AQUINAS I THURSDAY. MARCH 10, 2005 FORUM 5 DISPATCHES FACULTY GUEST COLUMN Going Home Santorum v. Casey By VINNY SOLOMENO until I sneaked through the door at three. in By DR. WILLIAM PARENTE Nancy Pelosi, continues to lead the minority Staff Columnist the morning and was greeted by the howls Professor of Pol1tlcal Sc1ence Democrats in the House. of my tiny Beagle, Winston. Would the election of Bob Casey, Jr as the Last weekend my mother got her revenge I hung out with my friends. Most were The November 2006 race for the US US Senator from Pennsylvania move the on me for my years of misbehavior and dis home from school already, and a bunch Senate will feature incumbent Republican, Democrats toward the center of the political obedience. All throughout high school I never actually left. Driving around my Rick Santorum, versus the Democratic chal spectrum and advance the anti-abortion rebelled, staying out too late, listening to neighborhood and causing trouble, I real lenger, Bob C'.asey, Jr, the State Treasurer of cause? music too loud, dating girls she never ized how great it is to come home to the Pennsylvania. I always say that politics is Or does it make more sense for social con approved of, and being an all around pain. guys and. girls I spent my childhood with. the second most exciting thing in the world servatives and pro-lifers to vote for Rick Through it all, Mom had no choice but to Do you remember the time you lit your and this race proves the pomt! You have Santorum, who has championed the pro-life grin and bear it. This past Saturday, I left pants on fire at some girl's thirteenth birth everything here: ethnic clash- Italian versus position for twelve years in the Senate? Scranton behind and headed home for what day party? I didn't, or at least I didn't until Irish, regional clash- Western Pennsylvania A Santorum defeat, if added to COP loss I had been dreading for weeks: an official my old friend Nick reminded me that I did. versus Eastern Pennsylvania, family feud es in other states--Senator Chafcc of Rhode family portrait. When I complained that I There is something to be said for your ordinary folks versus the son of a former lslarid, for example--could well lead to the hated posing for pictures, she simply smiled friends here at Scranton, the ones who Governor, and above all, the party clash GOP losing control of the Senate and all of and said, "Just grin and bear it." share the ups and downs of college life with GOP versus Democrat. the Senate committees. Barbara Mikulski Without mincing words, this semester has you. Yet, there is also something to be said But all of the above is obvious. The sub would become chair of Veterans' Affairs & been one of my most difficult since arriving of your friends back home, the ones who text here is even more tantalizing. Social HUD, Jim Jeffords, chair of the at Scranton. It seems that the never-ending saw you through Dyno, VFRs, Friday nights issues in general, but the abortion issue in Environmental comrmttec, Ted Kennedy, quizzes of February have given way to at the movies, your first kiss, and whatever particular, are at the heart of this contest. chair of the committee on Health, Education March's exams and research papers. Feeling other mischief that came along with grow On the one hand we have the ferociously and Labor, Pat Leahy would again become stressed, going home was a welcome respite ing up. pro-life Santorum who, with the recent chair of the Judiciary committee and block from the demands of everyday life here at . College is about growing up, going to class retirement of Jesse Helms, can be said to be Bush's conservative nominees to the federal school. Once the portrait was over with, and learning so that we can make good the most conservative member of the US courts. Other Democrats assuming Senate there was nothing but relaxation and lives for ourselves. Back home, free to forget Senate on social issues- a red flag waving chairmanships include Chris Dodd, Joe smooth sailing. impending History and Philosophy exams, I over a blue state. Biden, Paul Sarbanes, Kerb Kohl, Daniel I spent time with my family. Being away was comfortable, relaxed, and just plain On the other side we have the loyal son of Akaka, John Rockefeller IV, and John Kerry- at school, I sometimes forget what a home happy to be with the family and friends I a Democratic Governor who was famously pro-choice liberals all. cooked meal tastes like. However, raiding love. This will be my last column before denied the requested opportunity to Bob Casey Jrs endorsement of John Kerry Mom's refrigerator was not my only pleas Spring Break. As each of us leaves campus address the 1992 Democratic National in the recent presidential election and his ure. My jeans, not having been washed for and heads all across the country (well, Convention in order to urge a pro-life pos earlier endorsement of Ed Rendell in the three weeks, made their way back to mostly to New Jersey and Long Island), keep ture for his party- somewhat more than the gubernatorial election, suggests that like his Scranton crisp and clean. For the first tin1e in mind what you are leaving behind, but "lower-the-rhetoric" position which Hillary father, he puts loyalty to his party above in months, I showered without flip-flops. more important, remember what you