I wrote this in May, which was the first month that this blog was up. I think it's still relevant now.
NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here was I thinking that California was more liberal and open than Iowa, here was I thinking that to be on a state supreme court you had to actually read the constitution, here was thinking that justice could beat injustice. Well I guess I was wrong.
Last week on May 28, the California State Supreme Court ruled that Proposition 8 was fine and legal. I feel the need to point out a few pieces of American History, so bare with me.
First, the 14th amendment states "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Like the "Liberty" to get married for example?
Second, the Declaration of Independence famously states " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." So all men are "created equal" but, to paraphrase the great George Orwell, some are more equal than others? I think that everyone agrees that is absolutely ridicules.
Third and finally, in LOVING v. VIRGINIA the Supreme Court struck down laws against Bi-Racial marriage, going so far as to say "We are dealing here with legislation which involves one of the basic civil rights of man. Marriage and procreation are fundamental to the very existence and survival of the race. The power to sterilize, if exercised, may have subtle, farreaching and devastating effects. In evil or reckless hands it can cause races or types which are inimical to the dominant group to wither and disappear. There is no redemption for the individual whom the law touches. Any experiment which the State conducts is to his irreparable injury. He is forever deprived of a basic liberty." reading this one is left to wonder how nobody else has ever noticed that the Supreme court has ruled that marriage is a "basic civil right".
In my personal opinion it doesn't matter what you think of Gay Marriage, the constitution protects it. I know it may be hard to accept it, but I'm afraid we must, because if we have the power to take away gay rights, then they have the power to take away our rights, and we cannot afford set such a dangerous precedent.
Showing posts with label law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label law. Show all posts
Monday, October 12, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Repeal it!!
For 16 years we have had the so called "don't ask don't tell" policy in place. This policy is based on the theory that a soldier's personal views and background can make them unable to preform their job. I find this ridicules in the extreme. A gay soldier can serve and give their life for their country just as easily and willingly as a straight soldier.
America is the most powerful country in the world, yet we still can't seem to get or act together on civil rights. If there was a country that refused to allow blacks to serve in the military we would be up in arms over it. In this world today there is no space for discrimination.
There is not argument that I have heard for "Don't ask Don't tell" that makes any kind of logical sense. One of my favourite reasons for not repealing "don't ask" is that the army is very conservative and the soldiers wouldn't be able to put up with gays. God forbid that a "conservative" institution be forced to have some diversity! Come on people! A trained soldier knows to put his personal biases behind him on the battlefield.
The worst that would happen is that homophobes wouldn't join the army, and that would not be a bad thing in my opinion. A person who is so closed-minded would not do well in the army where you have to deal with many kinds of people.
Repealing "Don't ask don't tell" would allow patriotic Americans to serve their country. We have been disabling ourself for 16 years and we need to stop. So I ask all those in government reading this, Repeal "Don't ask Don't Tell" strike a blow against discrimination.
America is the most powerful country in the world, yet we still can't seem to get or act together on civil rights. If there was a country that refused to allow blacks to serve in the military we would be up in arms over it. In this world today there is no space for discrimination.
There is not argument that I have heard for "Don't ask Don't tell" that makes any kind of logical sense. One of my favourite reasons for not repealing "don't ask" is that the army is very conservative and the soldiers wouldn't be able to put up with gays. God forbid that a "conservative" institution be forced to have some diversity! Come on people! A trained soldier knows to put his personal biases behind him on the battlefield.
The worst that would happen is that homophobes wouldn't join the army, and that would not be a bad thing in my opinion. A person who is so closed-minded would not do well in the army where you have to deal with many kinds of people.
Repealing "Don't ask don't tell" would allow patriotic Americans to serve their country. We have been disabling ourself for 16 years and we need to stop. So I ask all those in government reading this, Repeal "Don't ask Don't Tell" strike a blow against discrimination.
