SORCERER'S APPRENTICE

Our military strategy in Iraq reminds me of the Walt Disney tale “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice". In it Mickey Mouse as the apprentice, uses the Sorcerer’s magic to command his broom to fill the water urn. Mickey falls asleep and upon awakening, the broom is flooding the laboratory. Mickey smashes the broom but the fragments come to life drawing water with a vengeance.

In Iraq, we smash the insurgents but only inspire more through our careless violence against the Iraqi people. In the fable, the Sorcerer returns to stop the berserk brooms. While we have no sorcerer to save us from our senseless strategy in Iraq, we have something better - American public opinion.

Originally published in Daily Herald, June, 2005

ILLINOIS ADVISORY REFERENDUM ILL-ADVISED

The group Protect Marriage Illinois, seeking to put an advisory referendum on the Illinois ballot this year to prevent gay marriage, needs a name change. Henceforth, they should call themselves "Protect Bigotry Against Gays Illinois" to reflect their real agenda. It is sad and unseemly for individuals or groups to cloak their prejudices against gays by the absurd claim that allowing gay marriage destroys their heterosexual one.

As one who has enjoyed the enormous benefits of marriage for 32 years, it would be inconceivable for me or my wife to deny any couple those same benefits due solely to their gender.

A hundred years ago marriage between black and white persons was illegal in many states. Defenders of this abhorrent discriminatory practice argued it was God's will that the races never marry, and that such practices were contrary to "traditional" marriage. Indeed, traditional marriage was usually arranged for family economic interests and had little to do with romantic love between a man and a women.

Every stable union between two loving people benefits society as well as the couples involved. Denying gays the right to certify their union as a marriage is simple bigotry. With the monumental problems we face, it is an utter waste of time and energy to champion such an odious concept.

Much of the civilized world is recognizing the benefits and moving toward legalization of gay marriage. Unfortunately, religious fanaticism and plain old-fashioned prejudice is preventing that advancement from becoming common and unnoticed in Illinios and America.

Originally published in The Glen Ellyn News, February 2, 2006