What's on my mind…

For the past four years, I have called North Carolina my home. It’s true, I’ve spent the past two years trying to move away from it. However, there are things about this state that I have grown to love. Mostly the scenery, especially in the fall. I’ve also eaten some amazing barbecue down here and met some amazing people. Sometimes while eating barbecue.

So, I’m a little more than heartbroken that next May my state will be voting on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. As many people who know me know, I am a proud and fierce ally of the LGBT community. I have a gay brother and I love him dearly. Luckily, he lives in New York, where he can now legally marry (though he swears he’ll die alone). I have made many friends in the LGBT community here in Charlotte, as well. I even wrote to my state senators, begging them not to let this bill pass. I wanted it to end in the Senate. I didn’t want a state referendum. My Senator, (Daniel Clodfelter, a democrat), responded to my e-mail giving me the names of two republicans who were “on the fence” about the vote (to be fair, his aide did, but that’s something). So I sent the same e-mail to those two republican senators. One responded, saying:

Thank you for your email regarding the Marriage Amendment which was recently considered by the General Assembly. Hearing from my constituents is an integral part of the legislative process and I heard from more of you on this issue than on any other in my nine years as a Senator.  After listening to a great number of people on both sides of this issue, hearing the debate among my fellow legislators and recognizing that this is an issue that people have a strong opinion about, I decided that you—the citizens of North Carolina—needed the opportunity to vote on this amendment.

I encourage all of you to go to the polls to vote on the Marriage Amendment.

Sincerely,
Senator Richard Y. Stevens

Kind of cowardly, right? The subtext says to me, “I didn’t want to take a stand, so I’m letting you guys duke it out.” So, will our state decide to make discrimination a part of its constitution? Will it stand on the wrong side of history? Will it forget that constitutions work best when they enumerate freedoms, not when they restrict them?

Who knows.

There was an article in today’s Observer about how the religious community is split on the issue. As posh and liberal as Charlotte may seem at times, this is still the home of Billy Graham and many people still take their cues from religious leaders.

Equality NC and many other groups are out lobbying against the proposed ban. According to an article from that group, there is more at stake than just banning same-sex marriages. The wording could also impact heterosexual unmarried couples. The bill states that, “Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized by this State.”

There are a few Facebook events where people plan to vote against the amendment. The one I have RSVP’d to has more that 44,000 other people in attendance. I know that isn’t a reliable prediction and I know other polls will be more accurate. But it gives me some hope. Perhaps the people of North Carolina will rise to meet the challenges of recognizing humanity, instead of falling prey to fear and prejudice.

In a state that not so long ago was scarred by the memory of Jim Crow, we cannot allow discrimination to become a part of the law of the land again.

In case you missed it…

I think it was realistic. It’s easy to get pie in the sky when you’re accepting a peace prize, but sadly, he does not have that luxury. I enjoyed his take on a just war. Commentators on BBC radio were pointing out how a lot of his speech was directed at the European community, who are often hesitant to use force, even when others insist it is necessary. Which, I sometimes applaud and I sometimes disagree with (as in the case of Rwanda). However, I also like that he didn’t back down from his love of diplomacy. He even referenced Reagan and Nixon, which given how much the GOP hates him, I think is an act of diplomacy in itself : ). Do I wish we could withdraw all of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan tomorrow? Yes. And I think everyone else does, too (including our president). However, I also acknowledge that he didn’t start this war, but it would be irresponsible of him not to finish it.

Your thoughts?

As many of you know, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the health care reform bill. It has now moved on to the Senate. This was met with mixed reviews from all parties, but I, for one, am pretty stoked. There are things I’d like to change, for sure, and hopefully they will be changed in the Senate.

But what it boils down to is this: I have been uninsured since February and it has been the scariest eight months of my life. Due to a long story, I was ineligible for Cobra. My husband is a freelancer and he does not have health insurance (though he doesn’t seem as scared about it) so I couldn’t use his plan. I tried to get insurance on my own through Blue Cross Blue Shield, United and Aetna, but I was turned down from all of them due to pre-existing conditions. I don’t qualify for Medicaid because my husband makes too much money. I’ve been hunting for a full-time job in part because I want to work full-time again and in part because I want benefits. For a while, we were seriously considering moving to Canada or Europe mostly for the health care.

I have two conditions that require medication. I have been off of my medication since I ran out in March and April. I can’t afford the medications without insurance. I’m not saying all of this to complain or to whine, I’m saying it to illustrate my need for health insurance. I’m not alone in this, there are millions of people in my situation. If I went to the doctor right now, I would go bankrupt. Many people already have.

The bill isn’t perfect, it has some issues with women’s health and reproductive rights, like the Stupak-Pitts Amendment stating that:

No funds authorized or appropriated by this Act (or an amendment made by this Act) may be used to pay for an abortion or to cover any costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless and abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or unless the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.

Yuck. That amendment passed 240-194. Perhaps the Senate can iron that out. I like that they abolished pre-existing condition discrimination or the practice of dropping people when they become ill (so health insurance companies might have to actually provide health insurance).

It will be interesting to see what happens in the Senate. I, along with millions of other uninsured Americans, will be watching with crossed fingers and bated breathe. This post isn’t too in depth on the bill an the debate, but honestly, there’s tons of coverage out there, just pick up a newspaper or type “Health care reform” into Google.

The final words, however, must go to one of my favorite bloggers on the internet. The wise-cracking, octogenarian Helen Philpot, from the Margaret and Helen blog (a blog set up by Helen’s grandson so that she and her best friend could keep in touch):

Margaret, I know it has been a few years since we last made the trip across the pond, but I was wondering if  anyone is still alive in Europe?   I watched a little bit of Fox News this weekend and I’m afraid everyone in Europe might have died from lack of access to healthcare.  What a shame.  They had such delicious food and beautiful art.

: ) Well said.

Until next week, stay healthy everyone.

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