Regarding those of you upset by this ruling, I wonder: How does it feel to be on the trailing edge of progress, or, if you will, on the wrong side of history? For those of you old enough to remember, how did you feel about the legalization of interracial marriage? Or school integration? Or public accommodations being required to serve people of all races? Conservatives opposed all of these changes, blaming them on an "activist judiciary," and predicted dire consequences. Do you believe now, decades later, that those enormous changes in "what was and always would be" have disintegrated the fabric of society? Do you believe the apocalyptic changes predicted by their opponents have taken place? Conservatives, by their very nature (and by definition ), desire to preserve the status quo. I can think of three underlying reasons for such a desire: 1) Fear of the unknown. (Things may not be great now, but at least we KNOW how they are -- but if we change some
This week, the Supreme Court ruled in the Hobby Lobby case. Everyone should be concerned and upset about this ruling, especially women. Reproductive Rights and Equality for Women I'm still in my 40's, so I can't claim to be a groundbreaking feminist, though I have had to fight for equality a few times. But mostly, the heavy lifting was done before I came along. I grew up expecting my reproductive rights to be there. By the time it affected me, Roe v. Wade was old news. I took an interesting medical ethics class in college, and we studied the law and controversy around abortion, around things like frozen embryos, cloning, etc. It was one of my favorite classes. (I took it the same quarter I took a logic class -- and I think the combination of the two proved very beneficial for my ability to analyze an argument!) The problem, as I see it, is that these same arguments continue today. I'm a bit shaken because this is supposed to be settled law. The state c
January 20th is usually an OK day. It's often cold and snowy where I live, but I like snow. A few years back, it was so unseasonably warm it was possible to golf on January 20th, which I did. Mostly, it's a work day, a church day, or a holiday (sometimes, it is Martin Luther King Day). Once in a while, I escape to sunnier, warmer climes on January 20th, and that is a wonderful change of pace. Every four years, the date has additional significance, as our republic witnesses a peaceful transition of power. Eight years ago, it was historic as the first person of color ever elected became our 44th president. 16 years ago, even amid my unhappiness about the Supreme Court-driven outcome of election that preceded it, I could still appreciate Inauguration Day for the stability it represented, its pomp and circumstance and ceremony, and the history and import of the advent of a new president and administration. Mostly, January 20th is OK. Not this year. I'm dreading t
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