I know that until now I have obstained from discussing my political and what I call "human rights" beliefs. But with the current outcry of discrimination in the news lately I have decided to come out of the closet as a liberal democrat. Shocking.... I know. And this may turn some of you away, and you may decide to stop following my adhoc blogging. But, this is my blog and I can write what I want. If you want to write about tea party republican things get your own blog. Actually you can. It's free and kind of fun. I recommend it to everyone. But this blogger firmly believes everyone is equal. Some people are more fun than others, but still equal. As a relative said to me recently, "Why wouldn't you want gay people around? They are so much fun!" It's true! If you don't currently have a gay friend I suggest getting one right away. I never laugh louder, harder, or more frequently than I do when I am chillin with the gays. (I was told I can say "The Gays" because I support gay rights.) And when I look at my gay friends I don't see something fundamentally wrong with them. I see people. The same thing I see when I look at African Americans, Jewish people, Muslims, Catholics, and even Republicans. I see people who deserve to be treated equally. Not discriminated against because of their beliefs, skin color, or sexual orientation. So this leads me into my first Tirade:
1. The Boy Scouts - I want to support the Boy Scouts.... I really do. Travis is an Eagle Scout and I believe the Boy Scouts teach young men fundamental life lessons that they carry with them well into their adult lives. But I recently discovered, as did most of the world, that the Boy Scouts do not allow gay scout leaders, or gay members. So sit back and think for a second....Imagine it's 2012 (which it is) and an organization said, "You can't join our club or lead our youth because you are black." Holy Cow....puts things in perspective doesn't it? Hey and guess what people, gay people don't try and convert our youth. They aren't Jehovah Witnesses. They are everyday people who work in your office, eat at the same restaurant, drive cars, worry about paying their bills, have their hearts broken, and play the same sports your do. If my daughter becomes a Girl Scout and her leader happens to be a lesbian more than likely I am going to invite her over for drinks and become her best friend. (Please reference my above paragraph for clarity) Not ostracize her and make her feel unwelcome because she happens to have a different sexual preference than me.
2. Chick-fil-A - I love Chick-fil-A. We don't have one in Southwestern Michigan so it is a rare treat when I get to feast on their tasty goodness. But here is the thing. The Boy Scouts came out of the "republican judgmental closet" and right on their heel was Chick-fil-A! Come on guys! Can't a liberal catch a break? So Chick-fil-a makes some blanket statement about how they support fundamental Christian beliefs. (Don't get me started on what it means to be a Christian. That is a whole other blog.) Apparently being a Christian means you don't support Gay Marriage. So Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo, and probably Myspace if anyone MySpace’s anymore, blew up with anti-gay slander and profeganda and linked it to Chick-fil-a. THEN....I found out that Chick-fil-a supports Exodist International among other extreme anti-gay groups. Oh man... I just want to eat more chicken.
3. Gay Marriage - Remember when you were a kid and you would say, "I love bubble tape so much!" and your friend would reply, "They why don't you marry it." Well you can't. And not because it would be really strange to marry chewing gum designed to look like pink duct tape, but because the Government says you can't. Our democratic society tells us who we can and can't marry. Unbelievable! If I wanted to, I could leave my entire fortune to my pet pig when I pass away. (Don't get any ideas my fortune consists of mixed tapes from the 1980s, a jeep I am still making payments on, and a collect of old cell phones.) But I wouldn't be able to marry my homosexual life partner, if I had one. Don't miss interpret what I am saying, I am happily heterosexual, but I believe that I should be able to marry who ever I want. Why does the Government care who I Marry? What happened to separation of Church and State? My insurance company may care who I marry. My church (If I belonged to one) probably has a very strong opinion of who I marry. But America is supposed to be the land of the free. This is the country that people float for days on homemade rafts to penetrate our boarders and live among the "free." How free are we really?
