Since the beginning of time humanity has always fought for issues. Some of these issues are legitimate and some are not; the latest contention in America today is the legalizing of same sex marriage. While some may oppose the legalizing of same sex marriages, same sex couples deserve equal and fair treatment under the law. The pursuit of happiness as stated in the constitution is one of the biggest argument for same sex marriage, contrary to what gays and lesbians think, their pursuit of happiness is not taken from them.
The biggest fights in America are the fights for equality. In the fifties and sixties, black Americans fought for equal rights, and this was one of the longest and most publicized fights since the abolishment of slavery. Being a minority in America means that one will have to claw himself or herself to the top. In his letters from Birmingham jail Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. states that; “Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds Negroes have experienced grossly treatment in the courts.” Homosexuals live in the confines of the United States; just like Negroes, they deserve all the right given to Americas. However, before defending the rights of same sex marriage certain questions must be answered: are Homosexuals American citizens; are they humans; and do they pay taxes? The answer to these questions is yes. Then why are they being deny the right to marry? Simple, marriage is the union between a male and a female. No unmarried person in America enjoys the rights given to married couples; neither can homosexuals enjoy this privilege. They have all the rights of any American citizen, and as soon as they fit the criteria for marriage they will be given the right to marry.
In the magazine, The Teach, Adam Kolasinski says:
States regulate marriage in many ways. Roughly half of all states prohibit first cousins from marrying, and all prohibit marriage of closer blood relatives, ..In all states, it is illegal to attempt to marry more than one person, or even to pass off more than one person
as one’s spouse. Some states restrict the marriage of people suffering from syphilis or other venereal diseases. Homosexuals, therefore, are not the only people to be denied the right to marry the person of their choosing (5).
Apparently Mr. Kolasinski is not the only one who agrees that gays already have all the rights that each American citizen has. Eddie Thompson at AD authorden.com agrees too, he says gays and lesbians already have their rights equally protected under the law. They have the exact rights that he has; the rights to marry a member of the opposite sex like he has. Marrying a member of the opposite sex is everyone's rights. “What is being suggested by the gay agenda is not 'equal rights' but 'extra rights.'" The same way one cannot reap the benefits of an education without going to school, gays and lesbians cannot reap the benefits of marriage unless their marriage is to someone of the opposite sex. For many reasons some people have chosen to remain single, “and these people are not clamoring for the rights granted to couples who marry.“ Consequently, people of the same sex who form unions should not be granted the rights of married couples. They should not be rewarded for their sexual deviation. “In fact, most of these so-called “rights” married couples have can be obtained through a lawyer’s legal maneuvers. “
Documents of the United States constitution, Declaration of Independent, and the Bill of Rights are testimonies of the freedom enjoy by Americans. Unfortunately, our founding fathers were unaware that they neglected to enact another document, the Bill of Rights for Same Sex Marriage. Had they not been negligence, the Bill of Right would read thus:
The Constitution of the United States of America do apologize to the American people for the travesty it is about to commit on the sanctity of marriage.
The people of the United States of America must now recognize the union of two men or two women, and give it the distinguish name of marriage. The same privileges given to a man and a woman who pledge their allegiance to each other through marriage will now be given to marriages of same sex.
A man and a man, or a woman and a woman who choose to love each other and decides to consummate that love through marriage will be given a legal document testifying to that fact.
If such parties choose to, they are allowed to raise children, but not before they have decided who will be mommy, and who will be daddy. This is required so that the children will not be confused why their friends have a man and a woman for mommy and daddy.
When this bill is passed several more undesirable groups will be fighting for rights that cannot be theirs.
Marion C. Willets in his article uses the argument that Phy-Olsen calls the “slippery slope.” He says that that if same sex marriage is legalized, then it is only a matter of time before participants in other “deviant” types of relationships such as polygamous unions will be granted access to legal marriage as well (n.d. 138).
Same sex getting married is against the norm; it is also against moral law and physical law. Does this mean that gay couples should not find happiness like other people? No, it does not, they can be happy in whatever means they want, just do not ask society to accept their union as a marriage. The laws of physic say two negatives or two positives cannot attract. Even nature proves this fact. Plants that are here today and gone tomorrow cannot pollinate without the attraction of a male and female zygote. No one has the right to tell one how to live, but one has the right not to recognize the union of two same sexes sharing a home, and calling themselves married.
In one of his weekly address in 2004, President Bush made the following statement:
The union of a man and a woman in marriage is the most enduring and important human institution. For ages, in every culture, human beings have understood that marriage is critical to the well-being of families. And because families pass along values and shape character, marriage is also critical to the health of society. Our policies should aim to strengthen families, not undermine them. And changing the definition of marriage would undermine the family structure (web).
Society argues that homosexuality is biblically wrong, and that might be so; nevertheless, the issue is not about religion or morality; it is about marriage. No one is trying to enforce their opinion on gays or is trying to convert them. From the beginning marriage has always been between male and female. Animals have mating season, and even though one may find a dog or a cat having several mating partners during one night; there has never been a report that any of these animals has ever been caught mating with the same gender. If animals can make the decision not to mate with their own sex, why then, do human beings want to behave lower than the animals. And if they choose not to exercise more intelligence than animals, why do they flaunt it, why not keep it to themselves and not dare society with wanting something they can never have.
William J. Bennett in Catholic Education and Resource Center also supports the fact that marriage would lose its essence if gays are allowed the right to marry. The institution of marriage is already fragile, and widening its explanation to include same-sex marriages would stretch it too far, it would become unrecognizable. “On what principled grounds could the advocates of same-sex marriage oppose the marriage of two consenting brothers? How could they explain why we ought to deny a marriage license to a bisexual who wants to marry two people?” (2012).
