Posted by
peripheral on Monday, June 14, 2010 6:19:03 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Is it fair when a sheep has been shorn to try and get more fleece from
that same sheep? To do so, will it not begin to cut into the flesh of
the sheep? Will that sheep become impaired to the point that its
contribution to wool production may actually begin to decrease? Using
this as a metaphor, are we as citizens of this nation being viewed as
sheep to be fleeced? When we have been shorn, are there ways being
devised to fleece us yet some more?
On a broader and more general area, should you ever be required to
surrender your Constitutional rights due to a government action or
enactment? Is the Constitution of the United States meant as a
safeguard for human rights and liberties? A friend (with whom I most
often disagree) has written an interesting Blog – “The Constitution is
Un-Constitutional?” He raises some interesting thoughts and points
(most points he should sit upon and maybe he’d get the correct point).
If you would like to peruse his Blog, go to:
http://www.thoughts.com/colinstmichael/blog/the-constitution
-is-un-constitutional-576170/. This past week his thoughts were timely,
in a way, for my wife and me when we visited the Doctor’s Office for a
routine check-up. We were handed a sheet that was required to be filled
in “to update our file…” Most people just affix their signature to such
a document without much of a glance regarding the content. One section
of the form had to do with the collection of fees and the use of a
Collection Agency if payment was not received. However, there was this
sentence contained in that paragraph which read: “I hereby waive my Constitutional rights in this State of Residence, as well as in any other State forever.”
My wife and I refused to sign it and were told: “Then you cannot be
seen by the Doctor!” Before we left the office, we were asked to visit
with the Office Manager. Her basic approach was: “Well – this is part
of Obamacare.” We disagreed with her premise and said they had gone too
far in asking any patient (much less citizen) to wave his or her
Constitutional rights forever (forever is a long and interminable
length of time - “Forever” means: “without ever ending;
eternally…continually; incessantly; always”).
From The Law Dictionary, we find this definition of Waiver: “Waiver Legal Definition
– (1) A voluntary relinquishing of a right or privilege. Although a
waiver may result from an explicit surrender or by circumstances,
courts frown on accepting waivers of constitutional rights. The party
waiving a right must have knowledge of that right and the informed
intention of surrendering it. (2) The paper by which a person
surrenders his or her rights; for example, when the courier delivered
the package, the recipient may sign a waiver relieving the former of
any further responsibility. An Expressed Waiver: A deliberate and voluntary waiver. An Implied Waiver:
A waiver of certain rights based upon the action of the waiving party.
For example, if a person tells a courier he does not care what
condition a package is in as long as it arrives by a certain time, that
person has waived the right to require the courier to treat the parcel
with the normally expected care. A Prospective Waiver:
A waiver of something that may occur in the future; for example, the
right to participate in an award from a future, anticipated law suit.
Prospective waivers are often deemed to be unenforceable, as the party
giving up a right cannot, by definition, know the parameters of what is
being given up.”
As Jesus prepares His Disciples for the task of communicating The
Gospel throughout the world, He shares these words with them in Matthew 10:16-17 (The
Message Translation): “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning
you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so…be
as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don't be naive. Some
people will impugn your motives; others will smear your reputation -
just because you believe in me.” Sheep in a world of Wolves indicates
there is danger lurking in many of life’s experiences. Sheep are timid,
naïve and oftentimes stupid. One definition of “sheep” states: “a meek,
unimaginative, or easily led person.” While the primary goal of a
Christian life is to live righteous and holy lives, there is also the
duty to stand for truth and to defend the weak, helpless and
defenseless. Be gentle! Be wise! Be strong! Stand Up and Be Counted!
Consider these things with me!