Op-Ed Piece: Federal Marriage Amendment
 

I just submitted this op-ed to my paper, and in case it doesn't get printed, I wanted to share it:

The other day, at the Alliance Hospital, 225 Concerned Citizens prayed together. That day 1370 people were murdered in the United States. 225 Concerned Citizens prayed together. 86,400 women suffered from acts of domestic violence. 225 Concerned Citizens prayed together. 47 people died as a result of alcohol related incidents. 225 Concerned Citizens prayed together.
These Concerned Citizens did not pray for the murder victim’s families. These Concerned Citizens did not pray for the abused women. These Concerned Citizens did not pray for the families of the drunk driving victims. They gathered together to pray for the United States Senate to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment. This made the front page of the Odessa American, not the victims, not the women, not the children. This is Christian charity at it's worst. Do we really need to spend this time and energy denying taxpaying US Citizens the rights that they deserve?
We keep hearing about the sanctity of marriage being threatened by same-sex couples from the pulpit, the TV, and the radio. Does Britney Spears' 55-hour marriage not fly in the face of this sanctity? Why are we not organizing prayer for her? What about Jennifer Lopez' 3rd marriage? How many teenage girls are pregnant and married by 17, divorced by 18? I don't understand why two people wanting to make a lifelong commitment and enjoy the over 1100 federal benefits this entails is more of an affront to marriage than the above-mentioned escapades.
I understand churches that teach that homosexuality is a sin not wanting to sanctify these unions. They don't have to. No church is required by law to host or perform a heterosexual marriage, and they should not be required to do the same for homosexual ones. Catholic churches do not recognize divorce, but is recognized by the government. Gay Marriage is not about an affront to religion, Christian or otherwise. It is about two people wanting to commit to each other and be able to count on the US Government to grant the same 1100 rights that entails. It is a Civil Action.
The Constitution has historically served to expand liberty and equality - by abolishing slavery and giving women the right to vote, among other rights. This amendment would mark the first that a specific group of Americans, namely same-sex couples and their children (Yes, many same-sex couples have children), would be singled out and denied rights and discriminated against in the US Constitution. This amendment is nothing more than legislative Gay Bashing.
Instead of pulling the country together to fight terrorism and meet our common challenges, out Compassionate Conservative President has decided to divide our country with a long and bitter political battle that will drag our Constitution through the mud.
It is interesting that President Bush again called for the amendment during the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. The President stated he was deeply disturbed by the 'Activist Judges' in Massachusetts. On March 12, 1956, 81 members of Congress signed a resolution condemning Brown as a "Clear abuse of judicial power," and as part of an alleged "trend in the federal judiciary to legislate, in derogation of the authority of Congress, and to encroach upon the reserved rights of the people." Sounds familiar.
Does the 14th amendment guarantee equal protection under the law? This is what we are asking for, equal protection. I want my partner to be able to get my social security, to be covered under my health insurance. I don't want to be a second-class citizen.
This country was founded on the separation of the Church and the State. Proponents of same-sex marriage are not asking the Church to condone anything they do not want to. We just have to realize that marriage in the church and the marriage license are two different things.
There is a solution for this. Change the wording of the Marriage License. All licenses should be called Civil Union Licenses. Solely the Church in religious ceremonies can use the word marriage. It would grant same-sex couples all the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts, and the Church could breathe easier.
When you look at all of the other problems facing the world, why round up 225 people to pray on this when there are better uses of prayer.

Awesomely said. Exactly what these people need to understand when it comes to being "concerned." I seriously think the religious portion of the United States needs to take a good look at their efforts and concerns...possibly consider putting them to better use. It makes me sick.

Great job! I really hope this sees print...

Excellent. :thumbsup:

Excellent letter, Randy.
I hope it's printed, and I hope it opens a few eyes. Perhaps not the eyes of those 225 "Concerned Citizens," or people exactly like them... but rather the eyes of those who wonder why gay marriage and gay rights are an issue at all, and feel that it's a trivial matter.

Well done, RoR.

- Jake

Well, Here it is a week later and I have not seen it in print. I re-emailed it and will continue to do so until it sees print or I get a reason why not.

Randy

Randy, I'll say the same thing to you that I said to Johnny the other day: Thank you for saying so eloquently what I find it nearly impossible to say without resorting to name-calling and fist-clenching and banging my head against the wall in despair.

As far as I'm concerned, the world would be a much nicer place if all the Bible-beating KKKristians who for some reason enthusiastically support politicans that callously turn their backs on the needy in direct defiance of Jesus' express instructions, but who are foaming at the mouth over a group of supposed sinners about whom Jesus never even uttered a word, would all be hearded into a giant spaceship and blasted away into the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

And yes, I know it's a free country and these people are entitled to their opinions, even though their opinions involve putting limits on my freedom. But I'm equally entitled to be offended by their very existence. :mad:

Anyway, I hope your local paper has the balls to print your very well-written article.

Eileen

The op-ed finally saw print today!

Randy

Congratualtions. I'm sure it will get great feedback.

- Jake

Congratulations, Randy--that was a great piece and I'm glad it saw the light of day!

That was a great writing, and congrats on getting it posted..hopefully like you said, this will make some understand...In fact it actually helps us who wish to argue this issue...I too find it often hard to articulate what I think on this very hotly debated issue.

Chris

Congratulations. :thumbsup: