Lately, this board has become almost more of a venting- say my mind board than a tech advice board, but in doing so i have learned alot and had many differant views presented to me. What I am about to tell you infuriates me to a whole new point i never knew was possible. This started about one month ago. Early in the morning, before my first class, the entire school was called into the gym for an assembly. Immediately i could tell that this wasn't a posotive pep rally type assembly. As my principal(who is a preist, i go to a catholic school) began to talk, i soon realized that a father at our school had been accused of sexual harrassment. I had this father as a teacher, and there is no way he could have ever done that. He used to go up to kids(guys/girls whatever, it didn't matter) and give them a hug and kiss them on thier forhead. He was a grandfather type figure, and would never harm a fly. Well one sophmore girl at our school got pissed off at him, and more or less had him removed from my highschool for kissing her on the forehead-like a grandfather would. This father was BY FAR the best english teacher i had ever had, and brought joy to whatever room he was in, the entire school was shocked and outraged. Second thing happened just this morning. Our principaly came in to talk to the senior class before we went to islands of adventure(theme park, class trip), about something that had happened to him recently. He was accused of sexual harassment that happened 20 YEARS AGO! and had to fly up to his previous school to fight the charges. There are sooo many inconsistancies in the mans accusations, that it was pretty much thrown out, and just to clear his name furthur, he took a polygraph test given by the head of the F.B.I.(whatever the sexual harassment dept is), and he said that it is the most intimidating and painfull test he has ever taken, and at the end the gentlemen said there was no way he committed this crime. I also know that in my head, as soon as father(principal) said " i was accused of sexual harassment" i knew it was false, he didn't even have to do any more explaining after that. Now, when i get home, i find out that my old karate instructor, and one of my brothers best friends back in high school, has been accused of raping two 15 year olds. He is 22 years old, and based on these accusations he could go to jail for life. Based on "inside info", the rumor is that these two ladies were kicked out of the karate school, and were irritated about that, and that also they were coming onto the instructor and he kept brushing them off. Unless this gentlemen has changed DRASTICALLY, from an honest, good person into a rapist in the past three years, there is no way he EVER DID that. The way i see it two young girls who are desperate for attention, couldn't get it the way they wanted and got pissed. This is in addition to all the crap that happened at work and with my car. I may find a differant country to live in when i get older, this is simply rediculous, and it infuriates me. What is america coming to? when we NEED to stick together we are trying to put each other in jail? when we need to become a union we try to break that union with law suits? what the hell has happened to the america i learned about in history books, did that ever actually exist? I'm so discouraged right now i dont even know what else to say, thank you for letting me vent
Ryan

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83 300SD.......sold
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99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Ryan,
At times it may seems everything is not the way you envisioned it to be. But let me tell you, America is still the best place in the world to live. In all my years of traveling for business, including countless of overseas trips, there is no place like the good old US of A!!

I was in Hong Kong a few years back. It happened one morning the ferry I was in sailed pass a US warship anchored in the harbor when traveling between Hong Kong island and Kowloon, and the feeling you get when you see the Old Glory flying in the breeze will bring tears to your eyes because you know good and well that this country is so influential and powerful that its presence is everywhere. And people all over the world look upon this great nation for protections and inspirations.

You will, hear plenty of stories like the ones you mentioned for the rest of your life. It can happen in Russsia, or in Sweden.. But in no way, you should feel discourage about our country. How would you like to live in a country that there is no due process of law? When you are found guilty by the court, you are brought to the back of the court house and a bullet in your head? Not a chance to voice your innocency. That's what happens in countries in the Middle East and China.

My point is that you may feel disgusted and mistrust of this great nation of ours. But millions of people all over the world will love to have your place. Hell, what make you think the raghead bin Laden is so damn mad at us? He is just jealous of the freedom we have, and in his twisted mind he thinks freedom is a bad thing.

Things just do not happen out in the blue. Those allegations may have a ground that you may not know about. People just do not get accused of things they did not commit. If they did not do the crime indeed, they will have their chance under the sun to prove otherwise.

