North Carolina Becomes Number 30

May 9, 2012 Politics No comments

Editors Note: I know I will catch flack for this because I don’t support gay marriage, and the issue is contentious.  However, if you take the time to actually think about what is being said, you’ll realize that I’m on the side of giving gay people rights under the law, and I actually propose a solution that I believe would work well for everyone.

Yesterday, North Carolina voted to amend their constitution to ban gay marriage, becoming the 30th state to have some type of ban in place.  Even though 29 other states have something in place to the same effect, North Carolina has become a whipping boy for anyone who does not support the vote.

“Rednecks.” “Inbreeds.” “Hicks.”

Democrats (the left in general) profess to be tolerant and a party of the people. The word itself, Democrat, comes from the word Democracy, meaning:

“A government by the people; especially : rule of the majority” – Merriam Webster.

How then is it a problem for them when a majority of the people vote for a certain option?  They were quite happy when some states voted to allow gay marriage. Oh, that’s right, it’s only legitimate and agreeable if the majority votes the way leftists want them to.  Tolerance only exists if your point of view aligns with theirs.

Now, I know what is soon to come.  I can see the issue of slavery being brought up as a defense of this point of view. “A majority of people would have voted to keep slavery in place! This is the same thing!”  Actually, no. Slavery was outlawed after the Civil War by a majority point of view over a minority, at the barrell of a gun no less.  The Jim Crow laws were used as an issue under the cloak of “state’s rights” and were supported by a majority in certain places.  This is also not a good comparison, as blacks were forced into being second class citizens in all aspects of their lives and it was rightfully ended.  Gay marriage, and marriage in general, is a personal choice.  Nobody can be forced into marriage (well, except for maybe Muslims, but that’s another issue) and not being married does not hinder you being able to live life.  Yes, there are perks to being married, but nowhere does it say that marriage is a right granted to all by the government.  If it was a “right,” then the government would be forced to provide us all with spouses.

At the same time leftists demand government recognition of gay marriage, they also demand that the government stay separate from religion.  ”Separation of church and state” (which they believe exists) is a key issue.  ”Freedom from religion” is a phrase I hear frequently.  Of course, neither of those phrases exist in the Constitution.  That goes against our system of laws. , as killing and stealing a wrong because our moral compass is guided by basic religious principles.

The way I see it, there are two options to avoid being a hypocrite:

Either you support gay marriage, declaring that you believe the government has a role in religion and there is no separation of church and state, or you oppose gay marriage, believing that marriage is an institution that should be left to religions because government and religious institutions should be separate.

Incredible how that works, isn’t it?

The solution is simple: Civil Unions.  Most people have a problem with forcing a religious institution into honoring secular principles, (example: mandated contraception and abortive drugs) as “marriage” means what it means: a union between a man and women under the eyes of God.  By removing “marriage” from government and granting everyone “civil unions” regardless of the backing of a religious institution, there is no longer an issue.  The same rights would be provided by the government to same and opposite sex couples, while religious institutions could still marry men with women under the eyes of God as God intended.  So as long as “gay marriage” isn’t called “marriage” (because it literally isn’t), there would be NO problem.

So, before you go bashing North Carolina, make sure you know what you are talking about and are “tolerant” of the beliefs of others.

Whore Pills For All!

March 16, 2012 Politics 3 comments

I’ve been seeing a couple women post this link (Law Will Allow Employers to Fire Women for Using Whore Pills) on their Facebook timeline recently.  It’s a link to the website, Jezebel.

The fact they use the term “Whore Pills” in their title sure adds to the shock value, doesn’t it?  If you’re offended by Limbaugh using the term “slut” you should be offended by this website using the term “whore,” unless you are totally hypocritical.  But that’s another debate for another time…

If you click through the source link the post provided, you get to a real news article. (Senate Judiciary Committee Endorses Controversial Contraceptive Bill)

In this article, two sides of the issue are laid out. One side claims that this is a “War on Women” *TM Democratic Party 2012  They claim that they are being denied coverage for their healthcare and that employers are standing between doctors and patients.

Let me tackle this one first.  Do you know how much birth control pills cost?  $9 a month.  NINE FREAKIN’ DOLLARS A MONTH!  When was the last time that you put in an insurance claim for coverage of something that costs less a large pizza?

