In this election we as Kentuckians are placing too much emphasis on the presidential election when we stand to lose some of Kentucky's greatest lawmakers to Tea Party Republicans. The Commonwealth has more impact on your daily lives that the U.S. government. The Commonwealth is responsible for our criminal codes, housing laws, drug laws, regulation of utilities, regulation of education, republication of public assistance, regulation of marriage, etc. and this is only a small list. As a sovereign State, the Commonwealth shares parallel, joint authority with the U.S. government with neither having direct authority over the other; as Kentuckians, we need to focus our attention to our own lawmakers in Frankfort.
With over a decade of being in politics as an activist, new candidates frequently use the word "change" with no idea who how to implement "change" as an incoming "junior" Representative and they fail miserably to adequately articulate how they plan to accomplish the co-called "change" they loosely use as a rallying cry to get people's attention simply because we as Kentuckians do not follow Kentucky politics close enough. Our incumbents are best qualified to move our Commonwealth forward. Before we can begin to worry about our entire Union, we must focus our attention here at home, as Kentuckians.
Representative
Burch
It is truly sad that Governor's, along with their Secretaries of Commerce, State Representatives, and State Senators are traveling to China to do what the U.S. Congress will not do, close to trade gap which is costing U.S. states tens of thousands of jobs each year. Overall, the trade gap has cost States more than 2.7 million jobs, 76.9 percent of which were in manufacturing, according to the Economic Policy Institute report from August, 2012.
Governor Beshear's foreign trips opening new Kentucky Trade Offices in foreign countries have been successful in bringing new jobs to the Commonwealth. However, my primary concern is with our lawmakers in Frankfort. The Tea Party, an institution created for financial change is dipping into social issues, and these Tea Party people are Republicans. The Chief of State, Chief of Government, and Commander-in-Chief of your State (called "Governor" in most States) has as much control over the economy as any U.S. President.
Any attempt to measure the successes of Representative Burch, Chair of the House Committee on Health and Welfare is futile, the same is true for Representative Ruth Ann Palumbo, Chair of the House Committee on Economic Development, and Co-Chair of the House Task Force on Economic Development, and Representative Susan Westrom, Chair of the House Committee on Enrollment, and Vice Chair of the House Committee on Licensing & Occupations.
Their accomplishments include:
Blocking legislation to give the IRS Kentucky Police Powers.
Enhancing legislation to improve education for Kentucky's children.
Lowering prescription drug costs for seniors.
Increasing Kentucky Health Department Services for the uninsured and needy.
Enhancing legislation for programs to benefit missing or exploited children, foster care, and adoption.
Using the global positioning monitoring system including monitoring-related restrictions and sanctions in domestic violence cases.
Enhancing the Commonwealth's Domestic Violence Laws, enhanced suicide prevention training at the Cabinet for Health and Human Services.
Extended the Kentucky Rural Economic Development Act.
Kept Bluegrass Station open and appropriated funds for it.
Created the Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority.
Outlawed text messages while driving.
Attempted to lower taxes for citizens who make less than $75,000.00 per year.
Attempted to increase the authority of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.
Attempted to give an additional tax credit for the people who mold the minds of Kentucky's future, our school teachers.
It is also interesting to note that Representative Ruth Ann Palumbo attempted to pass legislation in Kentucky for Mortgage reform as far back as 2008, prior to the collapse of Wall Street and Main Street. Perhaps in the next election, it should be Governor Palumbo! I find it sad the the Commonwealth has only had one (1) female Commander-in-Chief.
The platform the people are using to try to unseat three of the most successful people in Kentucky Government is without any merit or details of actionable plans.
As Kentuckians we cannot afford to lose Representative Burch, Representative Palumbo, or Representative Westrom and replace them with new, junior representatives who will have no political power because they will not be assigned to leadership or more important, leadership in House Committees.
