tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23266020341201769662024-02-08T06:48:48.927-08:00Just The FactsUdunnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648440751027806811noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326602034120176966.post-41940253135607349592011-11-19T18:54:00.000-08:002011-11-19T20:12:36.065-08:00Police vs. the "Occupy" Movement: Enough is Enough!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">This is America. We have a constitutional democracy. Well, a republic, if you want to be technical about it. Semantic technicalities notwithstanding, we still have guaranteed freedoms and rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">Two of those most basic rights are the freedom of speech, and to peaceably assemble. <i><u>For any purpose.</u></i> In this country, we have the right to disagree with our government, or anything else, including but not limited to giant corporations and financial institutions.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">When enough people get fed up with the status-quo, they are allowed, by virtue of that constitution and its Bill of Rights, to gather, march, protest, call out slogans, chant, or have a simple "sit-in." As long as it remains peaceful, it is legal. A group is not even required; a single person is allowed to protest by whatever peaceful means they choose.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">What has happened? We have the police cracking down on peaceful protesters, beating people with batons, assaulting them with pepper spray, ripping up their signs and temporary shelters, and in general, behaving exactly like underworld thugs and punks.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">All of a sudden the protesters, the "occupiers," are being treated <em>as if they are the punks,</em> and all they are doing is sitting, walking, talking, perhaps shouting chants and slogans. They are exercising their legal right to protest, object, and in general say, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">The actions of the police (<i>at the direction of city mayors, I might add)</i>, is what is illegal. Both are acting as if we have moved to someplace like Red China or Stalinist Russia. We still have our freedoms, and we need to stand up and protect them; yes, fight for them if necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Should any of the protesters, either alone or in unity with others, jump up and attempt to turn the tables, or resist their treatment at the hands of the police, they are charged with anything from ‘resisting arrest’ to ‘assault.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excuse me, but it is the cops who are doing the assaulting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>They<i> deserve </i>a taste of their own medicine!</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">After the signing of the constitution, Benjamin Franklin was asked, “What do we have?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His reply?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A republic—if you can keep it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, folks, <b>our republic <i>is under attack</i></b>, and not from external terrorists, but from inside our own government!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to wake up, rise up, and fight to retain our rights!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">The most egregious example is the excuse used for this wave of squelching the rights and freedoms of the individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is called “The Patriot Act.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was enacted soon after the 9-11 attacks, and was nothing more than a smoke-and-mirrors falsehood to keep the populace quiet, and try to make them feel safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><em><strong>Well, bullshit!</strong></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no polite way to put it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stripped many of our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, and jeopardizes others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the motivation behind the current behavior by police, city mayors, and now, even, apparently college chancellors!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>College!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of all places, where the right to protest and the lessons about our freedoms should be in the forefront of the curriculum, is now a stage being used to show off the force and might of the bullies in uniforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FOR SHAME!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">Here’s another surprise:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That so-called “patriot act?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, in and of itself, illegal, unconstitutional, and therefore worthy of being ignored and not enforced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It is <u><em>the worst oxymoron</em></u>, and most <strong><em>un-patriotic edict ever enacted!</em></strong> </span>What needs to happen is for everyone to demand its repeal, and assert themselves even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not be bullied and cowed by The Powers That Be (TPTB), or you and your children and your grandchildren for generations forward, will pay the price of having watched this once great nation slide into the darkness of dictatorship, just like the ones we are claiming to battle around the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">For what business do we have messing about in other countries’ affairs, preaching about “human rights violations,” when our own government is not practicing what it preaches?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to tend to the constitutionally guaranteed rights of our own citizens, and tell TPTB to MYOB and stop harassing their own citizens, and <u>violating<strong><em> our</em></strong> human rights</u>, in the name of some nebulous, imaginary threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><strong><em><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">NOW, GO FORTH AND OCCUPY!<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></u></em></strong></span>Udunnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648440751027806811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326602034120176966.post-67972583528813263022011-11-14T00:42:00.000-08:002011-11-14T00:53:48.906-08:00As the Holiday Season Approaches...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Christians, prepare to be both offended and educated.)</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the time when many people take stock of the year as it comes to a close, make decisions for the following year, and plan all kinds of celebrations with family and friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is great. It is all well and good. However, there is certain misinformation widely distributed at this time of year, and while I have no problem with people observing whatever religious persuasion they choose, <em>I do have a problem with it being incessantly shoved in my face.