http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/21/2653566/its-still-praying.html
The south is known for its strong religious beliefs and churches that tend to be within a couple of miles from each other. And if you can't find a church in the south, you're an atheist. But should prayer and religion be separate from school? The answer in this Miami Herald Editorial is yes. The editorial, It's Still Praying, talks about how Gary Siplin, a democratic governor from Orlando, intends to pass a bill in Florida that authorizes schools to be subjugated to "inspirational messages" at events like a Pep Rally or an assembly. "Let it be clear that there is no prohibition for a Florida public school student to pray in a classroom-- many a student has done is before a meal or test." So why try to force this type of action onto everyone else who doesn't necessarily want nor may believe in a higher power? It's a concept this editorial tries to wrap its head around as it describes the bill. Originally the bill was designed to affect public and private high schools but now is intended for all public elementary schools around the state. Several groups like the American Civil Liberties and Anti-Defamation League believe this bill to be unconstitutional and an "over-reach" of the governor. Quite frankly, I also agree.
It's no surprise that this is an issue though. Every state battles with the argument of separation of church and state. Religion is a touchy subject for anyone due to differing beliefs and ideas. For children in particular, religion should not be forced upon them but rather they should be given the right to choose. Florida resides in the U.S.A which is built on democracy. The system they have now works for many people because it doesn't force nor prohibit children to practice religion. When reading this article, I found that even some conservative Christian groups did not agree with the bill either. Even though it is their job to bring people to God per say, the people should come willingly not forcefully. How fair would it be to push people who practiced Christianity into practicing Judaism? Individuals, like the one who wrote this editorial, resent this bill because of the way it was presented and how it might be passed without their consent. The point is, this bill needs to be looked over and debated before coming to fruition just as any bill should.
In conclusion, the editorial also points out that it may be an election year for Governor Gary Siplin. Apparently, governors tend to propose bills that could help them win or at least get their name out there. Well, Siplin could find himself at a loss if he continues to propose this bill that obviously is not in favor with the people. “Had the bill merely made reference to protecting any student speech (religious or otherwise) it . . . would have been able to withstand constitutional scrutiny,” Mr. Stemberger noted. John Stemberger of the Florida Family Policy Council, a group that believes that "God is the author of life, liberty and the family" spoke to Miami Herald about this bill. If a man like him is saying that this bill may be a bit of a stretch, then it's probably fair to say it needs to be done away with. Again, nobody should be told whether or not they need to pray, especially in a public high school where it could cause many conflicts.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Private vs. Public Matters
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum-santorum-20120216,0,5678791.column
Santorum sits on the far right. I mean the very far right. Some, like Meghan Daum of the LA Times, consider Rick Santorum to be an extremist. In her editorial, Santorum: The Personal Isn't Always Political, Daum addresses some issues that have been surrounding him lately, one being his take on gay marriage. He makes it clear that a woman and a man should be the dominate figures in a child's life. He also thinks that gay marriage should be between two men because a child needs a father and without one, they are apparently "lost". "He found that even fathers in jail who had abandoned their kids were still better than no father at all to have in their children's lives." Daum writes. Daum not only addresses the issues surrounding Santorum but also how he has done a poor job of keeping his private life out of the public light. Daum does not actually say it, but indicates that this will be Santorum's downfall if he does not keep it in check. "Santorum's opponents should respect the difference between private life and public policy for this obvious reason: He himself does not."
California is not known for being heavily religous but when faced with Santorum's views, they obviously take some offense to them. Santorum believes that sex should only be used for reproductive reasons and not for pleasure. The streets of LA are not lined with churches, but with places that use sex for pleasure, so LA is not completely on board with this concept. In Karen Santorum's book, she writes about the loss of her son in 1996. Born at 20 weeks, he died two hours later and the Santorum's brought him home to show their children. Apparently, the Santorum's slept with him that night too, with him in between them. To most, this is bizarre and shocking but to the Santorum's it's a way of grieving. So who are we to judge?
The reason why we judge is because Santorum puts his personal business out there. To tell the public about something so personal, like the death of a child, opens the Santorum's up to ridicule because all of us grieve differently. What one person does to heal is not what someone else would do and we feel the need to share our opinions about it. As indicated in Daum's editorial, this could be the death of Santorum's campaign. He has not realized that private matters and public matters are two separate things. While his opponents have realized this, he is still struggling to grasp this concept and as he continues to push his extreme religious views and private burdens onto the public, the farther he will drop in the polls.
Santorum sits on the far right. I mean the very far right. Some, like Meghan Daum of the LA Times, consider Rick Santorum to be an extremist. In her editorial, Santorum: The Personal Isn't Always Political, Daum addresses some issues that have been surrounding him lately, one being his take on gay marriage. He makes it clear that a woman and a man should be the dominate figures in a child's life. He also thinks that gay marriage should be between two men because a child needs a father and without one, they are apparently "lost". "He found that even fathers in jail who had abandoned their kids were still better than no father at all to have in their children's lives." Daum writes. Daum not only addresses the issues surrounding Santorum but also how he has done a poor job of keeping his private life out of the public light. Daum does not actually say it, but indicates that this will be Santorum's downfall if he does not keep it in check. "Santorum's opponents should respect the difference between private life and public policy for this obvious reason: He himself does not."
