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As Americans begin the busy summer driving season, a new poll reveals that most are confused about who they should hate and why. While last summer's 'must hate' favorites, including war-critics Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore, are now regarded as hated has-beens, few new 'hateables' have captured the public's attention.
Poll: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad easy to hate but hard to pronounce.
By Deanna Swift
WASHINGTON, DC—Americans are already weeks into the busy summer driving
season yet most still lack a clear sense of who they should hate and
why. The current murky forecast stands in marked contrast to the hazy
hate-filled days of last summer, in which most Americans agreed to hate
anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, whom they blamed for dominating news
coverage, causing traffic jams in much of the southwest and driving up
the price of gasoline.
According to the results of a recent poll, most Americans have all but
forgotten Ms. Sheehan. The Polltronics poll, based on 2,130 telephone
interviews conducted earlier this month, found that while 63% of
Americans report feeling "mildly irritated" at the mention of Ms.
Sheehan's name, only 9.2% say that they are prepared to hate her "most
of all" between now and Labor Day.
Sinking like a stone
Also falling short in the blame game these days is one-time
controversial filmmaker, Michael Moore, hated by fully 39% of Americans
last year. By contrast, only 7% of respondents indicated that Mr. Moore
would continue to top their "most hated" list this summer. While the
angry auteur may be off the hook for the summer blockbuster season, 56%
of Americans said that they were prepared to resume hating Mr. Moore
when his film "Sicko," a thinly-veiled attack on the American health
care system, widely viewed as the best in the world, debuts later this
year.
No one left to hate
The anxiety that many Americans feel about not knowing who to hate has
only worsened in recent days with the news of the death of Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi, who'd been widely regarded as a replacement topic for Ms.
Sheehan during talk radio summer sweeps month. Thirty-eight percent of
those surveyed said they'd planned on hating Mr. Zarqawi "more than
anyone else" during the months of June, July and August, but were no
longer sure to whom the top spot should belong.
Anxious Americans did get some relief from their worries this week with
the announcement that Iraqi militants have appointed a successor to Mr.
Zarqawi. The new leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq is said to be Sheikh Abu
Hamza al-Muhajer, which means "the immigrant." Sixty-one percent of respondents said that they would be more likely to
hate an immigrant than a native-born American.
Also rans
While there is no clear front runner among those likely to make the
summer's "most-hated" list, several early favorites have lost steam in
recent weeks. Among them: Hillary Clinton, pedophile priests, teacher
unions and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Forty-two percent of
those surveyed said that they would be more likely to hate Mr.
Ahmadinejad "most of all" if his name were easier to pronounce. Also
dropping from the top spot: gays, who turned in a disappointing
performance during last week's debate over amending the Constitution to
ban gay marriage.
How this poll was conducted
Samples for Polltronics polls are random digit samples of telephone
numbers selected using the "probability proportionate to size" method,
which means numbers from across the country are selected in proportion
to the number of voters in each state. Individuals who did not answer
their phones were assumed to be watching one of the following cable
news shows: "The Big Story" with John Gibson, "Special Report" with
Brit Hume, "The O'Reilly Factor," "Hannity and Colmes" or "On the
Record" with Greta Van Susteren.
Have you decided who to hate this summer? Talk back to deannaswift1@yahoo.com.
Kevin Federline is contemplating a run for office, say sources close to the aspiring performer, best known for his role as the husband of Britney Spears. 'K-Fed,' who often blasts California liberals in private, is now looking to take that criticism public and may challenge democratic representative Henry A. Waxman in next fall's congressional election. First step on the campaign trail: a new clean-cut, more professional look.
A private critic of the democratic establishment goes public
MALIBU, CA—When aspiring performer Kevin Federline was looking for a title for his forthcoming rap album, the artist, known to millions of fans as 'K-Fed' chose "Playing with Fire" to indicate that he's not afraid of a little controversy. Now the former dancer and husband to chanteuse Britney Spears is about to take on the most controversial challenge of his life: against Henry A. Waxman, long-time democratic representative from California's ultra-liberal 30th congressional district.
K-Fed fed up, say sources
Sources close to Mr. Federline say that he has long been a private critic of California's democratic establishment, including Representative Waxman and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. But that may be about to change. Earlier this spring Mr. Federline agreed to appear in 'Item,' a magazine aimed primarily at 18-49 year-olds in the southwestern US, including tens of thousands of potential voters in such traditionally liberal enclaves as Pacific Palisades, Bel-Air, Century City, Westwood, Brentwood, Topanga, Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Beverlywood and West Los Angeles.
