Iowa has beaten California and New York...

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Can’t believe that the Supreme Court in Iowa of all places has passed the same sex marriage law. Iowa has addressed a law that more “liberal” states still can’t seem to realize?
The thing that bothered me about the recent California constitutional ban of same sex marriages is that quotes are often used to state that 60% (or more or less) of the people polled in the state are against same sex marriages so therefore they shouldn’t have them.

This on an emotional level perhaps works for people but on a legal level should be a civil rights issue. Do gay people have the same rights as straight people in this country?
If not, why not? Are they lesser citizens, inferior to others and therefore not to be afforded the same rights to be happily/unhappily married as everyone else, to live and work where they choose?
This very discrimination has been used in the past to segregate other groups to prevent them from exerting their rights in this country.
Even if it’s an unpopular legal issue in some quarters that doesn’t make it right or appropriate to discriminate against a group of people then sanction against them with laws.

If public opinion of some states or the federal government was that there should be no civil rights for blacks, children, elderly or women in this country would we have ever passed the necessary laws to protect their respective rights as a nation? Even the right to practice different religions is upheld and protected by the laws and government.

I’m sorry but whatever I personally think on the subject doesn’t matter in the sense that the group consensus is not always right legally. We cannot allow prejudice to rule the laws of our land any more than we can condone a mob with pitchforks that takes justice into its own hands.

So come on California, New York and elsewhere, the issue isn’t really the definition of marriage, if gay people are allowed the right to get married it won’t lessen my marriage or anyone else’s.
It’s about civil rights and who controls or gets to have them over others.

G’night.
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The Obama show... or five days till E-Day... yay!

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So tonight Barack Obama had his half hour of fame...
Added onto all those other hours of fame, that is.
Actually it was pretty good. Very human.
But there will be howling about it I'm sure.
Who cares. Most folk have their minds made up, lets just vote!
So much hate is out there, so much fear mongering.
Obama is a good man.
McCain is also a good man.
Though I think ole John is running a much more negative campaign.
It may be time to change from the old politics of divisiveness and fear-
to move into the future.

I see complaints about his not addressing the budget limitations that will strap either candidate that gets in office.
Well, they both are a little delusional folks... all politicians are.
McCain is very nasty about universal health care but we do need it in some form.
Even if Barack doesn't get to do all the things he wants to (and none of them do) he will try and frankly anything that benefits the working class, small business owners and the little guy will be an improvement in this government.
I've carefully gone over both candidates

I don't believe that McCain gets it, I'm sorry. He lives in a wealthy world where the rest of us do not.
He has lived in that world of extravagance for a very long time.
Once a while ago he was a POW, a maverick, a straight talker.
I feel he has lost his way.
Both sides can point fingers at each other but it wastes so much time and energy.
Both men are decent American citizens.
Palin is not ready at this juncture in time to take on the presidency.
We had enough inexperience with George Bush, enough fuzzy thinking, he had some political experience but no real education, no curiosity for knowledge and the criteria for voting for him seemed to be "I'd like to have a beer with him, he's like me."

Forget it. I don't want a president that I could slug down beer with and bullshit about nothing. I can go down to the local watering holes and listen to lots of people solving all the world problems from a bar stool. I'd rather find someone really smart that is far more experienced in the way of the government than me, who would gather together all the best and most intelligent problem solvers in our country to help run the United States of America and lead us into the future.
And hope to hell that they are way too busy working (unlike Bush) to have time for socializing with me.
Hell, I don't even have to like them enough to want to sit down and talk to them... I just want them to look out for our interests within the country and elsewhere in the world.

I worry about all the fear, blame and hatred out there right now.
Against so many people like- foreigners, liberals, right wingers, muslims, blacks, hispanics, jews, poor people, homosexuals, lesbians... the list goes on and only leaves a few groups out.

Barack Obama is a good man, he and his wife have worked from rather humble beginnings to get the education and opportunity they now have. They have an adorable family. They are strong and good people.
I would be proud to have them represent me if Obama wins.

Off for now. Some writing to catch up on.
I have ordered a camera and will play with some videos next week.
Might be back later on.

Laura

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