Ok.
What I have a hard time understanding is why people are having such a hard time with this decision. Like, did they not see this coming? This is an issue that has been coming for quite some time now.
I have several thoughts that go on both ends of the spectrum. I'm going to throw out my thoughts, issues, comments, etc... and then talk about what I really think about the whole thing in general.
1. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Last I checked, (literally just now. Like not even 30 seconds ago) America was supposed to be a land of tolerance. If I may quote the Declaration of Independence, "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."
Yeah...ok...
So a couple things here. First of all, how about everyone quit throwing a fit now that we are treating homosexual marriages equal to heterosexual marriages in regards to the law. The law doesn't say it's morally right or anything. It's just the governments way of saying, "we're ok with that being a thing now." It doesn't change most people's daily lives. It gives homosexual couples a few legal breaks. That's all! (More on this later. So if it's still bothering you from a legal standpoint just hang in there.) And for that matter, hows 'bout people stop throwing a fit about allowing people from other countries into our borders. Hows 'bout stop throwing a fit about instructions being written in English and Spanish. Cuz you know what, you go to a lot of countries around the world and signs are in the primary language and usually one or two other languages as well. It's called being considerate. Other people live here other than middle class white people with English derived names. Just calm down.
Here's another thing on this thing. If America believes "...all men are created equal" how come it's just now a thing that gay marriage is the same legally as straight marriage? How come black people couldn't vote until 100 YEARS after the whole "...all men are created equal" bit was written? How come it was still super difficult for black people to vote until ANOTHER 100 YEARS after that? And I'm not even getting into women's rights, or Irish people, or Chinese people, or Mexican people, or basically anyone-trying-to-live-in-the-Americas-who-didn't-come-from-England people.
2. Common practice vs. Religion
So here's what's going to happen: gay couple wants to get married, church says, "no, we won't marry you," gay couple says, "ok, then we'll sue you because gay marriage is legal." Where does that leave us then? That leaves us at the crossroads of yes, the law says that gay marriage is legal and states cannot deny gay marriages but church's still have their own religious beliefs and convictions.
No, this may not be a problem right now but it will happen. American law has this obnoxious habit of treating a people group poorly, deciding that was a bad idea, and then giving them benefits beyond equality. This does not include the American people. We're jerks. I'm saying the law, the paperwork, does this. We've already got people suing christian bakeries (so what, do they only do unleavened cakes?) for not doing a gay wedding cake. We also have people in an uproar at Chik-fil-a because someone went out of their way to ask the owner about their stance on homosexuality. Really? You had to ask? And then people acted shocked to find out a Christian was against homosexuality!
How is this surprising?!?!
If we have this kind of nonsensicalness going on now then it won't be long until someone tries to sue a church they know won't marry them for not marrying them. So, does that mean I can walk up to the Mormon temple, ask to be married there, be denied (fyi I'm not Mormon), and then sue them for discriminating?
I hope not! Cuz that'd be stupid!
Someone is going to have to deal with this issue in the future. And I'm glad I'm not involved in law!
3. "Maawaaage. Mawage is wat bwings us togetha today..."
WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT CARE?!?!
What difference does it make whether the people living under this roof are straight or gay? (Or lesbian, I guess because, for some reason, we felt it necessary to give them their own label.) Seriously? Why?
Why not just give tax benefits and all that other stuff (I know you get more than tax benefits for marriage) to people living together at all? Like college roommates? Two people who want to save money on rent so they live together in a medium sized house? Three people who want to save money on rent so they live together in a slightly larger medium sized house? Too much paperwork? That can't be the case...IT'S THE GOVERNMENT!
On a side note: I think organizations feed off the amount of paperwork they have. The larger the organization the more paperwork necessary to keep it well fed and healthy.
The only argument I've heard as to why the government gives legal preference to married couples is to nurture a concept of a stable family to strengthen society.
Wow, if that isn't 1950s popular opinion propaganda I don't know what is.
Ok, I understand the concept and I can see where it comes from. But then why don't they give tax breaks to people who, let's say, don't cheat on their spouses? Don't watch porn? Don't gamble? Don't smoke indoors with their kids? Follow any other pick of randomly decided American social norms?
So sure, I figure if the government is gonna stick it's ideals into my marriage and my life, why not other people's too? I mean, just be consistent with it.
Or they could just not care (like they should) and continue on with more important things. Honestly, it would be cheaper to just not give anyone tax breaks and say, "here are the taxes...for everyone. Now pay them" and be done with it.
But that would require less paperwork and as we've discussed, I'm pretty sure the government entity would starve and die.
4. Where does it stop...
Homosexual marriage is now legal and equal in the eyes of the law to heterosexual marriage. Ok. What next?
How long before polygamy is accepted and legal? How long before marriage to 12 year old kids is legal? How long before marriage to animals is legal? How long before marriage to artificial humans is legal?
Now, I'm not saying that legalizing homosexual marriage is going to be the downfall of American civilization. And I think to say so is pretty outrageous. However, I do think it is showing a common trend in the American government and in American society as a whole.
