The Barking RINO 4
This week the nation revisited the ideal that “all men are
created equal.” In the past this great nation has done what many other nations have
yet to do; faced our fears and expanded the ideal to include people of color
and women. Today we are being asked consider whether “Nature’s God” withholds
rights based upon whom we have sexual intercourse with.
As a party of religious and conservative people this issue
embodies the historical struggle between “my faith” and “my government.”
Generations of American’s have been confounded by this struggle between faith
and government: both are sources of moral authority in our society and often
they come into conflict.
The value of our Constitution and the ideals of our nation
truly shine best when we use them to protect the rights of those we disagree
with or those we do not like. This is expressed by James Madison in the
Federalist Paper Number Ten. Nothing grinds my teeth more than those
insensitive bastards from Westboro Baptist Church who protests at the funerals
of fallen men and women of uniform. However, when the rights expressed in the
Constitution protects those I find repugnant (as well as wrong in their Gospel
teachings), I know those rights really do exist and that this great American
experiment has not been in vain.
The divide on this issue represents a generational division.
According to Gallup, today the majority of Americans are in support of
homosexual marriages. [1]
Even Republican and Evangelical attitudes are shifting rapidly on this issue. [2] In
the recent report of future strategy compiled by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, the term “inclusive” is used in regard to
the party’s approach to immigrants, Hispanics and gays. Recently fallen-tea leaf
reading Karl Rove suggests that the next GOP Presidential candidate could be
supportive of homosexual marriage.[3]
And so the slide begins.
BUT, is the slide a good or bad thing? Clearly it is
inevitable.
Many conservatives are uncomfortable with the idea of
endorsing Gay marriage. For most, the source of their authority is a faith that
is more than 4,000 years old. Faith, as a pillar of authority in society must
be respected; the thread of religion continues to weave its way through our
society today despite what many feel has been an overt war against it. There is
no debate that the Bible, and specifically St.Paul, wrote about the sin of
homosexuality. But what else does the Gospel tell us about sin? “There is no
one righteous, no not even one.[4]”
The very foundation of an authentic Christian experience is the idea that we
are all sinners and deserve death and condemnation. The Gospel means nothing if
the validity of the substitutional atonement of Jesus Christ is negated. “For I
am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him
crucified.” [5] As those with faith struggle
with this issue, and rightly so, we are faced with the reality that our gospel
defines each of us as sinners. Furthermore, despite some very bad theology that
circulates about, there is no ranking of sin: God hates all sin whether it is
for murder, homosexuality, adultery or gossip. In other words, why does the GOP
target one form of sin while every one of us is equally sinful before God? This
makes no sense.
Strategically, there are three positions one can take in
this conflict between “my faith” and “my government.” We can fight the issue
(although the results appear to be in the cards already), we can support the
issue (which many are already doing and some simple cannot do) or we can do
what most of us normally do, which is nothing. In this instance though, think
of doing nothing as a proactive position of neutrality which manifests itself
in not fighting against the extension of rights to other Americans. Arguably our
God, our Constitution, our American ideals and the American experience tells us
that extending rights to others is a good thing; even though we may harbor some
uncomfortable thoughts about doing so. It’s okay to not “like” the idea of Gay
marriage – older Americans feel this way, the significant swath of faithful
feel this way. This conflict between how some feel versus what we all know
needs to be done was also manifest in extending equal rights to blacks in 1863,
1964 & 1965 and to women in 1920.
What are the concerns? I’m no lawyer but I slept at a
Holiday Inn once…
According to National Public Radio, polygamists are eyeing
these court cases closely. [6]
What the Court bases its findings upon and how it words its opinion is very
important. As we have learned in the past, a well intended result can often be
employed in the future as a precedent that opens doors to results which may not
have been intended to be opened. Concern about absurb forms of marriage in the
future is legitimate. This has the potential to be a slippery slope issue and
we are correct to be concerned about this potential.
Also, what on earth was Congress thinking by invading a
States Rights issue such as marriage? As a staunch fiscal conservative, less
Federal government on just about any issue is good for me. In a sense, I
believe “your government” ends at “my” front door. To misquote Thomas
Jefferson, if Bob and Ted want to get married and pay their taxes, “it neither
picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” (A friend posed this question, what if Ted
wanted to sunbath in his backyard in a bikini. Okay, I am admittedly confused
and therefore uncomfortable with this ‘transgender’ thing. Congratulate me for
admittedly it.)
