It's the issue that will never die.
Same-sex marriage. Three words that have spawned a great divide between people across the state and around the world. And, sadly, it will never be bridged.
Yes, the divide has gotten smaller in recent years (52% to 48% in the last election) but it will always remain.
The California Supreme Court (which has done more flip-flopping on this issue than a presidential candidate) has ruled this time, that the voter-approved ban to be constitutional. The same court which ordered the state in May 2008 to recognize gay marriage.
Only difference this time, the 18,000 or so same-sex marriage licenses that were issued during the lull in the debate will remain valid.
But no matter what any court rules, no matter which way the electorate swings, no matter where the debate is broached, there will always be a void.
This goes way beyond any legal wrangling and lands smack dab in the middle of religion. That's where the right wants it and where the left wants to keep it away from.
Ultimately, this is where I believe the final battle will take place.
Gay marriage support groups are already planning to put the issue back before the voters sometime next year.
Let's say for the sake of argument the proposition passes and the right decides they've had enough. Gay marriage is now legal in California.
Is that it? Will we finally be at peace as a state?
I don't think so.
I, like many people, am tired of the debate, the screaming, the finger-pointing and the homophobic accusations.
And I don't think legalization will end it.
I believe same-sex marriage supporters will then go after any church's tax exempt status that denies a gay couple the right to marry and that might be their downfall.
Say what you want about a person's religious beliefs, but you attack their maker, and it's a whole other ballgame.
That's when people on the fence of this issue, might finally decide to get back in the game.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Miss Ridiculous Pageant
Move over Miss California, one of your predecessors is getting into the fight.
I tried to ignore this ridiculous battle, but it's time to jump in.
One day after the "Don" backed the current sash-wearing recipient Carrie Prejean, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler has resigned as co-executive director of the Miss California USA Pageant.
She didn't like Donald Trump's decision NOT to fire Prejean.
Here's a little bit from today's AP story: "At a news conference Monday, Moakler had angrily accused Prejean of violating the contract she signed with pageant organizers by speaking out on behalf of organizations opposed to gay marriage and by failing to disclose she had posed nearly nude for racy photographs before entering the state pageant, which leads to the Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions."
He did call the photo's "risque", but added it's the 21st century.
Yes it is, now let's get a grip.
Moakler says she no longer believes in the Miss Universe Organization and what it stands for after she believes Trump gave Prejean a pass.
Gave her a pass? Let's back up and take a look at the video replay of the ambush supplied by celebrity (haha) judge Perez Hilton during the pageant.
The look on her face is total shock as she starts to answer. She stumbles a bit, as she begins to recite the politically-correct answer, then, in mid-stream, she speaks her mind.. her opinion.. and then, is crucified for it.
What did you expect? Hilton obviously knew what he was doing. Perhaps a pre-interview or questionnaire filled out by Prejean tipped her hand and gave Hilton the target he was fishing for.
She was served up on a ratings platter.
So, she went out after the fact and made a few speeches to support her beliefs and the pageant folks in California don't like it.
Trump does, if there's one thing he knows is controversy sells, and sells big!!
He won't fire her, Hilton or anyone else that provides HIS pageant with a spark.
Anyone who dares to wear the sash from this day forward needs to be prepared for a new generation of pageant pratfalls.
Gone are the days of world peace, prepare for the crowning blow!!!
I tried to ignore this ridiculous battle, but it's time to jump in.
One day after the "Don" backed the current sash-wearing recipient Carrie Prejean, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler has resigned as co-executive director of the Miss California USA Pageant.
She didn't like Donald Trump's decision NOT to fire Prejean.
Here's a little bit from today's AP story: "At a news conference Monday, Moakler had angrily accused Prejean of violating the contract she signed with pageant organizers by speaking out on behalf of organizations opposed to gay marriage and by failing to disclose she had posed nearly nude for racy photographs before entering the state pageant, which leads to the Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions."
He did call the photo's "risque", but added it's the 21st century.
Yes it is, now let's get a grip.
Moakler says she no longer believes in the Miss Universe Organization and what it stands for after she believes Trump gave Prejean a pass.
