Friday, June 26, 2015

Supreme Love

photo source: CNN
Today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage rights nationwide, a landmark victory for gay rights.  Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote, "No longer may this liberty be denied.  No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family.  In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were."

I've always joked that "the gays" loved me. They do.  I have a lot of gay friends. And I love them. I also love that they now have the same right as I do to make their love for their someone special official. No matter where they live.

Like these two guys did, who've been together for 54 years.  FIFTY FOUR.  For anyone to say that their love is different, or perverse, or going to be the demise of a nation, has more than a few screws loose.  These guys have been living their lives for 54 years, together, loving each other, unbeknownst to you, and it didn't affect your life one little smidge. Did it? No.


It doesn't affect you.  And it doesn't affect me.

A lot of people think being gay and gays getting married is wrong because the bible says it's wrong.  Really?  Well, since they're going to pull out the Old Testament scripture, you know what else the OT says you're not supposed to do?  Lots.  Eat bacon. Or shellfish.  Wear clothing of mixed fabric. Cut your hair. Shave your beard. Get tattoos. Hold a grudge. Drink wine. Work on Sunday.

Wait, there's more.  Divorce.  Getting remarried after divorce.  Premarital sex.  Lusting after someone.  Wearing sexy clothing or flashy jewelry. Gossip. Cheating (or even thinking about cheating). Having a child out of wedlock. Eating too much (gluttony). Using birth control. Wearing the clothing of the opposite sex (what, no boyfriend tees? button downs? flannel shirts? jeans?). Oppressing the poor and vulnerable.  And that's New Testament stuff.

Wow.  We're in a shitload of trouble.  In fact, every single person I know is going to the fiery depths of hell according to this.  And let's not even get started on Caitlyn Jenner. See, here's the thing - you can't really judge others because they sin differently than you. And although we all do it - I'm super-judgmental regarding just about everything - some of us don't agree that laws should be made to prevent someone from enjoying something just because you don't.

Well, except for the gun thing and the pedophile thing.  There's no reason for the average person to own a gun (other countries get by just fine without armed citizens) and there's certainly no excuse for doing anything inappropriate with a child.  Those people have a special kind of hell in store for them and there absolutely should be laws and punishments for anyone who even thinks about it.

But let's get back to the gay thing.  Most of the opposition is coming from religious, conservative, Republican, bible-thumping people. Don't skewer me, those are the facts. Almost every person who's spoken out has made some connection to religion or God or the bible.  And there are people who think this Supreme Court decision means the end of times.  Can I just say how ridiculous that is?  I mean, it's actually laughable. I seriously cannot fathom how a person not only thinks it, but then lets the thought fall out of their mouth. It tells me they're so removed from reality that they think what they're saying has merit. They don't have to agree with it, but calling for the end of times?  C'mon.

There's a long list of predictions for things that are supposed to end the world as we know it. They have never and will never come true.  These predictions date back to...well, let's just say Jesus was probably sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee and reading about the end times from his copy of Chiseled Stone Tablet Daily.  


But let's look at something that's not so rooted in radical religious thought.  Someone online said that the country will fall apart if marriage equality gets passed, and that no country who has sanctioned gay relationships has ever remained intact.

Really??

Well, except for these countries:

The Netherlands (2001)

Belgium (2003)

Canada (2005)

Spain (2005)

South Africa (2006)

Norway (2009)

Sweden (2009)

Argentina (2010)

Iceland (2010)

Portugal (2010)

Denmark (2012)

Brazil (2013)

England and Wales (2013)

France (2013)

New Zealand (2013)

Uruguay (2013)

Luxembourg (2014)

Finland (2014)


Scotland (2014)

Ireland (2015)  


Tell me again how these countries are falling apart?

And then tell me why the United States is behind all industrialized countries (and even some less developed countries) when it comes to things that are important - peace, quality of life, education, literacy, reading, science, math, linguistic diversity, global competitiveness, freedom of the press, health care. 
Yet we lead with murder rates, oil consumption, gun deaths, teen pregnancy, and incarcerated persons, among other crap you don't want to be first in.   

We can't even get it right with the food we eat - the United States has no federal laws banning GMO use, yet "more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union have significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs".

We have climate-change deniers.  People who aren't even scientists just spoutin' their scientific opinions.

Shit, we can't even get internet that's faster than other countries.

Perhaps the anti-black, anti-Mexican, anti-Muslim, anti-healthcare, anti-public transportation, anti-everything, including the anti-gay sentiment, has to do with America's "willful embrace and exaltation of ignorance...evidenced all around us". Clearly, lack of knowledge and information is preventing critical growth in some people.

We're not going to fall apart because we give equal rights to the citizens of our country.

Your life isn't going to change ONE SINGLE IOTA because a few gay people get married.

Use your brain.  Think critically.  And stop letting the bible, your mother, or your grandpappy's voice in your ear tell you what's right and wrong. Have some common sense. You don't have to like it.  You don't have to agree with it.  There's tons of shit I don't like or agree with, which if you're a regular reader you already know.

This decision doesn't take away any of your rights.  NONE.

It just makes the lives of others a little more beautiful.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Unfuzzed

2013: I Think We May Be Following A Derecho. Or Is It An Izquierda?
2012: This One Time, At Summer Camp…
2011: Into The Wild
2010: It Was Clear The Moment You Opened Your Mouth
2009: Eddie Captures A Sunset Friday
2008: Pelicans Enjoying Their Rule Of The Lake
2007: Bigfoot
2006: There Is A Reason People Try To Repress Certain Childhood Memories
2005: Painted Ladies

8 comments:

Mick said...


Beautiful piece of writing, and laugh out loud funny. Will be reading this to Ali when I get home.

Anonymous said...

Preach it!!!!! So I can give you a AMEN!!! Thanks for this. Finally this day has come, congrats to ALL.

MT in Missouri

MAE said...

Perfect timing for this to be so well said!

ngd4096 said...

Exceptionally well thought out and beautifully written !!!! One of your best posts ever. You go !!!!!

The Daily Rant said...

MICK: Glad it made you laugh. I hope Ali likes it too!

MT in Missouri: I've never received an "Amen!" before, so thank you!

MAE: Thank you. Appreciate your comment.

NANCY: I'm SO glad you liked it! And thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

Unknown said...

I'm new to the Daily Rant & I am already a big fan !!
And this article .....Holy Shit! I'll give ya an Amen alone with MT in Missour! Oh Yes, I can get up on a soapbox myself and I am here to say ... WELL SAID !

Looking forward to my Daily Rant email everyday !
Keep that I-Pad hot, mamacita .... I am loving it !!

The Daily Rant said...

LINDA LOU: I'm so glad you found me! And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I have years and years of archives, so start reading! You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter (I'm under Salena Lettera there). And feel free to pass me along to your friends! Have a great weekend! ~ S.

Adam4Adam said...

Really a perfect timing..Congrats to everyone! be proud ;)