Copyright 2009 The New York Sun Thu, 28 May 2009 09:25:23 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Alicia Colon :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/authors/Alicia+Colon istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/opinion/sotomayor-and-spellman/86872/ Thu, 28 May 2009 09:21:02 EST President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court has unleashed, among other things, a cascade of emails into my computer from friends remarking on the similarities of our backgrounds. I, too, am a Newyorican who lived in a housing project. Mine was in Spanish Harlem, hers in the Bronx, and we both went to parochial schools. Our fathers passed away when we were young, and our mothers struggled to support our families. We also speak perfect unaccented English and are... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/countering-the-drift/85909/ Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST President Ahmadinejad of Iran, who plans to come to New York City for the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 18 to 21, is spouting ominous nuclear rhetoric — proof positive that this is a dangerous world. Yet the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attack on this city showed that many are content to forget the horror of that day and are intent on replacing the majestic twin towers with two gigantic, flower-strewn potholes. I stopped watching the memorial... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/why-im-for-dr-wyne/85424/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Rep. Vito Fossella's fall from grace left many conservative Staten Islanders with the difficult decision on whom to vote for in today's primary. Both Republican candidates, a former assemblyman, Robert Straniere, and Dr. Jamshad Wyne share many of the same political positions. Mr. Straniere, however, has won the endorsement of Governor Pataki and most of the Republican Party officials. It probably won't mean much to the electorate, but I will be voting for Dr. Wyne. Until just a week ago, I was... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/cardinal-egan-takes-on-pelosi/85003/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Are pro-choice Catholics as misinformed about their faith as House Speaker Pelosi? The self-proclaimed devout Catholic appeared on "Meet the Press" recently and tried to rationalize her abortion stance by claiming the church was not specifically against it. Her remarks drew an unprecedented response from Catholic leaders around the country, including our own Edward Cardinal Egan, who refuted her argument and affirmed in no uncertain terms that the church opposes abortion. In a press release... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/englishs-enduring-value/84603/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Thank goodness U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten showed some common sense when he ruled last week that a Wichita, Kan., Catholic school policy requiring students to speak only English did not break any civil rights laws. Three Hispanic families had tried to end this practice at St. Anne's Catholic School on the grounds that Spanish-only students were harassed and ostracized by other students. I remember a time when Hispanic parents insisted that their children speak English. What's happened?... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/staten-island-congressional-race-up-for-grabs/83946/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST What's the difference between the John Edwards scandal and that of Rep. Vito Fossella of Staten Island? The one that pops to mind first is that the mainstream press knew of Mr. Edwards's mistress for over a year but left the pursuit of the story to the tabloid the National Enquirer. In Mr. Fossella's case, the devastating impact on his career was immediate. His 13th congressional district seat is up for grabs in November, leaving many Staten Island Republicans undecided on whom to vote for... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/first-black-president-will-be-a-republican/83487/ Fri, 8 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Is America ready for a black president? Absolutely; it has been for some time. We probably would have had one by now if the black community had ever supported a conservative the way they are now supporting one of the most liberal. More than likely the first black president will be a Republican. On August 5, the New York Young Republican Club had a fund-raiser in Manhattan for Colonel Allen West, who is running for Congress. The irony is that Colonel West is running for Congress in Florida and... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/how-to-conquer-fear/83023/ Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Oh, dear, I should be so frightened. Governor Paterson is predicting rough times ahead. I also learned that my plastic shower curtain may be killing me. Dry-cleaned clothes may contain toxic fumes, Oh wait. I can't afford to dry-clean my clothes. Tomatoes, no, make that Mexican jalapeno peppers, no, make that serrano peppers, may be behind that salmonella outbreak. Cell phones are now believed to cause cancer. Anyway, you get the point. All is gloom and doom and we are facing a new crisis every... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/cartoon-outrage-or-hypocrisy/82646/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The Women's Media Center on Fifth Avenue claims "it strives to make women visible and powerful in the media." Even though I've written almost a thousand op-ed columns for New York newspapers in the last 10 years, this organization and its president, Carol Jenkins, hasn't a clue that I'm a conservative. Nevertheless, I'm on their mailing list and have never responded to their notices until now. Ms. Jenkins sent me a "Dear Alicia" note asking me to join in the outrage over the insulting Obamas... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/obama-is-right-about-something/82193/ Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Because of the brouhaha over the Rev. Jesse Jackson's injudicious threat to Senator Obama, not much attention has been paid to the issue that was being discussed by Mr. Obama; the expansion of President Bush's faith-based initiatives. That is a pity, because these initiatives work and I hope Mayor Bloomberg will not dismiss them in his efforts against homelessness. A Sun reader who is a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Glendale, Queens, wrote me when she discovered that the church's... