Home of the Free?
The US Senate once again (by a narrow margin) decided that it might still be alright to be gay. I guess we should be happy, but what does this debate really mean? I feel the need to air my opinion on this topic, because I believe it to be of great importance to our nation.
The Truth Shall Set You Free
I took a good long look at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence the other day. This whole gay union/marriage debate had me wondering about what our founding fathers might have said about the topic. Luckily this view was easy to find detailed out:
“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.” (US History.org)
Interesting indeed. While many will point to reference to “their Creator” as specific intent for a religious interpretation of this phrase, I doubt that sentiment. If we take just that one piece of the Declaration it seems like our great founders wished for us to treat all people equally under the law in order to ensure domestic peace. I also take the word “all” as absolute. All mean are created equal… not most men, not some men, not those men. That statement seems to be made to limit our ability to judge and selectively attack different populations of people.
I also believe with the specific call to separate church and state that is explicit in our government that we cannot thereby separate any group of people on any religious basis. At least that seems rational to me. Actually it sounds fair, just, and noble to me.
And Freedom Shall Be The Truth
Gay marriage. The term doesn’t look that frightening. It has never started wars like the words Fascism or Communism or Holy Land have. As a matter of fact, I have never heard of a gay rights militia bombing any buildings or shooting anyone either. If I happen to be wrong about that, please, send me the evidence so I may be corrected.
As it stands though, the whole debate about gay rights feels pointless to me. Not because we should ignore the rights of our citizens, but because we are debating who should have or not have rights. The very notion of denying citizens rights in the home of The Free makes me cringe. It also makes me very scared about the state of our country when we go from worrying about equal opportunity to religious discrimination. Basing any constitutional amendment on Christian dogma is fundamentally against what our nation of freedom of worship stands for.
Yes we were founded by Christians. I understand this. I do not hate Christians. I also happen to have gay friends I do not hate either.
Maybe we should refocus on doing the right thing. Maybe we should go back to finding those people who have been denied rights and freeing them. We should put away the shackles our history has been marked with before, shackles that many communities still feel the bonds of. We should continue setting an example of freedom in the world!
After all, what does it say to countries we pressure to reform when we set rules on who deserves freedom. What do we say to countries that oppress women when we do not stand for love. What do we tell nations that persecute minorities when we stigmatize and marginalize our own minorities. And what do we tell nations committing ethnic genocide when we freely discriminate on the same basis they have chosen their enemies.
I love my country, I love the ideals we stand for, I love our citizens. And I hope that makes sense to you.
Chris Schaffer
10 Responses to “Home of the Free?”
By Ashley on Jun 9, 2006 | Reply
I am glad someone is saying this! Personally i plan to email this site to all my friends…. the government never ceases to amaze me… the shit we waste time and money on… amazing isn’t it?
By Tracy on Jun 9, 2006 | Reply
I couldn’t have said it better, my friend. Thank you for not being afraid to voice your opinion so publicly. It gives me hope that, one day, we will all reach that realization and truely be the land of the free and home of the brave. Where all can find the happiness they rightly deserve, without discrimination, or fear.
By Kristy on Jun 10, 2006 | Reply
What a great article! I agree with you on every point. Thanks for showing us a seemingly unexplored side of the struggle for human equality.
By Jeff on Jun 11, 2006 | Reply
“Basing any constitutional amendment on Christian dogma is fundamentally against what our nation of freedom of worship stands for.”
Nice straw man argument. The discussion is about whether or not it’s a social good that homosexual relationships are classed as “marriage” and your argument is that it’s a religious issue.
The primary social contract of marriage, and the strictures of law against divorce were constructed to protect the issue of that marriage:children. Since homosexual relationships don’t create offspring, the argument for expanding the social institution would appear pointless.
Now, you could make an argument that marital-type contract could exist where homosexual partners have adopted children, but focusing on a nebulous boogeyman of religion dilutes what would be a good argument.
By nobody on Jun 11, 2006 | Reply
It’s also against the UN’s universal declaration of human rights.
By Chris.Schaffer on Jun 11, 2006 | Reply
To respond to Jeff:
I disagree that marriage structures and contracts were created to decide matter of or protect children. While children have become a major issue in divorce, the laws were constructed to protect property rights.
I also do not feel that focusing on the religion issue dilutes the argument. Those who are detractors for gay marriage (or unions) do so on a religious basis, responding to those claims and arguments is, in my opinion, valid and necessary. Whether or not my wording for the matter was the best it could have been though is certianly up to question.