I have learned that the word ‘choice’ in this debate has a
loaded meaning. In the past, in order to right past wrongs, our nation has
given “super rights” to disenfranchised groups; such as Affirmative Action to
African-Americans. While this has mostly died away today, if rights beyond mere
equality are extended to Gay Americans, define the term homosexual. On one end
of the continuum are those that are strictly heterosexual. On the other end are
those that are strictly homosexual. But along that line of continuum are those
that fluctuate back and forth. In other words, for some human sexuality is not
one or the other. IF, and admittedly it is a very big if, so-called equalizing
“super rights” are extended to homosexuals, how would this ‘cure’ be applied to
those that exist between the two spheres on the end of the continuum described
above?
In the end, either all men are created equal or they are
not. In Nebraska, a state whose flag flies the motto ’Equality Before the Law’, we should be more sensitive to this as it
aligns with our sense of Prairie Popularism (‘Go live your life in peace,
pursue happiness and if you need help, call me; however, don’t expect my help to
prop you up all the time, be self reliant and demonstrate appreciation of this
great nation.’)
Advice to those engaging in this fight;
1. Be
careful how your rattle your saber. There are three states; support, opposition
and neutrality. It would be foolish to alienate those that are neutral. Don’t
make yourself a target; argue from a point of equality.
2. Respect
my faith. It is important to me and I will defend it. Remember, “my faith,” “my
family” and “my government” are three ideas humans have historically given
their lives to defend.
3. Because
someone disagrees today does not mean they will disagree tomorrow. Respectfully
plant your seed with a good argument and wait. As polls indicate, this issue is
evolving very quickly. Older Americans move more slowly than younger Americans
– that’s okay (see advice point number one).
4. Base
your argument upon facts and American ideals – not emotions. Yes, children are
cute and gays have “experience” on this issue. But that alone does not build an
argument. Remember, either all men are created equal or they are not. Americans
know this.
5. “I
want what you have.” Ask for nothing more than equality. We want what you got –
just the same, nothing more.
6. Help
people understand the issue; don’t expect them to know it. Often mere ignorance
and time are your foes – not other Americans.
7. Most
Americans have good friends and even family members that are homosexuals. Let
Americans come to this issue out of a concern for their friends and family
members. No one wants to be scolded.
8. Finally,
anticipate concerns regarding the results of equality for homosexuality. Clergy
members are concerned about being forced by law to ‘celebrate the gay agenda.’
Many are concerned about “professional homosexuals” that aggressively force
others into a position of alienation. Be aware that “your” intentions are not
by definition shared by everyone. Most folks simply don’t like militant
movements. Follow the lead of Dr. King – lead us to the waters of redemption
and then give us sufficient time to wade into the waters.
What can the GOP do? Embrace “Log
Cabin Republicans” now. Use the bully pulpit of the party to let these folks
speak. Then listen to what they have to say. For some this will be an emotional
experience. For some it will be informative. For most, homosexuality is not
something “they asked for.” Let us take yet another step and lead the way that
allows our friends, our family members and our fellow Americans to fully
embrace the American ideal that in this land, truly, all men are created equal.
(Then fix the damn budget)
I am certainly one who thinks the Republican Party is way too far off base and so unbending that it is ridiculous. As I age I am learning that conservatism is merely trying to hold onto the old and ignore evolution of thinking and actions that are inevitable to a people who progress, be it good or bad, things do change. The more I flow along the less I get upset and my faith is that all will work its way to a successful life for all of us, possibly not of equality but equality has to be earned by ones own efforts. No person can intelligently believe a government that cannot handle its finances is successful. Who can possibly believe government can buy idlers into equality and ignore the fact that we desperately need immigrants to do the scut work our own citizens feel too superior to do it. We have perhaps lost vision when we began thinking everyone needed higher education, leading to a caste system of our own making. As I look at my ancestors, they were very successful in making their lives meaningful but not showy, were not wealthy but could always pay their bills so lived modestly, avoided war, had morals as their guidance and saw government as necessary to enact laws that were to be obeyed but minded their own business and were not critical of what they could not believe in. It worked! Incidentally none of hem that I know of owned guns either! I do not believe in regular citizens needing any kind of ammunition,and am willing to pay taxes for roads, airline safety, infrastructure etc. I am not in favor of big financial handouts to foreign countries which would go to getting our national debt under control
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