Rachel Ford is a programmer, and since 8:00 to 5:00 doesn't provide enough opportunity to bask in screen glare, she writes in her spare time. She was raised a very fundamentalist Christian, but eventually "saw the light." Rachel's personal blog is Rachel's Hobbit Hole, where she discusses everything from Tolkien to state politics.
Last week, Indiana Governor Mike Pence (below) signed into law a bill ostensibly designed to protect religious freedom. As it happens, this was “religious freedom” in the conservative Christian sense of the word — a sort of Orwellian spin on freedom that posits that all people are free, but some people (namely, believers) are more free and can consequently get out of whichever laws they don’t like, as long as they really believe they should be exempt. The bill was not-so-secretly intended to allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT customers. Predictably, decent people were outraged, and condemnation poured in — from sources as varied as gay rights activist and celebrity George Takei to the leaders of Apple and Walmart. The list of those opposing the move is pretty substantial, with the list growing longer each day. Read more
According to a Gallup poll from February, seven-in-ten Americans have an overall favorable opinion of Israel. The numbers seem to be influenced by party lines and susceptible to variation due to diplomatic tensions, but the consensus is largely pro-Israel. Obviously, as I fall into that grouping, I think there are some pretty strong arguments to be made for American-Israeli friendship (as well as a peaceful, fair and equitable end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict). That said, I realize that the issue is not black and white. It’s complex and, unfortunately, increasingly partisan. No matter how persuasive we find our own reasons, well meaning people will disagree, with reasons that seem just as compelling to them. Wherever you fall on the question, though, I trust your arguments will be more convincing than some of the reasons presented in a resolution that passed in the Arizona Senate last Thursday. The resolution, SCR 1019, lists a number of reasons to thank Israel for the international friendship and affirms the state’s support of that nation. The highest priority on their list? Whereas, Israel has been granted her land under and through the oldest recorded deed, as recorded in the Old Testament, scripture that is held sacred and revered by Jews and Christians alike, the acts and words of God; and Whereas, the claim and presence of the Jewish people in Israel has remained constant throughout the past 4,000 years of history… Read more
In September of 2012, Adrian Bayley raped and murdered 29-year-old Jill Meagher (below), receiving a life conviction for the crime. Also appalling is how Bayley had over twenty rape convictions to his name before being put away for good this time. Reacting to the story, one Catholic priest, Father Joseph Olickal, reportedly took the opportunity to opine that the murder victim might have been spared such a tragedy had she but lived a “more faith-filled” life. Read more
Yesterday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed SB 1318, a bill whose support is almost entirely partisan (yup, from the party that hates, hates, hates government regulation) and restricts abortion coverage in insurance plans. Oh, and it also includes an amendment to the state’s informed consent laws to tell women about abortion reversals: The law requires a health care professional to tell women at least 24 hours before they obtain an abortion: (h) It may be possible to reverse the effects of a medication abortion if the woman changes her mind but that time is of the essence. (i) Information on and assistance with reversing the effects of a medication abortion is available on the department of health services’ website. Read more