would be better served by using those very freedoms to speak out agaiunst fools like Ahmadinejad rather than trying to silence them.  Trying to silence them will always fail unless you’re willing to engage in very anti-democratic activities, and either way it only enables their dyfunctional view.