In America's past wars, (God bless her) 19 year olds were good enough to go and defend their country, they have a voice, and whether that opinion changes, is the individual's right. Many people change their opinions, some just before they die, there's nothing like the horizon of one's own mortality in view to bring elegance, truth, and forthrightness to an individual's opinion. I do not believe that the state of being (married with children) would change the belief that all are created equal, unless of course, some are more equal than others. The opinion of a 19 year old, can be refreshing, and might be just the right amount of new thinking that is required in order to create a more perfect union. Just as immigrants to this country, came and made the ideal of American exceptionalism reality. View Comment

Did I say it was terrible? no, what I outlined was reality, there are too many who worship the 50's as if it were the Golden Age of Discovery in this country, it wasn't. View Comment

Even the "50's were a staged lie, there was rampant drug abuse in our government (Joe McCarthy and his morphine addiction), Homosexuality was a crime (Roy Cohn, who was one of the Nixon lawyers who wrote briefs for McCarthy during his witch hunt) and of course, the illustrious J Edgar Hoover, a man of high moral background with a self loathing secret. Even in the 50's you had many an idiot, the Dulles Brothers who first proposed the "Bay of Pigs" model to Eisenhower, which so infuriated him, that he threatened to shoot them in the Oval Office with his pearl handled service revolver, should they ever mention it again. And even the Kennedys, with their love for McCarthy, anyone read about America First? and those that wished for America to stay out of WWII? why Joe Kennedy was one of them, and for his pains and ridiculous positions, got himself banished to the Court of St. James. What about the John Birchers? and their insane agenda of what was "right in America"? do we today, look back at the fifties and yearn? sure, there were great cars, I love Lucy, Disney just opened, a lot of nostalgia there, but the truth is, America was evolving in the fifties; young men who went to war, men whose fathers came here, went to Europe, they saw Europe, they learned, they came home and started their lives off of some stellar programs, like the GI Bill, Levittown NY is a testament to the volunteerism that shaped us in the 30's and 40's, everyone pulled together Oppenheimer, whether you agreed or no, developed the Manhattan Project, in an attempt to defray the development of nuclear weaponry in Russia, there was real fear in this country and a dread of technology. How was Oppenheimer paid back in the fifties? he was labeled a red, and a firewall was put up between him and those he mentored. And why? well, that's simple!, the best minds came from Universities across the country, and those Universities were also the parlours for socialistic philosphy, so by the mere fact that Oppenheimer taught at Berkeley and his wife was one who entertained socialistic conversation, got him banned from contributing further in this technology, But then came the sixties, and the space race; the new thumb wrestling contest with Russia. And all those fighter pilots, all those newly graduated engineers, Oh! and one more thing, Operation Paperclip, that program that brought all of Hitler's wunderkinds of weaponry from Germany post the war, led to the mercury program, Werner Von Braun the daddy of the V2 rocket. Imagine what would have happened had these German scientists landed in Moscow? There was a visionary prism in the forties, and in the fifties, the typical American basked in the "Era of good feeling". But let's not go too extreme in our mythological view of the 1950's. Even then, there were colored toilets in the south, there was a Pole Tax, and homosexuals? God forbid there was ever a public mention of the word. My favorite movie from that time period? Reefer Madness, it's the best B grade horror flick ever produced. View Comment

I doubt seriously Chaz Bono would sign up, however, if Mr. Bono did, I think that would be a vast improvement over your own wish to join. Certainly as evidenced by your comments, here, no individual who lacks the maturity or self control to regulate their own speech, should be put in a position where they are considered a role model to any young person. I would argue that most people would not repeat the words you state here in the presence of young people. But then again, one must think the words are of no value to withhold such an opinion. View Comment

I have one group which you missed: "The Aryan Brotherhood" of course, they are allowed to exclude, in fact, I invite them to do so, as enjoining in such an organization in my view, diminishes the intelligence, and the position of the individual. Indeed, the individual in my view, requires reflection and self examination to root out the real motivation in joining such an organization. Self Loathing is the probably the biggest motivator. While people may fret over the inequality seen, as in reference to those that are white; please bear in mind, that at one time, there were rulers in ancient times that were traveling the seas, setting up commerce, organizing governments, recording history, and I might add, developing the first strings of democracy in Ancient Greece. None, not one of them were white. So in this regard, the age indeed, the middle age of European rule, of the rolling back of civilization, that was not promoted by people of color, rather, it's been the very epicenter of what has evolved into a wrong minded ideal that there are people on earth superior to others; that would be Europe. colonialism and imperialism are bad ideas; they do not travel well across the centuries. To think that individuals are somehow excluded due to birth right, color, creed, orientation or any other label of profound ignorance and fear, diminishes man, it does not promote him. View Comment

