I normally steer clear of politics, both in my general life and in this blog. But I feel I have to speak out.
This week, North Carolina (where I live) passed its first amendment to it's state Constitution, to restrict the legal definition of marriage to being between a man and a woman. Which sounds like simple bigotry and homophobia masquerading as morality, but frankly also eliminates a lot of public services from single parents, including heterosexuals, and people fleeing an abusive spouse. I can't understand the justification for this. The reasons I have heard most about are just not defensible:
The Bible says so - The bible says lots. Most people simply pick and choose which passages are worth living by, and make excuses for the rest. Whenever someone invokes the bible as a reason for their actions, I shudder at the hideous history of that justification. The separation of church and state should nullify the validity of this in any public policy discourse, but lately it has been creeping back in. The religious (left and right) are trying to overthrow our government, and I can't stand for that.
Defending the sanctity of marriage - Seriously? What are we even talking about here? That marriage is sacred, more sacred than civil equality? Something is sacred only if people imbue it with that quality, and frankly there aren't a lot of people out there doing that for marriage. If you want to protect the sanctity of marriage, lead by example, not by rhetoric. Protect the sanctity of your marriage. You have no right to mess with, or deny, anyone elses. And still, we are blurring the line between church and state. If the government holds anything to be sacred, it is only those self-evident truths we built our government on.
Marriage is a privilege, not a right, and therefore not protected by the constitution - Finally, someone is trying to couch some arguments in a non-religious context. Unfortunately, marriage falls under the broad definition of 'pursuit of happiness'. So, yeah, it is a right.
Heterosexual union is the best for children and society - Best for children? Care to show any documentation on that claim? Most pedophiles are straight men, molesting girls who are most often their own, or closely related to them. Best for society? How is that being measured?
The purpose of marriage is to provide a stable unit for raising children - My wife and I are childless. Is our marriage not valid? Stand within spitting distance and say that.
As I'm writing this, I realize that I'm using straw-man arguments here. But I haven't heard any valid reasons for what transpired here on May 8th, 2012. To me, the law was not only bigoted and homophobic, but poorly worded and ambiguous. It's defeat seemed like such a no-brainer, there was no way my fellow citizens would allow it to stand. I forgot that I live in a state where even thirty years ago, the Klan was a legitimate power. It seems that the weakness of moral fiber that infects my state has not truly been eradicated.
My wife and I cast our vote, and lost. But I haven't given up hope on this state. Not everyone here is so deluded, and we will drag North Carolina back into the light of freedom and justice for all, I do believe.
