Over on slacktivist, you’ll find an excellent post detailing how clueless contemporary, politicized fundamentalists are with regard to the intentions of the Founding Fathers, particularly with regard to the need for (and brilliance of) a secular government. It’s a great read.
In the comments, a fellow named “Phil” notes, with regard to those who yearn to see their personal religious beliefs given the weight and force of law, “It continues to astound me when these people see a system in which nobody is supposed to be given special treatment, and see it as a personal attack on themselves. If they’re not being given deference, then they’re being persecuted.”
This is a good sentiment to keep in mind when mulling over arguments for or against the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Opponents love to say that allowing gay people to marry each other somehow denigrates, devalues, or attacks the institution of marriage. The truth is that allowing gays to marry equalizes the institution of marriage, creating a level playing field where, from the State’s point of view, one type of marriage is just as legitimate as another.
A lack of deference to heterosexual marriage (or to the beliefs of those who, for religious reasons, oppose gay marriage) does not equal persecution of the institution.
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