Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 143, Ed. 1 Friday, April 29, 2011 Page: 4 of 14
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Viewpoints
Page 4 ■ Friday, April 29, 2011
Sweetwater Reporter
DEDICATED TO PROUDLYDEUVERIN® LOCAL NEWS SI NTH 1881
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2010
TEXAS PRESS
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EDITORIAL POLICY
The editorial section of the newspaper is a forum for
expression of a variety of viewpoints. All articles except
those labeled "Editorials" reflect the opinions of the writ-
ers and not those of the Sweetwater Reporter.
Susan
Esfrlch
GUEST COLUMN
In search of neuter judges
Many years ago, the late and great U.S. District Court Judge
Constance Baker Motley of the Southern District of New York
was assigned to hear a case alleging sex discrimination by one
of New York's top law firms. The plaintiffs were no doubt as
pleased by the assignment as the defendants
| were displeased: Judge Motley had served
as one of Thurgood Marshall's top deputies
at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education
Fund, before Marshall was appointed to the
Supreme Court and Motley to the federal
district court. She was widely known as a
strong supporter of women's rights.
This was, no doubt, why the defendants
in the case moved to disqualify her, claim-
ing she could not possibly judge fairly the
claims of bias raised by female lawyers
against male lawyers.
Motley would have none of it. She refused
to recuse herself, pointing out that if being
female was enough to disqualify her, then
being male was enough to disqualify her male colleagues.
And since, as she put it, the southern district did not include
any "neuter" judges, she was as qualified as anyone to hear
the case.
I couldn't help but remember the story when I heard this
week that the sponsors of the anti-gay marriage amendment
in California were seeking to have Judge Vaughn Walker's
ruling thrown out because he is a gay man who has been in
a long-term relationship with his partner. According to the
lawyers for Protect Marriage, they refrained from raising the
issue of the judge's sexual orientation (one of the least well-
kept secrets in Lawyer Land) during the trial, but once the
now-retired 67-year-old Republican appointee disclosed that
he was in a long-term relationship, this made him "too simi-
lar" to the plaintiffs in the case who were seeking to marry.
Protect Marriage general counsel Andy Pugno was quoted as
saying: "We deeply regret the necessity of this motion. But if
the courts are to require others to follow the law, the courts
themselves must do so as well."
According to Pugno, it is not that the judge is gay, but
that he is in a stable relationship that should retroactively
disqualify him. If the judge were cruising gay bars and pick-
ing up young men, that would — presumably — be fine with
Pugno. Come on.
If being gay disqualifies you from taking a position on gay
marriage, so does being straight. If being in a relationship is
disqualifying, then all of the judges in relationships here in
California (and by my reckoning, most of them are) should
be disqualified. Walker hasn't said a word about wanting to
get married, any more than Motley wanted a job at the firm
that was being sued.
As Motley might say, there are no judges with no sexual
orientation in California and precious few who have not
been in, who are in, or who are on their way out of relation-
ships. That means Walker was as qualified — or unqualified
— as any judge to decide this case. His decision should stand.
Protect Marriage's efforts to throw it out because of his pri-
vate life undermine their claims that they are anything other
than another anti-gay group.
To find out more about Susan Estrich and read features
by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit
the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
letter to the Editor
Editor:
At various times, Planned Parenthood has lied to cover up
their corruption and indiscretions. But the biggest lie was told
recently by Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards on
a Joy Behar Show complaining that cutting off $350 million
a year which Planned Parenthood receives from the Federal
Government—US taxpayer money—would "harm millions of
women" who are merely coming to Planned Parenthood "not
for abortions but for the access to basic health care such as
mammograms." Mammograms! Who was Richards trying
to deceive? The Live Action group swung into action after
Richards' remark and contacted Planned Parenthood offices
all around the country and the shocking information is that
Planned Parenthood doesn't provide mammograms. Cecile
Richards was making up this ame excuse for why Planned
Parenthood, the biggest abortion provider, should not lose
the $350 million a year from the federal government. Former
Planned Parenthood Director, Abby Johnson, states that
money Planned Parenthood receives is lumped into one pot.
