Who knew Indiana & Illinois were so cool?

From the December 2, 2205 issue of New Jersey Lawyer Daily Briefing... (emphasis is mine)
______________________________________

The state of Illinois requires pharmacies that dispense contraceptives approved by the Food and Drug Administration to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control, commonly called the "morning after" pill. But four Walgreens pharmacists in the St. Louis area have refused to fill the prescriptions, saying they're exercising their religious or moral objections. Walgreens responded by putting the four on unpaid leave. So far, six other pharmacists have sued over the rule imposed in April, contending it forces them to violate their religious beliefs. Many of the suits were filed by Americans United for Life, a public-interest law firm in Chicago. The state could revoke the license of both a pharmacy and the store's chief pharmacist if they don't comply with the regulation.
_______________________________________

Fucking Walgreens rocks! And apparently so do the laws in Illinois. I mean really, how freaking awesome is that? Of course who knows what the hell will happen with the lawsuit, but seriously -- if you don't want to hand out what has been legally prescribed then don't be a fucking pharmacist. I really don't understand where the fuck these guys get off (and excuse me, but if I had to fathom a guess, my guess is they are all men, and white men at that). In the words of John at AmericaBlog, "I already have a priest, and he doesn't work at Target." (11/14/05). Or Walgreens, as the case may be. OK -- I don't have a priest, but I do have a doctor. And if she prescribes something for me, these guys fucking JOB is to give it to me. If they can't manage to do that because they have some moral objection, then find another fucking career. Because if pharmacists get to decide what drugs people were allowed to have, they aren't pharmacists anymore -- they're doctors. And most people generally prefer that their doctors went to, oh I don't know, medical school? I would love to just bitch-slap one of these guys. But at least Walgreens gets it. Go Walgreens.

AND...
_________________________________________

The speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives is barred from mentioning Jesus Christ or endorsing any religion in prayers at the beginning of legislative sessions. While U.S. District Judge David Hamilton didn't ban prayers completely, he ended a 188-year tradition when he ordered that any person chosen to give the invocation must be instructed that it must not advance one faith or be used to convert listeners. The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state, contending the prayers overwhelmingly promoted Christian values to the exclusion of other beliefs.

__________________________________________

I swear, I want to go to Indiana and shake Judge Hamilton's hand. Because the ACLU was right. And its about time someone started recognizing it and started treating Christianity, and Christians, just like everybody fucking else. Maybe if enough people do this, Christians will start to recognize that their religion and their beliefs do not make them almighty. Maybe they will realize that freedom of religion doesn't mean they are free to push their religion on the rest of us. Thank you Judge Hamilton. Let's just hope the judges on the Court of Appeals share your good sense.

On issues of equality, America lags behind...

SOUTH AFRICA?

That's right folks -- the good 'ole land of the free has just been surpassed when it comes to equal rights for its citizens by that former bastion of apartheid and all things unequal, South Africa.

OK, granted, South Africa has what could perhaps be called the most liberal constitution in the world -- banning discrimination based on sexual orientation when no other constitution in the world does, for example -- but that doesn't negate the fact that people, gay people anyway, will be more free there than they will ever be here.

Less than a week ago, South Africa's high court, in an 11-1 decision, announced that the country's ban on gay marriage violates their constitution. The South African parliament has one year to amend its marriage laws. What if they say screw you to the court? Doesn't matter. If parliament fails to act, the legal definition of marriage will change automatically at the expiration of the one year deadline. That means that one year from today, if not sooner, South Africa will become the first country in Africa, and the fifth around the world, to legalize gay marriage.

My question is simply -- what the hell is wrong with our country? Everyone likes to throw around words like "freedom" and "equality", but no one really seems to understand what those words mean. Not only do we not provide for gay marriage on a federal level, we actually have the Defense of Marriage Act (signed by Clinton of all people). What the fuck is up with that? We might as well be living in the stone age. And not only on the gay marriage issue, but others too -- one issue that particularly comes to mind is the death penalty. At least we are still part of the majority on the gay marriage issue (that doesn't make our position right, but it makes sure we don't look like total extremists either). With the death penalty, we are only one of three democracies in the world that have the death penalty and 97% of all executions are carried out in four countries -- us, China, Vietnam and Iran. Nice bunch, wouldn't ya say? My gravest concern is that what has happened in Spain, and Belgium, and now South Africa, will spread around the world and country after country will realize the error of their ways. And there we will be, still banning gay marriage, sitting on the sidelines with our legalized death friends.

Thinking about all of this, more and more I wonder if perhaps my thoughts of leaving the country and returning to the motherland following the 2004 elections should not have been so hastily thrown aside. Excuse me while I go call the consulate.

New Places...

