The Inside Assyria Discussion Forum #5

=> Gay Marriage Vote

Gay Marriage Vote

Posted by pancho (Moderator) - Wednesday, November 5 2008, 0:49:51 (CET)
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What a debt of gratitude we owe Afro-Americans, women and Gay people for challenging our laws and Constitution to expand freedom and equality for us all. The current battle in California to make Gay marriage against the law is an excellent mirror into our souls.

In the first place...what are churches doing contributing so much money to a political campaign? America is not a Christian nation...we are not governed by Sharia law. The United States is a country where people have the right to be of any religion or no religion at all...without one branch trying to impose itself on the rest of us.

If Christians don’t like Gay marriage...then let them not become Gay and not get married if they do. I don’t like what Christians teach their children...what they teach in their churches and basement madrassahs...but that’s none of my political business...they have that right, under the same laws that protect me, to teach as they please...no matter what I think of it. Likewise Gay people getting married is none of their political business...if it offends their religious sensibilities...so what?

And this bullshit about “the people have spoken”...so that whatever they vote into law has to be allowed...that’s a crock spewed by people who don’t know where they live. This is America...not Bangladesh. In this country a majority of the voters can NOT impose their will or prejudice on the rest of us...it is precisely the DUTY of the judiciary to review all laws, no matter how popular, to see if they conform with our Constitution...otherwise slavery or any number of popular fads could become the law of the land...just because enough assholes wanted it that way.

Marriage is NOT religious. It is a CIVIL contract in this country...the right of the church to marry people is GIVEN to them by our government. Marriage is about equality....there is no reason to deny people their RIGHT to marry just because you don’t like their sexual orientation...or looks, or lifestyles. Who gave Christians sole ownership over marriage? Gays aren’t asking to be married in churches, they’re asking to be allowed to marry...anywhere and anyhow they wish. And if some churches will marry them, so much the better...and those who refuse, refuse. No one is going to force them. However...and this may be behind the mad rush to outlaw Gay marriage: what if it becomes the law that Gay people have every right to marry...and to marry Catholic or Pentacostal...can any church, any church that receives tax breaks from OUR government, practice discrimination...? Now THERE’s an interesting point. If a church is completely private, like a country club, can it decide who its membership can be? Of course. If Italians want to start an Italian Club, they can limit membership and benefits to Italians...but not if they get a tax break from OUR government....

The Boy Scouts found this out when they decided to ban Gay youngsters...they could do it, but it cost them lots of freebees they were getting from state, federal and local governments...because we, the people...ALL the people, don’t want to support organizations that discriminate based on gender, race, religion etc...because it is contrary to our guiding principles and laws.

So, maybe this is what motivates churches so much to beat this thing into the ground. They’re looking down the road to the day when Gay marriage will ultimately triumph, and it will, and seeing that a time could come when their tax advantages, which the rest of us must cover with our own taxes, could be in jeopardy if they discriminate.

They’ll cry that their religious rights are being denied...no, no. Their right to get a tax break while discriminating is being denied...not their religious beliefs....no religion has the right to get a tax advantage AND discriminate in a law-abiding country. If they wish to continue, fine. No one can force them to marry gay people, as long as they give up the tax advantage...and maybe that’ the blessing in all of this...that many dime-store churches will fold and stop spreading their hateful messages...AND lose the federal vouchers they never should have gotten in the first place.

It is precisely the fact that a law must be in harmony with our founding principles that makes America great...because we’re a nation of laws...and not of fads or the moment...or bare majorities. Perhaps it’s a good thing this issue comes down to a plebiscite...if Gay marriage is outlawed the judiciary will review it and hopefully strike it down.

The issue isn’t about morals....or religion...or how Christians “feel” about marriage...the issue is EQUAL RIGHTS for United States citizens...and as such churches have no business backing any position. If they want to play politics then they should lose their tax-exempt status...maybe the ACLU will get involved.

For too long Christian groups have hidden their politics behind Jesus in the smug knowledge that most people will back off criticizing them...or suing them. That has to stop. The rest of us have to come out and say that Jesus has nothing to do with the evangelical movement and expose these fuckers wherever they try to hide.

The issue is equality, not religion...not even marriage per se...just equal treatment for all citizens. The church, need we say it, was also opposed to abolition and women’s rights...and ethnic rights. The church is against anything that opens up human experience...gets us out from their smoky mausoleums and crypts.

I may just marry a Gay woman.

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