The pie chart for Planned Parenthood 2009 pregnancy
services shows that this giant baby killer performed 332,278
abortions, and only did 977 adoption referrals, and offered
prenatal care to only 7,021.
Despite Richards' deceptive claims that millions of women
will be hurt if they can't come to Planned Parenthood for these
phantom mammograms, defunding Planned Parenthood will
definitely hurt their abortion business. In keeping with that
goal, Planned Parenthood headquarters recently issued a
directive mandating that all of its affiliates provide abortions
by 2013. Planned Parenthood spends millions of dollars try-
ing to look good in the public eye, but plain and simple, their
main business is baby killing.
Jesus Ramon
Abilene
GUEST COLUMN
April is Confederate History Month
Like all history, there
have been some very bad
and dark times at one point
or another, as well as vic-
tory for the other side who
had won. We all know his-
tory, How we have seen it,
or have heard of it— it usu-
ally depends on whose side
your on — from the times
of Native American Indians
fighting Cowboys
over land, to the
Civil War, World
War II; Vietnam
War. That's just to
name a few. Not to
mention other wars
in relation to the
United States, To
this day we always
seem to be fighting
a war somewhere.
As in eveiy war
that has been
fought, we must
always remember
it's for freedom.
Freedom of speech, free-
dom to choose, and much
more.
It makes me realize
how much the world has
changed from back then to
now the present. We even
have an African-American
President now, even the
"Terminator" (Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger)
was born in Austria. Even
he remembers always want-
ing to be an American citi-
zen, after watching John
Wayne movies as a kid.
The United States of
America is a combination
of people from ever) where.
We all learn to work togeth-
er, and coexist with each
other. This is what makes
us a stronger country.
Just look at our military
men and women that pro-
tect the United States, It
doesn't matter so much
where they come from, but
who they are. The impor-
tant thing is, that they are
American citizens that
make up the United States
of America.
As most Americans
though, we have this his-
tory on record in books and
in documentation, most
have grown from this past
and have learned by it, or
have learned to grasp it and
study it.
In the actual reality of it,
We have moved forward on
making the United States a
better and safer place.
At one time the United
States was divided between
each other. One as the
North, (United States) and
the South, (Confederate
States of America) as they
had once been called.
Now take in mind, I was
born in the East and have
lived quite a few years of
my life in the Northeast
area. I have lived in many
Southern states as well,
including Mississippi. So
this at first, was a very hard
thing for me to grasp and to
comprehend with an open
mind.
Thanks to a local man,
Michael Briggs. A resi-
dent here in Sweetwater
provided plenty of factual
documentation, as well as
online research to back up
GUEST COLUMN
Brett
Smith
the histoiy of the Civil War
and what the confederacy
was all about in the State of
Texas. As to my surprise, it
did open my mind up as to
why the Confederates were
fighting their battle that
they believed in.
The Civil War, this was a
time where both sides had
fought each other in a long
grueling four-year
battle against each
other mostly done
on Southern soil.
After doing much
research and a lot
of reading, I Went
passed my standard
Yankee thoughts of
the entire word,
Confederate and
the flag that goes
with it. Sad to say,
the Confederate
flag has been used
in many inappro-
priate ways to eVen
this day.
Even though back then it
was more of the meaning of
just being a "Confederate"
The Southern States. As a
matter of fact, back then
during the Civil War many
African-Americans were
involved in the war on
both sides — slave and non
slave, "As many as 90,000
blacks, slave and free, were
employed in some capacity
by the Confederate Army."
When looking through a
lot of cases involving the
Civil War, slavery was one
of the issues of course. Even
though to no surprise most
changes that took place
were in regards to Union
or Non-Union, money and
politics during the Civil
War. After all they do go
hand-in-hand. It doesn't
matter whose side your on,
back then or now. It's a fact
even in today's wars.
