Life Of Jason

Evil Knievel dies at 69.

Rest in peace.  I always did enjoy watching his stunts.  I’m amazed that he made it to 69 years old.

OK, I’ve been really serious lately so I wanted to post something fun.  This is one of my favorite music videos of all time.  Outside of guys named Al they don’t put much thought into videos anymore…

Last night’s town hall meeting at the Brentwood Library was fairly uneventful.  As you can see from the photo, there wasn’t a really large crowd of people there to talk to some of the movers and shakers of the City of Springfield.

Most of them seemed to be there to discuss traffic on Seminole and when the discussion turned to the city’s plan to lower residential neighborhood speed limits to 25 m.p.h. the verbal lashing began in force.  These residents went on and on about people allegedly speeding through their neighborhood, how it endangers their children and how it’s St. John’s fault for closing down a street.  Their demands to fix it included the completely absurd suggestion to put speed bumps in a major road.  They said their road was a neighborhood road and that until St. John’s closed down a street they didn’t have traffic problems like this on Seminole.

OK, let me say first I understand wanting to keep children safe and to keep people from excessively speeding through areas where traffic can be heavy at times.  I understand not wanting to hear someone squealing their tires outside your house at 10pm.  I’m not unsympathetic to this at all and as a homeowner now myself I understand how it can be a burden on a neighborhood.  However, let’s be real here folks.

First, I’ve been in the area since 2000 and I haven’t once though of Seminole between Glenstone and St. John’s as a “neighborhood road.”  I’ve always considered it a major artery and have taken it many times myself when I wanted to avoid traffic on Sunshine.  Maybe twenty years ago it was a neighborhood street but you haven’t been since the new millennium began and it makes you look a little naive to claim now that it’s just a neighborhood road.   It’s your neighborhood, sure.  It may even be your neighborhood’s road but that doesn’t mean it’s some little side street that’s not important to overall traffic flow in the city.

I’m sorry to say the suggestion…practically demand by some…to put speed bumps on that road looked absolutely foolish.  That’s not a reasonable nor rational suggestion and it’s hard to take someone seriously when their suggestion is to clog up only one section of a major road with multiple speed bumps.  This is especially true for a road where ambulances rush to bring people in need of live saving medical attention.

One of the residents says she sits out and takes pictures of cars speeding through and gets their license plates.  She wants to turn them into the police to be prosecuted for speeding.  Chief Lynn Rowe explained that this was impossible because of the way laws are set and some of the residents wanted an ordinance put in place to let them do it like the way citations for red light cameras are installed.  (Chief Rowe said that was not possible either.)

Did this woman actually stop to think about what she was really advocating?  I don’t think she did because all she was really doing was opening up a situation where someone with a grudge could take some photos and falsely claim that another person was breaking the law.  Police reports with false information would skyrocket.   It would be open season on anyone.   (Note:  I’m not saying this woman would necessarily use this to go after someone who didn’t really speed down her street.  I’m just pointing out that such a system has no way to guarantee the honesty of the person making the report.)

Another suggestion to put empty police cars on the street was a more welcomed idea.  (I think it’s a great idea.)  When people see a police car they automatically slow down even if they’re not speeding!  This would be a way to utilize city resources that otherwise would be sitting in a lot accomplishing nothing.  Chief Rowe was open to that as well as increasing patrols in that area.  Hopefully, they can find something that is beneficial to these residents without being a burden on all city residents.

You just have to remember that you can’t end all people from speeding or teenagers from peeling out.  They’re teenagers.  They do that.  More than likely, you did that.

We had the usual comments that the city’s looking at small things instead of the big picture.  The hard part of hearing comments like this is that someone’s small thing is someone else’s big picture.  Usually, the size of that picture is determined by how much whatever’s being discussed hits their property or what they want to do.

Some good info came from the meeting as well.  Jodie Adams of the Parks Board talked about improvements that are coming including a new equestrian center.  I asked her after the meeting about it because my first reaction was “if someone’s rich enough to afford a horse to go riding on then they should be able to afford to find a private equestrian center.”  Turns out this is going to be more than just for horse owners.  Low income families can go out and let their kids experience horseback riding where chances are they never could experience it before this center.   Much to my surprise and delight, the center will also be offering the disabled a chance to get riding lessons and to interact with the horses.  I’ve seen what this kind of therapy can do to help especially children with special needs and this could be a tremendous blessing for many Springfield families.

We heard about the progress of the Southwest 2 Power Plant and saw some photos of the designs.  Everything is on time and on budget according to CU.

