An issue that I have struggled with, politically and morally over the last few years has been that og Gay Marriage. It seems to be a hot topic, especially in the US, that will not go away. In my mind we can come from this from two approaches and this all depends, in my opinion, on the interpretation of the First Amendment of the Constitution i.e. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..............

The current interpretation of this amendment from The Supreme Court down is that religion, or religious argument has no place at all in Government, therefore a complete separation of Church and State to use the correct jargon. Using this argument the Gay Marriage issue immediately becomes a non-issue. Why? Marriage is a church, or religious sacrament coming through the Judeo-Christian (including Islam) tradition. Therefore, as such the government should have no right to legislate on marriage.Period. Of any description. That includes issuing marriage certificates, filling taxes as married anything to do with the definition of marriage. If the government wishes to legislate on what legally in the eyes of a law constitutes a legal partnership for rights as a couple or individual that is their prerogative as the democratically elected body of the people. This also means that the government has no right to interfere in a religious bodies interpretation of what is right or wrong within a church, synagogue or mosque. Therefore, if a church says homosexuality is wrong so be it. If a church says smoking crack is a religious freedom so be it. This obviously opens a can of worms to where the line is drawn. Back to my original point. Under this argument I do not have an issue with a Gay Civil Union because, whatever my beliefs based on the Bible, I also do not believe in discrimination of any description, however difficult that may seem and no-one has a right to judge anyone only to try and love. Any argument to the contrary is un-scriptural. However, I am against the idea of Gay Marriage, because, marriage is a Sacrament defined by the Bible and that clearly teaches against such a marriage.

Another interpretation of the first amendment with it also taken in to historical context is different. The historical context is simply the first pilgrims left England where they were persecuted for having a differences with the State Church or England and Protestantism itself came from a break from the State Religion the Roman Catholic Church had come in most countries in Europe. As result of this persecution the principle of not having a State Church came. There is nothing stated that the Government should not run on a guiding principle of a religious or moral foundation, in this countries case the Judeo-Christian tradition. The whole of the law is based on this tradition handed down from the English common law. So, in this argument it means that the Government can be based on a religious backbone, but, in no circumstance can set up a State religion or discriminate in any way, shape or form against any religious group. Using this argument the "Christian" definition of marriage could be up-held by the Government in a legal constitutional way so therefore any laws pertaining it to it should go back to the roots i.e. the Bible and what it teaches.

It's impossible to really get into the teeth of these arguments in a little summarizing blog post, but, I tried to at least get to the salient points. My personnel opinion, I think is more leading to the former view for the simple reason leaving the option open to a government to interfere in a religious or church is open to abuse and could lead to discrimination. It is not our right as human beings to judge. That is for God, so let people make their own decision as to how they want to live their life (as long as it does not cause a threat to other living creatures). That's why I am one hundred percent against any form of discrimination. Having said that, as a Christian, I still believe what is right and wrong as taught by the Bible so I may think that something is wrong, but, will try with all my might to love the people and not discriminate. This also means that a Church should not be persecuted for following their doctrines.

As a slightly side issue, the a great many of Liberals in this country who preach tolerance, equality and non-discrimination are totally biased against the Church, especially Christianity when it comes up. They expect the Church to be open to their point of view, yet on the other hand refusing to accept a Christian for their beliefs.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Tony Hillerman Companion - A Comprehensive Guide to His Life and Work" edited by Martin Greenberg.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was "Whiskey Under the Bridge" by Brooks and Dunn. It was track # 1515.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Chekhov" written by Henri Troyat.

-Richard

I finished reading The Bible Book of First Chronicles.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Gulag Archipelago" written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. This is part one and two of his epic portrayal of the Soviet prison system.

-Richard

Last week we were back in the Bay Area of California. I had to go for meetings and Jenn decided to join me.

We got of the plane at San Fransisco Airport and literally went to The San Jose Earthquakes first game at their temporary gigs - Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara Stadium. It was great seeing the team live again, something I really never thought would happen. It wasn't the best game in the world. and finished 0-0 against Dallas. On the way up to our hotel in Pleasant Hill we stopped the place we usually stopped at after games; In-and-Out Burger in San Ramon. It brought back many happy memories of the trip to and from San Jose. We also spend time visiting old friends, visiting old haunts. Sometimes it seems surreal that we actually used to live there. I don't think I could ever go back their to live, but, it is certainly somewhere we enjoy going back to.