It's a very simple answer, this organization is referred to as "The Boy Scouts of America", to use the American brand, which denotes exceptionalism, no fear of birth right, position, orientation of any kind, just the basic tenets of equality, would be an oxymoron if anyone is excluded; I'll point to a famous pedophile case; Sandusky and Penn State, this was an outworldly looking upright, moral, man; to equate the individuals in this country, our fellow americans who are homosexual, as on the same footing as a person such as Jerry Sandusky, is a travesty. If the Boy Scouts wish to exclude Americans from their ranks, my suggestion is that they remove the reference to "America" from their name. At one time, those who worshipped differently from a King, were called "insurgents" those who did not want to be bound by a monarchy were called "rebels", those who believe in the "rule of law" not the "rule of man" were called radicals. It's just geography and time at play here. There is no reason to fear those who work, contribute, toil, play, and contribute to a society peacefully. I see no reason to ban gays from organizations that promote a more cohesive society. The Boy Scouts have been doing that. You are correct though, organizations who wish to exclude have every right to do, but do not use the name of this country and what that represents, while defying the very tenets of what this country was built on. View Comment

This 19 year old young man is aware of what equality means, which is more than I can say for those that post here, moreover, he is taking his beliefs, convictions and putting them into action; again which is more than a lot of people do. Those that are "armchair" moralists tend to shrink into themselves, and refuse to expose themselves to a more diverse community. Convictions or rather the need to seek conviction of one's own philosphies leads to an arrestment of knowledge, development, and yes, freedom. I've signed this petition; there is no reason to fear the road of equality; however there is a lot to fear on that slippery slope of exclusion and fear. View Comment

That's enough! View Comment

We can do better than repealing "gun free school zones", we are smarter than that, that is not the answer, I'd rather listen to those who are experts in these high powered weapons, the police, the military, even there you'll find that they are against the average citizenry owning these weapons. Our police force is organized to face potential life threatening events each and every day in this country, it would be logical to remove from the equation the possible of over-powerment. There are too many people overthinking this, And with regards to Comrade Malloy, I think you underestimate the ability of this governor, I also think that those who have no useful offerings to solve this problem, or are unwilling to debate the pros and cons of suggestions, aren't part of the solution. Gun free zones are there for a reason; and it's a very good reason, there is a some mythical mindset that separates good from bad; I do not believe anyone is licensed enough to determine who the "good guy" is versus the "bad guy". it's clear, anyone who causes harm to another, or commits an act that disrupts a peaceful and safe society can be deemed a "bad guy", but I'll remind you that the Virginia Tech licensed and armed authorities could not stop that massacre. So in conclusion, repealing gun free zones is not the answer. Finally, labeling everyone who is not of the same mindset, a rabid antigun fool, just diminishes your argument on the subject. Use a mature approach, and try to solve the problem, we don't have time for these circus antics. None of us View Comment

It's called self regulation, and when that does not occur, society pays for it. therefore in a peaceful society, or rather to maintain a peaceful society, we must all agree that there are limits, and controls, This is not an invasion of privacy, it is a re-inforcement of the "right to life" for others. I have no problem with gun owners, but I do have a problem with stupidity that leads to the horrific event that occurred on December 14th, a good friend of mine lost his little girl that day, I'd rather not make this a debate of emotion, rather common sense. That sick young man had no business being introduced to devices that are geared towards destroying living flesh; that's what guns are, and that's all they are. View Comment

this young man having guns and knives is the moral equivalent of leaving an open bottle of aspirin in a baby's crib. Breathtakingly stupid View Comment

This is what militias do, because stupid people with time on their hands to think overthink, form them http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/fbi-informant-who-blew-cover-murderous-right-wing-domestic-terror-group-speaks?page=0%2C0 View Comment

You can move my friend, seriously, I am not "using" 20 dead kids as a reason to push for tighter gun laws. When you throw a rose on the coffin of a five year old girl who was shot on a routine Friday in her school, you call me, okay? View Comment

