What's Better In The News? For People Who Want A Positive Perspective

What's Better With Health Care And The Republicans? What's Better is that the timid Republicans are actually considering some health care reforms. Note that they are "considering." They are afraid that if they come out with any proposals, Obama and the media will tear them apart. Then why not resign or join the Democrat Party? As Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wrote in his Wall Street Journal op-ed, " too many people in politics spend their time trying not to lose instead of trying to do the right thing." This is like a soldier who goes into a battle and does whatever is necessary to survive instead of trying to help win the battle. We would not call such a soldier patriotic. Our Republican representatives who don't try but just quail and hunker down can't be called patriots either. They are weak and selfish opportunists who want the power and prestige but no risk. If they won't change, I say vote 'em out.
  What's Better For Women in India? What's better is an ad that is becoming a sensation in India. The ad depicts a woman with a six or seven year old daughter. The two of them are happily talking with the mother's groom right before the wedding ceremony. This ad is ambiguous but however it is interpreted, it is all wrong in much of backward India. First, if the woman is getting married for the first time, she has a child from premarital sex, a no-no in India. If she is getting married for the second time, that's wrong too. Second marriages are another no-no. The chief of the conservative Hindu organization Swayamsevak Sangh has said that the ad is in bad taste. The ad was paid for by a big jewelry concern in an attempt to get people to think about their values.
  What's Better With Wild Monk Parakeets In Britain? There are 55 to 87 (gasp!) wild monk parakeets in Britain, and the central government is taking them and themselves very seriously. It is up in arms to eradicate the tropical birds whom they consider a menace to fruit crops and public safety. Apparently, the birds do make a din screeching. But the parakeet trappings and killings are being sabotaged by bird lovers who warn the parakeets away from approaching hostile forces. They also hit the government with freedom of information requests about what happens to the little, colorful birds after they are taken into custody. This is embarrassing to the government which has to admit that numbers of them "die" in government care. A charitable organization, Animal Aid, is also trying to protect the birds. Florida has colonies of wild monk parakeets and infinitely greater fruit crops than Britain, yet it hasn't gone into a killing frenzy.
  These commentaries are based upon news stories from the Wall Street Journal, America's most trustworthy national newspaper.
  Peter Nickerson, Philosophy Major, William and Mary, Class of '68