North of Unequal
Divided unequally – Original image found at ABC News
Another state takes the side of the majority and uses fear and prejudice to divide on a social and civil issue.
North Carolina became the 30th state to enshrine discrimination in it’s state constitution. I was not aware that any constitution – state or federal – could or should be used to take away or restrict the rights of it’s citizens. I was taught in school that the idea of including, not excluding, was the basis for how this country was originally founded. I guess that’s not how the majority sees it.
Never mind the fact that North Carolina – like several other states before it – already had made same-sex marriage illegal through legislation. But just to make sure it REALLY was illegal, they passed this amendment so they could show the rest of the nation and the world that “no, we don’t want anyone different than us to be married.”
Not The First Time
Original images found at North Carolina Miscellany
Of course, this wasn’t the first time they passed an amendment to ban a group of people from marriage. Back in 1875, interracial marriage was banned and didn’t get removed from the state’s constitution until it was rewritten almost 100 years later.
Waiting On History
History has shown that eventually, the minority are given the rights and civil liberties that the majority has so often taken away. So it shall be for North Carolina. I just hope they don’t have to wait almost 100 years for equality to once again write another chapter in history.
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About The Author
I am so tired of this conversation, tired of people letting their fear dictate other people’s private lives.
Ugh.
I get tired of it, too… having to read these news stories and getting worked up about rights and privileges taken away from others.
My issue is this: Is the reason for this because the people who are against same sex marriages insecure in their own marriages?
I say let there be same sex marriage!
I would say there is a level of fear and insecurity to those against same-sex marriage. It’s one of the reasons that would explain the hate that gets written into these constitutional amendments.
At times like this I stop and reflect upon the real reason that settlers originally came to America. They were fundamentalist religious freaks that were shunned by their home countries. So it’s no surprise to me that we have a bunch of fundamentalist freaks trying to push their beliefs upon all of us who were not similarly brainwashed.
Letting the freaks have their way and pushing their beliefs is not what the founding fathers had in mind when they defined what “freedom of religion” was meant to be.
Ugh. I really really don’t understand what the big deal is about same-sex marriage. Live and let live. If two people want to get married there shouldn’t be some narrow-minded bigoted red-tape preventing them from doing so. It’s hard enough finding that “special someone” you want to spend the rest of your life with as it is.
And in related news, President Obama coming out in favor of same-sex marriage yesterday was an unexpected surprise.
Just like interracial marriage, there is no big deal to same-sex marriage. Live and let live. But unfortunately, there’s those that aren’t happy until they are pushing their beliefs and other lifestyles down everyone else’s throats.
And yes, Obama’s support was a positive thing.