Jonathan Lopez has filed a lawsuit against a professor and Los Angeles City College over his treatment after giving a speech on the Christian view of marriage in speech class. Lopez alleges that Professor John Matteson had made it clear that he supported same-sex marriage. He claims that Matteson allegedly attacked him verbally, refused let him complete his speech, effectively called him a “fascist bastard” and refused to give him a grade (telling him to “ask God” for his grade).
Matteson is listed as the co-director of Forensics at the Speech Department.
The complaint in Lopez v. Candaele, (CD CA, filed 2/11/2009) was filed with the support of the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom, which litigates such claims. For a copy of the complaint, click here.
Lopez also alleges that Matteson told him that he would make sure that Lopez was expelled and told his entire class after the November election, “If you voted yes on Proposition 8, you are a fascist bastard.”
For the press release, click here.
For the full story, click here.
I believe I lead a charmed life. This wonderful cyber classroom honestly elevates me. Please allow me to elaborate.
The Alderfella in my Ward is running for the 5th Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emmanuel. I attended a meeting last night at the Ward offices. The meeting was scheduled for 8:00P.M. Fellow Turleys please permit me great latitude with this piece. And all self deprecation is a painful attempt at humor.
As a rule I’m a full blown wing nut when it comes to being on time. There is on time then there is Vince Lombardi time which is a minimum of 15 minutes early. I chose to be late to the Scheduled Ward meeting because class was in session here. This classroom is like no other, it’s as addictive as crack! Thanks to JT and you, (no lists). The time stamp on the reply indicates I’m sitting at this computer with my hat and coat on until 8:13 P.M. I should have walked out the door forty minutes earlier!
Walking to the Ward offices, two blocks over two blocks down, I have Bob, Esq.’s voice in my head. My god is that even possible, I’ve never heard the man speak! It’s got sort of a western drawl to it, (maybe from the William Munny quote?) It has a gravity to it that says when I hear this voice I’d better listen up. What’s running thru my minuscule mind are the words to the effect, you can have left wing authoritarianism but it’s much like herding cats! CCD as FFLEO correctly states stands for “Cook County Democrat.” It should be Cook County Democat! And I’m speed walking to a meeting to be herded! The issue is do I want to be herded? There is a definite pattern, my great grandfather was born here in 1871, the year they nearly burned the town completely down. ALL MY RELATIONS ARE DEMOCATS. I’ve attended enough of these Ward strategy sessions to bring along the checkbook. All politics are local per Tip O’Neil, that’s sure is the truth.
Walking thru the outer building door I instantly pickup the voice of my Alderfella speaking. Entering the room thru the second doorway and sit in the last row. In a way I’m telegraphing my actions, late & last row. Indeed my life is blessed but it’s been fashioned in a most parochial way. Removing hat and coat, I catch the eye of Dave. He is the right hand man for the Alderfella. He runs this office, he organized this meeting. Dave coached me in grammar school. His son and I went thru grammar and high school together. Dave slowly points to his wrist watch and drops his chin. I acknowledge with a slight nod. So much can be conveyed through non verbal communication. Writing for me is agony; I can’t begin to imagine what your feeling reading this, if you’ve gotten this far.
Alderfella is wrapping it up. I do have admiration for him. He has managed the neighborhood well. But the Cha-Ching moment is upon us. He looks and says thank you for your support and your vote you’re very special to me. AAAAAAHHHHHHH that put me over. I was at the edge but that put me over. Even Democats can be herded, if they need to be. Meeting breaks up Dave finds me; he has a BMI of about 55. That’s an embellishment but he is an enormous person, who I also respect. He shakes my hand and his left hand finds its way to my shoulder, I am now in the grasp. I’ve been here before, the perpetual coffee breathe doesn’t bother me. This is a little different though. I’d already made up my mind that the usual is broken. Can you give? He asks.
I’ve had Japanese customers in the past. They would never say NO, they would slide off answering, never verbalizing NO. Want to golf on Saturday? Let me see, or maybe so. If they answered in the affirmative I knew right then and there what my position was. I sure as hell couldn’t say “maybe so” to Dave while I’m in the grasp. That could lead to an extended grasp, which was to be avoided at all costs. This was going to be tough, and he wasn’t making it any easier.
Some of you have revealed that you grew up on Long Island, worked in the city, and then migrated to South Florida. Or grew up in Louisiana, did your time in the Dallas area then relocated. Seamus readily admits to living in Chicago (probably a suburb) but he’ll tell you he’s not from here! 🙂 I’ve lived in this Ward all my life. JT claims he grew up here (would need to see a certificate of live birth). And he definitely would be an excellent fit for the Top Democatic job of the nation, Mayor of Chicago…
Yes in the grasp, needing desperately to avoid the extended grasp. My reply to Dave was a mumbled, I’ll think about it. Released the right hand shake, pivoting out from under the left hand on the shoulder. Dave’s exaggerated facial expression gives him away. Part hurt kind of disbelief. Okay, he says. I turn my head and softly say bad year. Oh okay Dave says, acknowledging my words with a head shake. On go the hat and coat, and out into the winter night.
