Wednesday, December 12, 2012

DOMA Dogma



This started out as a response to a fuckwit on the interwebs on a DOMA thread a few months ago.  It got set aside (along with a ton of other first drafts) after my dad was in a pretty bad car wreck in August.  I've gone over it, adjusted it to a more "open letter" format and decided that I liked it enough to post it. 

   Let me just start by stating clearly and emphatically that I am an anti-theist.  Most religions at the very least, in their most innocent forms promote scientific ignorance and offer an apocalyptic end game as a means to reach paradise.  At its worst it subjugates women, criminalizes freewill and supports bigotry, xenophobia and hate. It allows pederasts to move freely among congregations, hunting and devouring innocence.  That being said, I would NEVER vote for any measure that would remove your right to be religious.  You are afforded that right in the constitution. Where you are mistaken, is in its application.   

  Freedom “of” religion also includes freedom “from” religion.  DOMA, by defining marriage based on religious text clearly violates the 1st Amendment. Offer me context as to where the definition came from and I’ll listen. Continue with your weak sauce fallacious arguments, and all you’re doing is continuing to sound like a parrot.  The “war on marriage” is tantamount to the “reefer madness” propaganda in the 20’s leading to the criminalization of cannabis.  Make no mistake, groups like the Family Research Institute, Family Research Council, American Family Association, National Organization for Marriage are fervently anti-gay based strictly on religious principals and would if they could, re-criminalize homosexuality (yeah, I said RE-criminalize) DOMA represents step one. 

  The sanctity of marriage, you’re kidding, right?  Religiosity seems to have little impact on divorce rates. An article I found in the The Christian Post gives statistics and poll research showing that now more than ever, God isn't saving marriages.  So if being religious isn't keeping religious people married, why are they so concerned about keeping homosexuals from getting married. I say (an excerpt from one of my previous blogs) “Feel free to ban people in mixed race marriages, same sex marriages, marriages of people from other religions from your church.  It's your little club, be as picky as you want to be.  Marry only the people you feel are an accurate representation of the dogma you’re pushing.  The validity of that marriage ends at the threshold of your building...  Want some legal rights? Get a marriage license.  The license won't discriminate based on race, sexual orientation, gender, religious preference, income, blah blah blah blah blah.  Two consenting adults (at least one being a legal citizen) can apply for and receive this license in very much the same way it’s done now, just without the discrimination, and will be afforded all the legal rights the licensees are granted.  See, both sides win!  People of religion can remain bigoted, hateful and ignorant inside of church.  But outside, we're all the same (citizens and human beings) and should be afforded the same fucking rights.  How is this even up for debate still?”

   The United States is for all intents and purposes for this argument a democratic republic, not a theocratic republic. The 1st amendment makes this clear.  As to the intent of the founding fathers, Jefferson is fairly clear about his ideas in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. The text reads "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State." Also, in 1797, the United States Senate ratified The Treaty of Tripoli- article 11 reads- As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen [Muslims],—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan [Muslim] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. You're not protecting "Democracy" you're pushing theocracy. Get your shit straight.   

  In regards to my level of tolerance for religion and faith, I'll offer you some insight into my personal views. To be "tolerant" of intolerance when intolerance clearly and directly impedes, prevents and/or takes away the rights of other human beings based solely on religion or religious doctrine is idiotic and presents no clear path to better the human species.  Rest assured, I'll concede your right to worship any god or follow any religion that tends to agree with your own indoctrinated world view.  But be clear- "The right to swing your fist ends at my nose." (Oliver Wendel Holmes Jr). When you overstep that right, I will politely demonstrate to you with my own fist, just how important that quote is.  What American Christianity is experiencing is not an attack on its beliefs. They are experiencing the defense of every one else's. We are not trying to pull the right to the left, we are pushing the right back to the center.  If it offends you to hear that your beliefs sound fucking ridiculous to me, consider how offended I am when you do the same. Before you get pissed, maybe do a quick recheck, because that shit you're selling is pretty fucking ridiculous

  So, I'll ask again, present an argument for denying homosexuals the same rights afforded to heterosexuals without delving into religion or theology and I would be more then happy to listen.  But since this isn't the first time I've had to do this dance, I’d probably shit my pants in shock if you could. 

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