Let "Freedom" Ring

Stepping onto my soap box now:

"In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness..."

This is what we sell when we "spread" democracy on other people. We tout the separation of church and state, the benefit of a secular government. Yet we have a shitty record of upholding the words of our own constitution. "That all men are created equal"; they obviously didn't mean to include women in that statement. Women shouldn't have rights! Our society would fall apart if we allowed women to vote! And black people? Please. They are not even human beings. How could we possibly include them in our democratic processes? It says right there in the bible that women and black people are not equal to white males. We can't go against GOD.

Oh, and gay people? They're sinners. They're going to hell for loving one other. How can we allow them the same rights as straight people for Gods sake? If we allow them to file some paper work that says they are legally married our entire society will crumble. I'll have to shield my child’s eyes from expressions of love, like a same sex couple holding hands in public. We'll let them fight for "freedom" sure as long as they don't tell us they're gay. Those pansies won't make it out anyway and we could use the bodies. We all know that those gays don't have those "certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". So instead of voting to secure the rights of men lets all take a vote to make sure that some men and women don't have rights at all. Let’s take away equality under the law. That just makes sense.

Seriously, I ache when I think about all of the pain a judgmental "Christianity"* based "you’re with us or against us" mentality has caused people in this country. Even if you believe that homosexuality is a sin, how do you make the leap to the idea that governmentally forcing your beliefs on other people is a good thing? How can people truly believe that loving someone who happens to have the same anatomy as you, will corrupt our children? I will not ever understand it.

Today I'm voting not to pass an amendment that would ban same sex couples from being allowed to legally join in marriage. It will be an exercise in futility here in Texas. I can only hope that by the time my son is my age he will look back in disbelief that people felt this way. I hope it will be a bad memory that this country once again tried to take away peoples rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Stepping off the soap box.
*Christianity is in quotes because the word as it is used to intimidate, and legislate is not a true representation of that religion. WWJD? I'm thinkin' he wouldn't judge. So there.