On Government Intervention...
"[T]wo years ago . . . Columbus, Ohio, tattoo artist Adam Gray asked a customer to fill out a standard health form, which asked whether he had hepatitis, AIDS, heart problems, or any other condition which could make getting a tattoo risky. The customer initially answered 'no' to all the questions, but eventually revealed that he did in fact have AIDS. Gray then declined to tattoo the man and offered him a bloodless alternative, such as painting his desired design. Ohio's Commissioners reacted swiftly to this mean-spirited trampling of the AIDS-inflicted customer's constitutional rights. They suggested a settlement in which Gray would pay the customer $150 to get his tattoo at another parlor, post a sign in his shop notifying the public that he had been guilty of an act of discrimination, and then sign a gag order promising not to speak about the case. When Gray refused, the OCRC began a two-year-long investigation of the U.S. Constitution. Upon completing this exhaustive study the Commission ordered Gray to give a tattoo to the man or to someone else with AIDS. Furthermore, the OCRC stipulated that Gray must never refuse service to anyone with AIDS or any other ailment. Gray, who has already spent $50,000 in legal fees, plans to appeal the decision."
--Heterodoxy, September 1996. Outrage du Jour for 10/3/96
On Removing God to Protect the Atheists?...
"Members of the United Church of Christ are singing a different song these days. Well, actually, several different songs. The church recently revised its official hymnal, and it updated some of the language for the '90s. For instance, the gender of the baby Jesus is no longer mentioned in 'Silent Night.' Military language has been removed from some songs. God is referred to as 'her' sometimes. Words that might offend minorities have been taken out. 'Just as I am' no longer contains a reference to the 'poor, wretched blind,' for instance. And the phrase 'the right hand of God' in one song has been changed to the 'mighty' hand of God, lest lefties get offended."
--Charles Oliver, Reason, November 1996. Outrage du Jour for 10/9/96.
On Voting Responsibly...
"It is unfortunate that we cannot elect Jesus for president. He's not running. Neither is Billy Graham nor Mother Theresa. We are presented with a choice of two candidates. By either not voting or choosing a candidate other than Dole, you are helping to put Bill Clinton in charge for another 4 years. That's 4 more years of judicial appointments at the federal level as well as on the Supreme Court. That's 4 more years of liberal push on social and moral issues. That's 6 million+ more children aborted -- many probably with *your* tax dollars!"
--Jim Trettel, in an e-mail exchange on the ConChr-l listserver on 10/10/96.
On Affirmative Action...
"They honestly believe they are superior to "minorities" but because of their kindness they want to make sure they don't abuse their superiority. If they had their way I would be placed on the Endangered Species list , captured and tagged. I would be preserved in a zoo somewhere taken care of and provided for."
--Mason Weaver, in the San Diego County North County Times on 10/11/96.
Received via ConChr-l listserver on 10/10/96. The entire article is
worth reading.
On Family Economics...
The family is the cornerstone of our society. More than any other force it shapes the attitude, the hopes, the ambitions, and the values of the child. And when the family collapses it is the children that are usually damaged. When it happens on a massive scale the community itself is crippled. So, unless we work to strengthen the family, to create conditions under which most parents will stay together, all the rest -- schools, playgrounds, and public assistance, and private concern -- will never be enough.
--Lyndon Johnson, from a speech on June 4, 1965. Taken from the now defunct "Conservative Quotes" website.