Stand Up For Your Rights

March 2, 2009

By Meghan Chavalier

Marriage is a legal contract. Every American has the right to enter into a legal contract with another American. Therefore gay marriage should be legal. Marriage between a man and woman is considered a sacred union, which is based on religion. But, all marriages are legal contracts.

Got that?

This is the problem with the United States of America today. The government is making choices based on religious beliefs, but under the Constitution of the United States of America we are all afforded the same equal rights. It doesn't matter if you're straight, gay, bisexual, transgender, African American, Asian American, Native American, Caucasion etc...

Religion should hold no basis for the way our government is run. Our government is in place to make laws to protect the people of our country, not exclude certain groups because they don't have the same religious beliefs as you do.

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that gay people don't believe in God. That's where most people are wrong. Gay people go to Church, believe in God, and love their partners just like heterosexual couples. We have children. We have families. We have homes and jobs and pay taxes just like everyone else in this country.

Times have changed. People have changed. Minds have changed. This is 2009. We can't move forward and progress in our country if we don't learn to accept each others differences and learn to love one another.

Instead of Churches preaching hatred, I think it's time for them to get back to what religion was based on to begin with, and that was loving your fellow man or woman. Whatever happened to that religion?

When did it become acceptable for Elected Public Officials to preach hatred towards minority groups? Weren't these people put in office to protect ALL PEOPLE in our country??

I honestly believe that any Elected Public Official be it a Senator or Governor or Congressman or Congresswoman should be instantly fired from their position if they choose to speak out against a minority group. It is a job, given to them by the people, and why would we want a public official in office who would denounce minority groups openly and hatefully to the public? This makes absolutely no sense to me, and it shouldn't to you either. Your tax dollars are what allows these people to hold the job they were given.

It's time to start respecting one another and if you hear of anyone in a political position speaking out against minority groups, start a letter campaign, call your local news stations, write a letter to the President and tell them this is uncalled for and it's not acceptable behavior by someone who was placed in office to represent the people of our country.

Don't sit back and do nothing. Stand up and do something. We don't have to let our government officials walk all over us, because of fear of what may happen. Let the fear go, and let your voice be heard.