- Joined
- Jun 1, 2006
- Posts
- 1,056
- Media
- 2
- Likes
- 494
- Points
- 593
- Location
- D.C., DC, USA
- Sexuality
- 69% Straight, 31% Gay
- Gender
- Male
I'm writing this for multiple reasons. The second reason is because a friend of mine told me that he would like to see me blog about this topic. The first reason is because of my frustration with this matter.
I feel the need to express my thoughts on the matter of Proposition 8 because it really hits home for me in more ways than one. I feel that the ban of gay marriages is unethical, and a decision based on pure prejudice. I say that because the main argument that you always hear in regards to this topic is the "sanctity of marriage". That doesn't work for me by any means. I've taken it upon myself to get a bit friendly with my dictionary, and while doing so, I decided to look up the definition of the word sanctity.
sanc⋅ti⋅ty
[sangk-ti-tee] S
noun, plural -ties.
1.holiness, saintliness, or godliness.
2.sacred or hallowed character: the inviolable sanctity of the temple.
3.a sacred thing.
After reading the definition sanctity, that then took me to the word sacred.
sa⋅cred
[sey-krid]
adjective
1.devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2.entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3.pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular or profane ): sacred music; sacred books.
4.reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5.regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6.secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.
7.properly immune from violence, interference, etc., as a person or office.
And sacred then took me to the word reverence.
rev⋅er⋅ence
[rev-er-uhns, rev-ruhns]
noun, verb, -enced, -enc⋅ing.
noun
1.a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.
2.the outward manifestation of this feeling: to pay reverence.
3.a gesture indicative of deep respect; an obeisance, bow, or curtsy.
4.the state of being revered.
5.(initial capital letter) a title used in addressing or mentioning a member of the clergy (usually prec. by your or his).
verb (used with object)
6.to regard or treat with reverence; venerate: One should reverence God and His laws.
So is it being said that gay marriage is against the feeling or attitude of marriage, or am I lost in the translation?
I can respect the argument that marriage is to be an honored commitment between two individuals in the eyes of God. However, this is America, and it's my right to have a freedom of religion. With that being said, not all of us view God in the same way as others. And my God doesn't discriminate against race, religion, or sexual orientation. You can sum up the words of my God in one beautiful sentence; Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. And when you think about it, every religion that you could think of preaches the same message in the end.
I think it's ridiculous that this has become such an issue. I don't understand how so many Americans can vote for such a proposal that would limit the civil-rights of others; your loved ones. Yes! Your loved ones, I mean- it's time to get real. It's 2008- everyone has a gay relative. You may not be aware that a relative of yours is gay, but everyone has a gay relative. Deal with it. If your son or daughter, brother, sister, mother, father, cousin, aunt or uncle, told you they were gay, wouldn't you want all the happiness in the world for them?
Because of religious zealots, we have developed social norms which have concluded that homosexuality is just one the worst things. It's been a lifestyle lived commonly during the times of the ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans, and in Africa, Asia, Europe, and even in early America with the Native Americans. It really makes one wonder- has our society tried to save us from sin, or it's own hatred and intolerance? It can't be sin, because we all commit sins daily, even without realizing it. And if it has been the case, we cannot pick and choose which sins are "okay" and which are taboo; because then you're preaching hypocrisy. I was once told by a pastor that there is no big sin, nor little sin. Sin is sin. And with that being true, God will be my judge, not man. And my sins are my business, just like yours are your own.
To the supporters of Proposition 8, I wish your church would stay away from my civil-rights. I can assure you that a good number of your marriages are fraud, and you'd never know it. Because of your fanatical teachings, more lives than you realize have been damaged because of the intolerance you often preach. If you only knew how many "closeted" gay men and women have lived lies, have married and had children, you'd be astounded. I should know, I'm the product of one. And because of these teachings, we have politicians who allegedly seek same-sex encounters in public restrooms, or engage in same-sex relationships outside of their marriages. What about the pain that causes families? And I'm sure that a good number of you had negative things to say about the movie "Brokeback Mountain"- a love story about two married men with children, who meet up every so often to be together. The damage that was done to the families in that film is the result of your teachings of intolerance. It may have been just a movie to you, but for some that's life, and a sad life it is.
So instead of trying to protect "the sanctity of marriage", you should focus more of your own. Because I dare each and everyone of you to get online, go to a gay chat room, and sit there. You'll see a good number of men and women seeking long-term relationships, or maybe just one night stands. But the number of married individuals promiscuously seeking same-sex encounters would blow your mind. If you do this, I'll warn you now that the married men and women you see may be your own husbands and wives.
Whatever happened to separation of church and state? With the existence of that separation, this shouldn't even be an issue. It brings back a memory from about two years ago. I remember discussing with my mother that if gay marriage was going to be banned, then I would like to see a ban on divorce. If you're trying to protect "the sanctity of marriage", then divorce should have never been an issue for your own marriage. This may upset a good number of people, and I don't see why it should. It was your choice to make a promise, a commitment, a vow to another human-being in the eyes of God. The same promise, the same commitment, the same vow you're willing to deny gay Americans the opportunity to make.
