Homelessness
Hunger
Violence Against Women and Children
Violence, period
Education (providing the best; promoting and supporting a healthy structure)
Unemployment
Health Care for all
…the list can go on, and please feel free to add on to the list of “Important Things.”
Yet, we as a nation focus on something that is NOT Important in how the country is run, how the lives of the people are improved on, how we can help to strive for a better future. We seem to be fixated on something that obfuscates real issues:
Who Can Marry Whom.
Used to be interracial marriages were illegal. Inter-religious ones were kinda verboten. Segregation issues (against Blacks, Jews, etc) were the standards. All along these lines, those barriers came down, and…unless it is hit with personal prejudices and bias, had not affected your life in any real way. You may not like it, still, but really: beyond sensibilities…?
If marriage is so sanctified (there again: marriage is NOT only a religious ceremony, and hasn’t been for a long time: civil court marriages anyone?) then why do so many heterosexual couplings end in divorce? Why do so many wind up cheating on their spouse (Yeah, looking at you, Newt)? Why do so many in POWER (talking money power too) think it gives them the right to abandon that sanctity for the trophy wife, the mistress, the pursuit of affairs outside of wedded bliss? How many heterosexual wives were jettisoned for younger models, straying outside of “under God”, etc?
So, about me…
I’m not gay
I’m not Black
I’m not a woman (which also brings up: why can OLD men in the Senate tell a woman what she can do with her body?)
I’m not overly political, but I lean more towards the Democrats than Republicans; I feel Libertarians have more to add to the discussion, but are too extreme for what we are now.
I AM for HUMAN rights and freedoms, ones that have nothing to do with a political agenda but one that should strive for the betterment of humankind. Except for committing violence against myself or others, I have no right to say to another: “hey, I don’t like you doing that, it offends me, so I will stop you from doing it.” I just don’t have that right.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the phrase about “separation of church and state,” and while it is not in any formal document, I feel it should be.
The freedom of religion and of speech is set in constitutional stone; you can believe in what you want, and say it as well, but don’t push it on me.
I may not (and don’t, in this case) share your point of view.
Repel Amendment One, and put all this effort into something that will help other people, not bog us down in negative things.
What would happen if we put this much energy into doing something positive?
We are a very Un-United States.
***My own Amendment: 5/8/2012 at 4:00 pm EST:
May 09, 2012 @ 14:25:17
Speechless….what else is there to say…..Just a standing ovation for this post!!!! *clap clap clap*
May 09, 2012 @ 15:30:05
:::deep bow::::
Thanks Joy.
May 09, 2012 @ 16:18:40
Stuart, I’m all for this. And, the problem with segregation- by race, by color, by religion- still obtains in these United States.
Let’s start with little things- perpetrated by the same mental giants who propose amendments like the ones that just passed in North Carolina. They place little crosses in the ads for their businesses- and have their proponents remind others that you should only buy from those establishments with the marking.
Another issue is education. Where we try to exclude certain people from our classes, since they can “damage” the success ratio for the school.
Let’s also not forgot that this legislation- almost identical to that passed by the “enlightened citizenry” of the Commonwealth of Virginia- also serves to disenfranchise those that have been cohabiting for years. Until 5 years ago, common law marriage was very common in Virginia. Now, it’s illegal. No way to cover one’s significant other with family insurance. Unless a Medical Power of Attorney exists, no chance for the other to participate in medical decisions (or visit, when the hospital imposes family only policies). In their rush to exclude, these mental giants work wonders…
May 09, 2012 @ 16:24:20
Roy, we both know what real segregation is: covert and run like you mentioned. When I was a teenager, all of “us” (Jewish teens) knew not to get “caught” in Bronxville late at night. The cops, and town, were not Jewish friendly in the late 60′s/early 70′s. There were other things like that as well, and it ran against other barriers for others as well…and continues.
Yup…if people looked at larger picture issues instead of what is only in front of their nose, and only how it effects (or thinks it does) them, we’d all be better off.
Thanks
May 09, 2012 @ 17:29:29
Very good! I’m not personally in favor of gay marriage, but, as you say, it won’t affect my life any, except maybe to diminish the numbers of “eligible” men, and even that’s debatable. Well said!
May 09, 2012 @ 18:48:16
That’s the whole thing, Mel, and I’m glad you said it: it’s not for you, and you may not “approve” it, but it has no affect on how you live your own life, and that is how it should be. Are we going to go after “deviant” sex acts in the bedroom of heterosexuals because someone only believes in the missionary position? Enough of imposing personal beliefs on things that don’t really effect us. Thanks.