In the multi-page spread, Mr. Federline debuts a new clean-cut and decidedly conservative look that he hopes will appeal to the growing number of independents and swing voters who reside in the 30th district. "This is basically K-Fed saying 'here I am y'all, ready to represent," says a source close to the performer.
A ballot initiative spurs action
Mr. Federline's decision to run for office—a formal announcement is said to be expected later this summer—may have been prompted by a recent campaign in California to tax the wealthy in order to pay for preschool for all children in the state. Earlier this week, voters rejected by a decisive margin the "Preschool for All" ballot initiative, which would have imposed a 1.7 percent tax increase on individual incomes over $400,000 and couples' incomes exceeding $800,000.
Mr. Federline's antipathy towards the measure was in part ideological—he is a strong opponent of socially redistributive policies—but may also have been motivated by his reported dislike of filmmaker and political activist Rob Reiner. "K-Fed thinks that Reiner should stop shooting his mouth off about complex political issues and stick to making movies," says a source close to the performer. Mr. Reiner, his wife and father sunk a combined $4.6 million into the socialized daycare drive.
Britney backs K-Fed
While tabloids have been rife with speculation of late that Mr. and Mrs. Federline may be on the verge of splitting up, sources close to the couple say that she strongly supports the idea of his running for office. Unlike the vast majority of Hollywood celebrities, the former Miss Spears has been an outspoken backer of President Bush, a position she reiterated in a 2003 interview with CNN's Tucker Carlson. In recent months, the Federlines' loyalty to the president has been tested somewhat. The couple is said to be deeply unhappy about Mr. Bush's proposal to allow gay migrants to serve as guest workers in the hospitality and home decorating industries.
Do you worry that K-Fed's musical career could suffer if he runs for office? Talk back to Russell D'Arby russelldarby01@yahoo.com
During this year's national spell-off, contestants were forced to puzzle out words of Spanish, Greek, Latin American, homosexual, even French origin. Now some native-born bee watchers say they've had enough. If they get their way, spelling bees from elementary schools to the nation's capital will soon be conducted in English only.
75% of Americans say foreign words are too difficult to spell
By Deanna Swift,
WASHINGTON, DC—Unlike millions of Americans, Lorraine Dittie didn't wait to watch the coronation of Katharine Close, this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. Dittie, a Dover, PA, mother of two, had turned off her TV in disgust in the fourth round of the annual spell-off after contestant David Keyes of Watkins Glenn, NY, successfully sounded out sudadero, a Spanish word meaning a blanket that soaks up the sweat beneath the saddle of a horse.
For Dittie, the surfeit (sûr'fit; a word of French origin meaning excessive amount) of foreign words in this year's bee was just the latest sign that English—the language in which she majored in college—is increasingly under siege. "I listened to the words they were giving to these kids and I was just shocked. There were Greek words, Latin American words. I even heard some Indian words. But what happened to all of the English words?" asks Dittie.
English bees please
A growing number of native-born and legal spelling bee fans are asking the same question. Studies indicate that as the number of illegal immigrants in this country has soared in recent years, so too has the percentage of foreign words in spelling bees. Now a new organization, ProEnglishFirst, is lobbying Congress to make English the official language of all bees, from local contests at elementary schools to the biggest bee of all. "Our position is that if you're going to spell in this country you ought to be spelling words that are native to our language," says Martin DuCasse, a spokesperson for the Arlington, VA, nonprofit.
Volunteers from ProEnglishFirst monitored the official word list from this year's competition, notes DuCasse, and were disturbed by what they found. "There were way too many French words," he says, listing causerie, meaning light chit chat for social occasions and accouchement, the process of giving birth to a child, as two offending terms. "There were a couple of these that were so bad that we encouraged our members to call the FCC to complain," says DuCasse.
Linguistic law of the land
According to recent polls, Americans overwhelmingly agree that English should be the official language of the United States, including more than two-thirds of Democrats and four-fifths of first- and second-generation Americans. Support for English-only spelling bees is believed to be even higher.
The US Senate recently passed a measure that would make English the national tongue, and while the proposal contains no language specific to spelling bees, House negotiators are expected to try to force the issue in conference later this month. Once the new law goes into effect, National Spelling Bee organizers would be forced to eliminate all foreign words from their vocabulary lists in time for the 2007 competition.
