NY Senate Rejects Gay "Marriage"
The Senate rejected the measure 38-24 as 8 Democrats joined Republicans in voting down the measure. What I found particularly obnoxious were the advocates of these nontraditional legal rights self-righteously proclaiming their morally-superior stand against "discrimination" and accusing their opponents of moral cowardice. We believers in the traditional institution of marriage spanning millennia do not take issue with gays maintaining their own historical traditions and institutions. Marriage has been the traditional foundation for procreation, something physically impossible with same-gender relationships. I'm really not interested (unlike the courts in Massachusetts and California) in comparing the concept of marriage with domestic partnership along some arbitrary criterion. There are intrinsic differences in the nature of the relationships and hence their comparative institutions.
It's rather like the fact that some manufacturers don't make clothes in my (overweight) size. I don't consider that "discrimination"; it could simply be a reflection that I am bigger than most people my height. The fact that I have to pay more reflects more on the limited market economies of scale for someone my size. (I'm sure that women over 6 feet tall face similar issues.) The issue of fairness is not based on an absolute equality of price but relative to the focused market.
Incidentally, this is a concept most progressives can't grasp. For instance, take the often cited comparison of gender pay or gender health care costs. Quite often there are intrinsic factors that explain most observed differences. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that women spend more time with personal physicians than men do. You would expect the doctor to charge in accordance with his or her relative time and effort. For ideological feminists to argue that doctors discriminate against women by charging more makes no more sense than arguing someone whom buys a large cup of popcorn should pay no more than someone whom buys a small cup.
7 Stories that Obama Doesn't Want Told
The Senate rejected the measure 38-24 as 8 Democrats joined Republicans in voting down the measure. What I found particularly obnoxious were the advocates of these nontraditional legal rights self-righteously proclaiming their morally-superior stand against "discrimination" and accusing their opponents of moral cowardice. We believers in the traditional institution of marriage spanning millennia do not take issue with gays maintaining their own historical traditions and institutions. Marriage has been the traditional foundation for procreation, something physically impossible with same-gender relationships. I'm really not interested (unlike the courts in Massachusetts and California) in comparing the concept of marriage with domestic partnership along some arbitrary criterion. There are intrinsic differences in the nature of the relationships and hence their comparative institutions.
It's rather like the fact that some manufacturers don't make clothes in my (overweight) size. I don't consider that "discrimination"; it could simply be a reflection that I am bigger than most people my height. The fact that I have to pay more reflects more on the limited market economies of scale for someone my size. (I'm sure that women over 6 feet tall face similar issues.) The issue of fairness is not based on an absolute equality of price but relative to the focused market.
Incidentally, this is a concept most progressives can't grasp. For instance, take the often cited comparison of gender pay or gender health care costs. Quite often there are intrinsic factors that explain most observed differences. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that women spend more time with personal physicians than men do. You would expect the doctor to charge in accordance with his or her relative time and effort. For ideological feminists to argue that doctors discriminate against women by charging more makes no more sense than arguing someone whom buys a large cup of popcorn should pay no more than someone whom buys a small cup.
7 Stories that Obama Doesn't Want Told
Politico has a new column pointing out 7 basic political problems, which I'll paraphrase:
- "Spend first, apologize later." I don't agree with the authors here in saying most people believe that the scope and nature of the Democratic spending spree was optimal. For example, bailing out fiscally irresponsible states was not "stimulus"--it was creating a moral hazard (why should progressive state governments live within their means if Uncle Sam has their back?) merely postponing a day of reckoning for state governments. Money is fungible. The federal government dedicating the money to cops and teachers simply enables the state government to shift money elsewhere. I could go on and on. Why did the federal government pay off the full value of Goldman Sach's credit default swaps from AIG? Why did we throw taxpayer's money at GM and Chrysler, only to have them declare bankruptcy?
- "His professorial style doesn't connect." Whereas Obama makes a conscious effort to bring personal stories into his addresses, he'll often lapse into excessively abstract discussions and lose his audience, and he'll sometimes make decisions that are hard to reconcile with his principles. A classic example is his reversal on releasing controversial photos of prisoners based out of Iraq or Afghanistan (which I support for precisely the reason he gave, namely safety of the troops).
- "Mr. Obama Goes to Washington." The Obama White House is not adverse to Chicago-style back room deals (e.g., with Big Pharma), political arm-twisting, and trashing the opposition (Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, et al.)
- "Obama is a paper tiger." Remember when health care "reform" was due in August? Even my own former students never got these kinds of extensions.... Remember when he said in the Presidential debates he wouldn't sign earmarks into law? Then came the first omnibudget bill...
- "American Unexceptionalism" Is it possible for Barack Obama to deliver a speech in a foreign country where he doesn't bash apologize for George W. Bush, another predecessor or various sins of the past (including slavery, dropping the first atomic bomb, etc.)? Obama seems much more interested in appeasing and imitating the politics of European socialists than promoting America's global leadership.
- "Co-Presidents Pelosi and Reid." Instead of Obama quarterbacking the Democrats down the field, he often has lapsed into the passive role of a cheerleader on the sidelines willing to sign whatever bill that Pelosi and Reid push through Congress. Take, for instance, health care "reform"; Obama reportedly liked the idea of a compromise public option trigger floated by a liberal GOP Maine senator and seemed ready to concede medical malpractice reform, but these are not in proposals at present.
- "He's So Vain". I bet Obama thinks Carly Simon's song is about him. Whatever happened to the sense that "less is more", that there was a certain mystique fitting of the Presidency? More mystery to the man? Instead, we see saturated airwaves, all Obama, all of the time, almost daily speeches or remarks.
Chip Bok reminds us like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our soldiers' lives in their quest to complete their mission.
Christmas Musical Interlude: Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion: "The Prayer"
How can a Franco-American have a Christmas music countdown without including the second single from Celine's memorable Christmas album a decade ago? With all due respect to Josh Groban, I prefer this original duet version.
How can a Franco-American have a Christmas music countdown without including the second single from Celine's memorable Christmas album a decade ago? With all due respect to Josh Groban, I prefer this original duet version.
I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don't know.
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way.
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.
La luce che tu dai
Nel cuore restera
A ricordarci che
L'eterna stella sei.
Nel cuore restera
A ricordarci che
L'eterna stella sei.
I pray we'll find your light,
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
Remind us where you are..
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
Remind us where you are..
Nella mia preghiera
Quanta fede c'e.
Lead us to a place ?
Quanta fede c'e.
Lead us to a place ?
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Guide us with your grace
When shadows fill our day
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Sogniamo un mondo senza piu violenza,
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza.
Ognuno dia una mano al suo vicino,
Simbolo di pace...di fraternita.
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza.
Ognuno dia una mano al suo vicino,
Simbolo di pace...di fraternita.
La forza che ci dai
E desiderio te
Ognuno trovi amor
Intorno e dentro se.
Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child.
E desiderio te
Ognuno trovi amor
Intorno e dentro se.
Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child.
We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above.
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love.
Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child.
And watch us from above.
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love.
Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child.
Needs to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
E la fede che hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salverai...
Give us faith so we'll be safe
E la fede che hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salverai...
