This post originated on Brain Spank as “Conflagration Scotus” by Michael Douglass. It expresses my outrage at the Supreme Court better than I’ve managed to do so far. Interestingly, both Douglass and I used the word “conflagration” in our posts today when writing about this.
Conflagration Scotus
by Michael Douglass
I am a woman. I gave birth. It was painful. Excruciating. Agony. No one knows. I do.
My child knows no one other purview until it gulps air outside of me. Until it leaves my womb it belongs to me and no one else. No other body, governmental or even judicial matters at all to me.
Not as far as I’m concerned anyway.
I really don’t care what you have to say.
I cannot stand five catholic men in black robes who would decide anything for me or the child in my body. I loathe you for trying. Your ignorance. Your arrogance. Your hubris. When the day comes I want to relinquish control of my life, my child’s life, to the likes of you, I’ll let you know. It will have a big fancy seal. It will be on parchment. …
Read the remaining 557 words of this blistering post on Brain Spank. It will leave you cheering.
Thanks to Pied Type reader Gunta for bringing this to my attention.
Douglass’ rant sure puts it in perspective all right. Highlighting all the ramifications of pregnancy makes a powerful argument. (Who says men can’t relate?)
Our local paper this morning has an Independence Day full-page ad that I very nearly bypassed as pro forma. It wasn’t. The top quarter was a U.S. flag, under which were the words, “IN GOD WE TRUST”. The rest of the message was a collection of cherry-picked quotes from patriotic notables over the years implying that the U.S. is a Christian nation. Here’s a sample:
In small print at the bottom I see that the ad was paid for by hobbylobby.com/ministryprojects. And just to seal the deal there’s a link to download a free bible for your phone and a phone number to help you get to know Jesus.
The intent is clear. Hobby Lobby wants a religious government, never mind the First Amendment. And given the partisan divide the last 6 years, I’m wondering if John Adams was right. I’m wondering if something like Sharia Law is growing here. I’m wondering if, like Iraq, we are headed for geographic partition along religious lines. (Think Red and Blue.) 🙁
So now they’re even perverting the Fourth of July!? Where will it end? When you have the blessing of the Supreme Court, why stop with one little insurance regulation?
…what happened in American politics from (roughly) the end of the Clinton era, through the Bush terms, and into the first Obama term, is now taking place in private America. The same politics that drive elections, will now come into play when it comes to hiring and firing. Not only will you have red and blue States and Districts, but you’ll have red & blue companies.
Well, the Supreme Court is certainly doing its part …
Hobby Lobby and so many want a government that sticks to the constitution as THEY interpret it. That’s the problem. Everyone thinks it’s “their way or the highway” – which is far far from the original concept.
There’s so much diversity and division of thought now, (and politicians who see their job as a career and a way to become a millionaire not public service for a short time as intended) I’m not real hopeful of the future.
You know what’s really odd, when JFK ran for office some (odd) people screamed he was Catholic and it would affect this decisions and policies…then most sane people said “Oh, that would never happen.” So now 5 of the judges are Catholic (? I don’t know for sure – must check) and it appears that….
Perhaps those in charge/administration are worried to make waves since Catholic Charities/ other major religious groups are the ones stepping in to take care of all these kids streaming over the border and the religious groups are big supporters of the President’s immigration reform and for letting all of them staying in the US. Maybe there’s some sort of tradeoff?
Lots of insane things going on these days. We are being reduce to powerless serfs at every turn
Once upon a time, a long long time ago, I believed the Supreme Court was the last word in what the Constitution says and means, and rules accordingly. Then I began to understand all the shades of meaning with precedents, previous court rulings, etc. And finally I realized that the nine justices are just people with personal opinions and religious beliefs and political dogmas and debts to political supporters and ideologies. No matter how much I wish it were different, they are just political appointees. Those black robes do not magically impart wisdom or impartiality. What a shame.
Yes, I’ve heard the 5 men who voted for Hobby Lobby are all Catholic. (Haven’t personally checked that.) Makes sense, though, doesn’t it? And it doesn’t bode well for the dozens of cases lining up with similar complaints about religious oppression.
It’s always been politics and personal agendas. Always. We’ll see. So much impt. stuff in front of them.
I know. I was just stubbornly naive and idealistic for a long time.
Ditto. We all trusted. And believed people would tell the truth and choose the right answers….a whole different world now. Just sad