Locked out: Another inconvenience for the pedestrian

September 23, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

This story was submitted by a CNM student expressing their opinions on the situation with the gates by oosevelt Park, and those of the individual writer and do not necessarily represent the beliefs of The CNM Chronicle or its staff.
If you want to submit a short story, poem, cartoon, or other works, send them to djohnsonchronicle@gmail.com – Subject to editing for space.

By Addrienne Webb, Guest Writer | Photos By Addrienne Webb

Across the board, let’s all agree that Albuquerque is not a walkable city. Finding benches on sidewalks is as uncommon as a vehicle yielding to a pedestrian. Additionally, entry-ways to supermarkets and shops are specifically designed for vehicles, though, this is not the case for Albuquerque. Unlike the state of California and others, New Mexico does not have a law called “The Pedestrian Right-of-Way;” this law states that as soon as a pedestrian steps into a crosswalk, all cars must yield to the person walking. Additionally, this law can also protects those pedestrians crossing roadways without crosswalks.

In contrast to the city of Albuquerque, it can often be expected that junior colleges and universities are designed for people on foot. Unfortunately, CNM is not in this category and anyone who has walked the very dim lit area between the TC trailers and SSC parking lot know exactly what this means. The gate access between Roosevelt Park and Smith Brasher Hall is no longer accessible.

I am invested in this issue because the gate eased my walking commute to and from campus and my apartment. After noticing the gate being locked for a couple of days straight, I rang the Security Office on Main Campus to inquire. After being transferred a couple of times, I was finally able to talk to the person responsible for making the decision to close the gate: William Duran, the Chief of Security at Main Campus. Through our discussion, I was informed that other faculty/students had contacted him about the issue. Furthermore, he informed me that the idea of locking the gate has been a topic of discussion for years now and he took it upon himself to close the gate indefinitely. I inquired about why suddenly the gate is being locked and he stated that it’s due to “regulations.” The specifics of why the gate was being closed was not divulged to me. In suggesting an alternative route, Mr. Duran said I could walk on Hazeldine, the road that is parallel to SB and adjacent to Coal Avenue. Unfortunately, the right side of Hazeldine rd. has no sidewalk and is usually crowded with parked cars.

Would you like to inquire about the gate closure and voice your opinion? Please contact the Chief of Security, William Duran at (505) 224-4639.

Letter to the editor; Mid-Eastern Foreign Policy Flaws

September 23, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

This letter was submitted by a CNM student expressing their opinions on foriegn policy in the Middle East are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily represent the beliefs of the CNM Chronicle or its staff.

Dear Editor:

I am sure we all are concerned about the crises that are occurring in the Ukraine and in the Middle East as these seem to be our major flash-points for a future major war unless we can defuse them ASAP.

This letter deals primarily with Israel vs. the Palestinians and, to a lesser extent the rift between secular Arabs and moderate Muslims vs. the religious fanatical brand.

A well-thought out article in the latest PROGRESSIVE magazine (Author un-named; September, 2008) sets forth how the growth of religious fanaticism on all sides: the new ISIS (Iraq and Syria); orthodox hardline Jews in Israeli who have taken over that country’s armed forces and government; hardline Christian Neo-Conservative fundamentalists in the U.S.; etc. increases the danger of the current conflict spilling over into outright world war.

One of the biggest ironies in this story is that Israel, despite its stronger democratic values for Israeli citizens, has had foreign policy relationships since 1948 that contradict its once cosmopolitan progressive Judaic western values. It supported Apartheid South Africa that also came to power in May or June of 1948 despite the fact that several whites in South Africa still had the same pathological hatred against Jews as they did against non-white people. Several white South Africans before and during the Second World War openly supported Hitler despite South Africa’s alliance with the British. Israel also supported the violently anti-Semitic Galitieri regime in Argentina prior to its 1982 overthrow following the Falklands War. Indeed, one of the Argentine dictatorship’s chief victims, a Jewish person named Jacob Timmerman who described his ordeal in PRISONER WITHOUT A NAME; CELL WITHOUT A NUMBER, came down very harshly on Israel’s practice of siding with anti-Semitic and other repressive rulers over the world. The hardliners in Israel falsely accused Timmerman of being anti- Israeli, a charge that Timmerman indignantly denied. In addition, Israel along with some other western powers, helped mass Ugandan murder Idi Amin come to power when they trained him and his army how to kill and torture their enemies more effectively. As long as Amin confined his victims to black leftists, Israel never protested. Not until Amin made the mistake during the 1972 Olympics in Munich of killing several Israeli athletes did Israel and the rest of the West started yelling, “bloody murder,” against Amin.

