Law or Liberty?

               What is it about human nature and the need to make rule and regulation?  Some of it may stem from an aversion to what is unknown.  Rather than accept what goes up must come down, a great thinker may be compelled to document the law of gravity.  As opposed to accepting that planetary bodies move about a celestial star, a brilliant astronomic mind studies relationships between shape, speed and size of orbit and groups these findings into the laws of planetary motion.  Understanding that his creator set forth laws governing the natural world, man may take solace in establishing proper policies to govern mankind’s social institutions.

               But there can be too much of good thing.  On January 1, 2012, nearly 40,000 new state and local laws came into effect in the United States.   Depending on perspective, each new law can be seen as reasonable and with good intention.  Many reflect modern concerns about minors being able to schedule an abortion without parental consent, deterring businesses from hiring illegal immigrants or punishing those who use text messaging while driving operating a motor vehicle.  Even so, doesn’t 40,000 new laws seem excessive?  These new additions are in addition to some already dubious statutes. 

               For example, an Alabama state law was put on the books to discourage the urge to wrestle bears (I was just in Alabama almost challenged a bear to mixed martial art match; thank God my good judgment eventually prevailed).  Wisconsin statute 97.18(4) makes illegal to serve margarine as a butter substitute unless the staff receives a specific request from the patron (I suppose Wisconsin is serious about dairy).  A Nevada sale of sexual paraphernalia law states...it shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer to sell or display for sale any device, including but not limited to dildos and artificial vaginae, designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs (If we move to Nevada, my marriage is doomed; just kidding, honey).

               Many laws like these may be rarely enforced, or are relics from eras gone by.  Still, there is reason for concern.  If such silly statutes can make it to the books, it is safe to say that almost anything can achieve legislation.  Dubious laws often reflect a knee-jerk reaction that represents citizens’ popular will, but what if popular will becomes unreasonable?  Our country may become stronger if we begin to look at laws with a “less is more” approach and maintain that an excess of laws ultimately limits our freedom.  The next time a you consider a ballot initiative or state constitutional amendment it may be wise to ask, “Does allowing an activity, that I do not necessarily agree with, possibly break my arm or pick my pocket, or take a voice away from voiceless?”  Popular will should be heard; but turning every impulse into written public statute risks choosing law over liberty.

Anger, Alcohol, Epiphany and Acceptance...all on New Year's Day

               Are all men selfish asses, or only me?  It is because of my selfishness that I am in the doghouse again.  No really; not a figure of speech.  Am typing this from inside of an actual doghouse outside the lovely home I share with my wife.  Thank goodness for the warm Gulf Coast weather and for the half-charged battery on my laptop or this correspondence would be much more challenging.  But I digress.

               Yes, the doghouse.  You may wish to know why I am here.  I made the unwise choice to abandon plans to attend church with wife and mother, in favor of watching my American football team on the TV at the nearby pub.  Mother, being ever-excepting and unconditionally loving had no problem with this.  Wife on the other, although having made wedding vows to accept me with all accompanying strengths and weakness, was a wee bit perturbed by my last minute change of plans.  Her feelings are valid but little did she know about the eye-opening epiphany that would be proffered.  Somehow, this epiphany did not dampen her anger and until further notice, this doghouse, will be my humble abode.

               This epiphany was at a pub, so there was alcohol.  Not an illegal or life threatening amount; just a few cold frosty draughts for enjoyment while watching my team end an extended playoff drought. Towards evening’s end, there was envy.  My eyes became jealous while walking back to my car, only to see the man parked next to me and his means of transportation being a convertible top 2012 Maserati Gran Turismo MC.  This truly elite sporting car, and its $130,000+ price tag, is something that is currently beyond my financial means, and this fact made me somewhat resentful towards my humble, yet reliable, 2005 Pontiac Vibe.

               But then, the epiphany; this man and his Maserati may be on a higher rung on society’s ladder, but he is here walking away from the same pub as me, after watching the same game I came to see.  Albeit my transportation method is a bit more economical and with less flash.  It helped to there, to and fro, just the same as the Maserati.  The Maserati man may have a bigger bank account and cooler car, but at this same time and same place. And at that moment, I had a greater acceptance and overall appreciation and self-worth.

               And so there you have it.  Anger (my wife’s), alcohol, envy and self acceptance…all on the first day of 2012.  I wonder if the first day of 2013 will be as profound, or if I will at least be away from the dog house by then.

