Iowa Students in Atlantic Allegedly Strip-Searched

There are so many good stories lately that it's hard to know which to blog about. This one is about school daze. Gym class used to be a time and place for dodge ball but not on this day at Atlantic High School in Atlantic, Iowa. After 100 dollars went missing five young ladies were strip searched, one completely naked, and the others down to their underwear. Imagine that! In Iowa? You're kidding? Nope. Who did the body cavity search? The alleged strip-search occurred on August 21, 2009, the third day of the school year.

We used to get detention or worse yet Mr. Aisello, our principal would take us in his office where he'd papered over all the windows so no one could see what he was doing to the detainee. Andy Narona would get thumped into the door; we could see the door moving, so we knew.  Andy just had to smoke on school grounds. He thought he was different. But Mr. Aisello didn’t think so.

During the Bush Administration with its policies of the end-justifies-the-means approach to the world and internal security in America, I was asked by a colleague where I thought this would all lead. My assessment was that when we saw the excesses that came about it would shock the conscience. I don’t like this but my guess is we aren’t finished yet.

Politics brought us Sarah Palin with her speeches advocating for a dumber approach to world politics and the American political stage. She argued that what is wrong with America could be fixed by electing less intelligent people. Many people applauded those speeches; a frightening notion, that is reinforced every time the political Fox-shock-jocks take to the airways.

I see it in my own personal life. One relative arguing in support of the war in Iraq thought it un-American that I would not support the war. I couldn’t because it was based on a lie, fabrications and exaggerations. I didn’t like Saddam Hussein either but is that a reason to invade a sovereign country? No. We have no business there. As for the relative in support of the war effort she should be ashamed. Her support can’t be genuine if saying you’re in support of the war while holding back two adult teenage sons. That is some of the same thinking that allows those in charge of Atlantic High to think it’s acceptable to conduct police style strip-searches without parents being present and consenting.

It’s this short-sighted reasoning that is getting this country further and further from being a world power. If instead of spending billions and billions on bombs, bullets and BS we instead paid our debts and saved while investing in the frayed infrastructure of this country, we would once again be a super power. Until we get our own house in order we will be focused on the ridiculous and illogical political thinking that in practice digs the hole that much deeper.  This is far from intelligent thinking.

If the Republican Party wants to know what’s wrong they need only listen. I challenge the Republican Party to identify one idea, thought or even a sentence in this speech that makes any sense. What exactly were you thinking by picking her to be John McCains’ running mate?

If you want to know why school officials entertain the notion that they have the right to strip search your kid, consider FOX News’ notion, that like underwear, there are brands of news. The Fox idea is an interesting one, but forgets the concept of news being about facts and truth.  Truth is truth; there is no lesser or greater brand name. When we adopt the idea that there are brands of news we also can then adopt the notion there are brands of constitutional rights; which means we aren’t that far off from there being truthful versions of the truth. The idea that there are brands of the news has lead an entire network to be devoted not to advancing the interests of this country but to bringing news-a-tainment to the Jerry Springer masses. If you listen to what those on Fox say there is no other conclusion you can reach.  In Atlantic that day rights are being dictated by those who are in authority. The rule of law no longer gets forgotten over expedience. Rights are determined by who is in charge, rather than what is written.  

And trust me the Democrats aren’t any better when it comes to getting our fiscal house in order. Come election time they too will pander to get on Fox. Progress will never come in the form of dumbing down the truth. As an aging voter I get a sense with each election that the truth is being cloaked in the Emperor’s New Clothes.