Success story without affirmative action

LA Times article starting off Black History Month is a whopper of a true story showing that freedom, opportunity, and hard work are much better than a hand out or government support.

Biddy Mason was born a slave in 1818 somewhere in the South, her owner moved a few times before settling in FREE Southern California. In 1855 she was freed to begin her life in Los Angeles where by 1891 when she died as one of the richest women in Southern California.

Read the article from the link above and rejoice in knowing that Bill Cosby is preaching the right message.

The Second American Revolution...

While a revolution is not needed since we are lucky enough to live in a country provides the people the power of representation to change the government. Here is an interesting YouTube video clip about their "Second American Revolution." There is some good support for a unifying common language.

Simple to Complicated

California Attorney General, Jerry Brown, took the very simple Proposition 8 Amendment language in the proposed law and created his own version with a significant bias.

Here the law is in its entirety...

Section 1. Title

This measure shall be known and may be cited as the "California Marriage Protection Act."

Section 2. Section 7.5 is added to Article I of the California Constitution, to read:

Sec. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Very simple and straight forward... but Jerry Brown decided to embellish this text in his "Ballot Label" (wording used on the actual ballot) and "Ballot Title and Summary" (wording used on the Sample Ballot). The Ballot Label reads:

ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARY.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

Changes California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little financial impact on state or local government.

A description of this action can be located in a local news broadcast. The entire text for the ballot and sample ballot for this (and other propositions) can be found on the Secretary of State website.

Endowed by their Creator

While the Declaration of Independence includes the terms “Nature’s God” and “Creator” the Constitution of the United States is mute on the issue until passage of the Bill of Rights, Amendment I, which states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

With the ratification of the Bill of Rights at the end of 1791 (now over 215 years ago), the debate and understanding of the “separation of church and state” is yet to be concluded. While the Supreme Courts over the years have been wrestling with this one sentence, there decisions have expanded the understanding beyond the words laid out for them.

The founding fathers did include in the Constitution provisions to reasonably protect the rights of the minority while also retaining the rights of the majority. First was the idea of separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial Powers, in a form of checks and balances. Since laws can only be passed by Congress, this power was divested into two groups. The House of Representatives representing the populous (majority) viewpoint; therefore, replacing itself every two years to ensure updated representation of the views of the majority. The Senate represents the interest of the minority because each state no mater how large or small in population have equal representation (California and Rhode Island both have two senators).

Lastly the Constitutional Amendment process was established in Article V, where support of two thirds of both legislative Houses (or state Legislatures) can “call for a Convention for proposing Amendments” to become part of the Constitution when ratified by three fourths of the states.

The time may have come for the people to clarify their intent that what was said is what is meant. “…make no law…establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise…” This does not state or imply that all symbols or recognition of religion is to be removed from the government when deemed appropriate by the majority as long as there is no law or preference is given by the Government based upon religion. Also, that no law or preference is given against the free exercise of religion (or lack there of) as long as doing so does not conflict with areas of the Constitution.

Therefore, unless there is a desire from the majority, there is no need to remove religious symbols from government property (e.g., money, buildings, documents, etc.) unless its existence establishes a shingle religion above all others (or lack there of). Wishes, wants, and lack of comfort are not addressed or prescribed in any of our founding documents. The rights of the minority are not superior to the rights of the majority (e.g., the right to “express” pornography does not supercede the right of the majority to control the display, distribution, sales, etc.).

Repaying sins of the grandparents?

As we progress into 2007, it is unbelievable that we, the “grandchildren,” are paying for the countries past sins. The 1960s have come and gone. It is time to unite for the common good. All claims against the government and citizens as a whole made prior to the turn of the century must be resolved immediately in the favor of the “common good.” It has been said that those that forget the past are destine to make the same mistakes; however, those that live only in want of restitution for the past, never live at all.

No citizen should have to endure the dishonor of their “class” being degraded to a “Hyphenated American.” In better times this country was affectionately known as the “melting pot.” Now many lack the understanding or desire to become part of the melt; thereby, they segregate themselves into a smaller “pot” sacrificing all of the benefits available to all that come to these shores.

This is not to say that life is fair or equitable for all. Each person has their own set of challenges and their own contribution to make to society and the common good. Some have the burden of ethnicity, others of physical or emotional ailments, desire, motivation, timing, etc. But all have the opportunity to make the best they can of their own lives and improve the opportunities for their children, grandchildren, etc.

Minority rights shall be respected and protected; however, never at the expense of the rights of the majority. A jury of your peers should never be based upon ethnic origin, sex, religion, etc., it should only consist of citizens willing to uphold their oath to perform their civic duty and the directions of the Court.

There will not and cannot be adequate compensation for property (e.g., land) that has been taken, stolen, captured, concord, etc., to those enslaved during our early or more recent history, nor for those that have severely been discriminated against during the last century, etc. However, the past sacrifices have provided their descendents the one thing coveted by many around the world today, US Citizenship. The greatest “crime” is not the price that was paid in the past, but failure of the “now” to capitalize on the opportunities that have already been bought and paid for.

It is important that we respect and remember our past, hereditary, history, and identity, as long as, we are willing to unite as one. “By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall” is as true now as it was during the Revolutionary War. We can no longer have separate “nations” within our boarders (e.g., reservation), except as set aside for delegates of solver friendly nations (e.g., embassy). Therefore, all land and inhabitants within the country must be governed by the same hierarchy criteria for federal, state, county, city, etc. laws, rules, regulations, etc.

The common good

The Declaration of Independence ends with these powerful words “…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” I only wish I as a Citizen could come close to living up to the example set by the founding fathers. These fourteen words bring up many thought to me about how we have lost sight of the path laid down for us.

It is not possible to “mutually pledge” if we are not speaking the same language. The time has come for the USA to establish a single language for the citizens that enable us to talk together as one. The language of citizenship and those rights protected by or privileges provided by the governed shall be one. Who among you would be willing to “pledge…our Fortunes” to someone that you can not communicate with?

Our kin and loved brothers to the north, Canada, struggle with this problem of two languages still today. Look at problems within countries around the world, how many could be diminished if there was one common language among their people?

Our founding documents are written in English; therefore, it seems to make sense that English should be the language of the Citizens of the United States of America. If the majority were to select another language (e.g., Spanish, Japanese, Korean, etc.), that would be acceptable because I, as I am sure many others, want to be a Citizens and; therefore, would learn the language quickly (far from my given talent). The same must be true for others wishing to become members of this great country.

The time has come to quit pandering to those that will not immerse themselves into this land, yet expect to become functioning citizens. As soon as possible, all governmental documents, correspondence, writings, speaking, etc. (e.g., ballots) intended for the primary use of US Citizens, or those wishing to reside here legally, shall only be provided in the common language. Also, no government within these United States shall be, or force others to be, compelled to communicate in any language other than the common language.

Obviously, since all people are “…endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” all Citizens, residents, visitors, etc. shall be able to use any language they wish among themselves (including commerce) without restriction.