Just For Kicks (Re: "Racism, Speech, And The Law")

As it says.

  

Breaking News

Today's news comes to us courtesy of the world of amateur sports.  

On Wednesday (according to reports), officials at USA Track and Field ruled that "transgender" hurdler Cece Telfer is ineligible for the US Olympic Trials in that sport (1).  This story has piqued my curiosity; as such, I hereby address the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC).  

The national team ineligibility of this athlete notwithstanding, it seems that if Telfer was enrolled at a Connecticut high school, (she?) would be allowed to participate in associated competitions (2).  I must question why this is so.  Being that Telfer is ineligible for the national Olympic team, what makes the athlete eligible regarding sports in Connecticut?

All concerns about "equal opportunit(ies)" aside, it appears that CAS/CIAC is endorsing a double standard (see Note 1).  They defend themselves by saying that it is "unjust" to prohibit athletes such as Telfer from competition.  However, as has been shown in the organization's behavior in the case of Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools, CIAC cares not for "fairness"; they only care about their own agenda (2, 3).    

Sadly, female high school athletes in Connecticut have not had any viable chance at success for over a year.  It appears that it will be a while before justice is (possibly) done in this case (see Note 2).  

Now, a final personal note to CIAC and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.  As the saying goes, "justice delayed is justice denied".  It behooves both parties to keep this in mind (see Note 4).  

The Bill of Rights In Connecticut

First Amendment: 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" (1)

State's Response:

    "There's no such thing as free speech; there is only approved speech.  And you better not utter any kind of insult; otherwise, you could be going to jail"

Connecticut General Statutes, Title 53, Chapter 939, Section 53-37:

 "Any person who, by his advertisement, ridicules or holds up to contempt any person or class of persons, on account of the creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race of such person or class of persons, shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor" (2)

Second Amendment:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"

State's Response:

    "We'll tell you what guns you can have, as well as the amount and type of ammunition that you can have.  If you don't register your gun with the state, you have two options; make the gun 'permanently inoperable', or remove it from the state.  That's not infringement of rights, that's 'reasonable gun legislation' (3)

"And yes, we will confiscate your guns if you don't comply" (4)

"Also, in case of attack, don't call the police; they can't do much of anything anyway" (5)

Third Amendment:

"No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law"

Fourth Amendment:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized"

State's Response:

    "Warrant? We don't need no stinkin' warrant!" (6, 7)

Fifth Amendment:

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation"

State's Response:

    "We can take your property at any time that we want to.  And what do you mean, 'just compensation?" (8)

Sixth Amendment:

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense"

State's Response:

    "Agreed, but criminal investigations notwithstanding, one can 'run out the clock' on a civil matter" (9)

Seventh Amendment:

"In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law"

State's Response:

    "We don't have to give you a trial by jury, even if you demand one.  They are granted at the general discretion of the presiding judge"

Eighth Amendment:

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted"

State's Response (during the COVID pandemic):

    "You organized an event where people weren't wearing masks, or that exceeded size limits? Five hundred dollars, please! Ha ha ha!" (10, 11)

Ninth Amendment:

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people"

State's Response:

    "What other rights do you think you have?"

Tenth Amendment:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people"

State's Response:

    "See response to Ninth Amendment.  Other than the rights that we approve of you having, you have no rights".  

A Religious Rebuttal

 "Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.  We're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside!" (1)

Warning: Today's topic is of a religious nature.  If you don't care to hear it, feel free to move along.

Now, a disclaimer of sorts.  

I am not a priest, pastor, or any sort of ordained minister, nor do I claim to be.  Also, I'm not trying to tell you what to believe.  I am simply offering my own beliefs, based on my own religious experiences.  

Still with me? Good....because here we go.  

Recently, I ran across this article, which had been re-posted (as "an interesting read") by a good friend of mine (2).  I feel that I should rebut some of the author's statements.  I preface my words with this; I am a Christian, and thus believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

I must wholeheartedly disagree with the writer's assertion that prayer "doesn't work".  To illustrate this belief, let me beg your indulgence, and tell you a story of sorts.  

For a moment, let's flash back to 2001.  In the weeks and months following my graduation from high school (Class of 2000), things hadn't been going well for me.  I found myself having strong feelings of loneliness, as well as bouts of "the blues".  That's when a day of unspeakable evil occurred; September 11, 2001.  I cannot adequately describe the tragedy and horror of that day; I can only say that it will forever "live in infamy" (3).  

Then, things got even worse.  

Soon after the 9/11 attacks, my father picked up an apparent case of tuberculosis.  The prognosis was not good; I distinctly remember the doctors saying that he might not make it.  For me, this was "the straw that broke the camel's back", as I fell into a deep and chronic depression.  I began to have suicidal thoughts; on at least one occasion, I actually tried to kill myself.  Darkness seemed to consume me; I would not wish a time like this on even my worst enemy.  

At that point, I remembered something my father had always said; "when all else fails, turn to God".  Having no other way to cope with my troubles, I decided to take his advice; I began to pray.  

For seven days straight, I said this prayer (which I now present in an abridged version):

"May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for (me). Saint Jude, worker of miracles, pray for (me). Saint Jude, helper of the hopeless, pray for (me)" (see Note 1) (4)

Suddenly, things began to turn around, as if a dark cloud had been lifted from me.  

The very day after I finished reciting the above prayer, my father's doctors called from the hospital.  Lo and behold, what the doctors thought was an infection had disappeared overnight.  I still recall the exact words of the head physician, which were "we don't know what happened; we can't explain it".  I can only regard this as being a small miracle.  

Not long thereafter, another miracle came to me.  For the sake of brevity, I will simply say that I met a wonderful girl; a woman who gave me what the French call a "raison d'etre" (see Note 2).  

Strange as it may seem, I believe the events that I have just described to be proof positive that God exists, and that prayer does indeed work.  To this, myself and the article writer clearly have differing opinions.  Keeping the earlier disclaimer in mind, here's my take on the matter.  

 Perhaps it is that the reason this man's petitions go (seemingly) unanswered is due to a lack of faith.  It is obvious to me that he has lost all degree of trust in the Lord.  Maybe I'm wrong, but to me, faith and belief go together.  It is not enough to say that you are a Christian; in order to be saved, you must believe and trust in God.  

Consider Matthew 21:22, which says, "and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith".  The key phrase there is "if you have faith".  Indeed, "if you have faith", blessings will surely come your way.  However, if you lack faith, good things might be tough to come by.  

Now, let us consider Proverbs 3:5-6.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.  Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight" (5)

To put this another way, it's kind of like the latest movie release, in that God is the film's director.  The actors (that is, us) may not understand the director's vision for the movie.  Nevertheless, for the film to have any chance to succeed, that vision must be trusted.  This is something that a true Christian knows and appreciates.  

In any event, I suggest that our intrepid writer may need some time to reflect.  Perhaps he should ask himself who he is, what he really believes, and if he likes the face he sees in the mirror.  The answers to those questions are not so much found in the mind; they are found in one's soul.  I pray that, through looking deep within himself, this man may once again find faith.