Things that make me go hmmmm....

Link on article about Miss California:

http://www.popeater.com/2009/08/31/ex-miss-california-sues-for-slander-religious-discrimination/


I debate this one with myself quite often.  On the one hand, she was asked a question and gave her honest opinion.  That's how she feels.  And I'm all for freedom of religion, freedom of choice, freedom of speech, and all that jazz.  But if someone asked her if she agreed with mixed marriage and she said no, that would be an unacceptable answer and she would have been labeled a racist, right?  But because of her religious beliefs it's supposed to be ok.  Even I tried to justify her answer somehow.  It's how she feels, right?  Don't ask the question if you don't want to hear the answer, right?  She started off good - she said "I think it's great that we live in a land where you can choose - same sex marriage or opposite marriage".  (which is not true - although it should be) And then she veered off and ended with "In my country, and in my family, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman." 


Really, not that bad.  That's what she believes, right?  That's what her religion teaches her.  But those words - remember - those few words and beliefs are the seeds that are blossoming into people actually going out of their way to take away someone's rights.  Those words hurt us all.  Most likely someone you know is being discriminated against because of that one sentence.  It isn't even about tolerance - because you shouldn't have to tolerate someone's rights.  It's about acceptance.  We need to accept that regardless of your religious beliefs - there is still the issue of rights. We live in a country that prides itself on equal rights.  Freedom of choice.  And yes, freedom of speech.  You have every right to voice your opinion, to speak your mind.  But when you go into that voting booth and vote to take away your neighbor's rights - I believe that you are crossing a line.  You are taking a step backwards.  And you are hurting our children - our future. 


Ideally, she would have said - "it's not what I would choose for myself but I believe in equal rights". Instead, she "spoke her truth".  Sigh... No, really heavy sigh...  So how do we get back to moving forward?  How do we inspire equal rights to be priority again?  I'm still in shock over California.  We moved too soon.  :-(  Maybe my vote would have made a difference.  You never know.