Well group, here we are all back together again blissfully headed through Spring, hoping that the mild Winter experienced in the northeast translates into a nice shining Summer that lasts until, oh maybe April 2013. Now for all that to occur it means we need to shove ourselves through a couple of seasonal events that for the most part seem to have a unique American tilt to them. Now now now don't worry I'm not trying to shorten up any one's fun time, first off I'm not talking about "The Holidays", nor the various sport seasons, who would want to deprive anyone of all that fun, not me I'm always up for a good time. Nope, the events we must brace ourselves for only occur every four years, and by golly, here we are. Yup you're right, Presidential elections, and that my friends is why this is listed under other blog, for there are goings on which not only defy logic, but seem to stretch to the extreme the limits of what I always thought defined political discussion.
Now the reason this qualifies as a season and not just a one night stand is not just because of all the wasted verbiage that leads up to the actual vote, but when all is said and done, the topics that seem to garner some sort of temporary importance really boggle one's mind. And this, folks, is why we're here.
If you remember my last forage, I tried to make connections relating to amendments, specifically within the Bill of Rights. Well, mount up because its time for another ride. Once again this may be outside the box, but hey its what I do.
Assembly... I've looked for a proper defining term, i.e. how many are needed for an assembly, you can pick a number but I want two. I saw a legal writing that said something about an illegal assembly of three, ergo two must be legal.
Marriage...the uniting of two people into a close union...making them legally a partnership.
Now that pesky old Bill of Rights. Last time out we dealt with the second amendment and the right of citizens to have a militia and to arm themselves to form such a militia. This time we deal with the first amendment...the government shall pass no law that will infringe on the citizens right of peaceable assembly...uh oh... let's see, some people live together, never marry, buy property and raise children, some people live together, marry, buy property and raise children. Now if one person joins legally with another, is that not an assemblage (if you by chance, find say, a Fisher-Price two piece child's jigsaw puzzle, don't you assemble the pieces to make one picture?) So, if two people want to join in a peaceable assembly, it seems to me the Bill of Rights allows this...no demands this.
The first amendment also deals with religion and that old American favorite, free speech, free press and freedom to express grievances to the government. All that being said, if two people choose to announce their lifestyle preference, and wish to form an assembly to further their life choices, it would seem the first amendment not only supports them but also offer legal protection.
Now you may have noticed that in all the above ramblings I never mentioned what sex was having all these assemblies, and why not you say? Well, its really not necessary, since we're talking about the U.S. Constitution and you know what? That subject never comes up(well not til later over voting rights). The whole point is this country was founded upon the simple belief in freedom of expression. You may also notice that in the Bill of Rights, the amendment regarding these basic freedoms is the first amendment, the rest follow. Legally it seems they all bear the same weight, but in drafting all this paperwork( the Bill of Rights was added after the Constitution was written as many of the founders demanded something that expressed these rights and freedoms or they wouldn't sign), maybe it was felt these rights were foremost.
So, what is the point here? I hope I arrived at one. The issue that drove me here is the time and effort wasted on discussions that really shouldn't be political.I'm not going into party platforms(not this time) or if one party supports a lifestyle or not (not this time), or even who should pay what taxes and how (not this time). The question I guess is simply, what difference does it make to anybody else, if two people choose
to marry, and why should it rise to the level of Presidential politics? I have asked people who allow no discussion on the issue of same sex unions,what they mean when they say it will destroy the American family,and I never hear anything close to a sensible response. I don't see their problem, I don't get their problem and mostly, I don't want their problem. This is America, specifically the United States of America, built on certain beliefs that morphed into certain freedoms allowing its citizens rights unattainable in many other nations. So it seems the point is, as an American I believe its simple, people have the right of lifestyle choice, now don't blame me for thinking this, as an American I was born this way.
Preach it, sir! Whenever these issues come up (and they are quite the topic these days) it saddens me how close-minded and ignorant a great many number of people are in this nation. My parents separated by the time I was 1 and the majority of the friends I grew up with were children of divorce. For the most part we all turned out fine but obviously straight parents have proven how flimsy the institution of marriage can be if the wrong people marry each other. This country was formed as an experiment in democracy with the idea of promoting freedoms to any and all citizens. And since that time when this union was formed we have constantly discriminated against a multitude of races, as well as women, and people's sexual orientation. Marriage itself is also an experiment and fails or succeeds based on the personalities of those involved and their willingness to compromise with one another. A gay couple is just as likely to end up divorced as a straight couple- no more, no less. It shouldn't be a democratic issue or a republican issue but rather a human issue that stands as a symbol for the freedom and progress we all hope to attain.
ReplyDeleteI know.
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