The Corresponent of the Week is a very intelligent Readers Forum poster whom I like and respect, but his LTE is incomplete in its analysis. It is, however, correct as far as it goes, IMO. My compliments to him for his LTE, nonetheless.
Strong families
I am glad that the members of the General Assembly have seen fit to convene to give our families much-needed support. Their forward-thinking jobs bill will help many in our state.
Oh, wait ... that's not what they were doing?
Well, I'm glad that they were determined to find ways to fund the programs that help children get a good start in school and those that feed hungry children so that they can learn.
That's not what they were doing?
At least we have more support for caregivers, for the parents of children who are disabled as well as the children who are caring for their parents.
They didn't do that, either?
My confusion is understandable. Sen. Jim Forrester, a sponsor of the bill for a constitutional amendment, said that they just wanted to support a strong family structure in North Carolina.
I have lived in this state all my life. As both a minister and a counselor, I have known many families, including families who were struggling. They struggle because of unemployment or underemployment. They struggle because of a lack of resources to help their children thrive. They struggle because caregiving of a minor or a senior has decimated their bank accounts and their emotional reserves. I have never met a couple who was struggling because gay couples had made a commitment to each other.
If we want to strengthen families, then by golly, let us address the real issues facing our families.
THE REV. PEGGY HAYMES
Winston-Salem
Even further
I agree with the letter writer in the Sept. 11 Readers' Forum about our Sunday blue laws ("Abolish the blue law"). I would go even further and suggest that when a merchant applies for an ABC permit and one is issued, then if this business is normally open to the public on Sunday (Walmart, for example), it can start selling beer and wine at the same time it did on Saturday.
If the state wishes, it can open a liquor store on Sunday.
I have long wondered why our famous ACLU hasn't sued North Carolina over this law, which I see as a violation of the First Amendment. Our state government is pandering to the same gang of Jesus freaks who kept us from having a state lottery, sending much-needed money across the state line instead of using it for our schools.
ROGER L. NICHOLS SR.
Kernersville
The right thing
Regarding the Journal's article "N.C. Baptist suing ex-employee turned whistle-blower," we owe thanks to Joseph Vincoli for having the guts to do the right thing.
Where were the legislators who had oversight for the State Health Plan when the payments were being made to Baptist Hospital? No wonder the public says it can no longer afford to pay for the State Health Plan.
Who ends up paying the price? All taxpayers, state employees included, and especially state employees through higher premiums and reduced coverage.
LLOYD BROWN
Lexington
Two observations
I wish to make two observations regarding the referendum for a constitutional amendment on the definition of marriage and the prohibition of same-sex marriage.
First, I support those who believe that a constitutional amendment should be for the purpose of guaranteeing everyone's rights, not for the purpose of restricting the rights of a minority.
Second, a referendum is a form of survey.
As a former teacher of survey methods at the college level, I wish to point out the difference between two types of response to a referendum. The referendum may either survey people's informed decisions, or it may simply give people an opportunity to express their biases. It seems to me that the referendum on same-sex marriage will invite people to express their biases.
EDWARD J.P. O'CONNOR
Pinnacle
Benefits
I suggest that unless the Forsyth County commissioners can come up with some tangible evidence of the benefits we reap by belonging to the N.C. Association of Registers of Deeds, they cancel the membership ("Registers of deeds' conference questioned," Sept. 12).
If they feel there is a need to provide a perk to the office holder, Norman Holleman, then give him a gift certificate for a nice dinner at one of Winston-Salem's fine restaurants. That way, any money spent will stay here in Forsyth County.
RICHARD SIUNIAK
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up:
Do you think the referendum on adding an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage is needed?
Correspondent of the Week
Sacrifices
I remember a scene from the old television series "St. Elsewhere." A doctor asks a young patient, "How do you get the girls?" The boy answers as the doctor has taught him: "You tell them what they want to hear." Observing the futility of our dysfunctional government brings that scene to mind.
We, as a society, deserve the government that we have. We have, time after time, voted for the candidate who tells us what we want to hear and cast aside the truth-teller who tells us what we need to hear. In the recent battles over debt reduction, the Republicans have said that we need only cut spending and not raise any revenues to achieve fiscal stability. The Democrats have said that we need only raise taxes on the wealthy and not cut entitlement programs to achieve fiscal stability. Most of the think tanks, economists, relevant committees and appointed panels say that we have to do both — cut entitlements and raise taxes — to get our fiscal house in order.
