Aaryanna_Mom

[quote name='SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue']I?ll have to work on fixing it, but I guess I didn?t make it apparent that they intended to use the drugs regardless of whether she talked or not. I?m not sure if I?ll fix that in the previous chapter or address it in another. But they intended to drug her from the very beginning. [/COLOR][/quote]In retrospect, now that I think about it, if they really are planning an invasion it would make sense to rely on a drug to verify any statements she made. After all I'm sure being tortured is no guarantee that you will get the truth out of a person, at least not without a lot of effort that is. So I guess it fits after all. I should pay more attention to the dialogue right? ;) As for the plot I like how you are developing the character I initially thought would be a major one. I?m getting the impression that he enjoys tormenting others. So I?m curious to read more to see how that goes. Even if he is a bit predictable I?m still enjoying the story so far. :catgirl:

Personally I think the idea of banning sites with personal profiles, personal journals and direct communication between users is rather ridiculous. First of all it?s something that should be handled on a local level and not by the government. The problem I see with banning the sites is the places affected by the ban would then become complacent and feel that since the sites were blocked there would be no need for them to bother with taking the time to properly set up their network themselves. It?s a foolish and lazy attitude to depend on others to keep students away from such sites. Now a number of you have mentioned that it is also a parents job. I do want to point out that for many of us our kids know far more about computers than we do and often it?s child play for them to get around any protection I have tried to put in place. So in the end I?ve had to do my best to educate them on the dangers and then trust them to be safe. Even as a parent there?s only so much you can do and you hope that your kids are smart enough to listen instead of finding out the hard way just how dangerous giving strangers your information can be. Please don?t turn around and tell me how simple or easy it is. I?ve looked into it and for me it?s very confusing, my own daughter set up most of the protections so that simple searches don?t bring up porn. I try but it?s not that easy as until in the past five years I never had or needed a computer. The only reason I even got one was so my daughter could have access to it for school and that included being able to research things online. Anyway back on the main topic, the only reason where I could see a ban being appropriate is if it is costing the schools or libraries a lot of extra money to allow the additional access. At that point if they find that less than say five percent of the users are going to places like myspace then it just seems stupid for them to pay for a few people to have access. And again that?s something that?s really more local as I suppose it would depend upon how they were charged for Internet usage. I?ve heard of two tier Internet, but don?t really understand it as my Internet is the same regardless of how much it gets used.

The only thing that seemed off to me in this chapter is that it seemed they resorted to drugs far to quickly. I would have thought that they would have given her more of a chance to respond after being electrocuted. Perhaps they were in some sort of hurry to get the information? For an upcoming invasion, etc. If so perhaps you might want to indicate that. Other than that it?s coming along just fine. Considering what was stated in previous chapters I think it was clear they intended to be a bit ruthless in their interrogation of Celestia. So that part fit the story just fine.

[quote name='indifference][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberia][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][U]Siberia[/U][/COLOR] [/URL] > [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][U]Yellowstone National Park[/U][/COLOR][/URL'] [/COLOR][/quote]If I understand this correctly then here?s the path I used: Siberia > Earth > Geothermal (geology) > Hotspot > Yellowstone Hotspot > Yellowstone National Park > Yellowstone National Park Here's the next one then: [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park][U]Yellowstone National park[/U][/URL] > [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah][U]Messiah[/U][/URL]

Thank you for the other banners. Especially the one with the word Mom on it. I've saved both of them so I can use them too. I love how the white border gives it a nice crisp clean look. My daughter resized the one with out my name for an avatar, I assume that is alright? If not please let me know. Especially since I did not think to ask for a matching avatar. I didn't realize that I would want to change it until I saw the new ones you made. Sorry about that.

