Archive for the ‘Common Sense’ Category

On Gay Marriage

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

I’m going to assume I’m kicking an ant hill on this one. I should know better, but I would like to share my personal views on gay marriage.

My take on the gay marriage thing is in a fluid state. It has gone from a completely “NO NO NO” to more of a “I don’t agree with them on the issue” and probably somewhere else tomorrow.
 
I can’t justify my views on gay marriage unless I explain my religious views on homosexuality.
 
I am a Christian and that tints my view on life and the world. I believe in the teachings of Christ and his disciples. I view them not only as solid “advice”, but as truths. Right vs Wrong. Good vs Evil. So, I cannot begin discussing the issue of gay marriage without stating that fact.
 
Secondly, I don’t believe nature intended for homosexuality to be the norm. In a clearly scientific viewpoint, it is not the natural sexual state or tendency of most, if any creature on earth. The main purpose of sex is for reproduction and homosexuality does not accomplish that. (A friend mentioned that it may be an evolutionary caused population control method. It is an interesting theory.)
 
Back to my Christian approach on things for a moment. As mentioned before, I believe there are rights and wrongs in this world. And the wrongs can mostly be labeled as “sins”. Sins ranges from lying to murder. I think the thing that people misunderstand about what a Christian’s view (SHOULD BE) on sin is that sins are equal in the eyes of God. We humans place various penalties and judgments on “evil” or “wrong” actions. God does not. Any sin brings the same ultimate consequence of living eternally away from God’s presence. Since I believe that is God’s view on sin based on the Bible, I try to keep it mine as well. In the realm of laws and legal issues around the world, I recognize the various degrees of punishment placed on criminal actions by societies. In most cases they are just. Thankfully, acts of homosexuality do not (and should not) be labeled as criminal acts in our criminal justice system.

You may have heard the term “Hate the sin, not the sinner.” It is an overused phrase in some religious areas, but I feel it holds water here. If someone lies, do I hate them? No. If someone kills, do I hate them? It becomes more difficult (especially when it directly effects me), but no. If two people of the same sex are intimate in the privacy of their own home, do I hate them? Nope. I just think the above actions go against my personal beliefs and values. I disagree with the action but love the person. As my mom always said, “the church is full of sinners.” 

And now my views on gay marriage.
 
Traditionally, marriage is a religious institution. Though history teaches us that in many societies cohabitation occurred, the monogamous form of marriage that is practiced today was founded in religious teachings and traditions. This is where the current conflict begins.
 
Everywhere you go today, you hear people screaming “Separation of Church and State!” But those screams are only heard when that statement is convenient to the person declaring it. (And we won’t discuss the fact that the statement or declaration cannot be found in any of our founding documents.) But tolerance is a two way street. Since idea of marriage in the U.S. is a religious based institution, perhaps it is time to make a move on that separation thing. Because that is really where the major issue lies; the fact that the religious crowd does not want to redefine the meaning and term “marriage” and the other side wants the benefits and recognition that comes with marriage. In those states where civil unions do give couples the same rights given to married couples, this has still not settled this debate. For the gay community, it is about equality. I also believe it is about getting a governmental institution to justify and accept of their lifestyle.
 
And I can understand their point of view.
 
So my opinion is that the State and Federal Governments need to get out of the business of overseeing, instituting and regulating “marriage”. If they want to continue to use some kind of classification to create laws, divide property and implement tax codes, perhaps they should turn more toward “civil unions” (or whatever you choose to call it) for all; including those who are “religious”. This would eliminate the need for state issued marriage certificates while giving people the ability to have the same benefits as those who were previously considered “married”.
 
Allow people who want to be “married” to do so in their own churches or religious events. Allow those religious organizations decide what marriage should be. This gives people the option as to how they define marriage and, as with most religions, allows people to worship in places that share their beliefs. I may not agree on how religious institutions define marriage, but it at least allows me to decide what and how I worship. This also allows the “religious” to hold on to something they hold dear, while allowing others to have the same benefits and rights as what was previously known as marriage.
 
To me, this is a sensible resolution to the current debate within the State and Federal governments. There are kinks that will need to be addressed, but this hopefully would end this extremely divisive issue and allow Americans to argue over something else; because they will.
 
Each side can and must be willing to compromise. It is my hope that my home state of Alabama will pick up this idea up and run with it. I think it would be great if a Southern state championed and implemented this type of Libertarian idea.

Travis Clay

Posted in Common Sense, Religon, Sex | 1 Comment »

World War 2: Moral High Ground VS Brutal Reality

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

War is bad.

