Thoughts on the second Rapid City Wal-Mart

To: letters@rapidcityjournal.com

I have watched with dismay as the recorded Wal-Mart debate (at least what I've read) has been mostly about traffic and scenery. My family has chosen not to shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club, and the articles and letters I've read in the Journal don't seem to describe our motivations very well. Although the low prices and jobs seem on the surface to benefit low-income people, in the end, the facts show when local business is replaced with Wal-Mart, everyone loses but Wal-Mart. The corporation has a well-documented history of worker exploitation and sex discrimination, and has aggressively taken advantage of amoral labor practices abroad to enhance its profits. We could use the small savings that shopping at Wal-Mart would give us, and we do not judge others that choose to shop there, but it's simply not worth it to us.

It's a shame the truly important issues, the ones about economic justice (which, by the way, are far more common Biblical themes than the ones that usually appear in this space), have not been a large part of the conversation. It looks like the second Wal-Mart store is coming, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't make an effort to think more about these things in South Dakota.

I knew marrying this woman was a good idea

Here is her note to Gov. Rounds...

Dear Governor Rounds,

I returned home today after a weekend trip visiting my family in California. As is often the case when flying, I found myself chatting with folks in the airports as we all waited for our connections or baggage. For the first time since moving here in 1992, I can honestly say that by the time I got home, I was embarrassed to tell people where I was from. One gentleman even asked me if "we're ALL a bunch of wingnuts back there in South Dakota." I assured him that most people in South Dakota are reasonable people, and his response was, "Well, I guess I won't be finding out anytime soon. I'd never visit a place where people have so little compassion." Not one person I spoke to today (and I spoke to many) thought that passing this abortion ban was a positive step forward. In fact, most thought it was cruel and unnecessary, epsecially given the fact that South Dakota has just one clinic in the entire state that performs abortion procedures. As it is, abortions are not considered very accessible in South Dakota.

I am currently doing an internship at the Juvenile Services Center in Rapid City, and if the Legislators of our state showed half the concern for neglected teens (who often have done nothing wrong except have the misfortune of having drug-dealing parents) as they do for the unborn, our society would be in much better shape. I find it so hypocritical when people claim to be pro-life, yet seem to have very little or no regard for these "fetuses" once they are out on the street trying to find fundamental ways to survive. I don't see any of these State Senators ! lining up to take any of these kids in as foster children, or signing up to adopt a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome, do you?

If there is one thing I have learned in my life, it's that there are very few absolutes. Even though I am very much pro-life, I cannot say with any degree of certainty that choosing an abortion is wrong in all situations, or even in most. There is no compassion in this bill at all. THIS is wrong, and South Dakota is already paying dearly for it. If you sign this bill into law, the repercussions will be profound. Do not underestimate the power of a boycott and what it could do to our economy. Do not assume that the legislators who passed this bill speak for the majority of the people in this state or in this nation. They do not.

You have the power to do the right thing. Please do not take South Dakota and our country down this path.

Progressive coffee talk on Friday

Pennington County Dems have started a new thing, Friday Forums, 4 pm on alternate Fridays, at Dunn Bros coffee, 719 Omaha St in Rapid city...come on out!

• March 3: Mike Howe, Stop Wal-Mart (I suspect this won't be just about the traffic).
  
• March 17: Dr. Gross from WDTI
  

More thoughts on choice (or not)

• Lynn Taylor Rick and John Tsitrian weigh in for a Rounds veto in the RCJ.
  
  
• The Bible may not be as clear on the subject as you may think. For instance, check out Numbers 5:11-31-- the God of Moses commands abortion?? (Oh, but it's okay, the men make the call.) If anyone can explain this one to me, please do. I recommend Sojourners for a thoughtful faith-based perspective on this whole debate.
  
  
• I believe this whole issue needs a little more compassion and prayer and a lot less noise. I really feel like some of the strongest activists are women who made the painful choice to have abortions and have been absolutely hammered with summary judgement from their spiritual leaders, there families, and in many cases, themselves. Talk about tragedy. I'm glad that all women who have to choose abortion do not share this fate. (I only made it to the second story before I got so angry at the "pro-lifers" that I had to move on. Talk about no compassion.)
  
  Amid all the talk of boycotts and ethical polemics, I hope we don't forget all the people that live every day with all outcomes of unwanted pregnancies, and commit ourselves to both be compassionate and do what we can to reduce the number of people faced with them. Oh, and of course, let's not forget the "post-born," who need some "christian" attention too.
  

A quandary

Register Republican? Really?

I don't know about you, but I am wrestling with whether to re-register as a Republican here in Pennington County so I can defend reasonable Republicans in the primary election. Sen Adelstein is expecting an attack from the sanctimonious wing of the Republican party this year.... He is generally a friend to women and actually introduced an 'abstinence-plus' sex ed bill this session--something most Democrats around here won't publicly embrace. But he is a member of a party that is not a friend to civil liberties, our national security, OR our public finances. Abortions are actually UP under Republican rule.

Of course, if Stan was kicked out, and replaced with some wingnut that is less qualified and basically pushes legislation that does not serve us well, this is another exposure of why Democrats need to come back to the table in SD.

So what's a progressive in South Dakota to do?

Anyway, here is some background on Adelstein's voting record, in hope that will help you think about it, too.

More on the real issue here

The question is, will the American people stand up
to a few energized crusaders hellbent on imposing
their views on how we all ought to live?

Recommended reading here.

Abortion is not all they want to ban

Tonight I was responding to comments about HB1215 on Mt Blogmore, and I recalled Lynn Taylor Rick's touching
remembrance of Margaret Sanger and reminder that abortion isn't all these people are after. Kudos for the Journal for publishing it. As much as the Journal has annoyed me (I haven't subscribed since the RCJ came in Thune bags on election day 2004), I do appreciate them making some effort to allow different points of view to be heard.

Here we are!

I have started this blog because the activities of the South Dakota legislature have absolutely pushed me over the edge and I wanted to at least say something about it. Both my wife and I are planning to become more politically active than we have.

I am proud that a group of Senators from our area (Adelstein, McCracken, Duniphan,
see the list) voted against HB1215, which to me fails the Christian test of (a) respecting the dignity of every person and (b) compassion. Good for them. Too bad they are Republicans or I'd be supporting them!!

Anyway watch this space, hopefully I'll be able to add something besides the links. Feel free to come by and rant.