Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Back from the con and into the craziness
I was going to write about this weekend's con experience today, but this morning I received an email that Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) is reintroducing the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) on the Senate floor today. Thus, I was inspired to write to my senators, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. The text of that email is as follows.
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As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to oppose the discriminatory, unnecessary, so-called "Marriage Protection Amendment."
In all honesty I am weary of having to keep writing letters and e-mails on this issue. So, let's just get down to the point. This is the United States of America, a nation founded on the principle of freedom. This is a nation that has tried and sometimes succeeded in leading the world toward an increasingly enlightened view of and appreciation for the inherent value of the individual and the individual’s rights, privileges, and potential and actual contribution to local and global society. Therefore we cannot do this. We cannot allow this to be done. We cannot allow discrimination to be written into the very document that is physical manifestation of the egalitarian soul of our nation. No. Just, no. No compromise, no debate, no half measures, no way, now how, just no. We shall not, we cannot, we will not, allow this assault on and insult to one of the fundamental glories of what America is.
The right-wing Republican neo-crusaders have one thing correct; this is a moral issue. What they do not see is that we, their opposition, are on the just and good side of it. Much has been said about the American people sighting values as the deciding factor in their choice as voters this past November. Unfortunately, and do not believe accidentally, that is nearly always spun as a cry from the masses that they wish to lock step with the christianist extremists. What you do not hear is that nearly all those who voted Democrat in the aforementioned election were compelled to do so by passionately held values that this nation is forgetting: equality, freedom from oppression, freedom of speech, economic and social justice, the protection both internationally and domestically of all human rights. This is indeed a moral issue and the left has to seize the banner and proclaim that ours is the moral position and that we will defend it on the barricades.
The institutionalization of discrimination and bigotry is a slippery slope. Passing this ban is the kick that sends us sliding. And, I for one do not wish to see my country joining Pat Robertson and his cronies at their annual church picnic in the ninth circle. So, please, end this. Stop them. Red and blue, blue and grey… this may look to you like just another battle, but believe me this is war. You are our voice. You are our champions. Report for duty. Don’t let us down.
I look forward to receiving your response.
----------------------------
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to oppose the discriminatory, unnecessary, so-called "Marriage Protection Amendment."
In all honesty I am weary of having to keep writing letters and e-mails on this issue. So, let's just get down to the point. This is the United States of America, a nation founded on the principle of freedom. This is a nation that has tried and sometimes succeeded in leading the world toward an increasingly enlightened view of and appreciation for the inherent value of the individual and the individual’s rights, privileges, and potential and actual contribution to local and global society. Therefore we cannot do this. We cannot allow this to be done. We cannot allow discrimination to be written into the very document that is physical manifestation of the egalitarian soul of our nation. No. Just, no. No compromise, no debate, no half measures, no way, now how, just no. We shall not, we cannot, we will not, allow this assault on and insult to one of the fundamental glories of what America is.
The right-wing Republican neo-crusaders have one thing correct; this is a moral issue. What they do not see is that we, their opposition, are on the just and good side of it. Much has been said about the American people sighting values as the deciding factor in their choice as voters this past November. Unfortunately, and do not believe accidentally, that is nearly always spun as a cry from the masses that they wish to lock step with the christianist extremists. What you do not hear is that nearly all those who voted Democrat in the aforementioned election were compelled to do so by passionately held values that this nation is forgetting: equality, freedom from oppression, freedom of speech, economic and social justice, the protection both internationally and domestically of all human rights. This is indeed a moral issue and the left has to seize the banner and proclaim that ours is the moral position and that we will defend it on the barricades.
The institutionalization of discrimination and bigotry is a slippery slope. Passing this ban is the kick that sends us sliding. And, I for one do not wish to see my country joining Pat Robertson and his cronies at their annual church picnic in the ninth circle. So, please, end this. Stop them. Red and blue, blue and grey… this may look to you like just another battle, but believe me this is war. You are our voice. You are our champions. Report for duty. Don’t let us down.
I look forward to receiving your response.