</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our Constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion likewise assures freedom <strong>from religion</strong> for those who do not believe, or who follow a different path. Yet, as we shop the stores from almost before Halloween has even arrived, our ears are assaulted by Christmas music in nearly every store we visit until the very day before Christmas itself. The Christian view and its music is virtually shoved down our throats at every turn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Christmas holiday takes on a life of its own that has <em>nothing to do with religion or religious beliefs,</em> and everything to do with corporate greed. It is the biggest mass-marketing push of the year. You can shop for a late November birthday gift if you wish, but know this: the store will count it into its Christmas sales figures!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few persons of this particular religious persuasion will grumble about the commercialization of the holiday, trying to remind the rest that, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." <em><u>Unfortunately, they are just as wrong.</u></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The day on which Christians celebrate the birth of their "lord" has nothing to do with the birth of an infant many years ago and far away. That person was not born in winter--the evidence for that is in the very music of the season...shepherds would not be out in the middle of winter in the snow with their flocks..they'd die of exposure, and there would be no grass for the sheep to nibble. No, winter is barn and hay time. So, the Christ Child was more likely born in spring or summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What really happened, here then? The early church was struggling desperately for converts. They used all sorts of nefarious schemes to gain them, including threats of death and seizure of property. Most fell into line, if begrudgingly. In those days, people still worshipped a pantheon of older gods and goddesses even pre-dating Roman and Greek traditions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In December, the Winter Solstice occurs, and was celebrated back then with great feasts, and many fires, candles, torches, and so forth, to drive back the darkness of winter, and make hope for the return of Spring and her light and warmth. Some of the pagan sects made offerings of food to their gods; others may have made blood sacrifices. It was a horrific time to try and survive a winter in meager shelters with little in the way of warm clothing. Many died over winter. It was a scary time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The feasted, they drank, they danced and made merry to chase the fear, the dark, the cold. Just around the 25th of the month was the Saturnalia celebration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of the reluctant converts still practiced their old ways in secret, only pretending to believe in this new religion, simply to save their lives and their land, if they had any. The church noticed this, and took advantage of the fact by simply piggy-backing the celebrations they wanted to emphasize onto the pagan celebrations already happening. Hence, they decided to <u><strong>assign</strong></u> the birth of Christ onto the same date as the Saturnalia. Bingo! Instant (apparent) compliance with the church-mandated celebration!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In fact, the church probably knew, or suspected the real motives behind the celebrants' partying, but they looked the other way at first, satisfying themselves that they had "won" and convinced the popluation to believe as the church directed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over time, however, as the elders of the population died off, and new people were born, the people forgot the old ways. Gradually, stricter rules were put into place by the church, and they began to have an iron fisted will over their subjects. Enter the crusades and other horrors such as the Spanish Inquisition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, and by the way, the original meaning of "pagan" back in those days was simply a person of the country, or countryman ... meaning of the land...a simple person. There was no negative connotation as <em><u>the church later characterized the word</u></em>. "Pagan" <em>does not mean</em> devil-worship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nowadays, we hear all kinds of whining from the Christian community about all the things wrong with this "holy" season. They are offended when people say "Happy Holidays," instead of "Merry Christmas." Well, excuse you, but not everyone you meet is a Christian!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why would you expect them to offer you a greeting pertaining to <em>your</em> <em>particular</em> religious celebration? There are far more religions than just Christians that have celebrations at this time of year. So, insistence on "Merry Christmas" as the only appropriate greeting is a very chauvinistic and bigoted viewpoint. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Do you Christians put up a tree? String your house with lights? Teach your children about Santa? These are all remnants from the original Pagan traditions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I ask, why should you be any more offended than a Jewish person, to whom no one says "Happy Chanukah?" What about those who celebrate Kwanzaa? Don't they have an equal right to be offended by your "Merry Christmas?" I am pagan, and proud of it. Shouldn't people greet me with "Happy Yuletide" or "Merry Saturnalia?" No, that should not be expected of them. I don't celebrate the Christian holidays; and I don't expect you to celebrate mine. <u><em>I<strong> am</strong> offended</em></u> that the focus of the season is exclusively Christian in its basis. There are many winter celebrations, so, in fact, <em><u>"Happy Holidays" <strong>is</strong> the more proper, all-encompassing greeting that leaves out no one!</u></em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I have put up with this in silence for decades. The silence has ended. I am tired of hearing Christmas Carols in every store for 2 solid months; so the next time someone says "Jesus is the Reason for the Season," they need not expect a polite answer. <em>There are <u><strong>many</strong></u> 'reasons for the season,'</em> and the Jesus one was trumped up centuries ago. So--</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><strong>HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!</strong></span></div>Udunnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648440751027806811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326602034120176966.post-53356626593259097602011-04-26T19:14:00.000-07:002011-04-26T19:38:58.227-07:00Unjust Treatment in the Name of Justice<div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Foreword: <em>This is a copy, by permission, of a letter this author received following a discussion of a TV news report. The report had reduced her to tears, and she followed up with this write-up, explaining her outburst.