May 09, 2012 @ 18:13:07
*Applause* While Europe is often characterized as “the old man”, America seems to be stuck in adolescence – selfishness, finger pointing, and shouting down/drowning out anyone who is different or viewed as threatening. Time for us to grow up and find solutions to real problems – sustainable economic growth, more equitable funding of education, and a simpler tax system without a million loopholes for corporations. (just as a start)
May 09, 2012 @ 18:44:57
Great analogies, Li. And…great “real” problems. Those three fixed, we’d be in much better shape. Thanks for the applause.
May 09, 2012 @ 19:33:58
Standing Ovation.
May 09, 2012 @ 19:35:09
May 09, 2012 @ 21:19:55
Great post! Well written.
May 10, 2012 @ 07:34:45
Thank you, Amanda
May 10, 2012 @ 01:58:18
Right on Stuart! Always believe in who you are is important. When we try to make others be the way we want them to be, that is when a line is crossed and we have so many problems and uprising. We are all human beings that have feelings, ideas, thoughts and even an opinion. Glad you voice yours and stimulated a wonderful discussion!
May 10, 2012 @ 07:47:18
Lynn, thank you. I’m just tired of something like this. It should just be accepted and move on: it does not harm the economy or ecology and does not destroy. When are we going to learn that prohibition of rights just does not mean things will go away.
May 10, 2012 @ 04:55:40
I certainly am with you, Stuart — there are far more important and pressing issues on this planet (and in your country) to tackle.
I don’t care at all what people do in their beds, as long as it involves respect and free consent of adult and sane parties. I do believe that many, many, many heterosexual couples give the worst testimony possible for the institution of marriage. And I do believe that gay & lesbian couples who are committed and cohabitate for a long time should have the fiscal & health care advantages that heterosexual couples enjoy.
What annoys me deeply in many cases is the effort of (some members of) the LGBT group to convince the world that theirs is the “normal” way. What do I mean with this? Male + Male = No Procreation. Female + Female = No Procreation. No Procreation = No Life Renewed. And I don’t speak of modern artificial means — I’m talking about human nature, which has not changed.
I don’t want my child or other people’s chidren get brainwashed into thinking that homosexual is “right.” Homosexual just exists in this world and we have no reason to be mean and dictate to others how they should live their lives. And this is where I draw a thick, red line.
May 10, 2012 @ 07:41:38
Eleni, I don’t back ANYONE who pushes that their way is the only way. It has to be right for them; my “thick, red line” is drawn for anyone who backs violent and hateful ways. THAT…not gonna happen.
What consenting adults do in bed is what they do in bed , and who they love is up to them. There are a few who use the stupid argument (and a North Carolina politician said this) that by allowing same sex marriage, then why not marry an animal or a bowl of cereal. That is just plain stupid. Two consenting PEOPLE. Love. What is hard to get with that?
I should clarify, too, that I am NOT saying that this fight is not important, it’s just it should not have even gotten to the political arena except to just allow it to happen.
We do have very strong issues that the political and religious right seem to overlook, and yet they waste so much of our time fighting things like this.
Thanks Eleni.
May 10, 2012 @ 08:42:24
I love this post Stuart. You and I think so much alike.
And, a comment to Eleni, I don’t know a single homosexual person who is trying to convince anyone that their way is the right way, anymore than heterosexual people can say the same. I mean, all they are saying is that homosexuality is the norm for THEM, for those individuals. For Heterosexuals the norm is heterosexuality. And anything on the continuum. There’s no brainwashing involved, beyond saying maybe NORMAL has many different faces.
May 10, 2012 @ 08:46:13
Thanks Lisa;
As to Eleni: she lives in Greece, and I have to assume that she has come up against someone(s) who have expressed that opinion to her or around her.
I do know of fanatics in all shapes and sizes. They all bother me.
May 10, 2012 @ 08:51:01
Amen. Eleni’s comment has prompted me to write another post. That will be two for one week. Stand by.
May 10, 2012 @ 19:34:27
I totally agree with you, Stu. I’m afraid that as long as people are insecure about their own position and status, and are morally bankrupt, they will always seek to put others down to maintain their sense of superiority, Bravo1
May 10, 2012 @ 19:43:06
Yeah, it’s sick. I was reading some staunch Republican responses to this and other Obama things: they don’t see that their blatant hatred of our President is partially the blame of crap going wrong in our country. Obama is NOT perfect…nobody is.
This is a civil rights issue, not a religious one. It needs to stay in the civil domain.
May 10, 2012 @ 19:49:48
Yes, indeed.
May 11, 2012 @ 10:22:17
I totally agree with you Stu. After all, why would we prevent people to be happy? Who are we to judge gay relationships?
May 15, 2012 @ 04:45:31
very insightful post
thank you
May 15, 2012 @ 08:26:48
You’re welcome, Farouk.