Gay Marriage
So the best essay written in highschool, or something along those lines...In English we had to write an essay that was our best in highschool. I really liked mine because I felt very strongly about the topic. I got an A!! I decided to put a copy of it in here...In case you want to read it.
Gina Guidice
Period 3
4.28.05
“Marriage is Gay”
~Quote by Molly Owen~
Marriage is the union of two people who love each other enough to commit the rest of their lives to each other. Our constitution now states that only a union between one man and one woman will be recognized as marriage, which means that the few remaining places that did recognize gay marriage are now closed for business. People may have voted ‘yes’ on measure 36 because they do not personally agree with it, or because of their religious beliefs, but did they stop to think about the homosexual people that they come across countless times through out their lives and how they are no longer able to wed their soul mate, and how homosexual’s rights were taken from them because of other people’s opinions? The first fourteen words of The Declaration of Independence states: “we hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal.” Whether that is two men, two women, or a man and a woman is not stated. Every single person in this Nation is created equal and should not have any of their rights taken away by any other person in this Country because it should not be in their power to take it away.
The Oregon voter’s pamphlet was sent to my house in October stating what changes our Constitution will undergo after voting and the pros and cons of each Amendment. Though I was not able to vote, this was an issue I felt strongly about. I read the reasons why people would vote yes on Measure 36 several times. I was more and more appalled with the reasoning as I continued to read the arguments.
One of the arguments that stood out to me was that of the school curriculum; those opposing gay marriage argue that the curriculum would change if the bill did not pass and gay marriage was allowed. Why must our school’s curriculum change because two people of the same sex get married? Some of the comments left in the voter’s pamphlet stated that parents did not want their children to be submitted to same gender sex-education. Schools teach their students about safe sex, contraceptives, and abstinence. They do not teach specifically about heterosexual intercourse. I continue to try and see other’s points of view but I do not see why the curriculum would change because two human beings, whom should have the same rights as everyone else, fall in love and get married. If anyone who opposes Measure 36 wants to start that argument, then homosexual students do not need to learn about heterosexual intercourse.
Other people, many…even most brought up issues with Measure 36 based upon religion and what the Bible states is right and wrong. Not only does the Bible have nothing to do with our Constitution but we even have an amendment that states that we need to keep it as a ‘separation of church and state.’ I am not Christian, I am not even religious and it offends me that laws will be made that force me to follow what the Bible says and not what the general Constitution affirms.
I am unaware of a place in the bible where it states that people of the same sex cannot be wed. If it does not say it directly then there are only interpretations to be made. Decisions regarding thousands of people’s lives and hearts should not be at stake depending on an interpretation. To stay on the topic of lives and hearts at stake, if we must base our Constitution on religion it cannot only be based on one religion because not all Americans follow Christianity, which is what it our Constitution seems to be based upon. Our country has several religions floating around and few of them share the same views on different matters, one being same sex marriage. We cannot have a majority of the country voting against other people’s personal issues because of their religious views when we have such diverse religious affiliations in our nation.
On another note, The Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s brought upon us a large change within our country. Before then, African American citizens were not allowed to do very many things within our controlling nation. During that same time period, and even before then, there were many interracial couples and marriages that were looked down upon, such as the homosexual marriages and relationships are today. Families of those in an interracial marriage would go to the extent of threatening murder, or other types of physical harm. This shows the intolerance of such relationships. As the Civil Rights Movement passed and time went on, though, America got over such relationships and finally accepted it. Sure there are still a few people who do not tolerate it, but it is not the majority and we cannot expect to be perfect. The same thing should go for homosexual marriages; it is necessary for America to realize that it is much like the interracial couples of thirty years ago and leave personal rights alone. There is no need to go to such an extent as the nation is because sooner or later, whether the majority of America likes it or not, it is going to happen and homosexuals will continue to fight for the rights that were given to them almost 220 years ago. It is a tolerance issue as well and everyone will learn acceptance of a situation such as this just as they did thirty years prior. This issue will some day pass, and homosexuals will be accepted within our norm because it is just like the interracial couples; when we see them or hear about their relationships or marriages; we rarely think twice about it.
Whether someone does not agree with same sex marriage should not give them the right to choose the future of others. Fifteen years from now I will be walking around Pioneer Courthouse Square and I will see two people of the same gender kissing or holding hands and I will not even take a second glance because this phase will pass. Heidi Klum and Seal do not make a stir in the lives of Americans as Ellen Degeneres and her girlfriend Portia De Rossi, or Elton John and his boyfriend David Furnish will not make a stir in our lives in the future. This is just another setback in the original plan of equality to all Americans in which we will recognize at some point in time and amend.
