And Justice For All
I'm amazed at the amount of people I hear saying "I can't wait for this election to be over, I'm just so tired of it." Keep in mind, I live in California, not even a swing-state, so we don't even have to deal with politico-ads and non-stop phone calls from hate-mongers. I suppose you can only hear "this is the most important election of our generation" so many times before you become numb to it. Plus, whenever the news broadcasts interview undecideds or non-voters (which is way too often) they always give the same two answers: 'all politicians are the same' or 'they're note discussing things that affect me'.
You know what, if you have ever uttered these two phrases in the past three years, I'm asking you nicely, tie a blanket around your neck, go outside, and jump off a cliff, because I promise you you have gained the ability to fly. And hey, if it turns out I'm lying, you can yell at me later.
The next president is going to be making the most important decisions that will influence what our country will be for decades. For the moment, let's ignore Iraq, and terrorism, and tax cuts, and energy policy, and healthcare, and environment, and education. The number one thing we have to worry about is two words: Supreme. Court.
Whoever our next president is is going to make more than one appointment in their term, and seeing as they're pretty much permanent, this is a Big Deal. And Big Deal's affect everyone. Taxes may affect you in the short term, but Supreme Court decisions affect you for life
First, let's take a look at Roe v. Wade... if you're pro-life, huzzah, you go with that. Me, I'm not. You stick with your thoughts, I'll stick with mine. But, if we begin placing justices on the court who have the expressed purpose of overturning it, try and picture the ramifications it will have on our country. The return to back-alley butchery, plain and simple. Our country needs to a have serious discussion on sex, especially among our children who have reached a level of sexual awakening unimaginable 50 years ago (unless you're Aldous Huxley, that is); and until we do, it is impossible for the pro-life movement to be taken seriously. A clear majority of Americans are against overturning Roe v. Wade for a reason.
Speaking of a clear majority, we come to the subject of Gay Marriage. Ooohhh, scary! Here, the clear majority of Americans are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. George Bush? Wrong. John Kerry? Wrong. They hide behind the talking point that "marriage is a sacred union between a man and a women". Bullshit. Marriage hasn't been sacred in decades, if it ever was. If it was sacred, you wouldn't have divorce rates breaking 50%.
People who are against gay marriage are against it for one reason and one reason only: they can't stand the thought of two guys fucking. It disgusts them. And you know what, that's fine. You can hate it all you want. But just realize that this thought is changing in our culture. A generation from now, your children will look back on your beliefs on homosexuality with the same disdain we look back at our grandparent's treatment of interracial couples. So keep your gay-hate in your heart, that's your right. But while your doing that, look inside yourself, for that small glimmer that you're wrong. We know some have done this... while a majority of Americans are against gay marriage, another majority wouldn't want to make a Constitutional Amendment on it. Because they have that slight hint of possibility and hope inside them, that one day this won't be an issue.
Finally (but honestly these will never be final), comes the issue of civil rights. Racism is alive and well in the U.S. folks, and the fact is it'll never go away. My friends and family are a sure sign of that. We have made amazing strides forward in such a short time (and it is short, talk to your parents I bet'cha that remember Jim Crow laws)... however, these steps forward are nowhere near as much as some would believe. Affirmative Action is an important step (but not the only one) towards leveling the playing field; so when Bush's chosen successors to the court include Southern judges (Pickering and Pryor) who support cross-burning or can't see the importance of Dred Scott for what it is, you can see why I'm worried. The minimum wage is shit. Women are still paid shit. Black are still paid shit. Black women are not only being paid shit, but they have to be paid shit, and have an insanely higher risk of contracting HIV.
These are just an inkling of the future the Supreme Court will have in their hands... separation of church and state, stem cell research, monopolistic media, et. al. are a few more. These affect everyone. If I can admit I may be wrong on global warming, hopefully others can admit they may be wrong on instilling their morals on the law.
posted by Holz |
4:34 PM |
Rant & Rave, Bitches! (3)
3 Comments:
Amen, you are preaching to the choir. Literally. Sort of. I couldn't agree more with everything you said, especially separation of church and state. And the Supreme Court. -Chris
"I can't wait for this election to be over, I'm just so tired of it." Thank you. Thank you. *takes a bow* I'll be heer all week...unless I hang myself.
Yeah I say that all the time. I also say, "all politicians are the same". And even after your compelling arguments as to why I should care, I still feel the same about the above 2 statements. I want my funny commercials back.
I am pro-choice. I just think we need to be careful that it doesn't become an easy out for people to become more whore-ish than they already are. In cases of rape and such, I'm all for it though.
I've got no problem with gay marriage. It's not my preference to watch 2 dudes getting it on, but however they want to live their lives is fine with me.
Racism will never go away. I'm not racist, but I think it's normal to get frustrated with a policy that could allow a person less qualified than yourself get a job over you because they are of a different race. It's hard enough to find a job these days, why make it harder? I don't think it's an issue of fair anymore since if you took a look at who holds the higher positions at my company, they'd be pretty close to 50% minorities. Not to mention that the minorities don't hide the fact that they fill the positions under them with people of their same heritage. I don't think people are looking for equality anymore. They're looking for an advantage. And what does someone's succeptibility to a disease have to do with anything? That's like saying that blacks should be given a better chance to get a job because the stereotype is that they have bad night vision or can't swim well and so we should pity them. Polish people are picked on constantly about being dumb. Should I get freebies too?
Watching: Lost, Heroes, 24, Criminal Minds Listening: Brobdingnagian Bards Reading: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Playing: Final Fantasy XII Eating: Healthy...er Doing: Running... hopefully Wishing:
Comic Quote of the Week
"It's trying to end the suffering of everything. Do you want to discuss our options? Maybe together we can, you know, workshop?"
"Okay, best way to stop a ten-story godlike monster from destroying existence? I'm gonna go with hitting, you have anything?"
"You took mine."
Wesley and Angel, Angel: After The Fall #15
Who Am I?
Name: Holz Home: Sonoma County, California About Me: I'm a comfortador. See my complete profile
AKA: Ozymandias, DrOzymandias, Darth Angelus, Darque Feonix, Trip McNeely Kicking ass for: 29 years Job: UWing Systems Design Specialist Walking Theme: Believe It Or Not by Joey Scarbury Most watched movie: The Princess Bride Most read book: The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
"Let a man get away with fuckin' you once, you stay bent over so's he can fuck you again whenever he damn well pleases. An' if one man can do it? Another will too. An' another, an' another still. So's being fucked, that's yer life. 'Til who you were, you ain't. 'Cause all you are is an asshole." 100 Bullets #42
