| and sworn to support the Constitution, voted NO choosing instead to keep their heel on the necks of a minority. I’m ashamed that many of us use the flag or the Bible or the Koran to justify outrageous bigotry. Have we learned nothing from our history of bigotry and hatred? Who will we attack with our hatred when we’re done with the Gays?
I’m ashamed to think that one of the great churches in this country is being torn apart by one faction who demand that bigotry be the cornerstone of their belief and who are willing to tear themselves away from the body of their church to allow them the continued the practice of despicable intolerance of others. They believe that they are a church of Christ, yet Christ never spoke one word about hating Gays or Lesbians – or Blacks. Instead Christ spoke to love, forgiveness, and tolerance. He spoke of turning the other cheek and never of hatred and intolerance. Look up the word bigotry and you’ll find that the antonym is fairness and open-mindedness and tolerance. How is it that so many Christian churches have drifted so far that they conduct themselves opposite to the teachings of Christ? In the words of Margaret Cho, Christ would say to them: “That’s NOT what I meant!!!” I’m ashamed for the man who has no shame, who cheated his way into office, who lied to Congress and the American people so as to bring this country into a mindless, horrific war, a war of his own making, a war that has killed tens-of-thousands of men, women and children of the sovereign country that he invaded, a war that to date has brutally ruined 3857 American families by stripping them of their father, husband and/or son – for the tens of thousands who returned home maimed and torn of body a spirit - and for what? Are we any safer? Are we any richer, happier? Are we any more secure? Do we still have $1.40 per gallon gasoline? I’m ashamed that in spite of his failed policies, our president continues to push them down our throat while telling us more lies about progress in Iraq and about the strength of our great economy. Look around folks, most things in the grocery store cost double or triple what they did when Mister Bush took office and much of that has happened in the last three or four years. It’s quite obvious that Bush never shops for groceries, or gasoline or medicine. Has your income also doubled of tripled? Many of Bush’s friend’s income has. Do we feel “more secure from terrorism” now than we did before? Before what - Mister Bush? I fear that the greatest terrorist we face is right here on our shores. I fear his arrogance. I fear his indifference to the welfare of the people of this land. I fear the men in Congress who unwaveringly and mindlessly back him, right or wrong, at every move. Backing a policy that they know is wrong, that they know is destroying this country and is killing our young men with no purpose – this is what I consider to be truly immoral. The Gay issue is but a ruse to redirect the public’s attention away from the reality and the significant issues of our time. Oh, I’m sure there are those who will quickly point out that these views are unpatriotic, that I don’t support our troops, that if I’m not happy here I should go to some other country. And isn’t that Bush-esque – Facist? They choose to forget that free speech and the right to descent was one of the great cornerstones of this country (with an emphasis on ‘was.’) Well, congratulations to us on passing ENDA in the House but it’s sobering to think how far we still have to go before it becomes law and at the end of all the waiting, lobbying and wringing of hands, there’s still Mister Bush standing in our way ready with his veto pen so that he can show his christianesque supporters that he’s still got his heel on our necks. God bless America (except Mister Bush who doesn’t need my blessing - he already talks to God)! |
| ENDA - 11/7/07 (exactly 1 year after Ted Haggard was outed as a Gay and drug user |
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| I'm thrilled! ENDA’s passing today in the House gives us a lot to celebrate. Those who pushed and campaigned and lobbied did a truly gargantuan job. And though my heart flutters with this great news, tears form and there’s a lump building in my throat as another part of me shudders with wonder and with shame. I was raised to be proud and supportive of my neighbors and especially of my country – a land of opportunity, they said, and the home of the free and the brave, a sweet land of liberty. Ahh, the delusions of youth! Now, with the veil of youth pulled aside revealing the soil and illusion, I find myself also feeling ashamed on this day of celebration. I’m ashamed when I realize the condition of this ‘use-to-be’ great land of ours; ashamed that it has taken so many years and so much energy by so many to accomplish the assurance of basic dignity and simple human rights denied a few Americans when all along it is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I’m ashamed that 185 educated men elected to the House of Representatives |