Larry Kuperman

Fathers and Sons in Parenting JoeUser Forums

Today is my son Jon's twenty-second birthday and I want to take the opportunity to say how proud I am of him and what he has meant to my life. This past year has been the best year of my life as I have watched him mature into an adult, an adult who I not only love, but who I truly like and even admire. Twenty-two years and some horurs ago I was sitting in the living room of an apartment where we lived in the Bronx. I was watching the Mets game on TV. The Mets were down by one run, had

Reply to Palin Resigns as Govenor in Republican Stardock Forums

To address Nitro's question, far from being afraid of her, Liberals love Sarah! She is a divisive element in Republican politics, unlikely to attract Conservative elements within the Democratic party or swing voters. In fact, there are many elements in the Republican party, sometimes called RINOs by their detractors, who would rather vote for the Democrat candidate than to vote for any ticket with Gov. Palin on it. Le me offer this thought. If John McCain had selected Mitt Romney as hi

An American 4th of July in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I have recently written an article on Sarah Palin's resignation (see http://kupe.joeuser.com/article/358346/Palin_Resigns_as_Govenor) and as one of the minority of Liberals still writing on JoeUser, I have no doubt that I will catch flack for my opinions. I don't mind the grief that I get for my decidedly Liberal point of view, but it does offend me when it is implied that Liberals are in some way un-American. I love my country and, even during the darkest days of Vietnam and the Bush Preside

Reply to Palin Resigns as Govenor in Republican Stardock Forums

Oh, and my September 5th, 2008 article comparing Sarah Palin to Tom Eagleton: http://kupe.joeuser.com/article/323411/Sarah_Palin_Republican_Eagleton That was written BEFORE 60% of the electorate said in exit polls that they thought she was unfit for office.

Reply to Palin Resigns as Govenor in Republican Stardock Forums

For anyone who wants more links: Full transcript of Palin's resignation (previously cited) : http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/07/full-text-of-palins-resignation-speech.php Time Magazine "Why Sarah Palin Quit": http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1908669,00.html?xid=rss-topstories Email transcripts (and, yes, I know it it Daily Kos, so wash your hand's afterwards): http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/3/749632/-Olbermanns-Countdown-publishes-em

Palin Resigns as Govenor in Republican JoeUser Forums

On the first day of the long 4th of July Holiday weekend, a day no doubt chosen to minimize press scrutiny, Sarah Palin announced that she would serve out her elected term of office, but would instead turn the reins over to the state's Lieutenant Governor, Sean Parnell. She stated in her resignation speech that one of the factors motivating her resignation was the high cost to both the state and to the Palin family of defending her against the 15 ethics complaints that had been brought agains

Reply to Jewish American Heritage Month in Current Events Stardock Forums

"I have found that if you ask the Arabs whether they want war or peace, they will always vote for war." And with that one sentence, you have captured exactly why Israel is losing the support of members of the American Jewish community. There is no acceptance of responsibility for failed policies. (Referencing your earlier statement "When Ariel Sharon decided to withdraw from Gaza and built a fence around it" as an example of a policy doomed to fail.) You look at the response to

Reply to Jewish American Heritage Month in Current Events Stardock Forums

I know well the historical references that you offer, and rather than debating the reasons for the Gaza invasion, let me ask two questions: 1) Is Hamas more or less powerful than before the invasion? 2) How do expect Hesbollah to do in the forthcoming elections in Lebanon, to gain or lose seats? YNET News offered the following headline on MArch 9th, "Hamas' popularity rises after Israel's Gaza war, Poll shows Islamist group's leader Haniyeh would beat Palestinian Presiden

Reply to Jewish American Heritage Month in Current Events Stardock Forums

And todah robah to you, Leuki, for commenting. I was thinking of you earlier today. I was at the Israeli Anniversary celebration earlier today, again with my "Blue Box Bob" costume on. (The "Blue Box" was the traditional receptacle for collecting funds to support the State of Israel.) And I will tell you that I participated this year with a cetain amount of angst. As you know, Leuki, I disgree strongly with certain Israeli policies, including the policies toward Gaza, and with certain Israeli

Jewish American Heritage Month in Current Events JoeUser Forums

For the past three years, May has been Jewish American Heritage Month and I am curious as to whether this is clebrated or even recognized in reader's communities. On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush first proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. The proclamation was in response to resolutions introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania urging the president to proclaim a month that would recognize the more th

Reply to So Huge Deficits Are Part of Our “National Values” Now? in Politics Stardock Forums

In my not-so-humble opinion the Tea Parties, an event concocted by Fox News, shows the weakness of the current Republican Party, to wit their inability to separate themselves from the lunatic fringe. The very same weakness that, as I so often agreed with you in the past, that the Democratic party suffered from. At most, 1/10 of one percent of the American population participated in those staged events, while President Obama's popularity ratings soared. I think AldericJourdain accuratel

