Mixed Feelings for America

Yes, Obama is our next POTUS. I am very happy about that. Sadly though, I watched silently as 3 states in our country joined many others in writing discrimination into their state constitutions (yes, California may appear too-close-to-call, but let's face reality). What do I mean? The issue is about gay marriage, but really it is quite bigger than that. Say what you will about gay marriage, that is not my point.

Here is what the issue truly boils down to. The STATE (meaning the government, not a particular entity) has created a legal concept known as marriage (or put your own state-created right in there). That legal concept includes some responsibilities, but also includes a great deal of rights and state-offered benefits. The State's apparent reason for this legal concept and the rights/benefits offered to those who partake of the legal concept is that marriage promotes stability, reduces crime, encourages population growth, and so on. Now, imagine that the State then comes in and says "You people are prohibited from marrying because of some immutable characteristic that you were born with and we don't like it."

Most of the amendments banning gay marriage are definitional amendments, and generally they read: "MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS THE LEGAL UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN." Does this stop gays from marrying? No, so long as they marry someone of the opposite gender, not necessarily the one they love. Okay, so let's change the definition a bit.

"MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS THE LEGAL UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN OF THE SAME RACE."

"MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS THE LEGAL UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN OF THE SAME IQ."

"MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS THE LEGAL UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN OF THE SAME ANCESTRAL NATIONAL ORIGIN."

"MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS THE LEGAL UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN OF THE SAME FAITH."

Same race? That was tossed out by our U.S. Supreme Court on the grounds that it was discriminatory. What, you say? Yes, as recently as 45 years ago, certain states said that a marriage between a white person and a black person was constitutionally prohibited. They said that marriage between races was against the Bible. They said that marriage between races would destroy the institution of marriage. Hmmm, this sounds familiar, but we will get back to that later.

Same IQ? Well that prohibition would basically prohibit Republicans and Democrats from every getting married. But in all seriousness, intelligence is, at least in part, an innate characteristic. Why not prohibit opposite-intelligence marriages? It would protect people from having one person in control, which could lead to financial or physical abuse, which could result in divorce, which destroys the sanctity of marriage.

Same national origin? Again, why not? Let's not let someone of Irish descent marry someone of English descent. No Arab-Jew weddings for this blogger. See how we can create unity through force. I love this idea.

Same faith? Really, most people don't get to choose their religion. It is chosen long before. Can we really have a sanctified marriage if one of the participants, let's say she is Jewish, does believe in her husband's Messiah? We are asking for loads of trouble.

We don't do any of these discriminatory actions, which would very much protect this concept of the "sanctity of marriage," and "protecting our families." I am confused. We say it is time for change. We went out into the world and said no more to the old ways. And here we sit, writing discrimination into state constitutions.

How does someone's choice of soulmate destroy the sanctity of marriage? I guess because "the gay" is contagious? We will be damned if our children will be forced to read "King and King" (a book about prince who seeks love and marries a prince), but we give our children over to television and violent video games. I guess love in non-traditional forms is bad, but blood-spattered heads and half-naked eye-candy is totally cool (so long as it isn't gay, unless the blood-spattered heads are on gays). It is totally okay for people to choose not to marry and have children together, but when two people of the same gender choose to do so, that is bad.

America has a new dawn before it. Sadly, there are storm clouds trying to block out the sun. I guess this is our America. A time for change. Where discrimination is okay when the person you are discriminating against is "icky." Go kiss your bride, America, but watch out for the stubble.