Utah’s senator Orrin Hatch did the traditional family no
favor when he announced, ahead of the anticipated federal court ruling on gay
marriage, that legalization of the practice was inevitable. The headline on our
local paper today, May 29, read “Hatch: Gay Marriage will become law”.
Two reasons why he should have held his tongue come to mind.
The first is based on the principle of hope: the belief we all need to carry
with us that right will come to pass. We never give up hope. As the saying
goes, it’s never over until the lady sings. We always give room for the belief
that ultimately morality will prevail. I personally resent this hopeless
philosophy.
The second, and more serious reason, is the message that this
opinion sends to judges, who rule too often on what people expect and
supposedly want, rather than on what is correct.
The replacement of our law with humanist ideas has been
gradual but unrelenting for nearly two centuries. Originally the law, as judged
by the Supreme Court, was determined by our founding document, the
Constitution. The courts, however, no longer use the Constitution as the basis to
validate law. That appropriate legal standard was abandoned long ago, much to
our detriment and sadness.
Precedent law, which took the place of constitutional law, was
the standard for a century or more. It was based on what other judges had
ruled. All that was needed to begin the “kill” of a freedom or right was one
judge and one ruling. That ruling then became the precedent for more. This was
a serious “hit” on our rights and freedoms.
Today, we don’t even go by precedent law. Judges rule on political
agendas and cronyism—according to the way society is going at the moment.
What’s popular? What does it appear that everyone wants? How can I push the
social agenda? That puts us at the mercy of every wretched, inappropriate,
uneducaated whim of the public.
That’s why Senator Hatch’s remarks are so damaging—he is, in
effect, telling judges what society expects. He’s saying, “Hey, we know we’re
going to get this; we expect it.”
Senator Hatch is irresponsible and I am offended by his
”reality”. I’ve been angry at his progressive ideas for the last 20 years, and
this one doesn’t help. He doesn’t represent me, or most of those I know and
care about. He doesn’t represent my politics or morality or work ethic or
integrity base or……I could go on.
He defends the judges who kicked Utah in the stomach over
the marriage issue. Of course he does….he recommended both men for the
judgeship.
Hatch says the judges had to rule in favor of gay marriage
because of the Supreme Court ruling. Did he miss something? The court ruled
that marriage is a state matter. And that makes it OK for a federal judge to
wipe out our state’s constitutional amendment? Where have you been, Senator?
We need our congressional representatives to stick with the
state and its laws and rights. The judges who ruled against our amendment to
protect the family were outside their boundaries and cannot cancel state
amendments. That’s against the Constitution. Defend it, Hatch!
No comments:
Post a Comment