Sarah Palin may be an unemployed, Facebook abusing, gaffe-prone idiot, but it seems as if she has, by accident and without knowing, stumbled across something she has a valid position on: the mosque proposal in New York City, close to Ground Zero .

Essentially, there’s been a proposal for the equivalent of a Muslim activity center – a mosque with restaurant, entertainment facilities, and more – to be built mere blocks from the site of the World Trade Center destruction, which has, as could be expected, received immediate, kneejerk reactions from both sides of the argument. Those of a conservative, oft-racist, persuasion have jumped on the fact that this is a Muslim center and not one of their own Christian brand, as if simply being of the Islamic faith was an affront to Americanism and disrespecting the lives of the dead from 9/11. Similarly, those of the liberal, oft-too-open, political flavor have done quite the opposite and used the proposal as a weapon of peaceful propaganda, claiming that it would cater to moderate Muslims, despite a valid argument that there is no such middleground option in Islam, and it would show that America holds nothing against those that did not declare war upon the nation.

The problem is that neither side is correct – both have legitimate and defensible positions, which is especially odd in the modern polar political climate.

In terms of arguing against the mosque’s existence so close to Ground Zero, there are mountains of evidence that Islamic centers of prayer, and those that run them, played large roles in the attacks of September 11^th, 2001 and continue to do so, even within America’s borders. The 9/11 hijackers sought solace, solidarity, and support in various mosques, on both coasts, and the more recent terrorist attempts, such as the failed Times Square Bomber, have had similar aid – a careful reading of Steve Coll’s “Ghost Wars”, James Bamford’s “The Shadow Factory”, and a number of other investigative journalism efforts on the topic make this quite clear. Even now, a decade later, those that support the subjugation, injury, or death of non-Muslims, due to either American citizenship or Jewish heritage/faith, can find sympathetic persons for their cause across the country. Since the Islamic faith, if interpreted in a semi-strict fashion, allows for no religion other than its own and calls for the death of all Jews, this is a serious issue, especially as fundamentalism sweeps the ranks of Muslims worldwide.

That being said, not all Muslims are terrorists or wish harm upon the Western World – this is a fact that should be inherently understood by rational individuals worldwide. The terrorist attacks of September 11^th were carried out by fundamentalist Muslims with disgruntled attitudes and a brainwashed perspective, and did not, nor do they currently, represent the opinions of all Muslims, just as the Catholic Pope does not speak for all Catholics. In a fit of panic, there were some unintelligent, embarrassingly stereotyping decisions made in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, but it can be argued that America has, on the whole, returned to its more rational state. Mosques are not the places of evil and fundamentalism that they are so often made out to be, most especially within the borders of the United States – they should not be pigeonholed as centers of evil to be banned, harassed, or discriminated against.

Thus arrives the crux of the problem: both sides of this argument have a point. A mosque so close to the ashes of the World Trade Center would undoubtedly send a message of tolerance and forgiveness to Muslims, but it could just as easily serve as an inspiration-by-proximity center fostering anti-American sentiment, so there is no easy answer to this permit request. None of this, however, was intended by the loudmouth embarrassment that is Sarah Palin – her words were simply meant in the racist, derogatory, and unacceptably judgmental manner in which she presented them. That she touched upon so salient a point by accident is a fantastic coincidence, but it does nothing to make the issue any less politically or socially relevant.

From Kyle Brady…

Kyle can be found on his blog, via email, or on Twitter.

From Mexico Corespondent Dori Rangel….

A strange mix of feelings runs through my body whenever I think about immigration. It’s difficult for me to process the large number of thoughts and images that come to mind, as well as the many stories I’ve heard since childhood. Throughout my life time there seems to have been a never ending stream of people who have left behind what was most important – their families, their homes, their Mexico – in hopes of a better life.

Years ago, when I was still a student, a group of my friends came to me with news that someone offered them employment in the United States. It was legal work in a carpet factory that offered a high salary for the average Mexican. It was for a period of 6 months with an option for another 6, and offered both food and lodging.

I listened in amazement at their enthusiasm, as many of my friends were educated, professional people with stable lives. I felt my goals were here in Mexico and so I passed. Regardless of my personal take on the matter, many of my friends and colleagues were intrigued. Soon enough, more than 25 of them decided to take the job offer.

I remember a couple of friends sold all their possessions, even their own beds, to cover the cost of making the move north to America. When the big day arrived, they made their way to the airport to leave for the United States, everything they owned packed into a suitcase.

The man who had supposedly hired them all and processed their visas for a fee however, never arrived. They waited for hours, and eventually discovered no one was coming. No tickets were issued in their name, no contracts ever existed. All been conned out of what little money they had. With broken dreams they returned to the city, many having lost their life savings, along with their faith in most anything at all. Some even found themselves homeless.