[QUOTE=GTK]Something like this? [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/redvoid/banners/yellowstonebann00.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Exactly like that. Thank you. :animesmil

I?ve read very little manga so I can?t really comment on them. But as for books, having lots of words with no picture certainly does not guarantee that it?s very good. There are plenty of books out there that in my opinion are far more shallow that some of the manga?s out there. To give an example, Harlequin Romance Novels. If you?ve read one, you?ve read them all. Boring, predictable and in all honesty a complete waste of money. Now if there are some good ones or you like it, then don?t take it personal as what I just stated is purely my own opinion. Anyway, I guess I?m saying that even though a manga may not have the words or require to distribute your focus, but I would have to guess that it doesn?t necessarily mean the story is not a quality one. This is where my limitation comes in, but having read a few of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga?s out of curiosity I was surprised at the level of detail and emotions written into what I previously thought was just a mere picture book. Though on the same hand, I tried reading one with magic attacks in it and it was flat and stale, where the animation was much better at telling the story. So I guess it just depends on the type of story as to what format is better suited to telling it. :)

From what little anime I have seen, just the idea is enough to give me a headache. The confusion, the strange and wacky villains. And more importantly, how anime seems to have no trouble killing off one of the good guys. Well as my daughter put it, you?d end up being the one the villain was after. Though the space bit is enough to tempt me. I have always wanted the opportunity to travel in space. So I?ll take one of the space anime?s to live in and make sure it?s only to visit. I?ll keep the option to escape back into my own reality. In fact I think the best option would be to have living in an anime world something that you could do like a vacation package. A what world would you like to visit today folks!

I?d like to request a banner for my signature. I intend to use it here so I?d like it to fit within the dimensions required for this site. It can be a little smaller, I don?t mind. About the only thing I would like to see is a black border with an inner white one. I?ve seen a few banners like that and I like how it looks. :) I?m sure it?s rather easy to do, well for those who know how to use the photo program, but I have never used the photo shop program that is on my computer so to be honest I haven?t a clue as to how to go about it. I?d like it to be from this picture, I asked SunfallE and she already said I could use that picture if I wanted to. So here?s the link. [URL=http://www.deviantart.com/view/26372172/][U]Falls[/U][/URL] Thank you in advance to anyone who decides to help me with this request. :)

[quote name='Shi no Tenshi']Having said that, my neighbour is a crazy lady with about 5/6 children. All I ever hear coming from that house is 'SHUT UP!' or 'PUT THAT DOWN!' or 'NO!' o_o;[/quote]We have some neighbors like that. I've been been pretty forchanate as my kids are fairly well behaved. In fact I can't remember having to tell them to Shut up. As for the [I]put that down[/I]. Haha, I think there isn't a kid alive who at one point doesn't get into something they shouldn't. ;) Now if I could just get past the part that they are so much smarter than me that I feel like I'm ancient and outdated. I guess I always feel a little older than what I really am. Though my kids do make it feel worthwhile. :)

[quote name='Aaryanna][COLOR=SeaGreen']Only if you promise to not be shocked by what your little girl is writing Mom. :p [/COLOR][/quote]I?ll certainly do my best sweetie. But I?m sure you know that for a parent you?re always their ?little girl.? ;) As for the second chapter, I think you did an excellent job with it. The first few paragraphs were nicely done as it gave you a bit of insight as to how and why Alan was hurt and the way Briana just bossed him around was hilarious. It reminded me of you. ;) I also like how once she was done, the moment his attention was elsewhere she seemed to have just vanished. As a forest guardian it would make sense. Her duty to assist him was over and instead of stick around for pointless conversation she immediately left. So it really felt natural and in character as to how she behaved. I?ll be looking for chapter three as I am curious as to when the dark lord will be introduced as the first chapter implies that one of their own might have been captured or killed by one.