I've said it before, and here it is again. I think all elected officials should be required to wear those dog "shock collars" and they would shock them every time they lie, we could creative a small polygraph into the collar that would alert the collar to shock them. This would help so much with campaign promises they have no intention of keeping, and outright lies. From Constables, County Court Clerks, City Council Members, Mayors, state and federal Representatives, state and federal Senators, Governor's, President, etc., it should be implemented throughout.
I cannot help but laugh imaging this in action, can you imagine a politician giving a speech and them suddenly grabbing their neck and hitting the floor from pain because they just lied?
** For the record, I personally do not approve of the use of "shock collars" on dogs. **
Your dog will never lie to you, will always love you, and is always happy to see you. I am so sick of lies and propaganda, but we live with it every day, and it has been used through out history, especially by the Nazi's who left us the Principals of Propaganda. You should really read off if it, we live with it every day.
It doesn't take a very thorough study to recognize that one of the most successful and vicious methods of indoctrinating the masses is to enforce prejudice.
Is the truth still the truth once it has been edited? Every day we are presented with an abundance of information. We read it, we observe it, we watch it on TV. This is where we receive our cues on how to function effectively in the world.
The brain does not simply gather and stockpile information as a computer’s hard drive does. Facts are stored first in the hippocampus, a structure deep in the brain about the size and shape of a fat man’s curled pinkie finger. But the information does not rest there. Every time we recall it, our brain writes it down again, and during this re-storage, it is also reprocessed. In time, the fact is gradually transferred to the cerebral cortex and is separated from the context in which it was originally learned. For example, you know that the capital of California is Sacramento, but you probably don’t remember how you learned it.
This phenomenon, known as source amnesia, can also lead people to forget whether a statement is true. Even when a lie is presented with a disclaimer, people often later remember it as true.
I have never been interested in joining the military, nor have I ever sought to join. It isn’t my calling, but I appreciate what they do.
Here in Kentucky, we are blessed with a great National Guard organization. Compared to some states, we have a very responsive, technology-savvy team in Kentucky. This is really fortunate because our luck over the last few years hasn’t been the best.
We have experienced floods, tornadoes, ice storms, and all sorts of other natural disasters. Not only that, but we frequently catch the leftovers from other rough weather from neighboring states, especially hurricanes headed north. On top of this, our commonwealth is built over several fault lines, some of which are considered overdue to produce substantial earthquakes. Fortunately, our National Guard is well-equipped to assist in recovery missions. In addition to this, Kentucky, like any other state is subject to a cowardly terrorist attack at any moment.
How can the Kentucky National Guard project the citizens of the commonwealth if they are not here? Recently, I had to take an extended break from the non-profit I founded to recover from a medical emergency. I am shocked and dismayed to hear that a huge portion of Kentucky’s National Guard, already stretched beyond belief, are being deployed to Africa. Africa? Are we expecting an invasion from the Sahara Desert?
I understand that National Guard troops and airmen serve both a federal mission and a state mission; they have two Commanders-in-Chief, the U.S. President and the Governor. However, sending the bulk of the commonwealth’s gifted and trained guardsmen abroad, as we have with Iraq and Afghanistan puts us at risk of being short-handed here in Kentucky. We need our Guard here in the commonwealth for disasters. We have active-duty soldiers for non-essential trips like African safaris. Our National Guard troops are here to serve the states, except in time of national disaster.
We pay taxes for their services, and we never know when we will need them next. Just ask the people who have seen them working in a disaster.
The Governor should stand-up to the federal government to keep our protectors here, or the Kentucky House and Senate needs to adopt a measure securing a State Defense Force or State Guard for Kentucky. Currently, 19 states and territories have sovereign and uniformed State Guards, Reserves, Militias, and/or Defense Forces which cannot be called to federal service. Either our governor needs to keep our troops out of U.S. President Obama’s expansive foreign policy adventures, or Kentucky’s legislature needs to found a defense force for Kentucky which will not be called off to Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Africa, or any other far-off corner of the world. The Tenth Amendment Center has also assembled “Defend the Guard” legislation which is worth considering.
