I’m talking to the “straight” members of the audience. Based on the opinions espoused by so many of your kind, you must have chosen your heterosexuality. That’s what you say gays are doing, so you absolutely must have done the same thing. How’d that work for you? When in your life did the opportunity arise? What did it feel like to make a conscious decision controlling such a fundamental piece of the human psyche? I just want to know.
More than 40 states have passed laws or constitutional amendments barring gay people from marrying. With such a widespread endorsement of limiting the rights of a minority, I want to know what empowered so many of you to turn your backs on the idea of equality, one of the most sacred and fundamental ideas so engrained — rather, that was so engrained in the foundations of America that it was an unalterable and unshakable representation of what made us the masters of human rights.
Given the same premise, I want to pass laws that prohibit stupid people from marrying, adopting, owning homes, holding public office, sitting on a jury, and a great many other activities so many take for granted. And let’s include single parents (obviously they don’t care about their children and do not have at heart the best interests of family). While we’re tinkering, let’s add prohibitions on adoption by unmarried people, housing restrictions that two or more people can’t live together unless they’re a “valid” family, declarations that all rights and liberties are granted only to authorized members of society, and a new amendment that says the US Constitution and all laws only apply if you are a member of the majority class. Wouldn’t it be easier to go that route than to keep poking the stick of bigotry into the law books each time we come across a new minority to hate? Differences are inherent signs of a lower class of human being, so why waste time addressing them one by one.
Let me start the list of those we can legislate into subjugation while we berate and beat them with intolerance. This is derived entirely from the news over the past five years. If any of these labels apply to you, please join the line next to the gas chamber.
- Non-heterosexual
- Immigrant
- Non-Christian
- Non-Anglo
- Tolerant
- Scientist
- Intellectual
- Educated
- Liberal
- Supporter of and believer in constitutional rights
- Anyone voicing dissent or otherwise disagreeing with the government
- Non-supporter of an unrestrained executive branch
- Believer in government honesty and/or responsibility
- Non-selective applier of human rights
- Environmentalist/naturalist/conservationist/animal rights supporter
- Non-wealthy
- Centrist/progressive/moderate
- Unmarried parent
- Pro-choice
- Believer in equal rights
- Member of the press
- Someone who believes the government should not interfere with our medical decisions and care
- Anti-despot
- Feminist
- Divorcé/divorcée
Dare I go on?
The point is this: it is quite easy to support infliction of limited rights on those we disagree with, but the process, once in motion, rarely stops where we think it appropriate. Often, and contrary to the herd mentality of the masses, a government once unleashed with the reigns of subjugation rarely will target only those with whom the most vocal of its citizens disagree. While at this moment it is simple to point at gays or Arabs and declare they are enemies of the state, the snowball will keep moving and growing regardless of support. The next group targeted is likely to hit closer to where you live.
Americans who continue supporting this radical religious movement intended solely to stop non-heterosexuals from enjoying the rights heterosexuals take for granted will soon find themselves on the list of seditious groups that must be suppressed and further controlled. It is only a matter of time.
And where will your loyalties be then? On the side of the oppressed and the American way of life? Or on the side of the oppressor and violative of all we once held dear?