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WHAT A WEEK IT WAS IN OUR U.S.A
Jun. 27th, 2015 11:30 amWow, the past week has been a real roller coaster ride. Three events/issues in the news have citizens at each others throats.
1.) A senseless murder of nine innocents in a church in the south incites a huge outrage about the Confederate Battle Flag. First it starts out being about why this flag is being flown on government property - then it escalates into what seems like a call to erase all memory of Confederate leaders, flags, etc. from existence. To be honest, this is kind of par for the course in our country - but I am really noticing it because I find myself on the "unpopular" side of the rage. I don't have any reason whatsoever to defend the Confederate Flag or the flying of it. I don't actually condone flying the Confederate flag on government property - but I think it should be up to the citizens of Charleston or state of South Carolina to decide. I've spent a lot of time really digging down and thinking about why I am not feeling the rage and indignation that so many others are. I'm not from the south - I don't even have southern roots (except that I like country music). My niece Jerrica and I batted this around a little - and she helped me sort it out a little. I think I tend to kind of romanticize or get too touchy feely regarding the Civil War based on books I've read and movies I've seen. Here is an example - Cold Mountain. I am seeing my bias, but my ignorance isn't allowing me to feel the outrage others are feeling. I'm going to continue to think about this, and I'm going to try and follow the debate with an open mind. Maybe my views will bend a little. (as a side note - I can't help wondering if the NRA cooked up this major uproar to keep the debate off of gun control legislation.....)
2.) The Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate on the Affordable Care Act. Wow, this really has the anti-Obama people frothing at the mouth. I started out being extremely pro ACA; however, my feelings have changed over the past couple of years due to how the law is being executed. I hope things will improve as time goes by. Right now, if you are working poor - you get screwed with this legislation. I see the law as giving the insurance companies the ability to screw you over big time. How I know this is that it happened to me. I dropped my coverage I was paying $400 a month for because I could not find a single doctor in my location that would take my coverage. I will try again next year. I would much prefer Medicare for all if we are all going to be required to participate.
3.) The Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage will be legal in all states. The religious conservatives are beside themselves, and the rest of us are doing cartwheels. It's sad that the decision was 5-4. I was glad that the women on the court voted for Love. I'm so proud of our lady justices. I was appalled that Justice Thomas voted against considering he is an African American and well understands the horror of discrimination. I can't stand that dude anyway - he is always just sitting there like a bump on a log.
1.) A senseless murder of nine innocents in a church in the south incites a huge outrage about the Confederate Battle Flag. First it starts out being about why this flag is being flown on government property - then it escalates into what seems like a call to erase all memory of Confederate leaders, flags, etc. from existence. To be honest, this is kind of par for the course in our country - but I am really noticing it because I find myself on the "unpopular" side of the rage. I don't have any reason whatsoever to defend the Confederate Flag or the flying of it. I don't actually condone flying the Confederate flag on government property - but I think it should be up to the citizens of Charleston or state of South Carolina to decide. I've spent a lot of time really digging down and thinking about why I am not feeling the rage and indignation that so many others are. I'm not from the south - I don't even have southern roots (except that I like country music). My niece Jerrica and I batted this around a little - and she helped me sort it out a little. I think I tend to kind of romanticize or get too touchy feely regarding the Civil War based on books I've read and movies I've seen. Here is an example - Cold Mountain. I am seeing my bias, but my ignorance isn't allowing me to feel the outrage others are feeling. I'm going to continue to think about this, and I'm going to try and follow the debate with an open mind. Maybe my views will bend a little. (as a side note - I can't help wondering if the NRA cooked up this major uproar to keep the debate off of gun control legislation.....)
2.) The Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate on the Affordable Care Act. Wow, this really has the anti-Obama people frothing at the mouth. I started out being extremely pro ACA; however, my feelings have changed over the past couple of years due to how the law is being executed. I hope things will improve as time goes by. Right now, if you are working poor - you get screwed with this legislation. I see the law as giving the insurance companies the ability to screw you over big time. How I know this is that it happened to me. I dropped my coverage I was paying $400 a month for because I could not find a single doctor in my location that would take my coverage. I will try again next year. I would much prefer Medicare for all if we are all going to be required to participate.
3.) The Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage will be legal in all states. The religious conservatives are beside themselves, and the rest of us are doing cartwheels. It's sad that the decision was 5-4. I was glad that the women on the court voted for Love. I'm so proud of our lady justices. I was appalled that Justice Thomas voted against considering he is an African American and well understands the horror of discrimination. I can't stand that dude anyway - he is always just sitting there like a bump on a log.
