Time for Change

In his article "May I Speak" Hernando Fonaceir addresses the current misrepresentation of the American people in congress. His article is very articulate and well written. There are many facts presented to back up his case, and I completely agree with his opinion. He provides clear and concise evidence and reasoning for his view that a change needs to happen. Like any well written article he even offers up a few solutions to the problem. These days it is hard to find people that can formulate an opinion and not only stick to it, but back it up appropriately and clearly.
      One of my favorite quotes from his article is "We should not feel as if we are being ignored by our Congress, otherwise how could we trust them to solve our problems or generate legislation?" This is a very excellent point. There are many other good points made, but I don't want to sit here and quote the entire article. Well done Hernando, well done. 

Tasteless Machine

I have decided to write a commentary on the most recent post from my classmate Jonathan Russel on his blog Tasteless Machine.  He also decided to write a post on same sex marriage, but I found it interesting because we have opposing points of view. I would like to start by saying that I am a strong believer in the fact that everyone is absolutely entitled to their opinion and I respect yours. If this is what you believe in, it is absolutely your right. However the issue at hand is not whether or not same sex marriage is right or wrong. Whether it is a matter of religion or opinion, the issue is whether it should be legal in the United States. I personally have a strong support for the separation of church and state. This is one of the reasons people fled from England to what would become the United States, to enjoy the freedom to practice whatever religion they chose. That is one of the things that make this country what it is, the freedom. 

One thing you mention in your article is that a same sex marriage could never go through the natural things your marriage to your wife goes through. I strongly disagree with this statement. One thing I have found, is that most relationships are the same, whether they are between a man and wife,  a wife and wife, a husband and husband, a father and daughter, a sister and brother, friendships, and even roommates. There are always ups and downs. There are always rough times. But there is also always love. My friends who are females and I go through similar things that a romantic couple would go through. We fight, we make up, and we have fun together. The point I am trying to get at here, is that EVERY relationship, no matter what kind it is, has the same complex.

Another thing you bring up in your article is that same sex couples getting married makes your marriage to your wife feel disrespected. What I take from this is to mean that you feel it makes your marriage not mean as much as it did before same sex marriage. I personally believe that your marriage certificate holds whatever value you and your wife place in it. If the two of you have a strong relationship with each other and highly value the fact that you are married, I believe that is all a person should need. Same sex couples’ getting married has no effect on your relationship with your wife. Your marriage certificate doesn't hold any less value. 

It is clear that your opinion on same sex marriage being wrong stems from your core beliefs, particularly your religious ones. So what I say to you is, if you are doing what you believe to be right and you are comfortable and confident in your relationship with your God, then that (in my opinion) should be enough. Why judge them and restrict their rights as human beings entitled to them by the very foundation of this country? Like I said in my article, these people are not doing anything to harm anyone. They are consenting adults. The things we have that are illegal, are illegal because of the fact that someone is doing something to someone else or their property that they did not consent to. I understand that this is a crime in your book, just like adultery is in mine. However, it is not a crime. Just because I think that adultery is wrong, does not mean it should be illegal. 

          So, I hope you read this article and at least just try to see the other side's point of view. I am not trying to change your beliefs or tell you, you are wrong. I am just trying to help you understand the point of view, just as I understand yours. 

Can you feel the love?

I was married once. Many bitter divorcees would tell you, “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” Who are we to deny same sex couples the same right to a lifetime of “ball and chain” misery? Seriously though, all humor aside, why not? Because it’s unconstitutional? Ok, let’s just whip out the constitution of the United States of America and show everyone the section that states marriage is between a woman and a man so we can end this debate right now. Oh, wait, there’s nothing in the constitution about marriage? Hmmm… that’s weird.

One argument would be that we should make an amendment and put it in the constitution. Well, there’s just one… or really a few things wrong with that. Generally amendments are made to the constitution to protect people. We can’t add an amendment that is literally designed to oppress an entire group of people. We added the thirteenth amendment to abolish slavery. We added the fifteenth amendment to ensure that people would not be discriminated against because of color in regards to voting. We added the nineteenth amendment to extend the right to vote to women. The list goes on. After all of these steps forward, why on earth would we take a million steps backward and add an amendment that would literally deny the rights of certain people?

There are many other arguments out there against gay marriage. Some would say that the Bible prohibits it. I’m going to avoid the discussion on the different interpretations of what the Bible says, but I will mention the fact that we are supposed to have a separation of church and state. Whatever your beliefs are, that is not the issue. The issue is that religion is not supposed to factor into our legislation. Another aspect is that homosexuality has been somehow linked with things such as incest, pedophilia and even bestiality. From a strictly legislative standpoint, this is absolutely ridiculous. As a student pursuing a career in law enforcement, one thing has been made very clear; it is about CONSENT. Pedophilia and bestiality are (other than the moral conflict,) about one of the parties NOT consenting to the activity. THAT is what makes them obscene and illegal. In my opinion, you absolutely cannot compare these things as same sex couples are two consenting adults. If all parties involved are consenting, then there is no one that needs protection from it. There is no victim here, other than the people whose rights are being oppressed.