Reply to Israel strikes HAMAS in Current Events Stardock Forums

"As for it being a move to benefit one party or another? I don't think you'd voice that opinion if you lived in Sderot and your children grew up in fear for eight years (and in truth, longer)." I disagree, if anything I think I would be more angry if my son or daughter were being used as pawns in a game of politics. Moderateman, old friend, it is your very reasoning above that answers your question about how Stalin can be regarded as Russia's hero. After all, most of the people

Reply to Israel strikes HAMAS in Current Events Stardock Forums

I'm a Jew and by and large a supporter of the State of Israel, but allow me to express some reservations and differences of opinion with those stated here. Of course, that is only natural for our people. "Two Jews, three opinions" as always. A little over 4 months ago, John McCain said "in the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." Of course, he was speaking about South Ossetia, a nation with a proud history dating back almost two years. But that was an invasion by Russia a

Reply to MY New York Football Giants in Football Stardock Forums

"The Giants looked unstoppable, then BOOM!" Is that a reference to Plaxico Burress? The sound of an unlicensed gun going off, perhaps? Because the abscence of the big man has hurt them, no doubt. I am a Bronx-boy, born and bred, so naturally a Jints fan. Did you ever see them play in the Stadium?

Reply to Merry Christmas! in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

Merry Christmas back at you, Island Dog, and thank you for everything!

Reply to OCX conflicts - I'm out of ideas... in Stardock Support General Stardock Forums

Working with Doug right now, thanks guys!

Reply to The Holocaust Remembered in Current Events Stardock Forums

Hi, JBHL. Thank you for commenting. And as always, thank you Dr. Guy and Moderateman. For me, the influential book was Simon Weisenthal's The Murderers Among Us.Again, what impressed me most is that Weisenthal survived with his humanity intact.

Reply to The Holocaust Remembered in Current Events Stardock Forums

Leinad0033, if you have a chance, drop Fr. Bob a note of appreciation, I am sure he would be happy to hear from you.

The Holocaust Remembered in Current Events JoeUser Forums

We had a very special 8th Grade Class today. We were privledged to have a guest speaker, Larry Hiss, a Holocaust survivor, who shared his personal exparience. As readers of my blog know, I teach both 8th Grade Sunday school and Adult Education classes for the JCS (Jewish Cultural School) of Ann Arbor. I asked Larry Hiss to come to speak with the 8th Grade class and to share his experiences. One of my goals was to ensure that the class understands that history is not just somet

Reply to Jews and Muslims in Current Events Stardock Forums

I am well pleased with the direction that this discusssion has taken and thank you all for posting, most especially my esteemed colleague Leuki for contributing so much. It would be terribly remiss of me not to respond to Dr. Guy's comment above, for which I am most grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I truly believe that, as Edmund Burke is supposed to have said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for a few good men to do nothing." The organizatio

Reply to Jews and Muslims in Current Events Stardock Forums

"But there is a large number of Arabs who want to see all Jews dead." How large a number, what percentage, is a matter of debate. It is widely cited and something validated by my personal experience that the majorities of both Palestinians and Israelis would accept the Geneva Accord. "According to a public opinion poll jointly sponsored by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston and the International Crisis Group in Washington, DC , 53.3 percent

Jews and Muslims in Current Events JoeUser Forums

As regular readers of my blog know, I teach 8th Grade and Adult Education classes at the Jewish Cultural Society (JCS) of Ann Arbor. Today the 8th Grade and the JCS Youth Group visited the Muslim Community Association (MCA) of Ann Arbor. First, let me give the abbrobation due to the kids and their parents who attended. They gave up time on a beautiful Sunday morning, perhaps one of the last that we will see in Michigan this year, to learn about another faith. It should also be noted t

Reply to Redistribution in Politics Stardock Forums

In answer to CharlesCS request for citation: "During Reagan's tenure, income tax rates of the top personal tax bracket dropped from 70% to 28% in 7 years" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics which in turn quotes from Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D. ( July 19 , 1996 ). "<a class="external text" title="http://www.heritage.org/Research/Taxes/BG1086.cfm" rel="

Reply to Did Petraeus Agree With Obama? in Democrat Stardock Forums

You do know that the United States, under John F. Kennedy, had secretly placed missles in Turkey that were pointed at the USSR? Far from perceived weakness, the Soviet Union was responding to an act of hostility. Or you may not know that, since it isn't taught in US schools. Check out http://www.ucc.ie/acad/appsoc/tmp_store/mia/Library/history/cuba/subject/missile-crisis/ch03.htm which includes some excellent original documents, including letters between the world leaders. So th

Reply to Did Petraeus Agree With Obama? in Democrat Stardock Forums

" Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world." Good line from Yeats. I have no argument with McCain's position. And, BTW, I think that you explained it most eloquently. I think much of McCain's thinking on the subject comes from the Vietnam War negotiations, which were incessant and futlie. North Vietnam never had any real intention of negotiating