May 8th marked North Carolina's decision to only recognize marriage between a man and a women. The measure passed easily with 61% of the population in favor of the traditional definition of eternal union. Most conservatives are marking this as a huge victory in their mission to restore America back to wait they believe it has gone astray from. However, there is a large majority of a particular group who seem to be screaming hallelujah when they should probably keep praying.
A large part of the African American community has long been in support of the DOMA ammendments and laws that define marriage solely between a man and a woman. Most of this stems from religous ideology and Sunday morning sermons that have been honored and adhered to from generation to generation. While I do respect peoples right to believe what they believe their doesn't seem to be respect for those of different beliefs.
There is a separation between church and state for a reason. We are supposed to be able to believe what we want and live accordingly, as long as it doesn't hurt our fellow man. What gets lost in these debates is what you deny people when you don't allow them to marry. There are set liberties, benefits, rights and protections that marriage grants couples. Although it is easy to get caught up in the esoteric, symbolic meaning of marriage, we must not forget it is a LEGAL contract, meaning that there are laws behind it. By not voting for another group to enjoy the same rights that you do, you're not merely disagreeing with them, or 'hating the sin, not the sinner', you are denying them their basic rights as citizens. Sound familiar Black people?
African American's should be the last ones willingly jumping on the oppression band wagon. As much as we like to think that racism is over, it is still alive and well. We still make less, get less and die faster than virtually anyone else in this country, and most of that isn't because Black kids sag their pants or listen to rap. It's because their are oppressive factors in place both systemic and institutional. The last thing we should be doing is trying to join in oppressing another group, especially one that includes are cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, etc. At least our oppression is now mostly covert, but don't think we can't go back to good ol' blatant, in your face racism.
One of the greatest men to realize the need to speak out on the behalf of others was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Towards the twilight if his life King fought for more than just African American rights, yet embraced the totality of the term 'civil rights' and saw the need to support other minorities, particularily Latin Americans and the Vietnamese in his opposition to the Vietnam War. What we often forget is that these stances made King immensely unpopular, mostly with the Black community who thought he was putting their interest on the back burner. King had the sense and compassion to realize that their plight was just as important and dire as our own, instead of buying into the 'pie is only so big' idea that conjures divisive animosity. i'm not telling people to change their beliefs, or to even agree with same sex marriage. But as Paul told the Phillipians, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Not someone elses.
No comments:
Post a Comment