Separate but not Equal

*Sigh*

It’s November 5th and I couldn’t be more proud of my fellow countrymen. Proud AND relieved. One wants to believe in the common decency and humanity of the American people, but one has reason to worry…for example: the last eight years…

Growing up I was taught that America is the land of opportunity—not just for the white or the rich, but for the black, the brown and the poor too-- that America is a good and decent place where equality is a right and not just a lofty ideal. Last night was a historic one and renewed my faith in the common decency of Americans.

That being said, I am appalled by the ban on same-sex marriage in several states. Those people who believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman or that “that’s the way it’s always been” should look back a few years to a time when the same argument could have been made against granting basic human rights to women, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans… the list goes on. Using that argument against gays and lesbians isn’t any different –it’s just repackaged bigotry.

Here’s the thing about human rights—they are not a privilege, they are a right. And according to our Constitution, rights are supposed to be granted to everyone, even to the people you don’t like-- even when those people do things that may make you uncomfortable or you may feel is “amoral.” Who are you to decide what is right for your neighbor or your mailman or your coworker? So get off your moral high horse and for God’s sake, please keep your hate and your intolerance out of politics and keep it where it belongs, in the church.

Let’s make a law that gay people can have birthdays, but straight people get more cake—you know, to send the right message to kids. --Bill Maher