</em></span></strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"><em><strong>All names (including the name of the author of this letter), have been changed, and specifics have been omitted or altered to protect the innocent and those associated with them.</strong></em></span></div><div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">By<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>S.W. Garletta</span></div><div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">I want to see Megan’s Law repealed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shocked?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you consider yourself a fair, open-minded person, you will keep reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you refuse to read further, you are one of those who are part of the problem.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The majority of this piece simply points out the facts and fictions about this law, and uses imaginary examples, or those culled from news broadcasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there is a part of this essay that involves a personal and true story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with many such true stories, in which there are living persons whose privacy needs to remain protected, the names, locations, and exact circumstances have been altered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The central facts, however, are absolutely true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know them to be true, because my own husband is one of the unfortunates caught up in this web of lies and fear mongering woven by our government!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>I have read the files, and know I am right.</u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the surface of it, the so-called Megan’s Law seems to be a good idea:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>warn those with children when a sexual offender lives in or moves into their neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In practice, the law is horribly flawed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i><u>It simply does not work </u></i>as intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, <u>it is important to keep in mind that what happened to poor little Megan was <em>not</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a sexual assault alone—she was murdered!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, to place sexual-only attacks in the same category is just plain wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Do not misunderstand: </span>I make no excuses or justifications for those who have inappropriate sexual encounters with young children, and I do not deny that such events are horribly traumatic for the child and the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, with therapy, recovery is possible. There is no therapy or recovery from murder, however, <em><u>and that is why<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Megan’s case should not be the basis for these unjust laws.</u></em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The first and most terrible flaw is that it has been ruled unconstitutional in just about every single state or jurisdiction, which has such laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government does not care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The politicians push these laws to gain votes in election years in order to appear “tough on crime.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do not give a rat’s ass about either the victims or the perpetrators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All they care about is gaining votes to keep them in office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personal gain is their sole motivation. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> (Personally, I’d be more concerned if a convicted murderer moved into the area;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and this does happen.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Murderers, however, are not required to report their locations or register with a state or county agency on a yearly basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where are they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one knows.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is not to suggest that I want a database established for these, <em>or any other person who has duly served their time and been released back into society</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such laws, in addition to being unconstitutional, are highly discriminatory and counter-productive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Part of the reason "Megan's Law" is unconstitutional is because the people required to register on these lists are in fact, continuing to be punished, and ‘serve time’ despite the fact that they have served their time and have been released from prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even after they have completed their parole period with no infractions, still they must register.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <em><u>is, in effect, a <strong>life </strong>sentence.</u></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For this reason, i</span>t can also be seen as double jeopardy, remaining accused for a lifetime for the same ‘crime’ for which they already served, and in the majority of cases, been "rehabilitated." I put that word in quotes because in many, many cases, the law was incorrectly applied, and they were not, in fact, guilty of the charges putting them into this category, so "rehabilitation" was not even needed!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> For example, if something happens within a family setting, while it is certainly not</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> "the right thing to do," <em>there is a different set of laws</em> to be applied, and the person is not supposed to be classified as 'stranger-predator.' No one cares! People in such circumstances still get caught in the same trap, all because some D.A. wants to "look tough on crime."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The law <strong><u>is</u></strong> applied illegally<em> <u>most of the time</u></em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People such as my husband, (I’ll call him "Timothy"), are placed on this list <strong>in <u>direct violation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) rules</u></strong> when the circumstances in their situation are <i><u>spelled out in the DOJ rules as being <strong>exempt</strong> from registration and internet publication.</u></i> This is the case, (and there are a couple of other situations as well)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if whatever it was happened within a family unit, rather than a so-called ‘stranger predetation.’)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The DOJ <u>does not care</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone even charged with anything remotely and ridiculously classified as a ‘sexual offense’ gets caught in this web. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not scoff!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><u><i>It can happen to you</i>!