In a Utopian society war would not exist and we would all live at peace with each other. Unfortunately, we do not live in an Utopian society. We never will. In fact, being involved in war is necessary at times. The American Revolution, World War 1 and World War 2 are just a few examples.

But there are those that sit on their moral high horse and condemn those who have/had to make very tough decisions on how to keep the American people safe. These decisions are not always the right or the most popular ones, but they have to be made.

Jon Stewart’s answer in the following video is naive and just plain ignorant to the realities that the Allies were facing when fighting Japan. As mentioned in the video, it is easy to spout off one’s (almost Holier than Thou) views on an issue that happened 64 years ago if you do not truly understand and see the whole picture. Mr. Stewart even paused when giving his answer, yet still came to the conclusion that Truman is a war criminal for using atomic bombs on Japan.

I shall now let the video speak for itself.

Jon Stewart, War Criminals & The True Story of the Atomic Bombs

It may be difficult to watch, but please stick with it. If you hold views similar to Jon Stewart regarding our use of atomic weapons during WW2, I hope this video gives you a better understanding of the brutal realities of the War we were fighting. Perhaps it will change your view on current and future wars that we will fight.

Travis Clay

Posted in Common Sense, History, Video | 1 Comment »

Townhall for Hope – Dave Ramsey

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Growing up, I remember helping build and repair wooden things. The problem was that I was not the best hammerer. I would constantly miss or bend nails. Instead of tossing the nail to the side, I would have to hammer it out straight and try again. If we were repairing something and the nail was removed bent, I would have to do the same thing. This was a good example of not being wasteful. Reusing a nail may not have saved us millions of dollars, but it did help. It was something my father was taught. It was something I was taught.

Last night Amy and I went to the Dave Ramsey “Townhall for Hope” at a local church. It was an hour and a half of financial discussion and advice. Dave was able to express his thoughts on why our economy is currently in a recession.

His main point is that the spirit of fear has gripped our country. From Wall Street to Politicians to Media, fear is being pushed to ordinary citizens thus effecting everyone’s outlook on the situation. He pointed out the fact that we are no where close to living in a time similar to the Great Depression. We are also not as bad off as the recessions of 1972 and 1982. But because of the talking heads and the spend happy maniacs on Capital Hill, you would think we were about to crash and burn.

Another point he presented was that gold was not a solid investment. If our currency collapsed today, people would not all of the sudden start trading gold with each other. Instead, they would start bartering and trading goods and services. So think about that before you pick up the phone to order gold.

So don’t fear. It also would not hurt to ask your Congressmen and women to “Stop stimulating STUPID.”

If you do fear, Dave gave 3 points of advice:

1) Get Up and Take Action – “You are the cure, America. No one else is going to solve your problems for you—that’s your job! Find out how you can take control of your money, turn back the fear in your community, and hold your representatives accountable for the decisions they’re making on your behalf. ”

2) Stop Listening to Loser Talk – “We’re sick and tired of the “loser talk” that has permeated the media, the water cooler and the internet. Stop listening to the garbage, and start speaking a word of hope!”

3) Start Giving – “Learning how to give—whether it’s money, time or support—changes your whole mindset. Dave says it pretty clearly: “We can’t win if we can’t give.” If you want to win with money and change the nation, you’ve got to learn how to give again.”

(Thank God for copy and paste!)

I’m convinced that we are going to make it through this. In the end we will be smarter, stronger and more cautious.

If you are interested in watching the event, it will be rebroadcast.

Watch this weekend!

Travis Clay

Posted in Common Sense, Financial | 3 Comments »

Earth Day: I’m just happy to be here.

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

The following is the prologue to Michael Crichton’s book Jurassic Park:

You think man can destroy the planet? What intoxicating vanity. Let me tell you about our planet. Earth is four-and-a-half-billion-years-old. There’s been life on it for nearly that long, 3.8 billion years. Bacteria first; later the first multicellular life, then the first complex creatures in the sea, on the land.

Then finally the great sweeping ages of animals, the amphibians, the dinosaurs, at last the mammals, each one enduring millions on millions of years, great dynasties of creatures rising, flourishing, dying away — all this against a background of continuous and violent upheaval. Mountain ranges thrust up, eroded away, cometary impacts, volcano eruptions, oceans rising and falling, whole continents moving, an endless, constant, violent change, colliding, buckling to make mountains over millions of years.

Earth has survived everything in its time. It will certainly survive us. If all the nuclear weapons in the world went off at once and all the plants, all the animals died and the earth was sizzling hot for a hundred thousand years, life would survive, somewhere: under the soil, frozen in Arctic ice. Sooner or later, when the planet was no longer inhospitable, life would spread again. The evolutionary process would begin again. It might take a few billion years for life to regain its present variety.

