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Name: Benjamin K. Charles
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Abortion

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Thursday, December 17, 2009 9:11:34 AM
Several townhallers are trying to turn the topic of my other posts to abortion.
 
I'm willing to discuss the controversial topic of abortion under certain circumstances.
 
First, let's keep the level of histrionics down.  Calling me a "baby killer" when all I've done is hold an opinion will get us nowhere.
 
Second, let's recognize that not all abortions are late-term abortions.  That type of abortion is controversial even among people who are pro-choice.  Even people who favor abortion rights agree that, if it's going to be done, it's best if it's done early in the pregnancy.
 
Third, let's try to keep religion out of it, especially on my blog.  Telling me that abortion is against 'God' is not going to do anything for me.  You should recognize, by the way, that there are pro-life atheists.  They have many web sites.
 
Finally, can we possibly agree that making sure that people who intend to have sex but don't want to get pregnant should have access to and education about birth control is the best way to avoid the decision whether to have an abortion? 
 
With these ideas in mind, I'm willing to engage in a discussion on abortion.  Otherwise, someone should address the topic on their own blog.
Tags: abortion  
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Memories

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Friday, December 11, 2009 4:58:57 PM
I'm a bit tired today because I had to get up earlier than 5 a.m. two days a row and travel for work.  Perhaps it's the tiredness that's contributing to how I feel today.
 
I've done a lot of Internet browsing today, seeing faces of people that I haven't seen in decades.  The last time I saw these faces, they were young, and now they're middle-aged.  It brings up old memories.
 
The one that is affecting me the most is of someone that I could describe as "the one that got away".  It really hit me today that all these years she's been out there, living her life.  Based on the photos she's put on facebook, she still looks good. 
 
And it's hitting me that her being a brief part of my life a long time ago affected me profoundly, but now I'm not sure what has affected me most, that brief time, or the long absence that followed.  I've never forgotten her, but I've not seen what she looks like now until recently.  And strangely, seeing her face again has made me feel like my heart has been broken again.  And the heart that is broken is not that of the 43-year-old man that I am now, but the 16-year-old boy that I used to be.  But that heart is still in me.
 
I thought I was tougher than that, but perhaps I should be glad that all these years have not made me stone.
 
 
Tags: memories  
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Films 2000-2009

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Tuesday, December 08, 2009 3:50:56 PM
Let's break away from politics for a few minutes and talk about one of my other favorite topics:  Films.
 
What were the best films of the last decade?  (Not the best political films; the best films.)
 
My first contribution to this list is influenced by the fact that I saw it recently.  When I think on this question some more, I'm sure I'll think of older films.
 
"The Wrestler".
 
Mickey Rourke's redemption after years of squandering a promising career.  He gives a moving performance, as if he is cutting and bleeding from his very soul for us to view. 
 
 
Tags: movies   FILMS  
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Unfairness

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Sunday, December 06, 2009 8:34:23 AM
There's one thing I oppose more than rightwing views, and that's unfairness.
 
I'm insulted constantly when I make comments on townhall.com.  In fact, the first response I got when I started my page was that I should go elsewhere (right, Jan?).
 
But when I respond in kind, I'm told how I'm the one who resorts to insults instead of engaging in discourse.
 
I invite those who say that to look at the way I have been treated on townhall.com.
 
I won't say I'm a saint, but neither are you, my friends.  Don't call me a Marxist and repeat how I worship Obama and then not expect me to call you a wingnut.
 
You want fairness?  Then I expect it, as well.
Tags: Unfairness  
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Happy Thanksgiving

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:59:14 AM

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone -- even those who think I'm sub-human because I'm a liberal and an atheist.

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World Series

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Friday, November 06, 2009 4:11:53 PM
Congratulations to the Yankees.  They earned their victory.
 
Good luck next time to the defending champs, the Phillies.  They made the Yankees earn it. 
 
I'd love to see both teams back in the World Series next year.  Back-to-back I-95 series would be great!
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Atheism

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:20:35 AM
We are out there folks.  Deal with it.  http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/good-without-god-atheist-subway-ads-proclaim/
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Hot Sauce - Whew!!!!

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 5:47:37 PM
Taking a break from politics . . .
 
I have fallen in love with Huy Fong's Sriracha hot sauce.  That is some freaking hot sauce.  I'm putting it on Spanish food, hamburgers, rice and beans . . . whatever.  It's slowing down my eating (I eat way too fast), but it makes me sweat like crazy.
 
Try it.  If you can take it. 
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Obama A Socialist?

