Not in My Country!

Way back when I was a kid, a little kid like 5 or 6, I got a sense of justice. I don’t recall exactly the circumstances, but I remember a chill creeping over my body – a foreboding. As I felt the tingles of woe grow I became aware of a sinking feeling. Not only was something not right, that something was opposite of what it should be.

Justice is the word that pops to mind today. A word that means fair, right, ethically balanced. Logic springs to mind, too.

I get the same sense of awe and woe today in 2012. Something does not seem right. Justice appears out of synch with what I would expect. Let me list a few items that exemplify what I’m talking about.

First, immigration. It is right that people from poor and struggling circumstances elsewhere in the world would want to come to America for a fresh start. People have been doing this since the 1500’s. We are rightfully proud of that! Our nation is where others wish to be. So they come.

But those who have already had that opportunity have closed the doors to new immigrants. They have defined them as illegal. They have thrown obstacle upon obstacle for their entry to our country, let alone remaining here. Although there are logical and logistical reasons why this is so, it still smacks me as unjust that we nit pick the issue.

These people need help. Our entire history is built on this concept of immigration and new chance to survive and prosper.  They need our help. Our nation. Let us welcome them with open arms, not condemn them and throw them back into the boats they arrived in.

If huge problems loom because of unfettered immigration, then let’s put our heads together to find ways that allow new citizens to arrive and prosper among us. Let us NOT strive to find ways to frustrate that process. Justice. What is right and fair. It was fair for our generation and the many generations that came before us. Why not now? Make it work. American ingenuity can overcome this problem and safeguard our mission, vision and justice.

Second, the US Capitol building is a symbol of democracy, freedom and constitutional law. It is not a church. It is not a symbol of religion. It is a monument to thinking, logic and justice. It supports freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and so many other freedoms we cherish as a people. That monument, however, does not impress upon each of our lives the religious beliefs or fervor of all the religions in our midst. Or no religion at all! Freedom, remember?

Yes. America stands for a lot. But it does not cram someone’s belief down our throat so we have to live the way they THINK we should. They are free to live the way they want to, according to their beliefs, but they do not have the right to force the rest of us to follow in their lock-step beliefs.

Issues such as abortion, access to medical care, marriage equality among loving persons…these are all examples of issues with a religious belief core. I do not demand anyone have an abortion; but I don’t want anyone to tell another person they cannot have an abortion. Whether abortions are pleasant or not, right or wrong, whatever they are…the decision belongs to the woman and family setting according to their belief systems. Not mine. I ask for justice; I expect in my country that citizens have the right to make their own decisions on this matter, and live with the consequences.

Same with marriage. Churches define marriage by way of ritual, or rite. That is their business. They can say freely who is eligible to participate in their rite. Not government. The problem simply is that a license to be married was assumed by government throughout our nation by the states. They should label these marriages unions or some other term rather than marriage. The marriage term is already taken by religious bodies. So let government call them unions. Legal and contractual between two loving people. Let government define the couple openly, not per religious belief, but living unit practicality. Two women or two men, or a man and a woman. Who really cares? Evidently only religions seem to care, and bigots who wish to force their view of life on others.

Not their business. No. Government ensures religious freedom, but not religious enforcement of beliefs on others. So, let’s have government define marriage as unions of two loving people with contractual rights and obligations just like the previous marriages licensed. Same obligations and rights. Same benefits throughout. After all, the same actuarial principles apply to different sex couples as same sex couples.

You don’t like homosexual issues? Make you feel uncomfortable? Well it’s mutual. Get over it! Move on to matters that really affect your life. Allow the others the same freedom. Justice. Remember? So easy yet made to be so difficult.

I don’t mind America having a good and healthy relationship with God. However, that strictly is not just with those who have no such underpinning belief in God. I believe in God. I do not, however, believe others should have to believe in God to be American. So, let’s get rid of all mentions of God in our pledge of allegiance, oaths of the court and of office. Let us get rid of the mention of God on our coinage and printed currency. Individually we may believe in God and allow our lives to benefit accordingly. We do not, however, have the right to expect all to believe the same as we!

So, abortion is not an issue anymore. Equal rights to legal unions (perhaps you call them marriages) is now the law of the land. The US Capitol building is a symbol of America and the seat of power; not a church or religion. So no laws respecting religion should be mentioned or made there with the sole exception that all are free to worship as they wish and believe. Just don’t force it on everyone else.

Is that clear? Gosh, I hope so. Now I can get back to my church work, my community service work, my charitable involvements, and planning Sunday worship services! Glad we got that straightened out.

Now we truly are the land of the free and brave; and Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Taoists, Hindi and all the others. And the atheists. And the immigrants. All are welcome in my country. Just as it says in the Constitution.

November 2, 2012