So ... I read an article recently in a newspaper (yes, those still exist) that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- ole Mitty -- will not sign a conservative Iowa Christian group's pledge opposing gay marriage as well as many other things. This refusal makes him the first Republican presidential candidate to do so -- Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum signed The Family Leader's 14-point pledge.
The only part of the pledge the group went back on was the introduction, which stated African American children were more likely to be raised in two-parent households when they were born into slavery than they are today. After black ministers complained, the group apologized and edited out this part.
How nice of them.
A spokeswoman for Mitty released a written statement that he "strongly supports traditional marriage" but the pledge "contained references and provisions that were undignified and inappropriate for a presidential campaign." Hmm ...
Other GOP hopefuls, including former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will not sign the pledge.
The Associated Press reporter, as well as various media outlets, believe the signing of this pledge is in hopes of votes from influential social conservatives in Iowa ...
Shocking a politician won't stand for views they believe in, views they hold true, but instead try to woo influential groups and play by their rules. Not shocking but disgusting all the same.
After reading more about the pledge, I learned it asks candidates to pledge such things as:
* Personal fidelity to his or her spouse ... OK, that would be a nice change for politicians. Keep it in your pants except for your spouse, who has access to said pants.
* Remove female soldiers from combat ... umm ... why?
* Recognize that robust childbearing and reproduction maintains America's health and security ... OK, so those female soldiers should be at home getting knocked up by the husbands they don't cheat on ... this will give America children with parents who don't want them because they didn't want children in the first place or at least weren't ready for children, as well as an even larger world population which is not a good direction for Mother Nature. If a woman wants to give up her freedom in order to protect America's freedom, more power to her. That's something Americans should support and praise instead of denounce.
* Children raised by a mother and father experience better learning, less addiction, less legal trouble and less extramarital pregnancy ... OK this is true if the parents are perfect but how can politicians support this? Create a sci-fi nightmarish society where humans must apply to have a child and show documentation of a spouse? Have helicopters fly around the U.S. peeking in windows to make sure unmarried people aren't doing the big nasty? Sometimes marriages fall apart, spouses grow apart instead of grow together and although it's hard for the child to have one parent sometimes it's better than being the child of parents in a loveless marriage, parents who fight, bicker and all around hate each other. The pledge supports fidelity to spouse but what if you hate your spouse? People fall in and out of love all the time. That's life! Also, just because someone is married doesn't mean they will make a good parent. Shitty people get married all the time.
* Fight prostitution ... I can't imagine there are many prostitutes who enjoy their profession and wouldn't mind getting out of it if they had the chance. Although, when thinking of prostitutes the first thing that comes to mind is politicians. She's not a prostitute, she's an escort.
* Fight pornography ... the only problem I have with pornography is people doing it against their will. Otherwise, this is going to be difficult to accomplish since a huge bulk of Americans enjoy a healthy dose of porn daily. Good luck with that one.
* Fight the Sharia Law ... difficult to comment on since there are many different interpretations (cough cough Christianity cough cough). Basically Muslims scholars and jurists determine God's will and moral guidance as they apply to every aspect of a Muslim's life. For Americans, Sharia Law is the new terrorism, the new Communist, the new term for political fear mongering campaigns to scare idiots into submission ... will radical Muslims infiltrate the U.S. government and establish Taliban law for America? Not so much. Don't let Muslims in the government because they will slowly brainwash us into following their strict rules! You come to America, you play by our rules. End of story.
As for this pledge: Yuck. A group created a list of everything they don't understand, i.e. everything making them uncomfortable and everything they don't care to understand. They want to use this as a weapon. Sign this and you will get votes. The group feels like a big tough guy, the bully on the playground of American politics, because they are telling everybody how it is, how they feel and what needs to be done. There's a reason people keep prejudices and biases to themselves. It's because they are stupid.
Yeah, I was raised in small town USA and didn't meet any homosexuals growing up. Later on in life I found out they were there but afraid to come out of the closet ... the closet where the prejudiced town, including their families, kept them. I didn't meet any Muslims, Jews and few Spanish/Mexican/South American/Central American, Asians, etc. In my town, it wasn't total back-country we-hate-everybody-who-is-different-and-will-commit-brutal-hate-crimes but there definitely wasn't an Equals Rights For All parade every week. It was more we-will-gossip-about-you-and-a-few-bold-people-will-say-things kind of town. A we-are-yellow-wimps-who-will-hate-you-from-afar-and-make-your-life-suck. There was enough prejudice to make people feel uncomfortable, unwanted and unwelcome, which is bad enough because emotional trauma is often worse than physical.
I get uneasy when I see two men kissing. I'll admit it. Am I proud of this? No. However, I am smart enough to know what I think and feel doesn't make it the Ultimate Truth of the Universe. Should men not be able to kiss because it makes me uncomfortable? Hell no!
The United States, as a whole, doesn't fit my small town experience. There are black and white couples, homosexuals, transgendered, Muslims and Jews, Mexicans and Asians ... isn't that what America was supposed to be about? We all came here from somewhere else in the world. We all started as immigrants unless you are Native American and I'm pretty sure I don't have a large Native American audience. Anyway, America is moving towards a future many people want to ignore. Children of mixed races are becoming the norm.
When you consider people across the world, America is the place where all sorts of folks flock. We are supposed to be this great, big melting pot of individuals with different races, religions and ideals, all coming together to live as one. What you see on the outside is not what you get on the inside. America is one big liar.
For the people who are uncomfortable with others who are different -- whether it be because they interpreted the Bible a certain way or their daddy raised them to hate -- Get. Over. It. These people aren't going away and you don't want them to because forcing someone to be a certain way is a form of torment, a torment that ends badly. You can try to pray the gay away all you want but people who are homosexual are born that way. For whatever reason, they are attracted to the same sex and that's how it is.
I've learned the hard way that when dealing with people you don't like -- whether it be family members who are jerks or people of different sexual orientations or race or religion -- you can't change them. They don't understand you as much as you don't understand them even if you preach to them until you are blue in the face. Their way of life is just as complex as your prejudice, spanning years of experiences and mental growth. So, instead of fighting a fight you will never win, get over yourself and learn to deal. I'm not saying you need to hug it out and be their new best friend ... I'm saying you need to get with the program and understand people are different and will always be different. You don't have to like it but you have to accept it and focus on living your life because there is not going to be one right answer for a country filled with millions of people of varying races, religion, sex, etc.
If two people of the same sex want to have a civil union, if they love each other and want to spend their lives together ... what's wrong with that? There is a separation between church and state and since they aren't getting married in your church, than what is the problem, besides your prejudice, besides your ignorance?
It reminds me of abortion. If I became pregnant and wasn't ready for a child (i.e. right now) I would not have an abortion because it's murder. It's killing a life, a precious human life and it's a miracle my body is able to grow a child. A miracle! However, who am I to tell someone what to do with her body? It's her choice, not mine.
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