Comment

Two women came to King Solomon and stood before him. One woman (#1) said: "My Lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while with her in the house. On the third day after I gave birth, she also gave birth. We live together; there is no outsider with us in the house; only the two of us were there. The son of this woman died during the night because she lay upon him. She arose during the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep, and lay him in her bosom, and her dead son she laid in my bosom. when I got up in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead! But when I observed him (later on) in the morning, I realized that he was not my son to whom I had given birth!" The other woman (#2) replied: "It is not so! My son is the live one and your son is the dead one!" The first woman (#1) responded: "It is not so! Your son is the dead one and my son is the living one!" They argued before King Solomon. King Solomon said: "this woman (#2) claims 'My son is the live one and your son is the dead one, 'and this woman (#1) claims 'Your son is the dead one and my son is the living one!"' King Solomon said, "Bring me a sword!" So they brought a sword before the King. The King said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other" The woman (#2) turned to the King, because her compassion was aroused for her son, and said: "Please my Lord, give her the living child and do not kill it!" But the other woman (#1) said: "Neither mine nor yours shall he be. Cut!" The King spoke up and said: "Give her (#2) the living child, and do not kill it, for she is his mother!" All of Israel heard the judgment that the King had judged. They had great awe for the King, for they saw that the wisdom of God was within him to do justice. [I Melachim 3:16 - 27]. The woman was rightfully awarded custody of her son. It should be noted, that King Solomon's was the first major recorded and published decision in the history of legal jurisprudence,

The thing is that I keep reading about is how the Christers (as opposed to true Christians) in California and other places are upset that the California Supreme Court may overturn the Proposition 8 which was recently passed there. Well they should. It is a discriminatory proposition which barely squeaked by and took away the rights of a minority. That is what the courts are for - to protect the individual and the minority. Sometimes the "majority rule" is not a good thing and our founders wisely made three branches of government with checks and balances so that one branch would not be more powerful than the other and each would serve as a watchdog over the others. I have written about this before but it seems time to mention it again.

We are seeing a lot of demonstrations around the country about this issue. The Mormon and Catholic churches are just a little worried because there are people so upset with them that they are demonstrating against their involvement in Proposition 8. (both of these churches have long standing involvement in this issue and have poured millions of dollars into passing this unfair proposition.) They should be worried. It is focusing the spotlight on their bigotry and hatred. I don't feel one bit sorry for them. This issue is also before the courts in Iowa and I sincerely hope that the "activist judges" will ACT. That they will do their job and protect the rights of the minority. I firmly believe that one of my constitutional rights is the "pursuit of happiness" and if it makes people happy to marry (though I can't see how it does) then people should have the right to marry whomever they want. Just as I have had a right not to marry.

Three branches of government - each has a purpose. In our country for the last 8 years the government has been run like it had only one branch with that one being the unitary executive branch. Signing statements, ignoring the legislation which had been passed were regular features of Mr. Bush's performance. He is now reaping the results of his actions.

And one other thought. I am seeing a lot of criticism of President-elect Obama's choices of people to serve in government positions. I really think that we ought to give him a chance. I did not like it either that he let Joe Liberman off the hook but it was his call (and the call of the spineless democrats in the Senate) - Let's move on to other things. He has an enormous job to do. The time to decide whether or not he has been able to do that job is 4 years down the road. If he does not perform we have a marvelous system for change in this country (It is called an election.) In the meantime I am about to quit reading all the negative blogging about just who gets picked to do what. We elected him. It is his call. The last president had a couple of puppet masters pulling his strings. I don't think that is the case with this one. As always thanks for stopping by. ARTYAL, Hugs, j-bear
PS. blogging will be light the next couple of days as I am going to be attending a couple of important events.. Specialis Porcer Stated meeting tomorrow and the York Rite Festival on Saturday. I expect to use Sunday to recover. Shane also has a project for me to help out in the Consistory Office so the Saturday Wordzzle may not get put up until Sunday. I have to put that in because Raven worries if I am not regular. (I do too.) More Hugs, j