Knock Knock Lovers

Sister's Visit

My sister visited this weekend. Our conversations were very deep indeed.

JetHawks

Watching the jethawks baseball game and figuring how to track the score card (well trying to with the help of sister) really made me wanna catch more Padres games...

Slippery Slopes

The "Slippery Slope" argument is a logical fallacy made by people who most often have no sound reasoned basis for the argument. It is based in fear and ignorance. It fails to focus on the issue at hand in favor of a "parade of horribles" which may or may not be linked to the issue at hand. If one wants to effectively argue an issue... steer clear of the slippery slope argument in favor of more sound topics/logical deductions.

To further exemplify the mistakes of making "slippery slope" arguments, here are potential such arguments that could (and might have been made) in the past.
"If the Government can't require people to attend church and respect the Sabbath then people will lose all morality."
"If women can vote pretty soon children and resident aliens will be given the ability to vote."
"If interracial marriage is approved soon people will be able to marry animals or children."

Restricting individuals' rights based on such poor logic is reckless and unjust.

Moreover if the controversial action is seen as "downhill" and moving towards some horrible outcome then why not push back "uphill"... Like arrange marriages to prevent that pesky issue of "love" between people of different races or the same sex... or preventing enlisted individuals from discussing anything in their personal lives - from their religion and political beliefs to their hometown or sexual orientation to keep troops morale high... Those are just two outrageous examples.

Confessions of a C-SPANer

I am one of the very few people in the world who can often find myself riveted to c-span... Here are just a few reasons...

• The political process is a very strange (and often frustrating) American experience which CSPAN offers a unique glimpse into.
• Observing debates by our lawmakers provides insight into the issues themselves
  
• The people who study politics and global relations are extraordinarily fascinating
• Conventions and speeches are dominated by discourse on their own specific ideological band (unique to the convention/speech event).
  
• CSPAN often helps to minimize so-called "bias" because often it offers unmediated (immediate) events.
• It provides endless amusement hearing callers complain about the "liberal bias" in "the media" but praise the "neutrality of Fox News Channel" juxtaposed with hearing other callers bash Fox News Channel's "blatant partisanism".
  

A Very Sixth Graduation

A mixtape for the Sixth College students 04-08/9 (especially fratority 709)...

1. Sixth College Dance Mix - Sixth College Unolympics 2004
2. I'll be There for You - The Rembrandts
3. Whites Houses - Vanessa Carlton
4. Out Tonight - Rent (Film Soundtrack)
5. Trouble with Boys - Loreta
6. Seasons of Love - Rent (Film Soundtrack)
7. The Trouble With Love Is - Kelly Clarkson
8. Cavanaugh Park - Something Corporate
9. Crash and Burn - Savage Garden
10. I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
11. Home - Vanessa Carlton
12. Finale B - Rent (Film Soundtrack)
13. Who Knew - Pink
14. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
15. What I Did for Love - A Chorus Line (Original Broadway Soundtrack)
16. For Good - Wicked (Original Broadway Soundtrack)
17. I Will Remember You - Sarah McLachlan
18. Graduation (Friends Forever) - Vitamin C
19. Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
20. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
    

"Gay Marriage"

Civil Unions Vs. Marriage

"Separate but Equal" version 2.0
Quite possibly a necessary first step though...

If marriage is a religious institution why does the government have a hand in it? They are not allowed to manage the establishment of religion...or interfere with the free exercise of it? If people believe that same-gender/sex marriage is a religious freedom (as some do), why can the state discriminate between two religions/religious institutions by recognizing one ("heterosexual marriage") but not the other ("homosexual marriage")?

Light up the Sky

I'll be the blue eyed lightning bolt to your brown eyed thunderstorm 'cause when I'm around you baby I swear I could light up the sky!

Fashion Forward

Simple Response to Kirby Wilbur's Speech

Kirby Wilbur
Young America's Foundation
National Conservative Student Counsel
On the Separation of Church and State: Government & Religion

The historical documents he refers to are all well and good, but not legally binding nor constitutional. They are peoples' opinions expressed in accordance to principles of individuals' rights and liberties.

And no, the words “separation of church and state” are not in the constitution, but the constitution does say the congress cannot legislate the establishment of religion nor limit the liberties of people to freely exercise their religion. If the government cannot legislate for religion nor against (any) individuals' religion. That to me seems a clear divorcement of religion from government.

Wilbur's argument that there is no morality outside of religion is absurd. Religions establish their own morals. Morality varies from one religion to another and from one denomination to another. Morality based on inalienable individual rights and liberties is the constitutionally based. This morality includes not legislating for religion or against individuals' religion.

Wilbur claims students can't pray in schools. Students are allowed to pray on their own accord in public schools provided they do not disrupt the studies.

Wilbur claims there is a universal and unchanging truth on which the constitution and the United States is based on. The constitution allows for changes made to it and to our nation because the founders knew they did not know an absolute Truth. The changes made in regards to divorcing the church from the state is based upon the original Bill of Rights as expanded by the Fourteenth Amendment. Rejecting the changes based upon clinging to historical and antiquated opinions is retrospective and contraindicated by the constitution.

Aim For the Stars