Kaylen May Gerkey

National

Larry Craig Pleads Guilty Then Recants to Ever Committing Lewd Acts in Airport Bathroom

Summary:
Four years ago allegations against Larry Craig came out in his hometowns local paper accusing him of being gay and committing gay acts. But on August 7th in an airport bathroom Larry Craig was confronted with some astonishing news. The man sitting in the stall next to him, whom he allegedly tried to get to commit lewd acts with him, was an undercover police officer. The Idaho senator was surprised to see the undercover cop and was taken down to the police station. Later, without his attorney present, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense. On World News this morning (August 29, 2007) Senator Larry Craig said that he never meant to plead guilty and did not know what he was doing, that he would never commit those kinds of things, he has a family and three children.

Opinion:
It was interesting hearing Mr. Hjorts opinion this morning because I agree with him. The senator needs to resign or step down because no one accidentally pleads guilty to committing gay acts in a public place or such as. And it was good to hear that some US Senators did call in, like John McCain (R- AZ), and finally get the Idaho Senator to finally step down. It’s hard enough for the Republican Party, already the minority in both the house and the senate; to try to get back to where they were a few years ago and now they have to deal with this. The man is obviously hurting the Republican Party and whether or not he really is gay he should not have been trying to pick up a stranger in a public restroom, undercover cop or not.


International

Mandela Statue Unveiled in London

Summary:
“Britain unveiled a statue of Nelson Mandela Wednesday outside the Houses of Parliament, honoring the South African anti-apartheid campaigner as one of the great leaders of his era.” Mandela is known for his work in South Africa. He was imprisoned for 27 years after rising up against apartheid and upon his release proceeded to become the first president of South Africa. Since then hundreds of awards including the Nobel Peace Prize and is currently and elder statesman. Today in London the bronze statue of Mandela, next to Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, was unveiled. Mandela slowly made his way to the podium to commemorate this day leaning on the arms of his wife. He spoke very well and encouraged the crowd to attend a concert in Hyde Park on his 90th birthday to fight HIV/AIDS. The article included that Gordon Brown called the statue a “beacon of hope” and to remember that this statue is a symbol that no suffering can last forever and no social injustice will go unpunished.

Opinion:
I think this is absolutely wonderful. This man accomplished a lot for his people and never gave up, not even when they imprisoned him for 27 years. Mandela became a beacon for his people and helped them through a rough time and turned his country into a democracy and gave the people of South Africa a hope they had long been looking for. I believe he is more than deserving of his statue and the fact that they placed him next to Abe Lincoln and Winston Churchill says a lot about a man. The first time I ever saw real footage of Mandela was in a Nickleback video and just some of the brief footage I saw it almost brought tears to my eyes. The man was almost persecuted, just like those in Tienanmen Square, for believing in democracy but he succeeded and brought his people hope and that is a hero to me.