Today I was listening to a "Christian" radio station because I had done an interview with them with my work yesterday and wanted to listen to how it came out. When I tuned in there was a "Christian" (quotes are due to the fact that what I heard misrepresents Christ.)broadcast that was speaking about the proposed amendment on the Florida Ballot that would constitutionally use the constitution to take rights away from any citizen that does not conform to the "Christian" view of marriage. I was astounded by what was said by comparing equality laws to Hitler, and other gross misrepresentations. How is it that the status Quo of Christianity has become so fear based and will resort to outright lies in order to push their agenda. It amazes me that they claim there is a "Gay Agenda" when I haven't seen or even heard of even one GLBT proposal to limit or take away any body's rights.
The present condition for what passes as the church today is very disappointing and misrepresents the person and Spirit of Christ. The present day church needs to repent and return to the Gospel of Love and leave behind the lies and fear it now preaches.
It is sad to see that this False gospel that was begun by a few "Christian Right" leaders has now become the message of the church. If only they were as dedicated against poverty. If only churches would put up signs saying vote yes against poverty.However when you lose sight of the true message of Christ, and you begin being an instrument of persecution you become like those religious leaders in Christ's day who he said would uprooted, because when the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch.
I do pray for my blind brothers and sisters and the church at large, that God would grant them repentance ( to see the right away anew, and go after it). So we can truly see the Will of God done on this earth and his Kingdom come. It will not happen through the republican party or any political party. It will only happen as men and women of faith submit and live the teachings of Christ and reach out with the Good News to all, without precondition and with inclusiveness.
We are on the edge of a new Great Awakening.Never has this country been so polarized. It is time for us to stand for Justice for all.....no exception, no exclusions, equality for all.....isn't that what America should stand for?
Part of my post was borrowed from VoteAgainst2.com
( I also included a youtube vid for you from the NAACP on this issue:
Concerning Amendment 2 I have been reading a lot of justification for discrimination, and use of the constitution to limit and/or deny rights to a particular people. Which I find not only to be unchristian but also very bad citizenship.The Constitution should only be used for equality and to protect rights.
I wish the people would put as much emphasis on defeating poverty, or helping Dar fur, or with other actual mis justices in the world. If two gay people in love threatens the church or your marriage, your faith and marriage must be very fragile.
There are already laws on the books that deny gays marriage in Florida. This kind of amendment only makes Floridians look prejudice and bigoted. My faith and God is bigger than this. I do not live the religion of fear that seems to drive the Christian right these days. When did we allow fear to hijack our Christian Faith.
Here are some reasons why I voted NO on Amendment 2:
* It contributes to the ostracism and stigmatization of the gay community.
* It throws the legal rights and protections of all unmarried couples in jeopardy.
* It shamelessly exploits religious faith as a political tool and a divisive weapon.
* It ignores the lessons learned from the civil rights movement.
* It allows government intrusion into our personal lives.
It throws the legal rights and protections of all unmarried couples in jeopardy.
Many counties in Florida offer domestic partnership rights and benefits to unmarried couples, both straight and gay. Many government employees, including some who work for public universties, receive the same. These benefits include sharing health care plans and hospital visitation rights.
This amendment puts these rights and benefits in danger because of the ambiguous language of the amendment. Here's the truth: nobody knows for sure what will happen to domestic partnerships if this amendment passes. Yes2Marriage, the group backing the amendment, is trying to say that domestic partnership benefits aren't at risk. They're lying
It contributes to the ostracism and stigmatization of the gay community.
One of the defining characteristics of humanity is the love we have to offer. The passage of this amendment is tantamount to a statement saying that the love between two gay people isn't valid or worthy of recognition, and that's not just wrong -- it's dehumanizing. The love all of us have to offer to each other is precious and beautiful, and while it's okay to have a debate about gay rights, it is cruel and utterly repugnant to try to delegitimize that love.
In short: you question someone's love, you question someone's humanity. And when you question someone's humanity, it becomes a lot easier to justify ostracizing, stigmatizing, harassing, and threatening them. The people of Florida should not be in the business of enabling, even unintentionally, bullies and tormenters.
It shamelessly exploits religious faith as a political tool and a divisive weapon.
Yes2Marriage has been targeting Christians to rally support for the amendment. They quote scripturein political ads, they offer sample sermons on their website, and until recently, The exploitation of something as sacred and personal as faith for political gain at the expense of the entire gay community is reprehensible.
This does nothing to advance the message of compassion and love in the Bible. Instead, this needlessly divides people, advances the unfair and inaccurate stereotype that all Christians are intolerant and bigoted, and pushes people further away from Christianity and God.
It ignores the lessons learned from the civil rights movement.
We've been here before. Dire warnings about marriage being under attack and the foundation of society being assaulted. A group of people being accused of undermining traditional values. The denial of equal treatment for that group of people. And the systematic mockery, harassment, and dehumanization of them that takes generations to even begin to reverse.
The legacy of the black civil rights movement in this country did not end with Brown v. Board of Education, the erasure of Jim Crow laws, or our society's gradual shift away from racism. The lesson of the movement was "never again to anyone," not just "never again to a particular race." We do a disservice to the memory of those who fought bravely for equality and dignity if we aren't able to do the same today.
It allows government intrusion into our personal lives.
Why would we allow the government to dictate who two consenting adults can love and how they choose to express that love? Is that really a precedent we want to set?
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