This is a good thing, and I too, agree with you someone, where can I donate to this program? We need to get guns out of the hands of young men in this town, too many mistakes, too many shootings, too many guns, in the wrong hands. I don't want a circular argument that if the "bad guys have guns" the "good guys should have guns", that's too convoluted and who determines who the good guy is? who? the police? I want background checks, and I want these gun shows monitored by ATF, not the locals, that's too incestous, I don't ever want to see or read that the NRA donated to a politician in this town. In colonial times people were locked up in the public square to work off their shame, they were tarred and run out of town on poles. maybe THAT's what we need. We have the right to bar anyone who would do harm from the law abiding citizenship in this town from entering city limits; we should exercise that right, and those that think by owning a firearm they are a counter force to this issue? they are fooling themselves, and just pissing off the rest of us We don't need semi autos in the hands of the regular citizenry We don't need high powered guns sold to those non-military We don't need these gun shows that bring revenue to a sub-terreanan economy in the southern corridor of the United States. I am sick to death of paying tax dollars to states that are failing, let em fail, if their idea of revenue is to sell guns to sixteen year olds in this town so they, those stupid, stupid sixteen year olds can shoot others over the street they are walking on or the colors they are wearing? I want those states to fail, seriously, fail. regards NL View Comment

As if all of you never made a bad judgement in your life, chill people, people in those towns are on edge right now, a little consideration, is that too much to ask? Does everything have to be a conspiracy? I had a friend tell me this was a government conspiracy, that this kid in Newtown was drugged and induced to perform these shootings, so guns could be seized just before the economic collaspe, Are you kidding? this person should seek help View Comment

Can these people be sterilized? why of course, they can, except this is not Munich ala '1933, and we aren't Nazis. View Comment

Ridiculous supposition, no one is jealous of Romney's wealth, most of us are not fans of nefarious processes that rob people of good paying jobs, so that investment firms like Bain can make money off of those who truly work. The problem is the new economy; fast money, no sweat, it's real, and it's destroying the character of the American worker; they are expendables in the eyes of those who are excel spreadsheet warriors. I daresay that Romney never ran a company that actually "produced" anything, his father did, his father ran GM. Mitt Romney could never live up to the standards of George Romney, even Bush was better; at least he tried to run an oil company and a baseball franchise. Yes, he was helped, but that is a productive environment. Those that game manufacturing for investment gains, aren't really working; they are capitalizing on the work of others. Without the inception and growth of those companies, investment firms like Bain wouldn't have a source of income. So let's understand this; do you really think that China will "let" American investment firms capitalize on the labor of their workers "for long"? That's an unwise and silly calculation in my book. I'll bet on the American worker any day of the week, Too bad there are people in this country who hate the average worker so much. Sad,,, very sad, Regards NL View Comment

It's unfortunate that the Norwalk GOP will enlist any one who wishes to run, I have seen Jack speak, and his ability to persaude is uninspiring. Being a bully is not a pre-requisite for becoming a legislator, in my view. Regards NL View Comment

Unfortunately, one of Connecticut's biggest jobs, advocate, Chris Dodd, is no longer active, that surely must not be lost on those who have lived here for more than five years. Chris Dodd brought military contracts to Goodrich, Sikorsky, and others, Lieberman brought contracts to Electric Boat, But with companies like Stanleyworks moving to China, good manufacturing jobs are lost, which means the small machine shops and other small businesses withered on the vine. I really don't understand why people cannot see that. I'd like to see how Jack Chiaramonte proposes to bring jobs to Connecticut; I think he is over-reaching, in fact, I know it. I will not be fooled by an individual who tries to cry populist, but does not have the tools in his toolbox to do what he says he will do. That's a poor reflection on me as a voter. Regards NL View Comment

Fairfield County has always had the highest cost of living right behind Beverly Hills for as long as I can remember, it's very simple, if life in Fairfield County is ardous and too costly, one can move. Very simple, now, I would argue that Wilton Connecticut and Westport Connecticut have been "bedroom" communities since the 1960's before the manufacturing drain due to the move of Route 128 in Boston to Silicon Valley, so what is the fuss here? that manufacturing has moved out of the state? that the valley, once known for key manufacturing, has seen their jobs outsourced to China? I think that's the real issue, isn't it? is this person going to "change" magically the fabric of this state with a wave of his magic wand? And also, let's make sure we are relating all the facts; the investigations into investment firms after the crash in 2008, left many who fuel the economic engines of southern connecticut wanting since they saw their bonuses and futures in jeopardy; rightfully so, you cannot rise meteorically by gaming an investment process. I really don't understand the "surprise" I read from my fellow Norwalkers. It's very obvious to me Regards NL View Comment