I had an experience this week where I found someone who calls herself a right-of-the-right conservative arguing for gay marriage rights.
It got me thinking... is she right?
More after the jump.
In full disclosure, I have been a late comer to the gay-rights initiative. For a few years, I believed in this thing about the ‘sanctity of marriage’. I think being a frequent reader at dKos helped change my views.
Part of it was reading about the pain. And the hurt. And the despair. Stories from people who could not participate or enjoy a gift that I had always taken for granted... the gift of marriage.
But more so, it was the stories of love that moved me most. I have certainly known many gays and lesbians in my life, but it was not until coming here that I witnessed the every day, make your coffee, hug at home, stand-behind-at-any cost love that exists at the core of meant-to-be relationships. I think many of you for sharing.
I took my dKos lessons to my bible classes. And my private time with God. And the message I have heard in my heart these past few years is a message of love. Joy. Patience. Peace. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness.
I cried last November in the aftermath of Prop 8. And I was angry this year after the Maine vote. I made my displeasure known in my Facebook status this seek – calling out the 52% who voted to deny marriage rights for all.
And then I saw this reply from my ultra-conservative cousin:
Why are you advocating a vote about gay rights?
Uh-oh. Here it comes. Another keep-gays-in-their-place rant. So I was surprised about where this conversation went.
One thing worse than voting to deny someone their rights...voting to give it to them. No matter which way you vote you have wiped your feet on the constitution.
To my cousin, participating in a vote on whether or not gays should be allowed to marry only went to validate that this is an issue that could be decided by the whim of an electorate. As a conservative, she feels government has no business in people’s private lives.
The very idea that you want to give government the power to grant or deny somebody the rights that you enjoy negates the ideal of the constitution....all men are created equal....gay or not
While she has no problem with gay marriage herself, she says that’s not the point. The conversation was driven more by her commitment to her conservative principles.
I have no right to rob people of their peace of mind, happiness and their choice of how to live their life based upon what I think is right and wrong. My conservative views are based upon that fact that the big ass government should not be telling grown people who are not harming anyone how to live there life.
This got me thinking about a diary posted this week by Something the Dog Said
It is for this reason that democracies have High Courts, and constitutions; so there are some principals, which are the bedrock of a democracy and are not open to popular opinion. These primary concepts are the protection that democracies can provide from the tyranny of the majority.
I don’t know what the answer is... but I was wondering this morning: would Supreme Court conservatives agree with my cousin? what if everyone who wanted to get married just went out and got married? What if every same-sex married couple filed joint tax returns this year and declared themselves married? Who has the ability to legally say you are not under the Constitution of this country?
Anyway... that’s what I was wondering this morning. May today be a blessing for you in every way possible.