People who support and fight for gay marriage are the same people who will fight for tolerance in schools. School age is an impressionable age; and children who are already faced with peer pressure will have to contend with choosing to be or not to be homosexual. Once and for all, the debate of gay marriage should be stemmed before it becomes a “runaway train.” Children are already experimenting with drugs and sex, they do not need to be confused anymore by making them doubt their sexuality.
Some may think that love is the only basic for a marriage. Be that as it may, just because two people of the same sex love each other does not mean that they are qualified for marriage. Homosexuals want to get married because they want to claim legal status, they already have legal status, but they just cannot get married status. If they want to protect each other from medical decision, then make a living will. Sorry, they cannot file income taxes together, they are not married, and that is a privilege for married people. If gays are going against the norms of society, then the expression of their love for each other can be express as tangible as they want, but not with a legal writ call marriage certificate.
Scott Bidstrup, on bidstrup.com, gives his view about gay marriage and states that homosexuals are faithful and monogamous to their partners. They are family orientated and are good contributors and care takers of their commutes; and are committed to making their neighborhoods safer and better. They are good citizens, they abide by the law, they serve on schools’ boards, and they volunteer and do charities, they are basically good citizens. On the whole, homosexuals strive to enhance themselves and their community. Mr. Bidstrup defense for same sex marriage is getting thin, everything he says about gays and lesbians are acts that heterosexuals do every day. In his article Mr. Bidstrup shares empathy for homosexuals, he seems convinced that they are born that way.
Even if homosexuals were born that way, the sad truth is many people have a natural propensity to do something that is not usually right, however, they do not act on it and claim their actions as their inherited birthright. The only thing one is born with that he or she cannot control is a physical deficiency. Of co urse they are people who will find an excuse to do whatever wrong they commit, yet it is not their genes it is their lack of self-control.
People have also debated the fact that denying gays the right to get married is sexual discrimination, or discrimination against minority. In his letters from Birmingham jail, Dr. King says; “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” This is what the homosexuals are trying to do, nevertheless, they have no valid debate; in America fight for freedom must be fought for a valid cause. There was a time when hate crimes against gays were prevalent, but the authorities came to their defense, the same way they do for any other hate crimes. As a matter of fact, this kind of crime has no tolerance in America. There is no discrimination against gays; not allowing them to make a mockery of the institution of marriage is not discrimination it is protecting the sanctity of marriage. Like with any other minority groups some people in society are going to treat gays with discrimination, and most of this foolishness is due to ignorance.
There should never be any controversy between the government and gays, when it comes to the decision of marriage. Gays need to debate amongst themselves and answer the following questions; do they have the rights and privileges as other American male or female, not how can we have the American government give us legal marriage status. The answer to the first question is yes. However, they will always come up with a negative answer when their marriage status is debated; deep down they already know the truth. They just do not fit the category.
While the origins of same-sex attractions may be complex, there is no convincing evidence that a homosexual identity is ever something genetic or inborn. We oppose the vigorous efforts of homosexual activists to demand that homosexuality be accepted as equivalent to heterosexuality in law, in the media, and in schools. Attempts to join two men or two women in "marriage" constitute a radical redefinition and falsification of the institution (Family Research Council).
At some point gays will have to come to their senses and stop fighting for a futile cause. They cannot compare their fight for equality as that of Martin Luther King’s fight. Dr. King’s cause answers all the categories for equality. Black people are Americans, they pay taxes, and as long as they remain law abiding citizens, equal rights belong to them. They are given the same fairness that is given to every American citizen. The majority of Americans are not going to vote for “gay marriage,”
Now, do homosexuals want marriage or equal right; they themselves know that they are not really fighting for civil rights. What they are actually fighting for is to be recognized as normal people and marriage will give them that position. Gays do not have much to fight about; they live together as couples, they are allow employment, even when they blatantly display their sexual deviance, they have gotten sufferance, recently President Obama decided that a citizen should not be deny the right to serve his or her county because of their sexual preference.
Homosexuals need to give up their fight for equal rights; they have all the rights of American citizens. They can ask for acknowledgement of their commitment to each other, they can make legal agreement to protect their rights, but they cannot, and should never ask for a marriage certificate, that belongs to the union of a male and a female. They can have any kind of ceremony to cement their commitment. They can enjoy their lives as they do now; but as married couple, no, that is a transgression and an insult to the institution marriage.
Work cited
Bennett, William J. “Gay Marriage: not Very Good Idea.” Catholic Education Resource Center.
4 Jan 2010. Web. 02 May, 2012
Polasinski, Adam. The argument Against Gay Marriages.” The Teach [Cambridge] 125(2004):5
Print
Bidstrup, Scott. “Gay Marriage: The Arguments and Motives” n.d. Web 02 May, 2012
“ Human Sexuality” Family Research Council. 2011. Web 02 May, 2012
“President Bush’s Radio Address.” (2004). Web . 2 May, 2012.
Thompson, Eddie. “Argument Against Gay Marriages” Adauthorden.com n.d. Web 02 May,
2012
Willetts, Marion C. “Registered Domestic Partnerships, Same –Sex Marriage and Pursuit of
Equality in California” Illinois State University. n.d. Web 02 May, 2012
Please cite Dr. King’s speech from your text, I do not own the text, therefore, I cannot make proper citation.
