Posted by
Playful Walrus on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 6:56:57 PM
Several days ago, there was an entry on the Los Angeles Times blog about the LDS church contributions supporting the California Marriage Amendment. Of course, the entry prompted a bunch of the usual comments. I'm picking out one to analyze here.
"scotch9" wrote on January 31, 2009 at 03:22 PM:
It would seem that the right wing conseravtive movement wants America to adopt a Middle easrten Style Government where religion dictates the thoughts and actions of people.
Not all right wing conservatives are traditionally religious. But I think he means the "religious right", and no, major personalities in the religious right do NOT want a theocracy. Actually, they (the Christian ones, anyway) await a benevolent dictatorship with the return of Christ, but until then they champion the Constitution.
For 233 years we have fought aganst this all around the world.
No, we haven't. We have fought tyranny in various ways, and that the California Supreme Court did by ordering the neutering of marriage licenses was tyrannical.
I know some are uncomfortable with same sex relationships. So what.
That's not the issue here (although you think state-issued marriage licenses mean affirmation). The issue here is who gets to decide state licensing requirements? A handful of people, or the voting citizenry?
The writer then goes on to compare present-day conservatives with Tories from the time of the American Revolution, defenders of American slavery, opponents of women's suffrage, segregationists, and Jim Crow proponents, before going on to this gem:
We were even attacked on Septemeber 11, 2001 by right wing conservative religious types screaming glory to the god they say is suprior to the God these American Chistains rage for, and they say,makes them superior to gay persons. These poeple seek to devide, inspire violence, murder, hate and create evil.
The hijackers were all male, too, so I guess all men are just like them.
They know all about all, just ask them.
Well if you aren't confident that you know anything, then why should anyone else listen to your opinion?
It is entirely possible that "conservatives" have been wrong on many things, but are right about this thing.
This is what people like me want: Limited, constitutional government. I don’t want to come into your home using the force of law and tell you how to live. But that also means you can't come to me and take something from me without my approval. So if you want to live with someone of the same sex, exchange vows and jewelry and names with them, have a party, go on vacation together, and all of that, you are free to do so. But when you march on down to a building that is paid for by the taxpayers, and ask a public servant to issue you a state marriage license on behalf of the people of California, then the people of California, including me, have a right to say "no" if you don’t meet the requirements, as long as the requirements are clear and applied equally. And that's exactly what we do. Men and women can get marriage licenses, regardless of sexual orientation. Women are not excluded. Homosexuals are not excluded.
I also have the right to practice my religion and vote as I choose.