We need to support our troops. They serve a vital role in protecting us. Today’s National Guard is very professional and skilled and we need them here. We have active duty soldiers for regular deployments and tours overseas, and we need to keep our first-line responders and rescuers here. Kentucky has paid a steep price for the War on Terror over the last eleven years, and our state leaders need to stop frittering these assets abroad. Kentuckians, nor Americans for that matter pay taxes for the United States to be the military police of the world; this is the reason for the United Nations, every member state contributes, but more often than not, we are the ones picking-up the tab, at some point, it’s time to pay the check and neither Kentucky nor the United States can afford additional deficits.
I have seen no press release with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon requesting mobilization of troops. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has however ordered resources out of Africa in recent years, as has the executive director of the United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS, namely relief efforts in member-states that execute people for being gay, bisexual, lesbian, or transgender.
I have always believed each state needs State Defense Forces or State Militias for this very reason, federal misuse of state National Guard soldiers and resources. Most states offer college incentives or other appropriations for service in the State Defense Forces whose sole Commander-in-Chief is the Governor, and rightfully so. Our neighbors, the state of Tennessee and the commonwealth of Virginia are actively recruiting people for their State Defense Forces for the very reasons I have outlined.
I dedicate this to the John T. Kemper, III. groupie/bigot who emailed me and told me HIV/AIDS is God's way of "purifying the population from sin like Sodom and Gomorrah." John T. Kemper, III. is running for the constitutional office of Auditor of Public Accounts in 2011.
Let's be clear about something.... God loves everyone and I am created in his image, no one can Judge me. Though the Catholic Church would have you believe the Pope can declare "Saints," and the right-wing will tell you any Minister can call you a sinner (thereby Judging you). However, both are wrong. Only the Creator is qualified to Judge you, and God (or whatever name you give the Creator) delegates this authority to no mortal because they are just as sinful and as subject to temptation as anyone else.
If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 1 John 4:20
"If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God. When will we learn that human beings are of infinite value because they have been created in the image of God, and that it is a blasphemy to treat them as if they were less than this and to do so ultimately recoils on those who do this? In dehumanizing others, they are themselves dehumanized. Perhaps oppression dehumanizes the oppressor as much as, if not more than, the oppressed. They need each other to become truly free, to become human. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God's family. And of course they are part of the African family."- Archbishop Desmond Tutu
The religious community should remember The Greatest Commandment when they use His Word to condemn, divide, conquer, and hate.
The Greatest Commandment
The Holy Bible | Saint Mark
Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, Which commandment is the most important of all? Jesus answered, The most important is: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
The expert in the law said to him, That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. Then no one dared any longer to question him.
Sodom and Gomorrah:
Homosexuality is not unique in its status as an issue some people use to justify their hatred and/or repression of others. Throughout the history of this country, the world, and the church there have been other issues that were divisive in nature: anti-Semitism, slavery, and female clergy to name a few.
Some cling to the belief that Sodom and Gomorrah is the clearest demonstration of God's wrath and hatred toward homosexuals. However, the traditional understanding and interpretation of some members of the church that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for homosexuality is not accurate.
First, if you have a Bible, please read Genesis chapters 18 and 19. Do yourself a favor, read it for what is there and not for what you believe is there. History (written and archeological) shows us that Sodom and Gomorrah were urban regions. The area encompassed was quite large and developed. The area served as a center for power in the region.
Religion
The people of this region had developed their own religion filled with idolatry and had added many ungodly practices into their worship services. They had no place for YHWH (Hebrew for God). Their religion was a nationalistic religion - a union of church and state (somewhat like present day Iran and the former Taliban in Afghanistan). The religious practices of the area consisted of endless sacrifices and acts of sex (orgies).
Many of their sexual practices within the religious worship were like that of the Canaanites and other pagan cultures - they were perverted. They worshipped the creature (i.e. Satan) rather than the Creator (God). Paul, in Romans, Chapter 1, describes them thus: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles since they did not think it worth while to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural for unnatural and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a depraved mind and to improper conduct. They became filled with every kind of wickedness: evil, greed and, depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They were gossips, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless."
