Thoughts on Equality

Recently, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8's ban on same sex marriage. Some people believe that since the majority of California citizens voted for Prop 8, then that makes it right. I don't see it that way, because the constitution protects an individual's basic rights under the equal protection and due process clauses, and that cannot be taken away by a vote.
If the Civil Rights Act of 1965 had been "put to a vote," instead of put into law, it too would have been voted down like Prop 8. The majority isn't always right and they shouldn't always rule.

Ted Olson, a conservative, and former Solicitor General for the Bush administration has filed a suit in California federal court seeking to overturn Prop 8. Read about it here: http://www.americablog.com/2009/05/bush-solicitor-general-ted-olson.html

How ironic that Prop 8's affirmation occurred on the same day President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. His decision is viewed as progressive. I'm glad he chose a woman, and someone who has an inspiring life story, growing up in a housing project in the Bronx, going on to Princeton University (graduating 2nd in her class) and then on to Yale Law School. Sotomayor graduated Summa Cum Lauda, and has more experience (almost 17 years) than any U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominated in the past 75 years. And yet many Republicans are kvetching (what else is new?) and questioning her intelligence and qualifications. She has said that as a Latina she brings a different perspective to the court. Some R's are calling her a racist over that remark. Glenn Beck refers to her as "that Hispanic chick lady" but that's not racist. I don't recall anyone questioning Samuel Alito's intelligence because he's a white male. I think the people calling her racist and questioning her intelligence are the racists. And the dimwits. Here's a great source for information about the Supreme Court http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/

So we have our first African-American President and our first Latina heading to the U.S. Supreme Court and this moves us light years towards equality. Finally. But we are taking a step backward regarding gay rights and individual rights as humans (Prop 8, "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in our military). Separate is not equal. And the racist reaction from the Right to Sotomayor's nomination tells me that women and Hispanics are still not viewed as equal to the white males who are accustomed to running America.

Thoughts on Equality

Recently, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8's ban on same sex marriage. Some people believe that since the majority of California citizens voted for Prop 8, then that makes it right. I don't see it that way, because the constitution protects an individual's basic rights under the equal protection and due process clauses, and that cannot be taken away by a vote.
If the Civil Rights Act of 1965 had been "put to a vote," instead of put into law, it too would have been voted down like Prop 8. The majority isn't always right and they shouldn't always rule.

Ted Olson, a conservative, and former Solicitor General for the Bush administration has filed a suit in California federal court seeking to overturn Prop 8. Read about it here: http://www.americablog.com/2009/05/bush-solicitor-general-ted-olson.html

How ironic that Prop 8's affirmation occurred on the same day President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. His decision is viewed as progressive. I'm glad he chose a woman, and someone who has an inspiring life story, growing up in a housing project in the Bronx, going on to Princeton University (graduating 2nd in her class) and then on to Yale Law School. Sotomayor graduated Summa Cum Lauda, and has more experience (almost 17 years) than any U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominated in the past 75 years. And yet many Republicans are kvetching (what else is new?) and questioning her intelligence and qualifications. She has said that as a Latina she brings a different perspective to the court. Some R's are calling her a racist over that remark. Glenn Beck refers to her as "that Hispanic chick lady" but that's not racist. I don't recall anyone questioning Samuel Alito's intelligence because he's a white male. I think the people calling her racist and questioning her intelligence are the racists. And the dimwits. Here's a great source for information about the Supreme Court http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/

So we have our first African-American President and our first Latina heading to the U.S. Supreme Court and this moves us light years towards equality. Finally. But we are taking a step backward regarding gay rights and individual rights as humans (Prop 8, "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in our military). Separate is not equal. And the racist reaction from the Right to Sotomayor's nomination tells me that women and Hispanics are still not viewed as equal to the white males who are accustomed to running America.

The Brilliant Woman of the Week

Welcome to a new feature here at LVS: The Brilliant Woman of the Week, where we celebrate outstanding women who have something important to say. With SO many brilliant women to choose from, where do I start? Well, I think I'll start here.....

This week's BWOTW is Melissa Harris-Lacewell: Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University. She is a regular commentator on the hugely popular Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. (My personal FAVE news show) And she has been on Bill Moyer's Journal. Melissa has a really cool blog called "THE KITCHEN TABLE" http://princetonprofs.blogspot.com/ where she converses with another brilliant woman, Dr. Yolanda Pierce, who is also a Princeton professor. Wow, I just mentioned three brilliant women in one paragraph, but let's focus on Melissa. ;D

Melissa is the author of an award winning book called "Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk, and Black Political Thought" I love the way she connects political ideology and popular culture. She taught a course called "Disaster, Race, and American Politics" which explored the politics of Hurricane Katrina. (Remember Katrina?) Her colleagues at Princeton have recognized her as " one of the most talented intellectuals of her generation." She's also a single mom to her 7 yr. old daughter.

She wrote this in the Nov 6, 2008 edition of The Nation:

"When Barack Obama was elected as the first black president of the United States, African-Americans became the solution instead of the problem. For many black folks, Obama's victory has momentarily healed the double consciousness that is an ordinary part of our lives. To be a citizen in a democracy is to be not only the ruled but also the ruler, to not only submit to law but to craft it, to not only die for your country but to live fully in it. In this moment, we are citizens."

Melissa is a brilliant communicator and scholar, and she seems to be a very down to earth person. I am looking forward to a new era of brilliant scholarly women taking the forefront in the mainstream media and beyond.