Monday, June 8, 2009
the Supreme court
Oh goody! Just as American Idol ends and midway through year that Doctor Who is off the air we have a new entertainment series starting. We get the Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Yay!! I was a little disappointed with the last series as it was obvious that the guest star, Sam Alito, didn't know what he was talking about.
But now we'll be able to see all out old friends again. Pat Leahy will be starring again, and Jeff Sessions will be coming on as a costar. I'm a little disappointed that two of my favorite characters, Joe Biden and Ted Kennedy, will only have cameos, well maybe the new guest star will be more engaging then Alito.
I'm looking forward to the big fights, the discrimination charges against Alito really made that episode and it looks like we'll get it again accept bigger. It will also be fun to see the Republicans criticize her and then pull back so that they don't offended Hispanics.
My prediction for the final episode: It will turn out that Jeff Sessions is Sotomayor's secret lover and her husband, Arlen Spector, will shoot him. As Seessions dies he will reveal to Russ Feingold that Feingold is his son, and there is a twin brother. It will turn out that Dick Durbin is Feingold's twin. Then they will both kill Spector in revenge, and Feingold will turn evil and start murdering Congressmen. President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Speaker Pelosi will fight him and Speaker Pelosi will die during the battle. Biden will kill him and the series will end with the sun rising over the capitol building with all being peaceful.
But now we'll be able to see all out old friends again. Pat Leahy will be starring again, and Jeff Sessions will be coming on as a costar. I'm a little disappointed that two of my favorite characters, Joe Biden and Ted Kennedy, will only have cameos, well maybe the new guest star will be more engaging then Alito.
I'm looking forward to the big fights, the discrimination charges against Alito really made that episode and it looks like we'll get it again accept bigger. It will also be fun to see the Republicans criticize her and then pull back so that they don't offended Hispanics.
My prediction for the final episode: It will turn out that Jeff Sessions is Sotomayor's secret lover and her husband, Arlen Spector, will shoot him. As Seessions dies he will reveal to Russ Feingold that Feingold is his son, and there is a twin brother. It will turn out that Dick Durbin is Feingold's twin. Then they will both kill Spector in revenge, and Feingold will turn evil and start murdering Congressmen. President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Speaker Pelosi will fight him and Speaker Pelosi will die during the battle. Biden will kill him and the series will end with the sun rising over the capitol building with all being peaceful.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
another victory
Across this great nation Gay Rights activists are raising a bottle to the Governor of New Hampshire, who just signed into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. He put aside his personal bias against same-sex marriage to do what was right. Bravo!!!
I was reading the CNN political blog about this and some of the people who commented were bringing up the new anti-marriage talking point, that the voters didn't decide to legalize it. Well this raises some questions in my mind.
In the 50s and 60s, if you had taken a vote on whether or not to desegregate the schools in the south, I guarantee you that it would have lost. So should we not have integrate? No, the courts ruled on the law, and the president sent federal troops, federal troops for God's sake, to force the integration of the schools. Can you imagine the fury that would happen if Obama forced states to allow marriage?
What I find hilarious are the conservtives criticizing Sonia Sotomayor for putting her feelings before the law, when every single stinking member of congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage act was doing just that.
Even Obama is not touching this issue because he knows how passionate the right is on this issue, and you know what? I don't care! I really don't give a flying fig as to what the political repercussions would be. I know what is right and it sure as heck isn't discrimination.
The New Hampshire state motto is what, I think, should be the motto for what will, god willing, be the final civil rights movement. So, ladies and gentlemen, Live Free or Die. God bless you Gov. Lynch and God bless all those who made this possible. This is your victory. First we take New Hampshire then we take Maine then we take New York then we take California then we take the whole freakin' country!!! Then at last all will be free in the self-proclaimed "Land of the Free"
I was reading the CNN political blog about this and some of the people who commented were bringing up the new anti-marriage talking point, that the voters didn't decide to legalize it. Well this raises some questions in my mind.
In the 50s and 60s, if you had taken a vote on whether or not to desegregate the schools in the south, I guarantee you that it would have lost. So should we not have integrate? No, the courts ruled on the law, and the president sent federal troops, federal troops for God's sake, to force the integration of the schools. Can you imagine the fury that would happen if Obama forced states to allow marriage?
