The Irony of Freedom

I admire the many couples who are choosing to get married today. People who are my neighbors, colleagues, and friends have struggled long and tirelessly against bigotry and ignorance about their lifestyles.

Californians are infamous for our tolerance and strange ways. Having grown up here means I find it mystifying that people would protest gay marriage. I really don’t get that. While I have no desire to marry someone of the same sex, I cannot conceive of denying someone else their right to do so.

The folks who oppose gay marriage seem to be overlooking a great hypocrisy in their own actions: The principle that offers them the freedom to practice their religion and the right to picket outside city halls is the same principle under which gay marriage must be allowed. In other words, they have the right to practice their beliefs in peace–yet they seek to prevent other people from pursuing their beliefs.

Sometimes, the bigots cloak themselves in the flag, saying they’re true patriots. What I see in those people, though, are agents of tyranny. Seeking to deny others the freedoms you enjoy is the path to destruction and the ultimate act of anti-patriotism. A perfect example is the immigrant from the former Soviet Union pictured on the front page of the Bee today: He stands in front of the courthouse holding a sign protesting gay marriage. A quote from him implies he fled the USSR to the US to gain religious freedom and he believes our judiciary is now threatening his religion. Nothing could be more ridiculous–or further from the truth. Could he have stood on a street corner in the USSR, holding a sign protesting against a government body? Most assuredly not. Could he have even practiced his chosen religion openly and without fear of persecution? Absolutely not. So he seeks freedom here, and upon gaining the freedoms of a democracy, promptly sets out to persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with his form of religious practice. That’s utterly insane.

The place that welcomed him, that offered him opportunities not available to him in his homeland, enforces those freedoms through denying bigots like him the ability to impose their beliefs on others. Essentially, democracy means you can bible-thump all you like, and any bible you like, as long as the thumping doesn’t disturb the neighbors. And there’s the great irony of freedom–if you enjoy it and want to continue enjoying it, then you have a societal obligation to respect it in all its forms. If you want to live under despotic rule where only one belief system is sanctioned, then continue down the path you’re on, because that is your destination.

Another quote in today’s article said “…being anti-gay marriage is anti-love.” I wholeheartedly agree, and I’d add that it’s also anti-freedom, anti-democracy, and anti-human. The evangelicals in our community don’t seem to get it. They spout biblical quotes about what Jesus said and did, all in the name of trying to justify their oppression of another group’s beliefs…and, hey, I remember Sunday school. I’m not sure what Jesus they’re talking about, but it’s certainly not the guy my Sunday school teacher told me about. I’m pretty sure if that guy popped by for a visit today, he’d offer to officiate some of the services himself.

Anyway, congratulations to those folks who today have gained a rare and precious freedom. Thank you for being on the front lines of social change, and thank you for taking a stand for love. Best wishes for a long, loving, free, and happy life together.