August 4, 2010


Federal Judge Overturns California’s Proposition 8

Filed under: Constitutional Law,Marriage,Patriotism,Penumbra Lovers
By Tom Van Dyke (Email) @ 10:55 pm

No surprise here. Neither is Judge Vaughn Walker’s reasoning that gay marriage is a constitutional right per the 14th Amendment. “Reasoning?”

As the GayPatriot blog reports, and I have no reason to question his analysis, since he’s “the most reliably conservative gay blog on the Internet” and I’ve always found him to be so:

I have now read or skimmed the entire opinion. I find that the judge makes some good arguments for gay marriage, but doesn’t succeed in relating them to the constitution. His legal analysis is sloppy at best and dismisses the sex-difference argument for traditional marriage by flippantly referring to what he calls “discredited notions of gender” as if the assumptions about a supposed social construction of gender had been proven true when, in fact, all serious psychological, sociological studies have shown the opposite. Not to mention studies of the human brain.

He fails to cite a provision of the federal constitution which prevents states from making distinctions based on sex difference, primarily because there isn’t one.

Either you believe two men or two women can make a “marriage,” or you believe it takes one of each gender. No big deal. It has nothing to do with the US Constitution or even its 14th Amendment. It’s a matter of belief.

BTW—and I’ve never heard it mentioned in all of this—the 14th Amendment itself makes a distinction on the “notion of gender,” see Section 2 of the 14th:

But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime…

[Bold face mine. I didn't even know there was an "Article 2" until I looked up the Fourteenth's text. What is this?]

“Discredited notions of gender?” Well, perhaps by modern social science, but not even by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. “Discredited” is in Judge Walker’s head.

So “GayPatriot,” B. Daniel Blatt, writes with his customary accuracy:

Too bad he fails to cite any (of the many) serious studies on sex-difference.

If the “Living Constitution” and judges quoting social science are to become our rulers—throwing overboard the words of the Constitution and the 14th amendment itself, as well as the will of the people via California’s initiative process, let’s just be honest about it, OK?

And we ought to be honest about all that “social science” while we’re at it, wouldn’t you think? Not just pick the data we like?

These are “GayPatriot’s” two major arguments, one constitutional and the other empirical—each strong enough to stand alone, and that’s not even getting anywhere near the “morality” thing. Would that he’d have argued the Prop 8 case.

We call ourselves a “constitutional democracy,” or a “constitutional republic.” At least according to Judge Walker’s decision, we are none of the above. We are not self-governing citizens, we are the ruled.

Again, the eloquent Mr. Blatt:

I find that the judge makes some good arguments for gay marriage, but doesn’t succeed in relating them to the constitution. His legal analysis is sloppy at best and dismisses the sex-difference argument for traditional marriage by flippantly referring to what he calls “discredited notions of gender.”

Antiquated and discredited notions of gender? Discredited by whom? Sociologists writing in the 1970s, inventing a social construct out of thin air?

I meself have no problem with endorsing Mr. Blatt here as a “patriot,” gay or otherwise. Seems like an honest man. Perhaps he does hold that two persons of the same gender can indeed make a “marriage.” No matter: what we do know for certain is that Mr. Blatt respects the democratic process, republicanism, and the Constitution, and that makes him a patriot.

I reckon he makes many folks unhappy with this, gay and conservative, often mutually exclusive categories. Well done, sir.
____________

As for the actual “trial” before Judge Walker, by all accounts, counsel for Prop. 8 was strictly minor-league. Against Prop. 8 were legal superstars Ted Olsen and David Boies, the combatants in Bush v. Gore [2000], now both on the same legal dream team.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQb4ZGk8zIr5gQc6WclLzLJIqzFsS4o85-6Hk0yvQt-tB217B0&t=1&usg=__aIgQISkpMQTBxDQhCYu6eZtsHcY=

Heh heh. What a mismatch. Let’s get real here—nobody beats Spencer Tracy, not even Frederic March. Look at their faces. Who’s right and who’s wrong?


January 19, 2010


Happy Birthday General Lee

Filed under: CSA,History,Patriotism,Southern Culture
By Davy Buck (Email) @ 8:24 am


January 14, 2010


Lt. Col. Allen West Speaks His Mind

Filed under: Conservatism,Military,Patriotism,Republicans
By Davy Buck (Email) @ 9:37 am
YouTube Preview Image

November 11, 2009


Lt. Colonel Allen B. West For President

When tolerance becomes a one way street it certainly leads to cultural suicide. We are on that street. Liberals cannot be trusted to defend our Republic, because their sympathies obviously lie with their perceived victim, Major Nidal Malik Hasan.

I make no apologies for these words, and anyone angered by them, please, go to Ft Hood and look into the eyes of the real victims. The tragedy at Ft Hood Texas did not have to happen. Consider now the feelings of those there and on every military installation in the world. Consider the feelings of the Warriors deployed into combat zones who now are concerned that their loved ones at home are in a combat zone.

Ft Hood suffered an Islamic jihadist attack, stop the denial, and realize a simple point.

The reality of your enemy must become your own.

More here. A must read.


October 15, 2009


Baseball: Who Would Jesus Root For?

Filed under: America,Human Rights,Manliness,Patriotism
By Tom Van Dyke (Email) @ 4:39 pm

Well, here at Southern Appeal, Major League Baseball’s in the second division behind college basketball, college football, pro football, high school football, NASCAR racing, tractor pulls and mebbe rodeo.

But baseball’s America’s national pastime and it’s down to the final four, so picking a team is the patriotic thing to do. In fact, your immortal soul may be at stake, so if I may make a suggestion…

x

null

x

x

The choice is clear…


June 14, 2008


Flag Day and US Army Birthday

Filed under: Patriotism
By Patrick Carver (Email) @ 10:12 am

US Flag

US Army Logo

In case you missed it, it’s doubly patriotic day: Flag Day and the 233rd birthday of the US Army.


April 21, 2008


TEXAS INDEPENDENCE AND LIBERTY

Filed under: History,Military,Patriotism,Prayer requests
By Joel L (Email) @ 11:36 am

Today is the 172 anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. On this date in 1836 General Sam Houston led the forces of Texas against General Antonio López de Santa Anna’s Mexican forces. The battle lasted less than twenty minutes and resulted in a decisive victory for Texas. Lets all raise a toast to General Houston and his brave men.

Oh, and offer a prayer that their descendants finally learn to do Bar-B-Q right. It is PORK not beef.

Hat tip to Daniel over at Grim’s Hall for pointing out today’s significance.


December 7, 2006


Pearl Harbor Day

Filed under: History,Patriotism,U.S. Military
By Michael (Email) @ 10:35 pm

To mark the 65th anniversary I recommend that you visit the treasure trove of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Project


November 2, 2006


Great Firewall of China: made in USA

Filed under: Foreign Affairs,Patriotism
By Proximo (Email) @ 11:33 pm

Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Cisco Systems have all crawled into bed with the Chi-Coms in an effort to make a buck in that market. These companies have collaborated and machinated with the Chinese government to censor and place controls on the internet. In essence, these “American” companies are assisting in the oppression of the Chinese people. I don’t know about you, but this has always bugged me. Now it appears that Microsoft execs are reevaluating their role in this Orwellian venture as blogger persecution is said to be increasing. Perhaps I’d have a different view if the real customer here were the Chinese people and not the commie government.


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