It never ceases to astound me when people so vehemently opposed to granting rights to those who differ from them have a catastrophic fall from grace. This week's bombshell about the Duggar family is just another example of chickens coming home to roost. Those who scream the loudest that allowing marriage equality would destroy family values and be harmful to children always end up having something to hide, skeletons in the closet they never thought would go public. When will they ever learn that judging and condemning others only causes the cosmic karma to eventually rain down on them? Organizations like the Family Research Council really need to spend some time of introspection and make sure those within their glass house are free from blemish before casting stones at others. In responding to a friend's Facebook posting a couple days ago I admitted that I needed to be a better Christian, at least what I perceive it means to be Christian, because rather than understanding and sympathy I can only seem to glean a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment in the Duggar's revelations. I know it comes from my own lack of comprehension as to how these people think and act, as if allowing gay marriage impacts them in any way shape or form. No one is trying to force gay marriage on anyone else. If the Supreme Court comes down in favor of marriage equality it doesn't mean everyone has to do it. Anyone who actually thinks that must have the IQ of common housefly. Even if there is a belief that being gay and being married to a same sex partner is wholly wrong, as many view vices like smoking and drinking, what gives them the right to force their beliefs on anyone else? I don't buy into homosexuality being wrong, but even if the religious right chooses to believe that, which they have every right to do, it doesn't equate that everyone else must hold or abide by those same beliefs. It boggles my mind that many people believe there is a war on Christianity, or religion in general for that matter. If that were true, churches wouldn't be allowed to exist and certainly wouldn't enjoy tax exempt status. Opponents would be parked outside church buildings across the land documenting license plates and publicly shaming them by exposing their abhorrent religious practices in the daily newspaper and online. Yes, this is a ridiculous notion, but these same people see no correlations between how wrong that would be and what they do to groups that don't share their dogma. Am I the only one?
I suppose these things are on my mind even more so with it being Memorial Day weekend. I try very hard to remember what this holiday is all about, the brave men and women who have served our great nation, and yes I do believe it is great. With all the divisiveness in our society today I know there are those who think my point of view is one of the things destroying the country, but isn't freedom what all of those service members fought and died for, for my right to believe as I do and participate fully in the pursuit of happiness? I find it hard to believe that all of the wars and conflicts fought over the past few centuries were for only one narrowly defined belief system and that there are those of us for whom it didn't apply, that don't matter, that aren't valued and accepted as a part of this diverse melting pot that is the United States. Isn't it the racial, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity that makes us us? I simply cannot believe that all that blood and treasure throughout our history was spilled and spent for only a select few, only the religious right who believe they have a corner on what America is all about, what we were founded upon. I honor those who served and continue to do so in my own way, and I'm proud that I am beginning my next career journey with a company that specifically serves the military and their families. They deserve our respect and thanks above all else, but we must all claim our own truth for what it means to be a citizen and a part of such a pluralistic society. While it wasn't always recognized as the case, those who serve represent every aspect of our society, yes even the LGBT community. I hold that we should all be vigilant and look out for those people who claim their "God given" rights for only themselves but fight so hard to keep them from others. Whenever this is the case, and for whatever reason, I believe it is completely and totally wrong. We depend on each other every day in ways we can't always see or comprehend and we'd better start loving and accepting, or at least respecting, each other or I fear the path to literal civil war will be set in stone and the damage will become irreparable. As always, though I don't always express it, I appreciate having this forum to document my thoughts and views and I enjoy the freedom I have to do so. Thank you for considering what I have to say and I hope everyone out there has a blessed holiday weekend.
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