For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
church and state by hayaji on deviantart
for those of you that are totally and completely sick and tired of the ongoing discussion surrounding the recent failed propositions that would extend the legal privilege of conjugal equality to all people regardless of sexual persuasion- i just need to say one thing,, and then i promise not to discuss it again…
is it just me,, or has everyone,, including those who sponsored the bill,, seemingly missed the point entirely??? correct me if i am wrong,, but a proposition is a legal issue.. it has nothing to do with religion.. a proposition is a precursor to a law,, not a moral statement… it has nothing what so ever to do with where an individuals moral obligation to their god falls… the question here,, is whether or not the the state should grant same sex unions the same legal privileges enjoyed by heterosexual couples.. (since i cannot personally think of any advantages (legal or otherwise) to being married,, i will refrain from listing them for you here…..)
people seem to forget that if they allow the bylaws of the church to infiltrate the civil rights laws,, they are leaving the door open for the state to, in turn, infiltrate the laws of the church… do you want your federal, state and/or local government infringing on your right to practice your chosen religion?? of course you don’t..
however,, if you allow individual states to nullify the first section of the 14th amendment to the constitution where in it states: “ …. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” (which by the way,, was put into law to secure the rights of former slaves)
-can reneging on the first amendment,, the one that assures each of us the freedom to practice our chosen religion, be far behind??
as adults we try to inculcate into our children the importance of weighing the consiquences of their actions,, before they act… as my last statement on this issue,, i would suggest, that in this instance,, we do just that.
there,,, i said it… i feel much better now….
November 19th, 2008 at 5:03 am
Church and state should be separate–but the sad thing is politics and religion never are
November 19th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Who is this God person anyway?
November 19th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Nicely put! I couldn’t have said it better myself. I totally agree with the separation of Church and State, but too many people try to make religion the selling point for every legal problem in our country.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:28 am
u know me and 14th amendment - im a soverign citizen
November 19th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Very well said! Both the 1st and 14th amendment have been simply been words on historic paper many times in U.S. history. They both make perfect sense and are very fair, but the mentality of the masses seem to never make much sense and are rarely fair. Everyone wants to believe that their way is the only and best way . . . it’s human nature, perhaps. Until we as people stop thinking in this manner, no laws or lack thereof will matter. I don’t see why I have to be married to reep the same tax benefits as my married friends and vice versa . . . so where is the fair and equal anyway. Find me a husband Pais, so I can get my 40 acres and a mule . . . or at least a 1 percent income tax break.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Separation of Chruch and state is fundamental in our democracy. It prevents religious zealots from forcing their beliefs on us and trying to govern us. Does anyone remember the Holy Roman Empire?
November 19th, 2008 at 11:56 am
paisley,
Separation of church and state is a good concept in principle but difficult to stick to because the gov’t and it’s burocracy are made up of people of some or no religious persuasion and their beliefs wheedle themselves into our laws, like it or not. When the gov’t decided to tax people disproportionately by marital status they set the stage, unwittingly perhaps, for the current hudbub. Take away any tax incentive or gov’t benefit for marriage and let the vows fall where they may. Make marriage either a gov’t thingy or a religious thingy and eliminate any cross over. Just my two cents.
rel
November 19th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I was disappointed too Jodi. Church and state will always be entertwined. It WILL pass next time.
November 19th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Paisley, I never feel “more at home” than when visiting your blogsite. And, I believe you have never been closer to how I feel about the rights of any two people—I don’t give a damn about which sex they happen to be—to live together under the protection offered them by the constitution of the United States of America. I’ve said this before and I’m going to repeat it: you have greatly enriched my life.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
i love you too paisley.
thanks for reading my interview
November 19th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Well said, Mary. Paisley has also enriched my life. The proposition is definitely a legal issue, religion shouldn’t come into it at all. I have a feeling that the role religion plays in influencing politics will be one of the great issues of the 21st century. It needs to change. And if not it should be a two-way street as you have suggested. I , for one, would take great delight in having a say in how a particular ideology is formed. Such an interesting discussion. I’m glad you raised it.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Church and State are only separate where it is convenient to both.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I have to admit that I have looked askance once or twice at the memes doing the rounds in our blogosphere, so I wasn’t immediately sure about whether or how to respond when Dave at Pics and Poems tagged me with the challenge to provide seven unusual facts about myself. I have a couple of secrets to get off my chest though, and that seems like reason enough to participate.
It is with a certain level of perverse pleasure that I have chosen you to help carry the torch forth. Tell us all 7 unusual facts about yourself and then pass the challenge on to another 7 lucky bloggers. And remember, Dave made me do it.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 am
This is but one of the reasons I oppose overpowered government and deeply oppose both democratic and republican ideologies. The government should be reduced to its constitutional truths and reduced in size by 75%. The government’s job is simply to defend America and deliver the mail, nothing more nothing less.