Mr. John Hardison
American Literature (Honors)
26 November 2012
Take A Step
On September 21, 1996 President Bill Clinton passes the "Defense of Marriage Act","DOMA", making gay marriage illegal in all 50 states. As of November 2012,16 years later, nine states-Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington- have taken a step and legalized same-sex marriages. A step towards equality, a step towards unity, a step towards liberty. Why must gay marriage be illegal in the 41 other states? The majority of people against gay marriage state it is because of religious views and beliefs, it is not right, and it goes against GOD. The beauty of America is that you can express your own thoughts and views without risking your life, here are the minority's thoughts. Discrimination is rampant, defended by the most transparent of excuses. It does not matter if your religion preaches against homosexuality. The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." No matter what your religion says, it has no place in government.
Fact: Not all marriages are religious marriages. There are civil marriages, are there not? Instead of a priest there is a judge to deem them as ‘lawfully wedded’. To those who oppose gay marriage: that is what they want! The homosexuals only want the right to have a civil marriage. To be recognized by the state,not the church. How will it hurt any one if two people got the right to marry? The fact that they have to choose states where they want to marry, where their marriage is recognized as valid, where they are able to have a family, should not be the government’s call and should not be your call. You can hold values, but you can not voice voting against something because the bible endorses or condemns an idea. We are founded on a country that is supposed to be separated by Church & State. "I heartily accept the motto, 'that government is best which governs least', and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically." (Henry David Thoreau, 412)
Now, I ask the religious, do you want the government telling you what is and is not sacred? How would you feel if the President of the United States came into your Church, picked up your holy Bible and said “This is not the body and blood of Christ, this is only a wafer and wine.” Or how would you feel that let’s say if you are Catholic, the state you live in does not support Catholicism. You can not attend a mass in this state. If you want to go to mass you have these options; change your religion, or go to a different state. It would not feel too nice, right? That is how they feel when religion is used against them in politics. What is religious belongs in religion, and what is political belongs in politics.
In the year 1691 only whites were able to marry. 78 years later in 1769 blacks got the right to marry if their slave-owners gave them permission. 198 years later in 1967 interracial couples were given the right to marry. Even though it took 276 years for colored people to gain the right to marry who they want without discrimination, they did it. They did not give up, they did not budge. They pushed against society and the belief that only whites can marry, and in the end they had taken a stand. It began with one single step, and ended in a united stand.
"All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin." (John F. Kennedy, 200) Let us begin to take our steps towards liberty. Whether we make a difference in one day or one million days, we will make a difference. Liberty will be created over time, and it will rise as it always does. Marriage is a human right, not a heterosexual privilege, and one day everyone will have that human right. Mother Teresa said; "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." "Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8)
Comments:
Is the thesis strong and clear?
Did I support my thesis well?
Did I wrap up my paper?
What are my strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
What is your opinon?
(No Negativity Needed)
Work Citied:
Kennedy, John F. "Inaugural Address." Prentice Hall Literature. Georgia Student ed. Saddle River: Pearson, 2004. 200. Print.
Thoreau, Henry D. "Civil Disobedience." Prentice Hall Literature. Georgia Student ed. Saddle River: Pearson, 2004. 412. Print.
Mother Teresa. "Tumblr. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http:www.tumblr.com/>.
