In response to an old flying buddy about my 'Liberal' views.
Yes, I rubbed shoulders with some of those individuals, too back in the day. It's odd to speak with them now, because the conversations I've had with them, my brother-in-law, for example who did not go, leave me with very mixed feelings. G found a way to avoid the whole Vietnam thing, and today, like a lot of guys who didn't go to the war I've found, he's very conflicted about it, almost envious. No, he is envious. When I discuss the war with him, which is seldom, I sense that he regrets not going.
As for my Liberality, I admit to being a capital L Liberal, mostly because I really do feel we Liberals move this country forward to where it needs to go. This country was founded by a bunch of radical, lefty liberals. If it wasn't for those guys we'd all be speaking English today. Liberals got women the vote, and kids out of the mines, and Social Security, and Medicare, and the 40 hour workweek and OSHA, and the EPA and civil rights. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that Liberals believe we have an obligation to each other, that we're not a bunch of cowboys who are 'on our own,' not rugged individuals who don't need each other. Nobody built their own school, or freeway, or gas pipeline etc. Are there abuses of the entitlement system, malingerers who take advantage with welfare & Medicaid fraud etc? Absolutely, but it's such a small fraction compared to the safety net that's needed, those people aren't worth mentioning. We've all benefited from some kind of Liberal initiative, the GI bill, for instance, a Liberal idea from the get go.
And my feelings about civil marriage--very simple. Civil marriage is for everyone. I agree with your assessment of religious marriage, and, as I said, if you have that in your relationship I'm thrilled for you. I have it, too, and there's no better way to live. In fact the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that it's a human right to marry the person you love. I personally feel that to deny what I have to another human being is somehow morally wrong. That to challenge someone else's "..pursuit of happiness..." is somehow unAmerican. My personal opinion. That's why I work with the Human Rights Campaign and other gay rights organizations on this marriage equality thing. I believe that if some of us aren't free, none of us are. It has nothing to do with religion; it's a civil matter. If it's religious, why are atheists allowed to marry? If it's about procreation old people and those who don't want kids couldn't marry. It's about falling in love, and wanting to marry someone--simple. And finally, it's about equal protection under the law, a concept we hold sacred in this country.
The other aspect of this issue that puzzles me, frankly, is this. Here we have a group of people--our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters--and I have many dear friends who fit that description--who are desperate to commit to each other, settle down, form a home and family, contribute to society, work hard, pay taxes, care for their kids, strengthen the neighborhood. These are very conservative issues. Family values, actually. Why are we discouraging them? Why are we prohibiting these people from marrying? It makes no sense. How many straight people do you know who are desperate to marry?
I mentioned third grade etc. When we stood at our desks and saluted the flag, our little hands on our hearts--remember that? We said the pledge of allegiance, every morning. It was always the last line that got me, even gave me a good deal of comfort, actually. "Liberty and justice for all." You know, Ty, I believed that line. I really took it to heart, and believed it. It said "...for ALL." That means everybody--black, white, male, female, gay, straight, Muslim, Christian etc. No exceptions. I really do believe we're all equal under the law. I believe with all my heart that you and I didn't wear that uniform all those years defending a country that makes exceptions. And yes, that applies to civil marriage, because if citizens are denied civil marriage--a CIVIL procedure, not a religious one, then that's discrimination, pure and simple. It's an exception, and we don't make exceptions. I could go on and on about this, and I often do, but I have to tell you, at the risk of pissing you off, that your disdain for marriage equality saddens me a bit. You spent a lot of time in a country where religious fanatics disrupt society and challenge other people's right to enjoy the benefits of that society. I wasn't there with you, but I'm assuming most of the chaos in Iraq is based on religious difference and attendant feelings of superiority, Sunni Vs, Shia. That those poor people still have no real concept of a society based on the rule of law. This is what makes America the greatest nation on earth. Here we understand that the law is above all else, yes even religion. It's not easy being an American. It means we have to accept all manner of people and faiths and practices and tastes etc. And to me it means that our sacred documents are not the bible, or the koran, or the vedas, but the U.S. Constitution and its amendments. And the 14th is relevant for marriage equality. It contains two clauses--the due process clause, and the equal protection clause, which states that we are all--there's that word again--all of us are entitled to equal protection under the law. To me the radical idea is NOT allowing gays & lesbians to marry. The truly radical idea in this country is denying them that right, denying them equality.
