Both of Those Things You Shouldn't Argue About at the Dinner Table

So, I have to get this off my chest and straighten out my thoughts for next time someone feels like arguing, so here goes. Feel free to skip this post if you'd like. It's about to get all self-righteous and rant-y up in here. It probably will not be one of those funny posts.

The issue is same-sex marriage.

A little background on my involvement in the issue. I was raised Roman Catholic, and my parents have always supported Republican political candidates. I registered to vote as a Republican. Apparently, my position on same-sex marriage flies in the face of these facts. I am no longer a "real" Catholic or a real Republican. Well, I went to church today.

Anyway, here's the crux of the issue for me. I have best friends that are gay. I don't see why they shouldn't have all the same rights and freedoms that I do. Throughout my life, at home and at church, I have been taught to treat people equally, and to not discriminate against people because of their race or religious beliefs or other such factors. So why is discrimination now suddenly okay, even expected of me?

It perplexes me that something like religion (specifically organized religion) can be so edifying and yet so damaging at the same time. I personally, do not feel like the Catholic church should do my thinking for me. I don't want anyone but me to do my thinking for me. That's pretty much the same reason I'm against banning/censoring books, but that's for another entry.

Now, I will freely admit to you that the bible is not among the I think pretty respectable amount of books that I have read cover to cover. I'm pretty sure (though I am speculating) that most Catholics, especially those that are my age, will tell you the same thing. Granted, I know a lot of it from hearing parts of it every Sunday (or Saturday) since I was 3, but I don't know every verse of it. However, I thought  I had a pretty good idea of the main points in my head. If asked what the bible was about, keywords such as 'loving God', 'sacrifice' , 'forgiveness', 'tolerance', and 'morality'.  Over the last couple weeks I have realized that many people believe or demonstrate that tolerance should not be on that list.

I just want to throw this in here: this is the story that got me a riled up. http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top_stories/548125/what-effect-will-the-marriage-vote-have-on-the-gop-/
Watch it, and feel free to let me know what you think. I'll steer away from commenting on the content of the story, because I think it's an unnecessary segue that would make this blog post way to long. But I will say that you should make sure to concentrate on what the 'conservative' blogger says, what her website says, and the difference between the attitudes of the two groups interviewed. Oh man it's coming on tv again.

I'm going to end this rant here, right after I say the following: change is always hard. Change is what is going on in our society right now. In reality though, change is what allows progress. I am very proud of the progress I have made since going off to college, however, at times I feel like I'm going through a time warp when I come back home and hear that the opinions of most of my friends have not changed.

Homosexuality used to make me uncomfortable too. There was this lesbian couple in my high school who used to make out in the hallways, and it would freak me out. I would say that it grossed me out and that it was disgusting. I once told a friend she was the gayest straight person I knew. I don't think I meant it to be hurtful, I was probably trying to be funny. The problem is that only half of my sentence was correct. My friend was a lesbian, and probably struggling through high school, trying to decide when to come out. I feel bad every time I think of this incident. Another friend perpetuated a joke about one of my friends and I  being a lesbian couple to the point where we were both severely annoyed. I realize now that she has come out that this was probably a defense mechanism.  In hindsight though, I am ashamed to have said and thought these things. I am so glad that I have become more accepting over the years.

Okay, for real stopping now. Feel free to comment, and disagree if you must. But if you would, please try not to argue from a religious standpoint (because it is almost impossible to have a useful debate on this issue from that position) or from a place of your own discomfort. Feel free to share stories about  your discomfort, but please do not try to argue that same-sex marriage is wrong because it makes you uncomfortable. That is just frustrating. What if your rights make me uncomfortable? Should we debate taking those away?

Wow, it's 1 am. Well, goodnight. I promise I'll try to write something funny soon, to make up for the serious post.