Repressing the Rights of American Citizens.
I rarely will write a blog entry about anything political, sexual, or religious... but all of that is about to change right now. For a government to tell the "free citizens" of America who or who they cannot marry because of their sexual orientation based on religious beliefs is wrong. There isn't a gray area in this discussion, no matter how it is argued, it is wrong. Right now we have the supreme court trying to determine if Proposition 8 in California is breaking our Federal government practices and in my opinion, not only does it enflame the prejudices of homosexuality, but it creates a segregation.
That's right... I said segregation. When black people were segregated, they were not allowed to marry each other in the name of the government. Believe or not, in 1967 the supreme court had another decision to make on whether it was legal for interracial couples to marry in 16 other states including Virginia...which a white man and 1/2 African American / 1/2 Native American woman were placed in jail for 1 year for marrying one another. Additionally, because it was illegal for the couple to marry, they were not able to take advantage of the tax breaks afforded to "true married" couples. The religious leaders at the time would interpret the bible as such "Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."
Now if you look at a mixed married, it is no big deal. I personally have had 2 mixed marriages and have caused no harm to anyone and will never understand why anyone else would care how I live my personal life. Yet, here we are again. Another case of repression from a hypocritical religious right that feel that they don't want the government making any decisions on how they have to have health insurance, but want to force their religious beliefs on American citizens to prevent same sex couples from receiving equal tax and corporate rights as everyone else.
Ah yes... let's bring on the Bible. The most often quote about homosexuality is "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." -Leviticus 20:13.
I have had conversations with several of my friends who believe in the Bible and follow the meaning of it. I asked them that since this was the phrase of point in the Bible that is referenced so strongly, are they following the other parts of the same book? Let's only look at Leviticus 20 at first since that is the section that was referenced so easily: "Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones." -Lev 2:2. Molech was another God during the time the books was written. "For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him." -Lev 2:9. "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." -Lev 2:10. Forget divorce, just kill them both. "And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people." -Lev 20:18.
Other of my favorite chapters in Leviticus include: "Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times." -Lev 19:26. "Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee." -Lev 19:19. "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." -Lev 19:27 and I could continue on forever with Leviticus to include no tattoos (I have seen a few cross ones), handicapped peoples approaching the alter, and women being unclean and worth 50-60% less than men.
But this is all the old testament and certain believers feel that the old testament (especially Leviticus) is outdated and loses relevancy.
I guess. I think if your are going to live according to the Bible, quote it as a doctrine, then live by all of it and not just the sections you wish to pick and choose. Of course there are those who live by the spirit of the Bible and that I think is more reasonable in this time of advancement and change.
The new testament also says homosexuality should not happen however, the punishment appears to be less severe. So what are my friend's thoughts on this? They feel the scripture at the time it was written was relevant for the time. However, it has contradictions like love everyone no matter what circumstance and then at the same time consider liars, homosexuals, whores, and magicians an abomination.
But let's get back to the political aspect. I would like to start with the first amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In fact, there is no wording of God, Creator, Jesus or Lord in the Constitution for that reason. There is a reference of Lord in the date, but that was a secular and non-secular reference for a calendar.
This is the separation of church and state. It is the very first amendment and the most important thing the founding fathers felt needed to be addressed. Even though the United States government has already broken this particular rule in adoption the words "in God" into everything from the National Anthem to U.S. Currency. The pledge of allegiance had the "under God" added to the pledge of allegiance in 1954 which was 62 years after it was originally penned.
So now we are down to definitions. We have established that religious beliefs are not to infringe on the rights of U.S. citizens according to the first amendment. We have established that laws made with the intent of punishing U.S. citizens for beliefs are also illegal. So when Resolution 8 in California was passed, it thereby imposed a tax and corporate benefits punishment against U.S. citizens based on their belief that that can marry a same sex person.
As far as your beliefs, I don't care if you believe that only a man and a woman are to be married. You have your beliefs and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you keeping them and following them. But those are your beliefs, and they are not mine. This is why we are a free nation. We are free to follow our own beliefs to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
That's right... I said segregation. When black people were segregated, they were not allowed to marry each other in the name of the government. Believe or not, in 1967 the supreme court had another decision to make on whether it was legal for interracial couples to marry in 16 other states including Virginia...which a white man and 1/2 African American / 1/2 Native American woman were placed in jail for 1 year for marrying one another. Additionally, because it was illegal for the couple to marry, they were not able to take advantage of the tax breaks afforded to "true married" couples. The religious leaders at the time would interpret the bible as such "Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."
Now if you look at a mixed married, it is no big deal. I personally have had 2 mixed marriages and have caused no harm to anyone and will never understand why anyone else would care how I live my personal life. Yet, here we are again. Another case of repression from a hypocritical religious right that feel that they don't want the government making any decisions on how they have to have health insurance, but want to force their religious beliefs on American citizens to prevent same sex couples from receiving equal tax and corporate rights as everyone else.
Ah yes... let's bring on the Bible. The most often quote about homosexuality is "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." -Leviticus 20:13.
I have had conversations with several of my friends who believe in the Bible and follow the meaning of it. I asked them that since this was the phrase of point in the Bible that is referenced so strongly, are they following the other parts of the same book? Let's only look at Leviticus 20 at first since that is the section that was referenced so easily: "Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones." -Lev 2:2. Molech was another God during the time the books was written. "For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him." -Lev 2:9. "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." -Lev 2:10. Forget divorce, just kill them both. "And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people." -Lev 20:18.
Other of my favorite chapters in Leviticus include: "Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times." -Lev 19:26. "Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee." -Lev 19:19. "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." -Lev 19:27 and I could continue on forever with Leviticus to include no tattoos (I have seen a few cross ones), handicapped peoples approaching the alter, and women being unclean and worth 50-60% less than men.
But this is all the old testament and certain believers feel that the old testament (especially Leviticus) is outdated and loses relevancy.
I guess. I think if your are going to live according to the Bible, quote it as a doctrine, then live by all of it and not just the sections you wish to pick and choose. Of course there are those who live by the spirit of the Bible and that I think is more reasonable in this time of advancement and change.
The new testament also says homosexuality should not happen however, the punishment appears to be less severe. So what are my friend's thoughts on this? They feel the scripture at the time it was written was relevant for the time. However, it has contradictions like love everyone no matter what circumstance and then at the same time consider liars, homosexuals, whores, and magicians an abomination.
But let's get back to the political aspect. I would like to start with the first amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In fact, there is no wording of God, Creator, Jesus or Lord in the Constitution for that reason. There is a reference of Lord in the date, but that was a secular and non-secular reference for a calendar.
This is the separation of church and state. It is the very first amendment and the most important thing the founding fathers felt needed to be addressed. Even though the United States government has already broken this particular rule in adoption the words "in God" into everything from the National Anthem to U.S. Currency. The pledge of allegiance had the "under God" added to the pledge of allegiance in 1954 which was 62 years after it was originally penned.
So now we are down to definitions. We have established that religious beliefs are not to infringe on the rights of U.S. citizens according to the first amendment. We have established that laws made with the intent of punishing U.S. citizens for beliefs are also illegal. So when Resolution 8 in California was passed, it thereby imposed a tax and corporate benefits punishment against U.S. citizens based on their belief that that can marry a same sex person.
As far as your beliefs, I don't care if you believe that only a man and a woman are to be married. You have your beliefs and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you keeping them and following them. But those are your beliefs, and they are not mine. This is why we are a free nation. We are free to follow our own beliefs to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Comments