Political and religious corruption had engulfed the Sodom scene. History reveals that many sex practices, including bestiality, had become the "god" of their twisted religious practices. Please note that within Judaism or Christianity, sexual acts have never had a place in worship. However in Sodom, sex acts had been raised to a prominent place in their worship. Sexual intimacy, as the expression of deep loving commitment in a monogamous relationship was not practiced or known by them. (This is not unique to that time period; In the cults of Charles Manson and David Korrish, to name only a few, sexual acts with the religious leader and among themselves were not only encouraged but demanded. These modern day examples give us a feel for the prevailing philosophy of Sodom and Gomorrah).
Culture
Another historical and absolutely vital/sacred aspect of those times was the Act of Hospitality. The Law of Hammurabi (hospitality) declared that if one only had enough food for two or three that the guests were to be fed first. Its vital importance in the Middle East came into being because of the desert conditions, where there was always a lack of water and food. The act of providing safe water, food, and shelter certainly could mean the difference between life and death. With our fast food outlets on every corner we have a hard time understanding the important significance of these actions. So according to the Act of Hospitality once a visitor was received into one's home he/she was provided the necessities of life and was guaranteed protection from any and all outside forces and people. By violating these guests of Lot, the people of Sodom sought to break this law of life and death.
The people of Sodom despised Lot for his unwillingness to go with the flow and for what they perceived as a "holier than thou" attitude. The people of Sodom were convinced that by violating these visitors of Lot, he would be so horribly humiliated that they would either break him or he would actually finally leave.
Rape The people of Sodom or Sodomites demanded that Lot bring the visitors out so they may "know" them - this translates into carnal knowledge. Since this was certainly to be an unconsensual act it would unquestionably have to be defined as rape. Although same-sex rape would have occurred it would still be rape and nothing less - rape is always wrong - heterosexual or homosexual.
As stated previously, Sodom was a large and powerful city, implying that it would have a large population. Considering this fact that Sodom was a large city with thousands of inhabitants the act was certainly going to be a case of gang rape, which would most likely not be survivable.
It has been said that the men of Sodom, were outside Lot's home demanding that he release his visitors. In the Hebrew texts of the Bible which undoubtedly came before the English translations, the crowd of people who gathered, intent on ravaging the guests in the house are described with the Hebrew word "ANASHIM" which means men. An important aspect of this word is that it also means people. In Hebrew, if there is a group of people that contains even one (1) man, they are referred to by the masculine ending "im." Therefore there is no indication that the group of potential rapists were all men and we only know that they were in fact "people," at least one of whom was male. Ergo, Sodom was a lesson against rape, not homosexuality.
Scriptural Parallels
In Judges 19:22-30 there is a very similar story to that of Sodom. "as they were making their hearts merry, behold the men of the city, base fellows beset the house round about beating on the door and they said to the old man 'Bring out the man who came into your house so that we may know him" Although the men of this town (Gibeah) sought to have sexual relations with the visitor as did the men of Sodom with Lot's visitors, this town was not destroyed by God. If male-male sexual relations were the damnable sin suggested, then would not this town too have been destroyed?
In Judges, it continues that the visitor gives the men his concubine who raped her until she was dead (evidence for the nature of the gang rape which would have occurred in Sodom). So not only did the men of this town gang rape a person, they killed her. Thus as in the Genesis account the house is surrounded by men and the host of the house offers women in the place of his guest and says they intend to "HUMBLE THEM..." (v. 19). This clearly shows the purpose of the attack was to humiliate and most probably to kill the stranger, not to satisfy homosexual "lust". (20:5)
The guest finally puts his concubine outside and they humiliate him by raping and abusing her all night until she died. This act was an extreme violation of the Hebrew people's sacred code of hospitality. This act of INHOSPITALITY by people of the tribe of Benjamin so enraged the other Hebrew tribes that they went to war with them. Judges 20:5 "And the men of Gibeah rose against me by night; they meant to KILL me, and they ravished my concubine and she is dead." Interesting that although the men of Gibeah had intended to "know" (carnally) the visitor as did the men on Sodom, the visitor does not state that the evil was homosexuality, rather he states that the men intended to kill him. The two stories are parallels of one another and show that the actions of the men in Sodom were not based on homosexual lust, but rather on the intent to humiliate and kill these visitors.