We were, of course, reminded how bad the traffic was when we tried to get back to the airport on Sunday to pick up some people. The Bay Bridge was backed right up. We may complain of traffic in Raleigh, but, nothing is ever that bad.

On the way home we went via a new airport for me, Dallas - Fort Worth. There are not many major airports in the States that I have not been to.

The last track that I listened to on my IPOD was the third movement from Sir William Walton's Symphony No.1.

-Richard

I got irritated last night watching some of Hillary Clinton's victory speech in Charleston, West Virginia. I was not irritated that she won, it was a big win that keeps the race going and for a political geek like myself that means more fun. What I got irritated with was two points she made:

1. She was bragging about her great comeback victory in Indiana. Yes, she was down for a limited time in that State, but, for most of the campaign she was leading and the favourite and even the day before the poll she had up to an 8 point lead which in the final figures shrunk to just over 10,000 vote victory.
2. The main gripe I have is about Florida and Michigan. I do not know how she can get up there with a straight face and demand those States delegates be allowed to stand. I think a compromise should be worked out because it is not the individual voters fault that their state parties screwed up, but, that is beside the point. The point is that all candidate INCLUDING Clinton signed off on this. At the time it was done she looked like and thought she was going to win by a landslide so this disenfranchisement would not be noticed and would not have an affect. In fact it meant fewer delegates needed and therefore she would get to her target more quickly. Now it hasn't worked out this way she wants to right this great wrong!! Can you imagine what she would have been saying if it was been the other way around now? I don't know how people can listen to this and take it seriously. I never will. The only credit I will give her is leaving her name on the ballot in Michigan when everyone else took theirs off so the folks had no-one else to vote for (despite that she only took 60% of the vote - that must say something) and in Florida she happened to have a find raiser there. Smart, savvy, cut throated and totally hypocritical. Surely people will see through this facade?

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Rory and Ita" written by Roddy Doyle. It is the story of his parents growing up in Ireland.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was "Walk Forever by My Side" by The Alarm.

-Richard

Hartlepool United's 2007 - 2008 football season has finished in League 1. In some ways it was a very disappointing year as it started off promisingly and seemed to just dribble away. However, having said that as it was the first Season in a new league safety and not relegation had to be a priority. This was done easily with the team finishing in 15th place with a final record of 15 wins, 9 draws and 22 defeats for a total of 54 points.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was Veni. Veni. Emmanuel - VIII - Coda - Easter composed by James MacMillan and performed by Evelyn Glennie and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. This was track 972.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Doctor Dogbody's Leg" written by James Norman Hall.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was track #904, Thank You Lord performed by Don Moen.

-Richard

Yesterday was a very disappointing result in the Pennsylvania Primary with Hilary Clinton winning by 10 points. I do not understand some of the demographics who vote for her as she is much more a democratic elite than Obama, she is only in it for the power and at the end of the day she does not come across like she cares. I guess some people just want to stick with old, tired, tried and failed.

One thing that really irritates me is the way that she is using fear as a campaign strategy. She, her husband and lackeys decried this tactic in the last general election and I'm sure if McCain decides to that in November it will be the greatest crime ever. Her true colours and hypocrisy will come out again.

The good thing about the result was that Clinton was leading by over 2o% points only a few weeks ago so the fact that it was only 10% can be taken as a positive.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was "Synchronised Instant" composed by Eric Serra from the soundtrack of the Big Blue. It was track #865 on my IPOD.

-Richard

QUAKES WIN!!!

The San Jose Earthquakes won their first game back into Major League Soccer yesterday way with a 2-0 away win at Colorado Rapids. The Quakes played good football and deserved the win. One small step, but, the team is already playing in the style reminiscent of the "old" Quakes.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was the 5th Movement, Largo - Tranquillo from the String Quartet No.3 composed by Henryk Gorecki and performed by the Kronos Quartet. It is track # 853 on my IPOD

-Richard

CHAMPIONS!!!!

