PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Please Excuse My Cynicism
Posted: November 11, 2009 at 4:46 a.m.
SPRINGDALE — What’s the truth about the Obama/ Pelosi health-care bill? Who knows what lies within those 1,900 pages of legalese and doublespeak? Will elected officials actually read and truthfully understand what it all means? Or, will many of them have their aides skim through it and report back to them (telling them what they expect to hear, of course)?
With all this skepticism and doubt, how can we ask our senators to support this bill? Yet, because the whole thing is so tightly bound in political masking tape, the gutless will follow their “leaders” and do what their parties expect of them.
If my cynicism seems extreme, please understand that it’s simply genetic:
Cynic: A member of a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.
MIDGE GARZA / Bentonville
EQUAL RIGHTS ARE NOT FAVORS
In 29 states, it’s legal to fire otherwise-qualified employees because they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. In 38 states, it’s legal to fire otherwise-qualified employees because they are transgender. Current federal law protects workers against discrimination based on their race, gender, religion, national origin, and disability, but NOTbased on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Employment Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 3017) would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
This country was founded upon the principle of equal opportunity. Our government must continue to uphold this value for all Americans, whether they’re black, Christian, disabled, gay or transgender. The Employment Nondiscrimination Act is NOT about special treatment. It simply gives these workers the same rights and protections as their colleagues.
It comes down to ensuring that employees are judged for their performance, not for who they are.
DANIEL KETCHER / Farmington
Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/11/2009
(Advertisement)
« Previous Story
Casualties Of War
To honor the men and women in our armed forces and remind our readers of their sacrifices, the Northwest Arkansas Times is publishing Department of Defense announcements id... Read »
Next Story »
HOW WE SEE IT: Donald Douglas Harington
“Every writer writes, one of them once said, in expectation of love.” — Donald Harington What does one write about Donald Harington that holds up in comparison to anything ... Read »
Comments
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Registration is required to make comments. Click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.