[quote name='SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue']Hehe, well unless others object when I get it going then I don?t see any problem with you playing his character. ^_~ Anyway, thanks again for the input. [/COLOR][/quote]Ah, so if he is a character for your RPG then my hunch was correct. If not I?m going to feel silly for posting this. As for the next chapter. Although it was easy enough to read, the flow of the sentences in a few places feels a little choppy as if they were just placed together. I am not educated well enough to know why, only that it feels off when I read it. So I?ll do my best to explain this correctly. Take this paragraph: [quote name='SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue]Jason watched as Celestia was dragged though the mysterious door of light. Once she was taken though the door it vanished. He looked at all the monitors and saw that Celestia along with the aliens were no longer in the building! He didn?t know how, but obviously the door of light was some type of transportation device. He watched the alien who had threatened him. It was obvious to him he was somehow hacking Celestia?s program. He seemed to be copying it into some handheld device. Jason knew that until this guy no one had been able to hack her system, so how had he managed to do it so quickly? [/COLOR][/QUOTE]It feels like it is a bunch of statements put together. They fit, but they don?t seem to flow together. Like the sentences about watching him hack the system, perhaps they need to be rewritten into one sentence like ?[I]He turned back to watch the alien who had threatened him to find that he appeared to be hacking into the computer system.[/I]? I hope that demonstrates what I mean clearly enough. And if I?m wrong, just ignore me as it?s been decades since my last English class. :) I just thought I would point it out since several of the paragraphs seem to do the same thing in this chapter. There are some other areas I would love to discuss with you, but perhaps it would be better if you came over to my house? It would be easier to explain it to you in person. [QUOTE=SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue'] The alien smiled as he watched Jason struggle to control himself. Surprisingly this human was rather attractive, he smiled to himself even more, perhaps the captain would let him keep this one for himself when she was finished interrogating him. He turned back to pay attention to the first interrogation. [/COLOR][/quote]Now as for this part, you have now definitely gotten my interest. I guess it?s because of where I live, but I?m too use to expecting the girl to be the one who is harassed. I know, it?s the LDS upbringing that ignores anything involving same sex relationships. I?ve never doubted that they have issues with stalkers etc. I?m just not use to hearing about it. Now I feel guilty for looking forward to what happens to poor Jason in regards to this character. :animeblus Or perhaps a bit embarrased. :animesigh (you know, these little smilies are rather cute :animesmil )

I?d love to think that I?m younger, but having children and with my youngest being fourteen; it?s all too evident that I?m getting close to 50, literally. I suppose the only thing different is that other adults my age feel I am too soft on my children, but I see it as finally learning to let them make their own choices. You?re often harder on your first born than you are on the last one. If I were to go by physical appearance, well looking like a mom really fits. The only good thing is that people are so far off on my age by either guessing way too young or too old, it just means I?m not so easily defined. :) I?d rather not be known as the inflexible old lady living next door thank you very much.

Ah, so this is your mysterious story that you?ve been working on. ;) I agree with Tical Blue that so far it is pretty good. Briana?s attitude even reminds me of you. I also enjoyed the part where Aries is clarifying that she?s a Bichon and not a poodle. It added a nice bit of humor and at the same time helped to define Aries personality. Anyway, I?ll be keeping an eye out as I am curious as to how Briana and the human will get along. If you need any help with proofreading just ask and I?ll take a look. I may not have attended school since before you were born, but I can still spot typos and such. ;)

Very interesting. So far I would say you are off to a good start. It flows well and it?s easy to understand what?s going on. I too think a bit of an introduction would have been nice. It seems to me like it went straight to the action without much of an introduction. However, if you are planning on filling that in later with flash backs then I suppose it does not matter, but it would have been nice to feel a little more connected to the characters. Right now I find it interesting since I enjoy Science Fiction, but the characters have yet to draw me in. Well except for one potential as quoted here: [quote name='SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue']The alien was coldly beautiful with shoulder length silver blonde hair and a face that other than the silver eyes looked like it came right from a Vogue magazine. His dark green uniform couldn?t hide his slender yet muscular build. Jason was surprised that his eyes could look so cold and yet beautiful at the same time. He had never seen such a look in another person?s eyes, for some reason he didn?t understand he actually felt afraid of him. [/COLOR][/quote]I rather liked the way you described his eyes as both cold and beautiful. It will be interesting to see if this is more than just a passing character. Anyway, I will be checking back as I am curious to see if my hunch about him being a major character is correct.

