Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Just $6 Million Away
From a perfect settlement...
Seems to me that the LA Diocese was just $6 million away from a perfect verdict for the years long cover-up of clergy abuse. But $660 million dollars is a staggering amount, no doubt due to the many, many lives a few troubled priest and the hierarchy allowed to hurt for far too long. It's good to see this being addressed, finally. Pray for the many lives ruined that no cash compensation can fix.
Seems to me that the LA Diocese was just $6 million away from a perfect verdict for the years long cover-up of clergy abuse. But $660 million dollars is a staggering amount, no doubt due to the many, many lives a few troubled priest and the hierarchy allowed to hurt for far too long. It's good to see this being addressed, finally. Pray for the many lives ruined that no cash compensation can fix.
Labels: Brave New World, Celebrities, Courts
Monday, June 04, 2007
We will always have Paris
Schadenfreude
I'm not one to be proud of reveling in the "suffering" of others (at least not overly proud). But for what ever reason, I must admit that there is something rather poetic about Paris Hilton going to jail, even if it is for only 23 days.
Perhaps it's not her fault, and I'm sure there's a women's studies professor who can argue it is somehow my fault. But being famous for a homemade porn video, being rich, drunk and stupid isn't the kind of celebrity we should be celebrating.
Today's lesson: Act like jail bait, become jail bait
I'm not one to be proud of reveling in the "suffering" of others (at least not overly proud). But for what ever reason, I must admit that there is something rather poetic about Paris Hilton going to jail, even if it is for only 23 days.
Perhaps it's not her fault, and I'm sure there's a women's studies professor who can argue it is somehow my fault. But being famous for a homemade porn video, being rich, drunk and stupid isn't the kind of celebrity we should be celebrating.
Today's lesson: Act like jail bait, become jail bait
Labels: BS, Celebrities, Courts
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Gonzales v. Carhart
The End of the Beginning or the Beginning of the End?
Seems the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a limited ban on certain kind of mid-to-late term abortion procedure. Is this the beginning of the end of abortion rights or merely the debate entering a new phase of debate.
Ultimately I think the court will over turn Roe. Without commenting on whether or not they should, the imposition of Roe and its absolute sway for more than forty years has served to radicalize both sides of the reproductive rights debate and suppressed the possibility of finding a consensus. The pro-choicers cry is for "Free Abortion on Demand!" and the pro-lifers call is for a ban on all abortions (and probably all contraception too). Most of us don't fall into either of those camps.
That being said, if I were I women, I certainly would rather have a person in a white robe make decisions on the appropriate procedure related to my pregnancy than say a judge or worse yet, a Congressman.
Roe allows for restrictions on abortion access in the later stages of pregnancy, so a quick read of this decision does not put in at odds with Roe precedent nor does it chip away at Roe. It has only been in application that the rights granted by Roe have been made absolute. But clearly a shift in tenor of the court. So the pendulum begins its reverse arc. It will be interesting to see where it stops.
I'll read the case on the plane today, back with more thoughts later....
Seems the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a limited ban on certain kind of mid-to-late term abortion procedure. Is this the beginning of the end of abortion rights or merely the debate entering a new phase of debate.
Ultimately I think the court will over turn Roe. Without commenting on whether or not they should, the imposition of Roe and its absolute sway for more than forty years has served to radicalize both sides of the reproductive rights debate and suppressed the possibility of finding a consensus. The pro-choicers cry is for "Free Abortion on Demand!" and the pro-lifers call is for a ban on all abortions (and probably all contraception too). Most of us don't fall into either of those camps.
That being said, if I were I women, I certainly would rather have a person in a white robe make decisions on the appropriate procedure related to my pregnancy than say a judge or worse yet, a Congressman.
Roe allows for restrictions on abortion access in the later stages of pregnancy, so a quick read of this decision does not put in at odds with Roe precedent nor does it chip away at Roe. It has only been in application that the rights granted by Roe have been made absolute. But clearly a shift in tenor of the court. So the pendulum begins its reverse arc. It will be interesting to see where it stops.
I'll read the case on the plane today, back with more thoughts later....
Labels: Abortion, Courts, etc.
