THIS IS A REPEAT, but on the anniversary of Stonewall, I feel it is appropriate.
God Bless. Prop 8 is still real:
I am at a loss of words with the ignorance of people (I am using this word to mean 'lacking information', not to make a personal attack). If I did not laugh, I would cry. Still I do find myself crying more than I would like. But that is, as we say around here, a whole n'other thing.
One notes, having realized something obvious, it is difficult to make a rational argument in a sound bite/byte. One must establish the common ground, or lowest common denominator. Establishing the axioms, if the reader permits, with a stranger (whose reality is even stranger) can take time. Short of saying "you are wrong, I am right", the time must be taken. With said constraint in mind, the author offers the following (modest?) comments (realizing, in the words of Jonathan Swift, "One cannot be reasoned out of a position they were never reasoned into"):
1. It is the duty of Americans to support EQUAL RIGHTS for those with whom they disagree (EX: I may not support what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.)
2. It is wrong to limit the rights of the minority via simple majority vote (While some may not agree with it, we, lucky for Barak Obama, no longer deny the right to interracial marriage, nor consider the offspring of such a coupling as a slave).
3. Barack Obama has made the statement (his words) "Let me make this clear, I do not support Gay Marriage."
However, Marriage, as practiced in the USA, is a secular right commonly available to majority. It is imperative that said right be commonly available, equally and not separately, to all Americans. The history of this country and the Constitution of the United States of America demand that the state recognize and protect Marriage Equality. It is not required that Barack Obama support Gay Marriage, but he has the responsibility and duty to secure and defend Marriage Equality.
4.There are many issues facing this Great Nation and we have a lot of rebuilding to do. The work needs to be done by all of us: liberal and conservative, red state and blue state, Black/White/Yellow/Red/Brown and Purple, Theist and Atheist, GAY AND STRAIGHT. The United States of America requires work from all interested persons and parties.
TALKING POINTS:
(1) All persons are created equal and being equal they are entitled to the same common rights in the eye of the State.
(2) It is fundamentally wrong to allow the marginalization of a minority via vote of simple majority
(3) All couples have the right that their mutual commitment toward each other be recognized by the Federal, State and Local governments and to be endowed with the same Marriage rights as all married couples.
(4) It is truly an American responsibility to defend the equal rights of those with whom you disagree.
(5) Marriage as practiced in the United States is Secular:
a. The license to marry must be obtained from the state
b. The officiate performing the ceremony must be approved by the state
c. The proof of Marriage, the Marriage Certificate, must be obtained from the state.
d. The dissolution of a Marriage must be done with a state court.
(6) IF marriage were to be practiced as defined by the Bible (collected off Daily Kos):
a. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. (Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5)
b. Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21)
c. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. (Deut 22:13-21)
d. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden. (Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30)
e. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any State, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9)
f. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother's widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. (Gen 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10)
g. In lieu of marriage, if there are no acceptable men in your town, it is required that you get your dad drunk and have sex with him (even if he had previously offered you up as a sex toy to men young and old), tag-teaming with any sisters you may have. Of course, this rule applies only if you are female. (Gen 19:31-36)