The Tale of Shawnee and Mr. Big

There once were two dogs named Mr. Big and Shawnee. Mr. Big was purchased as a full bred Chihuahua (ha…yea right) and Shawnee, a beagle. When the two met each other, it was like they had known each other all along. They liked to do everything together. They liked to eat, sleep, and play with the other every moment they could. Mr. Big, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, belonged to his owner, Sam. Sam attended school in Kentucky, and would only bring Mr. Big home on her breaks. Every time the two dogs would be forced to separate, Shawnee would become thoroughly depressed. He would wander through the house, wondering where his friend had gone. In May of 2010, Sam graduated and moved back home and brought back none other than Mr. Big. Shawnee’s mood was better than ever. The two were finally reunited, and Shawnee finally had reason to live. One night, as the boys were dining over a delicious meal of AIMS dog food, Shawnee told Mr. Big that he could simply not deal with the heartbreak of him leaving again. The small dog looked at the bigger dog and told him he would never leave him again. The boys have since then made other friends on the street, such as Max, a golden retriever puppy next door, or Amy, the chocolate lab down the street. Both are happier than ever and shall be best friends for the rest of their lives. 

John Boehner: New Speaker of the House

In case you didn’t know and live under a rock, John Boehner is the sixty-first speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Ohio and didn’t have the easiest life growing up. He had eleven siblings and they lived in a two bedroom house right here in Cincinnati. He started working at his parent’s bar when he was just eight years old. He went to Moeller High School and graduated from Xavier University (Go Bearcats) in 1977. He is a very accomplished man given his circumstances growing up. He has really made a name for himself and the fact that he now holds a position as respectable and admirable as speaker of the House is most impressive. He is one of the few people from Ohio that have been chosen over time to hold this position. With all that being said and with all due respect, John Boehner is a cry baby. He was interviewed, on live television, and he cried. A lot. Not just a tear, but literally bawled. What grown man gets extremely hysterical on national television? John Boehner. He didn’t even make an attempt to control himself. The reporter interviewing him asked him if he was ashamed that he cried, and he simply responded that the public could take him for who he was. I for one would not like to witness a grown man, holding the third position for the presidency, to cry like a baby on national television. I mean really…has he never heard of keeping composure? 

Obama Repeals "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Seventeen years ago, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was put into effect under President Clinton. Last Wednesday, President Obama signed off on repealing this law. This law allowed homosexuals to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexuality a secret. Clinton’s intentions were good:  in order to prevent gays from being ostracized from the army, he simply took out the factor of them being homosexual. However, in this day and age and considering our nation’s history with racism, segregation, and several more issues, the thing to do is not to keep someone quiet, but to get them to be open and make people accept them for who they are. Just because a person of a different sexual nature is enlisted does not mean they will defend their country any differently than a straight person. Their homosexuality does not make them any different than any other soldier on the field.  They should not be forced to live a lie or keep their life a secret just because being a homosexual is not necessarily the norm. As Obama put it, “Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.” Although it will not be an entirely smooth transition among all branches of the military, people will begin to accept that it truly makes no difference whether someone is gay, straight or bisexual. Regardless, these men and women are fighting for our country, and have every right to express who they are.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/us/politics/23military.html