At any rate, if you MUST have $9 a month covered by insurance, how do you think that gets paid for?  It get’s paid for by the insurance company.  How does the insurance company get the money to pay for it?  Through individual premiums and employer contributions.

Allow me to enlighten you as to how insurance works, as I have a Pennsylvania insurance license and may know a little about this.  Individuals and employers contribute money to an insurance pool, where all the money is lumped together.  While you’re paying your premiums, you may not be using that money by making a claim, however someone else IS filing a claim and taking money from that pool.  Therefore, you are part of funding that person’s claim, just as they would be funding yours should you file one.  This is the basic tenant of insurance: a large group of people pooling their money to protect each other in case something CATASTROPHIC happens for which the individual would not be able to afford it on their own.

Let’s first look at the employer contributions, as this is the other side of the issue. The claim is that government imposing its will on religious institutions violates the 1st amendment of the Constitution. You can’t force a religious institution to pay for something that they find morally reprehensible. Remember, Obama’s mandate doesn’t just cover birth control pills, but abortive drugs as well.

So Obama “compromised” *TM Democratic Party 2012 by saying that religious employers didn’t have to pay for them, the insurance companies did.  A-ha!  There’s the rub!  See, those matching payments made by employers, which fund insurance coverage, aren’t really paying for the pills… it’s all slight of hand and hocus pocus.

Except they are paying for it.  And what about religious insurers: religious companies who service religious clients who want to avoid their money going to such things? (Google “religious insurance companies” for a list)  They are forced as well.

I’m not a terribly religious person, but I am a person who supports the Constitution when it comes to protecting religious liberties as well as a person who believes you should pay for, to quote Jezebel, you own “whore pills” since they cost only $9 a month.

Enough is enough ladies.  Don’t like your company’s benefits package?  Disagree with your religious organization’s beliefs?  Work somewhere else or buy a personal plan yourself.  This is all on you… after all, it’s all about a woman’s choice, right?

Time And Tide Wait For No Man

March 2, 2012 NFL, Quotes, Sports 2 comments

The Steelers sure don’t mess around.  When it comes to burning down the forest, they happily dance a crazy man’s dance with a can of gasoline and a box of EZ Strike matches.  Hell, they take the blowtorch in hand and aren’t afraid to use it.

Just ask Hines Ward (35 – soon to be 36), Aaron Smith (35 – soon to be 36) and James Farrior (just turned 37).

This has become the Pittsburgh version of Logan’s Run!

Chris Kemoeatu (29) would seem to run counter to that, but that’s beyond the point.

Those players are the most recent cuts that the Steelers have made in an effort to get younger and get under the salary cap.

Sadly, it was time.

I know a good number of fans were sad to see Ward go.  The others as well, but Ward holds a special place in the heart because of HIS heart.  Everyone wants their heroes to be young forever, but in the game of football, there is a time when the mind is willing but the body betrays.

Ward clearly has lost a step (a step he never really had).  He was never a fast guy or quick guy.  He always had “just enough” to get open, and then his heart and tenacity would take over to extend a play.  That time has passed.

Farrior clearly lost a step.  As heart and soul of the defense, Farrior called the plays and made the adjustments, but watching him at 37 drop into pass coverage in what has become a “pass heavy” league was sad to see.  His time has passed.

Smith clearly lost an arm!  He will go down as one of the best, if not THE best 3-4 DE to ever play the game.  He held that distinction for many years until chest, neck an arm injuries took away his strengh, talent and ability to play the game.  His time has passed.

Kemoeatu… well, at least there will be less holding calls on the o-line from now on.

As with any forest fire, the old trees burn and die.  However, this is not the end.  From the ashes rise new saplings, using in this case knowledge and teachings as fuel to grow tall and strong and take their rightful place as full-fledged trees in the forest.

Saying goodbye to the players we love can be difficult, but know that what was once a talented, aging defense is about to become a talented young defense, able to compete with the speed of youth and the wisdom of their veteran teachers who have now stepped aside.

“Time and tide wait for no man” -  Geoffrey Chaucer

So true…

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