The Ruling Doctrine?
Today, June 10, the Record Bee ran Stacey’s Letter to the Editor in which she stated that: “The faithful would gladly eliminate the Bill of Rights to have all converted.” How many of our Founding Fathers and soldiers are rolling in their graves along with the Americans from different states who demanded that a Bill of Rights be added to the Constitution before ratification? Would we even have a Constitution if the Bill of Rights were eliminated? One can only imagine a government by the converted!
So Stacey is one of the faithful who would give up our American way of life in order to have everyone converted to her religion. This is contrary to our government’s plan that our government be based upon the approval, or consent, of the people governed.
While it has been argued by religious fundamentalists that the Supreme Court ruled in the 1961 case of Torcaso v. Watkins, that secular humanism was a religion; this assertion is based on a reference make by Justice Black in footnote number 11 of the Court’s finding: “Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism and others.” This footnote qualifies as an “obiter dictum,” Latin for “by the way” or “said in passing;” it has no real weight when it comes to legal precedent and cannot be properly considered a decision of the Court.
Religious fundamentalists would love to eliminate the influence of humanism in society and schools and act as though that entails simply getting rid of secular humanism. In reality, this would include the elimination of all vestiges of cultural humanism as well as overturning modernity. The result would be a very repressive Christian theocracy where all traces of philosophic and rational traditions from Greece, Rome, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment would be eliminated. ISIS comes to mind.
The pseudonymous Anti-Federalist “Brutus” wrote: “Ought not a government, vested with such extensive and indefinite authority, to have been restrained by a declaration of rights? It certainly ought. So clear a point is this, that I cannot help suspecting that persons who attempt to persuade people that such reservations were less necessary under this Constitution than under those of the States, are willfully endeavoring to deceive, and to lead you into an absolute state of vassalage.”
Greg Blinn, Kelseyville
Nothing wrong
A man thought he could fly, so he jumped off the top of a ten-story building. As he fell past the fifth floor, flapping his arms uselessly in the air, he was heard to say “So far, so good.”
Brent Pomeroy, Lakeport
The reason for success
The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club (CLT&TGC) held its Garden Tour on Saturday, May 30. Members dubbed the tour, “Hidden Gardens of Lake County” as we felt this would be a perfect opportunity to show “out-of-towners” a beautiful and interesting side of the County they may not have been aware of. The main goal of the tour, though, was to raise and donate funds for Lake County youth interested in gardening through college scholarships as well as financially assisting current or developing local school farm-to-table programs.
The tour was a splendid success; in addition to local residents, people came from as far away as Humboldt, Sonoma, Sacramento, San Francisco and Napa Counties. The amazement and delight expressed by the attendees for these Lake County gardens was an absolute joy to behold, and now some thanks are due to the many who made this wonderful event happen. CLT&TGC members worked diligently over the past year on this event under the Head Chair Susan Buckles and Co-Chair Debra Watson O’Dell. In no particular order of time and effort contributed, I would like to thank, on behalf of all our membership, the following people:
First and foremost the generous, community-minded garden owners: Dr. and Dana Benjamin, Dr. Wayne Scheideman, Jerry and Jo Shaul, Karl and Jane Shaul, Bernie and Lynne Butcher, owners of The Tallman Hotel, and Debra Watson O’Dell. A special thanks to Helen Finch for placing the Kelseyville Elementary School garden on the tour and to Donelle McCallister for doing the same with regards to the FFA Farm and Greenhouse. Their efforts, and all other County school gardening program coordinator’s efforts are giving so many local kids a love of gardening and healthful eating that will stay with them for a lifetime!
The UC Master Gardeners including Hans Dobusch, Karole Ward, Jane Jacobs, Barbara Starke, Janet Berian, Marva Brandt, Nan Love, Kandy Hurley and Heather Peterson, who were posted at each garden to assist with questions about plants, growing conditions, etc. Also thanks to Gabriele O’Neil who manned the UC Master Gardener Mobile Help Desk all day.
The fantastic local businesses who allowed us to sell tickets at their premises: Watershed Books, Flowers By Jackie, Main Street Nursery and Kerrie’s Quilts.
Richard Nodine, who donated the gorgeous raffle quilt made by his late wife, Julie Nodine.
The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club “Husbands” who sat out in the sun for so many hours directing traffic as well as doing anything else that needed doing: Cameron Reeves, Jose Escalante, Robert Reynolds, Ross Kauper, and Vince Price-what would we have done without you.
Jerry Buckles for constructing the wonderful signage and then placing all the signs where they needed to be-we will be able to use these expertly built signs for years to come.
Nan Love for graphic sign design and Carolyn Morris for the use of her beautiful garden painting with permission from Marilyn and Alex Forrester who own it.
Non-member volunteers the day-of: Debra Logan, April Lance, JoAnn Van Eck, and Peggy Hornsley, Dona Neilson and Teresa Barker.
Marva Brandt, President, Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club
