Civil Union or Marriage? N.J. Again.

Law has always been a distinction between words. The English language is replete with words that sound the same, are spelled the same, but woe for you if English is not your native language.

So is civil union truly the same as marriage? If it is, why is NJ having such an issue and giving the lawmakers six months to find the proper words?

A civil union is a legal partnership agreement between two persons. They are typically created for same-sex couples with the purpose of granting them some benefits that are found in marriage. Civil unions were made to try to appease same sex couples. They are given very limited advantages compared to married couples. The amount of advantages vary within the state but their rights aren’t nearly equivalent to married couples. Some jurisdictions, however, also allow entry by opposite-sex couples. Unions that are similar to or synonymous with civil unions include civil partnerships, registered partnerships , and domestic partnerships. Some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, have unions that on the paper are similar to marriage, while some only allow minimal reciprocal benefits. Many people are critical of civil unions because they say it creates a separate status that’s unequal to marriage. Others are critical because they say it is introducing same-sex marriage by using a different name.

A marriage is a relationship between or among individuals, usually recognized by civil authority and/or bound by the religious beliefs of the participants. The fact that marriage often has the dual nature of a binding legal contract plus a moral promise can make it difficult to characterize.

A married couple can be called each other’s spouses, and spousal is used as a legal term for the marital relation. A royal married couple are consorts.

In one form or another, marriage is found in virtually every society. The very oldest records that refer to it speak of it as an established custom. Despite attempts by anthropologists to trace its origin (and test the hypothesis of primitive promiscuity), evidence is lacking.

In Western societies, marriage has traditionally been understood as a monogamous union, while in other parts of the world polygamy has been a common form of marriage. Usually this has taken the form of polygyny (a man having several wives) but a very few societies have permitted polyandry (a woman having several husbands). [1]

source://en.wikipedia.org/

The question remains: separate but equal? And is there equality if there is a separate “class”?

Google? YouTube? Copyright Infringement?

Got us, but I’m willing to watch the blog………….

http://fanpotai.wordpress.com/2006/

looks like could be an interesting story, we bookmarked this blog, and no, again, we have no interest or affilitation, just morbid curiousity………………………

anyone with updates, post away…

Stats on Kean: Thank you Wikipedia

“New Jersey Assembly

Kean was appointed to the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, in April 2001, to fill out the unexpired term of Alan Augustine, who had resigned due to health reasons. He then was elected to a full term in the Assembly in his own right in November 2001. There he was the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee and served as Vice Chairman for the State Government Committee.

In March 2003, he was appointed to the State Senate, to fill out the unexpired term of Rich Bagger. In November 2003, he was elected to fill the seat he had been appointed to. In 2004, Kean was elected Senate Minority Whip, a position he still holds. He serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee, and previously was on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

In the state legislature, Kean has been a proponent of ethics reform in New Jersey government. He was the original sponsor of legislation banning pay to play practices in New Jersey. He has sponsored legislation to streamline government, promote education, protect the environment, and lower property taxes.

Kean was one of only twenty-four elected officials from across the United States to be chosen as a distinguished Aspen Rodel Fellow in Public Service. In 2002, Kean was named one of forty state leaders from the entire nation to be recognized as a Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments for high achievement and service to state government.

In 2005, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors named Kean as a Legislative Leader. He has also received, for the second year in a row, the Amerigroup Foundation’s Champion for Children award for his advocacy on behalf of children’s health issues. He also has been named Legislator of the year by the Fireman’s Benevolent Association and has received a 100% voting record with the National Federation of Independent Business.”

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Kean_Jr.

Starbucks fighting with Ethopia? Madonna still embroiled in Adoption war?

Which story warrants more of our time? I prefer again to take a look at what the New Jersey Supreme Court did or didn’t do…kudos for acknowledging that partners are partners regardless of gender. The minority opinion of the Court would have liked the Court to take a step further though………

NJ Supreme Court: passes on approving gay marriage

Just now I was handed an article from MSNBC.com:

“N.J. court stops short of Ok’ing gay marriage.”

Stops short? That means it may be ok but we don’t have the final word? Well, let’s see…

OOPs………….

“© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.”

Hmmm…..looks like you will have to see for yourself…………….

www.msnbc.msn.com

Stop back and share your thoughts…………………………..

NJ: Menendez & Kean!

ok, we are not the only ones wondering what the candidates will do for N.J. Obviously, the Huffington Post is interested also:

“After a debate this morning at CBS studios in Manhattan with New Jersey Senatorial candidates Robert Menendez and Tom Kean Jr., JoAnn Sohl, a member of the anti-war group Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), tried to talk to Republican Kean about his “stay the course” strategy for Iraq.

Sohl, whose son is serving in Iraq, got the usual, cowardly brush-off given to military families by Republicans when spouses or parents of troops demand answers on the lies that put our people in Iraq and the Republican goal of keeping them smack-dab in the middle of a civil war.A few months ago, MFSO requested meetings with both Menendez and Kean Jr. to talk to them about the war. Both accepted the meetings, but Kean Jr. decided to get up and walk out in the middle of his meeting, saying that he’d get back to the military families in writing. He never did.

When Sohl again attempted to talk to Kean Jr. after the debate, Kean scampered off and left his Rove-like campaign manager, Evan Koslow, to blow her off. Watch the video and you’ll see that Kean Jr. goes to the back of the room, stands alone and cowers while his campaign hack continues to tell a military Mom whose questions have clearly not been answered, that they have.

It’s disgusting, but it’s precisely what we’ve come to expect from the GOP at this point.”

compliments of:  author:  Bob Geiger
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-geiger/republican-coward-of-the-_b_31211.html

For further author information:

BobGeiger.com.

Michael J. Fox?

Am I hearing this right?  Is the news suggesting to me that he didn’t take his meds?  That he is acting?  (I presume by now he has either lost the ability to separate his acting self from his everyday self, or he has and will always retain the ability to keep the two separate).

So, do any of you know?  What are they going on about?  This actor/father/husband who has apparently done nothing other than be a strong courageous man all of these years, now accused of, (I almost can’t say it), “acting”?

Now really, you are kidding me right?  How about Menendez?  Tom Kean, Jr.?  I’m still waiting to hear what they will do for the State rather than what they want to do to each other.

Come on, all of you intelligent people, tell me, exactly why is CNN highlighting Michael J. Fox?  You’ve got to be kidding me.

It’s Soup Day!

Featuring Ramen Noodles……………………….best price to date this year, 22 cents a pack.

Not sure if I am challenged in the culinary sense-wait-I’m not, I enjoy fine food like everyone else!  However, every once in awhile in the foodstore, the appeal of those all in one soup packages (and the price) jumps out at me and I can’t resist.

Walking out the door for work, grabbed a Sephora bag, added soup, crackers, diet 7-up and water bottles.  Done, no need to resurface until the trek home!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

I’m sitting here reading the New York Times and am wondering how do you decide what issue most warrants your time (or money if you have any?).

Anyone out there have any ideas?

Is it just a pull from the gut?

preconceived morality?

what your friends are doing?

Weekend

Mostly, the approach of the weekend signals a calm that flows though my body.  The air around me becomes more pure.  I long for a stack of great books, a fire, good food and everyone in the family in a good mood.

I also imagine freezing time on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. so the weekend becomes longer and doesn’t end.

They say you need the work week to appreciate the weekend………….guess I will have to believe it.