</u></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever been on a long drive, and “had to go” but there were no rest stops, small towns, big cities, or any other stopping place with any ‘facilities’ anywhere near?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do most folks do in this situation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Correct!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pull off the side of the road, hunker down as best as possible beside the car, and relieve themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ooops!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get caught, and get slapped with a ‘sexual offender’ charge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ridiculous?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unjust? Incorrect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You bet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it happens, and more often than you would think.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Equally scary is the devastation of the lives of young people by this kind of unfair, unconstitutional laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of anyone’s <u><em>opinion</em></u> about whether or not teenagers should simply ‘abstain’ from sexual activity, <u><em>the <strong>fact</strong> is, they do not</em></u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We humans are sexual animals, (yes, animals—look up the dictionary definition of ‘mammal’ -- we are among them), and face it--sex feels good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Despite the wishful-thinking of the extreme right-wing "moralists," </span><u><em>We are not designed for abstinence</em></u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Need proof?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Just l</span>ook at all the scandals involving priests!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now, if the teenagers involved are both under 18, there is no real problem <u><em><strong>with the law</strong></em></u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be plenty of other problems, but <em>I will not go into that here.</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This article is strictly about the Megan’s Law snafus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s take an imaginary couple of kids, I’ll call them<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Grace” and “Billy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suppose they have known each other all their lives, and actually have a deep and caring relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll put "Grace" at just a month shy of her 18<sup>th</sup> birthday, and "Billy" at having just turned 18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace will be graduating from high school, and the two plan to get married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now, let’s examine how Megan’s Law will come into play to totally foul up their plans for the rest of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll say they had relations, and somehow, someone else found out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technically, under the law, "Grace" is still a ‘minor child,’ and "Billy" is technically now an adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what happens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>Billy" gets slapped with a sexual offender charge, and there is no allowable defense as the law currently stands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may go to jail for several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much for their impending marriage!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law simply dumps every single case into the same basket, and refuses to take individual circumstances, or <em><u>non-predatory situations</u></em> into consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once "Billy" gets out of jail, he’ll now have to register as a “sex offender” <b><i><u>for the rest of his life!!!</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b>Guess what that does to his chances to find work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s going to show up on background checks, and he will be denied any kind of reasonable job, even though he did not hurt anyone, was not a predator, and was simply with the girl he loved and planned to marry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Regardless of laws prohibiting discrimination; regardless of laws encouraging employers to hire ex-cons to give them a fresh start, this unfair denial of employment still happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, the employer will cover their backside by giving some other bogus reason, but the truth is, they are ‘spooked’ by the ‘sex offender’ stigma, and will deny employment in far too many cases.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maybe he is lucky, and "Grace" waited for him and stuck by him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they do finally get to marry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, given that his name is on the offender registry for any member of the public to find, not only will he have trouble finding a decent job to support any family they may have, but by association, "Grace" will also be judged and ostracized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will have trouble finding friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People will talk about them behind their backs and point fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All for no good reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither of them hurt anyone, but the both of them have been irreparably hurt for the rest of their lives, simply because they loved each other, <u>and the government saw fit to stick its nose into someone’s private bedroom</u>!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A very recent story on the news, in fact, involved a 17-year-old male who became involved with, and had relations with a 20-year-old school employee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone with a head on their shoulders and two brain cells inside knows very well the interests and hormonal levels of a 17-year-old male!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is not a single doubt in my mind that this was a consensual affair, and not a “molestation” by the female school employee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em><u>I will not disagree that it was inappropriate</u></em>, but it can in no way be classified as a molestation or rape. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had to be mutual consent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young man of that age has plenty of strength to fend off any female not armed with a weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No weapons were involved in the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next thing that most people are aware of about males of that age, is an irresistible urge to boast about ‘conquests.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt it came to light and they got caught because the kid could not keep his mouth shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the school employee has to register as a ‘sex offender’ for the balance of her life, it will be a grave injustice for having a single lapse in good judgment.