DAILY WISCONSIN

Liberty

Language, Liberty

Liberty includes language

My daughter and I stopped at the gas station the other day to grab some soda and a snack. We were talking in Croatian like always and the lady behind us smiled at me and said, “It’s so nice to see a mother and daughter together. If only you would speak English.” I was taken aback for a second, letting the words sink in. I was shocked at what I heard, but it wasn’t unimaginable because some people are afraid of different.After a few seconds, I gathered myself and muttered a few choice words—in Croatian. We paid for snacks quickly and quietly left the store. I could see my daughter looking at me for a response and I was trying my best to do what I would want her to do, just let it go. However, it was difficult to do so.

Via Different is Beautiful @ MKE Moms Blog.

Encryption, FBI, Federal Government, Liberty, Privacy, Private Property, Surveillance, Technology

Precedent

At least with our homes we have some reasonable ways to know whether or not a government agent has entered it. With our technology, however, they could enter our computers, phones, tablets, etc., take whatever they want, and we would never know unless they decided to tell us. And there have been too many instances of that happening for the American people to feel comfortable giving the government even more tools to access our technology.

Perhaps if the government had behaved more responsibly with our civil liberties to date, this wouldn’t be much of an issue.

Via Obama Makes Case for Government Access to Private Property @ Boots & Sabers.

Courts, Culture, Law, Liberty

6.26.15

I headed to the entry way of our home upon hearing the news this morning about the ruling from the Supreme Court about my right to marry the person I love. Days ago my partner James, who is the neighborhood vexillologist, pulled from his collection the colorful gay pride flag and had it neatly folded on a trunk, ready for the day the ruling would come down. I picked it up and walked briskly outside knowing that this ruling, will without a doubt, be the most profound action the court will ever have on my life….

Via Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Personal, Profound, Magnificent @  CAFFEINATED POLITICS.

Culture, GOP, Gov. Walker, Law, Liberty, Presidential race 2016

Walker Upset with High Court

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Gov. Scott Walker on Friday called the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing gay marriage across the country “a grave mistake.”

Walker issued a lengthy statement on Facebook backing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow states to define marriage and calling the ruling “judicial activisim.”

Via Scott Walker: Supreme Court gay marriage ruling ‘a grave mistake’ @ Madison com.

Free Speech, Law, Liberty, Wisconsin

The Price of Unlawful Conduct

“The lawyer representing six protesters who won a combined $44,830 in damages from the State of Wisconsin earlier this week says the total cost for unconstitutional arrests and fines handed out by Capitol Police since 2011 could ultimately run over $1 million. Attorney Jeff Scott Olson said that all of the protesters arrested under a…

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Culture, GOP, Law, Liberty, Politics, Rights

One Paragraph

During the 2004 elections, George W. Bush’s campaign, managed by a closeted gay man, pushed a series of anti-gay ballot initiatives across the country. The House of Representatives, led by a male speaker who allegedly sexually assaulted a male minor, moved a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage after beating back attempts to strengthen hate…

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