Weekly Comments Archive
Archived Issue
Sunday, June 28, 2015
ISSUE #836
The Supreme Court, gay marriage, the Bible, and the Confederate flag

President Obama was right. Two weeks ago I said the Obamacare issue the Supreme Court was pondering had already been decided by a vote of 1 to 0. And instead of asking an eighth grader if the words “state” and “federal” mean the same thing, the Justices decided among themselves that, yes, state means federal.

Three years ago you may remember the same old Justices decided that the “penalties” for not signing up for the Affordable Care Act were really “taxes.” The only problem is that Congress would not have passed the ACA if it included “taxes” and if the federal government decided who gets subsidies instead of individual states.

But for all its warts, bumps and bruises I’m happy for the ones who could not get insurance previously. I know one who had a $100,000 hospital bill covered mainly by the taxpayers that otherwise would have come out of her meager bank account. I hope the ACA proves to be affordable for individuals as well as the American taxpayer.

Next the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that people who are gay can get married the same as anyone else. You may have noticed that this decision upset a lot of folks, especially ones who follow the Bible. Of course, this is not the first thing ever legalized that goes against teachings in the Bible. Did you happen to notice how happy, even ecstatic, these prospective newlyweds are? As long as it makes them happy and doesn’t do any harm, go for it. I read a headline that the wedding industry will get a major economic boost. Yes, followed shortly by a boost for divorce lawyers.

I wonder where Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner fits into this situation. Actually my main question is how can a 65-year old man be transformed into a woman who’s only 45?

In Charleston, South Carolina, 9 members of a historic African Methodist Episcopal Church were gunned down by a 21-year old dropout inspired by the devil. And the surviving church members and family members forgave him. Yes, they forgave a mass murderer. Most of the media were astounded because they expected to cover a riot like in Baltimore, Ferguson and New York City. With no riots to excite their audience, they decided to jump on the Confederate flag.

Now I’m not here to defend the Confederate flag. But when folks demand we denounce anyone who fought for the South, remove all recognition of their heroes, and outlaw Gone with the Wind and Dukes of Hazzard, that’s going too far. At the end of the Civil War did President Lincoln imprison all surviving Confederate soldiers and execute the Generals and political leaders? No. He told ‘em to take their mules and rifles and go home and plant their crops. The war is over.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

            “Us ignorant people laugh at [religious people], but when they die they go mighty peaceful and happy, which after all, about all there is to living is to go away satisfied.” DT #1232, July 7, 1930

            “The Bible has always been the best seller… I don’t suppose there is two preachers in the world that would absolutely interpret a whole chapter exactly alike. But any interpretation you put on it is good.” WA #586, March 18, 1934

X

    Contact Randall Reeder