December 2005 / The Brits have done it! Gays can now get married there with all the rights straights have. The Domino effect is taking place. I'm so thrilled at the prospect that soon it will be legalized here. If the term "gay marriage" put off people, and "civil union" implied a lesser status, could we find another name? Honestly, it's about time we settle this once and for all. No big deal, really. American gay couples will have the same opportunity to marry and divorce like the rest of the population, that's all. More business to restaurants, wedding planners, divorce lawyers and such. But the sky won't fall down on this largely Christian country, trust me.
Did you know that the Western half of the US was acquired by rather questionable method? Well, I was dumbfounded when my History professor, Dr. Hendricks, explained to us how President Polk managed to get 14 states from Mexico. It was during the 1840s when "Manifest Destiny" was a popular idea. Basically, Manisfest Destiny is a belief that God has blessed the US with a special destiny, that it should be a continental nation, stretching from sea to shining sea. So, Polk wanted to buy San Francisco for its ports and harbors from Mexico. Mexico said no. Polk then devised a way to provoke Mexico into war, thus having an excuse to take over the entire western half. In Texas, there was a territory between the two rivers Rio Grande and Rio Nueces that was in dispute. Polk sent soldiers into that part, knowing they would be killed, thus providing him with an excuse for war. Needless to say, the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 ended in the US favor. (Incidentally, the Mexican history textbooks, and maybe elsewhere, call this The Mexican Invasion.) The US gave Mexico $15 million for compensation (not to buy California as some textbooks record), the same amount that Polk offered Mexico earlier to buy San Francisco. President Polk is now regarded as one of the most effective president for this land acquisition.
Why am I rambling on with this history lesson? Like it or not, California will soon have a majority of Spanish - speaking population, legal or otherwise. Some estimation put it around 2030. So, I'm embracing this. I'm learning Spanish. I try to watch Spanish TV, listen to their radio. My goal is to be able to at least understand the language. Speaking Spanish requires serious tongue rolling, and that would be my next goal. I was so surprised when I saw stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen (of Lord of the Rings fame) spoke Spanish to reporters on Spanish TV. Maybe I can retire in Puerto Rico, who knows, eh?
About destiny. Each country would like to think it has a special destiny. History of man is filled with conquests, conquerors, wars and not enough pacifiers and peace. Can we accept that we are a vicious species, and embrace our nature? Why not have regular wars every four years or so, like the Olympics, and the winners can take over land, incorporate the citizens, wait another four years, fight again? You see, in a short while, we will just be one nation. Then, not only will we have 1,000 years of peace as promised in the Bible and other prophecies, we will have eternal peace. Of course, we might have to learn Chinese or Russian or Korean or whatever, but... no more wars! I think I will suggest this plan to God. And I'll have to make sure that God allows women to rule the world. Men suck as rulers. Whatdyathink???
