Ignorant Historian

How about a little controversy, shall we?  It’s been too long, hasn’t it?

If I only had to go by the reaction to the Judge Walker’s decision on California’s Proposition 8 that I saw on Twitter, Facebook, and television, I’d assume he was the people’s hero.  I hope that’s not quite the case…I know I’m not the only one saddened by last Wednesday’s decision.

Though I don’t know if I’ve specifically mentioned it (in 999 posts…yes, that makes tomorrow’s the 1000th…get ready for it!), I don’t think you’d be surprised to find that I take the biblical, traditional, and (until recent years) only definition of marriage.  We all have the right (regardless of our sexual preferences) to marry an unmarried adult of the opposite sex.  Equal rights.

So yes, I was saddened by Judge Walker’s decision.  But you may be surprised to know that what saddened me wasn’t primarily the decision against marriage.

First, I was disappointed that the federal government once again has unconstitutionally taken away power from the states.  If the people of California decided to refine “marriage”, I would have to accept that (though I would still argue that they are wrong).  That is their decision.  But the decision was taken out of their hands.  They no longer have that right.

And if they no longer have that right as the residents of California, I no longer have that right as a resident of North Carolina.

But more than that, what saddened me was that there is now a precedence for the out-right disregarding of gender.

We no longer have to use the slippery slope argument.  You can get a judge to almost anything as long as they have a legal precedence to do it.

And now there is.

If gender no longer legally matters in marriage, should it in a draft?  I think it’s pretty clear that the logical answer is “no.”

What about dorm room assignments?

The sex of chaperones on school trips?

“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27, NASU

I think this is a pretty good time to remind you of the comment policy.  Thanks, loves!

Photo by Joe Gratz

1.  Would you ever consider working for the government?

Sure.  I mean, I do want to be a teacher in a public school.  But I also wouldn’t mind working in a bureaucratic position, though I’m sure some things would drive me batty.

2.  You are on a flight from Honolulu to Chicago non-stop. There is a fire in the back of the plane. You get enough time to make ONE phone call. Who would you call?

At least I got to see Hawaii before I die, right?  Without question, I’d call my parents.  And not only because their number is one of the few that I actually have memorized, but also because they’re the obvious choice.  So please pick up, okay?

3.  If you had to wear one color every day for the rest of your life, which would you choose and why?

Blue, because I look good in it and enjoy all the shades.  If I had to pick a particular shade, I’d say periwinkle because it’s what I look best in and it’s my favorite.

4.  What is your dream for America’s future?

I dream that we’ll recognize that we’ve allowed our federal government to grow unconstitutionally large, and have it start pulling out of things such as education.  I dream that we’ll elect representives that recognize that like our own personal budgets, we have to cut spending in order to pay down debt.  But I’m afraid this is all a dream.

5.  What’s your favorite song of the moment?

I know this will be strange unless you’re familiar with my music tastes, but I’d have to say Eminem and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie.”  I can’t relate to it (I promise I’m not nor have ever been in a violent co-dependent relationship), but for some reason it resonates.  Looking back at my favorite songs from the past, it’s clear I like the darker, from-the-soul type of songs.  Plus I’ve always been a fan of Eminem (or at least the cleaned-up versions of his songs).  Hope I don’t lose any favor in your eyes!

“I’ve received many emails from opinionated folks saying, ‘I have extensively researched this issue,’ by which they mean, ‘I’ve read a lot of blogs.’ Let’s be clear: neither frequent viewership of Fox News nor owning a copy of An Inconvenient Truth makes one ‘an expert.’ ” – Green Like God by Jonathan Merritt, p. 166

“A human being is like a novel: until the last page you don’t know how it will end. Or it wouldn’t be worth reading…” – We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, p. 162

“We realize that we are saved not just to be forgiven of our sins or to be assured of our eternity in heaven, but we are saved to know God.” – Radical by David Platt, p. 39

[girls are] “an impenetrable fortress of unknowability, really.” – An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, p. 76

“Of all the great world religions, Christianity should value the body most. After all, it taught that God had in some sense taken a human body and used it to redeem the world; everything about the physical should have been sacred and sacramental.” – The Spiral Staircase by Karen Armstrong, p. 219

“I’m at a point now where if preachers can’t come up with something other than inspirational speeches, then maybe they should just read from the word for their sermon.” – a college student quoted in Radical by David Platt, p. 40

“Americans are a charitable people, but what we give away is not quite as astounding when seen in proportion to what we keep.” – Green Like God by Jonathan Merritt, p. 130-131

“Poems are short because nobody can keep up that level of stupidness for more than one page.” – Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

“As for the future, the only way that the world can say no to genocide is to make sure the people of Darfur are returned to their homes and given protection. If the world allows the people of Darfur to be removed forever from their land and their way of life, then genocide will happen elsewhere because it will be seen as something that works.” – The Translator by Daoud Hari, p. X

“For example, you’re probably not expecting me to ask you out for dinner tonight.” – Taub
(immediately)”No thanks.” – House
“You won’t even consider it?”
“I did, just very quickly.” – House episode “The Choice”

“Do you ever wonder whether people would like you more or less if they could see inside you?” – An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, p. 149

Just a few odds and ends for your Friday amusement:

1. Last night I had a great time with my roommate and her family. We got along splendidly in spite of being offered tomato soup or a tomato sandwich for dinner (among other things). I’m pretty open to trying new things, but tomatoes are one thing I know that I don’t like. I did try the soup, something I’ve always wanted to like because it smells good, and I liked it. It was organic: go figure.

