I grew up following World War II and knew for sure that the United States was the greatest country on earth. No, we weren’t perfect, especially considering that many of our founding fathers were slave owners and the remnants of slavery were still with us. I remember traveling from our home in Columbus, Ohio, to Miami, Florida to visit relatives during the 1950’s. As we drove through the southern states, I saw signs for “white motels” and “negro motels,” “white restrooms” and “negro restrooms” and recall asking my parents why this was so. This was against everything they had taught me about respect for each individual, irrespective of their skin color or religion.
Yet we were a country that strove to be better. In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Provisions of the Civil Rights Act also forbade discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race in hiring, promoting, and firing. This was federal law that did not leave it to each state to determine its own level of discrimination. While this law did not end discrimination, it provided a framework by which people of color and women could slowly improve their positions in American society.
There was another form of discrimination, although it was almost hidden from view as I grew up — discrimination against homosexuals — gays and lesbians. I do not recall knowing a single gay or lesbian person, even as I left college and headed into the business world. Today, I figure that I must have known many but they kept their sexual identity hidden from view in order to avoid the inevitable discrimination. Over time I learned more and came to understand that homosexuality was not a “lifestyle choice” but that it was an identity that came directly from each person’s genetic makeup. When the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that same-sex marriage was a civil right in this country, it certainly seemed appropriate to me.
Reading the novel “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides provided an education on transgender issues. Once again, I came to understand what people are going through when their sex mentally is a mismatch for their bodies. The decisions faced by children and parents who are faced with these issues are extremely difficult; fortunately, doctors now have a full understanding of these problems and can assist with an incredibly life-disrupting process.
Up until the current Supreme Court session, the court had used the “equal protection clause” of the 14th Amendment to provide a wide variety of civil rights to American citizens. Passed following the Civil War, the main purpose of the 14th Amendment was to provide citizenship to enslaved African Americans. This Supreme Court, however, has dragged us back to a time when states made such determinations — a time when the southern states denied any rights to enslaved African Americans.
In reversing Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court opened the door for review of other decisions as stated by Justice Clarence Thomas. Gay marriage and contraception could be under the gun. In the meantime, it appears that women’s rights to control their own bodies will be under attack in one-half of our states. Laws already passed in numerous states declare that abortion is murder; any woman who has a miscarriage could end up in a murder investigation as could any doctor that might treat her, should any doctor be willing to take that risk.
The right to vote is under attack as well. According to the Brennan Center, “Since the beginning of 2021, 18 states have passed 34 restrictive voting laws, which can disproportionately affect voters of color.” Why were these laws suddenly needed but only in Republican-controlled states? The justification appears to be that they solve the nonexistent problem of voter fraud, in accordance with Donald Trump’s lies.
America is regressing. How do we save ourselves?
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Rich Belzer served as director of federal marketing for an NYSE-listed computer company and was subsequently a senior executive with two NASDAQ-listed high-tech companies. He moved to Bend to join Columbia Aircraft, where he became VP of worldwide sales.
Book banning, punishing librarians and teachers, further closing down elections (you won't be able to change parties less than 18 months prior to a primary election), no, repeat no abortion even if a woman's life is endangered is on the Republicans agenda. How quaint
Hold on now, BD. I'm fairly certain the founders held a dim view of the Catholics. If we are going back to the founding, I think that means back to Luther's 'Sola Skriptura', and the view that Catholics are unreliable vessels of/for socialism.
Ya got me there on the history of our founding fathers TI. It may be that in the current climate Catholicism will get attacked more for what you mention than for the more recent history of abuse.
Here we go again. Another garbage opinion piece from the liberal mouth spewing false statements and lies. Beltzer quotes the liberal Brennan center stating how voting rights have been taken away, a common liberal line, in the fact of some of the highest voter turnout in history. Liberals hate laws that require voter identification,. They want the ability to stuff ballot boxes and if they had their way with the Pelosi voter bill they would control all state elections and the electoral college. I can only imagine the Bulletin allows Beltzer to run a monthly column to either place the California liberals who have destroyed Bend or to just give a laugh to the other county residents.
