Sunday, August 12, 2007

Gay Rights

Last week on the way to work, I got myself all riled up listening to Ralph on talk radio. He is usually a bit too conservative for me, so I don't know why I listen to it--every day, but I do...

He has this lightning round section in which he asks an opinion, giving two or three options as the answer, and asks people to call in and cast their votes.

The lightning round question for Friday was: ""Which do you approve for gay marriage: Gay Marriage, Civil Union, or None?" based on the fact that at a recent political gathering, 2 of the Presidential candidates approved of gay marriage and the other 4 approved of a civil union.

97% of the people who called in (mostly from here in the Nashville area) said that there should be no gay marriage or civil union because God said it was wrong.

Whoa!

Usually, I'm not too opinionated-you live your life and I'll live mine. As long as you don't interfere in mine, I don't really give a shit what you do; however, these people were being ridiculous.

If you are not gay, how are you, personally effected by two people who are gay and love each other getting married? As for all those people who said, "God doesn't approve of gay marriage," what about the whole aspect of separation of church and state? Who are you to quote the Bible and say that we should make our government laws based on what it says? Can I quote the Qur'an and say we must follow those principles? Or heaven forbid-what if I wanted to create a law that followed a Muslim belief?

I got so riled up about the topic that I called in to voice my opinion, which I never ever do. The only time I call radio stations is when they are offering money and I'm desperate to win!! I didn't get to be in the poll because time ran out-I was next in line when Ralph said he had to stop taking calls due to time constraints. (convenient)

Since I did not get to voice my opinion then, here I am voicing my opinion now. Only, I was going to have to be brief for the lightning question on the air. Now I can ramble as much as I'd like. Here is what I was going to say:

I think YES gay people should be allowed to get married-for no other reason than non-gay-people are allowed to get married; however, I think all of the people who used God to back up their opinions need to consider this-one of the seven deadly sins is gluttony. Should people over a certain weight not be allowed to go to restaurants or buy certain foods?* How is it any different?

But now that I have a bit more room to voice my opinion, this is what else I have to say:

I think that people who look down on gays are also sinning by judging them. I am not a Bible-believer. I kind of look at it as just another book. It may have some really good principles to live by, but it isn't infallible and it has been interpreted quite a few different ways, according to what the reader or interpretor wants to get out of it. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, more power to you, but quoting the Book does not really do anything for me.

I will now use some examples to back up my opinion.

Leviticus is the book in the Bible that people use to quote, proving that being gay is wrong.

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22)

"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)

Leviticus has a lot of useful advise that applies to our daily living:

"For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him." (Leviticus 20:9)

Since I am going to interpret the Bible in order to get my point across, I read "Anyone who talks back to their parents should be killed."

"If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has discovered her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from her people." (Leviticus 20:18)

If you have sex when you are on your period, you and your husband should be disowned.

"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." (Leviticus 19:27)

Don't shave your sideburns or trim your beard.


Now, why is it that THESE topics aren't debated in the national election? If we are going to be a Bible-following nation, we need to follow all of the rules.




*
Sorry, Kat, I know you don't like when people pick on fat people! I'm just trying to prove my point. I have nothing against eating too much.

9 comments:

Anna said...

I love this post Mari - the percentage of the US population holding those types of beliefs has an amazing strength.

I guess I've always been lucky to live in countries with reasonable attitudes towards gay rights, so it's hard to me to believe that people still think like that. The way I see it, if two people love each other & nurture each others happiness, why shouldn't they be married? In a more financial view, they should have equal legal rights in regards to insurance, loans & inheritance.

It really makes me mad.

Anonymous said...

No offense taken. ;-p

I've used the same argument myself, many times.

Newscoma said...

I love this post.
LOVE IT!!!
You nailed so many things.
I haven't told anyone I was smitten in a long time, but girl, you get the smitten award of the week.

Unknown said...

Oh! I love being smitten on!

Unknown said...

I say what you say, but you say it better. I love when someone can respond to insanity so eloquently.

On another unrelated topic...I hate to say it, but I miss you working for the evil dentist. I am really glad that you have work that you love and gives you more time with the family, but I really miss all you posts - the rants, the random thoughts and the adventures that you had time to write about!

Unknown said...

How nice, Del! Don't worry-the dentist wasn't the only inspiration for my rants!! I have plenty. Now just to find the time to write them down!

Anonymous said...

right on, sister!
from your computer illiterate fellow liberal at the Puff

Anonymous said...

Well said.

Dana Reyes said...

Hi nice reading yoour blog