[T]he decision by the California Supreme Court on Thursday overturning the state's ban on same-sex marriage seems likely to put the issue back onto the national political stage for the time being. In the process, it should offer a test of whether the issue is resonant in American politics or whether it has fallen to the side of the road, as many Democrats and some Republicans say.
On a very personal level, I could really care less about the abilitiy of the GLBT community to marry. To me, it's not about marriage...Hell, it's not as if the heterosexual majority has done such a bang-up job with it...as much as it is about the freedom of ANY American to commit themselves to a loving relationship. Are we to believe that because a vocal, hateful, and intolerant minority opposes same-sex marriage, Gays and Lesbians should ipso facto be denied the right to live the life (and with the partner) they choose? I don't pretend to presume that my opinion should become a blanket interpretation covering any and all Americans; what's truly sad is that more Americans can't see their way clear to simply live and let live.
Look, if you don't approve of same-sex marriage, there's a very simple solution available to you. DON'T HAVE ONE.
Period.
End of story.
Any questions?
I respect your right to hold whatever beliefs give your life meaning and get your sorry @$$ through the night. Where I draw the line is at the presumption that your particular belief hate system sanctions your absolute right to force your narrow, hateful, fear-fueled ignorance upon Americans who happen not to wear the same blinders you do.
What the decision handed down by the California Supreme Court does is to recognize that one's sexual orientation is not a statement about one's worthiness to fully participate in the smorgasbord of American life. Americans, regardless of their creed, color, sexual orientation, or whatever other dividing line you happen to prefer, deserve equal treatment under the law and the ability to fully access the rights, responsibilities, joys, and suffering that accrue to ANY American. If you have time to discriminate because you feel that God has bestowed up you the perfect and inalienable right to do just that...well, may I suggest that you actually crack open that Bible you've been thumping so heavily? You might try...oh, I don't know...actually reading it?? Who knows; you might just learn something about Christian charity.
And while you're at it, you might want to remove your anterior from your posterior...because WE DESERVE BETTER.