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If im not mistaken, the Pope has called American Cardinals for a meeting on this issue and perhaps some healing can result if the church can advise the cardinals based on past experiences.

In Canada, the priest hood is nearly bankrupt as a result of the legals costs involved with sexual abuse; though widespread in ophanages adminsitered by the church, the number of claims of dubious origin have inflated the cost of defence. However, each claim must be taken seriously out of repect for the victims, but as you point out, there are other victims of hysteria that do not get compensated for their loss.

Our system works slowly and is administered by humans of varying ability and intentions. All these situations that you describe will work their way through to resolution. Most of the time, the system ultimately gets it "right" - but not always.

That said, the victim of false accusations never can be made whole. Some will always rely on the old adage "where there is smoke, there is fire."

Accusations get publicity, exoneration goes unnoticed (except when that exoneration is, itself, grotesque, as in the OJ caper). I doubt when your teachers are exonerated that an assembly will be held to announce their acquittals.

This issue of past, usually unwitnessed, "crime" is a thorny one, especially when children are alleged victims. The accusation becomes the punishment, deserved or not. "Proof" in a legal proceeding is virtually impossible, which, of course, is unfair to the real victims.

Read about the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill controversy - it will give you perspective. Here there were allegations of serious moral lapses that were decades old and unproveable by physical evidence. Our political leaders demonstrated some of our best and worst qualities during the debate. Whether the outcome was "right" will always be debated.

Perhaps the most unmeasureable but lasting effect of all this will be to greatly decrease the amount of milk of human kindness available to our young people. Any sign of innocent affection can be career threatening to anyone involved with youth activities, whether it be a little league coach or a physics teacher.

Your expressions of frustration indicate that we are still in the game. Clearly, your parents and your teachers have imbued you with a caring spirit and a desire to see things "right". Use your frustration as constructively as you can.

__________________
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Many times, when I look around, I often see what you are seeing. It is extremely frustrating. I get angered when nosey people decide that they don't like what another is doing, and try to "make a law" to prevent that activity. Sadly, the sexual harassment issue is the latest media frenzy, and there will be no shortage of sick individuals willing to capitalize on it. As for the Catholic Church, they should have handled the issue years ago, and dealt with the few that were committing these behaviours harshly.

This country was at one time, based on the rugged individualism of her people. Sadly, we are becoming more and more like Europe with the socialist nature of laws these days. I'm not digging on our European readers here, I'm just pointing out that there are already places that those who want that kind of lifestyle can go. I don't think that this country is so bad that I would want to leave yet. It will be if the people don't wake up and start getting serious about the issues and problems that do exist here.

Ryan,

There's an entire political party out there that's trying, rather successfully, to destroy everything worth while in America. If you remember that then everything is understandable. If you look at the difference in news coverage between the current mess and it really is a mess and the lack of condemnation regarding our last pond scrum of a president, you'll have to begin to get a feeling that some bad people are badder than others simply because it advances a political adgenda.

A famous Catholic Cardinal admonished us once to, "Keep your head while all about you, others are loosing theirs."

Ben

Our system, our way of life, our government, is the worst (except for all the others.)

Ryan,

Reading your post reaffirms my faith in the youth of our Country. I wonder how many have the historical perspective that you seem to have.

"what the hell has happened to the america i learned about in history books,"

Many of our youth are not taught the positive aspects our history, and think our country is rotten and always has been.

You have to know that institutions like churches are under assault from the outside and the inside. Don't turn away from the church or our country but remember that we are all just human.

In none of the european countries I know, even the ones with a socialist gouvernment, we encounter the sexual harrassment issue as you do in the states. The problem you have with your youth as described in the other case where this guy hit the Merc with his Monster Truck.

Don't get me wrong: I like the US and have been there several times. To make me like to live there some things have to change: The legal system, which give only justice to the rich, the election system, which relies on a system suitable for the last century (and obviously still uses the same technology)...

For example.

I really don't think it is the socialist nature of laws which creates the problems you encounter in your country.

Kind regards
Eberhard

The sexual harassment problem with the Catholic church sould have been dealt with years ago when the first complaints came about, instead of covered up. This is not a problem with our legal system, it is the Catholic churches problem. Those pastors should have done jail time, instead of get shuffled around from church to church.

