Bigots, Bigots Everwhere. . .Especially in the NYS Senate

The dictionary definition of a bigot breaks down the component parts that hold back progress in the U.S.  "A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion.[1913 Webster]"

Many of the New York State Senators yesterday noted that the civil rights of marriage should be extended to every citizen, regardless of whom they love.  Any rational human being should be able to agree that establishing equal rights is the RIGHT thing for a state senator to accomplish; however, when put to the test, bigotry and hatred won out.  It is my opinion (and possibly a fact) that the reason this issue has stalled so often in so many states, whether through referendum or in the legislature, has more to do with the misgivings most of us have about marriage.  For years, many gays that I knew didn't even care about this issue because marriage was for the straights. It reinforced monogamy upon the polyamorphously perverse.  Most gays I knew WANTED to be sexually free and not tied down to "the one".  Mr. Right was always Mr. Right-Now.  It's not only the gays that have misgivings about marriage!  Ask the 50% of straight people who have gone through divorce how they feel about marriage. Almost anyone will acknowledge that everyone deserves the same rights and protections under the law, until something as controversial as Gays or Marriage comes up.  Then, for some reason, they hide behind the bigotry of so-called morality.  Legislators everywhere acknowledge that gay marriage will happen eventually.  "It is inevitable", they say.  "Maybe not today, but some day".  In the meantime, how about some reparations?  If those out there who are seeking equal marriage rights cannot get them, how about they stop paying taxes until they do?  How about they stop supporting a government that would oppress them and make them second-class citizens.  Why wouldn't that be appropriate? 

But bigots are everywhere.  Not just in politics.  They sway public opinion and the tyranny of the majority makes rash decisions that harm others knowingly.

I've always warned against the dangers of tacit agreement.  As a non-believer, it is much easier for me to see the rational side of a controversial issue.  Having so many close friends who still identify as Christian, they always stop me with "Hey, not all Christians hate the gays!" My point isn't that all Christians are bad, but that when you attend a church you are tacitly accepting that churches' ideology.  Churches are political machines more and more these days and their tax-exempt status is protected by the First Amendment regardless of this dangerous intermingling of Church and State.  I'm not sure many Christians would be happy if the moral underpinnings of the Islamic faith were influencing policy and politics in America!

  Christian friends must realize that while they may have a personal relationship with God the money they are tithing to the church can be working against their own individual beliefs.  Actively question the motives of your church!  If you find yourself at odds, do not be a part of the machine.  Do not enable hypocrasy and bigotry!