“The wall of separation ensures the government’s freedom from religion and the individual’s freedom of religion. The second probably cannot flourish without the first.” ~Leonard W. Levy
The passage of Proposition Eight in California has ignited a debate concerning the separation of church and state. God was marketed as the judge of whether the California state constitution can ignore love. This is a violation of Civil Rights which concerns all of us as Americans. My proposal is that those of us who value our rights call attention to the absurdity of Proposition Eight by introducing legislation into our state constitutions that is just as absurd.
Information that was widely distributed such as: Proposition Eight protects our children from being taught in public schools that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage. In health education classes, state law requires teachers to instruct children as young as kindergartners about marriage. The opposition stated: Not one word in Proposition Eight mentions education. No child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it.
As a married woman, with no close ties to the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Trans gender (LGBT) community, I must speak out for the right of all people to marry the one they love. This is a civil rights issue related to the separation of church and state. A California State Supreme Court decision regarding marriage says “no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious official will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.” If there was a proposed law requiring all religious officials to solemnize a LGBT marriage, I would be just as outraged. That would be a civil rights issue.
Twenty-four states have the initiative process. As a citizen of one of these states I have the right to introduce a constitutional amendment. I have been wondering what absurd laws we could pass here in Missouri. I would suggest the MO Marriage Proposition. It would define marriage as a Holy Sacrament between a man and a woman. The couple shall be no more than 6 inches apart in height. Both must be fertile, never to use any form of birth control, as sex shall be only for procreation. They must belong to the same religious faith, have the same eye color and be of the same race. Any married couple that does not fit this definition will have their marriage annulled immediately upon passage of the MO Marriage Proposition. Any child that has been born into such a union will be deemed a Bastard and referred to as such until the day they die. Anyone who does not agree with the MO Marriage definition will be considered a blasphemous piece of garbage and be forever spat upon and banned from all holidays, sporting events and hunting licenses in the great state of Missouri.
The MO Marriage Proposition literature would clearly outline the danger the failure of this Proposition would present to our children. Too much religion causes confusion. Having one child with blue eyes and one with brown could cause sibling rivalry for the attention of the parent with their shared eye color. Having more than 6 inches difference in height could cause neck strain when kissing, leading to tension thus causing the parents to verbally assault their children. All of these factors could lead to a youth that is prone to become a member of a terrorist sect. It would be summed up with: ‘Vote yes for the MO Marriage Proposition to prevent Missouri’s youth from becoming terrorists’ or ‘Prevent terrorism by voting yes for the Mo Marriage Proposition.’
We must build a wall of separation high enough to keep terrorists out. Through the introduction of such initiatives as the MO Marriage Proposition, we will call attention to the elimination of church and state. Many Americans feel that this is a silly principle that our Founders must have come up with while they were drinking whiskey and smoking the peace pipe with their Native American buddies. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence is a bunch of hogwash that some long haired revolutionary hippies came up with. Those who favor eliminating same sex marriage from any realm of possibility seem to feel the only thing the Founders came up with that made a lick of sense was our right to bear arms. As long as I have life left in my body they will not take my guns! Hey, we could fire our guns in the air at all Holy Sacraments of Marriage between heterosexual couples all across this great land!
If you disagree with the kind of literature distribution advocated for this example please consider what kind of legislation you want in your state. There could be a law someday requiring a married couple to be of the same religious faith. If such a law passed we would no longer be a secular society. For this reason I added the most ludicrous requirements possible as an example, fearing that someone would make this an initiative in Missouri. 70% of initiatives that make the ballot pass. Introducing initiatives may be allowing our secular society to continue and flourish or perish. In most states you would contact the Secretary of State’s office for information on the process to change the laws in regard to marriage. It would also include requirements for literature used in campaigning such as, if you print that law requires the state to teach your children about marriage in school; how to change a flat tire or how to balance a check book, it has to be true. If we can have laws concerning truth in advertising wouldn’t it be fair to uphold laws concerning truth in canvassing for causes regardless of what group or religion is backing it? It is our choice whether we introduce initiatives that are hate based or ones based on love.
janetrmurray
