Dancing through life...

Dear Senator,

Thomas Jefferson once said, "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

Jefferson was saying that laws must not remain immutable; as society changes, so must our laws. It is so important for us as Americans to remember that fact that the above quote is engraved on the wall of the Jefferson memorial in our nation's capital.

Preventing people from gaining the rights and responsibilites of marriage based solely on who they love is barbaric, discriminatory, and disgusting. There is absolutely no reason to prevent two people who are legally capable of entering into a contract from doing so.

I understand that you object to same sex marriage on a religious basis. I believe that it is possible to maintain your religious views without interfering in the lives and happiness of others. If the marriage equality bill passes, your marriage will still be valid. Refusing to pass marriage equality based solely on religious objection would be like a primarily Catholic area outlawing the consumption of meat on Fridays during Lent. It would not be fair to those in the area who do not practice the Catholic religion. Not outlawing meat on Fridays would not prevent practicing Catholics from abstaining from consuming meat should they choose to do so, and it would not hinder anyone else's dietary choices.

Passing the Marriage Equality bill would not harm a single soul, and would bring happiness to and improve the quality of life of thousands of New Yorkers. I am in a heterosexual relationship, and I do not believe that the status of my relationship would be affected in any way by the passage of this bill.

Quite frankly, regardless of whether Tom and George next door are roommates, friends, life partners, married, or living in sin, it's really none of my business. I believe that people who are vocally opposed to marriage equality are far too concerned with the private lives of strangers. If they are opposed to same sex marriage, for whatever reason, that's fine. They don't have to marry someone of the same sex. However, who someone else loves and wants to marry is absolutely none of their business.

I urge you to vote yes on the Marriage Equality bill, because it's time for the laws of New York State to evolve along with society. It's time for us to put on our grown-up coats, and allow all New Yorkers equal marriage rights, regardless of who they love.

Thank you,
(My Name)
(My Address)

Most of you have probably heard by now that Pat Robertson has said some pretty terrible things about the people in Haiti, about how they made a pact with the devil to get out of slavery, and that's why they live in poverty and have been struck by an earthquake.

This article posits that the reason for the backlash against Mr. Robertson is because religion is still important to many Americans.

I disagree. The author of the article says that people are speaking out against Robertson mostly because he is misrepresenting their view of Christianity, and it outrages them.

I think people are outraged at Robertson because he just said some really awful, undeserved things about people who have just suffered unimaginable tragedy. It doesn't matter if you're Christian, Jewish, atheist, Muslim, pagan, or anything else; that's offensive. Saying that anyone who experiences a natural disaster such as the earthquake in Haiti somehow brought it on themselves is....well. I just don't have the words. "Despicable" might cover it, but only just. The fact that he uses Christianity as a cover for his hatred, while not irrelevant, is secondary to the fact that he is spewing hatred at people who don't deserve it.

Jon Stewart's smack-down is really fantastic, I think. Unfortunately, Mr. Robertson probably won't change his thinking. The best we can hope for is that he learns to keep his mouth shut.

Rep. Alan Grayson: I Will Not Apologize- America Doesn't Care About Your Feelings

( Text for the link-phobic. )

'Bout damn time somebody said it!

I hope that the results of this election lead to some sort of reform within the Republican party.

(Keep in mind that I'm a registered Independant with mostly Libertarian leanings.)

( Post-election ponderings behind the cut. )

Oh, and by the way? The people who keep pointing out that Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein as if it's some sort of disqualifer can shut right the fuck up. Mr. Obama was born in 1961. Saddam Hussein wasn't even elected president of Iraq until 1979, when Barack was already eighteen years old. Saying shit like that makes you sound like a close minded idiot.

I voted! It took about two seconds! I got to pull the big red lever and promptly wash my hands as soon as I got home!

There were tons of people, but no line for my district. The little old lady who signed me in probably thought I was voting for the first time.

The one downside is that I did not get a sticker. :(

Mortgages =/= Energy.

Kthxbye.

If Sarah Palin gets into the White House, even as VP, I will be sorely tempted to move out of the country.

The woman scares the crap out of me. She has said that the war in Iraq is "God's will." I would love the opportunity to ask her what gives her the right to presume that she knows what "God's will" is.

I think she is a disgrace to American women. From what I've seen and read, it seems that she is all for taking away rights that women in this country have fought for years to acheive.

You don't like the idea of birth control? Fine. You don't have to use it. You think abortions are wrong? Fine. You don't have to get one. That is your choice, one that you have the freedom to make. Don't you dare try to take away that same freedom of choice from anyone else.

Everyone is always talking about China and their reproductive laws. You think China's bad, just wait until someone like Palin ends up in a position of power.