On February 10, Moravian College Professor Gary Olson penned an op-ed in The Morning Call. (Read it here: http://bit.ly/1e5uog2) He discussed the 9/11 memorial which he had recently visited, Noel John Foster, a former student of his killed in the World Trade Center, and the commitment to peace and opposition to U.S. foreign policy that both Olson and Foster held in common. In a move unbefitting a Moravian College President, a week later President Bryon Grigsby wrote a letter to the editor attacking Dr. Olson. (The full text of the letter is below.) • Grigsby doesn't engage with any of the ideas or assertions that Olson wrote, preferring to attack him saying anything political at all. That's not a debate of ideas. That's an attempt to silence. • Given Noel Foster's own activist politics (Noel himself was an anti-apartheid activist as a student), it's especially galling to insist that Olson keep a "political platform" out of any discussion about his former student. No one has the right to police how people choose to remember their loved ones. • Writing that Olson "does not speak on behalf of Moravian College" is unnecessary, because that fact was never in question, so it simply serves to try and isolate Olson from the college and community he has called home for decades. Agree with him or not, Gary Olson is the rare academic who actually writes for mainstream consumption. This is the first time we can find that a President has chosen to publicly rebuke him. President Grigsby: We urge you to resist whatever censorious pressures you are receiving. If past Moravian presidents, including an Air Force lieutenant general, weren't threatened by Dr. Olson’s engagement in the debate of ideas, then we suggest you take a cue from your predecessors. If not for Dr. Olson’s sake, for the sake of non-tenured and adjunct professors who no doubt now feel unsafe in speaking their conscience. President Grigsby’s letter: "The greatest value all colleges and universities share is the open and free debate of ideas within its community. The act of debate makes for a stronger college, a more vibrant community, a better-informed citizenry and a stronger nation. It is with this in mind that I write to share my concern regarding Gary Olson's latest Your View, 'Visit to 9/11 Memorial prompts reflections on attacks.' In the Your View, he uses the tragic death of a Moravian alumnus, Noel Foster, who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center as an opportunity to promote his own political platform. I did not know Noel personally, but in the face of unimaginable circumstances, Noel made choices that epitomized bravery and concern for others. This is how he should be memorialized. While Gary Olson is more than welcome to express his personal belief and opinions, he does not speak on behalf of Moravian College or the alumni, students, faculty or staff." (Link to Grigsby’s letter here: http://bit.ly/1gDaA8S)

New Jersey received more than $7.6 million from the federal government to publicize newly available health care coverage and how to access it through the Marketplace. Thus far the Governor has refused to use the money to let uninsured New Jerseyans know about the insurance options available to them. And time is running out. If the Governor doesn't act by TODAY, February 20th - and come up with a plan to spend the money on ACA outreach the Feds will take the money back. He's had well over a year to come up with a plan. Failing to spend the money on outreach and enrollment could mean that 95,000 New Jerseyans will go without health insurance this year. Please sign our petition demanding that Governor Christie put people's health before politics.

A recent Washington Post article quoted several Republican Congressional leaders saying they had no plans to vote on any more important legislation until the November elections. Any American worker knows that if they don't do their job, they won't get paid. Republicans in Congress should follow the same rules as American workers.

Update: Since this petition was launched, the remains of the missing worker have been discovered. The system doesn't allow for changes to the body of the petition people have already signed, but I wanted to share this sad news with you. Chevron owes the neighbors of the well that exploded in Greene County. Pennsylvania an apology, a real apology. Read all about Chevron's free pizza giveaway below (and see a photo of the letter and coupon). And stay tuned for more information about a call-in day! http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Chevron-Endure-our-fracking-fire-and-the-pizzas-on-us.html

OCPS promised Richmond Heights Elementary a new school by supporting the 1/2 sales tax. Then voted to close the school and now want us to support the extension of the 1/2 sales tax.