Here's a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPGSBGsAtAk

The Brilliant Woman of the Week

Welcome to a new feature here at LVS: The Brilliant Woman of the Week, where we celebrate outstanding women who have something important to say. With SO many brilliant women to choose from, where do I start? Well, I think I'll start here.....

This week's BWOTW is Melissa Harris-Lacewell: Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University. She is a regular commentator on the hugely popular Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. (My personal FAVE news show) And she has been on Bill Moyer's Journal. Melissa has a really cool blog called "THE KITCHEN TABLE" http://princetonprofs.blogspot.com/ where she converses with another brilliant woman, Dr. Yolanda Pierce, who is also a Princeton professor. Wow, I just mentioned three brilliant women in one paragraph, but let's focus on Melissa. ;D

Melissa is the author of an award winning book called "Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk, and Black Political Thought" I love the way she connects political ideology and popular culture. She taught a course called "Disaster, Race, and American Politics" which explored the politics of Hurricane Katrina. (Remember Katrina?) Her colleagues at Princeton have recognized her as " one of the most talented intellectuals of her generation." She's also a single mom to her 7 yr. old daughter.

She wrote this in the Nov 6, 2008 edition of The Nation:

"When Barack Obama was elected as the first black president of the United States, African-Americans became the solution instead of the problem. For many black folks, Obama's victory has momentarily healed the double consciousness that is an ordinary part of our lives. To be a citizen in a democracy is to be not only the ruled but also the ruler, to not only submit to law but to craft it, to not only die for your country but to live fully in it. In this moment, we are citizens."

Melissa is a brilliant communicator and scholar, and she seems to be a very down to earth person. I am looking forward to a new era of brilliant scholarly women taking the forefront in the mainstream media and beyond.

Here's a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPGSBGsAtAk

Lame Duck Dubya Craps on Women

Women should be aware of the "Right of Conscience Rule" that lame duck George Bush is pushing through before he flies the coop. This new rule could undermine a woman's ability to access reproductive health care. The rule says that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers can refuse to participate in any procedure they find morally objectionable, or against their religious beliefs. The broad language of the rule goes beyond just abortion to include sperm donations, artificial insemination, and contraception.

For example, a pharmacist can reject a rape victim's prescription for emergency contraception. A woman with a life threatening condition can be refused an early abortion. This rule allows pharmacists to refuse birth control to Medicaid recipients, so lower income women will be hit the hardest.

Shouldn't a patient's health care rights come before the religious beliefs of the health care providers?

Reproductive health care is a human right.

Isn't the Bush admin. just politicizing women's health in order to "set Obama up" for confrontation with the religious right? Obama has stated that he understands there is a "moral dimension to abortion" but he has also promised to protect the rights of women who seek abortion.

I can respect a health care worker's "right of conscience" but it is wrong to put ideology or politics before women's health.

Hey, I don't see any religious or political leaders speaking out to restrict Viagra use for unmarried men.

Quack, Quack.

Lame Duck Dubya Craps on Women

Women should be aware of the "Right of Conscience Rule" that lame duck George Bush is pushing through before he flies the coop. This new rule could undermine a woman's ability to access reproductive health care. The rule says that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers can refuse to participate in any procedure they find morally objectionable, or against their religious beliefs. The broad language of the rule goes beyond just abortion to include sperm donations, artificial insemination, and contraception.

For example, a pharmacist can reject a rape victim's prescription for emergency contraception. A woman with a life threatening condition can be refused an early abortion. This rule allows pharmacists to refuse birth control to Medicaid recipients, so lower income women will be hit the hardest.

Shouldn't a patient's health care rights come before the religious beliefs of the health care providers?

Reproductive health care is a human right.

Isn't the Bush admin. just politicizing women's health in order to "set Obama up" for confrontation with the religious right? Obama has stated that he understands there is a "moral dimension to abortion" but he has also promised to protect the rights of women who seek abortion.

I can respect a health care worker's "right of conscience" but it is wrong to put ideology or politics before women's health.

Hey, I don't see any religious or political leaders speaking out to restrict Viagra use for unmarried men.

Quack, Quack.

Women's health does matter

There is no such thing as a "pro-abortion" movement. John McCain used this term during the debate last night. It's called pro-choice. When a woman's life is at risk, there should be no question that a pregnancy should be terminated. Women voters should be aware of John McCain's faulty judgement on this issue. McCain suggested that a woman who chooses her life over the life of a fetus is taking an "extreme" position. He is diminishing the importance of women's health.

Cecile Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said:

"Tonight, John McCain showed he doesn't care about women's health when he described protecting "the health of the woman" as "extreme." John McCain doesn't seem to understand that women's health matters. He blatantly showed that he doesn't trust women to decide what is in the best interest of their own health. Barack Obama, on the other hand, stood up for women's health."

Women's health does matter

There is no such thing as a "pro-abortion" movement. John McCain used this term during the debate last night. It's called pro-choice. When a woman's life is at risk, there should be no question that a pregnancy should be terminated. Women voters should be aware of John McCain's faulty judgement on this issue. McCain suggested that a woman who chooses her life over the life of a fetus is taking an "extreme" position. He is diminishing the importance of women's health.

Cecile Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said:

"Tonight, John McCain showed he doesn't care about women's health when he described protecting "the health of the woman" as "extreme." John McCain doesn't seem to understand that women's health matters. He blatantly showed that he doesn't trust women to decide what is in the best interest of their own health. Barack Obama, on the other hand, stood up for women's health."