I am appalled as I digest the unconscionable decision by the California Supreme Court to uphold Prop. 8, banning gay marriage. Actually, appalled doesn't even begin to cover it. Let's try outraged. Disgusted. Disheartened. And downright offended as a citizen of this country. This blatant affront to civil rights smacks so loudly of prejudice and religion that it may drown out the sound of justice, but it shall not still my voice. We have spent decades on our high American horse trampling dictators who use theology to trample the rights of others; but it is our blood spilled this day as the high court condones the unholy union between Church and State.
For if it is not a biblical rhetoric that drives this victory of the small-minded, then what is it? It's not law, despite the legal battle that ensues. Everyone is entitled to their religious rules, yes; but when those rules become law, that's a different breach. I didn't make that up, you know. You might remember a little document called the U.S. Constitution, which includes this fundamental premise. But apparently California has gone the way of Texas in moving to secede from this nation and its laws. Well, shame on you, California justices, for losing your sight in the eye of this political shit storm. Shame on you for not having the balls to stand up and strike down a law that reinforces "separate but equal" rights. We've been there, done that travesty. Check your landmark cases: See Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. I'm a laywoman, I shouldn't have to tell you that.
Perhaps these justices are simply passing the buck -- cowards. Or worse: They are bowing to the "moral majority," that insipient band of hypocrites who believe that somehow oppression is also a right in this country. (One doesn't have to be religious to be holier than thou, don't ya know?) Who can blame them, really? With Jim Crow and internment and torture under our belts? They barely believe in evolution; why should they believe in equality, just because it's the fabric that supposed to hold our nation together or the right thing to do?
Well, riddle me this, batty ones - what is moral about denying equality? There are no "special rights" in gay marriage - it is simply the same set of rights already afforded to others. They're called "civil rights." Look it up if you don't know what that means. Go ahead, I'll wait. But what gives you or anyone the right to arbitrarily pick who makes the cut and who is persecuted? What gives us the right to create a law to condone it? I know, let's call up the ghost of Joe McCarthy and ask him what he suggests.
And let's not forget the foolish notion that somehow gay marriage undermines the natural laws of procreation. Are you kidding me? Hello -- there's no shortage of adoptable children, surrogates, or heterosexuals - and there never will be. So I think our national ego can remain intact as we spread our questionable seed all over the world. Thank God, because we don't want laws based on ego either.
more on next page...
\\\
(continued)
Had enough yet? I have. The only thing separate but equal is prejudice. You're fooling yourself if you think otherwise.
There is only one law that applies in this case: Universal law. To wit, the law of love. And it will always outweigh any man-made construct of justice or judgment. It is the strongest power we have, the strongest power we will ever know - and it is the fear of that truth which drives oppression and perpetuates inequality. For if we accept each other with grace and love, what would we have to fight and scream and scratch about? Who would be on top then? Curious questions... the answers to which, of course, lie within us.
For it is only through personal spiritual growth that we come to peace and understanding with ourselves; and thereby allow our true power to surface. That power is love and -- yes -- it can and does change the world. In every act of kindness and compassion we see around us every day.
I realize that we are in the throes of an epic legal battle for civil rights -- again and still; and that I may seem idealistic and naïve. I assure you I am neither. Nor am I gay, straight, black, white, woman, man or otherwise described by human-born limitations and labels. I am simply a citizen of the Spirit who sees clearly that unless we love one another we will continue to destroy each other until there's nothing left.
Apocalypse now. And there is no court in the land that will be able to overturn that decision.
Looking forward,
Lisa V.
Miss the last Inner Vision? Read it here!
