I did receive my answer from the state Department of Education on my conviction for the Supreme Court witness against torture on 1/11/08, and the standing of my professional license:

“No disciplinary action will be commenced at this time.”

I consider this good news. They did wag their finger at me though: “However, further conduct of a similar nature may subject you to professional misconduct proceedings...”

Well, that still leaves the door open to witness against torture and war to State Ed at another point – which I consider even better news.

You know how sometimes someone says or does something to you that ticks you off and you don't think of a good retort until after – when it is too late to say it? Frustrating, right?

Something along the same lines happened to me a couple of times this week.

First, in Tuesday's editions of The Daily Gazette, a letter by Bobbie Hlat reminded me that protesters were not tolerated under the Bush administration. Hlat cites a few examples of when protesters were removed or arrested for refusing to move during Bush appearances. Dang! I wish I had remembered that sooner – I'd have included it in my last blog about racism.

To read Hlat's brief but straight-to-the-point letter click HERE.

To read more about what happened to protesters in particular and our Bill of Rights in general under Bush II, read my blog of Nov. 25, 2008. Better yet, read the late, great Molly Ivins book, “Bill of Wrongs."

Hlat didn't mention the “free speech zones” set up under said administration, so I'll mention them now. I hope “The Late Awakening” folks, who have an event scheduled for next weekend in Troy, remember to set up their free speech zones and I certainly hope they remember to do it for Monday when President Obama speaks in Troy – as I am certain that they will be there.

Another “Dang!” moment came when I read E.J. Dionne's 9/15 column. Dionne asks if you saw a woman struck by a car would you first call an ambulance or would you first make sure that she was not an illegal immigrant? I remember thinking along those lines when watching the video of Congressman Joe Wilson calling the Ppresident a liar.

President Obama was trying to dispel the disinformation being spread that illegal immigrants would be covered under the proposed health care reform. And I remember thinking, so if someone shows up at an emergency room with a broken leg or a heart attack, are we going to make them prove they're American citizens before we treat them, and if they're not are we going to let them suffer and/or die?

Hypocritical and infuriating attitude from the right wing, which claims Christ anytime they think it will be to their benefit and forget about him entirely when it does not.

I didn't write about this in my last posting, when I should have.

You can finally get on Congressman Wilson's Web site again (it was down for more than a week) and I will ask him that very question – I'll let you know what he says.

In today's Saratogian, columnist Cal Thomas accuses the left wing of paying the “race card” – that is, if you opposed Obama's policies you're a racist. I think recent history escapes him. I don't think every person who opposes Obama's policies is a racist. Just the ones who are now just getting angry over the deficit Obama is racking up and were silent when Bush started the country on the express train to “Bailout City & Deficitville” and the ones who are just now getting all concerned about liberty and our constitution and were silent when Bush was making quick work of both. You know that double standard thing.

Finally – don't forget “Peace-ing It Together," the peace and social justice fair this Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church, 24 Circular St. in Saratoga Springs.

As a kickoff to our peace fair, The Saratoga Coffee Traders, one of our fair trade vendors, is showing one of the most delightful and tender anti-war films I've ever seen: "Le Roi de Couer" (The King of Hearts) – Friday, Sept. 18 – free of charge – at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga Coffee Traders, 447 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

Beautifully filmed and graceful, its message is profound without shouting, just gently whispering in your ear.

Please join me – I know you'll enjoy the film – if you don't I'll refund the admission charge!