Homosexuality and Lesbianism can be a Learned Trait

  Can homosexuality and lesbianism be a learned trait?
   I say, it can.
   I think on sexual fulfillment, on how a person can get sexual fulfillment with either sex, if they so let themselves. To say this is false, is to say it is biologically impossible for a person to allow themselves any satisfaction in sharing their bodies with those of the same sex. Can't happen. Never has, never will.
   I say, of course it can. People are capable of seeking and finding enjoyment of their bodies where they will. Nothing stops them from doing so.

Sunday and My God

   I think to speak of homosexuality tonight, but consider that this is Sunday. Often, my Sunday blogs are on everyday topics. But, is probably best when I make them about God, for that is what Sunday is about.
   It is the Lord's day.
   I do believe that if you serve God with all your heart, mind and strength, He will watch over you. I do believe in putting God first in my life. I do believe in God, and in His Son, the Savior. I thank the Christ for his sacrifice. He atoned for my sins, and for those of everyone. I consider on His never sinning, never yielding to temptation. I consider He has said that as He has done, I should likewise do, and think that means I, too, can reach a point in my life that I do not sin. If one person can do it for the full of their life, then others of us should be able to reach that point, eventually, at some point in our lives. It has been done. How are we then to say it is impossible?
 

I Believe in an America for Everyone

   I believe in an America for everyone, regardless what part of the globe they are in. I believe in justice and freedom, in fairness and ethics, in equality and love. In other words, I believe in America. I believe in the value of every human soul. I believe in treating others with decency and dignity. I believe in the pursuit of happiness, in being able to pursue dreams and prosperity, in being allowed to chase goals and ambitions. In other words, yes, I believe in America.
   I would not reject anyone from coming to this land, if it were my choice, other than those who would come to commit crimes. I would say, This is the land of the free, and you are free to come. Well, I'll hedge on that. I would that everyone could come to America, but they might not all fit in. At present, I do not see so many knocking on our door that I would restrict immigration. But if it did come to that, indeed then, we would have to restrict immigration.
    I believe in an America for everyone, regardless where they live. But, let me condition that, as well. I do not believe in fomenting change in other countries. If the people lack freedoms, but are not wanting or asking for those freedoms -- if they are satisfied with their lots in life -- then let them be. You do not force freedom on a people because that is not what freedom is about. Our values might not be their values. If they do not value being free, if they are happy living under a king or dictator, then let them alone to their own way of life, and don't force ours upon them.
  But, if they are in oppression and in need of help, and will welcome that help, then I would go to war to free them. Just as you, as a person, help every neighbor you can, so we as a nation should help every people we can. Just as we would stand up for the rights of any one person we know in our communities, so we should stand up for the rights of any group of people, wherever they be in all the world.
   I believe in an America for everyone. I wish it could be on our soil. But, as that cannot be, then let "America" be in other lands, as well. If they cannot come to America, let us take America to them.

Bring Showcase Businesses to the Welcome District

   I've argued, you know, that land around airports traditionally is underutilized, going for industrial parks and such, instead of being used to greet tourists, to throw a welcome party, and to showcase your state. Too much noise from the airplanes? With the potential of land near the airport, it seems we should simply overcome that by sound-proofing the buildings and going ahead to utilize the land for its highest value.

  I've argued that Utah yet has enough undeveloped property around its airport to be able to have such a welcome zone, such a showcase district.

  I've suggested some tourist-worthy businesses be included in the district. There might not be room for many, but save some space for some. One argument for doing so, is that large corporations -- often flying their people between different offices and flying in clients and visitors -- might appreciate being located right near the airport. That would especially be true if the whole district was attractive, entertaining and could serve as a hosting site, a welcoming place for their visitors, offering entertainment ranging from (clean) comedians and singers to American Indian and (modestly clothed) Polynesian dancers.

   Having such a site available could be a selling point should we want to attract large corporations -- and of course we want to. So, why not do this? No other city I know of does this, so we would have a selling point no other city could offer. 

   And, we could also invite those businesses to be part of the tourism. If we had a Boeing, for example, some tourists would easily be enticed to visit it. 

   I would also seek out smaller, novelty businesses, businesses with tourist appeal. Perhaps Amano, an international-award-winning chocolate maker in Orem could be persuaded to open a spot in the airport zone, displaying their chocolates and telling their story and the story of chocolate, and showing how chocolate is made.

   If you have something worthy, you should market it. Businesses are often worthy of tourism, and placing your showcase businesses in a tourism zone would be a win-win, benefiting them as well as this city and state. 

Not in My America: We Should not Tolerate Injustice Such as This

   When we see an injustice such as this, we should demand that it end. We should not tolerate it.
   My friend Omar Sey came to America to receive an education. Needing to work his way through school, he got a work permit. Trouble is, when they issued it, they got his first and last names inverted. His employer is saying get it changed, so we can put you back to work. So, in February, he mailed off the paperwork to get it changed.
   He's still waiting.
   To correct something like this should be a quick process. Walk in, fill out some papers, sit down and wait while they electronically verify everything, and walk out with a corrected card. So it seems to me.
   So, they've stretched this out since February, and it is now July. The permit is valid for one year, and will expire in August.
   To make matters worse, he says, when he called them a couple weeks ago and asked why it is taking so long, they told him to quit bothering them, and quit asking  -- or they will just make it all the harder on him, and make him wait all the longer.
   Nobody should be treated this way, anywhere. But, in America, certainly nobody should be treated this way. This is a country of justice and fairness, of treating people right. When we see something like this, should band together, rally around the oppressed person, and demand that the ill treatment cease.
    We should say, Not in my America.

Bless the Children: Do We Place Them With Same-Sex Parents?

   I pause on this same-sex marriage thing. Most of us do favor allowing them to live together. Most of us do favor giving them many of the privileges that come with marriages.
   But, I wonder about children. Should we let them adopt? If there is evidence that children do not prosper as well when placed in same-sex homes, do we allow it, anyway? We should want to place the children in the best and most favorable circumstances. Is the same-sex family just as good as the natural one, as far as raising children?
   Another question rises as I think on this. Of the children raised in same-sex homes, is there a greater tendency for them to end up of same-sex attraction, themselves? Such a thing would not seem to be so, if we grant that sexual orientation is a thing set by birth. If a gene decides sexual orientation, then the example and influence of parents will not serve to make one iota of difference.

The Child Being Important, Our Foster Care Needs This Change

   If we were chipping away at the ills of society one by one, we probably should change up the foster care program. If we could find enough volunteer families, then we should no more pay people for taking care of the children.
   I'm sure many of the paid foster parents are wonderful. The problem is, some take the children for the money and then do not properly take care of them, treating them roughly and without love. The danger of the children becoming a paycheck without being truly loved is not a thing we should be doing.
   Children are perhaps our greatest responsibility, certainly one of them. Placing them in risk is not something we should do.
    As I said, and I want to emphasize it, I would guess most of the foster parents are tender and loving. But, I would also guess the share of them who care not for the kid but only for the money is more than we should allow. There is a rule about life: Where you place your carrots determines the results you get. If money is the carrot, some will become foster parents just to receive a paycheck though they don't bring love into the relationship. There is no carrot for love.
   But, if they volunteer to take care of the children, they almost always will be doing so because they want to help. The carrot, then, is to help, to love, to benefit the child.
   Are children important? Is the raising of them a matter of utmost importance? Then, we should make this change.