OK…So Where Do I Stand?

Throughout these past 10 months of blogging, I’ve said a lot of controversial things.  I have espoused my Liberal beliefs in certain areas, and I have some Libertarian views as well.  So let’s run down the laundry list to see where I stand on the issues of the day:

HEALTH CARE: I believe in Universal Healthcare for all Americans, plain and simple.  Every American has the inalienable right to maintain good health, and it is the Government’s responsibility as part of its charter to provide that essential human service to its citizens.  There should, however; be a private choice allowed for those individuals who can afford Health Care through private insurance policies and who want elective surgery provided that might not be available under a government plan.

EDUCATION: Every American has the right to a free Education up to and including a Bachelor’s Degree.  It is the only way this nation can compete with other nations in business, technology, and and science.  What you do with your education, how you compete for a job AFTER you have completed your studies is up to you.  This way, all people will eventually have the same point at which to compete after a number of years of having every citizen educated and armed with a Bachelor’s Degree.

THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS: “From my cold, dead hands”, Charlton Heston once said.  And I agree.  The Founding Fathers put the Second Amendment in the Constitution for a reason: so that we have the ability to overthrow a Government gone awry.  It has NEVER been used for that, and God willing it never will be.  The moment guns are taken away from the people, The Government OWNS the people.  The People cannot fight back. Yes, there should be certain restrictions such as a waiting period for certain weapons, and background checks to ensure that unstable individuals don’t get control of a weapon.  I also do not believe in a Concealed Weapon Law; in fact, I believe that if you are packing, you MUST wear it exposed on your person.  I don’t know about you, but if I see someone packing heat, I’m not going near him.  I have chosen not to own a weapon, but I will sure as hell not prevent anyone from obtaining one legally.

ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES: English MUST be the official language of the United States.  All government documents MUST be in English.  All schools MUST teach in English.  All Immigrants MUST be taught English.  You can maintain your melting pot at home and with your friends; but all business MUST be conducted in ENGLISH.  Plain and simple.   Just look at Canada: they have two official languages in French and English and they will TEACH you BOTH as an immigrant.  It works well for them and for other nations in the world; it’s about time we established English officially as our spoken language.

TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY: I believe in a woman’s right to choose to carry a baby to term or not.  For the Government to interfere in such a personal matter is unconscionable.  I personally do not like abortion; my opinion of this changed drastically as I saw my first child being born.  I would like to see more adoptions, and certainly more contraception covered my medical insurance (which would happen under a government plan).  Prevention of unwanted pregnancies reduces the number of abortions, a very simple equation.

MARRIAGE: I believe that any consenting adult (age dependent upon each State) may get married; be it heterosexual or homosexual.  All legal spousal rights apply.  Love transcends the bodies our souls happen to inhabit; it deserves to be allowed to flourish.  There is too much misery in this world already.  Also, the Government does not belong in an individuals bedroom…PERIOD.  Govern, not gawk…please!  Churches however reserve the right in accordance with their own beliefs to sanctify a marriage within religious bounds.  This the Government may not in any way override in accordance with Amendment One.  Civil marriages however, MUST be permitted IN ALL STATES WITHOUT EXCEPTION…and yes, call it MARRIAGE, because that is what it is.

EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK: All people regardless of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation MUST get the same pay in the same job.

DEATH PENALTY: I do not believe in the death penalty, except in the case of Crimes Against Humanity.  If a Napoleon (who escaped exile once) or Hitler were to rise again, imprisonment might allow their followers to free that individual to begin their reign of terror again.  It is just to kill an individual who threatens the human race.  On the other hand, murderers who commit their heinous crime that do not fall under this clause should NOT be put to death.  Instead, they should be placed in a cell with no form of communication, no books, nothing…in solitary confinement for the rest of their lives with no chance for parole.  There may be no family visits.  If evidence is found that they were wrongly convicted, they would be freed and appropriate restitution given.  It would indeed be a form of “living death” and a fitting end.  If that alone does not deter you from committing the crime, I don’t know what would.

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA: It is less harmful than alcohol or cigarettes, not physically addictive (although mentally is another matter), and may even have medicinal purposes.  Have the FDA manufacturer it, sell it, distribute it, and tax it. Guess what’s going to pay for a lot of social programs, my friends?  Lots of happy people doing bong hits, that’s what.  Some would argue that all forms of drugs be legalized, I do not.  I have seen with my own eyes what everything from alcohol to heroin can do to people; it is a horror.  No; alcohol, hashish, marijuana are fine; anything else should remain illegal.

THE MILITARY: The military should remain a completely volunteer force.  We have professional soldiers, all of them great men and women who give of themselves to serve their country.  ALL AMERICANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO JOIN THE MILITARY, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, RELIGION, SEX, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.  In other words, I support gays serving in the Armed Forces.

