Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”

I strongly believe marriage is defined as a union before God between one man and one woman- meaning if my (a) church is to follow it's guideline ( The Bible), then the Church cannot accept anything else. I've given this a lot of thought however.The (s)tate has a different set of rules to follow in an effort to protect all of her citizens. The state cannot discriminate. If we are going to separate church from state, then we must enforce that separation. Even though I believe a MARRIAGE is as I described above, I do also strongly believe in domestic partner rights and responsibilities. Perhaps I am playing with words. This also can lead to the familiar "separate but equal" of the Jim Crow years. This ruling could also lead down a very slippery slope if someone wanted to discriminate against an group. Is it worth denying a state issued piece of paper at the risk of stripping others rights away ? I kind of see this as a sort of , “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”- Matthew 22:21. Keep your faith in the Bible and God's commands in YOUR life, but let the state do what it needs and respect it as it tries to balance her citizen's needs. I'm still conflicted but why take away from others ?

Apparently...

... I've been mistaken that Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream was ALREADY organic. I bought something called Ben & Jerry's ORGANIC Strawberry ice cream . I've been led to believe all these years that that would be a redundant statement. So what does non- organic B & J's ice cream have in it ?


... Oakland Council member Jean Quan has gone mad... What makes her think ANYONE would shop in Oakland for ANYTHING taxable at 10.25 % ?!?!?

... "If You Think You're Lonely Now (Wait Until Tonight) will be the tune N. Korea will be hearing in the near future

... Nigerians want to "Chop yo Dolla" according to Dateline's Chris Hansen

... some folks think an iPod with video momentos is a tacky gift for the President to have given Her Majesty... Should he have instead given her a pair of Callaway Golf Clubs ?

... my wife knows me better than I give her credit for.

Just some stuff from this week. Please share your thoughts.


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What's Goin On

My city... Oakland, The 'Town, has been rocked by the murders of four police officers by a guy who seemingly wasn't "going to go out out like that". The 'Town is still shaken by the murder of an unarmed young man on a BART platform by a BART police officer. Yet still, last year, we saw innocent people injured and killed as they sat a piano lesson in a "good part" of town or while in the bed sleep. We then saw riots as outside agitators egged on impressionable uninformed people to tear up their city- all when there was no reason to. We saw a city council member flame the fire instead of trying to quell an angry crowd while addressing a BART board meeting after the above BART shooting.

Big cities see more than their share of murders and violent crime. Usually these crimes are just a blurb on the 10 o'clock news-unless you were close to the actors or victims. But these examples of recent murders / violent crime in Oakland has brought out the worst in people on all sides of the fray. As I read comments on various media websites, I shudder to think my neighbor or the guy in the next cubicle could very well be spewing some of the most hateful vitriol typed out from behind the cloak of anonymity in cyberspace. People are angry that they are seemingly inundated with headlines blasting out the latest shooting etc... in their city. They have a right and responsibility to be angry- but some of the things I'm reading are scary. Folks are calling for vigilante posses, bombing all of Oakland, calling the populace apes, sewer trash etc... On the other hand you have people making excuses for those committing crimes. On a local news report, a community member was trying to express her condolences for the officer killings when some folks drove by shouting, "F*&^ the police" and other similar epithets. Another person, a representative from the nearby Uhuru House, was upset that people were mourning the loss of the officers. Who are these people with no compassion for life? Who are these closet racists who post garbage all over media websites ? As a black man, believe me, I know that there are some police officers who really should not be police officers have harassed people of color for sport. But HUMANS lost life needlesly. If you can't cope, why not be respectful and keep your mouth shut.

On the one hand we have closet racists calling people of color- animals, and other names, then we have folks who I hate to say- are acting like savage animals and playing into the racists hands.

I'm TIRED of this. I ' tired of the murders of black men by other black men. I'm tired of people making excuses for them. I'm tired of racists lumping everyone into one pot and for them being cowards for making statements but not wanting to engage in any meaningful dialog. I'm tired of what I know will be a pointed response by police officers who are going to clamp down and really come down on folks. I'm tired of the whole cycle. Please pray not only for the officers, but for the folks out in the streets who think it's ok for 4 people to be killed while working to protect the citizens. Pray for the hearts of those who have no compassion for others. Pray for those out in the streets who feel they can do no better.

In the words of Marvin Gaye, "What's Goin' On ? ".