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HonkyTonkJew

Monthly Archives: February 2014

A gay man’s perspective on Arizona’s pending SB1062

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Honky Tonk Jew in Commentary and Causes, News and Politics

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Arizona, constitution, SB1062

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So in response to the above on Facebook, this brilliant, openly gay son of one of my friends had this to say. In advance, may I just add….? Ann Coulter? Watch your back. Andrew Stephens is about to school you..

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I’ve held off on putting my thoughts out there about this, because when I tried to, it turned into this crazy long, winding essay.

The heart of the issue for me is this: I believe that a natural, inalienable right to liberty is the foundation of a person’s right to be gay, free from government coercion, just as it’s the foundation of a persons right to choose who they associate with based on their personal beliefs.

What happens when the people’s natural right to their liberty collides with the desire to mandate “equality” for a subgroup of the population? Although it may not have been the case in the past, I’d say it would be easier to allow people the right to “discriminate” today because, largely, there are so many other options for people beyond needing to associate with “discriminating” parties.

Of course, a political faction that takes no time to emphasize the consequence of choices and culture, but rather blames any and all bad outcomes in life on “discrimination,” wouldn’t feel the same way. But, this situation raises so many questions about the role of the state in preventing “discrimination,” empowered by a political majority, when in the past the state has, via a political majority, MANDATED discrimination (I assure you, I didn’t use the term “mandate” just because I’ve dated men).

Where does the role of the state begin and where does it end? There is not, and never will be, equality in life. No two people will be equal by all measures, nor do they need to be. Happiness and success are subjective human concepts. But the Left has this obsession with “business.” I assume no mainstream Leftists would suggest that people don’t have the right to refuse entry into their home, even for the most “bigoted” and idiotic reasons. But what makes a business different from a home? The fact that money changes hands there? Well, if that’s the case, I guess a home becomes a business if someone runs a small business out of it or the parents pay the children an allowance.

Anyway, moving on from that, I have to say: in a discussion on it earlier today with a liberal friend, the topic somehow pivoted from “a photographer/baker not wanting to provide services for a gay wedding, while not refusing to serve gays in a more general sense” to “GAYS CAN’T GET ANY SERVICES IN ARIZONA, THEY’RE DYING!!!!!”

When I pointed out the problem with that argument, I was told I had a point. The real issue here isn’t whether or not this bill is “anti-gay,” it’s whether or not the state has a legitimate role in forcing people to deal with other people, and for what, if any, reasons the presence of “business” changes the equation. The fact that this debate hasn’t even dealt with the difference between, say, denying someone a cake for their wedding and, say, denying someone life-saving medical treatment speaks volumes, I think. In a general way freedom of association is a fundamental right that separates us from a more communistic sort of arrangement.

If we’re generally free in our lives to pursue a living on our terms, rather than terms dictated to us by the state (collectivism), well, we’re pretty free. If we aren’t, we’re slaves to the prevailing political and moral order.

Some would say that’s fine. As long as it meshes with THEIR preferred concept of morality. But that brings us back to the problem, doesn’t it? Is the only difference between the legitimate legal expression of morality and the illegitimate legal expression of morality simply who is in power at the time and can make the laws? That’s not consistent with a belief in a natural right to individual liberty, which again, I believe is the foundation of a human’s right to be gay.

Anyway, this turned into a long, winding thing once again! The point is, I think the shrillest of “gay rights” complainers are no longer seeking the freedom to be who they are.they’re trying to force people to like them, to accept them, on THEIR terms and no one else’s. And, speaking as a gay man, that’s not the right way to go. Especially when we’re talking about photos and cake.

Andrew Stephens, NYC

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A load if bull on a bill

23 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by Honky Tonk Jew in Commentary and Causes, News and Politics

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Arizona, SB1062

Controversial AZ State bill 1062 deserves some daylight, as do the people pushing agendas.

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Faith and the GOP: Keeping God out of politics

22 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by Honky Tonk Jew in Uncategorized

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This is more important now than it was 18 months ago.

Jessica Chasmar

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As the dust begins to settle and our emotions start to wane, it’s important that we begin to try and find out why this has happened. Not only did we lose a presidency we should have won by a landslide, but we lost many of the state races that let in some of the most radically left politicians our country has ever seen.

 After sifting through the great emotional impact this loss has had on all of us, I have realized that it can only be attributed to one thing: We have lost our ability to connect with the people. Several of the GOP’s issues need to reworked in a major way. We have to keep God out of politics.

Listen, I love God. I may not be the holiest person, as many of you know, but I have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. However, I do not…

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The Politics of Party Purity

16 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by Honky Tonk Jew in Commentary and Causes, News and Politics

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Arizona, GOP, Jeff Flake, John McCain, Kristen Sinema, politics

Recently, I’ve been lamenting Mitt Romney’s loss and have been pretty frustrated with people who simply didn’t vote or voted for Gary Johnson, a great guy and obviously far more qualified than Barack Obama to be sure, but it begs the question…  Are you still happy with how you voted? 

But I began thinking about it in terms of John McCain, Jeff Flake and the democrat majority now on the hill representing Arizona made possible both by gerrymandering and “politics of party purity” in Arizona. And thinking how I will NEVER, EVER cast another vote for McCain for Flake, (or McFlake as I like to think of him)

And that makes me one big fat hypocrite.

I can’t turn back the clock and try and reason with other Libertarians on how Mitt would have run a pro free enterprise White House. But I can sure learn from them and support primary runs against entrenched incumbents that forget what party they are in and who they represent. But if they retain their place on the ballot, I would be voting against myself to vote for the democrat to run them off.

In order to stop this downward trajectory of our country as it is being dragged towards progressivism with the help of a complicit media, I am going to have to adopt some of that diversity and flexibility that I keep talking about. 

It may be extremely painful for me to get behind an ill qualified GOP candidate to unseat Kristin Sinema this fall, but perhaps I will be better served if I act as an agent of change instead of staying home in utter defiance.  Either way, pain will be involved, it’s just a matter of picking your poison. 

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