There’s no doubt, it’s difficult to find good work in Mexico. Not everyone has the luck or the opportunities. Sometimes people with college degrees, work under the command of people who haven’t studied past high school.

I studied pharmaceutical chemistry in university, but to this day I haven’t been able to utilize my degree. The chemistry sector is saturated in Mexico. These days I run a small business and work for the government part-time.

Years ago, one of my best friends decided to try his luck in Canada. He called and told me I should come as well, as there were many jobs available and the overall standard of life was high. I discussed it with my family and eventually, the anguish of being unable to obtain a decent job furled my decision to go. This in spite of the suffering my children would have to endure.

I sent my documents and after a time was approved to legally work there. Not long before going, my mother suffered a stroke. It was our original plan for my mother to join us, but now she couldn’t and I no longer had the support of my mother to care for my children. I never went to Canada and today I’m still in Mexico.

The lack of jobs and further still the high quantity of low paying jobs, are the main factors in that lead many to choose migration as a solution to hardship. This choice then triggers a series of consequences.

What it does is in fact create a greater sense of desperation in the economic sector and worse still, a false dream of America; one that does not import all the risks and dangers involved in a “jump to the other side.”

Among the many of consequences is the disintegration of entire families. Before it was only the men, brave, despereate and adventurous, but now many women go alone. More often than not, it’s done for the love of family. Children stay behind under the care of an immediate family member, but who can replace the figure of a father or mother? Absolutely no one.

Another result of the nearby border is many young Mexicans simply choosing, from day one, not to study or build a life in their own country. In leaving Mexico behind, many lose a sense of identity, do not have U.S. citizenship, and are often not even recognized as Mexicans.

In the end, Mexican immgrants are often exposed to unscrupulous people who pack them away in trains and trucks, leaving them without food or water. When they reach the other side of the border extortion, discrimination, beatings, sexual violence, abductions and even murders are often waiting for them. Few manage to achieve the American dream, and those who manage to do so lose some of their roots.

Through all of this, the one question I keep asking myself is, “Why are we doing this to ourselves?” 

We were created to be free and equal, and our dedication to making things better for ourselves and our families is what makes us human.  But why do we suffer for wanting a better life in a country other than our own, instead of making our lives better here at home? We can do it, each and every one of us. I know we can…. all we have to do is try.

From United States Correspondent Gibbs Burke…

Arizona has received more then its fair share of the spotlight in the past weeks for the recent signing of a new immigration law. Due to the nature of the bill it has ignited a great deal of debate both from those in favor, and those opposed. Even with valid points from both sides, the bill has unearthed a social chasm ever present in the United States. How do we solve a problem, without doing anything about it?

Illegal immigration has and is a problem in the United States for quite some time. Close to an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants reside in the US, more than 50% of them being from Mexico. Yet somehow we are supposed to catch these individuals without taking a single progressive measure to do so.

Racial profiling seems to be the common concern over the newly passed bill. But like many other terms and labels in the US, racial profiling has stemmed from a common practice known as offender profiling. Race is often if not always a characteristic of the profile. Police within an investigation use race all the time to narrow down suspects, and find the culprit. But like so many other things in US culture, political correctness has cast a negative condemnation on such practices negatively affecting the actual use and effectiveness.

If your argument is then that it is unconstitutional, then your point is simply invalid. An illegal immigrant, residing in the US, is not granted protection under the 14^th amendment and therefore is not given the rights granted by the constitution. Furthermore, the constitution grants the states rights in creating laws that are not outlined within the constitution. Since immigration will likely be less of a problem with central states, Arizona is well within their constitutional right to create laws affecting their sovereign region.

If you think this isn’t going on already, then you’re sadly mistaken. The US Border Patrol is part of Homeland Security, which patrols the boarder and enforces the very same principals outlined in the Arizona law.

So, while the Democrats demonstrate for the legality of illegal immigrants, businesses complain about the economic impact, because they cater to illegals. All one has to do is prove one is legal, either by valid driver’s licenses, visa, or papers, which should be done anyway. I guess it’s just idiotic to have to follow the law, and even more so to catch those that don’t.

When American politicians talk about building a wall to keep Mexicans from illegally entering the United Sates, emotions flare on both sides. Thing is, Mexicans are not always so crazy about the kind of Americans that routinely cross the border into their country either. From the comedy kings over at the theonion.com, watch this classic what if scenario and try not to smile at the irony. The video clip also points out the audacious arrogance that fuels the very idea of building a wall between the two countries in the first place.

Fundamentalism, of any kind, is dangerous by definition, especially in an era where moderation, or possibly even some sense of liberalism, is prevalent in the majority.  With this in mind, it is supremely worrisome that there appears to be a resurgence of fundamentalism, and its cousin extremism, in various parts of the world – especially America.