When all said and done
it was a war that both sides
felt they were doing the
right thing. It wasn't just
about slavery, it Went past
that. It was political as well
as financial on with both
parties. The sad thing is
many men had lost their
lives over something that
more than likely could have
been resolved if both parties
would have just sat down
and talked it through. Isn't
that usually the case with
most wars?
There were basically two
factors about the election
of i860 which disturbed
the Southerners so badly
that Southern states sub-
sequently seceded. First,
the Republican party plat-
form for i860. Basically,
the North wanted the U.S.
Government to tax (only)
the South deeply, to finance
the industrialization of the
North, and the necessary
transportation-net to sup-
port that. In those days,
there was no income tax. The
federal government received
most of its revenue from
tariffs (taxes) on imported
goods. The Southern states
imported from England
most of the manufactured
goods they used, thus paid
most of the taxes to support
the federal government.
(The Northerners imported
veiy little back then.) In
i860, for example, just four
Southern states paid in 50%
of the total tariffs.
In i860, the averaged
tariff rate was 18.84%; the
Republicans spread the
Word that they were shoot-
ing for 40% which could
bankrupt many Southerners
and Would make life much
harder for most of them.
The Republican platform
included a transcontinen-
tal railroad (following a
Northern route); extensive
internal improvements to
extend the transportation
net for the Northern manu-
facturers; a homestead act
which would eliminate the
only other important source
of federal funding, etc.
Second, if the Republicans
somehow managed to gain
control of Congress and the
White House, they would
then be able to use the fed-
eral government to enact
and enforce their party
platform and thus Convert
the prosperous Southern
states into the dirt poor
agricultural colonies o the
Northern capitalists. Given
the trends in demograph-
ics, the Southern states
would never be able to
reverse that process. The
intent of the Declaration
of Independence and the
U.S. Constitution would
then have been subverted
completely: the Southern
states would no longer be
governed with the consent
of the governed but instead
bullied by the Northern
majority. Hence, why then
remain in the Union?
On that note, below is a
final piece from the Senate
Resolution No. 526, declar-
ing The State of Texas to be
a free and independent sate
and Subsequently joined
the Confederate States of
America. April being the
month of the Confederate
in the State of Texas.
Below is the resolution
which was adopted by the
Senate on March 30,1999.
This is a time where the
Senate Resolution No. 526
WHEREAS, The State of
Texas declared herself to be
a free and independent state
and subsequently joined
the Confederate States of
America of which it was a
member state from 1861
until 1865; and WHEREAS,
The battlefields, monu-
ments, museums, and other
historical sites to be found
in Texas allow our citizens
and visitors to remember,
study, and appreciate the
men and women of that
unique time in the histoiy
of Texas and the nation;
and WHEREAS, The flag of
the State of Texas was car-
ried by Texas Confederate
soldiers in every major bat-
tle of the War Between the
States and the state contrib-
uted over 115,000 soldiers
and sailors to the service of
the Confederate States of
America; and WHEREAS,
During the period of recon-
ciliation, Texas Confederate
veterans became instru-
mental in the continued
development of our state
and local governments and
our institutions of higher
learning^ and WHEREAS,
We honor our past and
draw from it the courage,
strength, and wisdom to
go forward into the future
together as Texans and
Americans; and
WHEREAS, The State of
Texas has long recognized
her Confederate history
and the leaders who made
sacrifices on behalf of the
Confederate cause; and
WH E REAS ,TheTexans who
served in the War Between
the States are memorialized
in almost eveiy county in
the state, and many cities
and counties in the State
of Texas bear the name of
Confederate veterans; and
WHEREAS, It is impor-
tant for all Texans to reflect
upon our state's past and
to respect the devotion of
her Confederate leaders,
soldiers, and citizens to the
cause of Southern liberty;
and WHEREAS, In years
since the war, the mor-
ally abhorrent practice of
slavery has in the minds
of many Texans become
the prime motivation of
Southern soldiers, despite
the fact that 98 percent
of Texas Confederate sol-
diers never owned a slave
and never fought to defend
slavery; and WHEREAS,
Politically correct revi-
sionists would have Texas
children believe that their
Confederate ancestors
fought for slavery when in
fact most Texans joined the
Confederate armed forces
to defend their homes, their
families* and their proud
heritage as Texans; and
WHEREAS, Confederate
Memorial Day in April is a
time for all Texans to honor
those men and women who
died for Texas, and also all
the Texans who came after-
ward and benefited from
their legacy of honor and
devotion to our state; now,
therefore, be it RESOLVED,
That the Senate of the State
of Texas, 76th Legislature,
hereby recognize April as
Confederate History and
Heritage Month in the State
of Texas and encourage all
Texas Schools and citizens
to join in efforts to become
more knowledgeable of
the role of the Confederate
States of America in the
history of our Country.
