Gay Marriage, Gay rights. We've heard the arguments, and every day we see more and more people siding with them. And going after those who are not.
What's the deal?
I'll tell you what the deal is, at least from my perspective. With movements like this no one is allowed to voice their opinion, unless they are involved in the movement. Anyway, myself included, who disagrees is ripped to pieces, called names, and treated as if we are the bane of their existence. They demand their rights, they demand their free speech. Yet those of us who oppose them are stripped of our rights to free speech. How is that fair? I have a right to disagree with people, yet they tell me that if I do I'm not only wrong but I'm a bigot and I'm discriminating against those who are "different" than me.
I'll admit, yes I am discriminating, but not in they way they're telling me I am. We as human beings discriminate on a daily basis.
For example: I ask you, the reader, to choose between an apple or an orange. Hypothetically, lets say you choose the apple.
Well how dare you for discriminating against those oranges! What did they ever do to you anyway huh? It wouldn't hurt you to pick the orange, so why didn't you do it?
Now, as silly as that sounds I would hope that it's a start to proving my point. There are two types of discrimination. The first was the example I just gave you, it's a process of elimination and a way to coming to a decision. I do it on a daily basis, and you do it every day too. The second one, obviously is the type of discrimination America saw pre Civil Rights movement, with the African Americans in the south. Choosing not to like someone because of the color of their skin and preventing them to attain to the same place as their white peers was wrong. Period. In relation to those who struggle with same sex attraction and identify themselves as gay or lesbian I believe the discrimination happens when bullying becomes a factor. When people are blatantly rude because of an individuals sexual orientation. That is wrong because I believe these people who identify themselves as that have the right to do so, and we don't need to be mean to them, they are our brothers and sisters after all.
BUT, the discrimination they are claiming we who oppose them are doing I believe relates back to my first example. I have a right to make a decision to not support what they are doing. I have a right to not support their agenda. (side note: marriage is not a right that we as American Citizens are given. It's an opportunity we choose as legal adults to choose a spouse we desire to be with for the rest of our lives. It's not a rite of passage)
We see this issue becoming more and more accepted every day. Especially in the media. TV shows like GLEE and Modern Family are teaching the American population that being Gay is ok. The problem is though, the youth of this country are watching those shows. The content is being passed off as "funny" and normal, but they are being subjected to the opinions and agendas of the liberal left who supports the LGBT movement for their "rights".
And as much as I would like to agree with them, I can't. Because acting on homosexual practices and tendencies is not only unnatural, but it goes against the commandments of God. I know, I know I can't bring God and religion into this. But guess what? I can. It's my right, and not only that, but this country was founded by God fearing men and I firmly believe that God had a hand in making sure this country was set up and we were given the rights and freedoms we now enjoy. So yeah, God has a say in this.
NOW, what God does not say is that we should hate the people who struggle with same sex attraction or who identify themselves as Gay or Lesbian. Instead, we should love them as best as we can. But we do not have to accept the act of homosexuality. There is a difference between the person and the act they are doing. To clarify this, this applies to those who are straight as well. Any act that goes against the commandments of God should not be accepted or condoned. I've made choices that didn't coincide with the doctrine I was raised with and I've had to turn to God and ask for His forgiveness. I did not force people to accept the act, because it was wrong. I would like people to accept and love me though, despite the mistakes I have previously made.
Hate the sin, not the sinner.
I wont lie though, sometimes I feel uncomfortable around people who identify themselves as gay or lesbian. But I also feel uncomfortable around people who are straight but do things I believe are wrong. I don't hate them, I hate what they are doing because I believe it wont make them happy like they claim it will.
I don't feel this movement is just about marriage for them. I feel like for the radical members of this group their crusade wont be finished once they get their "right" to marriage. What that is, I don't know and I don't like to speculate about things I don't know to be true. The main thing though goes back to what I said about wanting people to accept me as a person and not by the sins I had committed when I was younger. For the LGBT community it's about forced acceptance of not only themselves but also the lifestyle they are pursuing. I feel the most resistance to them comes from the second one. They say we hate those who are gay, but what they are really saying is we are not willing to accept their lifestyles. I do feel like their agenda is being shoved down my throat, which is one of the greatest reasons why I refuse to support their "rights" crusade. I'm the type of person that when I develop an opinion about something my opinion rarely changes. I also hate being told I'm wrong. I generally tell people to knock it off when they're telling me I'm wrong or else I can turn into the Hulk. (Just kidding) Both groups are at odds with each other though. The only way it really will end is when the radical left will stop attacking and bullying those of us who oppose them.
I'm not going to delve too deeply into the political aspect of this issue, I already have a post on this blog relating to my political opinions on this issue. The one thing I will say, is that I do not believe these people's constitutional rights are being violated because they are being denied the right to get married. I mentioned the Civil Rights movement earlier in this blog, THOSE people's rights were being denied. Segregation was wrong because it was limiting the African Americans in the South from being able to be equal with their White peers. That was wrong, I will say that much. In relation to the LGBT's arguments, there is nowhere in law that says marriage is a right. Their rights are not being violated by not being allowed to marry. Yet they claim it is, and they bully those of us who disagree. That's not fair, I have a right to accept or not accept an opinion if I decide not too. That's exactly what this movement is about, opinions.
So what's the big deal? Well, it doesn't have to be that huge of a deal if the LGBT community would stop attacking those of us who are against it. It wouldn't be a huge deal if I knew that it would stop at marriage. In fact, if I KNEW that is where it would end I probably would let them have their way. Because that means once they get what they want we generally can all live together in peace and leave one another alone. It gets into other areas and issues such as adoption, or where they can get married and that's when I tend to balk. I'm sorry, but for me that's when it truly crosses a line. I also, personally, don't want my children to be influenced by the agendas of people's whose opinions go against what I personally believe, and just like Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon when he writes the title of liberty, he writes:
"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom
and our peace, our wives and our children"
That too is my stance, and the reason why for me either supporting or opposing Gay Marriage has become a huge deal in this country. Because there are still those of us who support the belief that we are watched over and protected by God. Why is a huge deal? Why do we oppose it? Because we feel that those agendas are attacking those same beliefs that we stand for: Our God, our religion, our freedoms, our peace, and our families. That is my personal stance, why do I stand against this issue? Because I feel it attacks those things, and I have a right to stand up for myself and for those issues I stand for.
That's the big deal about Gay Marriage.
Life is full of adventures, it's how we live and enjoy them that makes us who we are as individuals.
