However, after reading one little fish's most recent post, I am let down. I agree with her sentiments that Mr. Obama's victory is a sign of progress and that there is much work yet to be done.
It just doesn't make sense to me. Why do some people believe that they have to right to tell others how to live? Why do some people think that if others have the same rights then the original rights will be diminished? Why do some people refuse to understand what Clarence Darrow said so eloquently- "You can protect your liberties in this world only by protecting the other man's freedom. You can be free only if I am free." ?
If we could all just understand that helping others achieve personal liberty actually guarantees our own personal liberties, the world would be a better place. If we could all just understand that different isn't wrong.... it's just different. If we could all remember that regardless of how we look, or who we sleep with, or how we worship.... deep down inside we are all people that want to be loved and to love. I just don't understand how taking away someone else's right to marry or adopt makes any one's life better....
The bottom line is that we need to remember that in the grand scheme of things we really don't know much of anything. All religions are speculative - though important - still speculative. If none of us really know what is the right answer, doesn't it make sense that we value every one's opinion? As long as your rights don't infringe on my rights, don't I owe you the right to personal liberty? Regardless of creed, wouldn't the divine (whomever he or she is) want us to treat each other with mutual respect?
Perhaps Mr. Obama's election is the first step in the right direction. I hope so.... and I really think so. Hopefully, his guidance can lead more provincial people to appreciate the freedoms that we ALL should be guaranteed.
3 comments:
Obviously I'm sad too, but my coworker said something the other day that made me think, "400,000 people in Arkansas voted against the ban on gay couples being able to adopt. She said it and all of a sudden there was a kernel of hope. If I heard 400,000 people supported gay rights in NY or MA, I'd be deeply saddened by the small number, but in a place like Arkansas it's pretty extraordinary.
The fight for Gay rights is, sadly, going slowly (certainly much slower then you or I would like), but it is going. We are chipping away at bigotry little by little and I really believe that we will win this fight!
maybe i'm an idealist but i have faith in humanity. we'll get there - generation after generation, we become increasingly tolerant. it's just as bad in france, if not worse. i was surprised by that. turns out all the guys in tight pants and pink shirts are straight...just really european?
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