This is my tribe. I’ve cultivated relationships with a lot of the people in that room. Walking home, I can still feel the charge from the words ‘bad year’. Jeeezzz I go literally months and years without having to fabricate. I balance it with maybe we wouldn’t have had to endure Governors Ryan who is currently serving time in prison. Or indicted and impeached Blagojevich. Since 1972 there have been 27 convicted Chicago Alderman. The latest has been convicted and surrenders in May to begin serving her federal vacation. Hey I’m waking up. And I sincerely have each you to thank for contributing to my development. BIL, included the Will Bunch link. I bought his book, “Tear Down This Myth.” Assigned class reading, I can’t wait!
If you’ve read this far wake yourself up and give yourself a pat on the back. My first choice for an Avatar was this:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushpic8.htm
But I didn’t want to offend the Newman’s only son.
Earth is a beautiful place, especially connecting here with you.
And this newly minted Democat is now subscribing to Epicurean (had to look that up) thanks to Gyges Beagle.
FFLEO & mespo,
If were talking Simpson’s, that’s a tough call, but I might have chosen Professor John Frink.
http://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/wallpapers/professor-frink.htm
“Ha ha wha. Oh, sorry I’m late. There was trouble at the lab with the running and the exploding and the crying when the monkeys stole the glasses off my head. Wh-ha ha.
(Fade to black)
Oh, no, please no. I have a funny story if you listen. I even wrote theme music, here listen. Ha ha, mm-m hey hey, Professor Frink, Professor Frink, He’ll make you laugh, he’ll make you think, He likes to run, and then the thing, with the… mm-m person…
Oh boy, that monkey is going to pay.”
JonAbbey:
you are an arboreal rocker!
personally I like Southern Yellow Pine #2 for its strength characteristics. Although the compression stress perp. to the grain is not very good. Probably due to faster growth. Although it does have a very high modulous (relative to other wood species) and so deflection characteristics are very good.
I would be interested, on a cellular level, to know why this is so? is it due to the cellular size, shape or something else?
Bron, do you realize that of the billions of trees ever to have photosynthesized under the sun only a minute fraction were placed in the circumstances to fossilize and only a small fraction of those survived. It is no wonder that understanding the processes of their creation leads to a greater respect and admiration for these beautiful specimens. Which of the billions of trees today, will become such gems? As much as I love the beauty and myriad diversity of the fossilized gymnosperms my appreciation has continued to grow for the equally fascinating angiosperms, especially those trees of the genus Palmoxylon.
Bron, Hickory and pecan (genus Carya) are ring porous woods with banded parenchyma cells in long straight, somewhat continuous tangential lines. In combination with the thin rays, the thin rays these bands of parenchyma form a net like or web like pattern. Earlywood pores are large in an intermittent row along the growth boundary. Latewood pores are few and solitary or in radial multiples of two to several. No parenchyma cells exist in the earlywood of Hickory, whereas parenchyma cells are present in the early wood of pecan. Hickory earlywood is one pore wide with an abrupt shift to latewood. Pecan displays a gradual decrease on pore size fromlarge earlywood poresand could therefore be grouped with semi-ring porous woods.Other ring porous woods include ash,black and honey locust,Osage orange, red mulberry and sassafras. Based on the information provided, do you feel the porous woods would decrease gradually in size from large to significantly smaller, with no clear differentiation between earlywood and latewood with no abrupt change in size?
FFLeo:
Just between us here, I was torn between Cicero and my favorite Simpson character, Barney–burrrrup!!
http://z.about.com/d/animatedtv/1/0/9/B/barney.jpg
FFLEO,
Thanks! I’m glad the color correction achieved the desired “jadey-ness”.
Mespo,
Thanks for that belly laugh! The problem is, I am not half as handsome as the Chief is and I would not want to be so pretentious by displaying that avatar of the perfect specimen of an LEO. (That will ‘learn’ me not to critique avatars here, even in jest!) BTW, your, CCD’s and Buddha’s avatars are pure perfection!
Mike S.
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
And stop reading my mind, you Hebrew mystic you. 😀
FFLEO & mespo,
Wiggum! Pure genius in icon selection that.
FFLeo:
I see a Chief Wiggum avatar in your future.
http://www.citynerd.com/simpsons/chief.gif
Hey CCD,
Notice, I do not have an avatar. Also, I thought I could help interrupt Mr. JA’s “train of thought” through distraction.
Take care…
Thanks FFLEO.
Thanks mespo.
Oh, *that’s* what CCD’s avatar is!
I thought it was a partially used/dissolved jaw breaker candy…
JK, Cook County Democrat, JK…
CCD:
Really groovin’ the avatar. Make it spin!
Thanks Jill,
Definite low risk, long term fade.
JonAbbey:
what do you think about cats as objectivists? This is a very interesting and complex subject brought up by one of my “professors”. On the one hand I would say he was right but on the other I would be inclined to argue that cats qua cats are not able to experience reality sufficiently to determine whether they are or are not objectivists. Your thoughts?
I love picking on you Buddhaman, it gives me a barrels worth of entertainment………..
Jill,
your suggestion is a good one, but containment is also nice, if you catch my drift.
JonAbbey:
I dont cruise gay bars, I went once in college with a gay friend and while not one to be critical of anothers choice in partner, I found it not my cup of tea.
Very interesting that that would be your first line of defence for a comment about smoking a root chakra, which if I remeber correctly is an energy location on the body. When one smokes a chakra they use heat to stimulate it to balance energy flows throughout the body. Very interesting indeed.