How do the American people respond? Conservatives watch Fox News, where it is confirmed that raising taxes of any sort is "a job killer." Liberals watch MSNBC, where they are told that entitlement programs should be off the table in the debt-reduction debate. Unless the American electorate stop listening to the snake-oil salesmen, and realize that ultimately everyone — everyone — must make sacrifices, I fear for the future of our country.
DENNIS G. DOSS
Winston-Salem
And the term bigotry is the one that fits, despite protests from supporters of the anti-gay amendment and the Christian Right lobbying groups who coordinated the assault on human rights and who will lead the effort to convince the majority of North Carolinians to join their hate crusade. ---Chris Fitzsimon taken from the WS Journal
ReplyDeleteIt's humorous that intellectual idiots readily use the word 'bigot' to describe people that don't believe the same as themselves. But yet, that same word could be used to describe the name callers.
It's clear that liberals, gay and lesbians, among others are engaged in an all out assault on many Christian and conservative groups over the gay marriage issue. They are attempting, rather successfully, to smear them by calling them racist and bigots and other hateful names because of their beliefs.
In a civilized society, we constantly try to promote a healthy and prosperous behavioral patterns and lifestyles. However, we know that homosexuality promotes a whole myriade of problems. For example, HIV is the most deadly of all sexually transmitted diseases, and gay men make almost 50% of the population of the people with the illness, yet they only constitute only 6% of the population. Drug use is sky high in the gay community with the use of animal tranquilizers such as 'Ketamine' being used to numb the pain from gay anal sex. Gay men are also one of the most promiscuous of sexually active groups in U.S. with online websites providing rendezvous points, frequently at public bathrooms where little children go.
Even Charles Darwin the author of the 'Origin of the Species' agrees that homosexuality is not a positive influence on society and it goes against the laws of nature.
Why are we so eager to promote a lifestyle that we know is detrimental?
Yes, there is a hate crusade out there all right. However, the biggest haters are the radical left, and the gay and lesbian activists, not the people on the other side.
Could it be the 'haters' are the ones that are wrong on the issue? Surely not, after all they know everything, don't they?
Just ask the members of Club Nitwit.
Pobrecito, Buckito, threw a party and no one showed.
ReplyDeleteBucky, you remind me of this classic Onion article. Enjoy:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theonion.com/articles/why-do-all-these-homosexuals-keep-sucking-my-cock,10861/
Best,
Arthur
lol, bucky, before you read that article, you might want to cover your keyboard.
ReplyDeleteI think I have figured out who Buckwheat is.
ReplyDeleteNathan Tabor.
Well...I guess I see why no more women participate anymore.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I had not thought of Blue Laws in years. Didn't realize they were still around. I always thought their purpose re alcohol sales was to allow the Baptists to avoid embarrasment from running in to each other on the beer isle at the Seven Eleven.
Dennis Doss has a good article for as far as he went. He mentioned the "big two" that get the air time. If both are enacted, it will be one step forward and one step back. Pro economic growth policies are needed to replace anti growth policies. An attitude of small business friendly government is needed to replace the wet blanket attitude of the current anti small business climate. THAT is where your revenue will come from. Proceed from there.
ReplyDeleteWW,the way I see it, capitalism has no national pride, it's a system, and with the advent of the internet, it's a worldwide system, connected by instant 24/7 commmunication and national economies will be adjusted accordingly
ReplyDeleteI like to call it a worldwide economic homeostasis which is great for wealthy capitalists but not so great for wealthy nations.
ReplyDeletethe internet is such a new phenomenon but will go down as a civilization changer
ReplyDeleteBob, a nice round up of points. capitalism is indeed just a system so it can have no pride, just a built in effiency that is superior to other systems. It does maintain iself in this way which allows some to amass capital and some to amass much less. The internet is probably one of the greatest democratizing inventions in modern history. Its uses are there for all. Not everyone will become wealthy but the chance is there for everyone to become prosperous at some level. Capitalist econonics is simply the free exchange of goods and services between people(s)
ReplyDeleteand it would all work so well except for that last word(s).
