Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Equal Rights Through a Different Lens

One of the most fascinating aspects of society, I find, is the ability for people to act rationally. It seems that the most intellectual and intelligent people are capable of arguing any given topic rationally. Once religion or their belief system is introduced, however, they lose that ability. There are people walking around with doctorates who sound like they barely have a grade school education.

I offer them a scenario, listen up DC Black People - who according to Marion Barry are all straight, bible-thumping, anti-gay activists. You say that it is your moral duty to prevent equal rights? That, by your standards/belief system, homosexuality is an abomination and thus by preventing equal protection under the law you are doing God's work? May I offer some points of logic?

1. Do you agree that there are other people in the world who either believe something different than you or believe nothing at all?

2. If yes, then is it your assertion that they should be governed by your beliefs? And if so, does that then give them unequivocal opportunity to govern you?

3. If extreme environmentalism was the predominate perception shared by a majority and they wanted to enact a law to stop the use of automobiles, would you support that bill? They would still allow you to drive your cars, but only when no one was looking, perhaps just in the woods. Any other use or visibility would be severely sanctioned.

4. Assuming the former hypothetical scenario sounded absurd, do you agree that such a law would affect your ability to prosper, that it would hinder your livelihood, your ability to secure the "American Dream?"

5. If you can concur with the above four items, then why is it so difficult for you to even remotely qualify the argument for equal rights? Why are you, as thinking individuals, unable to rationalize the supposed "LGBT Agenda" as nothing more than a pejorative label intent solely on marginalizing a community? Why can't you see that LGBT families are only looking to secure their right to prosper, maintain their livelihood, their ability to secure the "American Dream?" Is it your assertion that it will somehow deprive you of your rights?

6. You can read, can't you? Has it ever occurred to you to look up HR 1913 and see that it protects against violent acts and does not infringe on your right to free speech or religion or any other guarantor of the first amendment?

7. Is your view of the world so jaded that the idea of your child learning about different families makes you associate tolerance practices with LGBT recruiting? Really, you would go that far? You have every right to teach your child that you don't agree with Heather having two mommies, but that doesn't mean that your child has license to taunt Heather everyday, thus depriving her of her equal right to an education.

8. Do you not agree that equal protection legislation might have helped fund stricter anti-bullying programs in schools; that it may have prevented two 11-year-old boys from taking their life? Does the idea that a child feeling like he had no other option, not sadden you?

9. Statistically, countries, and even states, who have enacted equal protection laws see a drop in hate crimes. People are being educated.

10. Equal rights and equal protection are as vital to the livelihood of LGBT people as yours are to you. Regardless of your personal beliefs, it is illogical to assert your ideals should govern the rights of others. The first amendment protects our choice of religion and also protects us from religion. Your moral debate should go on in your homes, and not in the halls of congress.

Just another look at your glorious equal rights debate, that shouldn't be a debate at all.

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