Israeli soldiers are divided among themselves about whether or not to serve in Gaza instead of only inside Israel’s pre-1967 borders. Several have risked courts-martial and prison for their refusal to serve in Gaza. Also, allegations that Israeli soldiers may have received orders to use Palestinian civilians (including children of both genders) and unarmed POW’s as human shields is very disturbing. Additional allegations that the Israeli military command is killing its own Israeli combat soldiers to prevent them from being taken alive by the Palestinians is also very troubling. Apparently, Israel’s command fears that any Israeli soldier taken prisoner by the Palestinians might make embarrassing political statements that could damage Israel’s international standing.

The West, who depends on Middle Eastern oil, has chosen since the 1940’s to align itself with violently anti-Semitic and anti-western regimes like Saudi Arabia (before 9/11) instead of with progressive more leftist regimes like General Nasser in Egypt (pre-1970) or with Iran’s Mossadegh (pre-1953). The West allowed its over-dependency on oil to cause it to support rulers who, despite their previous alliances with us, despised our democratic way of life in the West. Osama Bin Laden may have developed his anti-western hatred as a result of our supporting anti-democratic elements in Saudi Arabia like the Saud Royal Family. This country also once supported Saddam Hussein prior to his August, 1990, decision to invade Kuwait. Hussein was just as bad before, as he was after August, 1990.

The point is that religious fanatics often pose a greater threat than secular nationalist fanatics in that the religious group is generally more irrational than the secular group.

Those of us who believe in a sensible foreign policy that protects our people WITHOUT entangling us into any reckless warfare (especially one involving ground troops) need to assert ourselves now!

William R. Delzell

Reader-Writer (DRC).

Monsanto to run for President in 2020

July 15, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

This article is satirical in nature, and is in no way factual, but is for humouristic purposes only.

By Carrie Ratkevich , Guest writer

In a press conference Tuesday, Monsanto announced that it would seek the presidential nomination for the Democratic Party in 2020, said Sherry Sanderson, public relations representative.

The decision came after last month’s court decision, McCutcheon Et Al. VS. Federal Election Commission, that cleared the way for unlimited campaign contributions, she said.

“Instead of having to donate to the most likely candidate, we can simply put our money behind our own campaign,” Sanderson said.

According to the Supreme Court, corporations have the same natural rights as any other person. This has been decided upon numerous times since 1819 and the Trustees of Dartmouth College VS. Woodward which created the precedent.

“This will be a huge step forward in the area of corporate rights which have been largely ignored compared to other minorities,” said Sanderson.

Activist Al Sharpton called the announcement a farce and a travesty of justice.

“Having a corporation as a president is just another group of old white men doing what one used to do,” he said.

Critics on the republican side expressed concerns also.

Sean Hannity of Hannity’s America said that he was unsure America was ready for such a ground breaking move because it would be a chance for both white and black men to sit and lead the country at the same time.

“Monsanto’s company is made up of hundreds of employees and investors. More people will have a direct say in the government,” he said.

The government would be run directly by the Board of Directors, so cabinet posts would not be necessary; thus saving the American people millions in salaries.

The Board will be splitting the presidential salary, said Sanderson.

“The burden on the average American would actually be smaller,” she said.

This morning Wal-Mart announced it was also considering the idea of running on the Republican ticket with Walgreens as a potential Vice President, but was still working out the details, said Matthew Mars, Executive President of Wal-Mart.

“2020 promises to be an interesting election year,” he said.

Marie’s Last Words

July 15, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

This article is satirical in nature, and is in no way factual, but is for humoristic purposes only.

By Carrie Ratkevich, Guest writer

As the prisoner cart creaks slowly through the stone-cobbled streets of Paris, I think back on all that has been stolen from me.

I was beautiful once; the queen of the most powerful country in the world. My king lost his head eight months ago.

My children were ripped from me and my oldest son tortured.

Even my dignity was stolen with a charge of incest. I have reached the square.

The metallic smell of blood is as thick as the crowd that cheers at my disgrace. I dismount my shameful carriage into a barrage of insults and rotten fruit.

They would love to see me hang my head in dishonor but I will not. I will die as I was born, with my head held high.

As I ascend the platform, slick with the blood of traitors both real and imagined, I am almost relieved because I will soon join my beloved in eternity.

While they strap me to the National Razor, I smile and whisper softly, “Let them eat their own.”