Thursday, October 30, 2008

So this is quite possibly the worst historical comparison that I've heard yet during this crazy, f'd-up political season.







So let me get this straight. If the wackaloon religious right fails to pass Prop 8 (which by the way, amends the California constitution because at some time in history it was believed that allowing a simple majority to do that would be a good idea), then it will be equivalent to Germany's failure to stop Hitler's rise to power.

Wow.

The lack of logic in this man's rant is stunning. Let's start with a little history lesson. Hitler:
1. Began his rise to power by eliminating the rights of groups he considered impure. These groups included the jews (of course), but also gypsies and homosexuals. Where does the gentleman in the video think the pink triangle comes from? It was the symbol the homosexuals were forced to wear so that others would know of their sin.
2. Hitler gradually removed the basic rights of these groups, much like what the proponents of Prop 8 want to do.
3. Once he marginalized these groups, it was much easier to eliminate them.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that he did many of these things with the full blessing of the German churches; and the catholic church helped the Nazis in many ways, too.

Let me make a more appropriate analogy. In 1958, Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving were indicted for violating the laws of Virginia against interracial marriage. They had been married in the District of Columbia earlier in the year where it was legal. They were subsequently convicted and forced to leave the state, not to return together for no less than 25 years. The most telling aspect was the judge’s own words:

"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."


Sound familiar? God says you can't get married. Sorry. I know you love each other and all, but its a fucking abomination. Too bad. The Loving decision of the Warren Supreme Court subsequently overturned the lower court's ruling and, in fact, eliminated anti-miscegenation laws throughout the US. Damned activist judges.

Some might say that the since the trial judge couldn't point to a bible scripture that supported his statement, he was just simply a racist with a religious bent. But, God obviously hates homosexuals.

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Leviticus 18:22


Well, this is where growing up in a baptist church comes in handy. Leviticus also says

"For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him." Leviticus 20:9


Look out kids, daddy's got license to kill.

And for those who believe that Jesus repudiated the more vile aspects of Leviticus but still hated homosexuals, they need to show me where Jesus condemned homosexuality because I can't find it. Mainly because he didn't.

So, I'm just going to come out and say it. If you believe that Prop 8 is justified by the Bible and that's good enough, you're no better that that trial judge in Virginia. You are a small-minded bigot. That doesn't mean that Prop 8 won't pass. It quite possibly will. And if it does, it will be one more human right, one more aspect of common decency stripped away in the name of a vile bronze-age myth. Hitler would be proud.

Be well,

S

2 comments:

Shawn said...

I agree.

There's a church here that keeps posting 'Yes On 8' banners just off its property. I want to bust them on it--it's a violation of law--but they'll probably say the banners were posted on city property, which lets them get away with it.

Oy.

Bigotry and fear are alive and well in America. Doesn't help at all that this vile proposition is being funded hugely by an outside group, the Mormons. Sad. Sad and disgusting.

I look forward to reading more soon.

Best--

ScottE said...

Hooray! My first comment. I feel like there should be prize or something...

Thanks for the comment, Shawn. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if it is illegal. I am no expert in this area, but I believe that they get away with it by saying it's a moral issue as opposed to a political issue. Otherwise, how would the mormon and catholic churches be able to donate so much money?

Anyone know the law on this one?