Is it fair when a sheep has been shorn to try and get more fleece from that same sheep? To do so, will it not begin to cut into the flesh of the sheep? Will that sheep become impaired to the point that its contribution to wool production may actually begin to decrease? Using this as a metaphor, are we as citizens of this nation being viewed as sheep to be fleeced? When we have been shorn, are there ways being devised to fleece us yet some more?
On a broader and more general area, should you ever be required to surrender your Constitutional rights due to a government action or enactment? Is the Constitution of the United States meant as a safeguard for human rights and liberties? A friend (with whom I most often disagree) has written an interesting Blog – “The Constitution is Un-Constitutional?” He raises some interesting thoughts and points (most points he should sit upon and maybe he’d get the correct point). If you would like to peruse his Blog, go to: http://www.thoughts.com/colinstmichael/blog/the-constitution -is-un-constitutional-576170/. This past week his thoughts were timely, in a way, for my wife and me when we visited the Doctor’s Office for a routine check-up. We were handed a sheet that was required to be filled in “to update our file…” Most people just affix their signature to such a document without much of a glance regarding the content. One section of the form had to do with the collection of fees and the use of a Collection Agency if payment was not received. However, there was this sentence contained in that paragraph which read: “I hereby waive my Constitutional rights in this State of Residence, as well as in any other State forever.” My wife and I refused to sign it and were told: “Then you cannot be seen by the Doctor!” Before we left the office, we were asked to visit with the Office Manager. Her basic approach was: “Well – this is part of Obamacare.” We disagreed with her premise and said they had gone too far in asking any patient (much less citizen) to wave his or her Constitutional rights forever (forever is a long and interminable length of time - “Forever” means: “without ever ending; eternally…continually; incessantly; always”).
From The Law Dictionary, we find this definition of Waiver: “Waiver Legal Definition – (1) A voluntary relinquishing of a right or privilege. Although a waiver may result from an explicit surrender or by circumstances, courts frown on accepting waivers of constitutional rights. The party waiving a right must have knowledge of that right and the informed intention of surrendering it. (2) The paper by which a person surrenders his or her rights; for example, when the courier delivered the package, the recipient may sign a waiver relieving the former of any further responsibility. An Expressed Waiver: A deliberate and voluntary waiver. An Implied Waiver: A waiver of certain rights based upon the action of the waiving party. For example, if a person tells a courier he does not care what condition a package is in as long as it arrives by a certain time, that person has waived the right to require the courier to treat the parcel with the normally expected care. A Prospective Waiver: A waiver of something that may occur in the future; for example, the right to participate in an award from a future, anticipated law suit. Prospective waivers are often deemed to be unenforceable, as the party giving up a right cannot, by definition, know the parameters of what is being given up.”
As Jesus prepares His Disciples for the task of communicating The Gospel throughout the world, He shares these words with them in Matthew 10:16-17 (The Message Translation): “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so…be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives; others will smear your reputation - just because you believe in me.” Sheep in a world of Wolves indicates there is danger lurking in many of life’s experiences. Sheep are timid, naïve and oftentimes stupid. One definition of “sheep” states: “a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person.” While the primary goal of a Christian life is to live righteous and holy lives, there is also the duty to stand for truth and to defend the weak, helpless and defenseless. Be gentle! Be wise! Be strong! Stand Up and Be Counted! Consider these things with me!
On a broader and more general area, should you ever be required to surrender your Constitutional rights due to a government action or enactment? Is the Constitution of the United States meant as a safeguard for human rights and liberties? A friend (with whom I most often disagree) has written an interesting Blog – “The Constitution is Un-Constitutional?” He raises some interesting thoughts and points (most points he should sit upon and maybe he’d get the correct point). If you would like to peruse his Blog, go to: http://www.thoughts.com/colinstmichael/blog/the-constitution -is-un-constitutional-576170/. This past week his thoughts were timely, in a way, for my wife and me when we visited the Doctor’s Office for a routine check-up. We were handed a sheet that was required to be filled in “to update our file…” Most people just affix their signature to such a document without much of a glance regarding the content. One section of the form had to do with the collection of fees and the use of a Collection Agency if payment was not received. However, there was this sentence contained in that paragraph which read: “I hereby waive my Constitutional rights in this State of Residence, as well as in any other State forever.” My wife and I refused to sign it and were told: “Then you cannot be seen by the Doctor!” Before we left the office, we were asked to visit with the Office Manager. Her basic approach was: “Well – this is part of Obamacare.” We disagreed with her premise and said they had gone too far in asking any patient (much less citizen) to wave his or her Constitutional rights forever (forever is a long and interminable length of time - “Forever” means: “without ever ending; eternally…continually; incessantly; always”).
From The Law Dictionary, we find this definition of Waiver: “Waiver Legal Definition – (1) A voluntary relinquishing of a right or privilege. Although a waiver may result from an explicit surrender or by circumstances, courts frown on accepting waivers of constitutional rights. The party waiving a right must have knowledge of that right and the informed intention of surrendering it. (2) The paper by which a person surrenders his or her rights; for example, when the courier delivered the package, the recipient may sign a waiver relieving the former of any further responsibility. An Expressed Waiver: A deliberate and voluntary waiver. An Implied Waiver: A waiver of certain rights based upon the action of the waiving party. For example, if a person tells a courier he does not care what condition a package is in as long as it arrives by a certain time, that person has waived the right to require the courier to treat the parcel with the normally expected care. A Prospective Waiver: A waiver of something that may occur in the future; for example, the right to participate in an award from a future, anticipated law suit. Prospective waivers are often deemed to be unenforceable, as the party giving up a right cannot, by definition, know the parameters of what is being given up.”
As Jesus prepares His Disciples for the task of communicating The Gospel throughout the world, He shares these words with them in Matthew 10:16-17 (The Message Translation): “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so…be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives; others will smear your reputation - just because you believe in me.” Sheep in a world of Wolves indicates there is danger lurking in many of life’s experiences. Sheep are timid, naïve and oftentimes stupid. One definition of “sheep” states: “a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person.” While the primary goal of a Christian life is to live righteous and holy lives, there is also the duty to stand for truth and to defend the weak, helpless and defenseless. Be gentle! Be wise! Be strong! Stand Up and Be Counted! Consider these things with me!
No comments:
Post a Comment