Yeah, those Californians have really destroyed Bend. You can move to Idaho ya know if you don't like it here.
It might suit you. Very 1930s Germany and Stalinesque to boot with there new book banning, "Our guns are loaded" let's go after the Dems, we'll decide the crime you should be punished for attitude.
Well if Mr Belzer were to bother to review rational, unbiased legal reviews of The Supreme Court's Dodd decision, it does appear the Roe was a very questionable interpretation of the 14th amendment. There are the enumerated protections under the Constitution and then there are the protections that must pass the Palko test. In the Dobbs decision, "Roe found that the Constitutution implicitly conferred a right to obtain an abortion, but it failed to ground to ground its decision in text, history, or precedent. It relied on an erroneous historical narrative; it devoted great attention to and presumably relied on matters that have no bearing on the meaning of the Constitution; it disregarded the fundamental difference between the precedents on which it relied and the question before the Court… Abortion isn’t implied in the Constitution and isn’t rooted in our traditions.
All we have here again is another example of stirring up social strife. The series of opinions from Mr. Belzer aren’t meant to be sincere analysis of any particular issue, but to lob red herrings to confuse.
Another ten pound sack (blivet) there Southlake. We get it. You're all for being back in the "good old days" . Texas really would be a better place for you.
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Truth to words.
Meanwhile,in the Nirvana state of Idaho.
Book banning, punishing librarians and teachers, further closing down elections (you won't be able to change parties less than 18 months prior to a primary election), no, repeat no abortion even if a woman's life is endangered is on the Republicans agenda. How quaint
'America is regressing. How do we save ourselves?'
Back to the American basics: Don't be poor, don't get sick, don't be a woman, in many circumstances, don't have dark skin tone.
You forgot having higher morals like the Catholics and Baptists. Oh wait, a couple of issues there...
Hold on now, BD. I'm fairly certain the founders held a dim view of the Catholics. If we are going back to the founding, I think that means back to Luther's 'Sola Skriptura', and the view that Catholics are unreliable vessels of/for socialism.
Ya got me there on the history of our founding fathers TI. It may be that in the current climate Catholicism will get attacked more for what you mention than for the more recent history of abuse.
Here we go again. Another garbage opinion piece from the liberal mouth spewing false statements and lies. Beltzer quotes the liberal Brennan center stating how voting rights have been taken away, a common liberal line, in the fact of some of the highest voter turnout in history. Liberals hate laws that require voter identification,. They want the ability to stuff ballot boxes and if they had their way with the Pelosi voter bill they would control all state elections and the electoral college. I can only imagine the Bulletin allows Beltzer to run a monthly column to either place the California liberals who have destroyed Bend or to just give a laugh to the other county residents.
Yeah, those Californians have really destroyed Bend. You can move to Idaho ya know if you don't like it here.
It might suit you. Very 1930s Germany and Stalinesque to boot with there new book banning, "Our guns are loaded" let's go after the Dems, we'll decide the crime you should be punished for attitude.
Maybe Texas versus Idaho? Arizona might be a good bet also.
Well if Mr Belzer were to bother to review rational, unbiased legal reviews of The Supreme Court's Dodd decision, it does appear the Roe was a very questionable interpretation of the 14th amendment. There are the enumerated protections under the Constitution and then there are the protections that must pass the Palko test. In the Dobbs decision, "Roe found that the Constitutution implicitly conferred a right to obtain an abortion, but it failed to ground to ground its decision in text, history, or precedent. It relied on an erroneous historical narrative; it devoted great attention to and presumably relied on matters that have no bearing on the meaning of the Constitution; it disregarded the fundamental difference between the precedents on which it relied and the question before the Court… Abortion isn’t implied in the Constitution and isn’t rooted in our traditions.
All we have here again is another example of stirring up social strife. The series of opinions from Mr. Belzer aren’t meant to be sincere analysis of any particular issue, but to lob red herrings to confuse.
Another ten pound sack (blivet) there Southlake. We get it. You're all for being back in the "good old days" . Texas really would be a better place for you.
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Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.