First Published 10-18-10
Fifteen days until the election and the buzz around town is all about social issues. 9.6% unemployment, the worst economy since the Great Depression, two wars, and the politicians are talking about social issues. Well I might as well throw my two cents in.
Carl Paladino, the Republican gubernatorial candidate for New York, recently made remarks to the effect that he did not approve of gay marriage, or an open display of the gay life style in public. Mr. Paladino was immediately chastised from every quarter. The next day he recanted his remarks and stated emphatically that he supported gay rights without exception. So what happened here? I guess it doesn’t matter if you are a Nazi or a Communist so long as you do not put gays in a negative light.
In California the people passed a law against gay marriage which was quickly overturned by the federal courts. Gay people should be thanking whatever god they pray to that they live in a country that protects individual freedoms no matter how unpopular they may be.
I’m almost afraid to say it, but if the aforementioned is the measure, I just could be a little homophobic.
Racism is another social issue which is at present getting attention. A lady whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy is displaying Confederate battle flags in front of her private residence and is being labeled a racist.
During our last presidential election, members of the Black Panthers stopped white voters from entering polling places. Investigation and prosecution was blocked by the very government officials responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases that involve voter intimidation.
When President Obama began to fall in popularity polls after his election and people began to speak out against him, ex-President Jimmy Carter spoke out against his detractors, labeling them as racist.
I have to wonder who is setting the standard for what is to be considered racism and exactly what that standard is. When asked, most people define racism as prejudice, which I find hard to grasp. I mean, I prefer my coffee with cream and sugar which would indicate a prejudice against black coffee. I prefer a peanut butter and honey sandwich over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich which would indicate a prejudice against jelly. If you look at it hard enough you will find that an individual’s life is littered with prejudices.
So what determines what is acceptable and what is not; perhaps political correctness?
I too own a Confederate battle flag; it hangs on the wall in my living room. Does that make me a racist? I don’t think my half Guamanian first cousin, my two half Hispanic nephews, or my half Native American granddaughter would say so. The people who know me know that that flag hangs on my wall as a reminder of the tragedy it represents in reference to the lives lost on both sides and the freedoms and liberties lost by the people of this country of every race, creed, and color.
When people ask me about the abortion issue, I answer with the truth, which is, I do not have a uterus, therefore there is no way I can know the mind of the person who does. And although I hold life to be precious, any assertion I would make would be detached and uninformed. I leave the issue of abortion to the fairer sex.
Now to the issue of gun control; this is an easy one. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of the people to own firearms in order to defend themselves against tyrannical government. The fact is gun control should not even be an issue and for anyone to try to make it one is an act of treason.
The Anti-Defamation League is an organization here in America that stands ready to pounce on anyone considered to be anti-Semitic. They have become so overbearing in our country that most people are afraid to say the word “Jew” or anything negative about the State of Israel. However, I will. Just before Christmas last year, President Barack Obama, signed into law one of our country’s biggest aid pledges of the year. It was a deal for $2.77 billion to go to Israel in 2010 and a total of $30 billion over the next decade. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal for the Israelis.
By the way, what was the price tag on that Tier 5 Unemployment Extension? Oh yeah, $30 billion. I guess that just goes to show where President Obama’s loyalties lie.
Well, this article should be good for causing the comments board to be flooded with people condemning me as a gun toting, homophobic, anti-Semitic, chauvinist, baby killing, racist. But hey, these are the chances you take if you dare speak your mind on social issues.