Freedom isn't our gift, it's their right

The article I read and decided to write about is kind of ironic. The author of the article did exactly what I'm asked to do today; write about an article that critiques another. 'Their Victory, Not Ours' written by Aaron Ross, whom is a freelance journalist from Philadelphia, talks about an article in Slate written by Eliot Spitzer entitled "America is Freedom, and Freedom is Winning." Like Ross and Spitzer, I am optimistic for the people of the Middle East in their efforts towards freedom and like Ross, I agree that their drive may come from American's but it isn't the only driving force. Because they don't want to emulate the same government of other countries not does mean that they want to completely emulate ours. Sure there are certain aspects of our government that are great and then there are aspects that could be changed. Isn't that what the founding fathers did whenever they began writing the 'sacred documents' of our country? Why is it that many politicians think that American government is god's gift to the world? Maybe it's pride, or ignorance of the times. With each generation, the youth can hold the wheel and we can steer it either way. The revolutionaries of the Middle East are comparable to the American youth. They're both fresh with new ideas on modern issues, whether the current administration agrees or not.

Ross states that Spitzer views American's aid in the current situation as an apology for past mistakes to the Middle East for feeding money and such to certain autocrats isn't going to cut. I feel as though America may be backtracking to right a wrong but to boast about it and claim it as another American history is disgusting, but that's what America does. Because Spitzer was once a senator, of course he is going to believe that our country has done a job well done. But in reality, we should be helping now because it we kept freedom from them for so long. America had its' time of revolutions and now it's time to let others do the same.

sources: Aaron Ross: Their Victory, Not Ours

Eliot Spitzer: America is Freedom, and Freedom is Winning

Gay Marriage

It is the state’s job to set marriage laws but the government should have a general law pertaining to how the state laws are carried out - such as whether or not other states must recognize marriage licenses from other states.

Laws should be made to protect the people, benefit to ones safely and followed by all citizens because everyone is equal. So a law that denies the rights of certain citizens would not be right because of certain religious beliefs. The Constitution was written for all people and not just for religious groups, if it were, then that would go against separation of church and state and also against the Fourteenth Amendment which states that “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Civil unions and marriages are not the same because civil unions do not offer the same benefits and protections as marriages do to heterosexual couples in different states. Having civil unions was taking one step forward, but the inequality of it compared to marriages is taking one step back. Because marriage is seen as a religious institution, shouldn’t all heterosexual couples that marry be religious? Why is it okay for non-religious heterosexuals to be allowed this “sacred” part of religion when they do not practice/nor believe in a certain religion as opposed to homosexuals that do but cannot share in this part of religion?

I believe that the church is fighting against many things that should not be in their hands but in the hands of all United States citizens. We should all play in a role in what our country allows and does not allow but we are also held responsible to research and listen to other ideas and make our own decision and question all other ideas before we make a decision. Especially one that effects countless other Americans because it is each of our rights to be able to live in freedom and happiness so long as we are not harming others, so how is two men or two women getting married hurting you?

The Other Women Should Be Lady Liberty

It's not that uncommon for scandals about politicians to leak to the masses every so often. I find these oddly humorous when it does. Don't get me wrong, someone else's pain isn't my pleasure. I find them humorous because the scandals involving politicians on the tabloids often times involve an anti-homosexual politician and their boy toy. The recent sex scandal to hit the blogs involves Representative Christopher Lee of New York. Rep Lee recently was caught soliciting a relationship with a women on the infamous Craigslist 'women seeking men' section of the website. The women was looking for someone who was emotionally and financially stable, guess the economy must be hitting her hard, too. I know that we all except the government to fix the unemployment issue, so I guess she took it into your own hands, went straight to the source and bagged her politician? Unfortunately for her, this one was already accounted for. Naturally, the other women did what most of us in this generation does - a little stalking. After Googling her prince, she realized he was lying to her and got her revenge by sending the emails to the online rag.

Representative Lee's camp has not yet made a statement and he has resigned from office.

I guess this post isn't full of information life changing content, but it just comes to show you that our government isn't perfect and neither are the people we elect. It's important to research and educate yourself on your representatives but also realize that they're human, too. People all make mistakes, and our government does, too.

Maybe Representative Lee should just apologize and continue doing his best for the state of New York, or maybe he is lacking some morals and should have stepped down. Let's just hope whoever replaces him is more honorable.

One of my friend's retweeted this tweet and I thought it was hilarious, I had to share!

Source New York Times + Twitter