We're working on some homework for our summer classes today, so this will be brief. Last month, we missed Walz's speech in the House paying tribute to the soldiers of the Korean War on the anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War:
. . .57 years ago today, on June 25, 1950, the Korean war began when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. Two days later, President Truman sent U.S. forces to support South Korea and the United Nations followed suit. This initial conflict led to a 3-year war in which American forces defended South Korean territory against Communist invaders from North Korea and China. The United States and our allies suffered numerous successes and setbacks, engaging in a difficult struggle for terrain on the Korean peninsula. In the end, over 54,000 American service members died during the Korean War and over 100,000 were wounded.
We are still living with the legacy of the Korean war today. Thousands of American service members remain on guard on the Korean peninsula along the Demilitarized Zone. While the Korean war is sometimes called the ``Forgotten War,'' it is certainly not forgotten in the 110th Congress. I am proud to honor the commitment and service of those soldiers who fought in Korea and those who continue to stand watch at their posts on the peninsula today. On this day, the 57th anniversary of the start of the Korean war, we honor the sacrifice and service of America's Armed Forces and pledge to continue to work on their behalf in this Congress and beyond.
My late father was stationed at the DMZ in Korea just after the close of official hostilities. His stories of bitter cold weather, kimchee, and North Korean soldiers patrolling the other side of the line on horseback fascinated me as a child.
Netroots
In Rep. Walz Cosponsors Bill to End Employment Discrimination, Andy Birkey at the Minnesota Monitor reports that Walz is now one of 140 co-sponsors of H.R. 2015. Minnesota statute already bans many sorts of discrimination based of sexual or gender identity; the federal bill would apply to employment only.
Birkey notes that some conservatives are opposed to the measure, claiming that it would force some religious groups to violate their tenets when hiring. However, the objection is something of a straw man fallacy in that the draft of the legislation clearly states:
SEC. 6. EXEMPTION FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
In General- This Act shall not apply to any of the employment practices of a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society which has as its primary purpose religious ritual or worship or the teaching or spreading of religious doctrine or belief.
(b) Certain Employees- For any religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society that is not wholly exempt under subsection (a), this Act shall not apply with respect to the employment of individuals whose primary duties consist of teaching or spreading religious doctrine or belief, religious governance, supervision of a religious order, supervision of persons teaching or spreading religious doctrine or belief, or supervision or participation in religious ritual or worship.
(c) Conformity to Religious Tenets- Under this Act, a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society may require that applicants for, and employees in, similar positions conform to those religious tenets that such corporation, association, institution, or society declares significant. Under this Act, such a declaration by a religious corporation, association, educational institution or society stating which of its religious tenets are significant shall not be subject to judicial or administrative review. Any such declaration made for purposes of this Act shall be admissible only for proceedings under this Act.
The bill does not apply to the U.S. military.
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