Judgment We should bare in mind that Sodom was not judged just for rape nor was it destroyed just for inhospitality. The visitors (angels of the Lord) were there to warn Lot of the impending destruction (thus the decision to destroy Sodom was made prior to their arrival and prior to the story of the potential male rape). Sodom was indeed a wicked and idolatrous city. Throughout scripture (Deuteronomy 29:23-28, Isaiah 3:8-9; Jer. 23: 13-14; Ezekial 16: 47-50; Lam 4:6; Amos 4:11; Zeph 2:9, Matthew 10:14-15, Luke 10:12, Luke 17:29, Romans 9:29, Jude v.7, Revelation 11:8) it is recorded that these people had forsaken the worship of God.
He never tolerates idolatry. According to Webster's, idolatry is "immoderate attachment or devotion to something." It is an abomination of God. There is only one true and living God. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God" {Ex 20: 4-5}. Idolatry is spiritual adultery.
In each and every reference to Sodom in the Bible homosexuality is never mentioned. However, in each and every reference to Sodom in scripture the evils of idolatry are mentioned. It sure seems strange that God would fail to mention that homosexuality was the reason for the destruction of Sodom (if that were the case as asserted by some Christians) in each and everyone of these verses.
He did state the reason for their destruction - idolatry (spiritual adultery), paganism, pride, contempt for life (rape, murder) and false religion. These are why Sodom and Gomorrah were judged and destroyed.
Paul clearly taught that Christians are no longer under the Old Law (Galatians 3:23-25); that the Old Law is brought to completion in Christ (Romans 10:4); and its fulfillment is in love (Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14). Jesus did deal with human sexuality in an open manner. He affirmed on one hand the goods of marriage, but also declared marriage is not for everyone (Matthew 19:3-12). Furthermore, the Bible does not record one word spoken by Jesus condemning homosexuality.
The conclusion must be that anyone trying to tell you that homosexuality conflicts with the Bible is misleading you and is probably not acting from love but from fear. As animal and child sacrifices within the Old Testament are understood to be outdated now, the biblical ban on homosexuality is outdated too. The Old Testament is old and the new testament is new, meaning to complete and to replace some dubious parts.
God created us. He created DNA. He knew the diversity it would create and in the first chapter of Genesis he stated "It is good." So yes, God created Adam and Steve......and it is good.
When the disciples asked Christ why God created people who are blind and was it because that person or his parents had sinned. John 9:3 "It is not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him."
» God has created each of us so that the works of His can be made manifest in us. LGBTI people are not accidents, errors, perverts, but rather chances for the works of God to be manifest.
This is for you also:
This also, explain this to me:
Again: If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?1 John 4:20
I guess the gay community forget the Republican Party of Texas is bringing back consensual sex laws between two men (to make it illegal again), and that the Republican controlled Kentucky Senate has never allowed pro-LGBTI legislation to pass.
If you really want to read about Republican rants of self-imposing and self-interest, read this.
We need a 3rd party here in Kentucky even if it isn't a national party and only a Kentucky party (most other states have them).....
Examples include: the Alaskan Independence Party(secession movement), Delaware Blue Enigma Party, Hawaii Aloha Aina Party, Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement(secession movement), Independent Party of Oregon, Oregon Progressive Party, Free Texas Independence Party(secession movement), South Carolina Independence, The Second Republic of Texas (secession movement), Second Vermont Republic(secession movement), Liberal Party of New York, New California Republic(secession movement), and the Republic of Cascadi(proposed name for an independent nation that would be created by the combination of Provence British Columbia, and the States of Oregon, and Washington through the secession from Canada and United States, respectively), and many others.