The Compulsive Eater’s Diary

              

               I am an addict.  A food addict.  My relationship with food is an obsessive compulsive one.  Salty snacks and sugary ice cream are placeless in my home.  They don’t belong.  If anywhere within my reach they are near gone.  My life is a constant struggle to satisfy a craving insatiable.  My addiction is a tiger.  If I were only so lucky to being addicted to heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, oxycodone, alcohol, cough syrup or any other superfluous necessity.  Lucky fools addicted to such substance can simply lock their tiger in a cage.  My tiger constantly torments.  It has to be out of its age at least 2 or 3 times a day.

               My weaknesses? Where do I start?  The Christmas Season is a bittersweet one; the festivities and family gatherings are joyous but the cookies, candy canes, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie, turkey stuffing, eggnog and peanut brittle are inescapable entrapments.  One my wonder whether Christians in America celebrate their savior’s birth, or salute calorie gorging and hefty credit card spending near the end of every calendar year.

               Another vice is the homemade soft pretzel.  By following an online recipe made available by the ever brilliant Alton Brown, this food addict has managed to perfectly craft a comfort food that has been a favorite since his time in the crib.  The all day endeavor requires mixing the dough, letting is rise, shaping the glutinous balls in the familiar pretzel shape, dipping the tacky dough balls into a boiling hot water and baking soda filled cauldron, then laying the gummy pre-pretzel form on waxed parchment and wiping with egg before placing in a 450-degree oven.  And all this effort is for a prize that is short-lived.  The eight of so pretzels the recipe concocts are lucky to last eight hours before their gobbled down in an act of pure gluttony.

               The strangest thing is the total lack of moderation.  Moderation is a constant in other potential fault areas like social drinking, gambling, and household budgeting.  But when it comes to French fries, Key lime pie and ice cream, “moderation” is a foreign and unknown concept.  And therefore, the burnt orange and raven-striped appetite nervously snaps it tail while it paces back and forth within its cage.  Its single-minded, hungry green eyes belong to a wild animal that cannot forever be locked away. I must at least make a humorous attempt to suppress the beast’s destructive instincts.  Your correspondent realizes his appetite is a demonic animal must learn to trust.  That is the only way the tiger can step away from the cage and behave itself during mealtime.

Putting the Christ back in Christian

If someone is a leftwing liberal, then they are hated by rightwing Evangelical Christians.

Christ was a leftwing liberal.

Therefore, Christ is hated by rightwing Evangelical Christians?

               Okay, please do not get angry.  This statement may be valid in rudimentary argument form, but conclusions valid and logically derivable are not necessarily in accordance with fact.  But is this premise not compelling?  Is it just your correspondent’s misguided observation, or is a belligerent and excessively vocal segment of Evangelical Christians especially skeptical to new schools of thought and the progressive mindset?  These same Evangelicals tend to side with self-described political conservatives and, by definition, conservatives are ones who hold traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation.

               How can anyone so resistant to change honestly claim Christ as their savior?  Christ was nothing if not a Renaissance man or, dare say it, a liberal.  Rather than be tamed by the status quo, He engaged in verbal combat and said unto the influential Pharisees…”And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. “

               The same Pharisees, like today’s Republican National Committee, staunchly advocated capital punishment, and brought to Jesus a woman condemned to die.  They said to Him, “that she shall be stoned, and what sayest thou?  Christ responded, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” 

               Christ went further by challenging the moneychangers at Herod’s Temple.  In this shamelessly left-wing, liberal act He expels these precursors to today’s bankers and wealthiest one-percent from His house of prayer in an effort to save it from becoming a den of thieves.

               Is it not perplexing?  An exceptionally loud and militant Evangelical faction are so resistant to change that they put low taxes, the second amendment and disdain for Obama-care ahead of their so-called Christian beliefs, Country and even own sense of humanity.  And any new thought that attempts to meet at middle ground on hot-button conservative issues churns in them anger and backlash much like the one their Messiah met upon His final entry into Jerusalem.  Perhaps the Evangelical fellowship that dominates and sways today’s Grand Old Party should take a look at their Savior’s dynamic acts and radical thinking, and rather than worship with using hollow words,  display reverence through humble acknowledge of ideas different from your own.   In other words, your correspondent implores you to think about “Christ” every time you think “Christian.”