ReplyDeleteThank goodness there are people like myself to get the truth out, otherwise, the internet would be used strictly for left wing propaganda.
ReplyDeleteA recent study found that a black male with the same grades and SAT scores as a white male, had a 527% higher probability of getting into the University of Wisconsin as an undergrad than the white male.
Yet the same people that cry discrimination on the gay and lesbian marriage issue, say nothing regarding affirmative action discriminatory practices.
Good evening, folks! Busy weekend day in the Stab households, but it appears everyone has taken advantage of a nice fall day. Yes, I know astronomically we are still in summer, but meteorologically, we are pretty much in fall. Notice the leaves on the ground, and the mid-50s nightly lows?
ReplyDeleteBucky re the 527% disadvantaged white guy: that stat ignores the overall enrollment of students in a matriculating class. How many white males total are there in a matriculating class at UW v. the number of African-American males?
Also, what percentage advantage did a black guy have at UW in 1961? I suspect the number was neither 527 nor positive. Why? Because those white kids were getting in because their daddies were alums, big booster contributors, or friends of alums or contributors. What is that kind of greasing the skids called? It's called "an old boy network," aka Affirmative Action.
I didn't understand your point, except to slip in a bit of latent racism. Accepting that gays and lesbians should be able to marry is not affirmative action. It's according the same rights to them. It's not affirmative action that I can marry Mrs. Stab, not is it that Adam should be able to marry Steve, or Alice to marry Eve.
The percentage of black students at U. Wisconsin is about 3%. A significant percentage of those are athletes.
ReplyDeleteOver 37,000 people died because of drug related issues in 2009, it's the first time that those figures exceeded traffic related fatalities. The increase is blamed on the abuse of legal prescription pain medications. Yet, liberals and liberal conservatives like Stab want to legalize all drugs.
ReplyDeleteActually, the people who support legalization of CERTAIN drugs have a wide range of political leanings. They are not called LIBERAL or CONSERVATIVE; they are called EDUCATED and SENSIBLE.
ReplyDeleteAnd they do not necessarily advocate LEGALIZATION of all drugs...primarily they want DECRIMINALIZATION of marijuana and cocaine which represent the vast majority of people in our prisons which costs us a fortune in taxes.
And because there is no serious attempt by our system to help addicts get clean, the same people rotate in and out of prison over and over, paid for by our tax money.
Being AGAINST something is stupid unless you are willing to DO something constructive about it.
Psychology of Men & Masculinity, Vol 10(3), Jul 2009, 231-236.
ReplyDeleteABSTRACT:
Research has found that proximity to sexual minorities is associated with negative affect in homophobic individuals. To test whether negative feelings serve a protective function in homophobic men against the sexual behavior of gay men, 54 collegiate men assessed for homophobic attitudes were primed with explicit male homosexual or heterosexual erotica followed by a lexical decision task measuring anger, fear, happiness, and disgust. Results indicated that in the group primed with homosexual erotica, homophobia is positively related to anger and fear and negatively related to happiness and disgust. No such associations were found for the heterosexual prime. The findings are placed in the context of purported protective mechanisms of negative emotions of fear and anger, but not disgust, in sexually prejudiced people who may possess fear of, or actual sexual arousal associated with, same-sex stimuli.
Edward O'Connor:
ReplyDeleteGreat point... in this case non-response would most likely be associated with people who believe homosexuals be allowed equal rights.
Oh, and well said on your first point.
Greetings all!
ReplyDeletePeggy Haymes:
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the jobs bill in it's entirety yet, so I can't comment on that, but beautiful point about the nature of struggling families.
This reminds me of something: I remember shortly after the second election of W in 2004 (?), several polling firms researched "On what issues did you base your vote in the presidential election"... for all of them, more than 50% of respondents indicated "FAMILY VALUES" was their primary issue.
The Economist's next headline was "HOW COULD 80 MILLION PEOPLE BE SO WRONG?" (Something like that...)
Greetings, Sharon!
ReplyDeleteI have pasted your above comments in today's LTE's. They apply as well there as here.