Sending Prayers out to Lieberman

The disloyalty of party members does not go unnoticed. There has been a public response recently to Lieberman’s decision that he has, “No other choice,” but to stop the public option.

Many of his constituents of Connecticut made it known recently that Lieberman is not making their own beliefs represented. An interfaith committee led by clergy members including Priests, Rabbis, and Imams formed a procession to publicize the need for a public option, and Lieberman’s ‘moral’ duty to support this legislation.

About 500 members of Lieberman’s home town of Stamford, CT formed a procession from Stamford High School to Senator Lieberman’s house where they were greeted by police but continued to chant and ‘send their prayers’ out the Lieberman.

These religious leaders feel that, “Health care is a fundamental right,” and by not providing coverage to those in need is a moral offense.

It is certainty understood that every one has their own agenda. Lieberman says he doesn't want to pass the public option because he thinks it is a reckless financial decision that will put America deeper into the recession. What Lieberman does not address though is that health care costs are rapidly rising and will soon be unaffordable to a large population of Americans.

Its apparent that these clergy members who organized this demonstration don't have a secret political/financial agenda for themselves. Their jobs are to serve the people and they were trying to elicit a call of action to Lieberman to do the same for the people that he serves.

Lieberman left with "No other Choice"

Last post was about a politician who crossed a party line to support a bill that he felt was a “decision of conscience” for his constituents. This entry focuses on the same commotion, but on the other side of the equation.

Senator Joseph Lieberman, an Independent from Connecticut who has had a longstanding affiliation with the Democratic Party has been causing waves recently with his decision to oppose public option of health care reform.

In an interview with Cybercast News Service Lieberman said he had, “No other choice” but to filibuster the health care bill that includes the public option. Lieberman comments that he supports health care reform, but thinks the public option would be worse financially for Americans and would put it citizens deeper in the recession.

People are worrying that the public option’s premiums would be higher on average than private insurance premiums. But we forgot in all of this mess that the public option is an option meaning, you can stick with what you have if you think it works for you.

When I was watching the Congressional hearings on November 7^th that eventually passed, I noticed the rhetoric of Republicans that were debating with the democrats was that the bill was “job killing” and detrimental to America. As a citizen I would like to see the terms the reasoning behind the decisions of both the Democrats and Republicans, instead of being caught up in sensational bureaucratic idioms.

The Republican Who Went Public

Although the House passage of the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” on Saturday November 7th was a Democrat party supported initiative passed by a 220-215 vote; it is not to say that all Republican representatives opposed the bill.

I admire Representative Anh Cao of Louisiana who was the only Republican representative to support the bill. Following the partisan arena of Washington politics sometimes feels like two conformed voices are constant yelling at one another in unison. So it is refreshing when a party member supports a bill that they truly think will benefit their constituents.

According to a recent New York Times article, Cao said that he, “Had to make a decision of conscience based on the needs of the people of [my] district,” adding that many of his constituents are uninsured and poor.

Weather Feature

The fall season is here. Leaves are turning colors. A chilling breeze passes through the campus pond which forces the ducks and as well as their visitors to huddle together for warmth. However on the other side of the campus there are some who don’t look affected by the weather change. They are the members of Umass lacrosse team who practice every day in Garber’s field.

In a quick look it seems that that the lacrosse members practice don’t notice the weather change: players in shorts and t-shirts, their hands and cheeks are rosy red from the rush of blood in their veins.

In a closer look at the players in the field, their shouting coaches and extras who are sitting in benches alongside the field to either rest for a while or to be exchanged soon, it is obvious that some are feeling the chill in the air intimately. A few athletes are attending the practice in full suit. Some are using any minute to stay active and on a move. Moving from one leg to the other, with hands in pockets, Umass men’s lacrosse team athletic coach, Bob Kuzmeski, stands in the corner and watches his team. Cold, however, for him is no excuse. Not even for his team. Cold or hot every team member must attend the practices and games. He acknowledges that even though it is personal preference to like or dislike the older weather, but team members get no special advantages to get them out of practicing in the cold.

However, there are some who are not comfortable with doing sport and the weather getting cold. Patrick Kelly is an attack man for lacrosse club team. He, however, has a different opinion about playing and practicing in the cold. He “hates the cold” since it has affected his performance in the past. Though, liking or disliking the cold weather is a personal preference, he believes its biological effect or what he calls “survival tactic” on the body forces blood to rush to the colder organs and eventually reducing blood and oxygen to the muscles that are working hard through the game.

“You are a lot stiffer, everything hurts more” he says and rubs his hands together as a reminder that in the old weather to keep warm is all about the movement. To keep the blood going he says is why you see the players shaking their hands and rubbing down their arms.

Even though playing in the cold weather could get tough at times, for some athletes such as Kelly and Umass men lacrosse team members once the practices are over, being in the games pays off. “When you are in the moment, you just shake it off and don’t care what happens” Kelly says.

Whether you are an athlete or are just taking a walk around the campus pond, remember, this fall and this winter it’s all about the movement. Everything from jumping up and down to start a sport will do to keep you warm.