Homosexual lexicon
Offensive words from Mexico and France weren't the only terms to raise eyebrows and ire at this year's bee. Observers also noted an increasing number of homosexual words being assigned to the school-aged spellers. One contestant, homeschooler Matthew Oliphant, successfully spelled one such word, mansuetude, a gay term meaning a meek or gentle attitude, in the fourth round of the competition. But when yet another word with homosexual origins came his way in round 6, it was Matthew's turn to bow out gracefully. The word: spheterize, meaning to appropriate or make something one's own.
"Can you use it in a sentence?" asked Matthew.
"Young Tom was afraid to take off his clothes in the locker room for fear of being spheterized," came the response.
Matthew looked puzzled—he later admitted that in preparing for the event he had neglected to memorize a gay dictionary—then made a brave attempt.
"S-P-H-E-T-A-R-I-Z-E."
The dreaded bell sounded and yet another young contestant had been sent packing.
Do you think that foreign and homosexual words should be banned from spelling bees? Talk back to Deanna Swift at deannaswift1@yahoo.com.
Thousands of Christian couples plan to celebrate the occasion of their savior's creation by attending 'conception parties' this weekend, intimate gatherings where the conception of the world's most famous baby is lovingly reenacted. Fans of the pro-life parties say that theirs is a way of livening up the culture of life. But some Christians say that they're uncomfortable celebrating the pregnancy of a teenage girl, even if the father was a heavenly one.
Let's party like it's 4 BC
By Cole Walters
FORT WORTH, TX—While the vast majority of Christians in the US will spend this weekend marking a tragedy—the crucifixion of Jesus Christ upon the cross on Easter Sunday—a small but determined minority plans to celebrate their savior with a bang. Against a backdrop of farmland, city streets, even mountain vistas, this merry band will spend tonight marking not Christ's death, but his conception.
They're called 'conception parties,' intimate gatherings where creation of the world's most famous baby is lovingly—and literally—recreated. And for a few lucky couples, the event will pay off in a big way. Since the biblical bashes burst onto the scene just five years ago, 13 couples have gotten pregnant as a result of attending the gatherings. Two of the lucky mothers went on to have children—both girls—who share Christ's December birthday.
A celebration of life
"It's just a lot of fun," says Fort Worth resident and party host Earl Silos. "We'll bake a ham, put out bowls of macaroni salad and potato salad. People can relax a little, take a load off." He says that he's expecting 25 married couples to attend tonight's festivities. Marriage is a condition of attendance, says Silos, who advertised the event at his church, on local Christian message boards and on telephone poles in his neighborhood.
Silos says that he got the idea from his brother-in-law, who has hosted a conception party in Pascagoula, MS, since 1999. Today, notes Silos, his brother-in-law's annual March 25th bash attracts upwards of 100 people, including many town notables. "He does it up with a deep-fried turkey, the whole she-bang. We're a little less fancy around here," notes Silos. "We keep most of the attention on the main event."
Christian critics
But not everyone is enamored of the idea of celebrating Christ's conception—especially in the form of physical reenactments that even participants admit can get out of hand. Some Christians say that they're reluctant to shine a spotlight on the event's surrounding Mary's pregnancy. Christ's mother was only a teenager, after all, and according to Matthew, a friend of the couple, was not actually married to Joseph. "When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost," Matthew wrote in a tell-all account.
If Matthew's version is correct, Mary's actions would contradict the teachings of many abstinence-only education programs, which encourage women to remain pure virgins until their wedding nights.
A down hill slide?
For critics, the new popularity of conception parties is a disturbing reminder of their faith's pagan past. Among social conservatives there is also mounting concern that their iron grip on cultural discipline is already beginning to loosen. This past year, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a practicing Mormon and a likely republican presidential candidate in 2008, raised eyebrows with his statement that "marriage should be between a man and a woman…and a woman, and a woman."
But for thousands of Christians who plan to don party dresses and suit jackets, tonight's parties represent nothing more than a chance to celebrate one of history's most magical moments. "Obviously none of us is going to be lucky enough to get pregnant by Him," says Earl Silos' wife Carol. "So this is the next best thing. We're celebrating what turned out to be the biggest night of Mary's life."
Have you ever attended a conception party? Tell your story to colewalters1@yahoo.com