Answering a philosopher of law.

The following is a post I just made in response to the natural law arguments used against Same Sex Marriage:

I’m reminded of a long time ago, in a college ethics class, and my professor used the phrase, “Rule of law, not of men.” And I immediately asked, “Who makes the law?” “Uh, well, Men.” “So the Rule of Law really still is the rule of Men, isn’t it?” The conversation became interesting after that.

And so to this argument, there is, of course, another approach, that law is nothing more than the organized force of the state and is, in fact, infinitely malleable according to the whim of the lawmakers. In that definition, law, and all that it covers, including marriage, are simply what we say it is.

Now if that is the pragmatic case, then all the arguments about transcendence and purpose are irrelevant and can simply be ignored. It is not necessary to debate them, or to argue them. One merely does what one is able to do and ignores the arguments. In the final case, the ultimate answer as to why a law is stated a certain way is simply, “Because we can.”

We can’t repeal the Law of Gravity, or change the number of Pi. But we can change the definition of marriage and do that with little difficulty. It is simply a matter of words on paper. We are not answerable to the past or to its usages. The dead cannot rise from the ground and stop us. Their words may have relevance to those who value them, but they have no force that can bind. They may carry authority, but they have no power. And power is what matters, not authority Authority may be used to influence power, but if power really disagrees, authority will lose.

We live in an age of Force, not of reason. One may make the most compelling arguments as to why something should not be done and the other side can simply say, “We just did it.”

Hmmm

I hear that the canonization process for John Paul the Creep continues in spite of the evidence of his support and protection of pedophiles in the Catholic Church. Therefore, I have a suggestion for those who will be trying decide how he should be depicted. I think a statue of him standing with a large sausage in one hand, a terrified choirboy in the other and a rather large millstone around his neck presiding over the lake of fire that will be his eternal reward would be the proper way to go.

Oh, and maybe George Weigel sucking the papal dick can be added on his feast day.

Fun with Green Lantern

Back in the good old days, when Green Lantern liked women, he had this thing he did with a lamp and a ring. So of course your great wise and in all ways malevolent Uncle Chuckie figured that would be adaptable to psionic ends.

So let me refresh your memory. Green Lantern had this power ring, sort of like the one in the Ring Trilogy but without disgusting little hobbits running around make a mess of everything because as well know, hobbits are not potty trained. Only problem was this ring had to be charged every 24 hours or there would not be the plot device of the ring losing its charge. Oh and there was something about the color yellow, which meant it did not work on Europeans with spinal injuries.

Well, Hal Jordan would put on his Green Lantern outfit and stand before the charging device, a green lantern surprise surprise, and as the ring sucked power from the lantern would recite his little poem.

So how do we adapt this. Well, you will need to procure two things, without haggling. First a ring. Any ring will do. Second a lantern, easily available from any store that sells such things. You charge the lantern with a thoughtform that it will draw its power from the black hole at the center of the galaxy to charge your ring to enable to you do mischief. Then, having done that, you put on the ring, turn on the lantern, hold the ring to the lantern and recite:

In cloudy day and darkest night,
No goodness shall escape my sight.
Let those who believe justice has might
Be crushed by the power of this light.

All you need do now is practice visualizing the beam coming out of the ring to smite those who are naughty in your sight.

Have fun.