http://pittcountynow.com Tue, 7 Sep 2010 06:00:53 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/384/32/perry-v-schwarzenegger-california-becomes-the-latest-battleground-for-gay-marriage-rights.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/384/32/perry-v-schwarzenegger-california-becomes-the-latest-battleground-for-gay-marriage-rights.html Ripped from the headlines…

On August 4, a federal court in California struck down the gay marriage ban, popularly known as Proposition 8, and handed a victory to thousands of gays and lesbians who demanded they be entitled to “marry” their partners. Civil unions weren’t good enough, for in their eyes they are a “separate-but-equal” classification that made them feel like second class citizens. True equality was their desire. From plaintiffs’ standpoint,... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:56:51 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/352/32/outrage-muslims-plan-mosque-at-ground-zero.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/352/32/outrage-muslims-plan-mosque-at-ground-zero.html Thanks to the incredibly successful third-annual Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce Olympic and Sprint Triathlons, which was held last Saturday, over 300 triathletes from across nine states now have our own Washington, North Carolina, circled on their events-destination maps.

In 2007, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Catherine Glover tapped into her youthful creativity and connections to reach this unique demographic of competitive athletes, and three years later, 350 triathlo... Read More]]> Mon, 2 Aug 2010 14:56:12 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/349/32/immigration.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/349/32/immigration.html "It's a Sad Day When our President Twists our Constitution to Protect Illegal Immigrants Rather than Besieged American Citizens"

We have a President who is complicit in the flagrant lawlessness by illegal immigrants. Arizona takes the first step to stop him.

Immigration is a bitterly contested issue in the United States right now. Currently, there are about 10.8 million illegal immigrants living and working in the shadows. It is approximated that at least 1/3 of all Hispanics a... Read More]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:44:59 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/345/32/charges-of-racism-are-hurtful-for-both-sides.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/345/32/charges-of-racism-are-hurtful-for-both-sides.html Publisher's Note: Diane Rufino delves into a subject that has long been one of her major concerns - racism. Many Liberals strongly believe that, "it is high time to have a national discussion on race." Well here it begins from the bowels of Beaufort County Now: Diane Rufino Style.

The Author's Note: The theme originated as a post on my blogsite. The article below actually represents a running thread of several posts and includes comments which criticize my points. The criticisms are clearly... Read More]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:58:21 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/340/32/the-secondary-effects-doctrine-and-religious-respect.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/340/32/the-secondary-effects-doctrine-and-religious-respect.html (how this doctrine can be applied to our current dilemma over Religion - to help get it back into our Schools and into public life, without offending the current “Separation of Church and State” jurisprudence)

In light of the serious consequences that have resulted directly from the removal of religion in our schools and in our society, I wish to propose a possible legal pathway to the re-introduction of religion.
There is a doctrine, called the “Secondary Effects” d... Read More]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:31:39 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/316/32/constitutional-watch-christian-legal-society-v-martinez-the-supreme-court-just-doesn-t-get.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/316/32/constitutional-watch-christian-legal-society-v-martinez-the-supreme-court-just-doesn-t-get.html Christian Legal Society Chapter of the University of California, Hastings College of Law v. Martinez Fall Term (October) 2009, Decided June 28, 2010

On June 28th, the Supreme Court handed down yet another disappointing and discouraging decision regarding religious expression and association in this country. It seems that the Court with the responsibility to preserve the intention and integrity of our Constitution and to see that it is faithfully executed and respected, has turned its back on th... Read More]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/314/32/constitutional-watch-the-mcdonald-case-the-supreme-court-gets-it-right.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/314/32/constitutional-watch-the-mcdonald-case-the-supreme-court-gets-it-right.html On June 28, 2010, the Supreme Court decided one of the most important Second Amendment cases in U.S. history. McDonald v. City of Chicago. It marks a huge victory for conservatives, for Constitutionalists, for the NRA, and for common sense. This case represents a consolidation of cases filed against the Northern District of Illinois against the City of Chicago and Village of Oak Park challenging their gun ban laws which prohibit the possession of most handguns. Petitioners challenged the Chicag... Read More]]> Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:39:44 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/280/32/across-the-great-divide.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/280/32/across-the-great-divide.html Publisher's note: Diane Rufino, our most prolific contributor of Greenville, wrote this article with the collaborative efforts of Ron Pate of Clayroot, also of Pitt County.

As we all know, this is an election year and a lot is at stake. The present administration shows no intention of slowing down or changing its dangerous course. And conservatives show no intention of slowing down their attempts to usher in “real change” in November.

As Mike Hayes and I have been able to underst... Read More]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:25:15 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/256/32/back-on-my-soapbox.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/256/32/back-on-my-soapbox.html Publisher's Note: This submission is the continuation of a multi-part series that began as a give-and-take retort blast between senior contributors Mike Hayes, in the Liberal corner, and Diane Rufino, in the Conservative corner. Contributor Hayes intiated this verbal slugfest with his submission "Physician Heal Thyself." The question remains: Who will end this "knock-down, drag-out"?

I thank Mr. Hayes for his thoughtful response to my piece, “Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace.”... Read More]]> Mon, 24 May 2010 12:38:24 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/230/32/speak-now-or-forever-hold-your-peace.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/230/32/speak-now-or-forever-hold-your-peace.html This article is in response to the article, “Physician, Heal Thyself,” by Mike Hayes.

I enjoyed reading Mike Hayes’ article very much. I couldn’t agree with him more about the need to appreciate societal progress, but it should never be at the expense of individual liberty. That is my personal opinion, of course. The role of the government is to provide and protect Equal Rights, not equal things. Unfortunately, people have watched the government try to embrace soci... Read More]]> Mon, 3 May 2010 11:43:26 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/224/32/rage-against-the-machine.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/224/32/rage-against-the-machine.html I am writing this article about the week-end leading up to “Wreckonciliation Sunday” – March 21, 2010 – the day the Republic died. The day the government voted to take over Healthcare. The day the government voted to take away personal choice. The day our elected officials ignored the will of the people and took that huge leap down the road to socialism. Two very precious American ideals died on Wreckconciliation Sunday - the idea that we are a republican form of gover... Read More]]> Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:12:55 EDT