Of course, it would be very different from what it is now, but the earth would survive our folly, only we would not. If the ozone layer gets thinner, ultraviolet radiation sears the earth, so what? Ultraviolet radiation is good for life. It’s powerful energy. It promotes mutation, change. Many forms of life will thrive with more UV radiation. Many others will die out. Do you think this is the first time that’s happened? Think about oxygen. Necessary for life now, but oxygen is actually a metabolic poison, a corrosive glass, like fluorine.

When oxygen was first produced as a waste product by certain plant cells some three billion years ago, it created a crisis for all other life on earth. Those plants were polluting the environment, exhaling a lethal gas. Earth eventually had an atmosphere incompatible with life. Nevertheless, life on earth took care of itself. In the thinking of the human being a hundred years is a long time.

A hundred years ago we didn’t have cars, airplanes, computers or vaccines. It was a whole different world, but to the earth, a hundred years is nothing. A million years is nothing. This planet lives and breathes on a much vaster scale. We can’t imagine its slow and powerful rhythms, and we haven’t got the humility to try. We’ve been residents here for the blink of an eye. If we’re gone tomorrow, the earth will not miss us.

Posted in Common Sense | No Comments »

Where did it go?

Friday, February 27th, 2009

I’m asking about a foreign concept called Personal Responsiblity.

We don’t have to look deep in our news to find stories of people who proclaim:

  • “Its not MY fault the banks sold me a mortgage I could not afford!”
  • “Its not MY fault I didn’t file my taxes right”.
  • “Its not MY fault I didn’t leave town before the storm hit.”

Everyday we are faced with choices that will effect us the rest of our lives. Some lead to wealth, joy and unbelieveable happiness. Others lead to poverty, hopelessness and pain. But these choices don’t happen in a vaccum. The consequences of our choices ripple out and effects others. Whether it is saving up for retirement or deciding to traffic drugs, these choices can and most likely will cause lasting effects on yourself, friends, family, surrounding communities, your nation and the world.

That is why it is important to hold ourselves accountable for our actions. That is why we should not shy away from holding other people accountable for theirs. As uncomfortable as it may be, we have to be able to view ourselves and others in the light of responsibility.

Clearly, there are more than two sides to every story.

John sells drugs. To increase his profit, he “waters down” his stash with anything he can find. He is arrested and taken to jail. When he went before the judge, he pleaded that he had no other choice because his mother was sick and needed the money for medicine and treatment that they could not afford.

Julie is an addict whose life has been spiraling out of control for years. To get her fix she has had to resort to some pretty degrading things. Things in which nightmares are made. She takes the drugs to make her forget the horrible things that happened to her when she was young. They are the only thing she has found that helps dull the pain. Meanwhile, she has given 10 people HIV.

Should John be held responsible for his actions? Is Julie responsible for her actions? I believe the answer is yes on both accounts. No matter what circumstance influenced their action, they should have to deal with the resulting consequences. It isn’t that I lack compassion for the people in this tradgic situations. I just realize that our society will never improve if we do not hold people accountable for their actions.

Speaking of personal responsiblity; where were John and Julie’s friends and family in their time of need? More importantly, where were you?

Personal responsibility isn’t just about “them”. Its about us. We have to hold ourselves to the same standards that we demand of others. We have to realize that everyone makes mistakes; big and small. We have to admit when we are wrong so we can not only correct and move on with our lives, but help others do the same with theirs.

A big question we are faced with today is how should we help. There are hundreds of answers to that question. Some produce better outcomes than others. Some are more practical than others. Some reach more people than others. I believe it is important that we find something that is ethical, beneficial and most importantly effective. Sometimes good intentions are not enough.

Sadly, there are people who don’t want help. People who, no matter how hard you try, will reject your efforts. People who will take advantage of the system having no intent to change at all. These people come from various backgrounds and lifestyles. From the evangelical television minister who swindles money to the pimp on the streets, there are people who choose to live their life a certain way. As a society, we have to be allowed and able to say “No. You can’t do that.” or “If you need or want help, here are the steps you have to take.”

Too many times we are too afraid to voice our feelings or convictions about issues that involve other people. Many times we are told that we have no right to say anything because it doesn’t involve us. But I believe that viewpoint is extremely short sighted. As I mentioned earlier, everything we do ripples out and effects those around them.

Clearly my arguments are very general. I have no doubt that one could point out various holes in my previous points. But I think the most important thing we can do is find a starting point at which we can discuss our thoughts, feelings, convictions and desires for ourselves and community.

Do you agree that personal responsibility is an appropriate starting point?

Travis Clay

Posted in Common Sense | 7 Comments »