WESTFALL: Things that make me go, Huh? – Journal Advocate

I believe that all of us are entitled to occasionally get our mords wixed, or utter some other grammatical gaffe which becomes fodder for social media. For example, former President Obama, during his first campaign for the Presidency, told a reporter that he had been to all 57 states. Im guessing that he knew there were only 50, but after an extensive campaign, it just felt like 57. Nonetheless, he did receive (deservedly) a fair amount of ribbing for that slip of the tongue.

What I have a hard time understanding is when someone writes or tweets something that shouldnt have been said or tweeted. After all, we do have a chance to proofread our tweets, or at the very least have someone look them over for accuracy prior to posting them. Additionally, I am troubled by lawmakers who propose outlandish bills that have no chance of ever passing (or if they have a chance of passing, God help us all!)

Recently I was musing about Representative Lauren Boeberts tweet concerning the American Constitution. She wrote, and I quote, The Constitution is not evolving. To say that spits in the face of every single one of our founders. (Feb 2, 2022). Considering the day that she posted this, at first, I thought it might be a Groundhog Day joke, but then I realized that there arent any Groundhog Day jokes, so I was left to ponder her lack of understanding of the Constitution.

Boebert has become a lightening rod for left-wing mirth and ridicule due to her apparent lack of understanding about any number of historical events, Constitutional law, you name it. This proud woman carries a gun on her hip and derides anyone who doesnt follow her version of this great experiment we call America.

I truly wonder if she has even read the Constitution. If she had, she would realize that this is a living document to the extent that it has been amended 27 times. Were it not for the Second Amendment, her gun toting days might be over, and if not for the 19th Amendment (womens suffrage) she wouldnt have been allowed to run for public office; in fact, she couldnt even vote. (Not quite accurate, as Colorado did allow women to vote prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, but her buddy, Marjorie Taylor Greene couldnt have participated.)

Even those that wrote and approved the Constitution quickly realized that it needed to be amended. The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments) are essential to our way of life. These were proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791. (Thankfully!)

The 18th and 21st Amendments cancelled each other out. Carrie Nation, aka Hatchet Granny, and her temperance movement were instrumental in outlawing the manufacturing and sale of alcohol in the United States. (It is rumored that she had to get the Senators drunk before they would forward such a matter to the states, but thats just rumor!) The 21st Amendment undid the 18th, and Ill drink (moderately) to that!

I could go on and detail the remaining amendments, but you get my point; the Constitution is an evolving document which can and has been amended as necessary to promote the common good.

Margorie Taylor Greene, a freshman representative from Georgia, who once theorized on Facebook that former California Gov. Jerry Brown started a wildfire with space lasers, said recently in an interview on One America News, Not only do we have the D.C. jail, which is the D.C. gulag, but now we have Nancy Pelosis GAZPACHO (emphasis added) police spying on member of Congress

I pray that she knows the difference between the Gestapo and Gazpacho but considering some of the other seemingly loony things shes said and written, I wouldnt bet the farm on it. (And if wasnt for the repeal of the 18th Amendment Hard to say. Right?) Whatever your take on it is, it wasnt soup-er smart!

Although the aforementioned examples are fodder for derision, they dont even come close to the stupidity of a recently introduced Bill in the Oklahoma Senate. Senator Rob Standridge introduced legislation that would allow parents to sue any public-school educator who teaches anything in opposition to closely held religious beliefs of students. That would allow creationist parents who eschew the study of evolution to sue the teacher who was teaching what is accepted science. And to flip to script a bit, it would allow a Muslim parent to sue a teacher for teaching anything other than a belief in Allah.

An aggrieved parent could be awarded up to $10,000 per incident, teachers could not receive remuneration from outside sources, and if they failed to pay, they would be fired immediately.

Standridges bill didnt stop there though. It also would have allowed individual parents the power to demand the removal of any book from the school that the parent believed contained LGBTQ content. (And no, Standridge is not a member of the Taliban in Afghanistan, even if his behavior is reflective of those cultural values!)

Im sure that throughout history, there have been any number of off the wall statements, legislative notions, and misinformed utterances. Social media highlights these on a daily basis providing metaphoric provender for late night talk show hosts and columnists. That said, there are many things that I wish had never been written or said, but when I hear them, still make me go, Huh??

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WESTFALL: Things that make me go, Huh? - Journal Advocate