Gina Guidice
Period 3
4.28.05
“Marriage is Gay”
~Quote by Molly Owen~
Marriage is the union of two people who love each other enough to commit the rest of their lives to each other. Our constitution now states that only a union between one man and one woman will be recognized as marriage, which means that the few remaining places that did recognize gay marriage are now closed for business. People may have voted ‘yes’ on measure 36 because they do not personally agree with it, or because of their religious beliefs, but did they stop to think about the homosexual people that they come across countless times through out their lives and how they are no longer able to wed their soul mate, and how homosexual’s rights were taken from them because of other people’s opinions? The first fourteen words of The Declaration of Independence states: “we hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal.” Whether that is two men, two women, or a man and a woman is not stated. Every single person in this Nation is created equal and should not have any of their rights taken away by any other person in this Country because it should not be in their power to take it away.
The Oregon voter’s pamphlet was sent to my house in October stating what changes our Constitution will undergo after voting and the pros and cons of each Amendment. Though I was not able to vote, this was an issue I felt strongly about. I read the reasons why people would vote yes on Measure 36 several times. I was more and more appalled with the reasoning as I continued to read the arguments.
One of the arguments that stood out to me was that of the school curriculum; those opposing gay marriage argue that the curriculum would change if the bill did not pass and gay marriage was allowed. Why must our school’s curriculum change because two people of the same sex get married? Some of the comments left in the voter’s pamphlet stated that parents did not want their children to be submitted to same gender sex-education. Schools teach their students about safe sex, contraceptives, and abstinence. They do not teach specifically about heterosexual intercourse. I continue to try and see other’s points of view but I do not see why the curriculum would change because two human beings, whom should have the same rights as everyone else, fall in love and get married. If anyone who opposes Measure 36 wants to start that argument, then homosexual students do not need to learn about heterosexual intercourse.
Other people, many…even most brought up issues with Measure 36 based upon religion and what the Bible states is right and wrong. Not only does the Bible have nothing to do with our Constitution but we even have an amendment that states that we need to keep it as a ‘separation of church and state.’ I am not Christian, I am not even religious and it offends me that laws will be made that force me to follow what the Bible says and not what the general Constitution affirms.
I am unaware of a place in the bible where it states that people of the same sex cannot be wed. If it does not say it directly then there are only interpretations to be made. Decisions regarding thousands of people’s lives and hearts should not be at stake depending on an interpretation. To stay on the topic of lives and hearts at stake, if we must base our Constitution on religion it cannot only be based on one religion because not all Americans follow Christianity, which is what it our Constitution seems to be based upon. Our country has several religions floating around and few of them share the same views on different matters, one being same sex marriage. We cannot have a majority of the country voting against other people’s personal issues because of their religious views when we have such diverse religious affiliations in our nation.
On another note, The Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s brought upon us a large change within our country. Before then, African American citizens were not allowed to do very many things within our controlling nation. During that same time period, and even before then, there were many interracial couples and marriages that were looked down upon, such as the homosexual marriages and relationships are today. Families of those in an interracial marriage would go to the extent of threatening murder, or other types of physical harm. This shows the intolerance of such relationships. As the Civil Rights Movement passed and time went on, though, America got over such relationships and finally accepted it. Sure there are still a few people who do not tolerate it, but it is not the majority and we cannot expect to be perfect. The same thing should go for homosexual marriages; it is necessary for America to realize that it is much like the interracial couples of thirty years ago and leave personal rights alone. There is no need to go to such an extent as the nation is because sooner or later, whether the majority of America likes it or not, it is going to happen and homosexuals will continue to fight for the rights that were given to them almost 220 years ago. It is a tolerance issue as well and everyone will learn acceptance of a situation such as this just as they did thirty years prior. This issue will some day pass, and homosexuals will be accepted within our norm because it is just like the interracial couples; when we see them or hear about their relationships or marriages; we rarely think twice about it.
Whether someone does not agree with same sex marriage should not give them the right to choose the future of others. Fifteen years from now I will be walking around Pioneer Courthouse Square and I will see two people of the same gender kissing or holding hands and I will not even take a second glance because this phase will pass. Heidi Klum and Seal do not make a stir in the lives of Americans as Ellen Degeneres and her girlfriend Portia De Rossi, or Elton John and his boyfriend David Furnish will not make a stir in our lives in the future. This is just another setback in the original plan of equality to all Americans in which we will recognize at some point in time and amend.