To preface this commentary, I must impart a phrase pertinent to the subsequent discussion:
or in layman's terms, "Haters gonna hate."
The recent debates and proposed legislation revolving around gay-rights have me asking myself "when will people learn?" Looking back in history at times when black people could legally be enslaved, or when women couldn't vote, doesn't it all seem a bit archaic? Okay, that was a rhetorical question; of course it seems archaic! This country was founded on "American exceptional-ism," the ideal that as a nation, we would serve as a symbol of freedom; but look at us: we're acting out the same dog and pony show on the gay and lesbian population that we had on the marquee when the liberties of women, minorities and disabled people were in question. Discrimination is simply against the doctrine of this country, and though it might take time, those who are being denied their liberties will come forth to remind us the meaning of "freedom," that is, until society chooses another group to hate.
This week in Washington, a group of Republican senators proposed a bill that would allow businesses to deny service to various groups, including the transgender, bisexual, lesbian, and gay populations, based on religious and philosophical differences or even the painstakingly vague classification of "matters of conscious."
This legislation was set in motion by a lawsuit earlier this year against a florist who explained that she couldn't offer her services to a gay couple who were getting married, "because of my[her] relationship with Jesus Christ."
Woah, woah, woah, let's backtrack a couple thousand years. A disciple of Jesus wrote, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you." Matthew 5:44. If I might be so bold, this woman is quite obviously doing exactly the opposite of what Jesus' message was trying to convey. What causes a business to deny service to someone? Hatred Jesus doesn't seem like much of a 'hater' to me, his message was one of acceptance, love, forgiveness, and I don't know how much he would appreciate his teachings being used as a hypocritical shield against change, when they were intended to serve as a reminder to "love thy neighbor." Mark 12:31
This week in Washington, a group of Republican senators proposed a bill that would allow businesses to deny service to various groups, including the transgender, bisexual, lesbian, and gay populations, based on religious and philosophical differences or even the painstakingly vague classification of "matters of conscious."
This legislation was set in motion by a lawsuit earlier this year against a florist who explained that she couldn't offer her services to a gay couple who were getting married, "because of my[her] relationship with Jesus Christ."
Woah, woah, woah, let's backtrack a couple thousand years. A disciple of Jesus wrote, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you." Matthew 5:44. If I might be so bold, this woman is quite obviously doing exactly the opposite of what Jesus' message was trying to convey. What causes a business to deny service to someone? Hatred Jesus doesn't seem like much of a 'hater' to me, his message was one of acceptance, love, forgiveness, and I don't know how much he would appreciate his teachings being used as a hypocritical shield against change, when they were intended to serve as a reminder to "love thy neighbor." Mark 12:31
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