Houston's New City Ordinance

Katherine Driessen wrote a commentary article in the blog off the kuff about the equal rights ordinance case in Houston, TX on October 14, 2014.  This is a touchy subject for many people from all walks of life, no matter what religion you are, who or what you worship.  In this article Driessen discusses how the attorneys of Houston have subpoenaed several pastors and other religious leaders who oppose this law.  These pastors and religious leaders must turn in documents where they have spoken about this subject to their congregation.  The pastors and other religious leaders are in the process of suing the city and are hoping to repeal it in January 2015.

I think Driessen could have explained in more detail what this ordinance covers, it covers many things.  She instead has focused on what the controversy is about, but should have put how the homosexual and transgender had no protection before this ordinance.  I had to take it upon myself to read more into this matter to see why the city ordinance is causing such a disturbance, it’s because it includes the protection of sexual orientation and gender identity.  So this explains why these religious leaders are against this, it is because as Christians we are taught that homosexuality is an abomination and a sin. That is to be unaccepted by all; well this it is our constitutional right as Americans to have freedom of religion, and speech.   

As a Christian I believe that the Houston churches, preachers, and whoever have a right to preach whatever they want to.  They are protected by the First Amendment.  So I don’t feel that the subpoena of sermons, speeches will hold up in court.  I think the attorney’s that are representing the city of Houston will not be able to use the documentation in court, and that they have taken this overboard.  I will say that I do believe that all humans have the right to protected against discrimination, in Mark 12:31 Jesus states “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”  Maybe the pastors and religious leaders need to refresh their memories about what being a Christian is about.

The LT. Governor Debate

The Texas Tribune on September, 29, 2014 posted an opinion piece written by Alexa Ura titled “In Debate, Patrick and Van de Putte Spar Over Texas.”  This was definitely written for voters and potential voters who are well informed and already following the candidates and the election. 

The scope and breathe of the piece was clearly meant to be viewed through the lens of having watched debate, and not informative enough for those who had not to gain a true understanding of what all it entailed. There seems to have been a large amount of back and forth and outright squabbling between the two candidates, and while the tone is relayed in the piece, details are not forthcoming. It does seem however as though both candidates used their campaign slogans to attack each other, which I feel all politicians do during debates. 

Ura included some of the main focal points that will be the determining factors in this election which is funding public education, health care, taxes, and immigration. 

She seems to have done a decent job explaining what happened during the only debate for the position of Texas Lt. Governor and showed a favoring to Van de Putte, because she noted how Van de Putte wanted more debates and that Patrick thought one was efficient enough to show voters the differences between the two.  We get to see how Texas is pro-business with the quote from Van de Putte in her response to Patrick’s sale tax raise which would be “only a penny or two” and how it would be a burden to families and businesses.  While funding education is a hot topic, we need a solution that will solve the problem that we are having and Van de Putte threw Patrick under the bus by saying he was responsible for the school cuts in 2011 when many teachers lost their jobs.  There are many places in this article where Ura points out each candidate’s political stance, but each time Van de Putte is put in the spotlight as being the right candidate for the job by having a more sophisticated response to Patrick’s attacks.

In conclusion, I would have liked to have seen a more balanced piece with each candidate explaining how and where cuts will be made and to ensure that public schools funding will not be cut anymore. There was not much mentioned about immigration except that Patrick thinks that the Texas Dream Act makes Texas encourage illegal immigration and Van de Putte says it’s for the state’s workforce. Other than the preference for Van de Putte, this piece will give a voter at least some insight into where these candidate’s stand with the popular topics. I did like how Ura addressed the fact that her employer, The Texas Tribune, was the sponsor of this event and that it occurred in Austin.