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/you-squander-wealth-thats-mine/81672/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Studies prove that elementary school intervention programs help at-risk children succeed in their adult life. The Go Project NYC is a nonprofit organization in Lower Manhattan that is dedicated to providing academic assistance and social services to low-income, underperforming elementary school children in the area. When a teacher's aide expressed concern that a new summer program would include a political message, he was abruptly let go from the program. Robert Bullock was reluctant to air... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/mccains-ny-snub-is-wise/81310/ Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Why blame John McCain for basing his regional headquarters in Woodbridge, N.J., instead of the news capital of the nation, New York City? Some consider this pass a snub. I think it's the smart thing to do. Why waste time in this liberal-dominated town where voters support Democrats who do nothing but raise taxes to fund worthless programs? When did we become so gullible? I'm using the editorial "we" out of politeness, but I'm a native New Yorker who never voted for President Carter, Governor... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/when-numbers-mislead/80837/ Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Numbers are the bureaucrats' way of fooling the public into thinking they're doing a good job. The problem, of course, is that numbers can be manipulated and many times do not represent reality. Whether we're talking about school test scores, crime statistics, or administrative successes, all these figures can be manipulated. But when the test scores of public schools are tweaked to deceive, it's especially egregious because our children's futures are at stake. Mayor Bloomberg announced this... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/move-the-useless-notion-to-canada/80399/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The United Nations has become a Useless Notion occupying valuable real estate on the East River. Why do we put up with this consortium of petty dictators and corrupt oligarchies? The recent election of the new president of the General Assembly confirms my suspicion that to achieve success in the United Nations, one must hate the United States. The fact that Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua is a Catholic priest shouldn't dismiss his clearly anti-American statements of the past. An avowed... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/stereotyping-republicans/79948/ Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST On my way to a Republican fund-raiser in Manhattan this Tuesday, I had an interesting conversation with a Haitian cab driver that involved the Bronx, New Jersey, and Staten Island. After we had traded pleasant anecdotes about family and the lure of Atlantic City, the conversation turned to the economy. He seemed perturbed that I disagreed with him about how bad the economy was and said, "You must be a Republican." I always get that puzzled reaction from people I meet who assume that, because I... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/staten-island-weighs-replacements-for-fossella/79472/ Fri, 6 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST In the race for Vito Fossella's congressional seat, many Republicans are considering voting for Council Member Michael McMahon rather than the dark horse candidate the Staten Island Republican Party has chosen, Frank Powers. They know little about Mr. Powers, but Mr. McMahon, whom the borough's Democratic Party has endorsed, is popular and is viewed as a relatively conservative Democrat. I've voted for Mr. McMahon, even though we differ on his party's position on abortion. I first met Mr... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/defending-clinton-sort/78952/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The Russian-born stand-up comic Julia Gorin was back in New York this week to discuss my senator's tanking presidential campaign. "I think Hillary can probably pull a rabbit out of her hat to win the nomination," she said. At first I thought she was joking as usual, but Gorin is actually quite serious-minded, and when it comes to politics and the Clintons, she's usually dead-on. She has been writing serious essays on events in the Balkans and warned me years ago that the next jihadist Muslims... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/fossellas-biggest-obstacle/76128/ Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Ever since my congressman, Vito Fossella, was arrested on a DWI last Thursday, the local papers were spreading gossip about Fossella's love child with the woman who bailed him out of jail. He was finally forced to acknowledge his daughter yesterday and it bodes ill for his re-election to Congress in November. However, the biggest obstacle to his political career is neither his arrest nor his infidelity, but the fact that he is a Republican. Whenever a politician is arrested or becomes involved... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/pastors-morality-politics/75701/ Fri, 2 May 2008 00:00:00 EST In response to several articles and in particular a column by Robert Novak about pro-choice Catholic politicians receiving Holy Communion during the papal visit, Edward Cardinal Egan this week issued a public statement admonishing Mayor Giuliani for breaking an understanding they had about receiving the Eucharist. The cardinal had stated earlier: "I don't believe in getting into politics. I don't believe in getting into political conflict. I do believe in getting into matters of morality and... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/plight-of-new-yorks-finest/75328/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Rudolph Giuliani was introduced as "America's Mayor" at the annual Alexander Hamilton Award Dinner at the Pierre Hotel on Tuesday. While I did not support his campaign for the presidency, I dearly wished he was still our mayor. He's always had a great respect for New York's Finest, and he told me, "I had the police force up to over 41,000 and I wanted it even higher. I love cops." Well, the NYPD is in a staffing and recruiting crisis that did not exist when Mr. Giuliani was in office. Whose... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/popes-power-his-message/75037/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST What is it that draws so many people to appearances by the pope? Even in jaded New York, thousands lined Fifth Avenue Saturday, waiting for hours just to catch a brief glimpse of the popemobile as Pope Benedict XVI traveled north to Yonkers and a youth rally at St. Joseph's Seminary. It was while thinking about this rally and waiting for his visit to ground zero yesterday that the answer dawned on me: People do not revere the man so much as the message of hope, unity, and inspiration for all... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/welcome-to-ny-your-holiness/74973/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Whenever a Pope comes to America his visit garners wall-to-wall coverage in the television networks and the mainstream press. This has always puzzled me, because no other world leader commands such attention, and America is much more of a secular nation than ever before, so why this interest in the visit of a religious figure? Could it be that these communication institutions view this event as an opportunity to cleverly bash the Catholic Church? Today the Pope arrives in New York City, and we... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/remembering-king-and-lindsay/74566/ Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST When Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated on April 4, 1968, I was living in the Carver housing projects in Spanish Harlem, and fully expected the mayhem that had erupted in other cities to hit the streets in my neighborhood. Fortunately, our mayor was John Lindsay, who immediately walked the streets of Harlem in his shirtsleeves so that, while other cities burned, New York stayed calm. What many in the black community seem to forget is that Lindsay was a Republican. At Lindsay's memorial... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/latest-slap/74194/ Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST On Sunday, I received a recorded phone message from a group of firefighters and police officers, urging me to contact my councilman, Michael McMahon, and tell him to vote against the proposed congestion pricing bill. Alas, on Monday, Mr. McMahon voted with 29 of his fellow Democrats to approve the legislation now scheduled for a vote next week in Albany. The three Republican council members and the remaining sane Democrats voted no. Congratulations must now go to Mayor Bloomberg for once again... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/awaiting-a-real-religious-dialogue/73824/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST Over the past few weeks, we've learned quite a bit about the candidates and their religious affiliations. What a pity it has nothing to do with religion. The YouTube site is busy running videos of black pastors ranting and raving about politics, but I'm inclined to believe the beneficent sermons preached in Tyler Perry movies more likely represent the norm in the black community. Forgive me if I do not comment on these pastors but I'm a Roman Catholic who's never attended a Protestant service... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/new-governor-faces-the-abortion-issue/73369/ Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST The Democratic Party is imploding, and the political analysts seem befuddled by the sudden downturn of its election prospects in the polls. It's no big secret, however, to those of us who recognize that the party's embrace of the culture of death would one day invoke this tailspin. The lesson seems to be lost on our new governor, who is poised to enact his predecessor's proposed legislation, which, melodramatic as it may sound, has finally brought down the wrath of God. It was disheartening to... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/assembly-blocks-domestic-violence-laws/72499/ Fri, 7 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST Natasha Ramen and Claudette Marcellus are just two of way too many women murdered despite orders of protection against their killers. Their deaths could have been prevented had the New York State Assembly bothered to pass the domestic violence bills that would have strengthened their protection. These bills had been passed by a bipartisan Senate but most never made it out of the Assembly committees. Assembly members are up for re-election in November, and if voters send the same do-nothing... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/cops-await-raises-while-city-spends-on-fish/72083/ Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Two huge fish tanks that cost $750,000 were unveiled February 19 at the Staten Island ferry terminal by Mayor Bloomberg, who joked, "I really don't think people have a reason to carp about this." Why am I not laughing at this colossal waste of taxpayer money that will cost nearly $100,000 a year to upkeep? A week earlier I had approached one of the plainclothes men standing with the NYPD officers and asked if the police officers had received their raise. He shook his head and when I asked who... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/plenty-to-be-proud/71709/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Perhaps if Michelle Obama had been in New York City immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001, she would have been as proud as I was of our country. Not only was I immensely proud of our nation that day, I was doubly proud to be a New Yorker. The nation's tragedy gave birth to countless acts of charity as New Yorkers pulled together as one, mourning and comforting the bereaved. The resolve of residents to return to normal routines in spite of the violence inflicted on us was... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/avella-eyes-mayoral-race/71399/ Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST On our way to a coffee shop for an interview, City Council Member Tony Avella of Queens said, "I don't believe in labels, but I guess you could call me a conservative Democrat." I said facetiously, "Gee, I thought you were all dead." By the end of our meeting, however, I discovered that he fit that description perfectly, and if he, as planned, does run for mayor next year, he might be able to run on the Conservative Party line as well. Mr. Avella caught my attention when I read his comments on... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/islams-silent-majority/70993/ Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Every time I write a column mentioning Islam, my words are taken out of context or misquoted, and the hate mail rolls in branding me a bigot and hatemonger. So when I was asked to meet the CEO and co-founder of a foundation representing moderate Muslims, I tried to pass it on to my chief editor. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and my meeting with Holland Taylor of LibForAll Foundation turned out to be most illuminating. In this election year, it is vital for all Americans to recognize where... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/spitzers-abortion-wrongs/70616/ Fri, 1 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Super Tuesday may be exciting for the Democrats, but for Republicans it will be a big yawn. Whether Senator McCain or Governor Romney wins New York no longer matters, since both candidates are pro-life and will subsequently win the conservative base. Senators Clinton and Obama champion a woman's right to choose, and it will be interesting to ask them what they think of Governor Spitzer's proposed legislation to make that choice a civil right. The consequence of that proposal, should it pass... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/democrats-and-race/70223/ Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST The Drudge Report publicized a video showing President Clinton allegedly napping during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service. The first "black" president would have had no trouble staying awake at the Congress of Racial Equality's Martin Luther King Jr. dinner at the Sheraton Hotel this Monday. CORE's celebrations are noteworthy for their stellar honored guests, the brilliant inspirational speeches, gifted entertainers, and, unfortunately, for very little press coverage. This is an important... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/philanthropy-that-works/69765/ Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST While politicians ruminate and demagogue about a health care crisis that may or may not exist, a philanthropic doctor is actually doing something about the uninsured that Michael Moore depicted in his documentary, "Sicko." Out of his own pocket, Dr. Jamshad Wyne is operating two free clinics for the Staten Island community providing the uninsured and underinsured with primary / pediatric and cardiac care. While the clinics are completely free of charge, they are indistinguishable from high... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/national/obamas-bewitching-charm/69389/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST When even conservative pundits wax giddy about Senator Obama, it's time to wake up and get back to reality. We're told that excitement is in the air because history is about to be made. This just confirms the fact that we've all lost our collective minds. Exactly what is so exciting about Barack Obama? Is it his charm, oratorical skills or just simply that he is an African American with support from white Americans? Why weren't all Americans outraged at Joe Biden's description of Obama: ""I... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/infantilism-of-the-left/68931/ Fri, 4 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST My Staten Island neighborhood, Tappen Park, has been the meeting site of anti-war political rallies. This past summer, organizers provided refreshments and entertainment to liven up the sparsely attended events. These rallies reminded me of the title of an old movie, "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" The progeny of the protesters would likely hear this response: "I did everything I could to bash our country and loathe the military." Last Friday, as I passed the park's gazebo, I noticed two... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/true-person-of-the-year/68727/ Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST Time magazine named Vladimir Putin its 2007 Person of the Year. This is no surprise, as Time gave Adolf Hitler a similar honor in 1939, naming him Man of the Year, so this tribute no longer carries much weight. While General David Petraeus and our military should be at the top of everyone's list, I've decided to veer off course and nominate the unborn for the title, because 2007 was truly the year that the zygote, embryo, and fetus often made headline news and will probably figure heavily in... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/out-of-the-dog-house/68487/ Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST When the chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, Roy Innis, invited me to join him at a luncheon with Dog the Bounty Hunter, I was slightly puzzled. After all, Mr. Innis was one of the first to call for the TV network A&E to take Duane "Dog" Chapman's show off the air after it was reported that he said the "n" word in a private call to his son. Had he changed his mind? Since I had never watched the show, I knew Mr. Chapman only from the brouhaha that erupted after the National Enquirer... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/freedom-of-religion-not-from-it/68099/ Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST On the table at the back of my church, a wicker basket held buttons signifying the insanity of the season. I put one of the "You may wish me a Merry Christmas" pins on my coat so I could shop at stores that don't seem to understand exactly who's buying gifts at this time of year. The tyranny of a small but vocal minority has completely warped this time of year into a season of litigation and constitutional confusion. Our own Department of Education, which bans Christian religious symbols in... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/city-should-give-nascar-another-lap/67403/ Mon, 3 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST "Jimmie Johnson? Why he's like the Michael Jordan of car racing," my stepson Bill said ecstatically after I told him I had been invited to meet Nascar's 2007 champion at the '21' Club. Because my stepson is a big fan, I asked him for background. I had suggested in a recent column that Nascar coming to Staten Island was a good thing, but the deal was subsequently quashed by local politicians and residents who feared traffic congestion. The more I learn about the Nascar community, the more I've... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/blame-bush-coalition-focuses-on-economy/67300/ Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST Bad economic news can have an impact even when it's not based on fact but on political expediency. If enough employers believe we're headed toward a recession, then they are less likely to expand or hire extra personnel. "It's the economy, stupid," heralded the Clinton presidential era and New Yorkers, in particular, were eager for a recovery from the loss of jobs and wages from the so-called Bush I recession. Whether the recovery was real is a matter for debate. In 1991, the city was going... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/celebrate-american-culture/66910/ Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST While growing up, one of the things I loved most about being a native New Yorker was that so many of my neighbors, schoolmates, and co-workers had traveled from different countries to become part of what they believed was the greatest country in the world. These days, immigrants' gratitude and zeal to assimilate has largely disappeared, thanks in large part to spineless educators bowing to the cult of multiculturalism and leading our nation on the path to balkanization. I've become somewhat... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/common-sense-solutions-for-school-bullies/66598/ Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST The Finnish teenager who shot and killed six students, a principal, and a nurse at his school before turning a gun on himself had problems that afflict many students here and around the world. Pekka-Eric Auvinen, 18, was described by police as a bullied outcast. His actions and his fate should serve as a warning to parents and school officials that children today are being subjected to bullying unlike anything we encountered in our youth. Being bullied in school is one thing, but being... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/spitzer-sputters/66218/ Fri, 9 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST Governor Spitzer's executive order to license illegal immigrant drivers has resulted in a public interest group, Judicial Watch, suing him, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the DMV commissioner for circumventing the State Administrative Procedure Act. Another problematic Spitzer bill is the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act (S.5829), which could force all hospitals to allow abortions, including religious hospitals whose mission statements oppose the procedure. The governor's... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/al-sharptons-racism/65779/ Fri, 2 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST "American Gangster" opens in theaters this weekend, and it will be interesting to many to learn that the man who decimated Harlem in the 1960s and 1970's and destroyed innumerable black families with his drug trade was a black man, Frank Lucas. It is also highly unlikely that the Reverend Al Sharpton will place blame on Lucas for the carnage he waged against his own community. When Rev. Sharpton recently threatened to come to Staten Island to protest District Attorney Daniel Donovan for not... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/puzzling-over-why-catholics-back-democrats/65324/ Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EST The Human Life Foundation's Defender of Life annual award dinner this month was an eye opener. The award recipient was Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, and in the brochure noting his accomplishments I learned that the congressman is co-chairman of the bipartisan pro-life caucus. Bipartisan? In amazement, I asked him if there really are pro-life Democrats in Congress. "Oh yes," he assured me, "about 30." He went on to name one, but I'm not going to repeat the name because he and the others... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/oddo-has-right-stuff-to-be-mayor/64469/ Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EST A recent column of mine comparing the administrations of Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg, "Missing a Tough Mayor," generated a lot of mail asking who I thought should be our next mayor. I admitted that I had no idea. Now readers are proposing a City Council member of Staten Island, James Oddo, for the job, thanks to his profanity-laced tirade on YouTube, which aired this week. Early last month, Mr. Oddo was interviewed by a phony Norwegian television crew for a "Borat"-style reality show. They... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/nonvoters-get-their-just-desserts/64005/ Fri, 5 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EST My son Wes couldn't open his own bank account for years because he didn't have the government issued ID the bank required. He somehow didn't have enough "points" to get a learner's permit, even though he had his birth certificate, Social Security card, college picture ID, and credit cards. But the state Department of Motor Vehicles still denied him a permit. Now if he had been an illegal alien, Governor Spitzer probably would have drafted the paperwork for him personally. Am I the only one who... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/free-speech-for-all/63558/ Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST If Columbia University's president, Lee Bollinger, thinks he was brave for insulting Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in his introduction of his invited guest, he needs to check the definition of that word. It would show more courage to stand up to the radicals who run his university than to take a potshot at a deranged despot. A far more challenging position would have been for Mr. Bollinger to support the appearance of the founder of the Minuteman Project, James Gilchrist, whose... ALICIA COLON http://www.nysun.com/new-york/why-i-miss-a-tough-mayor/63156/ Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST If Rudolph Giuliani were mayor, I think his denial of President Ahmadinejad's request to visit ground zero would have been a bit pithier than the New York City Police Department's rebuff. Instead of citing "security reasons," Mr. Giuliani probably would have turned the Iranian president down by saying, "Iran is the biggest sponsor of terror and this request is totally unacceptable and an insult to those who died there." The city's current administration, however, is not likely to be as...