Channel your Vehemence Elsewhere
Two days ago, the California Supreme Court issued a ruling that allowed Proposition 8 to remain in effect. Color me cynical, but I was barely surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. I understand the real reason they did it, the fact that the people should be able to bring forth initiatives concerning the laws of their state. However, this, in fact, is a big mess in and of itself, and needs to be addressed separately.
Today, as I sit here, I am letting go of my cynicism and complacency that such expected announcements have found me, and becoming enraged. Why? This is about inequality. This is about injustice. This is about a select few trying to dictate the lives of others with their values. This suppression does not belong in our country; it is not in the spirit in which this country was founded. Furthermore, there is NO justification for inequality. There is NO justification for intolerance (unless it is the intolerance of the intolerant). And there is NO justification for the injustice that occurs here.
There are very few arguments against gay marriage that do not involve God, or ”I believe that marriage being between a man and a woman” . Who says? And what about those that believe otherwise? Since when are our particular beliefs and values the be all and end all of written law? Isn’t that the very thing we were trying to escape by founding this country?
Marriage does not belong only to religion. Marriage is about commitment. And if two people who love each other want to commit themselves to each other and promise themselves to each other, who are we to say that they can’t? Their marriage does not in any way invalidate yours. How does two people committing their lives to each other honestly affect you?
Even if there was not a separation of church and state in this country (which there is), according to the Bible, God gave us free will. He gave us the ability to exercise that free will. And if a homosexual couple chooses to marry each other, exercising their free will to do so, do we have the holy authority to take that away?
My suggestion. Let this one go. You are fighting against love and committment of two consenting adults. Legalize marriage. End the inequality that exists. It is written in the Declaration of Independence, ”We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights , that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Give these couples the liberty to pursue their own happiness and live their lives. To do otherwise will go against everything that our founders envisioned for our country.
Pick another cause to fight. There are plenty of abuses out there that desearve the fervor in which you fight gay marriage. Use that fervor to end child abuse, to help put an end to the genocide in the Sudan, to stop the rape and murder of innocents in Burma under a military junta, to serve those living in poverty in our own country. Your vehemence, your passion, can do amazing things in this world if properly channeled. So, channel it, and serve to change the world for the better.
Fighting gay marriage simply does not do that.
8 Responses to “Channel your Vehemence Elsewhere”
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Well said. My thoughts exactly.
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Unfortunately, the argument that the Christian Right gives, that gay marriage undermines the sanctity of marriage, is absolutely correct — for them.
Religious folks buy the whole parcel, not just some. If you start chipping away at the whole, they find themselves disgruntled, confused, angry, and yes, vehemently opposed.
If society tells them they are wrong about the gay marriage issue, what else might they be wrong about?
Just as telling rabid Christians that homosexuality is innate, normal and happens in primates starts a war over young Earth woo and heinous sin, we shouldn’t be surprised at the vehemence. They need it to defend their philosophy.
The Mother’s last blog post..Circumcision, Anyone?
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I understand the sanctity argument, Mother, but if people can see to separate god from God, why can’t they see to separate marriage from Marriage. Why can’t Christians have their sanctified Marriages in the churches of their choosing while allowing homosexual Americans to have legal marriages of their own.
There seem to be these fears that if these sacred rites are allowed for such ‘unholy’ unions, that the churches that oppose them will be forced to hold them. I tend to believe that those couples who would try so hard to have their ceremonies in churches that were against them, there are other issues those individuals need to deal with. Most simply want the freedom to commit to sharing their lives with the ones they love.
Refusing to allow gay couples to get married is essentially equal to disallowing two brothers to establish a business partnership due to their siblinghood – it is a contract of commitment. If the parties involved are consenting adults, the finer points are (or should be) moot ones.
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I’m still so angry I have a hard time putting it in words. You said it so well, I agree completely.
followthatdog’s last blog post..Momma’s got a brand new bag
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I too had a hard time putting this into words. As I was writing, I felt incised, and didn’t know if I was making a well thought out argument.
I agree with you Mother. They need it to defend their philosophy. But. when it comes right down to it, it is an excuse for bad behavior. Fundamentalist Christians have turned around and basically crucified those different and “blasphemous” . Ironic, isn’t it?
Corina’s last blog post..Channel your Vehemence Elsewhere
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Thank you! It’s absolutely infuriating that two people who love each other can’t marry because some one else doesn’t like it.
Summer’s last blog post..A History of Drug Use Part 3
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“Fundamentalist Christians have turned around and basically crucified those different and “blasphemous” . Ironic, isn’t it?”
Um, have you READ the history of the Christian church? It purports to be inclusive and loving of all creatures.
Except that it’s okay to burn and slaughter those who disagree.
They have grown out of some of the burning and slaughtering, but not the crucifying. Try being a (vocal) non-theist in this world, and you can get a real feel for the inclusiveness of modern Christianity.
The Mother’s last blog post..The Divine Mother and Child–NefHxMotherhood
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Corina Reply:
May 30th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
You are right. How could I overlook all of history? Horrible things …… all in the name of God. I guess not so ironic. It has happened for thousands of years.
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