Opinion

Daily Caller High, Vol. VIII

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Editor’s Note: Daily Caller High is a group of young writers cutting their teeth in the world of political punditry. This week, the authors’ reflect on events of the past few days.

Terminate All Religious Meetings, But Not Your MNF Parties
by Ian Pringle

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The first clause of the first amendment is a very controversial, and often misunderstood, passage. It explicitly states that every American has the right worship their religion. For many Christians a large part of worship is studying the Bible in groups, usually referred to as Bible studies. Although, for one study group in Gilbert, Arizona they are no longer allowed to exercise their first amendment rights.

The town ordered Pastor Sutherland, of Oasis of Truth Church, to “terminate all religious meetings … regardless of their size, nature or frequency.” This is a shocking order, especially since only seven people attend these weekly Bible studies! Town officials stated that the reason for such a ruling is because zoning prohibits any form of religious organizing in private homes. As the Alliance Defense Fund put it, “this ban is defended based upon traffic, parking, and building safety concerns. However, nothing in its zoning code prevents weekly Cub Scouts meetings, Monday Night Football parties with numerous attendees or large business parties from being held on a regular basis in private homes.”

Two questions come to my mind about this situation. Would this problem have arisen if it was a Qur’an study? And why has this major violation of the constitution been kept so quiet (the problem arose in November 2009)?

Next Stop: Immigration Reform

by Jackie Seal

Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez has said that he cannot vote for the Senate health care plan because the plan excludes illegal immigrants. Ah, yes, what a shame American taxpayers don’t have to foot the bill for people living in this country illegally. But, whatever keeps you from voting for this hideous bill is up to you, no matter how crazy it is.

This reminds me; if you remember correctly during the campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama campaigned heavily on his promise to overhaul the immigration system. Well, it’s been over a year now and he hasn’t made much headway (because he has yet to pass that health care bill that was supposed to be passed in the summer of ‘09). Earlier this week he met with Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey “Grahmnesty” Graham (R-S.C.) to hear their views on how the immigration laws should be reformed.

The importance of this immigration overhaul could prove to be a pivotal point in the 2010 elections. President Obama won the Hispanic vote by an overwhelming majority in 2008 and that is largely due to his promise to reform immigration laws. If Obama fails to pass an immigration law by the midterms the Democrats could be in even bigger trouble because Hispanic vote could jump ship.

Going back to health care, if Obama follows through with reconciliation and decides to completely disregard Republicans, it will make it increasingly hard for him and Democrats and Republicans to get along well enough to pass more “sweeping overhauls,” such as immigration reform in the future. But, hey, it’s not like he promised to be bi-partisan or anything.

A Historic Debauchery

by Brandon Kiser

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? What is Cher’s last name? Does Glenn Beck know how to communicate without a chalkboard? Such are the many puzzling questions we ask ourselves, but are you prepared to add another? Here’s one: Just how are those sly devils who call themselves congressman going to pass this health care “reform” bill?

There’s been some (read: a lot of) speculation and questioning about what the process of passage will be before the bill goes into effect – or if it even will. First we heard the story of reconciliation, a process meant for budget bills that blocks the threat of a filibuster. Of course, we wouldn’t have even been talking of reconciliation if Scott Brown hadn’t been elected against the idea of the current form of a health care restructuring, but I digress.

Next comes the “Slaughter Solution.” Questionably named, and questionably logical, the House would vote on a bill without actually voting on the bill they’ll be passing, but instead voting on a separate bill that “deems” the reform debauchery is a passed bill – brought to you by the most ethical Congress ever.

In total, the House will have to vote on a bill to pass a different, supremely unpopular bill, the president will have to sign the same bill that no representative of the American people voted directly on and then the Senate will have to use a measure meant for budgets on a health care “reform” bill. A process that completely blows the lid off the Constitution and liberty.

If successful, passage will be historic – but not in the way Nancy Pelosi and Obama are telling you.

Prom Bomb

by Lyda Loudon

Mississippi high school student, Constance McMillen was planning to attend her 2010 prom. She checked with her principle to ensure that her chosen apparel and date were appropriate. The school told her they were not. Why? Constance was planning on bringing her girlfriend, and wearing a tuxedo. Yes, she.

She was told no, by her school. The rule book there, states that the prom attendees are to have only dates of the opposite sex.

The school decided they were going to cancel the prom altogether. The school stated, “the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events,” were the reasons for the cancellation of the prom. I don’t think it takes a genius to read between the lines on this one. They were put in an awkward position having to deal with this situation.

The problem with it is this: if you have an unusual habit, it’s not necessary to put others in the awkward position of having to deal with it. Example: in American culture, people normally shake hands when they see/meet them. It’s just the way we are. If you shake a person’s hand in China, it is not socially acceptable. The norm in China is a bow. There they want you to keep your hands to yourself. It’s just common courtesy to be polite, and keep your different habits to yourself. So, when in China, they bow.

We all have habits. I really like trying stand on one leg, and stretch the other. That doesn’t mean I do it in church. It wouldn’t be respectful of the other people attending the church. It would just be weird. But maybe I want to. So, should I say “I’m going to stand in church and stretch, if you don’t like it, then you’re being discriminative against exercise, so you’re pro-obesity?” I’m conservative, and I think consideration of others and accepted social norms are important. America’s reaction to Constance’s story has been negative; some are backing her for putting up a fight to bring her girlfriend to the prom. I’m not. Think about the rest of the kids in that school whose senior-year prom has been put in jeopardy.

Brandon Kiser is a Kentucky high school student. He writes as an assistant editor for 73wire.com, blogs at the American Kiser, and can be found on Twitter @BrandonKiser. Jackie Seal is a high school senior who blogs at Red, White and Conservative and can be found on Twitter at @JackieSeal. Ian Pringle is an 18-year-old conservative. He blogs at 17 Pages and can be found on Twitter as @Pard68. Lyda Loudon is a 14-year-old conservative. She writes for Big Journalism, and co-founded both The Future Speaks,  and the Tea Party Youth.