... and the blogging's sporadic. Sorry about that. Some random thoughts:
I just got back from four days in Oregon, where I was researching a magazine assignment, chronicling the new Lewis and Clark Explorer Train from Portland to Astoria. It's a great trip for Lewis and Clark buffs and anyone else who likes the idea of a car-less coastal escape. You can read more about it here.
I didn't see much presidential political action in and around Portland yet. There were, however, lots of signs out for Tom Potter, the former police chief who is running for mayor of that great city, backed by the awesome grassroots power of lots of Dean Democrats. There also were a slew of stoners, er, activists trying to get some sort of marijuana initiative on the ballot.
Speaking of petition drives, the fringe religious right is at it again here in Boise, soliciting signatures to demand a citywide vote on whether a Ten Commandments monument ought to be returned to Julia Davis Park. The city removed a longstanding monument from the park in March after the notorious Kansas-based Rev. Fred Phelps sought to place a "God hates gays" monument nearby on the grounds the city was allowing religious monuments on public property.
Most Boiseans are happy with the way the matter was resolved: The Ten Commandments monument now sits on the lawn of an Episcopal church facing the Idaho State Capitol. It's likely more people pay attention to the monument there than they did when it was tucked away along the city's Greenbelt. But the Keep the Commandments Coalition last week started collecting signatures to force the issue. They're nothing if not well organized: I had to walk past a gauntlet of clipboard-wielding Commandment commandoes at a Boise Bench neighborhood summit meeting with Mayor Dave Bieter last Thursday evening, and again at the Boise Hawks' home opener Friday. Hey, let's Keep the Commandments far, far away from our real national religion -- baseball -- huh? I think even George Will would agree with me on that.
Anyway, I heard on the news today that the level-headed folks on Boise City Council talked with their legal advisers regarding the renewed issue. Reportedly, no action was taken (though radio station KBOI had a heated news brief quoting Commandment-keepers who insinuated the council acted in executive session), but here's one Boisean who hopes city officials will find some way to foil these divisive folks' designs. Our city has more important things to do than wage battles over the public sanction of private religious practices.
UPDATE 6/23/04: Boise officials say no to placing the monument issue before voters, on the advice of city legal authorities who say residents can't force a vote on administrative actions. Read coverage from today's Idaho Statesman here.
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