…”The real injustice in this case lies in focusing on black racism, and dismissing white racism. Yes, Virginia, and South Carolina, and Iowa, there is racism among blacks. But what white person has ever been wrongfully arrested, unreasonably accused, unfairly tried, unjustifiably convicted, and vindictively executed or sentenced to an extra-long stretch in prison by black cops, black prosecutors, black juries, black judges and black corrections officers? What rich black hospital, clinic or doctor has refused treatment to a poor sick white man, woman or child? What black public school has closed its doors to white students? What black landlord has denied housing, or provided substandard housing to a white tenant? What black employer has denied employment to a well-qualified white job-applicant? What great and undeniable historical and contemporary wrongs has the dominant black establishment inflicted upon the white masses?…”

Now I don’t pretend to defend Jeremiah Wright for what he said, but I damn well will stand up for his right to say it. What is really a sin is the way the media has turned this around and tried to make it stick to Barack Obama.

…and now, back to the original issue at hand - Equal Marriage Rights for all citizens.
You know that the Constitution has no references to “gay”, so people like Bush have to have that reference put in there; but there is a “pursuit of happiness” clause that is contained in the Constitution… One that they would have validated if “pursuit of happiness” is defined by someone or something else. That happens to be my pursuit of happiness that these so called “lawmakers” are trying to define. Would you have someone else define yours for you?

These are not ’special rights’ we are talking about - they are EQUAL RIGHTS. This is not a religious issue we’re talking about - but a civil one. And by what precedent does this government have the right to determine who a single citizen has the right to love? Be it at the state level or the federal level… If we lose the fight on this issue, you can damn well be certain that other rights we take for granted everyday will soon follow.

By the way Kyle, I think you may have misinterpreted my ‘greatest country in the world’ statement. I simply meant that there is still a lot of work to do to make it greater. I love my country too, but I will never be satisfied until she lives up to her obligation that “All Men Are Created Equal”.

Peace,
=RD=

And, you know, I really faced an inner struggle writing this post because I didn’t want to offend, but really the debate regarding discrimination against homosexuals is a particularly tricky one. It’s not like the battle for the rights of black people who can’t just magically change the color of their skin, or for women who also are identifiable. Because you can’t necessarily tell a gay man just by walking by him on the street I think that kind of gives a lot of people lisence to say, “Well, it’s his choice, therefore, what we’re doing can’t be discrimination”.

On the other hand, when homosexual people go to marching for their rights, too many people turn it into an argument about how appropriate sexual behavior in the public eye is and that kind of malarchy. So for homosexual rights it becomes a difficult battle to plot out. How do you work for something in which your damned if you do, or you’re damned if you don’t?

Further, your comments really kind of bring out to me something I think is interesting in that I think you are expressing the same kinds of feelings that Jeremiah Wright expressed in that devestating speech he delivered.

You know, I haven’t written about Wright much because I think that ultimately this is an ugly avenue to let the Democratic primary travel down, but you know this is a man who is coming from a pre-Civil Rights movement mindset. This is a guy whose memory and impression of America is far different than the one we have today, and let’s not kid ourselves, things aren’t that great.

I dare anyone to tell me what that man had to be proud of America for. I’m proud of America, but I also recognize its flaws and am biased because being a straight White Male means that I haven’t been discriminated against. I can’t imagine the kind of bitterness having to drink at a blacks only water fountain might instill in me just like I can’t comprehend the bitterness I would feel at not being able to marry the one I loved.

My point being, yes, Wright went over the line in his sermon, but at the same time, didn’t he have some points? For a culture that never had to suffer descrimination, are we so totally blind that the Civil War wasn’t the last of mistreatment of black people? And isn’t the homosexual population in that place right now? Fighting so passionately for their very own rights, and getting told in no uncertain terms that they are heathens and second class citizens?

If you’re a White Christian, America can be truly great. But when America is telling you that something is wrong with you, when you don’t rate equal to the rest of the citizens of this country, is there really cause for pride?

Thanks again, RD. I’m busy as hell this week, apparently, but I’m going to try and draw a little more attention to that bill tonight or tomorrow morning.

Problem is, we live in Pennsylvania - where nothing is legally recognized. If we crossed the border about 7 miles to the east of where we reside, we would be legally recognized in New Jersey. I am thankfully covered by domestic partnership health benefits provided by his company (which happens to be based in New Jersey) but if something happened to either one of us - there is nothing to guarantee that the other could visit in the hospital or take care of anything legally should the need arise.

Tomorrow, Senate Bill 1250 is up for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee - by people who claim to represent the rights of their constituents - but always seem to fail in doing the right thing. This proves to me, once again that fundamental human rights should never be up for popular vote. That this is even a question degrades us as “second class citizens” - but you learn to live with it day to day, everyday of your life here in the ‘greatest country in the world’.

We are so “great” that we don’t need to try and make things better, because everything is already the best it can be. Any dissension is unpatriotic.

That’s OK, but I’ll still be in Harrisburg tomorrow if anyone needs me.
Thanks for writing this post. It was very kind of you.
…and yes, we still have a long way to go.

Peace,
=RD=