In this, my final column, I choose to address the most pressing issue at hand in American society. What is that, you ask? The last great civil rights hurdle: same-sex marriage.
When I wrote a column denouncing the passage of Proposition 8 last semester, it seems that I really offended some of the religious zealots. One of the online comments was nearly essay length.
Because of the high number of responses (all negative, in fact) and the continuing battle for same-sex marriage rights, I felt that the topic was an appropriate one to return to.
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa currently allow same-sex marriages, and Vermont will join them on Sept. 1 of this year. Four states out of 50 is a start, but if this movement is going to gain any more momentum, the public must rise up and support the rights of our fellow citizens.
The fact that this struggle is still ongoing is shocking. I am proud to live in a society that has transcended several civil rights abuses in the last century. However, I am confused as to how homosexuals in this country are not offered the same opportunities as everyone else. I find this appalling.
The arguments against same-sex marriage are flimsy at best.
Traditionalists argue that marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman and homosexuals cannot procreate. This argument is ridiculous. Where is this definition? If it is in the Bible, it should have no bearing on American law. Besides, not all ""properly defined"" married couples can procreate, because of fertility issues.
Some might say that homosexuals cannot properly raise their children. Where is the data to support this? The Circuit Court of Hawaii saw numerous studies on the subject when determining whether to ban same-sex marriages in 1996 and found this was not true.
Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice C.J. Marshall said it best when giving his ruling in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
""In this case, we are confronted with an entire, sizeable class of parents raising children who have absolutely no access to civil marriage and its protections because they are forbidden from procuring a marriage license,"" Marshall said. ""It cannot be rational under our laws, and indeed it is not permitted, to penalize children by depriving them of State benefits because the State disapproves of their parents' sexual orientation.""
I find it interesting that those who criticize the child-rearing ability of same-sex couples have no argument against child molesters, murderers, drug addicts and ex-convicts when it comes to raising children.
In my Proposition 8 column, one of the commenters asked why I didn't criticize the Bible for giving us the Ten Commandments or criticize the religious opinions of Martin Luther King Jr. Aside from the fact that this statement is completely irrelevant, I did not criticize these religious opinions because they do not discriminate against a large portion of the American citizenry.
The United States has long been looked up to as a bastion of freedom and universal human rights.The longer this country ignores the discrimination rooted in same-sex marriage bans, the longer it will betray the very essence with which it was founded.
In closing, my message is: Shape up America! Quit betraying everything you stand for. Stand up and defend your fellow citizens as you have done in the past. The civil rights hurdle lies right before us, and it is only with widespread public support that it can be overcome.
Tom Hart is a senior majoring in history and political science. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
