REAGAN IN LONDON: Some conservative Britons want to erect a statue of Ronald Reagan in London, reported the Tory-leaning Daily Telegraph June 16: "It is the brainchild of Conservative Way Forward, the Thatcherite Tory faction that organized last month's dinner celebrating the 25th anniversary of Lady Thatcher's 1979 election victory. 'It's still at the planning stage, but we think that it is only right that President Reagan be remembered by the people of these islands for all he did to win the Cold War,' says Donal Blaney of CWF. The group is planning to launch an appeal to raise the money for the statue, although the thorny issue of where it might be located has yet to be broached." Blaney is chief executive of the Young Britons' Foundation ( see "Conservative Spotlight" in HUMAN EVENTS, June 14, 2004, page 18).
WHAT RACISM? Liberals are always accusing Americans of racism, even though as critics point out, they are the ones who favor institutionalized discrimination against whites and Asians. Republican voters down in supposedly benighted South Carolina just voted to make an Indian-American their nominee for the state house. "Tonight, Indian American Republican Council (IARC) Chairman Dr. Raghavendra Vijayanagar praised Nikki Randhawa Haley on her runoff victory, which virtually secured her election in November to the South Carolina House of Representatives," reported IARC on June 22. "'This is a truly historic election for the people of South Carolina,' said Dr. Vijayanagar. 'Nikki Haley defeated a 30-year incumbent, the longest-serving member of the South Carolina House. She is a solid Republican, pro-life, pro-business, and with no Democrat facing her in November, she will be the only Indian-American Republican state legislator in America, and the first Indian-American ever elected to the South Carolina legislature.'"
PBS' BIAS: For daring to defend their community against an influx of illegal aliens, the populace of Farmingville, on Long Island, found themselves attacked in a PBS documentary last week. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), "The producers attempt to portray community activists as being motivated by racism and manipulated by outside organizations because of their opposition to the establishment of a hiring hall for the day laborers who have overwhelmed the small Long Island town. . . . Farmingville, N.Y., like many other communities around the country, has experienced a large and sudden influx of foreign day laborers-many, if not most, of whom are illegally in the country. . . . Local residents have been burdened with costs of education, health care and other services, and the attendant consequences of widespread loitering and criminal activity on the town's streets."
PCA STAYS TRUE: The Presbyterian Church in America-not to be confused with the Presbyterian Church USA-has reaffirmed its commitment to the natural and Biblical understanding of marriage. The 32nd General Assembly of the church approved a statement on June 17 that said: "Therefore be it resolved that the 32nd General Assembly: Humbly call on the civil governments of Canada and the United States and all nations of the earth to act within their lawful powers and use whatever legislative and judicial instruments they deem most useful to ensure that marriage is legally defined and interpreted throughout their jurisdictions as existing exclusively between one man and woman."
PETA & TERRORISTS: How closely tied is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to terrorism? "The domestic terrorists of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF)-the shadowy, violent group that claimed responsibility for Monday's arson in a fax to Salt Lake City radio station KSL-have exactly one known source of material support," said the Center for Consumer Freedom on June 17. "The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) made a $1,500 donation to the ELF in 2001. KSL News is also reporting that the ELF has merged with its long-time sister group the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) 'into one anarchist collective.' PETA's other financial support of terrorists includes a $45,200 gift to convicted animal-rights arsonist Rodney Coronado and a $7,500 payment to Fran Stephanie Trutt, who pleaded guilty to trying to kill a medical research executive." Said Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R.), "It appears this is the latest of a series of attacks perpetrated by militant extremists who believe they can advance their extreme agenda by destroying lives and jobs." The arson did $1.5 million of damage at a Utah lumberyard.
