Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Liberty and Justice For All

Now, don't get me wrong but, America was based on a foundation for religious freedom, right?
People got on boats, came to America, started new lives, to get away from the Church. You know the one I'm talking about. Well, that's the short version anyway.
So our country, this country, the United States of America, was built on the foundation of freedom, religious freedom in particular. And then we had slavery, and we realized it goes against said foundation of freedom. So slavery was abolished. And we were all "equals," another foundation of this country.
But then there was segregation and things weren't really equal after all, thus the civil rights movement. And  over time, we recognized how important equality was. So segregation was out, women could vote, and we were moving in the right direction.
Fast forward to 2012, we have made strides. Great strides. But there are still civil rights issues that for some reason, we just can't figure out. There is still racism, there is still discrimination, there is still a fight against sexuality.

Now, what I don't understand, and the fact that people are missing: our country was built on a separation of church and state.
There is more than one religion for a reason. America is based off freedom, "freedom of speech, freedom of religion," and so forth. Trying to force the beliefs of one religion down a nation, while you can argue it's your "free speech," it affects my freedom of religion.
Someone may believe homosexuality is a sin, but I don't. So should I be forced to have my laws created for your religious views? If you are so Christian, and you love the sinner, but hate the in, you could still give the sinner his rights to equality and freedom. Your faith doesn't make his laws. And your church does not have to recognize his marriage. Just like your church does not control our government.

Gay rights is a political issue, not a religious issue. All civil rights come down to the fact that equality is necessary in every state and every country. Religious and person views are preventing that. The government cannot continue it's attempt to make laws based on faith.

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