It is so very freakin' hot! I hate summer...HATE IT! 'Tis the season to burn to a crisp and die of heat exhaustion.
I have, however, found a site where you can buy islands and even rent them...hmm...maybe that's what I need to do...rent an island. I'm sure the heat would be much more bearable if it was accompanied by ocean waves and palm trees.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness
That, my friends, is all that we are guaranteed. Just those three things. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.
Not a whole hell of a lot, is it?
Or is it?
Think about it. The right to life is a pretty big deal in and of itself. It means that you have the right to live, which is more than some people have. Then you have the right to liberty, which is also more than most people in the world have.
Finally, you have the right to pursue happiness. Note that you do not have a right to happiness, but you do have the right to the pursuit of happiness. In my humble opinion, this means that you can do whatever you want to be happy, with one little catch.
You can't do anything that takes away someone else's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, because every other American has the same rights. This is why you can't go around killing people that piss you off, nor can you prevent someone from doing something just because you find it morally wrong. Unless the actions of others are causing you harm, you can't stop them.
Now I know there are a lot of 'religious' folks out there who like to invoke Jesus and the Bible into their arguments. Please, tell me where in the Constitution of the United States it says that the Bible is the law of the land. You can't because it doesn't. The Constitution is the law of the land, and what you think the Founding Fathers intended doesn't amount to a hill of beans. I know it pains you, but non-Christians have the same rights as Christians do. Get over it.
If you find homosexual behavior to be morally reprehensible, then you are most likely heterosexual and therefore not likely to engage in homosexual behavior. Therefore, it does not concern you. Two men or two women getting married is NOT a threat to the institution of marriage, unless someone can explain how gays and lesbians getting married is going to prevent straight couples from getting married. Are you afraid that all of the good wedding planners and florists will be too busy with the homos to help you with your wedding?
Speaking of non-Christians, thank you President Bush for stating that Wicca is not a religion. Wicca is a religion, and one that is far older than Christianity. Yet the Department of Veterans Affairs does not recognize Wicca as a religion and as a result, a follower of Wicca who dies for his or her country cannot get the Pentacle on his or her military marker (Fallen Soldier's Family Wants Wiccan Marker). I have absolutely no faith that this man will ever get the honor that he -- and all members, past and present -- of the military deserve, which is a marker that reflects the faith of his choice. His family should be able to get his marker with Donald Duck on it if that is what he would have wanted. It is no one's place to tell others what is or is not acceptible. If it doesn't harm anyone else, then no one should be able to prevent it. Or can someone explain to me how having a pentacle on the gravestone of a fallen soldier can possible interfere with someone else's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
This is where we've gone wrong. We seem to have forgotten that other people have the same right to the pursuit of happiness and instead want everything to center around our own pursuits and beliefs.
On second thought, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness IS a hell of a lot, but only if we learn to let EVERYONE enjoy those rights.
Not a whole hell of a lot, is it?
Or is it?
Think about it. The right to life is a pretty big deal in and of itself. It means that you have the right to live, which is more than some people have. Then you have the right to liberty, which is also more than most people in the world have.
Finally, you have the right to pursue happiness. Note that you do not have a right to happiness, but you do have the right to the pursuit of happiness. In my humble opinion, this means that you can do whatever you want to be happy, with one little catch.
You can't do anything that takes away someone else's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, because every other American has the same rights. This is why you can't go around killing people that piss you off, nor can you prevent someone from doing something just because you find it morally wrong. Unless the actions of others are causing you harm, you can't stop them.
Now I know there are a lot of 'religious' folks out there who like to invoke Jesus and the Bible into their arguments. Please, tell me where in the Constitution of the United States it says that the Bible is the law of the land. You can't because it doesn't. The Constitution is the law of the land, and what you think the Founding Fathers intended doesn't amount to a hill of beans. I know it pains you, but non-Christians have the same rights as Christians do. Get over it.
If you find homosexual behavior to be morally reprehensible, then you are most likely heterosexual and therefore not likely to engage in homosexual behavior. Therefore, it does not concern you. Two men or two women getting married is NOT a threat to the institution of marriage, unless someone can explain how gays and lesbians getting married is going to prevent straight couples from getting married. Are you afraid that all of the good wedding planners and florists will be too busy with the homos to help you with your wedding?
Speaking of non-Christians, thank you President Bush for stating that Wicca is not a religion. Wicca is a religion, and one that is far older than Christianity. Yet the Department of Veterans Affairs does not recognize Wicca as a religion and as a result, a follower of Wicca who dies for his or her country cannot get the Pentacle on his or her military marker (Fallen Soldier's Family Wants Wiccan Marker). I have absolutely no faith that this man will ever get the honor that he -- and all members, past and present -- of the military deserve, which is a marker that reflects the faith of his choice. His family should be able to get his marker with Donald Duck on it if that is what he would have wanted. It is no one's place to tell others what is or is not acceptible. If it doesn't harm anyone else, then no one should be able to prevent it. Or can someone explain to me how having a pentacle on the gravestone of a fallen soldier can possible interfere with someone else's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
This is where we've gone wrong. We seem to have forgotten that other people have the same right to the pursuit of happiness and instead want everything to center around our own pursuits and beliefs.
On second thought, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness IS a hell of a lot, but only if we learn to let EVERYONE enjoy those rights.
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