Chief Rowe talked about crime and how “smash and grab” robberies are really spiking right now.

“If you have something valuable in your car that you want to keep then take it inside with you,” Rowe said.

Rowe told of incidents where people were inside for matters of minutes and would come out to find smashed windows and valuables gone or in one case the entire car stolen from a parking lot in the middle of the day.  Rowe reiterated that part of helping reduce crime is our being vigilant as citizens and taking a few extra precautions.

Rowe also talked about gangs and having problems getting solid police officers.  He said that perhaps when “our men and women come back from Iraq and Afghanistan we can get some more qualified officers.”

After the meeting, I asked Chief Rowe about these two issues.  First, on gangs, he said that in reality these folks are just saying they are gang members without really being gang members.  Rowe said that now you can see people in the same car with different gang colors (”last week I saw a car where one guy had on blue, one guy had on red and two others had Colorado Rockies gear on,” Rowe told me.)    Rowe said that it’s about “drugs and thugs.”  These folks are involved in the drug trade and are out to make the money for themselves.

This is the point that some local media have ignored in the rush to brand a gang problem in the city of Springfield.   Here’s the truth of it:  gangs in major cities are out for the good of the whole group and not just the individual members.  Gangs are aimed to make lives better overall and in a sense to help each other overcome problems.  In Springfield, we have people who are involved in the drug trade and may work together but ultimately it’s every man for themselves and all about them making money for themselves and that is NOT like gang activity in LA, New York or even St. Louis & Kansas City.   That’s why this is not a gang problem in Springfield.

Finally, I asked Chief Rowe point blank:  “Is the fact the city has been underfunding the police pension plan and the fact everyone knows about it a factor in your having trouble finding qualified officers?”  Rowe’s face fell and he simply said “yes.”  Then a moment later he added that Springfield is also behind when it comes to the salaries of our police officers.  He said compared to other cities of our size the average starting pay for an officer is around $38,000 a year.  In Springfield, it’s $31,000.  The city council approved a 3% increase for next year but that’s only around $900.  That still doesn’t make Springfield competitive when it comes to the best officers coming to the region.  If we’re continually lower than the Highway Patrol and other cities of comparable size then unless someone has a compelling reason beyond money and secure retirement to stay here they’re gone.

City Council needs to fix the police pension problem NOW.  We need to find a way to seriously increase the pay of our police officers and make Springfield competitive when it comes to the best and the brightest young officers.  I don’t know where this money will come from (just being honest) but there has to be a way to find a solution to the problem.  For example, we have this money potentially coming into the city from forcing trash haulers to use city landfills.  If that’s the case, why can’t some of that money be designated for the police and fire pension?  (Maybe legally it can’t be done but the question should at least be raised.)

In a sense, the issues that woman had with traffic on her street come back to an underfunded police force in need of officers.   That’s a major problem that needs to be fixed.

Don’t forget, LifeofJason is going to have an exclusive interview next week with Mayor Tom Carlson.  He will be asked about the police pension issue and the pay for police officers.  If you have issues you would like to see raised, post them in comments or e-mail me.  I can’t promise they will be asked but I plan to ask many questions from e-mails I’ve received thus far.

Following up on the earlier blog entry concerning Missouri State taking down a Christmas tree that allegedly a Jewish faculty or staff member complained about to the President’s Diversity Committee, University President Dr. Michael T. Nietzel said in a press release today (quoted in the News-Leader) “A Christmas tree that had been removed from the atrium of Strong Hall at Missouri State University is returning, along with other religious holiday symbols in that building.”

While I commend Dr. Nietzel for swiftly taking the appropriate actions in this case, I really believe that this matter should not be dropped quickly.  The reason?  The statement made by the President’s Diversity Committee co-chair Chris Craig that “This is not about a legal issues. It’s about being more inclusive.”  That statement by someone in a position to exert authority or influence in a public arena is not one that should go by unchallenged by media, students, citizens or even Dr. Nietzel himself.  Dr. Craig should answer to why he feels that it’s OK to ignore the law for the sake of “inclusiveness.”

Don’t discount that Dr. Craig was applying Christian religious attachment to the tree in his statements.  On the surface, that is why he was in favor of this situation because it was a religious issue.  His statement, coupled with the implication that this was based on religious grounds, leads to a reasonable conclusion that Dr. Craig was endorsing an action that deliberately discriminates against the religious expression of Christians on the Missouri State campus.   It seems to me that it would be a very dangerous situation to have someone who endorses discrimination against one religion being in a position of leadership on a committee that is seeing “diversity.”

