by SLLawson

Created on: May 17, 2009   Last Updated: May 18, 2009

The writers of this country's Constitution and our Bill of Rights strategically placed within them safeguards to ensure that one group's ideologies could not be forced on another based on religious beliefs. Our country is the melting pot of the world with all colors, races, creeds and religions recognized and honored. As long as our legal system protects citizens from illegal activity meant to harm another, our diverse set of beliefs is what makes this country great.

When it was decried that there would be a separation of church and state it was with good reason. For our country to indeed remain the land of the free and the home of the brave, it was deemed vitally necessary that we remain a democracy and not become a theocracy. Although Christianity is the dominating belief system within the country, implementing Christian beliefs into law stomps on our constitution and renders it useless. It negates the rights of those who have no such beliefs, who share another philosophy or ideology, and it sends a clear message around the world, that unless you are Christian you are not welcome within our borders. Our legal system is set up to punish criminal offenders who desire to do harm to others. Gays and lesbians don't fit that profile. They are born attracted to the same sex, and other than that difference, they are like heterosexuals in every other diverse way.

For these reasons, the fight to supposedly protect traditional values and marriage by denying same-sex couples the right to legally marry, is a blatant violation of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, which promise ALL citizens the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and that one religion will not have power over another. If your happiness does not rely on you having the same rights privileges and responsibilities to share your life and love with a same-sex partner, why would you need to punish someone who IS simply looking for that opportunity and who wishes you no malice at all?

The Bible is not a good litmus test for what is right for every citizen of our country. Some of us are Buddhist, some Hindu, some Atheist, some Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, Pagan, etc. To enforce Christian rule upon all of us and say, "we are going to enforce our Christian beliefs on everyone because we know what's best for all of you" will take us backward toward a time when witches were burned at the stake, and heretics were tortured and murdered for following the wrong type of Christianity.

Tax paying and

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