are Clinton and other Democrats have been any particular issue. His liberal position on Does anyone else remember what it was going home to. urging of late in the wake of two successive gay rights will place him to the left of like living with dogs? I know I did, at least There is no place like it. defeats against a relatively weak GOP pres Santorum. This week's defeat of idential candidate, the decade-long loss of Santorum's compromise bill to increase the "LIFE" • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 the House and continuing erosion of their minimum wage demonstrates that the Senate seats. Democrats are intent on Santorum's defeat. What gives us the right to go prancing killed a year as a result of gun violence. How will the pro-life vote in Pennsylvania Barbara Hafer has again damaged her around in camouflaged gear shooting ani Instead, George Bush is siding with pro split in 2006? Does it make sense to vote for standing with Pennsylvania voters by first mals for the fun of it, stuffing them and gun lobbyists and political action commit Casey in order to promote anti-abortion announcing she would challenge Casey in showing them off in our living rooms? What tees in Washington. The NRA's committee policies in both parties instead of just one? the Democratic primary-at Rendell's did the poor little squirrels ever do to us?! for example, gave Republicans $1,330,111 With the choice of Harry Reid, a pro-life request-and then announcing two days later and $285,700 to Democrats during the last It bewilders me that our own president Mormon from Nevada as the minority she would not-again at Rendell's request! had the audacity to promise Americans dur election. Overall, according to the Federal leader for the Democrats in the Senate, one Can anyone take her seriously? Election Commission, gun rights grouns ing his 2000 campaign he would sign an could argue that the Democrats have The Democrats have done well by avoid extension to the 10-year ban on semiauto contributed over $17 million in individual, received the election message. The defeat ing a primary fight and the attendant matic weapons, yet sat on his Texan heinie PAC and soft money contributions to both of Senator Daschle, the former minority expenses of such a campaign. Money will parties since 1989. Yet, $15 million of that $17 this last September as the 1994 Assault leader, has .been pondered by party chiefs. flow to Casey from liberal interest groups all million went to the Republican Party. Weapons Ban expired. Why would George On the other hand, the election of pro over the nation-from Hollywood to the Perhaps George Bush didn't want to make Bush allow AK47s and other semi-automat choice Howard Dean over pro-life Tim Hamptons. Santorum is in the fight of his ic assault weapons to flood our streets his contributors angry. In the end, it doesn't Roemer for chairman of the Democratic life! H he wins in 2006, he may well be on come down to the welfare of the American again? He surely isn't siding with the drug National Committee suggests that the heart the GOP ticket in 2008. dealers, gang members, and other danger people. Instead, it all comes down to dollars of the party is still on the left side of its Did I say politics was the SECOND most ous criminals who use these weapons. He and cents. chest. And the San Francisco Democrat, exciting thing in life? Scratch that "second." isn't siding with the 30,000 plus victims "RUGER" - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 likely to do so in a municipality where gun guns, they don't seem to care about women "ABORTION" • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 ownership is not restricted. In the same at all. Picture this, if you would- a woman While walking into the abortion clinic, Students for Life, Residence Life, Student way, a criminal is much more likely to com meets up with a man who is prepared to several pro-life sidewalk counselors Affairs and the Jesuit Community. Off cam mit a crime in an area where guns are mug, rape, kidnap or otherwise abuse her. attempted to intervene, but Karen's pus, there is the ·women Resource Center, banned or heavily restricted. Why? Simply He is a man and is stronger than she, as is boyfriend blocked the counselors and Pennsylvanians for Human for Life, Priests because he knows he would be less likely to usually the case. Now that municipality helped her into the clinic. for Life, Feminists for Life and the St. meet resistance from a Ruger or a doesn't allow guns to be carried. The crimi Karen assumed that he supported her. Joseph's Mother Infant Home. Weatherby. Rapists, assaulters and kidnap nal is home free. H she be a law abiding cit Years later, when they were discussing the There is a group in Pennsylvania called pers would be much less likely to strike izen, the most that can happen to the abortion of their child, Karen's husband Project WIN (Women in Need). They sup because they are not sure who has or does assailant is to be blinded temporarily by said, "I had no choice in the decision of my port any woman in a crisis pregnancy from n't have a concealed handgun For this rea mace or shocked by a tazer. He can safely child's life, so I was not going to let a side moment of contact through the birth and a son, concealed handguns are vital for per assume he won't