Thursday, March 22, 2007

South Carolina's Legislative Priorities: Ten Commandments, Abortion, Gay Marriage


It's certainly good to know that our elected leaders have their legislative priorities right.

Today, the Speaker of the House and The President Pro Tem of the Senate met to ratify a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The constitution now includes the statement, "a marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this state."

Yesterday, The House voted 91-23 to approve a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to first view an ultrasound of the fetus.

That follows Tuesday's House Judiciary Committee's approval of a bill that will permit the Ten Commandments to be posted (with a group of other documents, including Martin LKuther King's "I Have a Dream" speech) in public buildings like courthouses, schools and the State House itself.

Meantime, South Carolina ranks of 47th among the 50 states in child well being; 30% of 5 year olds start school without the basic skills to insure success; we're 39th in birth to teen mothers (a nearly certain path to poverty); 43rd in child poverty; 42nd in infant mortality; 39th in juvenile incarceration; 49th in crime rates.

But fear not, South Carolinians, we don't have to worry about gays and lesbians getting married, desperate pregnant women will be told that they are child murderers, and we are going to have well-lit displays of the Ten Commandments.

It reminds me of the words of the old Hebrew prophet: The Master said: "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren't in it. Because they act like they're worshiping me but don't mean it." (Isaiah 29:13, The Message)

2 comments:

RUOdyssey said...

Protraying irony and sarcasm in a purely written form can be a difficult thing. And yes, I would have to agree with your stance that gay people are not intrinsicly unapologetic sinners as I am one of them. And I would disagree with those churches that are stubborn in their fight to ban homosexuals from being members. My parents belonged to a more accepting church and now belong to such a church. But the general consensus here in the South is that they just don't like us, expecially in their churches, and they are abusing thier majority opinion to influence their government and get even SC's LESBIAN REPRESENTATIVE Marlene DeChane TO VOTE FOR THE BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE!! I wonder if Utah will add an amendment to their state constitution to permanently accept poligamy. It's funny how so many countries around the world have quickly come to a decision on this debate and put it on their books, Catholic Spain even. But here in the "united" states we sit and debate with each other and come up with new terminology and nuances to the law specific to each state. At least Congress decided we're not ready to come to a quick decision yet. That's why we invented red tape!

Anonymous said...

Actually, I picked up on the sarcasm pretty well. I thought your point about the percentages of problems in relation to the legislation was well put. In relation to NC, we are off track too. We can build a road and keep it pretty.....but not much else. Maybe all of those guilt-ridden mothers with no public support can ride by the well-llit 10 commandments and memorize the "Dream speech"....and we CERTAINLY wouldn't want to offer that child a BETTER life, say with two willing (same sex) parents in love....