This page was last updated on March 17, 2011.
Quick hits; Editorial; Beaver County Times; March 17, 2011.
With “FEAR FACTOR” the Times is allegedly still wound up by a “U.S. House Homeland Security Committee … hearing last week to look into the radicalization of young American Muslims by al-Qaida-linked groups” led by U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY). As I noted in my critique of “Quick hits/GOING AFTER RADICALS,” the Times didn’t seem to have a problem when lefties held at least 20 similar hearings. The “right-winger” characterization is interesting. When did Sen. Joe Lieberman (D/I-CT), former-Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), and journalist/pundit Juan Williams become “right-wingers?”
Regarding the incident about the three Orthodox Jews who “conducted an elaborate orthodox prayer ritual on the flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles,” this was an incident the Times could exploit no matter how it went. If the flight crew had done nothing, this editorial likely would have claimed their inaction was proof of discrimination against Muslims and cite the “flying imams” incident. For reference, here’s my critique of the “flying imams” editorial from 2006.
Finally, it’s not paranoia when people really are trying to kill you.
After you read “DOUBLE STANDARD,” I encourage you to visit The Pennsylvania Society (TPS) website. Among other things, you will learn the TPS was founded in NYC (1899) as The Pennsylvania Society of New York; the name was shortened upon incorporation. Now to this ridiculous editorial.
First, the PSU board of trustees meeting is an official function of a state-related university. The TPS annual dinner is a social event for members and friends.
Second, even if it’s only 10% of their expenses, attendees of the PSU board of trustees meeting spend taxpayer dollars to do so. They also spend student dollars via tuition. According to the editorial, attendees of the TPS dinner do so on their own dime or via “campaign contributions or as guests of corporations of [sic] lobbyists.” Translation: Those who pay for TPS dinner attendees choose to do so. Does the Times really not see the difference between the PSU board of trustees meeting and the TPS dinner? Sure it does, but hopes we don’t think it through. (Note: The portion about TPS members “paying their own way …” appears to have been lifted from Wikipedia with minor edits to make the wording fit.)
Finally, it appears the TPS dinner has been held at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel (both original and current) every year since 1899.
The editorial tells us “To a large extent, Penn State, Pitt and Temple are ‘state’ schools in name only.” In fact, they (plus Lincoln University) are not; these schools are “state-related.” Lincoln, Pitt, and, Temple were private universities until the 1960s/70s. There are 14 PA “state” universities, including California, Indiana, Slippery Rock, et cetera.
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