This is going to be a bold statement. Some people will hate me for it and label me a traitor or whatever. (honestly...don't care) And others will see what I mean and run with it. Most will never read this post and they'll keep on living however they were living anyways.
America is no longer a country of freedom. In fact, as I've mentioned previously, I don't think it ever was. I think America wanted to be a country of freedom, but it never fully realized that idea. America today is a country of entitlement. And entitlement is different than freedom.
"...that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
Life: "The condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death."
Here in America you should be allowed to live unless, by your life and actions, you are threatening or ending the lives of others.
Unless you are an unborn child...
I'm not going to get into that right now, however, I will say that is it disgusting how often parents whose unborn children test positive for Down's Syndrome are advised to abort.
The child will live. The birth will not have complications. The mother is not a rape victim. You have no arguments. The parents are advised to abort.
Liberty: "the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views."
Here in America you should have certain liberties. Your way of life, behavior, and political views cannot (rather, should not) be restricted unless they are restricting the way of life, behavior, or political views of another.
Pursuit of happiness.
Here in America you should be able to pursue what makes you happy. Unless your happiness comes at the unwilling consent of another person or from another person's distress.
The way it works is similar in theory to Isaac Asimov's the three laws of robotics. Each of these things are true and acceptable as long as they do not hinder another person's access to these three things. These concepts work as long as they do not deny someone else these very same concepts. (not an exact match but a similar concept)
(only 5 kudo points for knowing where the titles for points 1 and 3 came from but a full plate of yummy imaginary cookies if you've seen the movie! And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to go watch The Princess Bride. Like...right now)
And now for my personal opinion on gay marriage and the whole thing.
[drum roll...]
I believe that homosexuality is a sin.
[cymbals clash...]
I do not simply believe this because I was taught to believe it or because it is convenient or because I'm a republican (which I'm not [more on that later]). I believe that because I looked up a bunch of verses in the Bible and that's what I believe it says.
Here's some searches for you to do on your own if you want.
Genesis 2:20-24. God made man. God then made a helper for man. God made a woman. He didn't make a woman and then another man and let Adam decide. It was pretty straightforward.
Mark 10:6-9. Talks a bit about the above verse.
Romans 1:21-27. Spells it out.
1 Corinthians 6:7-10. etc...
Leviticus 18:22. etc...
Leviticus 20:13. etc...
I'm sorry (only kinda) but people who say the Bible isn't clear on the issue of homosexuality just aren't paying attention. Or lying...but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.
That being said, I believe that there are A LOT of ways that people sin! Lying, stealing, being disrespectful, gossiping, murder, slander, idolatry, abuse, adultery, etc... And I also believe the verse that says, "For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23). It doesn't say, "For the wages of some sins is death but others less so." Or, "For the wages of homosexuality is death but lying and cheating on your wife you can just say a prayer and you're ok."
HOWEVER, I do not have a problem with homosexual people. Well, you know, other than the ones who irritate my pet peeves, or cut me off in traffic, or insult my mom, or something. Ok, so I don't have problems with homosexual people any more than I have problems with other people in general.
Ok, how's this: homosexuality does not bother me. I don't see why people feel the need to pick on some sins more than others. Just...calm down.
I believe there are bigger problems with American society today than whether or not the Supreme Court legalizes homosexual marriage. Like a complete lack of a moral center (or any kind of philosophical center for that matter other than "don't pester loud people). The lack of concern for posterity. The complete disconnect between the American people and the politicians charged with running the country. The lack of concern with the well-being of the society as a whole and the obsession with ourselves and getting what we want when we want it the way we want it regardless of its cost and inconvenience to others. The dichotomy of a decreasing sense of objectification and the increase of labels and standardization. The confusion between and the words "want" and "need."
We're so busy popping pills trying to alleviate a headache that we've completely missed the tumor causing it.
We're medicating todlers instead of teaching them to behave. We're teaching high school students to pass tests instead of teaching them to learn. We're rewarding adults for laziness instead of helping them achieve.
And so many Christians think that everything would be ok if we would go back to our founding father's good Christian morals. That this is God's country and we're turning away from him and that's why all these evil laws are being passed and heathens are running rampant in the streets.
As if religion has it any better.
Last I looked there were pastors losing their jobs for sleeping with women in the congregation only to go to a different building and start a new church. There were churches being torn apart because some of the people can't stand that there's a woman standing in front of them leading the praise songs. There entire debates at meetings comprised of leaders from all across a geographic region about issues that should never have even been brought up because they are directly opposed to the Book of Church Order.
If America is supposed to be a country based of freedom then so be it. I like it here! I like what the Declaration of Independence says and I like what the Bill of Rights says. I just wish we'd follow them. That being said, some things are going to pass in the name of freedom that I don't agree with. And you know what? I'm ok with that. Because to me, it's worth living here.
You don't like the way something happened? Well, phooey. Just get used to it. This is life and it's gonna happen a lot.
So I guess the theme of this post would be...
And move on.
(and no. no kudo points for this reference. it is its own reference.)
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