California is not known for being heavily religous but when faced with Santorum's views, they obviously take some offense to them. Santorum believes that sex should only be used for reproductive reasons and not for pleasure. The streets of LA are not lined with churches, but with places that use sex for pleasure, so LA is not completely on board with this concept. In Karen Santorum's book, she writes about the loss of her son in 1996. Born at 20 weeks, he died two hours later and the Santorum's brought him home to show their children. Apparently, the Santorum's slept with him that night too, with him in between them. To most, this is bizarre and shocking but to the Santorum's it's a way of grieving. So who are we to judge?
The reason why we judge is because Santorum puts his personal business out there. To tell the public about something so personal, like the death of a child, opens the Santorum's up to ridicule because all of us grieve differently. What one person does to heal is not what someone else would do and we feel the need to share our opinions about it. As indicated in Daum's editorial, this could be the death of Santorum's campaign. He has not realized that private matters and public matters are two separate things. While his opponents have realized this, he is still struggling to grasp this concept and as he continues to push his extreme religious views and private burdens onto the public, the farther he will drop in the polls.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Birth Control: Should It Be Available For All Women?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/11/opinion/collins-the-battle-behind-the-fight.html
In Gail Collins' editorial, The Battle Behind the Fight, she talks about Obama's recent bill to make birth control available at hospitals around the nation to all women. "As you probably heard, President Obama changed the new rules on health care coverage to accommodate the howls of outrage from the Catholic bishops." Well, he "tweaked" it Collins says. He made it so that women can receive birth control if their health policy provides it but if not, their insurance will cover it. Catholic churches are still not on board with the idea but they've started to comply with Obama's bill proposal. Though this seems to have caused a huge uproar, the problem is not the bill but Obamacare itself Collins writes. republicans are not pleased whatsoever with this bill and feel that it reveals Obama's weaker points that will cause Obama to not be reelected in the upcoming year. Recently Rick Santorum made some remarks about what a traditional household should consist of. Even though he points the finger at Obama for trying to "impose his ways on others", Santorum is just as guilty. It's evident that he believes the woman should stay home and provide for her family while the husband works full time. Apparently, women are not aloud to use birth control either, Catholic or not.
Do I personally agree with Santorum? No. Not at all. As hinted in the name, birth control is a form of control and taking it away due to Santorum's own religious beliefs is a bad idea. Both religion and sex are both sensitive subjects because it depends on the individual. There are many Catholic women who use birth control even though the Catholic church does not condone it. There are also many Catholic women who don't. But for Santorum to say that every woman should not have access to birth control is not tangible. Agreeing with Obama, women should have the right to go to a hospital, be it Catholic or not, and be able to receive some form of birth control. It is easier for women to pay $3 a month to protect themselves rather than fearing the outcome of an unexpected pregnancy. Obama is doing the best he can to accommodate everyone's needs but unfortunately, this battle is not centered around the Catholic hospitals or churches anymore but around the Republicans who are against Obamacare.
The goal of the Republican Party is to have elect a new face to represent America, and not one that stands for something like Obamacare. Santorum, unfortunately could be that face. Obama has had a trying year and even though I don't expect him to be reelected, I don't expect Rick Santorum to take his place. Santorum is extremely conservative and his ideas of the American Family just don't fit in with society's values of what America stands for today: hard work and the right to choose.
In Gail Collins' editorial, The Battle Behind the Fight, she talks about Obama's recent bill to make birth control available at hospitals around the nation to all women. "As you probably heard, President Obama changed the new rules on health care coverage to accommodate the howls of outrage from the Catholic bishops." Well, he "tweaked" it Collins says. He made it so that women can receive birth control if their health policy provides it but if not, their insurance will cover it. Catholic churches are still not on board with the idea but they've started to comply with Obama's bill proposal. Though this seems to have caused a huge uproar, the problem is not the bill but Obamacare itself Collins writes. republicans are not pleased whatsoever with this bill and feel that it reveals Obama's weaker points that will cause Obama to not be reelected in the upcoming year. Recently Rick Santorum made some remarks about what a traditional household should consist of. Even though he points the finger at Obama for trying to "impose his ways on others", Santorum is just as guilty. It's evident that he believes the woman should stay home and provide for her family while the husband works full time. Apparently, women are not aloud to use birth control either, Catholic or not.
Do I personally agree with Santorum? No. Not at all. As hinted in the name, birth control is a form of control and taking it away due to Santorum's own religious beliefs is a bad idea. Both religion and sex are both sensitive subjects because it depends on the individual. There are many Catholic women who use birth control even though the Catholic church does not condone it. There are also many Catholic women who don't. But for Santorum to say that every woman should not have access to birth control is not tangible. Agreeing with Obama, women should have the right to go to a hospital, be it Catholic or not, and be able to receive some form of birth control. It is easier for women to pay $3 a month to protect themselves rather than fearing the outcome of an unexpected pregnancy. Obama is doing the best he can to accommodate everyone's needs but unfortunately, this battle is not centered around the Catholic hospitals or churches anymore but around the Republicans who are against Obamacare.
The goal of the Republican Party is to have elect a new face to represent America, and not one that stands for something like Obamacare. Santorum, unfortunately could be that face. Obama has had a trying year and even though I don't expect him to be reelected, I don't expect Rick Santorum to take his place. Santorum is extremely conservative and his ideas of the American Family just don't fit in with society's values of what America stands for today: hard work and the right to choose.
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