DOMA Struck Down

I know, I know, I know ... you're probably overwhelmed and tired of hearing about it already.  But, what is one more post, right?  Wouldn't be social media unless we *all* put our two cents in!

I want to start with a warning label - I'm about to royally tick a lot of you off.  I'm going to apologize in advance for that.  Not because I'm sorry for what I'm about to say, but because I know that there are a lot of you that are just going to disagree, might be angry with me, will have several choice words for me ... that saddens me.  But by now, all of you should know that when I stick my neck out to say something important, it is because I feel very strongly about it.

I've mentioned before that I have friends that believe all things, from the very conservative right-wingers, to the very liberal left, and everywhere in the middle and beyond.  I've always fallen somewhere in the middle, and that seems to annoy everyone.  But today?  Today I'm pretty strong to one side of the fence.

And with that, you've been warned.

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I did not support DOMA, or what it stood for, and I'm relieved that the Supreme Court struck it down.  I know, you conservatives probably just freaked out.  Again, sorry.  Whether you've known me for years and years, or have only been reading for five minutes, you have probably gathered that I'm a pragmatic realist, and while I see the world in thousands of colors, I'm very black and white when it comes to the law.

~  Separation of Church and State:  Can we please just *start* here?!?  I think if we did more often, we wouldn't have as many issues as we do.  Look folks, I don't care what religion you are, it can NOT have influence on our laws.  Period.  The end.

~  Allowing sin:  Most of my Christian friends argue that homosexuality is a sin, and by allowing homosexuals to marry then we are allowing them to sin.  Ok, I see that, really I do.  But, by that same logic, then we should ban the sale of alcohol to alcoholics, refuse entry to casinos by gamblers, and ban buffets for over-eaters.  And please don't argue that it is different, because it really really isn't.

~  It is Ceasar's:  Jesus tells us to "give to Ceasear what is his" (Luke 20:25).  While, this applies directly to paying taxes, I have heard many sermons over the years that instruct that Jesus was teaching that we are to obey the laws of our land.  When we declared that "all men are created equal", we weren't just whistling in the wind.  Our great country has clarified this over the years ... "all men" went from just white men to men of all color, and then to men and women.  We should not stop at sexual orientation.  We The People should not be able to pick and choose who get rights, it has taken us 200 years to learn that lesson, but we need to keep remembering what our forefathers were trying to do.

~  Jesus wants us to love - FIRST:  By showing hatred and bigotry to homosexuals, we are sinning.  Jesus does NOT tell us to love only those who are rich, straight, and obedient.  He wants us to love each other without blinders, and without binding others.  By saying only certain people can have rights?  That isn't showing love at all.

Again, I know I have ticked off a lot of you, but I hope that you can understand why I feel the way I do.  I know many people who are going to enjoy the legal freedoms that this is going to bring, legal freedom that I enjoy every single day.  And it is never going to be my job to choose who gets to do what.


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Whenever I post something on this blog, I *always* read it to Hubby first.  He knows my brain better than anyone, and he knows that all of my thoughts get jumbled up inside.  While writing makes some of that better, I still get lost.  Having his input ensures that I'm being as clear as possible, as well as making sure that I don't write anything that he isn't comfortable with.  After writing this post, we got into a very colorful discussion, and I've decided to add a few things, just so that I'm perfectly clear.

As a Christian, I very much do believe that homosexuality is a sin.  But, where my point of view differs from so many of the talking heads that are crowding the airwaves ... I don't feel the need to control others or their actions.  (Well, ok, outside of my own family, because y'all know I *am* a bit of a control freak, but whaves, I digress.)  I believe that eternally, there will be a price to pay for homosexuality, just as many of us will pay the price for our sins.  (Like hatred - are you listening Westboro?)

If we were a Christian Nation, or a Muslim Nation, or An Any Other Religion Out There Nation, this would be an entirely different story.  But we're not.  We are a Non-Denominational Nation.  We are a Nation that has declared that our religious beliefs must be completely separated from how we govern.  It is a sticky wicket.  It is so easy to want to govern with our whole hearts, and what we believe - especially because so many of our laws are Biblical anyway, like theft and murder.

I don't have to agree with something to recognize the importance it has in the lives of other people.  There are lots of things out there that I find abhorrent and wish I could abolish forever, but it just isn't that easy.  And that is where I find stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I know so many who feel the same way.

We all enjoy many freedoms in this country, it is just my wish that we all enjoy them equally.  Freedom of Speech is always at the top of my list.  I will always listen to, support, and defend whatever comments any of you have, but on my blog, Freedom of Speech does not include hatred.  So, if you do respond, keep in mind that I won't tolerate any of that nonsense here.  Much obliged.