(no subject)
Conversation between myself and an all but complete stranger in my government class:
"Did you hear about Hunter S. Thompson?"
"I did. We lost a good one, eh?"
"Yeah."
"But, you know, I would have been so disappointed if he died of a heart attack or withered away with age. He never seemed the type to kill himself, but I guess it's fitting. He just lived such a bizarre life that an ordinary death would have been...I don't know...disappointing? Still, though. Suicide. That's rough."
"Yeah, man. It just kind of sucks. I mean, he's one of my heroes."
"I'm not sure I'd say he's a hero of mine -- just a pulse that I hated to see end -- he was just a breath of fresh air. Surreal air, but fresh surreal air."
"Yeah. He was definitely a strange dude."
"Yeah, and coming from us, that means something."
"I just don't see why he would have killed himself. I mean, what do you think would make you kill yourself?"
"I don't know. I just know what the note would say."
"What?"
"'Sorry for the mess.'"
At that point, the entire rest of the class, who had apparently been listening to our conversation, shot me the same look simultaneously.
"Oh, like you didn't know I was irreverent."
Had a conservative Christian 1st amendment lawyer in class today as a guest speaker. I was surprisingly well-behaved.
My only question that showed my true colors was, "So, your firm states that it's dedicated to preserving and defending first amendment rights. You also filed an amicus on behalf of the state of Texas in Planned Parenthood v. Texas/Eduardo J. Sanchez*. What does that have to do with preserving first amendment rights?"
His response, "...nothing, really. We deviated from our normal set of rules there. That was a matter of family values and tax payer dollars being spent in areas the tax payers do not approve of. If Planned Parenthood loses this case, they lose all state funding."
"What about government funding of faith-based initiatives? In your case with the religious homeless shelter, why did government funding of a church-based homeless shelter not violate the establishment clause?"
"Well, because government funds are being used to fund the shelter itself. Preachers are either volunteers or are paid through the church. The government isn't paying for preaching, it's paying for food, clothing and shelter. The church is paying for preaching."
"So, using that logic, if Planned Parenthood were to use state funds for administrative costs, education, and all areas of their organization but abortions, and then used private donations for abortions, how does that violate Texas law?"
"I guess it might not. They would have to establish a seperate entity..."
"Your church didn't establish an entity seperate of religious influence. Why would Planned Parenthood need to?"
"Well, that's really very complicated and is going to take years to resolve. Does anyone else have any questions?"
My professor grinned. While walking to class with him, he said the words, "Aw, hell. He's a lawyer. I think he can hold his own." Walking out of class with him, he said, "I can't wait until you're actually in law school." Total complement.
* Planned Parenthood v. Eduardo J.Sanchez was filed in an attempt to remove public funding to Planned Parenthood due to their status on performing elective abortions. If Planned Parenthood loses, they will have to either set up a seperate entity to perform abortions or lose any and all state funding.
"Did you hear about Hunter S. Thompson?"
"I did. We lost a good one, eh?"
"Yeah."
"But, you know, I would have been so disappointed if he died of a heart attack or withered away with age. He never seemed the type to kill himself, but I guess it's fitting. He just lived such a bizarre life that an ordinary death would have been...I don't know...disappointing? Still, though. Suicide. That's rough."
"Yeah, man. It just kind of sucks. I mean, he's one of my heroes."
"I'm not sure I'd say he's a hero of mine -- just a pulse that I hated to see end -- he was just a breath of fresh air. Surreal air, but fresh surreal air."
"Yeah. He was definitely a strange dude."
"Yeah, and coming from us, that means something."
"I just don't see why he would have killed himself. I mean, what do you think would make you kill yourself?"
"I don't know. I just know what the note would say."
"What?"
"'Sorry for the mess.'"
At that point, the entire rest of the class, who had apparently been listening to our conversation, shot me the same look simultaneously.
"Oh, like you didn't know I was irreverent."
Had a conservative Christian 1st amendment lawyer in class today as a guest speaker. I was surprisingly well-behaved.
My only question that showed my true colors was, "So, your firm states that it's dedicated to preserving and defending first amendment rights. You also filed an amicus on behalf of the state of Texas in Planned Parenthood v. Texas/Eduardo J. Sanchez*. What does that have to do with preserving first amendment rights?"
His response, "...nothing, really. We deviated from our normal set of rules there. That was a matter of family values and tax payer dollars being spent in areas the tax payers do not approve of. If Planned Parenthood loses this case, they lose all state funding."
"What about government funding of faith-based initiatives? In your case with the religious homeless shelter, why did government funding of a church-based homeless shelter not violate the establishment clause?"
"Well, because government funds are being used to fund the shelter itself. Preachers are either volunteers or are paid through the church. The government isn't paying for preaching, it's paying for food, clothing and shelter. The church is paying for preaching."
"So, using that logic, if Planned Parenthood were to use state funds for administrative costs, education, and all areas of their organization but abortions, and then used private donations for abortions, how does that violate Texas law?"
"I guess it might not. They would have to establish a seperate entity..."
"Your church didn't establish an entity seperate of religious influence. Why would Planned Parenthood need to?"
"Well, that's really very complicated and is going to take years to resolve. Does anyone else have any questions?"
My professor grinned. While walking to class with him, he said the words, "Aw, hell. He's a lawyer. I think he can hold his own." Walking out of class with him, he said, "I can't wait until you're actually in law school." Total complement.
* Planned Parenthood v. Eduardo J.Sanchez was filed in an attempt to remove public funding to Planned Parenthood due to their status on performing elective abortions. If Planned Parenthood loses, they will have to either set up a seperate entity to perform abortions or lose any and all state funding.