“By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and wept…how could we sing the songs of Zion…?”
This morning I am wondering who and what I am. Once again, when American voters have had an opportunity to affirm my humanity and the loving commitment I have made to my husband, a majority of those voters have made a conscious decision to deny my humanity and treat me as if my citizenship and my marriage mean nothing; all the while patting themselves on the back for their piety. The slap they intended is received. I am made to wonder – Am I human? Am I an American? Am I a Christian? Am I married?
....
Most Maine voters want us to understand once and for all that the Bible, which has been used to subjugate women, people of color, and the poor of every gender and race is now to be used as a weapon against us. They have gleaned all they intend to learn from their faith and as far as they are concerned, my family can go to hell.
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Today I am tempted to feel like an exile in my native land – to question who and what I am. But this I know: in the end it matters not one whit what others say or believe about me and mine. What matters, today and forever, is what we believe about ourselves. We are fully human. We are Americans. We are Christians. And we are most assuredly married.
A powerful and eloquent essay in a style of oratory that reminds me of Martin Luther King. Please read the entire essay. And never forget that the struggle is about human rights and "liberty and justice for all", as we say in the pledge of allegiance.
Thanks to Ann.
UPDATE: Susan Russell, who presided over the marriage of Harry and Mike, posted the entire essay at her blog.
I am only just picking up on this news having been away from the blogosphere for a while.
ReplyDeleteThis is deeply disappointing news but the time IS coming.....
I am about ready to cease presiding at straight marriages until there is equality. Evangelism and all, it's too painful.
ReplyDeleteCaminante, I would not blame you at all. I'm sure that it's difficult for many priests and deacons.
ReplyDeleteOr not difficult enough.
ReplyDeleteYou know, with all due respect, I'm tired of being told the time is coming. Maybe it's because you all are Christians, but the TIME is NOW. TOmorrow we will all be dead.
ReplyDeleteOr not difficult enough.
ReplyDeleteYes, Susankay.
IT, I know, I know. The TIME is NOW. But it ain't happening. How do non-believers arrive at hope in the face of seeming hopelessness? That's a serious question.
"Behold now is the acceptable time" is part of our scripture, IT, so you are quite right.
ReplyDeleteSeriously Mimi, we don't.
ReplyDeleteWell, some people have an optimisitc personality. They can see more hope. I've been in a serious funk for the last year, because i"m a pessimist by nature. Nearly every time I have hoped for anything I've been sadly and sorely disappointed. I'm tired of being reviled, I'm tired of not achieving anything I wanted.
I don't believe that life is fair or just. But It's all we've got.
Caminante I had already decided a few years ago that I would not preside over straight weddings until there was equality. Of course, it's not hard as an interim to do that. I announced it at my last parish and I got some VERY strange looks, and a few people asked if I was serious. I said yes, I was. I don't like being an agent of the state, when the state is acting in an unjust manner.
ReplyDeletemotheramelia -- I would vote strongly for the church NEVER being an agent of the state. Let the state do what it will (and let us fight like hell to make it do it fairly) and let the Church do blessings (and let us fight like hell to have it do it rightly)
ReplyDeleteThis says much of what I've been feeling but didn't have words for. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteIT, what can I say? I'm a pessimist, too, and if I were not a person of faith, I would find hope difficult.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
I agree with Susankay. The church should be out of the marriage business altogether. Let the civil authorities do their own work, and let the church bless marriages and partnerships that are already made, perhaps after a period of discernment. The Christian church was late coming into the picture of officiating at weddings, and it's now time to bow out.
Paulas, you're welcome.
Though I hate it - any important movement took what seemed to be forever to fill the hearts and minds of the majority who vote in our country.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't explain much, but it gives me hope because the vote for women's rights, Civil Rights, and Apartheid truly took a long time to become a part of the national consciousness but it did win out in the end.
Let us rejoice in small steps and prayer hard, and WORK hard for the big ones.
You should read the comments at Susan's Russell's blog where conservatives are arguing that GLBT already are fully accepted and civil rights are ALWAYS voted on. As Paul said at FoJ, "You have a right to your own opinion, but you don't have the right to your own facts." My heavens the conservatives really ARE in their own parallel universe.
ReplyDeleteBeam me up Scottie there's a rift in the space time continuum.