I'm in a bad mood this morning. I wasn't when I woke up. I was relatively happy, looking forward to the weekend and excited to try a new Yoga DVD. Then I sat down to read the news.
Humanity has a need to find a reason for living, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. A reason for life, the universe, and everything. I get that. I sometimes wonder why we feel that way and if all living creatures have similar thoughts and questions. (I tend to think they do.) But I accept that most people have those questions, if to differing degrees.
What I don't understand is the need to project personal beliefs on others. I'm a fan of lively discourse. I like sharing ideas and debating points. I like to look at life from every angle and consider new possibilities. But in the end, I do not feel like it is my place to tell others what to believe or how to live their lives.
Sure, life is more pleasant when it isn't a constant struggle against those who choose to lead a different sort of life. I'm in no way a sports fan, so I wouldn't be happily married to Bo Jackson (see, I can't even come up with a current multi-sport athlete and only know Bo because Bo Knows).
That doesn't mean I won't be friends with people who do enjoy sports, as long as we have other interests in common. Of course, it does mean my contribution to a debate about the Mets or Yankees would be limited to asking, "They're baseball, right?" (That's a slight exaggeration, but not much)
It also means that if a friend says they scored season tickets, my mind will instantly leap to ballet before football, baseball, or hockey. But, I won't think any less of my friends for liking sports. I might even go to a game once in a blue moon, especially if someone I care about, like one of my kids or a close friend, wants me to go.
It certainly doesn't mean I would lobby to end or otherwise limit national sports leagues. Live and let live, and all that.
Why is it any different when it comes to gay marriage? Why do some people feel the need to define marriage as only existing between a man and a woman? How does it hurt them, or in any way affect them, if another person wants to marry someone of the same sex?
Yes, I've heard the arguments about 'protecting marriage'. I don't understand them. Shouldn't 'protecting marriage' have something to do with preventing divorce? Perhaps by stopping domestic violence or encouraging affordable counseling services for couples? How does stopping loving couples from getting married 'protect marriage'?
There are similar arguments for 'protecting family' or 'protecting children' from gay marriage. How are families or children threatened by gay marriage? Generally the argument follows that acceptance of gay marriage will 'make kids gay'. Uh, don't we already have gay people without the acceptance of gay marriage? Aren't many of them the product of heterosexual couples? What 'made them gay'?
As to the argument of homosexuality being against God, that goes back to it being a personal belief. Yes, people have the right to believe God hates gay people. They also have the right to believe that Oompa Loompas make the best menservants (small accommodations, payments in chocolate, and creepy, yet entertaining, ditties).
However, personal beliefs are just that - they are personal. They should not be a basis to take away other people's rights. Freedom of religion should also mean freedom from religion.
I am exercising my own right to share my personal belief through this blog post. Agree or disagree, it's your prerogative. But I do urge everyone to remember that the same constitution that protects your own rights to believe and live the way you see fit allows every American the same freedom.
Even those who may not believe that the answer is 42.
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