SAD DAY FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

Tuesday was a sad day for civil liberties in America. The tyranny of the majority has prevailed again in the state of Maine. Question 1 on the ballot to over rule the state law granting same sex marriage was passed. Again the people fell for the religious activist claims of destruction of society and a threat to their religious beliefs. This time the Catholic church funded and organized with the anti-gay organization to over rule the state legislature and governor.

Maine's elected representatives came to the realization that the 14th Amendment, Equal Protection clause, of our Bill of Rights means something. It is looking more and more like Congress must address this issue at the federal level as they did with the Civil Rights acts of 1964-65. Then it will be up to the US Supreme Court to uphold the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment and whatever Equality Act Congress passes so that all states must grant equal rights, including civil marriages, to every citizen, that includes Utah. Obviously this is going to take a lot of time to move such a bill through congress and the courts. It is the only moral thing to do. We can't allow the tyranny of the religious majority to segregate citizens by limiting their constitutional rights. Were will that end, limiting the rights of citizens of non-faith or different faith their equal protection under the law. Can they be jailed for their disbelief's or beliefs? We are moving toward theocratic governance that is completely  opposite of what our founding fathers wanted for this nation. Many had lived through or seen the tyranny of theocracy in the old world and even here in America before our separation from England. The Anglican Church was the official church of the colonies and many states had been governed by religious clergy. Does the Salem witch trials ring a bell? The scarlet letter?

If people don't see this as a moral issue of civil liberty Vs religious tyranny, then America is in serious trouble in determining what is moral, right and fair and what is tyranny. Our secular democratic republic is under threat by these Christian groups, both mainstream and extremist. We are in a civil war of sorts, without arms at this point, for the control of our country and if it will remain a secular government tolerant of all religions or a theocracy with limited civil liberties to those who are not of these religious groups.

The American people should be outraged by what is happening. But I assume they are far too busy dealing with their own lives, that they do not see the underlying threat to the country. For many of faith, this tyranny is not a problem for them, as it does not effect their way of life, so they go along with the masses and limit the liberty of some group that are not like them. For others, they accept the proclamations of their religious leadership to deny civil liberties to a select group of citizens without questioning the morality of such action.

I know this will embolden these organizations to mount assaults on the other states who have granted either full marriage benefits or civil union benefits. We need a Martin Luther King, Jr. type person to organize and put forth the message of civil rights. We need a Harvey Milk to lead us to the mountain top.

Harvey Milk, SF Councilman and Activist
assassinated by a religious co-councilman.


I ASK ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS INJUSTICE. RAISE YOUR VOICE FOR WHAT IS MORAL AND JUST, EQUAL LIBERTY UNDER THE LAW! 

• First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
  
• Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
  
• Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
  
• Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
• Then they came for the homosexuals, and I did not speak out -- because I was not homosexual;
  
• Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
  

By Pastor Martin Niemöller regarding the tyranny of the Nazis
I added the second to last sentence for a dramatic statement of fact.


Currently it is perfectly legal for any religion to not recognize the marriage of anyone, and to deny fellowship into their organization, that is their right. By granting equal protection under the law to LGBT citizens by permitting them to obtain civil marriages, the same as all other citizens, in no way changes the tenants and practices of a religion. In fact specific language can be passed as law that protects this right of exclusion of anyone for any reason. 
For my LDS family and friends, that should solve the problem your church has with this issue.

Sin is a religious tenant, not a civil or secular law. Sins as defined by a religion should not be outlawed by public law that affects the liberties of any or all citizens, regardless of faith, no-faith or different faith. So don't deny citizens their civil equal rights because you think their love is a sin and your church does not want to recognize their civil marriage or perform religious marriage for certain people. 

I know, I know, some sins are parallel to some civil law, such as murder and theft of property. But that does not mean that religion has a copyright on what is moral by a society. Some form of these basic laws were commonly practiced in civilized societies throughout the ages; even before Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad and Joseph Smith.