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most people are cowards of the first water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon seeing someone’s name on this list, especially that of a neighbor, they will immediately <i>assume </i>that the person is a horrible monster, and will have nothing to do with that person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><em>(Remember what ASSUME spells: it makes an Ass out of U and Me!)</em> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Worse, they will probably blab their “findings” all over the place to anyone who will listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the rare person who will actually approach the listed individual themselves and ask for their side of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That has happened only once with my "Timothy."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Megan’s Law list is so full of inaccuracies and illegal listings as to be worse than useless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are duplicate listings, making it appear as if there are far more so-called ‘predators’ on the loose than is the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are countless inclusions of people placed on the list illegally, as with "Timothy," whose personal circumstances <em><u>specifically exempt him from being on that list</u></em> as spelled out in the DOJ’s own rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those rules are routinely ignored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once someone is on that list, it is next to impossible to be removed, even if they are listed illegally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the ‘simple form’ that a person can fill out to verify their circumstances and ask for removal will come back with a denial, based on some obscure excuse not even listed on the original form.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are entire law firms basing their business around getting people off this list if they have been unjustly placed there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this costs a lot of money, and as we have seen, people caught in this web are very likely to be in dead-end low-paying jobs without the resources to hire legal help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this country, you get all the justice you can afford to buy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Remember O.J. Simpson?)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">What happened with my "Timothy" was especially unjust, because when he began serving time, there was no such law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was implemented after he had been incarcerated for a few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He should not have been jailed in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why was he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because he is an ethical, chivalrous person, and took the rap to protect the person actually responsible for what happened, that being his ex-wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a made-up excuse or lie he tells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He believes in the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I said, I have seen the files, and know the facts of the matter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The media is in large part to blame for this widespread injustice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just love to sensationalize and blow things way out of proportion to the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>“If it bleeds, it leads</i>” is a guiding principle in modern journalism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never mind the facts—those are boring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another thing to keep in mind:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is possible to report facts and still cast a false light on any subject with the <i>lie of omission</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By simply neglecting to include other important points, the news reports put a spin that will sell advertising time for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not too concerned with the <u>full</u> facts.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rarely, an in-depth news show will offer more balanced coverage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the case with a 20/20 episode, which aired a few years back, exposing the <u>problems with the Megan’s Law registry and all the errors.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, 20/20 is not a news show watched by ‘the mainstream audience’ to which regular network news is targeted, so there is not a wide base of people aware of the problems.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another problem with these statistics, as was pointed out in the 20/20 segment:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong><em><u>The vast majority of so-called ‘child abduction’ cases are actually family custody disputes of one sort or another,</u></em></strong> yet they are lumped in with the ‘stranger predation’ cases just the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mainstream media and politicians would have their viewers and constituents quaking in fear of a predator waiting behind every bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is simply not the case—far from it!!</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The main factor which people seem to be totally blind to is this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em><u>the people on that registry are not the ones to be afraid of!!!</u></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are doing as required by this foolish law, in spite of how horribly it affects their personal lives and the lives of those close to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people the public should be concerned about do not appear on any of these lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the lists only account for those who actually go through with the registration! This law is nothing more than a "feel-good" prescription for the public, and does nothing at all to deter the actual dangerous true predators, (who are very rare anyhow). Why? Because:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The truly dangerous ones are not in compliance, do not register, and no one knows where they are at any given time! </span></i></b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></u></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><u> </u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A far better strategy than having these cumbersome, illegal, unconstitutional and problem-causing registries is to simply use some common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not fall for the fear mongering tactics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is with laws such as these that our freedoms become eroded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the powers-that-be can get away with revoking constitutionally