Image of the Day
Clearwater, FL – September 4th 2005 – photo by bloodstar
Bloodstar
Liberals and Libertarians on Everything and Nothing
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BloodstarLiberals and Libertarians on Everything and Nothing |
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Clearwater, FL – September 4th 2005 – photo by bloodstar
High Falls, Georgia – Winter 2006 – Photo by bloodstar
Atlanta, GA – Summer 2007 – Photo by bloodstar
I think –
Forward
to the past.
Where -
future
becomes memory
and
I remember
you.
Summer 2007- Kennesaw, GA – photo by bloodstar
Following in the footsteps of Boumediene v. Bush, the Supreme Court again holds that the Constitution limits government powers. Interestingly enough, Kennedy was the swing vote in both cases, (which were 5 – 4 rulings) I’d propose that this is Kennedy’s Court, not Robert’s.
Some quotes from the Presidential candidates:
Bob Barr, taking a moment to ding McCain:
The ruling “will go down as one of the Supreme Court’s most important rulings on behalf of liberty,” says Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr.
Until today, the Court had never held that the Second Amendment directly applied to individuals. “Today’s decision marks a new era for gun rights in America,” explains Barr, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association. Barr also drafted the Libertarian Party’s amicus curiae brief in Heller. “By protecting an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, the Second Amendment ensures that all Americans are able to participate in sporting activities, hunt, and protect themselves and their families,” he explains.
Sen. McCain has not advocated an absolute prohibition, “but he cosponsored legislation which could require registration of attendees at gun shows and even ban such shows,” Barr warns. And Sen. McCain’s campaign legislation “curtailed the First Amendment right of gun owners to protect their rights by participating in election campaigns.”
As part of the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment undergirds American liberty. “The individual’s right to keep and bear arms helps ensure all of our freedoms,” says Barr. “The Supreme Court’s recognition of the constitutional right to gun ownership is a recognition of the right to life, liberty, and property for all Americans.”
John McCain, who can’t resist trying to make some ‘bitter’ political hay:
Today’s decision is a landmark victory for Second Amendment freedom in the United States. For this first time in the history of our Republic, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms was and is an individual right as intended by our Founding Fathers. I applaud this decision as well as the overturning of the District of Columbia’s ban on handguns and limitations on the ability to use firearms for self-defense.
Unlike Senator Obama, who refused to join me in signing a bipartisan amicus brief, I was pleased to express my support and call for the ruling issued today. Today’s ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller makes clear that other municipalities like Chicago that have banned handguns have infringed on the constitutional rights of Americans. Unlike the elitist view that believes Americans cling to guns out of bitterness, today’s ruling recognizes that gun ownership is a fundamental right — sacred, just as the right to free speech and assembly.
Obama, who seems to be channeling Rudy:
I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures. The Supreme Court has now endorsed that view, and while it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe. Today’s ruling, the first clear statement on this issue in 127 years, will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country.
“As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen. I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals. Today’s decision reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe.
Who does this help? I think Obama, as this takes the issue of Gun Control off the table. A future court isn’t going to revisit this, not without raising some serious issues. Less motivation for conservatives to “Hold their nose” and vote McCain. McCain will continue to try to make it a wedge issue, but really, I think most people just aren’t going to care all that much, and in fact it could backfire with centrist voters who may get turned off by the efforts to score points.
Well, You should now be able to register yourself and post comments. So if any of our visitors wish to do so, feel free.
I got a bad feeling about this.
Please note, comments are held in moderation at the moment.
If I base it on personal experience, preference, and current situation, I tend to lean towards a negative on open relationships. This is completely an opinion of course. What ever works for the couple and is in their best interest is the path to choose. Its not a “bad thing” to do and it may be the saving grace of the relationship for the couple.
At the same time, being monogamous isn’t such a bad thing either. I personally love the feeling of knowing that I’m whole heartedly loved by another, that they only desire me, that they are committed to working things out with me, to communicating their desires and needs to me, instead of looking to another woman to fulfill them. Its important to me that I be able to fulfill his needs and desires because I want to make him happy. Because I want him to know that I care deeply for him. And same goes for him in regards to me. And its my opinion that if I can’t fulfill that role for him completely and he wants another for any purpose, then we shouldn’t be together.
To me, its not about statistics, whether or not I can support myself, or if I want to have sex with a certain other person. Its about caring for the person I’m with and how both of us react emotionally and mentally the act of adding another person to the mix.
I know, with out a doubt, that it would kill the current relationship I’m in. How do I know this? Well, we’ve discussed it. We’ve gone over the pros and cons, the reason either of us would want other, how we can fulfill each others desires. You open up a definite can of worms when adding another person(s). I know this from experience. Been there, done that.
Communication and trust is highly important in any type of relationship if its to actually work out and last. Doesn’t matter if its open, monogamous, poly, S&M, straight, gay, whatever. The quickest and easiest way to entirely fuck up a relationship is to lie or cheat. And yes, you can cheat in an open or poly relationship.
I remember once incident in particular where I had spent the weekend with a friend. This friend had a girlfriend. Me and her were friends. All of us were poly, but she didn’t know about me and him. Why? Simple fact was that she thought I was great as a person but that I would “steal” her guy. She was jealous. She didn’t care who else he slept with, long as it wasn’t me. The rules suddenly changed. In the long run, it came down to her being insecure. But now she was worried, now she was paranoid that she wasn’t good enough. Their relationship eventually ended.
