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Gay rights
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Published: November 6, 2009
Maine voters affirmed this week their belief marriage should be between one man and one woman. According to the Associated Press, "Gay marriage has now lost in every state - 31 in all - in which it has been put to the popular vote."
It has not been on the ballot in North Carolina and surrounding states because even the most zealous proponents realize it would suffer an embarrassing defeat in the Southern states known as the 'Bible belt' of the country.
Before you stand up and cheer for those defense of traditional family values, consider this: 25 years ago, non-smokers had few rights. Fifty years ago, pets and other animals had few rights. One hundred years ago, women had few rights and could not vote. One hundred and fifty years ago, slave ownership was a traditional value and people would be sold as property.
Few people think the country is worse because non-smokers have rights, animals have rights, women have rights and people of color have rights.
Some will argue this is different because it is a Biblical value and quote scripture to prove that viewpoint. This is the same inerrant, never-changing Bible used by slave owners. And it was also used by some European churches to turn their back on the Nazis' holocaust of the Jews.
If the Bible hasn't changed, then society's interpretation must have.
Eventually, like segregation, this matter will be determined by the courts and take several generations to work through. It was 50 years between the first black student walking into a traditionally white school and a black man walking into the White House. The issue of gay rights will be with us for a long, long time.
Your letters to the editor are welcome.
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