lose his life. It would be in walk counselor have a say." year to eighteen months after the birth of sonal defense and safety. his interest to attack this woman in this Both Karen and her husband wanted the her child. Project WIN assists with health Do not misunderstand; I don't advocate municipality. child, but each thought that the other did care for both mother and child. They help lifting all gun laws. I simply think responsi H Liberals cared about women, as not. What a tragedy due to lack of commu with housing and job searches. Project WIN ble adults are capable of using guns to Conservatives do, they'd want her to be nication! Most men are not emotionally makes sure that every possible social serv defend themselves and their fanillies from able to defend herself from such an attack articulate; our feelings are kept inside. A ice system is available to that mother or gun-toting criminals. If adults learn how to er. Or at the very least, for the attacker to guy may need to be asked what he thinks family. effectively use a firearm and properly store think she would be legally able to carry a about an important issue and you may have Finally, if all of the resources I have given it in a locked case or put a combination lock Derringer in her Louis Vuitton or a Skeet to ask several times. are not enough to convince you to chose on it, they are perfectly safe. Children can Rifle in her Vera Bradley (I've seen those H you want to keep your unborn child and life, I will give you one more. H you arc in a not get them when they are locked, hut bags, they are very capacious). your spouse does not support you, there are crisis pregnancy and need help, call me 570- adults can if there were an emergency. But in all seriousness, I'd want the women many resources to assist you in keeping 941-5705 or email me at And what column would be complete I know and love to be able to protect them your child. First you have your family and [email protected] and I will help you without Conservative apology (in the classi selves and be less likely to be attacked, as It friends. Sec'ond, on campus, most of the find the resources you need to support your cal sense of course) from my part? is if guns are allowed to be carried. professors will help as will The Jane Kopas child. To be Pro-Life means to be Pro People (Liberals in particular) say: 'Well if The moral of the story is this: there need Women's Center, the Counseling Center, Woman and "women deserve better" than there are less guns then there will be less to be guns for responsible citizens, especial Center for Health Education and Wellncss, to have an abortion. gun accidents and less children getting shot ly concealed guns in urban areas. People, by their parents' guns when they find especially women, ought to be able to carry them." handguns in cities like D.C., the "Murder This, as usual, isn't so. In 1945 for every Capital", as it is so aptly nicknamed. The million Americans there were 350,000 only way to fend off criminals with guns is -Side Rants- firearms and 18 fatal gun accidents. In 1995, by having one to usc against them. I'd love Well, does our University have any tradi unfurled along Linden Street? Most of them there were, astoundingly, 850,000 guns per to say "Let's ban guns except for sporting tions? I mean besides the ones that come to are sponsored by the University of Scranton million Americans and gun accidents were usc," but this is unrealistic and would hurt mind 'Stucco Thesday, Wednesday, too, and have its logo neatly implanted on down to 6 per million people. That takes many, many a responsible citizen. Thursday (of course), Friday, Saturday, and their bottom edges. Well, all of them except care of that argument. Keep this in mind: next time you are out sometimes Sunday.' Well, I suppose we have for one notable exception. And I'm sure that Liberals also allege that their confreres to at night alone, as we all are at one point or Extravaganza which is fun, and Spring Fling you all noticed it, right at the corner where the north have a much safer society without another, wouldn't you rather an assailant and of course the two dances that Student prospective students can see as they turn guns. Well, Canada's burglary rate is 3 times think you may have a firearm than have Council puts on, but we don't have anything by the visitors center. Now, I'm not saymg more than that of the United States. So that him know you don't because they are illegal like William and Mary's traditional streak it's bad, but you know- it's making me argument also doesn't hold up. in that area? I would for sure. ing... Then again, that could be a good thirsty, so let's all patronize this great Liberals are supposed to be concerned Oh, I almost forgot. The Second thing ... Anyways, I'm not really complaining patron of the arts, St. Patrick's day and with the issues of women. They accw;e Amendment of the US Constitution says: or anything, since our school is supposed to urban street renewal- Beerman's Warehouse Conservatives of all kinds of atrocities ''The right of the people to keep and bear focus on academics. So don't you just love anyone?... (SUBMIT YOUR SIDE RANI'S TO: against their sex. Well, when it comes to arms shall not be infringed". Exactly. the pretty green St. Patrick's day banners gradljanf2@scrantonedu)