[QUOTE=Retribution][size=1]As for everyone bringing up the possibility of some evil person sending you an offensive PM, I'd like to ask you how often does that happen? I believe I got one, and that's because I deleted someone's post. For the great majority of OBers who are [b]not[/b] moderators, when would someone give you a profanity-riddled message? I just think everyone's blowing the mere possibility of recieving [i]one[/i] angry PM from someone, and deciding to just censor PMs based on that extraordinarily low possibility. I have a total of 1,155 PMs. If 1,153 of those are clean, then that means that 99.8% of them are unoffensive PMs. Is that 0.2% really enough to censor all PMs? It's ridiculous to do so for fear of that one fateful PM. I can understand being offended by profanity. What I cannot understand is why everyone thinks someone's going to mail them anthrax or something.[/size][/QUOTE]Well seeing that this is my first time being a member of an online forum I don?t know how likely receiving a nasty PM is. So in that respect I may have over estimated the possibility as I get annoying pornographic spam e-mails every single day so on some level I was probably assuming that it would be the same at a forum. I am not familiar with how a pm system works or if the option to mass pm people is even possible so in that respect I honestly don?t know how likely it is for one to receive offensive material in a pm. So if you are saying that it doesn?t really happen I?ll take your word for it. [quote name='Retribution][size=1']I don't believe I called anyone high and mighty if you're referring to me, the only one 'offended' by being told to use IM/e-mail. Truth be told, I'm not offended, just a bit annoyed that people are trying to dance about the heart of the matter by suggesting that 'solution.'[/size][/quote]No I was not referring to you, only that it seemed people were getting upset over a difference in opinion. As for dancing around the heart of the matter, on some level that was exactly how I was raised. Any form of profanity was considered unacceptable and having lived in an area for over forty years where it simply isn?t discussed, well it does leave you in the position of not being sure how to even address it. I still would prefer that it be an option, but if the filter is removed all together, then I assume that if you do get a nasty pm you just notify one of the staff members and you will see that the issue is addressed correct? If so then if the only way to do it is to remove the filter for pm?s, I?m fine with that too.

Being a parent my first thought is to not allow swearing. However since there is a wide range of ages here it seems that the suggestion to make it an option would be the most fair. Then those who wish to turn it off can and those who don?t want swearing can leave it on. If it is not possible to make it a choice then I am for leaving it on. It may be true that other areas of OtakuBoards allow swearing, but they also require a rating so that members can make an informed choice. If the rating indicates swearing they can simply not read the thread. PM?s that are rude or insulting aren?t always clearly titled to let you know what to expect. Now a number of people are getting offended by the suggestion to use other mediums; instead of accusing those who suggest it of being all high and mighty, keep in mind that if the filter is turned off then those who do not like swearing are left with no protection. It?s the same situation of they would have to turn around and use something else to communicate with their friends to avoid receiving ugly PM?s just as you would have to use other mediums so you wouldn?t be censored. Nothing high and mighty about that, you both want the same thing, the right to either swear or to not swear.

Well I?ve always enjoyed anime, though it wasn?t until in the last decade that I even realized there was a difference between regular cartoons and anime. Other than how they are drawn that is. I don?t spend much time online and since I?m not an avid anime fan I?ve never even tried to find or join a community that was centered on a shared interest in anime. I know about OtakuBoards because my daughter is a member. After several months of her telling me I should join I finally did. Though I tend to read more than actually comment.

