Many words from both sides regarding Gay Marriage have been said, some have been insightful, others have been spiteful. Both sides feel very strongly and both sides have the right to feel as they do. In order for all of us to move ahead we need to find middle ground. The constant negativity, lies, misquotes, from both sides need to end.
First let me say, I am FOR gay marriage so perhaps this blog is slanted to one side but I am hoping I can get my point across to both sides.
There is a lot of ignorance from each of us regarding the gay marriage issue, The Conservative Christian side believes we are "not natural", "an abomination", immoral" etc. They have been taught from early on that anyone who isn't exactly like them is wrong. They sit in thier churches and can't see beyond the stained glass windows they hide behind. Some others want gay people to have the same rights afforded to "regular" married people but you can't call it marriage. For many gay people it's almost the same thing, we feel these people are "holier than thou", "bible thumpers" "bigots" etc. We can't see IN the stain glass windows our accusers are behind. We understand those that want us to have the same rights but we can't understand why we have to call it something else.
What everyone must understand is this is not a religious issue, it's not a racial issue, it's not an I'm right and you're wrong issue, In this country we are One Nation, Under God...not one nation under MY God. Like it or not, though our country was established laws based on morals, many of those morals are multi religious, Or I should say not based specifically on Christianity.
With regard to marriage. Marriage in our country is not recognized by religion alone, or non religious affiliation, and I will even go out on a limb and say it's not a right. Marriage is a privilege, it's afforded to all consenting adults regardless of religious affiliation. Those on the conservative side want to keep marriage between a man and a woman and want gay marriage to be something else, such as a civil union. Most believe all the rights and laws should protect civil unions as they are afforded to marriage. My question then is why bother to call it anything else other than marriage? It will be called that regardless of what many conservative people want to call it. When applying for something are they going to asked single, divorced, married, civilized, uncivilized??? Of course not.
I say we open those stain glass windows or remove the stained glass glasses and create an open dialogue, one which we can all come together in human civility and come to an agreement. We need to understand why those who believe it's only a religious institution WHY they feel it's only that way. Conversely they need to understand why it's important to us that we have a marriage. Peaceful protests are fine, but the hate, violence and bigotry on both sides must come to an end. Misquoting and lying or slandering others is not the way to come to an agreement.