Whew--sorry, I still get exercised about things like this. Here's the bottom line. Yes, I really do feel it's one reason the uniform meant so much to me. I wore it not for those who were in the mainstream, the people who took their rights and benefits for granted and didn't need my defense of their freedom. I wore it for those who didn't have those rights, and deserved them as full citizens of this country. So when I see people denied those rights today, I guess I suit up all over again.
As for my Liberality, I admit to being a capital L Liberal, mostly because I really do feel we Liberals move this country forward to where it needs to go. This country was founded by a bunch of radical, lefty liberals. If it wasn't for those guys we'd all be speaking English today. Liberals got women the vote, and kids out of the mines, and Social Security, and Medicare, and the 40 hour workweek and OSHA, and the EPA and civil rights. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that Liberals believe we have an obligation to each other, that we're not a bunch of cowboys who are 'on our own,' not rugged individuals who don't need each other. Nobody built their own school, or freeway, or gas pipeline etc. Are there abuses of the entitlement system, malingerers who take advantage with welfare & Medicaid fraud etc? Absolutely, but it's such a small fraction compared to the safety net that's needed, those people aren't worth mentioning. We've all benefited from some kind of Liberal initiative, the GI bill, for instance, a Liberal idea from the get go.
And my feelings about civil marriage--very simple. Civil marriage is for everyone. I agree with your assessment of religious marriage, and, as I said, if you have that in your relationship I'm thrilled for you. I have it, too, and there's no better way to live. In fact the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that it's a human right to marry the person you love. I personally feel that to deny what I have to another human being is somehow morally wrong. That to challenge someone else's "..pursuit of happiness..." is somehow unAmerican. My personal opinion. That's why I work with the Human Rights Campaign and other gay rights organizations on this marriage equality thing. I believe that if some of us aren't free, none of us are. It has nothing to do with religion; it's a civil matter. If it's religious, why are atheists allowed to marry? If it's about procreation old people and those who don't want kids couldn't marry. It's about falling in love, and wanting to marry someone--simple. And finally, it's about equal protection under the law, a concept we hold sacred in this country.
The other aspect of this issue that puzzles me, frankly, is this. Here we have a group of people--our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters--and I have many dear friends who fit that description--who are desperate to commit to each other, settle down, form a home and family, contribute to society, work hard, pay taxes, care for their kids, strengthen the neighborhood. These are very conservative issues. Family values, actually. Why are we discouraging them? Why are we prohibiting these people from marrying? It makes no sense. How many straight people do you know who are desperate to marry?
I mentioned third grade etc. When we stood at our desks and saluted the flag, our little hands on our hearts--remember that? We said the pledge of allegiance, every morning. It was always the last line that got me, even gave me a good deal of comfort, actually. "Liberty and justice for all." You know, Ty, I believed that line. I really took it to heart, and believed it. It said "...for ALL." That means everybody--black, white, male, female, gay, straight, Muslim, Christian etc. No exceptions. I really do believe we're all equal under the law. I believe with all my heart that you and I didn't wear that uniform all those years defending a country that makes exceptions. And yes, that applies to civil marriage, because if citizens are denied civil marriage--a CIVIL procedure, not a religious one, then that's discrimination, pure and simple. It's an exception, and we don't make exceptions. I could go on and on about this, and I often do, but I have to tell you, at the risk of pissing you off, that your disdain for marriage equality saddens me a bit. You spent a lot of time in a country where religious fanatics disrupt society and challenge other people's right to enjoy the benefits of that society. I wasn't there with you, but I'm assuming most of the chaos in Iraq is based on religious difference and attendant feelings of superiority, Sunni Vs, Shia. That those poor people still have no real concept of a society based on the rule of law. This is what makes America the greatest nation on earth. Here we understand that the law is above all else, yes even religion. It's not easy being an American. It means we have to accept all manner of people and faiths and practices and tastes etc. And to me it means that our sacred documents are not the bible, or the koran, or the vedas, but the U.S. Constitution and its amendments. And the 14th is relevant for marriage equality. It contains two clauses--the due process clause, and the equal protection clause, which states that we are all--there's that word again--all of us are entitled to equal protection under the law. To me the radical idea is NOT allowing gays & lesbians to marry. The truly radical idea in this country is denying them that right, denying them equality.
Whew--sorry, I still get exercised about things like this. Here's the bottom line. Yes, I really do feel it's one reason the uniform meant so much to me. I wore it not for those who were in the mainstream, the people who took their rights and benefits for granted and didn't need my defense of their freedom. I wore it for those who didn't have those rights, and deserved them as full citizens of this country. So when I see people denied those rights today, I guess I suit up all over again.
No comments have been added yet.