Gave her a pass? Let's back up and take a look at the video replay of the ambush supplied by celebrity (haha) judge Perez Hilton during the pageant.
The look on her face is total shock as she starts to answer. She stumbles a bit, as she begins to recite the politically-correct answer, then, in mid-stream, she speaks her mind.. her opinion.. and then, is crucified for it.
What did you expect? Hilton obviously knew what he was doing. Perhaps a pre-interview or questionnaire filled out by Prejean tipped her hand and gave Hilton the target he was fishing for.
She was served up on a ratings platter.
So, she went out after the fact and made a few speeches to support her beliefs and the pageant folks in California don't like it.
Trump does, if there's one thing he knows is controversy sells, and sells big!!
He won't fire her, Hilton or anyone else that provides HIS pageant with a spark.
Anyone who dares to wear the sash from this day forward needs to be prepared for a new generation of pageant pratfalls.
Gone are the days of world peace, prepare for the crowning blow!!!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Steroids Statute Of Limitations
Leave Manny alone...
That's right, Manny Ramirez, mayor of Mannywood, the bulked-up bambino of Los Angeles.
So reality has finally slapped everyone in the face and the rumors of steroid use by MLB's biggest hitter is now making headlines.
So what...
He's reportedly been doing it for years, like many (not all) of the big names in baseball.
They're called the steroid generation for a reason, but they're not alone.
Performance enhancement supplements are everywhere and have been for a long time. Just take a look around your own neighborhood in any town U.S.A.
A wire copy story from two years ago surveyed nearly 2,000 people who went to the gym regularly and used anabolic steroids. It found the majority were white males in their late 20's or early 30's who held jobs in the private sector, made above-average income and were NOT in professional sports.
The reason: they just wanted to look better, no matter what the cost.
Take a look at some kids in local high schools or colleges. Some of the kids walking around the mall with the wife beater t-shirts. All bulked up (ripped) at a very early age. I've heard the argument "oh, well he's in the gym for 6-8 hours a day, he's a gym rat".
Yeah, I thought I smelled a rat!
Steroids, supplements, cream and clear, whatever, it's out there and law enforcement is powerless to stop it.
I've heard stories about players from a local high school football team in the mid-to-late 90's that would travel to Mexico to buy steroids and hide them in their car's rear speakers to bring them back across the border.
I've seen guys who came back from one season to the next, transformed into a monster seemingly overnight, with no second thought from the coaches.
No one who uses them seems to care. The risks are well-documented. No one can claim ignorance, just stupidity.
I've talked about a survey in S.I. years ago, asking Olympic athletes if they could take steroids and not get caught, that would guarantee a gold medal, but you'd be dead in 10 years. Would you take the drugs? It came back a ridiculously high number said they would!
Baseball just happens to be in the spotlight right now, but I say "SHUT IT OFF"!!
I'm sick of hearing about it. If you catch a steroid junkie using one particular type, they'll just return using something else. There are too many and not enough tests to detect them. (Although the visual test seems to be a pretty good indicator)
In the end, it's really not about the professional athletes who use them, but the young kids who start taking them and the parents and coaches who turn a blind eye.
Steroids for all my men (and women).
But don't come whining about your physical or mental deterioration when it comes back to bite you later on down the road.
I don't want to hear it.
And don't try to justify their use to me or dispel what you call the "myths".
I know, I know Manny, you didn't know what you were putting in your body.
If you don't care... well... you know my position.
That's right, Manny Ramirez, mayor of Mannywood, the bulked-up bambino of Los Angeles.
So reality has finally slapped everyone in the face and the rumors of steroid use by MLB's biggest hitter is now making headlines.
So what...
He's reportedly been doing it for years, like many (not all) of the big names in baseball.
They're called the steroid generation for a reason, but they're not alone.
Performance enhancement supplements are everywhere and have been for a long time. Just take a look around your own neighborhood in any town U.S.A.
A wire copy story from two years ago surveyed nearly 2,000 people who went to the gym regularly and used anabolic steroids. It found the majority were white males in their late 20's or early 30's who held jobs in the private sector, made above-average income and were NOT in professional sports.