By the way, if you were looking for his quote in the News-Leader article I linked at the top of the blog entry, you won’t find it there.  It’s in this story from earlier this morning.  I find it every interesting that the News-Leader removed only the quotes from Dr. Craig that appeared to show this anti-Christian bias.   (I’m aware it could just be coincidence.)

Dr. Craig, if you read this blog, I would welcome your response to that statement from this morning’s News-Leader article.  Feel free to post it in the comments section.  I’m more than willing to let you explain your side of it because the quote you made is pretty hard to say that it wasn’t referring to the religious connotations if you say it’s not about the law.

And I would hope that some of the local media who have been kind enough to visit on a regular basis (Joe, Christine, Ron, Tony…) would follow up with Dr. Craig to see if you can get an explanation or clarification of the statement.   Also find out what the claim made to Lorene Stone from a “co-chair of the president’s diversity commission” that a faculty member said “the tree showed a lack of sensitivity to other religions.”  The one faculty member on the record said he didn’t complain about the tree.   Was Lorene Stone lied to by the co-chair of the commission?

More than likely this will be shoved under the rug but in light of the Emily Brooker situation and now this you have to at least ask for Missouri State to show good faith in rooting out anyone in a position of power who endorses discrimination against Christians and their free expression.

Don’t forget tonight is the Springfield City Council Zone 2 and Zone 4 town hall meetings with Cindy Rushefsky and John Wylie.  Also in attendance will be City Manager Bob Cumley, Police Chief Lynn Rowe, Traffic Engineer Earl Newman, Parks Director Jodie Adams, Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith, City Utilities Associate General Manager Scott Miller and Public Information Director Louise Whall.  (Louise is a newlywed as of last weekend so make sure to congratulate her!)

The meeting starts at 7pm at the Brentwood Branch Library Community Room, 2214 Brentwood Blvd.   (That’s just off Seminole one block east of Glenstone.)

Did you ever have a best friend and make the joke that you were “brothers from another mother” or “sisters from another mister?”   That there was some connection just beyond the same passion for Chunky Monkey ice cream and reruns of Beverly Hills, 90210?

For Heidi Wickware and Brandy Hersh of Springfield it turns out that feeling was more than just coincidence…

Good news:  they’ve found they’re sisters.  Bad news:  Christmas gifts are no longer optional.  And fruitcake is definitely out.

Missouri State has endorsed religious intolerance by demanding the removal of a Christmas tree that was in the atrium of Strong Hall on campus. According to the Springfield News-Leader, the tree was taken down by Lorene Stone, the dean of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs after someone claiming to be Jewish complained to the “President’s Diversity Commission” and the co-chair that the tree was “showing insensitivity to other religions.” The tree did not contain any Christian symbols like crosses or a manger with Jesus in it but just ribbons, bows and fake icicles. There was NOTHING religious on the tree.

The Jewish faculty told Lorene Stone that they were declining an opportunity to put up a menorah because they were “afraid it would be stolen.”

The US Supreme Court has ruled that a Christmas tree is NOT a Christian religious symbol and that it can be displayed on public and government property. (Here’s a case where if the tree doesn’t go back up that we should see the ACLU come in with guns blazing to have the tree restored to it’s previous position. Will they?)

This “Diversity Commission” co-chair, Chris Craig, said “this is not about legal issues. It’s about being more inclusive.” So if Chris wants to willingly ignore the ruling of the US Supreme Court…which he is saying he is doing by ignoring the legal issue here…then he is openly endorsing the discrimination against Christians expressing their religious rights. I know that some will try to spin it and claim that’s not what he is doing here but rather just trying to “include everyone.” Look again at his quote. The issue was settled by the Supreme Court. He knows that this issue was settled by the court and that it’s not a religious symbol. Instead of saying “the courts have decided this issue and while someone may be offended it’s legally entitled to be there” he is putting a Christian religious attachment on the tree and endorsing the discrimination against Christians endorsing the removal of that tree and thereby in his mind squelching the free speech rights of a Christian. This is Chris Craig endorsing an attack on Christian speech.

Daniel Kaufman, allegedly the faculty member who complained about the tree, is now claiming that did not complain about the tree but rather that the university would schedule events during Jewish holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur. Over the last 20 years of my life working various jobs I can think of maybe one or two Good Fridays that I did not have to work for my job. I’ve had to work on Christmas. I’ve had to work on Easter. Sometimes if you have a job you’re going to have to work on those days or your employer is going to schedule something for your job on that day and if you choose to stand on your faith and not be there then that is the choice you make. Mr. Kaufman, I understand your frustration but there are more religions than just yours who have been inconvenienced by events on religious holidays.

