Gay Marriage Begins In California Today—World Doesn’t End
Gay couples begin saying “I do” all across the great state of California today, and fortunately it doesn’t look like the world is coming to an end as a result.
The whole “gay marriage” debate is a tired one. The far-right has warned of the coming apocalypse if gay people are allowed to marry. They’ve also continuously argued over the years that allowing gays to marry will forever destroy the “institution” of marriage.
I don’t know about any of that, but I’m betting that my life won’t change a bit after today regardless of how many gay people get married.
-Chris Jones
California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban
In a landmark ruling today, California’s Supreme Court ruled that a ban on gay marriage was ‘unlawful’ and effectively cleared the way for gay couples to marry freely in the state of California.
In an opinion that analysts say could have nationwide implications for the issue, the seven-member panel voted 4-3 in favor of plaintiffs who argued that restricting marriage to men and women was discriminatory.
“… limiting the designation of marriage to a union ‘between a man and a woman’ is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute,” California Chief Justice Ron George said in the written opinion.
This is certain to create howls of protest from Conservatives, but I think this ruling is a good thing. There is still a very palpable sense of homophobia in America and we need to get over it.
Homosexuals have always been and will continue to be a part of our society, and we should treat them equally. I’m not necessarily in favor of a nationwide ruling on it, but I think states should have the right to decide if they want to allow it.
However, even if we do eventually legalize it across the board that’s also fine. Our country is facing some very serious challenges right now, and it’s just silly to worry about gay people getting married.
-Chris Jones
No Charges For 10-Year Old CA Fire Starter
A 10-year-old boy who admitted starting a 38,000-acre fire last month that destroyed 21 homes in northern Los Angeles County will not be charged, prosecutors said Tuesday.
There was no evidence of intent by the boy who accidentally ignited brush outside his home by playing with matches, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Authorities are referring the case to the Department of Children and Family Services to determine if further steps are necessary. No other information about the investigation was released because the case involves a minor.
It’s a tough call in a situation like this. That boy sparked a blaze that leveled 21 people’s homes and wrecked hundreds of lives, but in the end he’s only 10-years old. Everyone can remember back to when they were that young, and most of us certainly played with matches a time or two.
If my house was burned down I think I’d be angriest at the parents for not watching their son better, but there again it’s hard to blame the parents completely. As anyone with kids knows, you can’t have your eyes on them every second of the day.
So maybe a savage Thailand style caning might be appropriate?
-Chris Jones
Boy With Matches Started Wildfire
Officials blamed a wildfire that consumed more than 38,000 acres and destroyed 21 homes last week on a boy playing with matches, and said they would ask a prosecutor to consider the case.
The boy, whose name and age were not released, admitted to sparking the fire on Oct. 21, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Diane Hecht said Tuesday. Ferocious winds helped it quickly spread.
The fire began in an area near Agua Dulce and quickly spread. It was among 15 or so major wildfires that killed 14 people, destroyed some 2,100 homes and blackened 809 square miles from Los Angeles to the Mexican border last week.
Arson Suspected in 2 of the CA Wildfires
Federal agents joined the search for evidence Wednesday in brush-covered Orange County hills where an arsonist is believed to have ignited one of the wildfires devastating Southern California.
In San Bernardino County, a man suspected of starting a small fire was arrested and another man was shot to death by police after he fled officers who approached to see if he might be trying to set a fire.
Wildfires, burning in seven counties, had destroyed about 1,500 homes and caused more than a half-million people to flee since the first blaze began late Saturday. At least two - in Orange and Riverside counties - have been linked to arson.
California Fires Force 300,000 From Homes
More than a dozen wildfires continued to rage unstopped in southern California for a third day today , forcing an estimated 300,000 people to evacuate their homes and blackening over 400 square miles of brushland and suburbs.
Hot, gusting winds made the advancing flames nearly impossible for firefighters to control, officials said. The winds are expected to keep blowing through the day, and perhaps longer.
The worst conditions continued to be in San Diego County, where large sections were under mandatory evacuation orders. Several hundred houses appeared to have been destroyed or heavily damaged, according to the governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and thousands more were in danger.
Officials appealed to residents outside the evacuated areas to stay at home if possible and to limit their use of cellular phones, to keep highways and communication lines clear for emergency use.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said 800 National Guard troops would be diverted from duty on the southern border to assist with evacuation and ground control in the county. The fires, a Hydra with at least 15 separate burns in seven counties fed by gale-force winds, burned some 267,000 acres from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. Engines and firefighters from as far as Nevada and Arizona were summoned as resources were stretched to the limit.
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