The reason: they just wanted to look better, no matter what the cost.
Take a look at some kids in local high schools or colleges. Some of the kids walking around the mall with the wife beater t-shirts. All bulked up (ripped) at a very early age. I've heard the argument "oh, well he's in the gym for 6-8 hours a day, he's a gym rat".
Yeah, I thought I smelled a rat!
Steroids, supplements, cream and clear, whatever, it's out there and law enforcement is powerless to stop it.
I've heard stories about players from a local high school football team in the mid-to-late 90's that would travel to Mexico to buy steroids and hide them in their car's rear speakers to bring them back across the border.
I've seen guys who came back from one season to the next, transformed into a monster seemingly overnight, with no second thought from the coaches.
No one who uses them seems to care. The risks are well-documented. No one can claim ignorance, just stupidity.
I've talked about a survey in S.I. years ago, asking Olympic athletes if they could take steroids and not get caught, that would guarantee a gold medal, but you'd be dead in 10 years. Would you take the drugs? It came back a ridiculously high number said they would!
Baseball just happens to be in the spotlight right now, but I say "SHUT IT OFF"!!
I'm sick of hearing about it. If you catch a steroid junkie using one particular type, they'll just return using something else. There are too many and not enough tests to detect them. (Although the visual test seems to be a pretty good indicator)
In the end, it's really not about the professional athletes who use them, but the young kids who start taking them and the parents and coaches who turn a blind eye.
Steroids for all my men (and women).
But don't come whining about your physical or mental deterioration when it comes back to bite you later on down the road.
I don't want to hear it.
And don't try to justify their use to me or dispel what you call the "myths".
I know, I know Manny, you didn't know what you were putting in your body.
If you don't care... well... you know my position.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Act Like A Champion
It was pretty amazing to see.
Seven U.S. Olympic swimmers in one pool. A pool in Bakersfield. Spending the afternoon talking with more than 100 fellow tankers (slang for swimmers) who had visions of standing atop a podium sometime in the future.
Forget the podium, just wearing the red, white and blue speedo and racing for the U.S.A.
The world class caravan arrived with '96 triple Gold medalist Josh Davis leading the way.
The lineup was extremely impressive with Jason Lezak, Aaron Peirsol, Gabe Woodward, Elaine Breeden, Dana Vollmer and Tara Kirk.
I talked with Jason Lezak a few months ago when he visited my son's swim school to sign a few autographs and take pictures. He was polite, patient and professional in dealing with all the kids that descended on him.
Sunday afternoon, that same character was evident with the rest of Team USA that spent a few hours talking and demonstrating technique with the clinic participants.
And I tried my best to reflect that same attitude.
My day started around 7am at a swim meet downtown. It transitioned into the clinic around 12:30 and continued until 5pm. I was hot, a little burnt and tired by the time it was over.
My son attempted to get autographs before the event started but got into line too late, and missed out in the pre-signing session. It was partly due to the fact that many people crashed the line ahead of us in their exuberance.
So be it. It happens.
Now, it's 10 hours into my day on the pool deck, I want to go home and I get into line as it starts to form after the session. The Olympians are moving back to their chairs. My son digs out his t-shirt and poster. We're 8 people back in a line that stretched to more than 50.
Then, the wayward mother pushes her teenage son into the line next to the people in front of us.
It's just 1 person, but it was the principle that started to irk me. I looked at the woman who was doing her best to avoid eye contact with me. She whispered to her son, looked toward the gold medalists, looked at her watch, etc, etc, etc.
Finally, she glanced at me, obviously feeling the stare that was digging into the side of her face.
She sheepishly asked me "is this the line for the signatures?!" I said, "Yes, and it ends back there."
I was very polite, almost too much so. I had a flashback to the movie "A Christmas Story" when Ralphie and his brother were trying to see Santa Claus, and they unknowingly cut into line.
But this woman simply smiled, ignored me, and continued to stand there.
The man behind me wasn't as kind. He nudged me, beginning to fume at this woman's obvious disregard for line etiquette.
I asked him what he wanted me to do. This woman and her teen didn't care. Maybe she had the same kind of day I did up to that point (although she lacked the sunburn I had attained).
He let out a heavy *sigh* that the line cutter heard. She turned and looked at me. I smiled and motioned to the man behind me. She gave him "the look" and turned back around.
At that point I glanced down at my son who was completely oblivious to everything going on, as he inched closer to getting the autographs that he so desperately wanted.
We moved through the line chatting and meeting each Olympic swimmer one-by-one. My son was having a ball. Every now and then, I'd glance back to see the other man still fuming as he glared at the line crasher.
We finished up with Tara Kirk, moved away from the table and took a long look at the T-Shirt and poster that would soon adorn my son's wall.
The cutter walked by giddy saying, "you're not gonna want to wash that t-shirt now, Dad!!"
I just smiled, knowing I acted like a champion in this situation.
I then moved away, so the other guy could have his say!!!
Seven U.S. Olympic swimmers in one pool. A pool in Bakersfield. Spending the afternoon talking with more than 100 fellow tankers (slang for swimmers) who had visions of standing atop a podium sometime in the future.
Forget the podium, just wearing the red, white and blue speedo and racing for the U.S.A.
The world class caravan arrived with '96 triple Gold medalist Josh Davis leading the way.
The lineup was extremely impressive with Jason Lezak, Aaron Peirsol, Gabe Woodward, Elaine Breeden, Dana Vollmer and Tara Kirk.
I talked with Jason Lezak a few months ago when he visited my son's swim school to sign a few autographs and take pictures. He was polite, patient and professional in dealing with all the kids that descended on him.
Sunday afternoon, that same character was evident with the rest of Team USA that spent a few hours talking and demonstrating technique with the clinic participants.
And I tried my best to reflect that same attitude.
My day started around 7am at a swim meet downtown. It transitioned into the clinic around 12:30 and continued until 5pm. I was hot, a little burnt and tired by the time it was over.
My son attempted to get autographs before the event started but got into line too late, and missed out in the pre-signing session. It was partly due to the fact that many people crashed the line ahead of us in their exuberance.
So be it. It happens.
Now, it's 10 hours into my day on the pool deck, I want to go home and I get into line as it starts to form after the session. The Olympians are moving back to their chairs. My son digs out his t-shirt and poster. We're 8 people back in a line that stretched to more than 50.
Then, the wayward mother pushes her teenage son into the line next to the people in front of us.
It's just 1 person, but it was the principle that started to irk me. I looked at the woman who was doing her best to avoid eye contact with me. She whispered to her son, looked toward the gold medalists, looked at her watch, etc, etc, etc.
Finally, she glanced at me, obviously feeling the stare that was digging into the side of her face.
She sheepishly asked me "is this the line for the signatures?!" I said, "Yes, and it ends back there."
I was very polite, almost too much so. I had a flashback to the movie "A Christmas Story" when Ralphie and his brother were trying to see Santa Claus, and they unknowingly cut into line.
But this woman simply smiled, ignored me, and continued to stand there.
The man behind me wasn't as kind. He nudged me, beginning to fume at this woman's obvious disregard for line etiquette.
I asked him what he wanted me to do. This woman and her teen didn't care. Maybe she had the same kind of day I did up to that point (although she lacked the sunburn I had attained).
He let out a heavy *sigh* that the line cutter heard. She turned and looked at me. I smiled and motioned to the man behind me. She gave him "the look" and turned back around.
At that point I glanced down at my son who was completely oblivious to everything going on, as he inched closer to getting the autographs that he so desperately wanted.
We moved through the line chatting and meeting each Olympic swimmer one-by-one. My son was having a ball. Every now and then, I'd glance back to see the other man still fuming as he glared at the line crasher.
We finished up with Tara Kirk, moved away from the table and took a long look at the T-Shirt and poster that would soon adorn my son's wall.
The cutter walked by giddy saying, "you're not gonna want to wash that t-shirt now, Dad!!"
I just smiled, knowing I acted like a champion in this situation.
I then moved away, so the other guy could have his say!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