And let’s not forget here…if it’s not Kaufman who made the statement then we need to find out which member of the staff is showing this religious intolerance and have them explain themselves OR someone was lying to Ms. Stone about a complaint about the tree being made by a faculty member of the Jewish faith.

Why does this faculty member need to be exposed and made to explain for their actions? They need to have their religious intolerance displayed the same that would happen if a professor prohibited a Muslim student from wearing a head covering in their class. They need to have it displayed in the same way a professor who refuses to let a Jewish student miss a class for Passover without penalty. We know full well if this deliberate endorsement of religious discrimination was happening against a religion other than Christianity we would see all kinds of outrage from left wing activists and the professor or staff member in question would find their job in serious jeopardy.

Discrimination is discrimination regardless of the religion upon whom it is happening and it’s disingenuous to claim one religion celebrating a holiday (like Ramadan or Yom Kippur) is infringing and insulting another religion. I have spoken with many on the far-left who claim that anything that happens against Christianity is not discrimination because “the majority of Americans are Christians.” Is that not the most absurd thing you’ve ever heard? Just because something or someone is in the majority (like basing on skin color, for example) it doesn’t mean that you have the right to take away their rights to free expression when it does not infringe in any way upon other people. I know that many on the left are going to look at this and even if they despise Christianity will at least say “the court ruled on this and the tree is legal.”

If you want to get down to it, diversity is about inclusion of everyone INCLUDING Christians. If Missouri State wants to say they’re inclusive and promote diversity then they need to not only allow this tree to go up but allow Christian members of the faculty to put a manger scene around the base of this tree. Christian students at Missouri State University need to go this meeting that is being held at MSU and demand that not only is the tree returned because it’s legally permitted but if the University is truly endorsing diversity then overtly Christian symbols like a manger scene need to be allowed as well. If Chris Craig is really interested in inclusiveness then let’s see him actually stand up for it.

Earle Doman, Dean of Students, called Morningline with Chuck Booms this morning (and I was happy to get off the phone with Chuck to let him on.) Chuck asked about the quote in the newspaper attributed to Mr. Doman was accurate. He said the quote, “It’s not a big issue. Some people raised the question about the tree and the best way to approach it was to take it down to discuss it,” was not entirely accurate. Booms really put Doman under the microscope and I give Doman a ton of credit for calling and squaring off against Mr. Booms.

Mr. Doman continued to insist that it wasn’t a big deal. If Mr. Doman had stepped in and said that the tree was legal and allowed to stand then I agree that it would not have been a big deal. Instead, by allowing Mr. Craig’s campaign against Christianity, it becomes a much larger deal where Missouri State’s stance on religious intolerance has to be called into question. The administration did not step in when legally permitted speech was squelched by someone with an anti-religious agenda. Why was it allowed to happen? That, Mr. Doman, is a big deal.

(On a side note, it was very nice to hear a local political talk show host who was allowing the opposition to have a chance to express their position and is open to opposing views. Chuck Booms may have grilled Earle Doman hard on this situation but he did allow him to express his view and Chuck didn’t warp what Mr. Doman said to fit what Chuck was trying to accomplish but rather just challenged Mr. Doman on what he actually said on the air. That’s refreshing and something much needed on the air in Springfield.)

Regardless of what happens in tomorrow’s meeting, this incident shows the hostility toward Christians at Missouri State University that was also brought to the surface in the Emily Brooker situation (that the University legally settled with her.) It’s time that a hard look was given to Missouri State to see if religious freedom is truly being allowed for all students on the campus or only selected groups.

When the new KSPR said they were really going to dig in and bring us a different perspective on the news, they weren’t kidding.

Click this link and then watch the video of Joe Daues’ latest story on Hypothermia and how to fight it.  When he flips into the water and comes back out look at his face.   As an old college professor of mine once said, “That ain’t actin’, son.”

Christine had to have watched the story at least two dozen times before airing to keep from laughing at the look on Joe’s face when he was grabbing onto that canoe.

Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson is sitting down next week for an exclusive interview with LifeOfJason. If you have a question you would like me to ask the Mayor, either put it in comments for this post or send me an e-mail. I can’t promise all the questions will be asked but I will try to work them in.

I’m not endorsing anyone but I love this spot for Mike Huckabee.  Thanks to Jim at Bus Plunge for posting it.