guaranteed rights from one group of people on some trumped-up excuse, they will gradually take more and more rights away from everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We may not like that there are some rotten, evil people out there in the world, but ‘twas ever thus: they have always existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To try and live in some kind of bubble, or put people in lifetime classifications and cages simply does not work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making use of our own inner strengths, learning self-defense, and teaching our youngsters self-defense as well is more useful and far less expensive and less draining on limited resources, especially in an ailing economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If physical education classes in school incorporated self-defense techniques, it would serve a two-fold purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, kids would be far less vulnerable to the (very rare) predators that exist; the secondary benefit is that it would end bullying by other kids, because the bully types would know that everyone knows how to defend against an attack, thereby rendering the bullies powerless.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s stop the madness, stop the injustice, stop the fear mongering, stop the erosion of our freedoms, and get these registry laws repealed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do far more harm than good.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><i><u>The denial of <strong>anyone’s</strong> rights is the denial of <strong>all our rights</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></u></i></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>Udunnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648440751027806811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326602034120176966.post-31482616210443054612011-04-24T21:08:00.000-07:002011-04-24T21:47:50.077-07:00Right Wing Miscalculations<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The right-wing side of the current arguments now happening between Republicans and Democrats on the subject of such already-decided issues as Roe v. Wade and other related topics surrounding "the family," including not only a woman's right to choose, but the new hot-button topic of whether or not "gays" should be allowed to adopt children are flawed from the inside-out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Republican right-wingers want us to go back to the dark ages and the bad old days, when women and children were thought of as property, and the fathers, husbands and society at large (<em>meaning male persons in a position of authority</em>) could order them around as they saw fit. The typical Republican view of what they so ironically refer to as "the family," or "family values" centers around only their own selfish interests and desires. <u>They do not respect women, but regard them only as breeding machines and housecleaners</u>. I would not be at all surprised if their next move was to try to overturn women's right to vote!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The problem with their so-called "family-centered" arguments about fertility, childbearing, abortion, gays and gay rights, is that <u><em>these ideas are based solely upon thier own personal religious beliefs. </em></u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Excuse me, but according to the Constitution, we do have freedom of religion in this country! By extension, that also includes <em><u>freedom from religion</u></em> for anyone who may feel no need to subscribe to any church. Just like the rest of the population of the country, these extra-conservative folks have every right go believe in whatever religion or religious value system they wish--<strong>in private</strong>! <u><em>What they do not have</em></u>, is the right to cram their beliefs down everyone else's throat by means of making laws to favor their own view.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">They will, for example, use an argument along the lines of, "...not wanting their tax dollares spent on abortions." That is all well and good, <em>but maybe I don't want<strong> my</strong> tax dollars spent of bombs!</em> So there! We're even! Not everyone gets their way. But that still does not give them the right to override our Constitutional guarantees with bigotry and predjudicial laws. We have come a long way, and the right-wing conservatives want to take us backwards in time. This group of loudmouthed selfish-interest people are so clueless and out of touch with reality that it is scary!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">While it is true that the Constitution's wording only says that the </span><a href="http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am1"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">government shall not provide for or endorse any specific religion, </span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">(1st amendment to the constitution; click link for exact wording), the fact of the matter is that <em>what these ultra-conservative sharpies are trying to do is make an end-run around that wording</em>, and create laws which reflect their own personal religious agendas, <strong>thereby violating both the letter and the spirit of the Constitutional 1st amendment rights.</strong> If allowed to have things their way, it will amount to the creation of what might as well be 'state religion' despite the 1st amendment law against doing so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is worse, is that <u>these right-wingers are in no way the majority of the population</u>!! They are simply the noisiest and most visible. (The squeaky wheel gets the grease.) If they are not stopped, we will end up under a dictatorship with <strong>all </strong>of<strong> </strong>our constitutional rights revoked!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><em><strong>We must not allow this to happen.</strong></em></u> The rest of us have to stop 'laying down and taking it' in the shorts, and stand up for our rights, and become an even squeakier wheel and demand an end to this attempted overthrow of the Constitution of these United States!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">We must all become activists against the right wing. Yes, it's work. Yes, it can be risky. How much do you value your freedoms?</span>Udunnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648440751027806811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326602034120176966.post-72664395915206689162011-04-24T18:15:00.001-07:002011-04-24T18:21:16.903-07:00Blog Description and IntroductionOk, here it is..the unadulterated truth. What I say here will no doubt cause great disagreement by many people. Good. If they disagree, that means they read it. Those are the very people who need to see this information!<br />
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Education in not necessarily about being comfortable. Learning involves change, and not too many like change. Especially the well-to-do. They have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are.Udunnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648440751027806811noreply@blogger.com