Jackson
You may also view Mr.
Briggs special Confederate
History display at the
County-City Library during
the month of April which is
Confederate History Month.
The display will be set up on
the bi etin board in the
front of the library.
Other courtesy content
was provided by; John
S. Tilley's "Lincoln Takes
Command" and Ludwell
Johnson's "North Against
South".
Brett Smith is a staff writer
at the Siveetivater Reporter.
Comments about this column
may be e-mailed to editor@
sweetivaterreporter.com.
Windsor Palace releases parade details
God bless America, and
how's everybody?
Windsor Palace released
details of the Royal
Wedding parade in
London Friday. The
only American in the
parade will ride a horse
and guard Queen
Elizabeth. She'd asked
for somebody she
can trust and she was
happy to accept the
offer from the Reagan
Library.
Teleprompter inven-
tor Hubert Schlafly
died Tuesday at age
ninety-one in his home
in Connecticut. He
invented the device fifty
years ago to help soap opera
actors remember their lines.
President Obama ordered
U.S. flags to be lowered to
half-staff, then scrolled up
slowly,
Donald Trump led all GOP
candidates in a Gallup poll
Tuesday as he rode the birth
certificate issue. There's no
question over his own birth
certificate. With his cocki-
ness and his money mania
and his addiction to publicity
he was practically born in a
U.S. flag factory.
McDonald's announced
f.
Tuesday they will raise prices
in order to make up for high-
er commodity costs for beef
and potatoes.
The restaurant
has done very
well during this
recession. Sales
of Happy Meals
have tripled since
they replaced the
toys with Jell-0
shots.
The Treasury
Department said
Monday inflation
caused by higher
commodity pric-
es is wrecking the
economy. Coffee
is higher, sugar is
higher, milk is higher ;ind
grains are much higher.
Billboards now advertise
Wheaties as the Breakfast of
Hedge Fund Managers.
The NFL owners were
ordered by the judge to end
the lockout Monday. The next
day players entered team
build i igs but were barred
from the locker rooms. After
sixteen weeks away from the
medicine cabinet the players
all look like Jenny Craig suc-
cess stories.
The Weather Channel
aired footage of violent
Argus
Hamilton
weather hitting the Midwest
including a tornado near St
Louis. It struck the airport.
Two hours later airport secu-
rity woke up an air traffic
controller who was talking in
his sleep saying that there is
no place like home.
President Obama faced
mounting pressure to inter-
vene in Syria Tuesday as
Syria's dictator Bashar Assad
unleashed his military on
civilian protesters. Israel is
in the odd position of tiying
to save Bashar because s
a better friend to Israel than
his ally Iran. Iran wants to
wipe Israel off the map, but
Syria wants to wipe it off the
map a week later.
Argus Hamilton is the host
comedian at The Comedy
Store in Hollywood and
entertains groups and orga-
nizations around the coun-
try. E-mail him at Argus @
ArgusHamilton.com.
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Sweetwater Reporter will
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 143, Ed. 1 Friday, April 29, 2011, newspaper, April 29, 2011; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229459/m1/4/?rotate=90: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.