Ever since I was a youngin' I was stuck on NASCAR like an Alabama Blue Tick. At this point I've wasted a good portion of my life and don't have much else besides NASCAR. That being said, when Dale died on that fateful day in 2001 I literally dripped sweat from my eyes and refused to leave my bed for two whole weeks. I ended up being fired from work, becoming an alcoholic, and getting divorced from my muse, my flame, my wife Sheela. It was a tough recovery and adjustment period but through the healing of time and Jesus I was able to get back on my feet again and will myself back into watching NASCAR. If this number 3 car is driven again by another other than a person in Dale's literal bloodline, then all those painful memories will return. I ask the online and NAS CAR communities to help prevent this and prevent Austin Dillon from bringing shame to the God-given greatest number of all, number 3, by signing this petition. God bless. Like the FACEBOOK PAGE AS WELL :https://www.facebook.com/Preserve3

Because too many deaths have occurred in the past three to five years that have gone either unsolved or have supposedly been solved with "questionable" outcomes.

As the Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA aka "ObamaCare") operates currently, all of the insurance companies have been kept in place, & as taxpayers we are paying these insurance companies because the Federal Government was in a tight position, & didn't have the power to "throw the insurance companies under the bus". Fortunately, the Fed still looked out for us, & included a provision that allows states to CHOOSE to go single-payer (to bypass the insurance companies & put tax $$$ directly into paying for health care rather than paying insurance middlemen). Vermont has already switched over- which will save us ALL millions of dollars. NOW, it is time that we return he favour, because *technically* Vermont is still paying for every other state who has NOT switched. Switching California to a single-payer system will save millions of much-needed dollars dunng these hard economic times, & will set a leading example for other states to do the same so that our nation can re-allocate this money to other needed places. Here are some articles regarding this issue: "Single-Payer, a Better Solution" by New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/05/29/is-obamacare-too-complicated-to-succeed/a-single-payer-system-would-be-better-than-obamacare "Vermont Approves Single-Payer Health Care: ‘Everybody in, nobody out’" by Occupy Democrats http://www.occupydemocrats.com/vermont-makes-promise-people-video/ "Obamacare A Mess? Liberals Say Go Single Payer." by Forbes Magazine http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2013/10/28/obama-care-a-mess-liberals-say-go-single-payer/ "Vermont Health Care for All; Everybody In, Nobody Out." http://www.vermontforsinglepayer.org

Ukrainian people and the democratic world community is asking President Obama and the U.S. Congress to take immediate action to prevent future atrocities in Ukraine. The dictatorship regime supported by Kremlin has orchestrated bloody violence on the street of Kyiv and used military force against peaceful demonstrators. As a result, dozens of unarmed civilians died, thousands are wounded and in critical condition. Ukrainian nation is very peaceful and in the course of Orange Revolution of 2004, millions of Ukrainians expressed their nation's will without a singe act of violence. For the last three months, Ukrainian protesters courageously endured sub-zero temperatures around the clock in the hope that the voices of the people of Ukraine would be heard, and a peaceful compromise can be found. However, Yanukovich and his MPs were not interested in the peaceful resolution and initiated killings of their own people. They used snipers, grenades, water canons in sub-zero temperatures and AK-74 against peaceful demonstrators which violates UN convention on human rights. An immediate action is needed on the part of the US government to influence the government of Ukraine to stop the bloodshed, to withdraw any military force and meet protesters' demands by legislative, political and economic reforms. We believe you can help! Thank you.

Too many of our youth are dying behind the ridiculous law that contradicts the main reason to protect yourself, this law gives people the right to put the law in their own hands and chase innocent people down and kill them for no reason. The law states stand your ground not hunt your prey.

It's time that legislators listen to the will of the people who elected them. Passing a background check bill is something that people have demanded, yet with no action from our senators and assemblymen. We must do something to prevent and reduce gun deaths in our State!

Too many criminal have far to easy access to purchase a gun in Wisconsin. Gun crimes are robbing our communities of future leaders due to gun violence.