This time in our country’s history will be looked upon as the dark years. At least I hope so. It continues to amaze me how the Republican party which is controlled by so-called Christians has been hell-bent on its agenda of hate and intolerance.
My state, the home of Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, Warren Burger, Garrison Keillor, Al Franken and many others who have made this state great, has recently passed a constitutional amendment which effectively bans gay marriage. It is one of several states where the newly elected Republican majority has pushed its theocratic government agenda. Of course, we have more recently become the state which is the home of Michelle Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty.
I am ashamed to live here.
The constitutional amendment is to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. The amendment must be voted on by the citizens. This way, the Republican legislature is able to avoid a veto by our Democratic Governor.
The television ads will soon follow. The phone calls will begin in the near future. The sermons in the conservative pulpits will exhort support of this amendment from all “true Christians”. Hopefully, there will also be calls, ads and sermons against the amendment. So far, every newspaper in the state has stated its opposition to the amendment.
This just reinforces my departure from organized religion. If this amendment passes, I likely will be planning my departure from this state.
Just My Life 
Isn’t it amazing the amount of ridiculousness that spews forth when people are afraid of something or someone?
I’ve been trying to figure out exactly when the uber-conservative Christians took over the Republican party. It’s really too bad for them … they are alienating way too many good people. Non-Christians (like myself) and gays (I have several gay friends who also used to be Republican) are just the beginning. They are even alienating other Christians at this point, at least a number of Christians I know.
Back in ’08 California (yes, liberal bastion of the Union) managed to pass Prop 8 banning gay marriage. The television commercials were sickening … loads of fear mongering. It was overturned last August, but I expect this will eventually end up in the Supreme Court.
By: dragonfae on May 13, 2011
at 7:40 pm
I was looking for something else, and ran across this page I’d bookmarked a while ago … thought you might appreciate it. 😉
http://www.libchrist.com/other/homosexual/gaymarriagerite.html
By: dragonfae on May 13, 2011
at 10:25 pm
I love that piece. I haven’t seen it before, or heard of that stuff. The whole thing is so stupid, it just drives me crazy!
By: chlost on May 15, 2011
at 8:21 pm
I have always admired your former politicians and I adore Garrison so I too have been a bit surprised at the turn your state’s politics has taken. Florida used to be staunch Democrat and now sports a Republican governor. So far Arkansas is holding on though in the last election we lost ground. I do believe this is cyclical. Hang in and toe the line, the pendulum will swing again.
By: Arkansas Patti on May 14, 2011
at 10:28 am
We have been going downhill for quite a while. But this is a new low. Thanks for your support. Somehow my preconceived notion of your state is that it would be very conservative. Not correct?
By: chlost on May 15, 2011
at 8:22 pm
How do you think the vote will go? Thank goodness you at least get to vote on it. Our Legislature and Governor just seem to push things into Law at will and we never get a chance to vote on it.
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on May 14, 2011
at 7:58 pm
Not sure how it will go-that is why I am sure that the horrible ads will begin, trying to convince people of how dangerous it would be to allow gays to have civil rights…..it should not be a vote at all-that is something that should not be determined by majority rule.
By: chlost on May 15, 2011
at 8:26 pm
You have my sympathy! We have gay marriage here in Connecticut since 2008, and, finally, after 20 years, a Democratic governor. The election last fall was a cliff-hanger, but I’m so relieved that sensibleness prevailed in the end. Now I sit here hoping and praying that Donald Trump doesn’t wind up our next president. God help us!!!
By: Barbara on May 15, 2011
at 12:59 pm
Oh, they are trying to make the east coast out as Godless, horrible, evil people for allowing gay citizens to marry. I’m not so sure how they will explain Iowa and Canada.
By: chlost on May 15, 2011
at 8:29 pm