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Civil Rights in the 21st Century
by
Alexander M. Busko
Today, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 1960's is looked back upon both with pride and disgrace. Pride, because after nearly 350 years, African Americans were finally granted rights entitled to them as human beings, the same rights White Americans had enjoyed in this country since its commencement. Disgrace, because of not only the disgusting and lamentable amount of time it took to rid this country, as best possible, of racism, intolerance, hatred, and ignorance, thereby providing Blacks with these rights, but also because of the perilous journey African Americans were forced to endure just to be granted basic human rights and liberties. But with all great change comes great expense, paid for by those who gave their lives for this freedom.
If someone were, today, to speak of the Civil Rights Movement with disdain or resentment, not only would they most likely be severely beaten and shunned in most parts of this country, but their opinions and beliefs would be rightly dismissed as ignorant, audacious, and prehistoric.
But it both shames and infuriates me to admit that, once again, we in America
are faced with yet another Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement of
the 21st Century is that of Gay Rights.
Many U.S. citizens are undoubtedly aware that our current President, George W.
Bush, is, in fact, opposed to same sex marriages. He has even proposed a
Constitutional Amendment in order to prevent same sex couples from joining in
marriage.
I live in Midtown, the small, trendy area just north of Downtown Atlanta and just south of Buckhead. Midtown has a very high gay population due to the fact that the neighborhood, in general, expresses a welcoming sense of acceptance to its gay residents. And although I am at this point, to the best of my knowledge, heterosexual and interested solely in women, I have a 27 year old brother who is gay. But do not make the faulty assumption that I am sympathetic to homosexuals and their current situation because of a gay sibling. Not only was I raised by intelligent, philanthropic parents, but I have common sense.
My common sense dictates that every human deserves to be treated exactly as the next. So in essence, I guess you could say I sort of have a reason to be involved in this struggle. But I am sickened to the point where no words, whether spoken or written, could ever, in an eternity, possibly even begin to express or convey how wrong and awful these injustices are. The White House is most certainly not a place for a malevolent bigot such as George W. Bush. The fact that the President condones or, politically speaking, "is for" Civil Unions is irrelevant and only adds insult to injury. It is both an outrage and an atrocity that the Bible has seemingly seeped its way into American Democracy.
In truth, there are only two ways homosexuals might be viewed as lesser beings: Ignorance and/or a strict interpretation of the Bible. I, for one, do not believe in "god" or any religions, but those who devote their life to Jesus Christ and his life believe the Bible says that not only is marriage between a man and a woman, but also that homosexuality is a sin. One only has to look to the New Testament to find that "Christ" accepted and loved all. He opened arms to sinners, prostitutes, and beggars alike. Maybe these Bible Thumpers should adhere to the true and real teachings of Christ, instead of what some conniving, ignorant, and money-hungry evangelist says on television. But while we're at it, why don't we just take the Bible out of the equation and replace it with the Constitution, the document that this country was founded upon. In it you will find the timeless words of Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men were created equal," "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" is also mentioned. Regretfully, there are an estimated 100 million fundamentalist Christians in this country - we all know who they voted for in November.
But just behind these 100 million Christians, in number power, are those who reside somewhere slightly in the middle. They are either apathetic or disguising their crooked belief. They will tell you that, by way of the Constitution, this country is ruled by the majority with consent for the minority - which is all good and well unless, for example, the topic at hand is, oh, say, unconstitutional.
Yet even in the dark recesses of our nation's past, slaves, albeit considered sub-human, were allowed to marry and were recognized as married couples after having done so. So what, are gays today considered less than sub-human? Should homosexuals be penalized for their sexual orientation? As if it is not bad enough to have to live your life day in and day out being seen by many as an outsider. As if it is not bad enough to have to endure many of the same injustices that African Americans once endured. To be called a faggot or a queer, simply because you are living out your life the only way you know how, the only way that comes naturally. Remember that even when Blacks were persecuted severely in this country, they still reserved the right to marry.
Now, again, many people will argue that marriage is between a man and a woman; therefore, in order to protect marriage and prevent it from sacrilege, we must not permit two members of the same sex to marry. But is this a debate of protecting a tradition between men and women, or is this a matter of millions upon millions of HUMAN BEINGS not receiving the right of equal treatment? These same people will argue that civil unions, the joining of same sex couples without the title of marriage and an official license, is O.K., while a same sex couple receiving an official marriage license and joining in an actual marriage is not O.K. Well once again, these same people, who claim to be so well-informed, do not seem to remember the Supreme Court case of the late 19th Century: Plessy vs. Ferguson. This case questioned the constitutionality of "separate but equal." and Plessy, the African American plaintiff, was defeated and found guilty - of sitting in a white railroad car. However, in 1954, the Brown vs. Topeka, Ks. Board of Education verdict found that "separate but equal," was, in fact, not equal and found this practice unconstitutional; therefore overturning the Plessy verdict. Well, is it not "separate but equal" and, as a result unconstitutional, to provide same sex couples with the right to join in civil union, but not the right to join in marriage like heterosexual couples?
But above all else, the thing that I find the most disturbing and worrisome
about all of this, is not the injustice done, not the belittlement of gays, and
not even the obvious erosion of acceptance and morals in our country, it is
simply the ignorance and intolerance of our Chief Executive. When recently asked
on October 13th at the final Presidential Debate whether he believed
homosexuality to be a choice or not, Bush replied, "You know, Bob, I don't know.
I just don't know. I do know that we have a choice to make in America and that
is to treat people with tolerance and respect and dignity". Although the
genetics of homosexuality still remain an unproven theory, there is strong
evidence to support that, especially in males, genetics and even heredity play a
role in one's sexual orientation. And while some people prefer not to believe
things until they are proven by science, I invite these same people to use
logic. It is disturbing that not only has our President not educated himself in
the field of genetics research and studies pertaining to homosexuality, but he
also, an Ivy League graduate, cannot simply reason in his mind why, on god's
great earth, would anyone choose to be gay. Are they just homosexual for the
thrill of it? Honestly, why would someone, in their right mind, choose to submit
themselves to a lifetime of confusion, rejection, scorn, hatred,
misunderstanding, labels, and stereotypes? Just think.
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