Religion and politics are the most widely fundamentalist-tinged issues, and they are growing both in number and in voice, on both sides of the metaphorical divide.  Within religion, Christianity is the popular fundamentalist vehicle of choice for America, especially in the South, and it is a highly exclusionary and militant nuisance – similarly, political fundamentalism comes in flavors both conservative (e.g. Tea Baggers) and liberals (e.g. Environmentalists).  Interestingly, fundamentalist Christians are often also fundamentalist conservatives.

It is this trend of fundamentalism in America that is beginning to cause major, and worrisome, problems, ranging from death threats to politicians to inhospitable and argumentative discussions to general disregard for the validity of outside opinion.  While there are fundamentalist liberals, they restrict themselves to peaceful protests and intellectual pursuits, whereas fundamentalist conservatives choose to behave as if the current instance of government is not only inherently evil, but also requiring of childish behavior.  Strict, unwavering interpretations of less-than-clear text, such as the Constitution, is always, unequivocally unacceptable.

Abortion, immigration, taxes, and, oddly enough, healthcare, seem to inflame the fundamentalist conservatives to such a degree that the political process becomes all but inept – a clear sign that the behavior so entrenched with this group of people is destructive at best.  Applied to other areas of interest, such as Islam or communism, this fundamentalist approach is scorned and jeered by the very same people, giving no credence whatsoever to their cries of intolerance and sociopolitical theft.

If America is to once again have a functioning, valuable government, these fundamentalists must be reined in, at all costs, lest assassinations, domestic terrorism, or other horrifying, but entirely foreseeable, events occur. 

The first step in this process involves a change of behavior on behalf of the conservatives/Republicans that insist on conspiracy theories and inciting violence – not with the Democrats, who have behaved rather admirably in the face of extreme partisanship.  Whether this begins with the removal of propaganda commentators such as Glenn Beck or adjusting the attitudes of Congressional members such as Mitch McConnell is entirely up to their party, but the GOP’s likely inaction will inevitably result in political and urban disaster.

From Kyle Brady…

Kyle can be found on his blog, on Facebook, via email, or on Twitter.

From United States Correspondent Gibbs Burke…

From the country that gave you parking on a driveway and driving on a parkway, The United States of America now brings you the most backwards political system – “American Democracy.”

Sure the thought of having, “Governments… instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” (Declaration of Independence) seems like a logical and fair system. But what happens when the system looses its grip on reality? The reality is that the U.S. is currently in the worst depression in its history, unemployment is at a peak, and yet the Government has done absolutely nothing.

Yes, we have had the stimulus package that helped save a possibly even greater financial problem. But when nothing is getting done, and every other week the Legislative branch seems to be on vacation, the people see a government that isn’t working. So how has America lost faith in itself? Why do we feel our Government is all just smoke and mirrors? The blame doesn’t simply fall on the officials themselves, the responsibility falls on us, the American peolpe, as well.

How would like a job where you got a 2% raise every year? What about if you were allowed to make rules that didn’t apply to you? Well my fellow Americans - I give you the United States Legislative branch.

That’s right Congressional members get a 2% raise every year and the kicker is, they don’t even vote on it. The sheer aspect of not voting means they get their raise. Congressmen can retire receiving their salary for life after only one term of service, and they don’t even pay into social security. Many of the laws to which Americans citizens are subject, members of Congress are not; some of which include sexual harassment or the recently passed Health Care Bill.

When Thomas Jefferson wrote, “that all men are created equal” apparently there was a footnote that American Politicians are created greater. These are not just some rants from a man in a straight jacket. The above mentioned information is FACT.

We the people need to look deeper into the way our government works. We need to realize we must elect people willing to change the status quo. The way the system works is not because of the men in those positions, but rather the result of the people that put those men there. “We the people…” are the biggest and greatest utensils for change, and the responsibility lies with us to make these changes.

Dear President Obama,

I’m glad you took the advice in my recent letter to you and finished the issue of healthcare, even if it was at the expense of a few key issues such as abortion rights and a public option – thank you for using the political strength we, your voting electorate, knew you had within you to follow through on the single most debated topic of the past year.  Despite this victory, however, you should not consider yourself finished with the tough, partisan issues, as the work is far from done.

I am of the belief, just as you once voiced in an interview, that it would be a far better mark on history to be a great one-term President than one with two mediocre terms – healthcare is not the only issue that you may have to sacrifice your longterm political career for over the greater good of the nation.  It is, therefore, imperative that you continue to push the issues that are of great relevance to the betterment of our people than those that are politically easy, and do so as fast as humanly possible in order to accomplish the very maseparating businesses from politics, ximum your Presidency can achieve.  Re-regulating the financial sector, addressing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, and passing valuable legislation on the issue of Climate Change, especially in light of the failure at Copenhagen, are just some of these immensely important issues.