[quote name='Gavin][SIZE=1']In all honesty I fear I've been being far too dogmatic in my application of my beliefs while at the same time missing the equally vital respect and compassion that is preached, I suppose it's just the frustration perhaps of being the only one of this side of the issue while at the same time finding myself unable to reconcile with the fact that I may be being genuinely discriminatory against people for something they simply can't help. It's never been my intention to insult anyone else by voicing my beliefs, nor making people who are homosexual feel somehow wrong or evil, and if I have then I am sincerely sorry for it.[/SIZE][/quote]I wouldn?t say that you are the only one who feels homosexuality is wrong, I too believe it is wrong, but it is a fine line to walk between feeing someone else?s behavior is incorrect due to religious teachings vs. using those same religious teachings to actually determine how others can or cannot live. Although the situations differ a bit they are part of why I find myself fighting for something I feel is wrong. Before I was born a number of my relatives decided to switch religions. They went from being Catholic to being members of the LDS/Mormon church. The neighbors, alarmed by the change actually reported them to the Ku Klux Klan who spent weeks openly watching them wearing the costumes associated with that sad organization. Nothing ever happened and they eventually left them alone, but the very idea of being persecuted for changing their beliefs was frightening and my parents told me that it made them very uncomfortable that they were watched for doing something different. No one should feel persecuted for living by what they believe in or because of their sexual orientation.[quote name='Gavin][SIZE=1']Again I'd like to apologise to anyone who took offence from my previous replies, I know it's not an excuse but perhaps ironically enough I've found it hard to discuss the fact I wish to become a priest with my own family. Out of the three children I was the only one likely to go to college, something neither my mother or father did, and there seems to be an onus on having me "live" before I make the commitment of entering the seminary. I've been probably transferring this fear and anger into my posts on this topic, making them harsher and much less in keeping with my usual respectful and sincere manner. I truly don't have anything against anyone who is homosexual, they're all people like everyone else and as deserving of their pursuit of happiness, and I suppose unless they make the choice to believe what I believe, I'm very wrong to try to stop them pursuing their happiness in whatever form it takes.[/quote]That?s wonderful that you intend to become a priest and I wish you the very best in doing so. I?m also glad to hear you mention how it?s important to see homosexuals as people. And though it might be wrong to try and make their decisions for them, by making laws and so forth, there is certainly nothing wrong with holding to your beliefs and offering those beliefs to those who are interested in taking a look. I am quite sure that there are those who are merely confused over their sexual identity instead of actually being gay/lesbian. Yes I know that?s confusing, but I was raised to belief being gay/lesbian meant you were ill and that?s something that hasn?t been easy to overcome. I still don?t know what I believe as to why people are that way, but I do know I do not have the right to make their choices for them. I guess that comes from watching my own children. At some point you have to let go and respect their right to make their own choices, whether or not you think they are correct. They need to make their own mistakes. Whether or not being gay/lesbian is a mistake or not is not up to me to decide. And it certainly isn?t my place to tell them they can?t have the same right to be married that I have. Moving on you stated the points very well James. Short of simply repeating what you said I agree with how you have explained it.[quote name='sakurasuka]People will always look down on other people for what they think/believe/don't believe. People will always get obnoxious and out of line and bash homosexuals, or bomb abortion clinics. That's how it will always be.[/size][/QUOTE][QUOTE=Retribution][size=1']So let's not try to change it by urging tolerance and acceptance. It's just how it's going to be.[/size][/quote]I agree with Retribution on this point. Taking a stance of that?s how it will always be would mean nothing changes or becomes better. You have to challenge the system to initiate change. And such challenges are likely to cause conflict of some sort.

[quote name='Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f']Its time we focused on what is important. Homosexuality is unnatural, and there is no reason to accomodate it just so some people can enjoy themselves. Homosexual acts are not good, so we shouldn't encourage homosexuals to engage in them because they have the "right" to hurt themselves, and therefore their is no reason to have homosexual marriages.[/COLOR][/quote]I?m afraid that the argument that it?s unnatural is not a very good one for denying people the same rights another human being has. There are quite a few things physically that humans do that are not natural but since they are not sexual in nature they are considered acceptable. We potty train our children since it is considered the socially acceptable thing to do. It makes it easier and far more sanitary for everyone, but when you get right down to it, the muscles involved have to be trained to do something that is not natural. [QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f]Here in Canada, we have Gay marriage and already I can see how messed up soem people's mentalities are. There was a lesbian couple, and they wanted a child, so one of them goes and has sex with a man to impregnate herself. At the same time, she of course doesn't have interest in men. After the child is born, the lesbian couple want the father of the baby to have custody of the child with them, because the baby needs "a father firgure" in his life. What kind of twisted mentality is that? The lady has sex with the man, right there, she is accepting the fact that only with male and female gametes can a child be concieved. And she also accepts the fact that a child needs a father figure. Yet she is forcing this child to have two mothers and a "father". Now of course, you'll all tell me that this is perfectly okay and the child will be perfectly happy, but I know that if I had to deal with that as a child I wouldn't be happy. Biological parents matter, and that's why the biological parents more than anyone else should be the ones who care and love for their children. It's not okay that so many kids are given up for adoption in the first place, and have to rely on adoptive parents for love.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]I cannot agree with this statement either, you are implying that because one person, who is gay/lesbian, is messed up that therefore all of them are messed up. One example of a couple being messed up is not anywhere near enough data to form the conclusion that all gay/lesbian people are ?messed up.? I could easily find hundreds if not thousands of examples that fit similar guidelines to what you have mentioned for supposedly straight people. Would that in turn mean that all of us who consider ourselves straight have messed up mentalities as well? This would seem to indicate that the factors that make one ?messed up? are not sexual in nature or at the very least not dependant on sexual orientation altogether. It would probably be more realistic to say that such issues are a combination of how one was raised, chemical issues within their body and social factors. You are focusing on only one aspect of why you believe a person is messed up as if it was the only cause. [QUOTE=Miss Anonymous]I also remember [b]SunfallE[/b] posting something about how the original Founders of America were not, in fact, Christian, but Deists. Now, I do think they were Christian. But, they did not want a government like where they had come from, which had forced people to go to Church. God had given them choice, so they gave that to this new country. And as for that website you posted, it mentioned that if the Founders were Christian, there would have been no Revolution. But hey, they were being oppressed by the British government at the time. Shouldn't they have fought for their rights? You're saying that people should have their rights, and that homosexuals should have the right to marry, and yet you post a link to a page that says something like that? Just doesn't click with me. But, of course, I don't mean to be nasty towards you in any derrogatory way, SunfallE. I just don't agree with you on that point.[/QUOTE]I hope this is not too far off topic, but seeing that the debate over whether or not the Founders were in fact Christian has been thrown back and forth quite a bit, not here but in the debate over amending the constitution, I thought I?d expand a bit on what I think SunfallE meant by her post. I think the argument here is that whether or not they were Christian is based entirely on a person?s point of view and how they interpret the documents from that time. Unless we could go back in time and actually ask the founders we have no idea if they were religious or not. I think this is what she was referring to. The return to Christian principles is not something that should be used to amend the very foundation of the government here in America since it is something that is not provable. This is the very reason why I oppose the amendment as I think the separation of church and state is part of what makes our country a better place. If we allow one amendment based on the moral values of religious people then what?s next? It would set a dangerous precedent that could in time unravel the very foundation of our government. It was created to keep church and state separate and I believe it should stay that way. Just the thought of all the endless bickering to amend the law based on different moral beliefs is enough to convince me that we should not amend the constitution. As for the bit about they wouldn?t have revolted, yes perhaps that is true that they would have, but often when a group breaks away from the religion they are a part of; if they think it is corrupt, they tend to go and re-form the very religion they left behind. I am not a scholar, but the best example I know is the LDS/Mormon church that had a branch break off to go form the Re-organized LDS church. So the hypothesis that not only did they break away but then proceeded to form a government that essentially stripped the church of having any secular power would mean they were not Christian is a valid conclusion. Whether or not its true is something we will never know.