Today was a very political day. I spent the morning being shushed by a partner, and the better part of this afternoon web-sufing...or more specifically, blog-surfing, and even more specifically, left leaning political blog surfing. And what a blast I had. Well, not so much the shushing part, although he did explain himself and apologize afterwards, but the blogs. I was aware there were people out there just as pissed off as I was with the current state of this country (and blaming the mother-fucking-neo-con-corporation-loving-back-room-dealing-administration for the bulk of it), I just forgot how fun it can be to read any type of "media" that didn't totally piss me off. Let me rephrase -- the topics being discussed pissed me off -- and if you can't get pissed off about what the whole cheney-bush-rove etc. etc. bunch of dickheads is doing to this country then you have mental problems -- but the manner of discussion was refreshing. For soooooooooo long I've heard complaints from "conservatives" about "the liberal media" (the liberal media, the liberal media...fucking babys), but, call me a dumb-ass-jersey-girl-bitch (and except for the dumb-ass part I would take it as a compliment), but I don't seem to have access to the same liberal media as those cry-baby cons, so finding it online was a pleasure. And if you agree even one iota with anything I've said, you should check out some of my new Happy Places, and maybe you too can be happy like me. Even if its only until you see the "regular" news...and then you can be pissed off again. Aaaahhhh -- the circle of life.

Too busy to write anything particularly inspired myself, so here’s some inspired words from across the blogosphere for your reading pleasure….

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Somebody....Please tell me...Why in God's name do we hold Mary Mapes and Dan Rather to a higher standard than the President of the United States?” (Thanks to This Is What I Think)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“I already have a priest, and he doesn't work at Target, thank you.” (Thanks to AmericaBlog)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“A child will sit and mope when they don't get their way. The religious right will send up an order to General Republican Jesus to take you out.” Thanks to Am I Patriotic)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Then there's her criticism of your Bridge to Nowhere. Doesn't she understand that the less than 50 residents of Gravina Island are special Americans.” (Thanks to Jesus’ General)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Enjoy!

Dirty Politics & the Curse of Bush

In both New Jersey and Virginia, the Republican candidates for governor were accused of playing dirty politics and using smear tactics to gain an advantage against their Democratic opponents. In both New Jersey and Virginia, the village idiot president took time from his vacation tough schedule to stump for the Republican candidates (early on in NJ, and on the eve of the election in VA). What did all this dirty politics and support from Washington get these Republican candidates in VA and NJ? Simply put, the combination of dirty politics and support from the president won each of these guys the opportunity to to congratulate their Democratic opponents when they were elected Governors of New Jersey and Virginia. Dare I say things are looking up?

Now all of this may not amount to an actual curse, but as a citizen of the US, I plan to respectfully ask Mr. President to go out stumping for some more of his fellow Republicans. Look at it this way -- in New York City, a hot bed of liberal ideology a.k.a. the heart of the blue states, the Republican Michael Bloomberg was re-elected (and won by more than 20 points)...and he neither played dirty, nor did he have Bush out stumping in the greatest city on earth. OK - Bloomberg spent a small fortune to buy win his re-election, and he did (at least previously) openly support the prez, but sometimes coincidences are more than just coincidences. In the words of Mr. Ollivander (HP ref for those of you not in the know), it is all "curious, very curious."

I know I just posted, but...

On a totally different note (didn't want to mix this with the politico-speak) -- since my sis with fiance and bambino were visiting from VA this weekend, DH & I took them into the City (the fiance had never been!). One of the highlights of the day was actually the last thing we did -- we went to the "Top of the Rock", which just "re-opened" last Tuesday (11/1/05). Even if you think you've seen it all, and been to every observation deck in the City, or are an otherwise jaded New Yorker (or New Jerseyan for that matter) this is an absolute must see and worth every penny of the $14 it costs to ride the elevator to the 70th floor (which is pretty cool all by itself cause of the glass ceiling - in other words, you can look up and see the elevator shaft above you!). The views are amazing and totally unobstructed thanks to the thick ass glass walls in place of the metal bars you usually see at observation deck type places. But I'd hurry if I were you - because as people start hearing about it the lines will get crazy; plus, according to the website - the $14 is only an introductory fee.

Politicians Are Dumb

Saturday night I was just relaxing on the couch, watching some TV, when a series of political ads for Doug Forrester came on and I had to wonder -- does anyone pay attention to which ads play when? Because if so, Doug Forrester is dumber than his biggest supporter (i.e. the prez). And if not, maybe he should. Here's why...the first ad was Forrester's wife telling us what a great man her husband is and how John Corzine is a big fat lying smear campaignist. I thought -- actually, said out loud to no one in particular --What the fuck? Your fucking husband started the smear campaign business -- what was Corzine supposed to do? Sit back and take it? At this point, my sister & her finace (visiting from VA -- where I hear they're having one hell of a smear campaign as well) looked at me like I'd lost my mind. I tried to explain how Forrester started the mud slinging a few days before, with an ad quoting Corzine's ex-wife, how the race had been pretty clean so far, and how Forrester had previously promised not to use the quote, but something was lost in translation. But then, un-fucking-belivably - Forrester's ex-Corzine-wife smear ad was the very next ad on. That's right - the very next ad! First, we got to hear about how Corzine is a son-of-a-bitch for smearing Forrester; and then, in the very next ad, we got to see Forrester's ad making a personal attack on Corzine that started the whole mess. Uh - duh - hullo? Anyone in the Forrester campaign paying attention out there? I may not be the most politically savvy chick out there, but even I know you do not follow up a "My husband is a great guy and the other guy is is playing dirty" ad with an ad in which the supposedly wonderful husband is playing dirty. That's just common sense. Then again, as pointed out by DH -- if the best person you can get to say you're a good guy is your wife, and the best person you can get to say the other guy is a dick is his ex-wife, then perhaps you've got bigger problems than an inability to pay attention to which of your ads are running when.