News: Iraq, Marriage, and Kerry

The disparity between the war front and the home front can be seen this week. On the war front, our soldiers (Marines and other armed forces included) are still fighting and dying. The Iraqi abuse scandal surfaced and put the US's credibility and mandate in Iraqi in disarray.

But, at home, other political news are also making headlines. The Gay Marriage debate is surfacing again as the deadline for same sex marriages has passed in Massachusetts. Gay couples can now legally marry, at least in that state.

• Divided Mission in Iraq Tempers Views of G.I.'s. Totally understandable. I too don't understand how well democracy in Iraq is going. I didn't support going to war. I thought it was premature. I wanted more unilateral support. That's what we needed, and that's become more apparent now, especially since Spain with threw their support. Look at Blair. He's suffering politically for standing by Bush and the US. I wonder if he's regretting his decision?
  
  Ok, the rant wasn't suppose to happend there. I meant to point out the article because it captures several solider's viewpoints, and I haven't been hearing their voice often, if not at all. They are doing a lot of good in Iraq, but a lot of that gets swept away for politics and political issues i.e. Abu Ghraib prison story.
  
  I thought this was very telling of America's problems in the public eye:
  

  He was speaking of the balance adopted by American commanders, who have refrained from attacking insurgents holed up around two especially important shrines in downtown Karbala out of fear that they could inflame Shiite Muslims the world over. Most of the mortars and rocket-propelled grenades being fired at Americans are coming from that area. It is a dilemma intrinsic to the kind of urban warfare the Americans have been drawn into — weighing the potential of a public backlash against the need to win a decisive victory with the fewest casualties.

  Also, this is very sad and demoralizing:

  Sergeant Rigole said he believed that outside Iraq, "nobody cares anymore, because it's just becoming another part of life."

• Rainbow Pride: Gay Couples Apply for Marriage Licenses in Massachusetts. I have no idea how I really feel about this. The idea of equality is so important to me, but homosexuality is something I'm never going to understand. Therefore, I can't empathize, and I am totally confused on what is right.
  
  All I know is that I'm totally against a constitutional ban on gay marriage. No. No. No. I am unequivocally against this. It's a bad, bad thing. Even the idea scares the crap out of me. If I have to get off my butt and attend protests, carry signs, or get my voice heard in some way, then this is the issue that'll make me do it. I'm not necessary affirming gay marriage; I'm pretty neutral about that, but threatening to amend the constitution because the President isn't happy about gays and lesbians marrying is so over the top wrong. People make the argument that once gay marriage happens, it'll open the floodgates to incest, bestiality, polygamy etc...(although I think all of these are illegal). Well, if a constitutional ban happens, although it will be difficult to accomplish, then what kind of floodgate will that open?
  
  The constitution is the law of our land. You can't suggest that it be used to ban gay marriages because then you are using it to discriminate against an entire group of people. And wouldn't that somehow undermine the Bill of Rights, which was added to protect individual's rights and one could argue for this very reason?
  
  
• Watch out Kerry: Down but Not Out, Kucinich Keeps Fighting. I also don't know how I feel about Kerry. I'm definitely more liberal and will likely vote democratic, but I don't know how appealing Kerry is to me. I've been trying not to get too involve in the smear campaign that seems to go on during very election.
  
  This is my first presidential election, and I'm looking forward to it, but I don't want to become disillusioned. Look what happened in 2000. How can you not be.

This post has gotten very political and delve into my beliefs and views that I've held on certain issues that I've never really revealed in this blog before (usually, my posts are full of fluff). I try not to do that with my blog because I'm sure there are other blogs for this specific reason, and those who are involved in it do a better and more thorough job of presenting their opinions than I (or is it 'me'?). But, once in a while, it's catharsis at its best, and I'm glad I did it.