The inimitable editors of Bend’s daily have mocked and name-called California supporters of gay marriage with, “A temper tantrum in support of gay rights.” The support group had put together what the editors called a “snarky statement,” “Day Without a Gay.” I can’t say it’s my favorite, but did it deserve “a temper tantrum” and the “infantile” behavior of what you might expect “from a 3-year-old!”
It’s time to question the phrase “gay rights.” Why? Because gays do not have rights that are different than any other people’s rights. What they have, and you and I have, is “equal human rights.” We are all human beings, all Homo sapiens, all the same people. Our sexuality and religious beliefs are not what give us rights. Both are irrelevant. It’s because we are human beings with the “first government in the world to be founded not on the authority of religion but on the bedrock of human reason.” (historian Catherine D. Bowen) “Equal human rights” are mandated for all people. The Declaration of Independence, “That all men are created equal.” Abe Lincoln, “A new Nation…dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Why would it be otherwise? It’s a no-brainer.
Getting back to the editorial, I would not call the protest of the loss of equal human rights “a temper tantrum” no matter how “snarky!” Imagine what we’d hear from the editors if a majority group of people were successful with an initiative getting a constitutional amendment banning editorial writing! The temper tantrum would be heard around the world! And rightly so! If one believes in “equal human rights” for ALL people, then one would have to support gay marriage. Otherwise, you live with a false belief. You can’t have it both ways.
The editors take pride in the fact that “for years, we have supported civil unions for same-sex couples.” What that means is that they believe gays are second-class citizens.” Civil unions do not offer the same human rights as hetero marriages. Massachusetts, Connecticut and California (perhaps) and many countries around the world comprehend “equal human rights.” Those who salute the flag (“with liberty and justice for all”) and oppose gay marriage, epitomize hypocrisy.
Until we all have equal human rights (including marriage) we make a mockery of our Constitution. If we’re not all free, none of us are free! Our 5th and 14th Amendments: No person shall, “be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process…” Loss of freedom is deprivation of “liberty.”
Bob Bates
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2009.
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While Bob reads plausibly, he also does a nifty jig around the primary motivation causing this whole bug-a-boo. Homosexuals crave inclusion into this valued institution of society, so as to deny the wretched group self-image that inspires parades for self-assurance. Ever see or hear of a straight pride parade? LOL. What society objects to is not the same-sex relationship as such, but rather the same-sex act that defines the relationship.
Furthermore, a biologically heterosexual being who chooses to indulge in a non-procreating act, agitating for staus in an institution intended for procreation, is both oxy-moronic and riotously funny.
So there. 😉
The Bulletin editorial page calling somebody “snarky” is like Rush Limbaugh calling somebody “chubby.”
Do I need to remind the person who posted the first comment that heteralsexual people engage in non procreational sex as well? It is not exclusively for homosexuals. That is why we have contraceptions and birth control pills now. But with a black preisdent in office now and being in the twenty first century it is about time some of us learn more tolerance for alternative life styles and differences. Try to imagine if you were a homosexual or a lesbian by birth not by choice and later when you grew up and met someone you loved and wanted to be with and the law, states and individuals did not recognize your union because it was between two people of the same gender and not between a man and a woman. How would you feel? And what if one of the people involved were your son, daugher. sister , brother , mother or father and his or her rights were not recognized because of being born a certain way? Then how would you feel? Don’t we have enough ugliness and hatred in the world as it is without adding more to it? Why be up in sucha huff over what people do in the privacy of their own homes anyway when in perspective with what else is going on in the world right now sexual orientation is a measaly drop in the bucket. Maybe if people like you calmed down about sexuality and let these people and citzens of our country have their rights which are guarenteed to them anyway by the constitution they would not have to resort to parades in the street. By the way there is nothing wrong with parades. We seem to have parades to commemorate everything else why not the rights of homosexuals? People by the way thought it was unnatural for women to want the right to vote in the early twentieth century. And we did parade in the streets to make our point with similar attitudes being displayed by spectators. Anyone see a paraelle between how the homosexuals are being seen and treated and how American women were treated? When are we ever going to learn?!