Hedviga Golik is dead!!!

Hedviga Golik is dead. In fact, she died 35 years ago. The problem: no one realized she was dead until just recently - see this article.

How is it, that a woman's body remained undiscovered for 35 years? How is it that neighbors did not become curious? As a small part of the article stated: The discovery of Golik's body on Tuesday prompted media debates on how it is possible for a woman to die so long ago without anyone noticing. One local journalist said it showed people were becoming more alienated - cnn.com 05/16/08. Is this true? Have we become so alienated as a society that we no longer pay attention to the world around us? Have you seen your neighbor lately? If not, have you bothered to ask someone when was the last time they saw your neighbor? Would you - the reader of this blog - even care enough to ask that question?

I guess I'm just disconcerted about how a woman could die and no one noticed. Do we, as individuals, as parts of a larger society, make such little impact on each other that a death can go unnoticed for 35 years? Well, this article obviously provides the answer to that question. Yes, we obviously make such little impact on each other that a death can go unnoticed for 35 years. The sad fact is, this is not the first such story - though probably the first 3 decade not noticing - about a death going unnoticed. Are we - the United States, the world, the population that is society - becoming too alienated, too content to live in a cyber (online banking, automated gas pumps, amazon.com, groceries online, etc.) world so that human interaction is no longer necessary? Are we - again, larger society - content to have less and less interaction with each other? Can society, as a whole, survive when interaction becomes extinct, people die and no one notices for 35 years?

I do not think society can survive such isolation. I think - as Merita Arslani wrote about the situation - that society needs to do the following: My dear neighbors! Please keep on being curious and a bit tiresome, as you have been so far" - cnn.com 05/16/08.

Curiosity might have killed the cat, but lack of curiosity let Hedviga Golik's death go unnoticed for 35 years. I think curiosity is the better option.

Scott

Neanderthal Views

It was mentioned today, by a dear friend, that I had not ranted lately. It's not that I haven't had plenty of reason - current election, Hillary Clinton, etc. - to rant; just, that I have not felt an overwhelming urge. Well, this article definitely gave me the urge. Basically, the California Supreme Court has overturned the same-sex marriage ban. Of course, the opponents have much to say about same-sex marriage:

• "The California Supreme Court has engaged in the worst kind of judicial activism today, abandoning its role as an objective interpreter of the law and instead legislating from the bench," said Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues for the group Concerned Women for America, in a written statement.
  "So-called 'same-sex' marriage is counterfeit marriage. Marriage is, and has always been, between a man and a woman. We know that it's in the best interest of children to be raised with a mother and a father. To use children as guinea pigs in radical San Francisco-style social experimentation is deplorable."

Where do I begin to rant with such a bountiful source of material??

• "So-called 'same-sex' marriage is counterfeit marriage"
• "Marriage is, and has always been, between a man and a woman."
• "We know that it's in the best interest of children to be raised with a mother and father."
• "To use children as guinea pigs in radical San Francisco-style social experimentation is deplorable."

Okay, let me start with the last one. It's just too easy! Mr. Barber's alleged ignorance is deplorable. It is amazing the man can walk upright with his alleged neanderthal views.

Now, since I'm working backwards (it must be a gay thing), the next item from the bottom (that's a gay thing too, but I'm not going to explain) up: I have never understood why people think it is in the best interest of children to be raised with a mother and father. My sister - for the most part - raised her children by herself after her husband left. Both her boys turned out fine and one of them is currently in Iraq serving our country. My siblings and I were basically raised by our mother. The four of us turned out fine as well. Oh, wait, I'm gay, so maybe that's what - insert heavy dose of sarcasm for the uninformed here - happened to me. Single parents, whether male or female, can be the best interest for a child. The mistaken belief that two parents are in the best interest of the child, in my lofty opinion, is . . . well . . . neanderthal. Go figure!

Mr. Barber's other two comments really are not worth responding to or ranting about. Marriage, in present day society, is nothing short of a sham. The vows spoken are easily broken. I've never been, nor will I probably ever be, a huge proponent of marriage, whether opposite or same sex. A golden band about a finger does not stop a man/woman from cheating on their spouse. A golden band about a finger, vows in a church, does not stop a marriage from imploding. Whether marriage is between opposite/same sex members is not the point. Commitment is (should be) the point. The fact is, when things go bad in a marriage, more people simply walk away than trying to fix whatever problems exist.

Now, since I'm basically forced to confront the issue. Counterfeit marriage. Give me a break! I'm at the top (another gay thing I'm not going to explain) now, just in case anybody is keeping track. Hetero marriage, in many instances, is counterfeit - see above paragraph.

Lastly, there is Mr. Barber's comment about judicial activism. I think it's awfully odd (perhaps he's thinking of running for office one day, because he sounds a lot like Hillary Clinton) that Mr. Barber considers the court's legal opinion activism, rather than following the law. I can guarantee you that if the court had agreed with him, he would be praising the justices, the court, and the allegedly hallowed ground he walks upon.

In the end, the only thing Mr. Barber is tasting is sour grapes. Hate it when that happens.

S