We atheists love the holiday season! It’s the time of year to scowl at anyone wishing us holiday greetings of any kind, be it a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Good Kwanzaa. Even calling the winter celebration Yule or Saturnalia gives us all a smug sense of superiority knowing that we are not yoked to superstition. Whenever we hear the claim "Jesus is the reason for the season," we can counter with the smarmy "Really, I thought it was Mithras," or the coldly scientific "Actually, its the tilt of the Earth." Everyone knows this is the time of year when atheists get out the war paint and roam the streets in gangs knocking down Salvation Army bell ringers and pissing in nativity crèches. Oh, the holiday joy!
Puhleeze!
Congress voted in 1870 to make Christmas Day a national holiday, thus making in a secular American holiday. Since, as we all know, "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," (we do all know that, right?) the very act of voting to make it an official holiday stripped Christmas of any religious connotations. Do not be alarmed; there are any number of winter festival traditions in which you can freely participate. As for me, I'm just glad the days are getting longer (up here in the northern hemisphere, anyway,) and I expect to enjoy some family time and some good food and drink.
It makes no difference to me how you choose to celebrate, just please don't insist that your way is the only way or that the season is reserved for those that share your faith.
Merry Christmas!
Think well,
LV
Showing posts with label first amendment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first amendment. Show all posts
16 December 2008
28 October 2008
Threat to Marriage?
California's Proposition 8 is shaping up to be the most expensive contest in next week's election after the presidential race itself. A yes vote on Prop 8. will overturn the CA supreme court decision that allows same-sex couples to marry.
There will always be the cries of "activist judges" going against the will off the people. The people who emit these pathetic wails are clearly unfamiliar with the concept of checks and balances and the tyranny of the majority. Part of a judge's job is to determine when laws are unconstitutional. Discrimination counts.
Another complaint from the narrow-minded is that the term "marriage" should be reserved for heterosexual couples and gay couples should have all the same rights in a "civil union." This separate but equal policy didn't work during the era of the Jim Crow laws and it won't work now. All it does is alienate a segment of the population by treating them as second-class citizens. It violates the constitutional tenant of equal protection under the law.
"But, they'll teach it to my kids in school!" Perhaps, if it comes up. Mostly boys marry girls, but sometimes boys marry boys and girls marry girls. This is a fact. Why shouldn't it be taught in schools? No child will be told in any public school who they should marry. (It might happen to a home-schooled child in a separatist Mormon encampment, though...)
There is also the absurd claim floating around that it violates individual freedom of religion. That is an utter crock. No one will be forcing anyone to marry anyone, dammit! You can even continue to believe that homosexuality is an "abomination" or just "hate the sin, love the sinner." If you are a bible literalist, you know that the punishment for homosexuality is not to deny them marriage, but for them to be put to death. You will even be free to believe in this horrid retribution as long as you don't act on it. You can hate whomever you want for whatever reason you like, but our government can't give you the right to discriminate.
One of the most vapid grumbles is that this will somehow violate the "sanctity of marriage." Read your first amendment. The government doesn't do "sanctity." If you are so concerned about the sanctity of marriage, work to legislate a ban on divorce. See how that goes over.
The arguments that gay marriage is somehow a threat to society simply don't hold water.
No on 8. Another straight white man for equality.
Think Well,
LV
There will always be the cries of "activist judges" going against the will off the people. The people who emit these pathetic wails are clearly unfamiliar with the concept of checks and balances and the tyranny of the majority. Part of a judge's job is to determine when laws are unconstitutional. Discrimination counts.
Another complaint from the narrow-minded is that the term "marriage" should be reserved for heterosexual couples and gay couples should have all the same rights in a "civil union." This separate but equal policy didn't work during the era of the Jim Crow laws and it won't work now. All it does is alienate a segment of the population by treating them as second-class citizens. It violates the constitutional tenant of equal protection under the law.
"But, they'll teach it to my kids in school!" Perhaps, if it comes up. Mostly boys marry girls, but sometimes boys marry boys and girls marry girls. This is a fact. Why shouldn't it be taught in schools? No child will be told in any public school who they should marry. (It might happen to a home-schooled child in a separatist Mormon encampment, though...)
There is also the absurd claim floating around that it violates individual freedom of religion. That is an utter crock. No one will be forcing anyone to marry anyone, dammit! You can even continue to believe that homosexuality is an "abomination" or just "hate the sin, love the sinner." If you are a bible literalist, you know that the punishment for homosexuality is not to deny them marriage, but for them to be put to death. You will even be free to believe in this horrid retribution as long as you don't act on it. You can hate whomever you want for whatever reason you like, but our government can't give you the right to discriminate.
One of the most vapid grumbles is that this will somehow violate the "sanctity of marriage." Read your first amendment. The government doesn't do "sanctity." If you are so concerned about the sanctity of marriage, work to legislate a ban on divorce. See how that goes over.
The arguments that gay marriage is somehow a threat to society simply don't hold water.
No on 8. Another straight white man for equality.
Think Well,
LV
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