To put a fun little spin on such a heated topic, let’s add a little humor. Here is a link to a lovely video that should put things into perspective. (Caution; contains explicit language)  Gay Men Will Marry Your Girlfriends

The Great Debate

In his article “Five Myths about Legalizing Marijuana,” Doug Fine addresses some of the arguments that are being used against the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana. What I love about this article is that it was not written from the perspective of a pothead who just doesn't want to go to jail over a chill evening with a few bags of Cheetos. This article was clearly written by an educated person who brought to light some very valid arguments about the legalization of cannabis.  Whether you are for or against it, it is still important to hear all sides of an argument so that you can form a more educated foundation for your own opinion.

In the article, Fine addresses some major arguments such as the idea that if cannabis is legal, it will become more widely used. He provides information from legitimate sources such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services in saying that teen marijuana use is at an all-time high. Even in his personal experience “When I spoke at a California high school recently and asked, ‘Who thinks cannabis is easier to obtain than alcohol?,’ nearly every hand shot up.” Fine also brings up the fact that in the Netherlands, adult use of marijuana did increase after its legalization. Yet the rates of use were still lower than that in the United States. One of my favorite quotes of the article comes from this section where Fine says, “When the United States’ 40-year-long war on marijuana ends, the country is not going to turn into a Cheech and Chong movie.”

Another point Fine brings up, is that law enforcement officials do not oppose the legalization of cannabis. Not only in my own experience have I found this to be true, but Fine backs it up even further with legitimate research within the law enforcement community to show that most officials absolutely recognize not only the extremely skewed arrest rates towards minorities, but the fact that we need to focus our energy and resources on more dangerous crimes. Fine quotes Sherriff Tom Allman of Mendocino County California; “This county has problems: domestic violence, meth, poverty. Marijuana isn't even in the top 10. I want it off the front pages so I can deal with the real issues.” To me, this quote says it all. While it is of course not completely unheard of, we should ask ourselves about the last time we saw a story on the six o’clock news about someone who went into a murderous rage while under the influence of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol; the psychoactive compound in marijuana.)

Fine goes on to talk about the many other uses for the hemp plant, other than getting high. He tells his readers of the many uses of the industrial cannabis plant that could, dare I say it… help the economy! In addition to that, many people seem to think it is only the liberal “hippies” that support the legalization movement. This is false. Fine brings up in his article that a good majority of Republicans and Conservatives are voting in favor of decriminalization of marijuana. This shows that the issue is no longer a debate between the two political parties. You could almost say that there really isn't even much of a debate to be found at all. I believe that a big part of that is the fact that it is no longer a group of people sitting around a campfire eating Taco Bell and discussing the issue. It has bled into the fabric of society and is being debated on a much larger scale by educated people, and even a large number of politicians. 

Never Forget

           Kayla Williams hit the nail on the head in her article in the Christian Science Monitor entitled “Will America Forget its Veterans?” As a former military gal herself, and with a husband who was severely injured in Iraq while serving, Williams knows all too well what happens when a veteran returns home and must reintegrate into society. Williams and her husband have endured many hardships in returning home from war, and she wrote this article hoping to get the word out to the citizens of the U.S. … do not forget our veterans. The beautifully written article, calls to attention the lacking in attention to the care of our veterans. “I worry that as the visible reminders of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan fade from popular consciousness, so will the attention paid to troops, military families, and veterans. Yet the needs of US veterans will not end when the war does; they will just be beginning.” This statement alone tells us of how we fail to remember to pay attention to things, unless they are being shoved in our faces by the media.

                Williams writes of how her husband sustained a penetrating traumatic brain injury from a roadside bomb in Iraq. She tells the story of how her husband did not receive much care from the U.S. Army; medical, mental, or otherwise. However, they stuck together and pushed through the hard times. Finally, “It took six years before Brian could read a book again, but last month, he began using the GI Bill to attend college.” Williams also tells her readers about the difficulties of a soldier trying to find a civilian career. The military taught them many skills, but it is up to them to learn how to apply and present those skills in the civilian world.

                This heart rending article has reminded me that just because they are no longer in war, does not mean a soldier’s life is in any less danger. Between suicide, PTSD, and debilitating injuries sustained during war, the lives of these veterans are still at risk. This is what Kayla Williams wants the citizens of the U.S. to remember. She wants her readers to be supportive and become actively helpful in assisting our veterans as they return home to us. I would like to end this blog post with Williams’ last words in her article, as I can find no better way to say it… “We never forgot about you while we were deployed. Don't forget about us when we come home.”

Double Take

In a recent article entitled "7 Things Republicans Would be Shocked to Learn About Ronald Reagan," the political blog ThinkProgress addressed some interesting connections between the former Republican President Reagan and the current Democrat President Obama. Author Zack Beauchamp wrote about a few things that Reagan did during his presidency that the current tea party representatives would not agree with and are shockingly similar to things President Obama has done thus far during his presidency. Among these things are the similarities in health care initiatives, immigration laws, weapons bans, government spending and taxation. While one could spend time trying to argue on the validity of these statements, I think it brings to light an important issue. Whether you classify yourself as Democrat, Republican, or whatever you so choose; it is necessary to remember not to dislike or disagree with someone solely based on their political association. I find that many people dislike Obama simply because he is a Democrat, or even just because he's Obama. In today's world, we get too caught up in labeling things. We need to remember to take each situation as it comes and assess accordingly and in an educated fashion! Thanks for reading!