The hard fights should not all be fought in your first Term, however.  If you have a second Term, as I hope you will, it should be used for the political battles that are currently impossible:  further regulation and reform of the insurance cartels, the creation of a public option, and various other topics that, while pressing, are not feasible given the current political climate and the cost, both time and effort, it would take to simply see them fail – an eight year legacy of reform, regulation, and restoration would be something that every freethinking, intelligent citizen of America would be proud of.

Do not let the threats of Republican healthcare repeal, or its challenging in the Supreme Court, both of which are inevitably destined to fail, scare or dissuade you from further action – as we have seen, their party is simply interested in opposition, partisanship, obstruction, and the status quo.  This is not the time to declare victory and let the rest of your Presidency run free, a concept you seem to understand since you’re already moving onto the reform of the financial industry.  Do not worry about elections, as you still have the majority in Congress:  use it to the greatest possible effect, and worry about next year when the November elections arrive.  Do not worry about the insane, upset, demonstrably crazy vocal minority that is currently screaming obscenities, behaving like children, and issuing death threats to you – they represent the People even less than most of the current Congressional Republicans do.

I’m proud, and thankful, that you saw an issue through that could have resulted in a political backlash – it speaks volumes of both your character and purpose, justifying why I, along with so many others of my age and mindset, elected you as our President.  I have great faith that you will continue along this vein and follow your political heart wherever it takes you, hopefully resulting in history recognizing you as the early 21st century’s FDR.

Good luck – I think you’ll need it.

Sincerely,

Kyle Brady

Kyle can be found on his blog, on Facebook, via email, or on Twitter.

Anthony Weiner is a Congressman  in the old fashioned tradition, a leading voice in the fight for reform, and a left wing democrat. He’s been at the forefront of the fight for the Public Option in American Healthcare from the very beginning and hasn’t let up for a minute. It’s RELATIVTY OnLine’s humble opinion that American Congress needs more lawmakers like him.

Watch as Weiner rips the Republican Party a new one, calling them a “wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry.”

After his comments, he is asked to temporarily step down from the podium – the congressional of equivalent of being told to stand in the corner – and his words are ordered withdrawn. Upon his return, he agrees to withdraw his words. When given the chance to continue however,  he throws a hard right hand lead at the Republican Party yet again. Word has it that Weiner is now considering a UFC Heavyweight Title shot.

Bipartisanship, in modern politics, is a lie – a falsehood, a hopeless dream, a fantasy based on nothing.  And yet this doesn’t prevent either side of the political divide from using the idea of it as a tool for derision, division, and justification, even when those employing it know it to be nothing but empty words.

In the purest sense of the word, bipartisanship is a meeting of groups or individuals with opposing views, while sharing some common points of interest, that results in a healthy compromise between the disparate positions for the overall better.  American politics has not seen this kind of bipartisanship in the last few decades, if not longer, and the roots of partisan voting, including its vitriol, can be traced all the way back to the Declaration of Independence, with 2010 Washington doing their very best to continue this unhealthy state ad infinitem.

Recently, bipartisanship, or a lack thereof, has been used by Republicans in attempts to kill legislation of any kind, but their cries of partisanship avoid a certain fundamental truth:  President Obama’s Administration, and its Congress, have not been bipartisan for the simple fact that the Republicans have refused to participate.  The lack of a desire to govern is not at all comparable to a lack of bipartisan efforts, the latter of which has not been in short supply over the last fourteen months.  This is not so much a battle of diametrically opposing ideologies as it is a distinct dislike for President Obama and his efforts and goals, not to mention the striking characteristics of the GOP’s childlike political tantrum.

It’s time to give up, at least for the remainder of the Obama Administration, the idea of bipartisanship – on everything.  If the opposing party, in this case the Republicans, wish to participate with the President and his Congressional majority in the process of running the nation, they may do so, but concessions should not be made to a group of corrupt individuals that have absolutely no intention of being part of the legislative process except for their own personal gain.  While this applies to Washington at present, the same criticisms can be made for Administrations past, on both sides of the party line, and will no doubt continue into the future.

Until politics reaches a state of enlightenment that includes the ability to have reasoned, unemotional debates, bipartisanship is a lie.  Once the American people realize that the idea of bipartisanship is merely a tool used to garner votes for the party out of favor at election time, the country will have a chance at finally moving forward, as those within Congress will recognize the farce as being over.  Applied immediately, great benefits could be had within a very short period of time.

From Kyle Brady…

Kyle can be found on his blog, via email, or on Twitter.

A YouTube comedy classic here, as random Americans on the street are stopped by a fake news reporter who is in fact part of an Australian TV program geared towards making fun of the United States. Yes, these morons  may have been cherry-picked and anyone who gave an intelligent answer to the questions asked were probably  left on the cutting room floor – but its still both funny and revealing to watch such epic levels of ignorance.  As a side note, it also shows how a guy like George W was re-elected for a second term as well as the future base for Tea Baggers.