[QUOTE=The13thMan][FONT=Century Gothic] [COLOR=DarkOrange]So, i'm sure you've all heard that Bush is trying to get a new ammendment banning gay marriage. I'd just like to know what you guys think about the whole ordeal. I've heard some people say that they believe that all the attention on gay marriage is just to distract people from issues like the war in Iraq or maybe the energy crisis we're currently in. What do you think? Also i'd like to ask you guys what you think of President Bush. I think he comes off as a real moron when he's on tv, i can barely stand the way he talks. He's always got that ugly smile on his face and he keeps trying to crack lame jokes. My impression is that most of the world really dislikes Bush. [/COLOR] [/FONT][/QUOTE]Well it?s certainly nothing new. The last attempt to get this through to the next process of a final vote fell short in 2004 and it?s no surprise that two years later that it failed yet again. In only two years the supporters only managed to pick up one more vote. It still doesn?t guarantee that it will then pass the final vote. To me it?s a waste of time and an insult to the foundation of the USA, which is supposed to maintain a separation of church and state. Although I am deeply religious and feel that such marriages are wrong, I cannot in good faith approve of a law that would attempt to enforce my morals or values on others or the morals of other religious beliefs either. People have the undeniable right to make their own choices and decisions. Especially when it concerns the right to believe or not believe as you see fit. I cannot help but be reminded of how throughout history the so-called definition of marriage has changed to fit the current political situation or desires of the people. From the business arrangement where a woman was her husbands property until she gained the right to vote, to the blacks being denied the right all together by virtue of being slaves, to even when I was a child and interracial marriage was being disputed. Even as late as 2000 Alabama still had a ban on interracial marriage 33 years after Loving v Virginia made such discrimination unconstitutional coast-to-coast. Personally I am very disappointed in Bush. The government has failed to alleviate gas prices. Turmoil in Iraq continues and approximately 70% of Americans are unhappy with Bush. I can?t help but see a historical response to these issues in the form of a witch-hunt for scapegoats on whom we can project our rage and impotence.