Millions of people oppose same-sex marriage. Some of them allow for "civil unions", which I believe implies that marriage isn't a civil union. Even if you're not a fan of same-sex marriage, most people don't see it as a threat to their personal freedoms. A few say it's detrimental to society, but there's no indication that that argument holds merit. Several European countries have allowed same-sex marriage for decades, and none of them fell into societal chaos.
California proved that people will will be politically correct when talking about same-sex marriage, but were often vote in the opposite fashion when given the opportunity.
Today was announced that a group called the National Organization for Marriage is going to spend $1.5 million on an ad campaign targeting New Jersey to prevent their law, which allows civil unions, to officially allow gay couples to marry. The group also announced they would be spending money in Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. (Although Iowa and Vermont have already passed laws allowing same-sex marriage.)
I think it's hideous that any group of people can force their morals upon a minority. In America it's Christians, but in other countries we see the same types of abuse and it horrifies us. Muslim nations suppress what we consider inalienable rights of women, however according to their laws women never had these rights.
I'm so disgusted by the fact that people try to legislate morality. Imagine if we took homosexuality out of the equation. What if a group of people felt that African Americans shouldn't be allowed to establish permanent households? The white majority could easily erase the rights of African-Americans to marry. What if we pass a law that said anyone with an IQ of less than 90 was not allowed to get married, or procreate? The rights of the less intelligent would be stomped upon by the average intelligence majority.
Ironically, these examples, which seem extreme by today's society, could actually influence us in a positive way. Let's face it, if we were able to prevent every individual with a below-average IQ from having children, and encourage anyone with an extremely high IQ to procreate like mad, within two or three generations Americans would be substantially smarter. This would better our society, improve our education, and secure our nation as a leader going forward. It's still however wouldn't be a country I'd be proud to call my own. We have a rich heritage of the strength of many protecting the rights of the few.
I don't understand what it means to be a man who loves another man. It doesn't scare me, but honestly I can understand the discomfort. There are lots of things I'm uncomfortable with, but I'm not about to take the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from anyone.
I am a Christian. Jesus taught me to love one another unconditionally. He taught me that I should spend my time with "sinners" because the perfect among us are so few and needs so little.
I understand the literal translation of the Bible frowns upon sodomy. It frowns upon lots of things that are illegal and accepted by our society. If frowns upon drinking to excess, yet drunks don't make us terribly uncomfortable so we haven't outlawed it. Heck, we even allow alcoholics to marry.
I think it's sad that people cower behind a cross because they are afraid. Christ wouldn't have feared gay people. Christ wouldn't have eliminated their desire for love and respect.
If you are fearful of gay people, that's okay. If you hate gay people, that's okay too. The reason it's okay is because they don't want you on your their team anyhow. You can be fearful and dislike anyone you want, but many of us take personal offense when you trample the rights of others because of your fear or hate.
Finally, why I decided to go on this rant... my mother lives in New Jersey. She is a Christian, married to a pastor. I think if you ask my mother what she would do with $1.5 million to better the state of New Jersey she can find 100 things that Christians should spend their hard-earned money on that would influence the community in a positive way.
If you made a donation to the National Organization for Marriage, shame on you. If you did in the name of Christ, shame on you. You don't have to like gay people. I'm not asking you to or heartedly endorse same-sex marriage. I'm asking you to be smarter with your money. I'm asking you to be generous rather than hateful. And lastly, I'm asking you not to pass on your hatefulness through the media in front of my children. My sincerest hope is that your hatefulness dies when they plant you in the ground, and the world is a better place for it.
I'm a Christian man, married with two children. I'm a fiscal conservative and a Republican. I'm among the last people you would expect to be taking a stand on behalf of gay rights, and I wish I didn't have to do it. I wish common sense and human decency would prevail and that those among us who love differently than the norm would be able to live their lives with liberty and in the pursuit of happiness.
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