I’m sure I’ll think of more…but here’s the start of my laundry list.

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The Ring Means Something

I wear this white gold ring on the third finger of my left hand.  Inscribed inside are the words, “Always and Forever July 17, 1993”.  When I first put on that wedding band, I swore it would not come off my finger.  Nothing was going to break that promise I gave to my wife on that beautiful summer day in 1993…nothing.  And she has been MORE up to the task of upholding those vows than I ever could have dreamed.  We’ve been through richer and poorer, sickness and health together.  I honestly don’t understand why she stayed with me after my bi-polar PTSD addled drunken escapades over the years, but she did.  And I love her even more for it.  We’re two of a dying breed it seems.

Two nights ago, the very famous Jon and Kate announced they were getting divorced.  Just a few minutes ago, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina announced he’s been having an affair.  The bastard left his wife and kids over the weekend (on Father’s Day, no less) to go to Argentina to conduct a little “personal business”.  The worst part about it is his wife KNEW about the affair.  What political spouses will put up with these days, just in case they get into the White House.  Nice to see that the political party of “family values” continues its proud tradition of maintaining extramarital affairs.  Outside of the Obamas, I honestly think that the last happy marriage in politics was Ron and Nancy Reagan.  You can see the honesty in these two marriages as opposed to (let’s say) the convenience of the Clintons’.

It’s inevitable that people will change over the years; that’s a given.  But always deep down is the person you first fell in love with, and that is something that time NEVER changes.  It’s often burred in the Present making the Future with that person that much harder to see.  God only knows the storms my wife and I have been through, but we work things out…and it’s not just “for the kids”…it’s for US, because if our relationship isn’t working, than what good are we to our children?  Furthermore, it’s detrimental to each of us as individuals if our partnership isn’t working.

My friends all have varying track records when it comes to marriage.  My best friend has been married three times, and is SO much happier the third time around.  Another friend has been married twice and she’s gone through hell both times and is only recently starting to live her life again.  Still another friend celebrates her 20th wedding anniversary today.  Almost all of my friends (outside of my brother, myself, my daughter’s Godparents, sister-in-law,  and the aforementioned anniversary celebrant) have been divorced at least once.  One of my friends just became a widower.  I’ve been there with these guys through all the events that lead up to the unhappy separations (ranging from just complete incompatibility to having their wife run off with someone they met on the Internet).  Then I look at why my marriage is so strong and why we’ve stayed together…one simple word: love.

I knew damned well that if I didn’t stop drinking, not only would I be dead somewhere down the line, but I would have also been a dead divorcée.  I stopped because I had to and because I loved my wife more than I loved the booze…but it took a while for me to get there.  I loved the booze more than anyone or anything for a very long time, but in the end it was my wife and my love for this remarkable human being that won out.  Not everyone is so fortunate, be they an alcoholic or someone who suddenly finds that they wake up one morning and realize they no longer love the person laying next to them.  Marriage is a tough thing; no one gave you a manual nor told you it was going to be easy.  The only words you were given were those vows; and every single word means something and should be taken seriously.

So here we have the very public divorce of one celebrity couple (and don’t even get me started on these two, because that’s best left for another post); and who knows what will happen with the good Governor.  Looks like while he was rejecting an economic stimulus package for his State, he sure as hell had his own personal stimulus package that he was more than willing to accept.

I sure as hell hope he wasn’t planning to live in any houses that were white recently; because it looks like a nice brick one will do nicely.

“For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked.” – Bill Cosby

You Are Not Alone…Yes You Can!

To my Brothers and Sisters in Iran:

You are not alone.  The American People stand with you, although our Government remains silent on the matter.  They are playing the usual game of Political Brinkmanship, while you are fighting for your lives and your Freedom.  You have had your election stolen from you much in the same way we had ours taken from us in 2000…and look where that led.  When the voice of the People is heard loud and clear; when you march in solidarity…we will be there with you.  We will ALWAYS be with ANYONE who is fighting for their Freedom.  Do not stop marching, protesting, and taking back your nation.

Among all things, do not despair.  There is always hope, and justice, and freedom in the hearts and minds of all men and women on this planet.  It must be awakened.  You have awakened, and are now lighting the torch of freedom for all of the world to see.  The Internet is carrying your message throughout all Nations despite the mainstream media’s complacence or denial of the situation.  We are passing the light from your torch from one blog to the next as a sign of solidarity.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  WE ARE WITH YOU IN SPIRIT.  YES, YOU CAN!

“2.193. And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah. But if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.” – The Holy Koran

PLEASE PASS THIS BLOG POST ALONG, TRACKBACK, AND COPY IF NECESSARY INTO YOUR OWN BLOG AS A SIGN OF SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM IN IRAN.