The Audacity of Vote

There's a great column by Mike Alvear at the Huffington Post on what Thomas Jefferson would think if Group A was able to vote on whether Group B gets to have the same rights they do. The column’s point is theoretical in nature - but oh wait, it really happened. In Maine - and with sad yet predictable results – they voted to deny gays the right to marry.

The whole situation reminds me of a country club that gathers to select who gets to join and share the great honor of eating in the Club’s dining room off the good china. Americans - regular Americans - Real Americans - don't like that kind of elitist snob-knobbery - unless, of course, the Club is for straights and the elitism is directed toward The Gays.

The reason it's so easy for people to vote against gay rights is because either you are or you aren't gay - and if you aren't, you're safe. It doesn't matter if gays are denied the rights and privileges afforded to straight people, because more than likely straight people are still going to be straight tomorrow and for many years to come, and the chance that they turn gay and end up regretting tomorrow the vote they cast today is slim to none.

This is not a moral issue. If it was a moral issue, we would have laws denying rights to other moral lawbreakers – like adulterers. Remember, adultery is such a biggie in the Moral No-No list that it actually made it to the Big Ten. Being gay, not so much. Barely a mention in the Old Testament. Adultery, Stealing, and taking the Lord’s name in vain – now that should get you some rights removal – IF it’s all about God.

But it’s not about God – it’s about two things: sex and feeling better about our own sins because at least we aren’t gay.

Marriage is a Civil Right – not a religious right. Atheists can get married. So can people who break all kinds of commandments – including murderers, adulterers, liars, and bank robbers. Other groups not specifically mentioned in the 10 Commandments includes pedophiles, drug dealers, tax cheats, rapists, and perpetrators of domestic violence. Their Civil Right to marry will never be denied – unless, of course, they are gay.

Not so long ago, my spouse and I would not have been able to marry because our skin is a different color. Now people aren’t allowed to marry if they aren’t different enough. The same arguments were posited in the past against opposite (skin color) marriage as they are now against same (gender) marriage... and it's a shame and mind-boggling and pathetic that people are still in that place.

My hope is that sooner than later, we as a country can remove the stain of this continuing societal sin and give our gay citizens the rights they deserve as humans, let alone the rights they deserve as Americans. Seriously people – doesn’t it embarrass us as a nation when we vote to keep our brothers and sisters second-class citizens? Do the similarities with our previous fights for a woman’s right to vote, equal rights for blacks (to vote and eat at the same table with us) and women (to own property in their own name) escape us totally?

Really, America? Is this the best we can do?

To read Mike Alvear’s column, go to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-alvear/what-thomas-jefferson-wou_b_342300.html
“There is only one thing worse than voting to deny somebody their rights: Voting to give it to them.” ~ Mike Alvear