Speechless

Photos: OpenDurham.org / WNCN

I apologize I haven't blogged much this week. A lot has happened both good and bad.

You may recall a post I wrote a few weeks ago regarding an issue facing my church, Grey Stone Baptist's, name. Leaders were contemplating whether to ax "Baptist" from the name.

After little real discussion - only one open forum - the measure was barely passed Wednesday night in a church conference. 

All I can do is shake my head. I'm all for "modernization" and whatever but not this. Grey Stone Baptist is all I've known since diapers. It's unbelievable that the church I've grown up in is masking its true identity - at least in the public eye.

Is it really going to make that much of a difference? I mean, church visitors aren't stupid. They'll eventually find out Grey Stone is a Baptist church one way or another; especially since nothing else at the church is changing...yet.

I'll say it again: what's next? Are we changing the names "Christian" or "Christianity" all because people have negative opinions about those names? Absolutely not.

In my opinion, I believe the whole thing is a silly waste of time. I have much more to say about this but, since it's in writing, I'll refrain from doing so.

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In other news, I can't believe what the "lovely" state legislature is doing. The Republican-controlled General Assembly has turned the clock back 50 years all in just a few months. Passing pointless tax reform, cutting education - again - which will make our teachers 46th in the nation in salary and passing redonkulous - yes redonkulous - restrictions on voting.

I could probably write a novel about the inhumane laws and regulations passed but let's look at the voting one which has royally pissed me off.

The bill, named HB-589, would not only implement new voter identification laws but would restrict so much more.

According to WNCN, the bill also ends same-day voter registration, cuts early voting by one week and eliminates a high school civics program that encourages students to register ahead of their 18th birthday. In addition, it weakens disclosure requirements for campaign ads and allows political parties to rake in unlimited corporate donations.

Another thing missing? Students at state colleges and universities being able to use their college identification card at the polls. If I'm not mistaken, this was supposed to be included in the list of acceptable forms of identification but was obviously taken out - no surprise there.

Let me sum it up for you: if you don't have a driver's license, non-operator I.D. card, tribal/military I.D., or passport you're screwed.

I'm really getting sick and tired of Republicans putting down young men and women as well as minorities and the elderly. It's our civic duty to vote and this General Assembly is quickly taking that away, piece by piece. 

Supporters in the General Assembly say this addresses the state's voter fraud problem but, funny thing is, voter fraud is virtually non-existent in North Carolina. 

In 2012, for instance, nearly 7 million ballots were cast in both general and primary elections. Of those 7 million, the State Board of Elections reported a minuscule 121 were found to be suspicious of voter fraud - a whopping 0.00174 percent of the ballots. GASP! - and only one of those was found to be actual voter fraud. The State BOE also found no history of such lawbreaking in the past.

If you voted Republican, I hope you're satisfied. I hope you also know that multiple policies put forth by your people have altered my livelihood. Yea how does that feel? 

If you want this state to go to Hell in a hand basket then be my guest. I'm not going to sit around and watch it happen. The next election can't come fast enough - if I'll even be able to vote in it.  

I don't know what to say. With both the church thing and the ever so increasing suppression by this GOP regime happening, I honestly don't know where I live anymore.