At A Moments Notice...

The debate is hot. The conservatives are up in arms, while the liberals it seems really can’t make up their minds. Is it moral to allow people of the same sex to marry? Is it a crime? I’ve watched the news, read the articles and even kept up with Keith’s organization, while carefully developing my stand: Would I Christopher David marry a man?

Whoa.

The thought alone rattles me—not because I believe it is wrong, but because I really never thought it could/would happen. The thought alone is radical. Maybe that’s why I’ve been sorta dragging my feet on the topic. I’m still shocked. In the meantime, here’s an article written by my cousin Eric and his opinion on this national phenomenon.
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The Straight Facts, by E. J. Finkley

Gay Marriage. The mere mention of that phrase can incite feelings to the extreme, in both directions of the emotional scale. At this very moment our country is in the grips of debate as to the legal and moral ramifications of gay marriage. I have read many different articles both for and against gay marriage, yet still the position I have encountered repeatedly are: “The Institution of marriage needs to be preserved”, and: “allowing gays and lesbians to marry will make a mockery of the institution of marriage”. I’ve seen more but I’d be here all week listing them.

Let’s get down to brass tax. This whole debate is useless and hateful. I am of the opinion that any law that discriminates (or excludes) against a specific group is intolerable. I find it amazing that Americans will tolerate such a violation of basic human equality. Many people use the bible as a basis for their position against homosexuality. This is a classic case of selective religion. They say: “The bible says any man who lays with another man has committed an abomination against god.” This is true in terms of what the bible says. But we also have to remember that the bible was written by men, men who sought to control the population of the time with fear and threats of persecution from God if they deviated from the “Divine Plan” set forth by these very same men. Now I am not negating the bible. Like my cousin Mr. David I grew up in the hell fire and brimstone Pentecostal church. I do believe in God. Just not the mean and vengeful God I was taught lived beyond the clouds. Sorry fam. But I have been in and around this block a few more times than someone my age is supposed to. I understand that God created man in his own image. Well then I ask you: which image? Is god black, white, Hindu, Chinese, fat, slim, red headed, blond, dread-locked, gay, straight? Which image is the right one? I’ve read in the bible where God says, “I am the Alpha & Omega the beginning and the end”. In other words the maker is neither he nor she, but all things that make up the colorful spectrum of the human race. He encompasses us all, gay & straight. White and black, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, buddist. It is men who seek to separate and classify and persecute.

We do the most heinous acts in the name of God to justify our stupidity. And the denial of complete and equal rights to a specific group of people based on the bible, and the assumption that so called fags are hated by God and thus unworthy of equal rights under the law is the latest instance of the functionally retarded to justify these discriminatory policies set forth by the state and federal government.

I say let who ever desires to enter into a legal and truthful marriage do so with the full support of the law. My government should not have the power to tell me that my personal (non criminal) choices disqualify me from protection under the law. I consider this attempt to write discrimination into our nation’s constitution a travesty worse than sleeping with a Whitehouse intern.

To those who oppose gay marriage I say this: You are entitled to disagree with the idea of gender loving unions. But I implore you to base your ideas and opinions on independent thoughts as opposed to regurgitating the same reasons heard in the media, preached by bigoted and uninformed clergy and a hateful government. See this as a denial of rights to a group of people instead of the gay culture forcing its “agenda” on you.

Gays & lesbians should be entitled to all the rights, protections & guarantees under the law. If not then this country is as much a menace to the human condition as was the so-called regime in Iraqi and the misogynist leaders of the Taliban.

I look forward to the day when EVERYONE has complete and EQUAL rights in this country. Until then I implore all those within to continue fighting, without doubt, without fear and without fail.

Comments can be e-mailed directly to Eric: ericjfinkley@si.rr.com