I've had a number of random thoughts running through my fixed brain this morning. Bear with me as I hang them out to dry on the Wednesday wash line.
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| Governor Spencer Cox |
You'd have to be a special kind of stupid to advocate for indiscriminate use of fireworks in a state like Utah this year. The winds and the dry ground are a lethal combination of fire hazard, especially where we live in the high Uintas. I hold my breath every day when the wind picks up and the air is so dry you can feel it all the way down your throat. I doubt that Utah will ever be anything but a semi-arid climate despite all the recent calls for fasting and prayer to mitigate the impact of the drought. I love the leadership of Governor Spencer Cox (R) UT in calling for fasting and prayer for more rain. But, given those facts, doesn't it just make sense to ban fireworks completely? I wonder why that hasn't made its way into the collective consciousness of our legislature yet.
Here's another thought - why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? Is it just because they receive federal tax dollars to build their highways as part of building an interstate system? But why call them that in Hawaii? Which state does Hawaii connect to via an interstate highway? Um, nope, can't think of even one.
This morning I read that a recent poll concluded a solid majority of Americans still favor not overturning the infamous Roe v. Wade decision to allow abortions. You can take whatever political side of that question you choose, but isn't abortion just state-sanctioned murder of fetuses? How long will abortion remain the law of the land? I know there are heated and passionate debates about it all around the country, but come on, Americans, we can do better here can't we? Let's call abortion what it is and just label it as murder, and let's refuse to fund abortion with tax dollars. Isn't it time?
And what about same-sex marriage? As the traditional barriers we once associated with morality continue to crumble, can't we all agree that state-sanctioned marriages of anything other than one man and one woman should be re-examined? Some call it progressive plurality and hail it as coming to a more enlightened age of sophistication. I'd have to say it's something else. You can label me conservative if you like. I've been called worse.
Here's another thought along those lines - can it be much longer before we sanction polygamy or polyandry? I wonder why those ideas haven't surfaced yet in our society. Once thought abhorrent enough to drive the Mormons out of the United States and compel them to set up their community in these arid wastelands in the West, why would our "enlightened" views continue to exclude polygamists in the progressive debate? Does that make sense? Why so many seeming contradictions?
When pot guts are able to proliferate without being confronted, then why do we have to put up with other predators in our society too? I have a daughter who was touched inappropriately by a trusted and well-respected physical therapist when she was a teenager. She is just now coming to realize what really happened back then. Turns out what he was doing wasn't in anyone's description of "normal." She will now take steps to confront that reality with other young women who were similarly affected by his aberrant behavior. Sometimes human intervention is required in a situation where adults are allowed to prey on children for their own pleasure without fear of retribution. Like pot guts, they must be destroyed so they cannot prey upon others. The Southern Baptists are taking steps to do just that in their congregations.
Why are some people able to cover their sins for years without any consequences? Why aren't the wicked immediately punished? Why are the good people rarely rewarded instantly for their good deeds? Why does there seem to be so much injustice in the world? Why does forgiveness seem to be so impossible to grant when judgment is so much easier? Why does God permit the wicked to go on unchecked while the righteous continue to suffer at their hands? Why do the tares have to be permitted to flourish with the wheat until the final harvest? Can't we just pluck out a few tares right now?
Why doesn't everyone who has been vaccinated just wear a red "V" around their neck instead of a mask over their nose and mouth?
Why is the Second Coming so slow in coming? Why is finding a reliable plumber so hard to do? When you have a family full of really competent people - doctor, dentist, physical therapists, cosmetologists, electrician, software engineers, trona miner, educators, salesmen, attorney - why do you not have even one plumber? Why does America's GM make what appear to be big tough SUVs that can't take it on the rough ranch road, but Japan's Toyota has the right stuff that cruises over rough roads without wearing out universal joints? Why does a little wind-blown snow over the road in the winter suddenly render useless whatever vehicle you have to conquer those roads? Why do tires always need to be replaced in the summer instead of waiting until winter when new tread is really needed more?
Why does sagebrush seem so difficult to eradicate, and yet watering it can kill it? Why does a worldwide pandemic like COVID-19 have such a devastating impact upon the people living on Earth? Why does it take a pandemic to reduce us to our lowest common denominators of survival? Last week we flew for the first time in over a year, and we walked the one-mile concourse at the new SLC International Airport, which begged the question, "Where are the trams?" That place is cavernous. I learned later the answer to my question is that trams are coming in a subsequent phase of the construction.
And that might be the only answer to any of the questions that are rattling around in my brain this morning.
We were undeservedly blessed that no major conflagration occurred in the state this year due to fireworks. Being conservative shouldn't mean being blind to current conditions and not adjusting appropriately until such conditions change. The reason our legislature is so laissez-faire is because they are completely beholden to some distorted concept of libertarianism where ANY restriction proposed or imposed by government is automatically seen as a dangerous step towards pure communism, no matter how sensible or temporary in nature that restriction is. It's a common characteristic of Trumpers.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it would help the pro-life cause immensely if it made a distinction between abortion as a medical and mental health necessity, i.e allow the option when the mother's life is TRULY in danger from the pregnancy or it's a result of rape/incest, and elective abortion, or more precisely abortion for any other reason. It is the latter that you rightly refer to as murder. I am as passionate about defending abortion for the former reason as for eradicating it for the latter reason. I also believe that the onus needs to shift from the woman to the man, or at least be shared equally. For responsibility for such to be enforceable by law would require paternity tests. I'm all for it. Let's face it, who instigates, demands, or forces most sexual encounters? It takes two to make one.
As long as the majority continue to equate the selfish pursuit of sexual conquests and fantasies with the pursuit of happiness, and falsely conclude that there is no higher degree of happiness to be found or that impulses can't be controlled, then we are doomed to continued erosion of sexual mores. As bad as what you are forecasting is, the greater danger is the acceptance of pedophilia, which some are advocating for, and not just NAMBLA members. People need to be awakened to the immense financial and human costs of sexual immorality and have a change of heart towards it. They also need to be made aware that there is better way to live than mere hedonism. But this is a pipe dream. The servants of Satan are in control for now. It would take a massive coordinated effort by organizations of goodwill to put a dent in this. With so many other needs to meet, I don't see this happening. People are just too much in love with their sins, especially the sexual sins.
I don't know the nature of your daughter's experience but it probably pales in comparison to the experience of two of my children in their pre-teen years and the damage it has done, not to mention costs borne in the tens of thousands of dollars. Yes, family member who should have been trustworthy. In cases like mine I believe the motivation is not pleasure (he was getting that elsewhere) but some sick, twisted urge to assert domination. Sadly, I can see in this case where such an urge came from. I therefore have the conflicting emotions of both anger and pity.
As far as answering most of your other questions, I believe you already know the answers. Thanks for airing them out loud though, it's good to know that there are other grumpy old men out there. Not that I'm that old, though.
I may have come off as being insensitive to your daughter's pain. That wasn't my intent. I hope whatever therapy and/or legal steps she is taking will bring the healing she needs.
ReplyDeleteJohn, as always, thanks for your thoughtful comments. I often glaze across the mountain tops of topics, but you have filled in all the gaps for us.
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