We've had a very warm spring, and summer songs have been in my head for a week or so. I may have posted some of them last year, but so what? It's summertime, and the living is easy...
Mungo Jerry- In The Summertime
Such a laid-back song, just right for hot weather.
Grateful Dead- Dancin' In The Streets
A classic song, done by my favorite band, in the summer I was born. There's some amusing commentary partway through, since it's from a news show.
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Big Audio Dynamite- The Globe
Not sure why this has been in my head, but it has, and definitely says summer to me. Maybe because it's hotter than a microwave?
The Hollies- Stop! Stop! Stop!
Another one that just popped in my head for about a week. Maybe it's just the sound that says summer to me.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Dollars And Sense
So I was reading an airplane magazine the other day and came across something that gave me an insight into gay marriage issues. Okay, bear with me... See, I have friends who are gay, and I see no reason they shouldn't be able to get married (or to have the same rights as anyone else- which of course bugs the hell out of some people, for reasons I really don't comprehend.) Also, I see direct, obvious parallels between gay marriage and interracial marriage. Thankfully, I live in a time when the latter is not a legal issue. The courts are rapidly deciding that there shouldn't be impediments to gay marriage, and people, in general, are coming to that conclusion too. And to those who say "courts are overriding the will of the people:" Yes. They are. Because people voted for something unconstitutional. That's how our republican democracy works. How about pulling out your little Constitution book, and reading that and some history, and trying to figure out how to actually be a good American rather than spouting bullshit and waving flags?
Still, I understand some people are put off by gay marriage. Okay- so don't do it. But they keep coming up with ways to stick their noses in other peoples' business, and show just how backward they are. Recently there were controversies about laws that let businesses refuse to perform services for gay weddings. I am floored by how ignorant people are, how blind they are about history, about decency, about common sense. Do they not see the parallels with the civil rights era? Do they really think that refusing to serve certain people is okay?
They say their religious beliefs require them not to participate (not that they're really participating anyway- who invited you?) I think they're just bigoted. And misreading their religious texts, on top of that: what did Jesus say about gay people? He was a pretty cool guy- I bet he'd perform gay marriages. Besides which, your religion has nothing to do with your business. And it shouldn't. Which brings me to the airplane connection. The article had to do with aviation regulations, which are different for private flight and for business flights- even if it is the same small plane, and the same pilot, if you're making a flight where money changes hands you do things differently than when you take your friends up for fun. This applies in other areas too: the author of that article mentioned driving a big RV on a vacation, versus driving a bus for profit. When money changes hands, whatever the vehicle, whatever the location, the rules are different. Your house is not very regulated; your bed and breakfast is.
There is a social contract for businesses (and there are actual laws,) that say you have to serve everyone. You are free, in your private life, to not associate with certain people. Once you open your doors to the public, well, you open your doors to the public. You can't turn people away just because you don't like them. Whatever their religion, or color, or sex, you are in the public arena now and there are rules, laws, standards of conduct.
What they do in their bedroom is none of your business. What I do in my bedroom is none of your business. What you do in your bedroom I sure as hell do not want to know about. What you do in your business is your business, in a sense, but since you're doing business with the public, it is also everybody's business. If you don't want to be bothered by people who want you to perform a service for them, don't go into business. When they come into your store to spend money, you ought to- for legal reasons, but also for just plain capitalist reasons- sell them what they want. Oh, and one more reason to do that: it's the right thing to do.
Still, I understand some people are put off by gay marriage. Okay- so don't do it. But they keep coming up with ways to stick their noses in other peoples' business, and show just how backward they are. Recently there were controversies about laws that let businesses refuse to perform services for gay weddings. I am floored by how ignorant people are, how blind they are about history, about decency, about common sense. Do they not see the parallels with the civil rights era? Do they really think that refusing to serve certain people is okay?
They say their religious beliefs require them not to participate (not that they're really participating anyway- who invited you?) I think they're just bigoted. And misreading their religious texts, on top of that: what did Jesus say about gay people? He was a pretty cool guy- I bet he'd perform gay marriages. Besides which, your religion has nothing to do with your business. And it shouldn't. Which brings me to the airplane connection. The article had to do with aviation regulations, which are different for private flight and for business flights- even if it is the same small plane, and the same pilot, if you're making a flight where money changes hands you do things differently than when you take your friends up for fun. This applies in other areas too: the author of that article mentioned driving a big RV on a vacation, versus driving a bus for profit. When money changes hands, whatever the vehicle, whatever the location, the rules are different. Your house is not very regulated; your bed and breakfast is.
There is a social contract for businesses (and there are actual laws,) that say you have to serve everyone. You are free, in your private life, to not associate with certain people. Once you open your doors to the public, well, you open your doors to the public. You can't turn people away just because you don't like them. Whatever their religion, or color, or sex, you are in the public arena now and there are rules, laws, standards of conduct.
What they do in their bedroom is none of your business. What I do in my bedroom is none of your business. What you do in your bedroom I sure as hell do not want to know about. What you do in your business is your business, in a sense, but since you're doing business with the public, it is also everybody's business. If you don't want to be bothered by people who want you to perform a service for them, don't go into business. When they come into your store to spend money, you ought to- for legal reasons, but also for just plain capitalist reasons- sell them what they want. Oh, and one more reason to do that: it's the right thing to do.
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