6/5/2005 --
Tom DeLay update...
I meant to mention this during my last update, but it slipped my mind. Tom DeLay has made consistent comments regarding the harm activist judges do to this country... What does he expect? There are a lot of right wing nuts in this world who would probably take DeLay to his word and decide to eliminate judges. So, why would he be offended by the off-handed remark on a TV show?
Speaking of activist judges, where would this country be without activist judges? Our schools would still be segregated, etc.
Furthermore, is anyone else sick and tired of the religious right whining about not being heard? Every major magazine in the last couple of weeks has covered the evangelical churches. So, who says no one is listening to Christians in this nation?
Oh, yeah, the right wing Christians. The ones who want the government in your bedroom, but not in their child rearing. They want to tell a woman she can't have an abortion, but they don't want to help support the child once it is here. They don't want to teach children about safe sex, but they don't want to pay for the consequences. They wouldn't forgive Clinton for lying about sex, but they'll forgive Bush's lies (which directly led to the deaths of more than 1500 American Service men and women).
That's the right wing...
God Bless,
Julie
6/10/2005 --
Last week Rosie O'Donnell guest hosted on the View. (I love Rosie, she's great) She did an okay job. Sean Hannity came on to discuss the 2008 election. (Should we really care about this now?) Anyway, they ended up discussing public funding for stem cell research (where they use embryos) and Mr. Hannity didn't approve of PUBLIC FUNDING. His reasoning was (and I might not be quoting exactly) that where do the rights of those people who disapprove of stem cell research begin to be protected.
As it turns out, I happen to be for stem cell research. The numerous diseases and benefits to society are huge. Also, if the embryo is going to be destroyed anyway then why not use it to benefit society. I have no problems using public money for this.
It was a real shame that Rosie went off on Mr. Hannity, because I would have liked to have heard his whole reasoning and not just one little blurb. I don't watch his show on Fox News and I haven't read his books, so I don't have much to say -- except this...
Here's a dig on both sides of every issue. Shut up and let the other guy talk. I'm pretty sure -- although I don't know it for a fact -- that there are many issues Mr. Hannity and I will disagree on. However, I would like to be able to hear his side. Then, I get to state my side and he listens to me -- this is how we are to debate, people. When did we lose the common courtesy to listen to each other? Why does everything have to break down into a yelling match?
Here's something else to ponder...
Where do we draw the line between freedom of expression and religious freedom? There's an article in today's Chicago Tribune regarding gay rights and large corporations. The question was raised where do we draw the line? Do we stop someone who is in a same-sex relationship from keeping a picture of their spouse upon their desk? Do we stop a religious co-worker from wearing a cross or displaying a religious symbol on their desk? And, most importantly, why do people assume that if you are a religious person, you are against same-sex marriages? The article implied that a religious person and a gay person would have difficulty working together. Why? I am both gay and religious -- I don't have any difficulties working with me.
In the over quoted words of Rodney King -- why can't we all just get along?
God Bless,
Julie
6/15/2005 --
A quick thought... One of the reasons we don't tax churches on their income is to protect the separation between church and state, so I need to do more research on this, but maybe we should start taxing churches, especially Christian, Evangelical Churches. If your pastor speaks out on a political issue such as what candidates you should vote for, then they are no longer acting as a church and their donations should be taxed -- at the very least, we should tax church buildings and schools for property tax. Why should they be exempt? Let's think about it -- if the right wing wants to claim that there shouldn't be a separation between church and state -- then lets start taxing them!
Just a thought.
God Bless,
Julie
6/29/2005 --
So, according to President Bush the whole reason we attacked Iraq had nothing to do with Weapons of Mass Destruction and everything to do with 9/11. That is so sad. 14 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis, not Iraqis. He wanted to attack Iraq long before the World Trade Center attacks. This year will mark four years since our fellow Americans died in the worst attack on American soil and we still haven't caught those responsible.
Bush stated: "We will take the fight to the enemy." Really? Then why are we not bombing the hell out of Saudi Arabia? Apparently, we will only take the fight to the enemy that isn't selling us oil.
Speaking of enemies, if the CIA director knows where Bin Laden is, then why don't we go and get him?!?
And another thing...What about Afghanistan? Are we done there? Why didn't Bush mention our troops over there? What's going on?
Finally, just a quick thought...Did anything happen in this country during the Michael Jackson trial? Why does shiny object news make it to the screen? Ratings -- it's all about the ratings. It isn't the liberal media. It isn't the conservative media. It's all about how much money they make off of advertising. Did you know that the house voted on a bill to eliminate the income tax on domestic partner health insurance? I didn't until after the fact. Why, you ask. Because we were all watching the MJ trial or talking about the runaway bride or Tom Cruise's love life. We need to turn off our TVs when our newscasters just give us fluff. We need to start paying attention to the real items that will make a difference in our lives.
Let's face it. Conservatives and Liberals are never going to see eye to eye on things like abortion or gay marriage, so let's agree to disagree and move on. While we're busy fighting over two issues that won't even make a difference to half of us, the government is piling on the pork and threatening to close military bases. We need to start meeting in the middle, because we slowly losing it here in America -- don't you agree? No matter who you voted for in the last Presidential election, I'm sure you're not happy about it today. We need to take back our political parties. Republicans used to stand for small government, low taxes and freedom. Not anymore, now all the discussion is Anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage and anti-well, everything. Come on where are the small government Republicans? Come out, come out wherever you are.
God Bless,
Julie