If you notice in the original post, it was suggested that if you keep the information for the other, that’s what dissolves the relationship. As in “What someone doesn’t know, won’t hurt them.”
I can’t picture myself having an open relationship again because I have found that monogamous works out best for me as I’m able to lay my own personal doubts and fears to rest. In addition to that, my SO has expressly stated that any type of involvement sexually with another male would hurt him tremendously. When either of us has an issue in regards to this subject, we sit down and discuss it until both us feel content with the decision arrived upon.
Yes, these are my own personal issues as was the original post about my own situation and how I was choosing to handle it in regards to the specific matter. It was never stated that open relationships where “bad”. What was presented were a few of the infinite issues that come up in any relationship if there is no communication. Plus a few that I’m dealing with currently. 
Its a personal issue. It changes from couple to couple, person to person. I just know how I feel about it.
Absolutism versus Relativism, life is certainly much easier to deal with when something can be stated so… stridently. I think if the question is framed as an either-or, it presents a false dilemma. Relationships are never simple. They are defined by the rules set by both parties. Think of it as some sort of contractual negotiations. Most of the time, to our detriment, they tend to be unspoken and based on societal expectations. For example, the entire concept of monogamy in America and Western Europe is a bit of a myth. People simply tend not to remain faithful.
I toss this data not in an effort to say that monogamy is wrong, but to point out that the idea that what people are actually getting is an ‘illusion of monogamy’. Society condones the affairs, so long as it remains private. After all, we want to maintain the family unit, and if a wink and a nod to the fling on the side keeps the family unit whole, then society doesn’t care.
What’s changed in todays society are 2 things. firstly, the empowerment of women has given women the increased ability to have their own affairs, and the ability to walk away from a marriage because of the increased ability to take care of themselves. Secondly, the concept of getting married and the nuclear family unit has become a less monolithic icon of western culture.
I submit that it doesn’t matter what relationship you have, the relationship flounders when there isn’t trust and communication. Monogamous relationships have a an entire framework of agreements that society has declared to be the agreed upon basis of the relationship. But so many details remain untalked about. For example, would a SO be happy to have someone talking and flirting with someone else over the internet? or the phone? does that count as an affair or cheating if you talk to someone and flirt with them? Heck, is watching porn infidelity?
The point is no matter what framework you work on, there is a lot of area that isn’t going to be black or white.
Open relationships do not have that framework to base any assumptions on. That’s both good and bad, it’s bad because everything has to be discussed, and everything has to be worked out. The good? Both parties must communicate with each other, both sides much make sure they talk about their thoughts and fears, their wants and dreams. It’s more work, but it can be very rewarding.
Is a monogamous relationship the holy grail of how 2 people should be? I’m not sure. I tend to think the type of relationship matters less than trust and communication. If I trust someone, then I trust them. Open relationship or monogamous, if I don’t trust them, then it doesn’t matter if I am married with them, their promises will not matter.
In fact I’d submit that trust is more important than any designation of the type of relationship a person is in.
“otto” – By the Greenhousecats
Of course, any song or music uploaded must be songs under a creative commons license or some sort of GPL agreement. If you hold the copyright, you can also post the song.
Yes, that’s me singing
Houghton, MI – Taken December 31st 2005 – Photo by klossy
There are some days when I wish that every thing was a clear cut decision or feeling. That no “gray area” existed.
If’s.
Ands.
Buts.
Its all very complicated, especially when you bring “love” into the mix. I want this. He wants that. You compromise, right? That’s not always east either. Neither wants to force the other party into doing something that the other does not. (Well, usually anyways.) So you are left with only a few options and none of them really solve the issue. You can either ignore the thing or other person you want, or you can go for it. Going for it usually fucks things up a lot worse tho. But so can ignoring your desire.
“But what if I just didn’t tell him… and if I never actually did such and such then its not really going against him… right?”
“If she doesn’t know.. then it won’t hurt to play around a little”
It never very simple, even in open relationships. Cause even if your significant other says its alright to play around, there will always be the wondering and doubting. Sure, they may deny it, but its in the back of their minds. Another thing may be that your significant other gives you the go ahead to play, but then decides they don’t like your choice of partners. And there is always the chance that you start caring for the play partners more than you do your SO.
I use to not date exclusively. I had my certain group where each guy knew the other guys existed and had to either deal with it or not be involved with me. And the guys usually had their own main girlfriend. Now, I’m with a certain someone whom I love dearly and I’ve told all the old ones that I’m taken. And each one has tried to tempt me since.
However, to me, its now black and white. No more gray area. I either choose to hurt someone I love or not. That’s what it comes down to.
I choose not to .
Mr Slippery writes “Sex with someone you love is, hopefully, a special thing. But then, going out to dinner with someone you love is, hopefully, a special thing – it’s the ‘with someone you love’ that makes it special, not the act itself.”
Agree, Disagree? Discuss.
Yep, We’ve now added scarlit to our writing team, which brings us to six total. If people want to write a brief introduction, I’ll add it into the about page. if you have a small thumbnail picture or avatar you wish to represent yourself as well, I can also include that information in the about page as well. Beyond that, I think we have enough going on that if you want to spread the word to people, that’d be fantastic.
For new readers, I will say that anything goes and for our writers, if you have anything that is particularly vulgar, dark, or obscene, make sure you use the more tag…
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Houghton, MI – January 31st, 2005, Photo by klossy