Freedom of the Press

As the Argentinean president "reforms" media in what has been speculated as a plan to silence critics that might harm her campaign, I am troubled about issues of freedom of the press.

I am a Communications major with a journalism emphasis about to graduate in December. I have to wonder about whether or not freedom of the press is still a right in practice or just in law.

Different news organizations have reputations as being liberal or conservative. There are issues of media censorship. 

I aspire to be a journalist who holds to my beliefs without violating my unbiased integrity. I am driven to make sure freedom of the press continues in our nation. I believe that the issue of freedom of the press impacts almost every area of our lives including religion, politics and society.

Big Brother

Children tracked by satellite navigation to stop bad behavior.

Around the News Podcast

Join me for this weeks latest headlines.

Bowing to Abdullah?

Presidential aids deny that President Obama bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the G-20 summit meeting in London. If he did, it would violate centuries of American tradition of not deferring to royalty.

Thought this video was interesting. It looks like a bow to me! 

What do you think?

The President and Church

As Easter approaches, the question looms. Where will the President celebrate the Resurrection of Christ? Is he Christian in practice or in name alone? What are his beliefs? 

President Obama has a tough mountain to overcome. With the racist, militant comments made by his former spiritual leader and pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. still heavy on many American's minds.

If he chooses a predominantly black church, whites will say its another Wright debacle. If he chooses a white church then blacks will have a problem with that and  him somehow denying his culture. It is interesting to note that the race card has expired! We have an African American president. No one should be pulling that card anymore, but they are. 

The President has not attended a public church service since his inauguration. White House aides suggested it is likely the president will attend an Easter service somewhere this Sunday without having made a final decision about where he, his wife, and daughters will worship. 

One thing is for sure and that is whatever church he chooses will have an army of secret service and metal detectors for their parishioners to deal with. Going to church with the president has its perks and its inconveniences. 

California's tent city

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up a make-shift tent city for the homeless that sprang up in the capital city of Sacramento. The current tent city will be shut down and its residents allowed to stay at the state fairgrounds.

Schwarzenegger said he ordered the state facility known as Cal-Expo to be used for three months to serve the 125 tent city residents, some of them displaced by the economic recession. The encampment may be shut down within a month. The move comes after the Sacramento City Council last night agreed to spend $880,000 to expand homeless programs.

Some of the residents have been displaced as a result of the housing market collapse. Those who are displaced for that reason have been unable to ride out the market in high interest mortgages.

Times are difficult when tent camps are top news. We have to wonder how to cut state spending and prevent such mortgage disasters again without letting our democratic society fall into socialism.

Obama's Kenyan family

President Barack Obama's aunt is fighting deportation. It will be interesting to see how this might influence his stance on immigration.

In Kenya, President Obama's older half-brother has been hospitalized with stomach pains and is being tested for cholera.

Do as we say, not as we do

22 Georgia legislators fail to pay income taxes...

Stress, Gray and Tough Times

Have you ever noticed that a person ages while going through a stressful time? Take the eighteen-year-old who finds their first gray hair after the most stressful and painful year of their life. Or, the woman who grays in a year while battling through a messy divorce. Or, the President of the United States who is reported to age two years for every one year in office.

Just 44 days into the job, President Obama is already showing an astounding amount of gray. He is not alone though. Bill Clinton still had half of his natural brown hair when he took office, and was completely silver two years later. George W. Bush went from salt and pepper to all salt in a flash.

For the President who prides himself on his youthful appearance and stress free demeanor, he is certainly showing the stress of the times - an election, a floundering economy and war raging. It is a stressful season marked by the ever increasing light hairs reflecting from his hair. 

Pelosi, Abortion and the Pope

Pope Benedict told U.S. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi that Catholic politicians and legislators cannot back abortion rights.

Pelosi is Catholic and pro-choice. U.S. bishops have accused her of misrepresenting Church teachings on abortion. Pelosi met the Pope briefly at a mid-way point during her visit to Italy, which is where her family is from.

She declined to address the Pope's reprimand, rather focused her statements on the Catholic Church's humanitarian works.

Pelosi met a storm of criticism from conservative Catholics in August when she told a talk show that the question of exactly when life begins "shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose."

Several days after his inauguration, President Barack Obama with Pelosi's support, reversed a Bush administration ban on funding for groups abroad that provide abortion services.

Vatican officials criticized that change. 

Sign of the times...

The economy is doing poorly when a billionaire asks for his deposit back on the world's most expensive house! 

The missing link

As we look around the world today, we see an economy that is spiraling out of control, leaders falling and people who are desperate for answers. There is a missing link of trust.

People don't trust the economy, so they stop spending because they fear prices will continue to go down. The very people who participate in democracy don't trust the leaders they felt so compelled to elect. People want a place to turn to for answers but the Church has the reputation for a money hungry machine - not the most welcoming place for a society that is facing tough economic times.

Trust is an integral part of any healthy relationship. I have never met a happily married couple who when asked what their secret is replied, "We just don't trust each other!"

We need to rebuild trust with our peers, leaders and followers. 

Pass it now, or we may never recover

Thought this was interesting. The optimism and promises of change that were evident in the campaign are no longer present in President Obama's administration. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090205/ap_on_go_pr_wh/congress_stimulus_126

Welcome

Intuitive Inclinations is a blog centered around current events in the world. My commentary will be discussed in relation to current events in politics, society and religion.  Enjoy!