What I find hilarious are the conservtives criticizing Sonia Sotomayor for putting her feelings before the law, when every single stinking member of congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage act was doing just that.
Even Obama is not touching this issue because he knows how passionate the right is on this issue, and you know what? I don't care! I really don't give a flying fig as to what the political repercussions would be. I know what is right and it sure as heck isn't discrimination.
The New Hampshire state motto is what, I think, should be the motto for what will, god willing, be the final civil rights movement. So, ladies and gentlemen, Live Free or Die. God bless you Gov. Lynch and God bless all those who made this possible. This is your victory. First we take New Hampshire then we take Maine then we take New York then we take California then we take the whole freakin' country!!! Then at last all will be free in the self-proclaimed "Land of the Free"
Monday, June 1, 2009
California upholds Prop 8
NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here was I thinking that California was more liberal and open than Iowa, here was I thinking that to be on a state supreme court you had to actually read the constitution, here was thinking that justice could beat injustice. Well I guess I was wrong.
Last week on May 28, the California State Supreme Court ruled that Proposition 8 was fine and legal. I feel the need to point out a few pieces of American History, so bare with me.
First, the 14th amendment states "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Like the "Liberty" to get married for example?
Second, the Declaration of Independence famously states " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." So all men are "created equal" but, to paraphrase the great George Orwell, some are more equal than others? I think that everyone agrees that is absolutely ridicules.
Third and finally, in LOVING v. VIRGINIA the Supreme Court struck down laws against Bi-Racial marriage, going so far as to say "We are dealing here with legislation which involves one of the basic civil rights of man. Marriage and procreation are fundamental to the very existence and survival of the race. The power to sterilize, if exercised, may have subtle, farreaching and devastating effects. In evil or reckless hands it can cause races or types which are inimical to the dominant group to wither and disappear. There is no redemption for the individual whom the law touches. Any experiment which the State conducts is to his irreparable injury. He is forever deprived of a basic liberty." reading this one is left to wonder how nobody else has ever noticed that the Supreme court has ruled that marriage is a "basic civil right".
In my personal opinion it doesn't matter what you think of Gay Marriage, the constitution protects it. I know it may be hard to accept it, but I'm afraid we must, because if we have the power to take away gay rights, then they have the power to take away our rights, and we cannot afford set such a dangerous precedent.
Here was I thinking that California was more liberal and open than Iowa, here was I thinking that to be on a state supreme court you had to actually read the constitution, here was thinking that justice could beat injustice. Well I guess I was wrong.
Last week on May 28, the California State Supreme Court ruled that Proposition 8 was fine and legal. I feel the need to point out a few pieces of American History, so bare with me.
First, the 14th amendment states "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Like the "Liberty" to get married for example?
Second, the Declaration of Independence famously states " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." So all men are "created equal" but, to paraphrase the great George Orwell, some are more equal than others? I think that everyone agrees that is absolutely ridicules.
Third and finally, in LOVING v. VIRGINIA the Supreme Court struck down laws against Bi-Racial marriage, going so far as to say "We are dealing here with legislation which involves one of the basic civil rights of man. Marriage and procreation are fundamental to the very existence and survival of the race. The power to sterilize, if exercised, may have subtle, farreaching and devastating effects. In evil or reckless hands it can cause races or types which are inimical to the dominant group to wither and disappear. There is no redemption for the individual whom the law touches. Any experiment which the State conducts is to his irreparable injury. He is forever deprived of a basic liberty." reading this one is left to wonder how nobody else has ever noticed that the Supreme court has ruled that marriage is a "basic civil right".
In my personal opinion it doesn't matter what you think of Gay Marriage, the constitution protects it. I know it may be hard to accept it, but I'm afraid we must, because if we have the power to take away gay rights, then they have the power to take away our rights, and we cannot afford set such a dangerous precedent.
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