All of this talk about Amendment 1 has been driving me nuts. Not so much the actual Amendment as the comments urging people to be for or against it. The crazy thing is that this Amendment has so many parts, and the only one that anybody pays attention to is that it has something to do with Gay Rights. I see people posting on Facebook, saying to vote for Amendment 1 if you are a Christian, and that the Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman. While this issue is near and dear to my heart, I can distance myself to at least understand where both sides are coming from, or why they are in support for or against it. I just can not believe the extreme comments people are making. Freedom of speech is one thing, but knowing that you have friends with various opinions and being unabashedly offensive is another. Facebook is not like a blog, where you can choose to go to a certain page and read someone's thoughts. It pops up on the mini feed and everyone is subject to it.
Ever since moving to the "Bible Belt" it has never ceased to amaze me how people will pick and choose which issues they want to advocate about from the Bible. They will bash, with every fiber of their being, these issues and people involved with them. Yet, at the same time, they are sinning in their own way. First, let's all be reminded "Thou Shalt Not Judge." I think many people also confuse "witnessing" with passing judgement. So many people discuss the issue of Gay Rights with hate and judgement, ironically sinning while they are discussing how wrong someone else is for the sin of homosexuality.
So, someone is against homosexuality because the Bible says it is wrong. I understand if they feel that way, but do not preach it and be offensive about it when that same person might go home that night, look at pornography or use contraceptives (of course with their husband/wife, because they would never even think of having premarital sex!! *note my sarcasm*). The Bible tells us that all of these things are wrong, yet people seem so content to let some of these issues slide. Just because you can make up reasons or convince yourself that God understands, or it's not as bad as something else, does not mean that you are right. All sins are the same in the eyes of God.
And aside from religion, let's look at Amendment 1 from a political stand-point. I will make a generalization here and say that most strict, Southern Christians are Republicans. Now, many people recently have been using the comparison of Gay Rights to Women's Rights and the Civil Rights movement. Let's make it more current, and think back to 2008. Remember how during that election Republicans were irate over the fact that there were African Americans voting for Barack Obama JUST because he was a Black man? I think of this Amendment the same way. Voting YES for Amendment 1 just because you are a Christian or are Homophobic is equally as ignorant.
Working in NC, I know people who are on both sides of this issue. I can understand viewpoints from both sides of this issue. However, at least EDUCATE YOURSELF to know exactly what this Amendment is FULLY about before you go to cast your vote.
That's all, have a nice day.