2. I’m back where I belong now. At work really, but looking forward to a weekend mostly at home. I still have some school work to catch up on, but I think my favorite day of the week is Saturday when I sit on the couch, write Sunday school curriculum, and watch football.

3. The training I attended was held in a federal government office. At the front of the room there were two flags: the American flag and the department’s flag (I think that we might have a bit of a problem when the departments of the federal government have their own flags, but that’s another topic for another day). The department’s flag was actually taller than the American flag. Hmm…

4. Due to some maneuvering of a final that I’m most grateful for and the second part of this training that I’ll be attending in the first week of December, my last days of class ever will be before Thanksgiving. I have only 4 weeks of class left! That’s both exciting and stressing.

I suppose that’s all for today. I need to get working on the controversial Point/Counterpoint that I’ve almost forgotten about. I hope to start posting it on Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

I have several serious, thought provoking things to write here, but here’s a question for you…is it a bad idea to write about such a subject on a Friday? Is it a rule for Friday posts to be casual like the attire and attitudes? Will anyone read it if I post my cure for the common cold or my recipe to end world hunger?

Well, I think I’m going to go for it. The last time I wrote a serious post was for Earth Day. I’ve let another whole holiday (May Day) pass since then without causing my readers to think. I think you all deserve better, so here goes.

Yesterday I went to get my North Carolina tag, which was a relatively smooth, painless process. I love when our government works like it should. There was just one thing that rubbed me the wrong way about the whole process. Inside the office, there were vanity plates on all the walls for sale. I was already a little on edge, as I don’t think the government should be in the business of selling things, but then I spot a plate that offended me.

They, the state government of North Carolina, were selling a plate with the Confederate flag on it.

I don’t like the Confederate flag. While I support someone’s right to use it to express free speech, I don’t agree with what it stands for. I’ve never received what I would consider a good answer from anyone as to why they find pride in it. When I look at a Confederate flag, I think about someone who takes pride in rebelling against their country and oppressing and enslaving minorities. That’s nothing to be proud of. While a Confederate flag could also express Southern pride (or “hubris” as my Civil War professor would say) and states’ rights, these are overarched with the bigotry and rebellion associated with the flag in the past. While the person flying the Confederate flag may think they are representing these better aspects of Southernism, they are really proclaiming to the world their endorsement of the bad with the good.

I don’t care if a store sells Confederate memorabilia. If people buy it, why wouldn’t they sell it? While it bugs me every time I see it, it also bugs me to see T-shirts with profanity on them. It’s just that the government has no right selling Confederate memorabilia. Period. I would question their role in selling anything whatsoever, but that’s another post.

I hope I’ve made myself very clear in this post. I’m not trying to suppress free speech. I don’t think that Confederate vanity plates should be banned. I just don’t like the idea of my state government selling them. That’s not something I want my tax dollars supporting.

So, what do you think? Am I totally off-base here? Is this just something I’ll have to live with now that I live in the South? Is there another way of looking at this that I simply don’t see? I would love to hear your honest, civil opinions on this issue, regardless of whether you agree with me or not!

Dear United States Government,

Yesterday marked the day when our taxes were due. Though I filed mine back in February, yesterday’s ominous date reminded me of the taxes that we all pay in order to keep this government operating.

I don’t mind paying taxes, really I don’t. Since I never see the money I give to you, I don’t really feel like I’m giving it at all. It’s more like I’m just getting paid less for the work that I do. I know that the government needs money to do important things like protect us and I don’t mind paying my share.

That said, I ask that you consider if you are spending the money taxpayers give you wisely. You have a job to do with this money. There are all sorts of stories about government waste. The fact that our national debt is growing exponentially is a burden we should all feel. I don’t care if you are a Democrat or a Republican, you have no right to spend money you do not have, thus passing the bill off on my generation and the ones that come after.

I look forward to the day where true tax reform will be discussed and debated. Though I don’t know that the Fair Tax is THE answer, I like it a lot. It at least should be an option when considering how to overhaul the collecting of tax dollars.

More imporantly, how tax dollars are spent needs to be overhauled. The federal government since the days of FDR has encroached more and more on the territory that should be left to the state and local governments. It’s time to reconsider what belongs to the central government and what belongs to the states. Though some might throw a fit if you cancel the funding of their special program, you have to encourage the states to take the fiscal responsibility for those programs if they really want them. If they are not willing to foot the bill, then maybe the program isn’t worth the money that is spent on it.

I truly thank those who serve the citizens of the United States government for what you do for us. I just ask that you consider anew the purposes to which you are serving.

Thankfully,

Ronnica