Last weekend I had the pleasure to travel to Washington, DC with my brother, Dustin to attend the second Inauguration of President Barack Obama. This was my second Inauguration, as four years ago, thanks to Thom Kleiner and Congressman Eliot Engel, I was able to witness history.
This Inauguration was different; I didn’t decide to go until about a week ago, when I knew I’d be receiving tickets to the Inauguration and the Official Inaugural Ball because I was a member of the Democratic National Committee. My brother was excited to come along, and we had a great trip. We were able to reconnect with young Democrats from across the country, and I was able to attend wonderful receptions hosted by the National Jewish Democratic Committee, the Young Democrats of America, DL21C, and the Democratic Municipal Officials. We attended the Inauguration, watched the parade from a hotel room a few feet away from the street, and danced at the Inaugural Ball.
One of the highlights for me was attending the Disability Issues Ball. Dustin, an advocate for Disability Issues who is currently the chair of the Young Democrats of America Disability Issues Caucus was able to secure us tickets. It was held at the National Press Club, which in itself was an experience. We got dressed up, walked over and when we entered the room everyone around us was signing – I felt out of place, as I don’t know sign language. Luckily, Dustin does. Pretty soon the place filled up with hundreds of activists from across the country some with identifiable disabilities, many without. We spoke to Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who lost her legs in the War in Iraq and was elected to the House of Representatives in November. We also spoke to State Department officials, about the importance of Disability Issues.
There were plenty of other balls across Washington. Many states had their own: there was an Italian Ball, an Irish Ball, and an Asian Americans Ball. It seemed that most ethnic groups and states had gatherings. What was so spectacular about the Disability Ball was that it was attended by people from across the country, and even some from abroad, with ranges of disabilities who came together in celebration of the Disability Community. Disabilities are something that touches us all as Americans, whether we have a disability, or we are caring for a loved one. We in Rockland are blessed to have many agencies that work with those with special needs and that advocate for inclusion.
The President started his Inaugural address, by saying,
“What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing…”
I saw at the Disability Ball a desire to celebrate our differences and to acknowledge even the smallest successes. The pride felt for Rep. Tammy Duckworth was inspiring. I was deeply moved by the President’s inaugural address, because for me it showed us that the fights we’ve been fighting for generations are not over. We still have far to go in the search for equality, but I found these words particularly impactful:
“We the people declare today that the most evident of truth that all of us are created equal — is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls and Selma and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.”
I realize not everyone shares my enthusiasm for this Inaugural address; some thought it was too liberal, some that the President was speaking in platitudes. I hope for the future of our country, and our county, that we take pause to listen to the lessons that “We the People” have taught us, and that we still have far to go in our quest for all-encompassing equality . The President went on to say “We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only partial and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years and 40 years and 400 years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.”
The lesson of acting is what I took away from my weekend in Washington. As Americans, as New Yorkers, we must act to fight for equality. Together, when we achieve our ultimate goal, we'll know that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — the principles our founders fought and died for will be available to all who seek it.
Together, we can act to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. It's the very ideal that a preacher from Memphis, had many years ago, that we can stand up as Americans and proudly say that everyone who is a citizen of this great country is "free at last, free at last."
A women's right to privacy is just that, a right to life, liberty and happiness that can not be infringed. Sadly there are many, like yourself, who would dictate that a women's choices are not her own, while at the same time advocated for ones own choices to be imposed on others. The United States has the highest infant mortality rate of any industrialized nation so if these abortion foes really want to 'save fetus's'' then let them campaign for unlimited access to contraceptives (including the morning after pill), to prenatal and comprehensions health care for both child and mother and organisations like Planned Parenthood that work with families and couples to make educated decisions for all including the unborn.
What if your employer had a religious objection to to blood transfusions or maybe any type of health care. Could they then dictate what kind of treatment (or lack of it) a employee should get? FYI no federal funds go to fund abortions, it is against the law.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=YEMnyiDKUJI&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYEMnyiDKUJI
No holy book says you must impose your dogma on your employees (unless they are slaves). It is the employer making a conscience decision to creating a false conflict so that they can do so. Again what if your employer's religion barred blood transfusions? Would they be right to prevent you from getting one?
With abortion there are no easy answer, but the first thing we should be doing is providing comprehensive sex education, full access to birth control and medical assistance and prenatal care. This would go a long way to prevent abortions rather than idiotic laws preventing rape victims from getting abortions because they would be destroying evidence in a criminal case.
There is an easy answer it is called responsibility. If both the man and women accepted that the unborn is viable then the responsible thing to do is no get pregnant as for your recital of things we need to do is the usual liberal response. Maybe 50 years ago your argument has some merit but today it is no more than a smoke screen. As for your last sentence on destroying evidence I have been in law enforcement for many years and never did I hear such a thing........another phony liberal scare tactic!
"Asking a pacifist (insert) to participate in by financial contribution to an immoral act (war) is as real as it gets" We all contribute to things that are distasteful, why are Catholics entitled to special treatment?. You keep avoiding my question about blood transfusions. Why?
As for the "phony liberal scare tactic" Google Cathrynn Brown (R-NM) because now you have heard of such a thing,,,,,,,, I would be interested in your views on this, liberal scare tactics or conservative dishonesty? http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/abortion/new-mexico-state-rep-cathrynn-brown-proposes-imprisoning-rape-victims-who-have
1) One can believe life begins at conception without following any religious teaching. 2) A government can define intentionally aborting the development of a fetus as murder if that is what the people want to do 3) Merely because an employer does not buy insurance to cover a particular procedure does not mean that you can not have it. For example, I have never in my life had dental or vision coverage and presently have only hospital/catastrophic care insurance. I get my teeth worked, I have glasses and when I need to I go to the doctor for treatment and pay out of pocket from a health savings account. It is expensive and inconvenient but it is not illegal or impossible to do these things. I have also never had to ask my employer for permission to undergo a procedure, insured or not.
It is not a case of 'Merely' It is a slippery slope. And as for paying out of a health savings account, do you have enough to cover cancer treatment.........Maybe $600,000 plus?
It seems that if you want to prevent unintended pregnancies you would not support a employers right to restrict a women's access to birth control which is what you are advocating.
The simple fact is that birth control prevents unwanted pregnancy and from a financial point of view it would be prudent for you to encourage its use, as a baby is far more costly than a prescription for the pill. So your object to 'paying' for birth control is nonsensical. Insurance Companies figured this out a long time ago, which is why they are happy to provide coverage (free to Catholic organisation) to cover birth control as it saves them money. We should be doing EVERYTHING we can to encourage sensible family planning and a salient issue is making birth control readily available, which it is currently not. Your BS about liberals is just juvenile and has added nothing to what has been to (until your last post), a respectful and informative discussion. Congratulations.
. http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/26/us/colorado-fetus-lawsuit/index.html?hpt=hp_t1