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 11:56:10 AM
Read this article from The Washington Post 3/15/09 if you think that Obama is a socialist.  Apparently, socialists don't think he's a socialist.
 
 
 
 
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Special Olympics

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Monday, March 23, 2009 6:01:42 PM
Obama's recent appearance on Jay Leno's show is an example of why presidents should avoid comedy shows until after their time in office.  The appearance was going great, and then Obama took a stab at off-the-cuff comedy and managed to insult an entire group of people -- and an unfair target at that.  He apologized immediately, and that's nice, but comments like he made about the Special Olympics are unnecessary.  In fact, we all should avoid making jokes about the Special Olympics or using the word "retard" sarcastically.
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Obama's moves pleasing to liberals

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 6:19:42 PM
Obama is justifying my vote for him.
 
I wanted Bush's "Mexico City policy" on the funding of international family planning groups reversed.  Obama did it.
 
I wanted Bush's stem cell funding policy to be reversed.  Obama did it.
 
There are reasons I did not (and could not) vote Republican in this past election.  And Obama is reminding me of those reasons.
 
Thanks, President Obama!
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Madama Butterfly

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Monday, March 09, 2009 7:08:35 PM
I saw "Madama Butterfly" at the Met this past weekend.  This is the third opera I've seen, the others being "Otello" back in college and "Carmen" about two years ago.
 
I enjoyed "Carmen" very much, but I think that was because it was like listening to the music from "The Bad News Bears".  Yes, that's right:  I'm not one for high culture.
 
I did enjoy the story of "Madama Butterfly".  It was poetic and involved universal themes of love, rejection, and suicide.  But the music . . . Well, I just couldn't discern a melody.  Perhaps my ear is just not attuned to operatic music.
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American Civility

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Thursday, February 26, 2009 11:16:53 AM
I'm going to take this opportunity to recommend another blog:  American Civility, at http://americancivility.blogtownhall.com.
 
Civil political discourse is rare nowadays.  Rightwingers are too quick to dismiss anyone with liberal opinions with the epithets "socialist" and "communist".  Likewise, liberals label rightwingers with other epithets; "Nazi" comes to mind.
 
I blame the pundits and the 24-hour news cycle in part.  But we the people are also to blame.  We don't have to be manipulated by the media -- whether on the left or right -- so that we won't even listen to each other.
 
I'm a liberal.  That doesn't mean I'm a communist, and it doesn't mean I love terrorists, and it doesn't mean that I buy everything that Obama says.
 
The blogger at American Civility is a conservative.  But he and I still manage to converse civilly.  Sometimes we even find common ground.
 
I hope that American Civility in political discourse becomes a trend, and the pundits are a passing trend.  Even if they are not, it does not mean that we the people have to adopt their manners.
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Theodore H. White, Breach of Faith

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 2:32:57 PM
I haven't seen the film "Frost/Nixon", although I'm interested.
 
I'm almost done reading Theodore White's "Breach of Faith:  The Fall of Richard Nixon", which provides a comprehensive summary of the Watergate scandal.
 
The book reminds me that Watergate was not about Democrats attacking Republicans.  The rest of the government -- Congress, the Justice Department, the FBI, the CIA -- was all against Nixon for his improper use of power.  Watergate was not just a political attack on a sitting president.  The other branches of the government had to protect their spheres of influence from Nixon and his team.
 
Fascinating period of history.  Never boring to read about.
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Introduction

Posted by Benjamin K. Charles on Monday, February 23, 2009 12:00:00 AM
I'm new to blogging (at least where it's my own blog), so let me first ask:  Are there actually people out there reading this? 
 
I'll test the waters.  (dipping toe in)
 
I watched the "Oscars" last night, except for the stuff I fast-fowarded through on my DVR.  Pretty bad.  What's the point of the Oscars if they are not going to load it with scenes from the movies?  Instead we get past winners giving eulogies for the not yet deceased nominees?
 
I've been listening to a lot of Fastball lately.  The fact that Bon Jovi is a superstar rock group and Fastball has been forgotten is evidence that there is no God.
 
Oh, and I voted for Obama and don't regret it.  The Republicans needed to be beaten badly so they can figure out who the heck they are:  Are they the party of fiscal conservatism?  Or the party of Jesus?  It's up to them.  I can't consider voting for the latter, but I'll consider the former.  I actually like the way our government is split between those who want to create programs (the Democrats) and those who (supposedly) want to control spending.  The dichotomy is necessary.
 
OK, that's enough for now.  I don't want to spend too much of my time on this if I'm just spitting into the wind.
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