by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
There was a lot of big news across the nation last week - the continuing rage against official displays of the Confederate flag, for example, or President Obama's beautiful eulogy for the Charleston shooting victims. And the Supreme Court helped to insure medical care for millions with its second affirmative decision on Obamacare.
But there was also another decision from the Supreme Court last week that overshadowed the momentous one on Obamacare, and it has stirred the emotions of people from coast to coast - making some jubilant while inflaming others. That decision was the one which essentially made gay marriage the law of the land. It is proving to be a bitter, bitter pill for some people to swallow, and many influence peddlers and public officials seem determined to either ignore or openly violate the Court's decision.
The United States Supreme Court was an extremely popular institution in right-wing circles back in 2000 when five of the nine justices got together, probably over bourbon and branch water, and made George W. Bush the President of the United States. Now, even though the membership of the Court is more conservative than it was then, it is viewed by some of those on the right fringe as "imperial." After the Obamacare vote and the gay marriage decision, more than a few conservatives are openly talking about changing to Constitution to limit the powers of the Court - perhaps even having the justices stand for a public vote of renewal every few years.
Others, though, have gone even further and have declared that they will not abide by the Court's decision on gay marriage. Ken Paxton, the GOP attorney general of Texas, quickly declared that state workers in his state do not have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if doing so runs counter to their religious beliefs. Paxton also said that judges may refuse to marry same-sex couples on the same religious grounds. The Texas attorney general isn't going to take the legal heat for it, though. He said that those same workers and judges could be sued for their actions - or lack of action - but he felt that many good Texas lawyers would quickly step forward and defend those God-fearing patriots for free. So basically Ken was encouraging Texas officials to break the law and wishing them well in their efforts to do so - while keeping himself safely above the fray - barely.
A wall along the Texas border sounds like a good idea - its northern border!
But it was former Arkansas GOP governor (and 2016 presidential candidate) Mike Huckabee who yelled the loudest. Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and Fox News television personality, decried the decision from the "imperial" Court and gave his opinion that county officials did not have to issue marriage licenses to gay folk because to do so would countermand the will of God. Huck apparently has no issue at all with the wall between church and state - to him it just simply does not exist. (He also said this week that if he is elected President, he would be setting up a nativity scene on the White House lawn at Christmastime. One has to wonder if he will opt for the historically correct black baby Jesus.)
(I recently changed a key member of my medical care team because the doctor in question ran an ad on the front page of our little "trader" newspaper, a free rag that prints only advertisements and personals. He was going to be conducting a study group on Biblical healthy living practices. When it comes to physicians, I want mine deeply and firmly rooted in science. And when it comes to elected officials, especially ones who will be responsible for tackling environmental issues like global warming and other things that could ultimately end life on the planet, I prefer those be steeped in science as well.)
Some are moaning that with last week's decisions, God has forsaken America. It is just as likely, I suspect, that God has suddenly returned from Her holiday on Pluto to check in on Her people farm here on Earth - and She has made some much needed adjustments. Maybe She will ultimately be able to save us all from the hate-mongering Christians.
Pray for peace, fight for justice.
Citizen Journalist
There was a lot of big news across the nation last week - the continuing rage against official displays of the Confederate flag, for example, or President Obama's beautiful eulogy for the Charleston shooting victims. And the Supreme Court helped to insure medical care for millions with its second affirmative decision on Obamacare.
But there was also another decision from the Supreme Court last week that overshadowed the momentous one on Obamacare, and it has stirred the emotions of people from coast to coast - making some jubilant while inflaming others. That decision was the one which essentially made gay marriage the law of the land. It is proving to be a bitter, bitter pill for some people to swallow, and many influence peddlers and public officials seem determined to either ignore or openly violate the Court's decision.
The United States Supreme Court was an extremely popular institution in right-wing circles back in 2000 when five of the nine justices got together, probably over bourbon and branch water, and made George W. Bush the President of the United States. Now, even though the membership of the Court is more conservative than it was then, it is viewed by some of those on the right fringe as "imperial." After the Obamacare vote and the gay marriage decision, more than a few conservatives are openly talking about changing to Constitution to limit the powers of the Court - perhaps even having the justices stand for a public vote of renewal every few years.
Others, though, have gone even further and have declared that they will not abide by the Court's decision on gay marriage. Ken Paxton, the GOP attorney general of Texas, quickly declared that state workers in his state do not have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if doing so runs counter to their religious beliefs. Paxton also said that judges may refuse to marry same-sex couples on the same religious grounds. The Texas attorney general isn't going to take the legal heat for it, though. He said that those same workers and judges could be sued for their actions - or lack of action - but he felt that many good Texas lawyers would quickly step forward and defend those God-fearing patriots for free. So basically Ken was encouraging Texas officials to break the law and wishing them well in their efforts to do so - while keeping himself safely above the fray - barely.
A wall along the Texas border sounds like a good idea - its northern border!
But it was former Arkansas GOP governor (and 2016 presidential candidate) Mike Huckabee who yelled the loudest. Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and Fox News television personality, decried the decision from the "imperial" Court and gave his opinion that county officials did not have to issue marriage licenses to gay folk because to do so would countermand the will of God. Huck apparently has no issue at all with the wall between church and state - to him it just simply does not exist. (He also said this week that if he is elected President, he would be setting up a nativity scene on the White House lawn at Christmastime. One has to wonder if he will opt for the historically correct black baby Jesus.)
Wiggle like a stick, waddle like a duck
That's what you do when you do the Hucklebuck.
(I recently changed a key member of my medical care team because the doctor in question ran an ad on the front page of our little "trader" newspaper, a free rag that prints only advertisements and personals. He was going to be conducting a study group on Biblical healthy living practices. When it comes to physicians, I want mine deeply and firmly rooted in science. And when it comes to elected officials, especially ones who will be responsible for tackling environmental issues like global warming and other things that could ultimately end life on the planet, I prefer those be steeped in science as well.)
Some are moaning that with last week's decisions, God has forsaken America. It is just as likely, I suspect, that God has suddenly returned from Her holiday on Pluto to check in on Her people farm here on Earth - and She has made some much needed adjustments. Maybe She will ultimately be able to save us all from the hate-mongering Christians.
Pray for peace, fight for justice.
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