Your example mentioned above is exactly where I'm getting at. With the liberals (democrats here) hyping about people not having to take responsibility for their actions, along with the income tax burdens forcing most families to into two income households, just so the government can take from the "rich" and redistribute that money to the poor. Basically, the family unit that used to be enjoyed even 30, 40 or 50 years ago, has been all but decimated by the tax and spend liberal politicians.

As for our election system, the last Presidential elections proved that our "old" system was VERY well thought out by our founding fathers. Without the electorial college, the handful of high poplulation density areas would eliminate the voice of the rest of the country. The system works just fine, thank you.

im am curious to wonder if sexual harassment does not exist in Europe. The Church in Europe has not similar problems? I think North America sometimes gets stuck with these problems first and naturaly with harassment it whips up into hysteria. one hopes others can learn from hindsight.

A. Soltzenitsyn once addressed Harvard and stated that America was not learning from the example of Russia and communism, that it was losing its core values as Russia did at the turn of the 20th century. his grandfather who witnessed and died during Bolshvism but remembered old Russia would always end his tirades against the Bolsheviks by saying "...we have lost God".

If legal services are only for the rich in the U.S., is this to mean that they are free in Europe?

I wont speak for the U.S. system of government, if only to note the balances between congress, senate, the executive, judiciary, etc. seem a sound, workable system. However, the Clinton's sexual harassment problems and the absurd nature of the last U.S. Presidential election were somewhat unusual.

In Canada, the power lies between the provinces and the federal branch, electing representatives from "ridings" mapped primarily by population and electing one individual to represent that district, voting on laws. Except Quebec, the system is adapted from the British Parliamentary system and again works reasonably well.

Therefore, it would be useful to know how government works when making comparisons to others.

Trust me, i would give anything to live in the states, rather than here in the ****ty UK.

The weather is Crap, everything is twice as exepnsive as the rest of the world, whereas the wages are no higher, property prices have gone through the roof so only the richest can afford to buy a house, we are being flooded with illigal immigrants who are claiming asylum...which is causing outrage in this country, as inner cities are cramped enough as it is, plus 95% of them want to come here just for an easy ride (i wont vent on about this as my bloody pressure will raise)

The Government take more money out of our wallets after each budget every year buy taxing everything known to man, our legal system is pathetic (we like to release clinically insane people onto the streets to rape and kill you see).....


Shall i go on....is the USA really that bad?

on the plus side though, we dont have to pay to go to hospital thanks to the NHS..however there is generally a 4-9 hour wait to be seen.

Nuff said!!!!

sounds like Canada!

Ryan,hang in there.Your a good careing person.You can make a diffrence.Back in the fiftys when I was still in school most homes only had one parent In the outside work force.Now most have both working outside the home.This is a major reason for the decline in morals.Another thing that has changed.when I was in school we were talk about great people,who had made great sacrifices to promote freedom.Most of them were people of great honor and integrity.They became a source of inspiration to many of us kids,and made some of us want to emulate as best we could those great men and women,Sadly that type of teaching hardly exist any longer.Ryan study the declaration of independence the constitution and the bill of rights.They are our country.God bless you young man.Michael Rybikowsky.

The Fifties was an era of prosperity and Eisenhower-esque conformity. It was also an era of the glory days of Senator Joseph McCarthy's (R-Wisconsin) Red Scare, disgusting conformism/consumerism, and widespread xenophobia and racism.

It's a small wonder some people long for the Fifties, after the of the Vietnam War, oil crises, the "War on Drugs" and now the "War on Terrorism". Assuredly, no one heard horrible things like this through media channels in the fifties, no?

Well, that was before America's first "televised war", and the "youth rebellion" of the Sixties, which I am proud to say that both of my parents participated in. Admittedly, for a child in the fifties, America's situation looked quite rosy compared to everything that came afterwards.

But isn't that what everyone wanted to believe in the Fifties?

Do you still wish we could return to that false reality of "a good moral climate?"


-Sam