Yes, a lot of them are secession movements, but many are not. People are always surprised by succession movements, but I remind you the Philippines use to be part of the United States, but left us because we would not grant them the same self-determination and sovereign rights as the other states.
Here are political party ideologies:
Yes, I cut-off the Constitution Party because they want to return to "Biblical foundations."
Bottom line with this past election, people are sick of the federal government's overreaching arm into the affairs of their state, not to mention overspending, and continuing to pass laws the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down (over 40 in the past 20 years alone) as "beyond Congressional authority." A perfect example is that Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D) sued the federal government just last month!
It is difficult for me to believe that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and intersex community in Kentucky is so cynical that they would vote against their own interests as published in the following stories:
Yes, we have the Log Cabin Republicans fighting for LGBTI rights within the Republican Party, and I am proud to have them, just as we have the Stonewall Democrats fighting for LGBTI rights within the Democratic Party. However, the Log Cabin Republicans have had limited success in curtailing conservative social agendas, and now we have the anti-gay Tea Party to contend with.
If the Commonwealth of Kentucky had all the political money that it's political candidates have wasted in this election with mudslinging, Kentucky would be out of debt. Perhaps we need a law that limits campaign spending and contributions?
If the articles above are correct, do not make the mistake of extending your frustration with the federal government to Kentucky's Government.
Governor Beshear, First Lady Beshear, and Kentucky's Secretary of Commerce just returned from the Republic of India on a economic state visit.
I also personally support Matthew Vanderpool to replace Stan Lee in House District 45.
If you turn your back on your LGBTI friendly lawmakers, or re-elect Stan Lee in House District 45, things will only get worse for our community and we will effectively be punishing ourselves! Is that logical?We cannot allow ourselves to turn against each other, and we cannot permit bitterness to take hold.
Our community cannot have everything we deserve at once; the Prop. 8 lawsuit in California is backfiring, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vs. United States (which struck down the Defense of Marriage Act) is being appealed by the Obama Administration. But the Prop. 8 Trial has had consequences right here in Kentucky, and we do not know the final outcome of it.
The Republican Party is currently too closely aligned with the Tea Party. So, vote Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, anything but Republican until they remove their personal religious beliefs from their campaigns. OMG, and no, Rand Paul is not a Libertarian, they have denounced him again and again. The Libertarian Party of Kentucky, along with some of the Democrats with the Democratic Party of Kentucky(no I have no idea why the Kentucky Democratic Party apparently decided not to included the Kentucky House of Representatives candidates) I named have always supported Kentucky's LGBTI community...... how many Republican have? Can you name even one?
This has been a horrible election with violence, and angry gay voters. In addition, many states are talking about secession. This is a scary time for our Union, but remember that domestic policy is the responsibility of the States, not the federal government.
Many people hate the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and interex community; some had rather us kill ourselves rather than live. We also have people within our own community who publish hate, lies, and half stories. Our community has enough opposition without allowing others to turn us against ourselves..... if we cannot stand united together, our struggle will continue for generations to come!
As humans we are quick to judge and slow to change; we cannot see past our own desires and ambitions to see the real picture...... what we must find the courage to do so. Though many LGBTI people are angry, bitter, and claim to hate the Democratic Party (from the stories above) I warn you that hate and bitterness are dangerous because once you allow them to take hold they consume you, and before long, you cannot remember feeling any other way...... so it becomes a way of life without you realizing it on a conscious level.
"We The People," must move forward by embracing diversity and teaching our children tolerance, only then will we find the answers to the problems that face Kentucky.
Perhaps the pledge of allegiance to Commonwealth says it best: "I pledge allegiance to the Kentucky flag, and to the Sovereign State for which it stands, one Commonwealth, blessed with diversity, natural wealth, beauty, and grace from on High."
I got into a huge argument with Kentucky Republican Auditor of Public Accounts candidate John T. Kemper III. Kemper stated the "Wear Purple Day," or "Spirit Day," was a "meaningless gesture," and also stated: "For me Homosexuality is a sin, the same as another sin, adultery, murder, cheating, stealing etc."