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." -Matthew 19:6
If you support Proposition 8, I urge you to join the fight against divorce! Because if your reason for being against gay marriage is all under God, then I don't see this being a problem for you. And I for one will not just sit here and let you deny me the right to make a promise to another human-being, while you get the chance to break it.
Thanks for reading!
Dante'
I feel the need to express my thoughts on the matter of Proposition 8 because it really hits home for me in more ways than one. I feel that the ban of gay marriages is unethical, and a decision based on pure prejudice. I say that because the main argument that you always hear in regards to this topic is the "sanctity of marriage". That doesn't work for me by any means. I've taken it upon myself to get a bit friendly with my dictionary, and while doing so, I decided to look up the definition of the word sanctity.
sanc⋅ti⋅ty
[sangk-ti-tee] S
noun, plural -ties.
1.holiness, saintliness, or godliness.
2.sacred or hallowed character: the inviolable sanctity of the temple.
3.a sacred thing.
After reading the definition sanctity, that then took me to the word sacred.
sa⋅cred
[sey-krid]
adjective
1.devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2.entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3.pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular or profane ): sacred music; sacred books.
4.reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5.regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6.secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.
7.properly immune from violence, interference, etc., as a person or office.
And sacred then took me to the word reverence.
rev⋅er⋅ence
[rev-er-uhns, rev-ruhns]
noun, verb, -enced, -enc⋅ing.
noun
1.a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.
2.the outward manifestation of this feeling: to pay reverence.
3.a gesture indicative of deep respect; an obeisance, bow, or curtsy.
4.the state of being revered.
5.(initial capital letter) a title used in addressing or mentioning a member of the clergy (usually prec. by your or his).
verb (used with object)
6.to regard or treat with reverence; venerate: One should reverence God and His laws.
So is it being said that gay marriage is against the feeling or attitude of marriage, or am I lost in the translation?
I can respect the argument that marriage is to be an honored commitment between two individuals in the eyes of God. However, this is America, and it's my right to have a freedom of religion. With that being said, not all of us view God in the same way as others. And my God doesn't discriminate against race, religion, or sexual orientation. You can sum up the words of my God in one beautiful sentence; Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. And when you think about it, every religion that you could think of preaches the same message in the end.
I think it's ridiculous that this has become such an issue. I don't understand how so many Americans can vote for such a proposal that would limit the civil-rights of others; your loved ones. Yes! Your loved ones, I mean- it's time to get real. It's 2008- everyone has a gay relative. You may not be aware that a relative of yours is gay, but everyone has a gay relative. Deal with it. If your son or daughter, brother, sister, mother, father, cousin, aunt or uncle, told you they were gay, wouldn't you want all the happiness in the world for them?
Because of religious zealots, we have developed social norms which have concluded that homosexuality is just one the worst things. It's been a lifestyle lived commonly during the times of the ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans, and in Africa, Asia, Europe, and even in early America with the Native Americans. It really makes one wonder- has our society tried to save us from sin, or it's own hatred and intolerance? It can't be sin, because we all commit sins daily, even without realizing it. And if it has been the case, we cannot pick and choose which sins are "okay" and which are taboo; because then you're preaching hypocrisy. I was once told by a pastor that there is no big sin, nor little sin. Sin is sin. And with that being true, God will be my judge, not man. And my sins are my business, just like yours are your own.
To the supporters of Proposition 8, I wish your church would stay away from my civil-rights. I can assure you that a good number of your marriages are fraud, and you'd never know it. Because of your fanatical teachings, more lives than you realize have been damaged because of the intolerance you often preach. If you only knew how many "closeted" gay men and women have lived lies, have married and had children, you'd be astounded. I should know, I'm the product of one. And because of these teachings, we have politicians who allegedly seek same-sex encounters in public restrooms, or engage in same-sex relationships outside of their marriages. What about the pain that causes families? And I'm sure that a good number of you had negative things to say about the movie "Brokeback Mountain"- a love story about two married men with children, who meet up every so often to be together. The damage that was done to the families in that film is the result of your teachings of intolerance. It may have been just a movie to you, but for some that's life, and a sad life it is.
So instead of trying to protect "the sanctity of marriage", you should focus more of your own. Because I dare each and everyone of you to get online, go to a gay chat room, and sit there. You'll see a good number of men and women seeking long-term relationships, or maybe just one night stands. But the number of married individuals promiscuously seeking same-sex encounters would blow your mind. If you do this, I'll warn you now that the married men and women you see may be your own husbands and wives.
Whatever happened to separation of church and state? With the existence of that separation, this shouldn't even be an issue. It brings back a memory from about two years ago. I remember discussing with my mother that if gay marriage was going to be banned, then I would like to see a ban on divorce. If you're trying to protect "the sanctity of marriage", then divorce should have never been an issue for your own marriage. This may upset a good number of people, and I don't see why it should. It was your choice to make a promise, a commitment, a vow to another human-being in the eyes of God. The same promise, the same commitment, the same vow you're willing to deny gay Americans the opportunity to make.
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." -Matthew 19:6
If you support Proposition 8, I urge you to join the fight against divorce! Because if your reason for being against gay marriage is all under God, then I don't see this being a problem for you. And I for one will not just sit here and let you deny me the right to make a promise to another human-being, while you get the chance to break it.
Thanks for reading!
Dante'