SCOTUS Rulings, Dominoes Fall, Conservative Poison Commences

[TexasTowelie]

By Carol Morgan

I fully expected this. After SCOTUS’ ruling on the legality of the ACA exchanges and this morning’s ruling on same-sex marriage, the Conservative claws emerged like a feral cat’s battle over a contested alleyway.

It goes without saying…I’m happy about SCOTUS’ rulings; two back-to-back victories that make life in America a little more equal, but it’s caused me to question the system all morning. It’s odd how answers always lead to more questions.

Why must it require so much time, money, and effort, and a drawn-out battle with America’s bureaucracy and narrow-eyed obstructionists to accomplish something that SHOULD be easy…if you simply consider OTHERS' needs and happiness on par with your own?

The right to get medical attention if you’re sick is basic.

The right to love who you choose is even more basic.

Why must we go to such lengths to obtain what should be an obvious given?

It's like asking for permission to breathe.

Neither of these court cases affect me. I have my own insurance and I’m a straight female, but I’m happy for those affected by these cases. If any group suffers, we all suffer. Maybe that's a simple belief, but it's my belief and I own it...gladly.

The fallout’s been swift and predictable. The toxic rhetoric, from those who think they matter, but really don’t, has been prolific. It’s the same toxicity that has produced Dylann Roof, the Tsarnaev Brothers, Timothy McVeigh, Joseph Kony, Eric Rudolph, and the jihadists who gave us 9/11. The label may change, but it’s the same generic poison.

This morning, Governor Abbott issued an immediate directive (i.e. king’s edict) ordering the heads of state agencies to prioritize religious freedom. This is Abbott-code to open the door to allowing state agencies to refuse to give employee benefits to same-sex couples. His nebulous statement ensures he can claim he never meant that. Isn’t that cute? What will they think of next?

Abbott’s philosophy is simple: If you can’t win, you can punish the winners. It’s more of the familiar hate virus that’s evolved into a chronic illness in Texas; schoolyard games redux.

It seems as if Lubbock has no immunity to the pandemic either. The Lubbock County Republicans announced an emergency prayer meeting at Southcrest Baptist Church on Friday. A political meeting…in a church…does anyone see anything wrong with this? Newsflash: Pray away the gay has proven not to work, kids.

Those who fight against compassionate and inevitable justice are small individuals; they’re hateful and selfish. Love thy neighbor as thyself, kids. This simple premise has been repeated by every religion, every philosophy, every great teacher, prophet and guru since the beginning of time. Perhaps it’s been said in different words, but the sentiment is identical.

It's pretty simple. The selfish and the hateful are the only ones who've made it complicated and conditional.

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Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, a freelance writer, and former Democratic candidate for the Texas House. She is the award-winning author of two books: Of Tapestry, Time and Tears and Liberal in Lubbock. Email Carol at [e-mail] , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2015-06-26/scotus-rulings-dominoes-fall-conservative-poison#.VY3owUYT91N

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