My Birthday List 2009

So, instead of trying to email my list to everyone, I have decided to just post my list to my blog. So, here we go:

1. Kiva credit. That way I can loan your money to people in poor countries.
2. Something off of my Amazon.com wish list.
3. iTunes gift cards.  I seem to always want more music.
4. Macy’s and Old Navy gift cards.  You know, so I can clothe myself.
5. Borders gift cards.  For the reading.

It’s a small list, but if you want to get me something and can’t think of anything, this should give you some ideas.

I Am Not Really Shocked

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090403/NEWS/90403010

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously rules that marriage in Iowa is open to any combination of gender. They affirmed that churches are free to only marry people of different genders, but the State itself cannot deny gay couples marriage licenses.  They basically said, “Your religion my not support gay marriage, but the Constitution of the State of Iowa is not subject to your religion.”

Iowa has a strong history of independence, liberty and fairness.   Let me quote some passages from the state constitution:

"Sec. 1.   All men  are,  by nature, free  and equal, and  have certain
          inalienable rights  among which  are those  of enjoying  and
          defending life and  liberty, acquiring, possessing  and pro-
          tecting  property,  and  pursuing  and  obtaining safety and
          happiness."

I think it is safe to say that most people consider marriage part of the "pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness."

"
Sec. 4.   No religious  test shall be required as a  qualification for
          any office, or public trust, and no person shall be deprived
          of any of his rights, privileges, or capacities, or disqual-
          ified from the performance of  any of his public or  private
          duties,  or  rendered  incompetent  to  give evidence in any
          court of law  or equity, in  consequence of his  opinions on
          the subject of religion; and any party to any judicial  pro-
          ceeding shall have  the right to  use as a  witness, or take
          the testimony of, any  other person not disqualified  on ac-
          count of interest, who may be cognizant of any fact material
          to the case; and parties to suits may be witnesses, as  pro-
          vided by law."

Which lays out all the ways in which religion is not allowed to affect the state government.  Iowa has a strong list of protections from religion.

I am also glad the Iowa Supreme Court ruled against civil unions.  They smack of "separate but equal," which was ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court.

So, yeah for liberty in Iowa!