FROM WASHINGTON STATE TO MAINE; FROM JEFFERSON TO OBAMA

I firmly believe that few moments in the history of this remarkable democracy have posed such a profound and toxic threat to America's future as anti-gay marriage referendums.

  

When a nation allows freedom, civil rights and human rights to be determined for specific groups of its citizens by the will of the voters rather than the rule of Constitutional law, it can only lead to the end of individual rights for all citizens and even democracy itself. 

As a nation envisioned in Philadelphia during the turbulent years of the 1770s and the 1780s, we are beginning to lose our way in a fearful, ignorance and bigotry-overgrown jungle of fascism.  The evidence keeps mounting:  from Republican Party hate rallies to Obama protestors proudly carrying armed automatic assault rifles.

Few will see it my way, but the terrorist attack on New York City in 2001 was never a threat to the United States Constitution, democracy and national security; however the Washington State and Maine decisions of last week to allow a ballot box measure to ban gay rights most certainly are.

The ruse of religion and a defense of traditional marriage is utter nonsense.

With each new anti-gay rights referendum, bigotry and fascism triumph over tolerance and individual rights; and American democracy is dealt yet another blow to the gut.

Ironically, Jesus himself made this very plain:  "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me."

Jesus was clearly an advocate of compassionate democracy.  Sadly, within a couple of hundred years after his legendary and likely mythological death, early Christians quickly abandoned his teachings and starting slaughtering each other and then non-Christians over theological debates and power.  The slaughter, persecution and power struggle continues through today.

But let us look to a more relevant and contemporary leader--a man who unlike Jesus has not yet been fully abandoned and betrayed by his followers.

"An equal application of law to every condition of man is fundamental." --Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 1807.

"The most sacred of the duties of a government is to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens." --Thomas Jefferson, "Political Economy," 1816.

"To unequal privileges among members of the same society the spirit of our nation is, with one accord, adverse." --Thomas Jefferson to Hugh White, 1801.

"The best principles of our republic secure to all its citizens a perfect equality of rights." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to the Citizens of Wilmington, 1809.

"What is true of every member of the society, individually, is true of them all collectively; since the rights of the whole can be no more than the sum of the rights of the individuals." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1789.

Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams and the other men and women, gay and straight, who forged this remarkable democracy would be appalled by today's voter referendums intended to deny equality to American citizens.

The huge gaping divide between the clear and true principles behind the founding of this nation and the Christian Republican war on human and civil rights has only twice before so threatened this nation: the War of Independence and the Civil War--but this time the rot is insidious, infectious and accepted by our leadership as something very much other than what it actually is. 

Nothing could be more un-American than these referendums, nothing could be more unconstitutional and nothing could pose more of a threat to the integrity and endurability of the United States Constitution. 

So why is it that elected officials from the President of the United States to each and every member of every legislative body in this nation as well as each and every member of the judiciary are standing silent and contritious as this blight ravages our once spiritually and intellectually fertile land?

Jefferson and Jesus would have climbed to the top of the mountain and denounced these monstrous crimes against humanity and democracy.  Obama aids and abets.

Jefferson was a revolutionary.  Obama is an accomplice.

Jefferson fought to create a free nation.  Obama is taking out a second mortgage.

Voting on human and civil rights is like voting on breathable air and potable water.  What is about to happen in Washington and Maine--as it happened in California--is not only a Constitutional crime, it represents the further institutionalization and legalization of mob rule and an emerging dictatorship. 

The Christian Republican Party calls it a defense of marriage; Obama calls it a defense of states' rights--but in both cases the end game is the same: the death of freedom.  Intentionally or not, both the Democrats and the CRP are on the same side of this ride down a slippery slope--and it is the wrong one.  Just ask Thomas Jefferson.

Comments

[Alan down in Florida]

I still don't understand the logic. Allowing same sex marriage will inspire heteros to eschew straight marriage? Please Richard explain it to me before my head explodes.

And while you're at it explain to me how African-Americans justify anti-gay bigotry by quoting the Bible? Hasn't anyone ever shown them that the Bible says/promotes that slavery is acceptable? If it can be wrong about that why can't it be wrong about homosexuality?

Help me Richard - Vancouver is looking better and better.

[Rex]

The fourth president to address school kids is denounced for endocrinating them into rampant socialism. Oh, but this president is black! That explains everything. Hatred of all things different is now a political virtue. The vast majority of heterosexual couples under forty are living without benefit of marriage. But lets ignore that and just make sure no one else takes advantage of the system. Arrogance, bigotry, its time to start a colony somewhere else. Where in Vancouver, Alan?

[Andrew]

"When a nation allows freedom, civil rights and human rights to be determined for specific groups of its citizens by the will of the voters rather than the rule of Constitutional law, it can only lead to the end of individual rights for all citizens and even democracy itself. "

Powerful, true and well said Richard. I will be quoting you--with permission of course.

This president better start adding Human Civil Rights to his public outings, TV showcases and speeches. It shall not be swept under the rug or thrown out like last Wednesday's garbage. Barack Obama calls health care a moral issue. The pursuit of happiness could not be a bigger moral issue in today's society as defined in the constitution.

Alan, Rex if you need a cabana boy in Vancouver let me know, ok? I also do laundry and dishes. I know what your thinking "cabana boy in Vancouver?" And my response is yea my nipples--cut ice cubes.