In all my love for sport and teams that I have a passion for there is one that is the number 1, the one I've watched more than any others by a mile, the one I wait every Saturday morning for the result to come through on the message boards. - West Hartlepool Rugby Club. I have told the story many times before about the demise of the team so I will not go there.

Today, however, the climb back up the league system again. A 22-17 win over arch rivals Hartlepool Rovers (for the 4th time this season - also condemning them to Relegation) clinched the North Two East Championship earning promotion to North 1. I am over the moon!!!


To explain how the league system in Rugby Works I will attempt to describe the pyramid. This National System was established in the late 80's West Started out in National Division Three before advancing to the heady levels of the Premiership before the decline set in. Below I will list the leagues in order and also mention some teams that I have seen West play in those leagues over the years.

The Premiership - (Gloucester, Bath, Harlequins, London Wasps, Sale, Saracens, London Irish, Bristol)
National League One - (Northampton, Exeter, Nottingham, Bedford, Coventry, London Welsh, Plymouth Albion, Moseley)
National League Two - (Otley, Manchester, Blackheath, Blaydon, Waterloo, Nuneaton, Halifax)
National League Three North and National League Three South - (Tynedale, Mowden Park, Fylde, Harrogate, Preston Grasshoppers, Bradford and Bingley, Rugby Lions, Morley, London Scottish, Lydney, Rosslyn Park, Clifton)
London One, North 1, Midlands 1 and South West 1 - (Richmond, Kendal, Huddersfield, Westoe, Birkenhead Park, Hull, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Liverpool St. Helens, Loughborough Students, Maidenhead)
Then breaks down further to where North-East Two is. Therefore West are currently in the 6th level of the pyramid about to be promoted to the 5th).

What is frustrating in reading the list of the teams all through the years when I watched West going back to 1979 we were a much better team and most them could not even be on the same field. However, we survived and are moving up again!!)

In honour of this I an going to change the colour of my blog background to Green...

Oh yes, did I mention:-

WEST HARTLEPOOL RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB - CHAMPIONS

-Richard

It's been a long time since I have posted the cats and kittens that we have fostered over the years so it's time I resumed where I left off!!

Cherub was the next little guy. A sweet boy. He came to us the week of April 4th 2006 and was adopted the week of May 16th.

-Richard

Galatians

"You fools" Paul says
To the Church in Galatia
To the Church today
And to me.
"You got confused
You got misled
Add your rules
And prejudices too."
"Listen to me" he says in anger
"Listen to Christ
Look at the Cross
You don't need laws
Just look in faith
And you'll be free."
In his anger he loves
In his frustration he hurts
As the Master he serves
Is disobeyed and ignored.
In love he says
"Live by The Spirit
And leave sin behind.
Be like trees
Grow and develop fruit.
Be Patient.
Be Kind.
Have love and joy.
Have peace and self-control.
Be gentle
And be faithful.
Be faithful
To the Christ you serve."
Finally he closes
After opening his heart.
"May the Grace of Jesus
Be with you evermore
For today and generations to come."

8th April 1996 - Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.

I finished reading:

"Fyodor Dostoyevsky - A Writer's Life" written by Geir Kjetsaa.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was The 2nd movement, Largo, Cantabile from the String Quartet No.3, Op.67 composed by Henrk Gorecki performed by the Kronos Quartet. This was track # 839 on my IPOD.

-Richard

I finished reading the Bible Book of 2 Kings.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Beneath the Wheel" written by Hermann Hesse and "The Last Days of Socrates" written by Plato.

I read these books on my latest trip which was to Fort Lauderdale.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Radetzky March" written by Joseph Roth. I actually started this book on my last trip a couple of weeks ago and nearly finished it on the way home. However, as I was already reading the book Lenin at home I went back to that. The reason for this is that I do not take Hardbacks when I fly as they take up too much space, so any hardbacks I am reading get left behind and continued when I get home.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was the first movement, Moderato alla breve, of Stravinsky's Symphony in C. This is track 775 on my IPOD.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Abba - Number Ones" performed by Abba.

-Richard