Intolerance In A “Tolerant” Culture Essay, Research Paper

In this country there is a serious problem. This land that was founded on “All are created equal” we have a problem—inequality. Culturally, we have welfare and other social programs to help racial minorities and any other minority you can think. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity form the basis for the religious miasma that is the U.S. So you can see religious and cultural differences are accepted. We live in a tolerant society where diversity is accepted—wrong. How about a culture where homosexuals are pariahs. A place, where even today, gay and lesbian couples can’t even be married in a civil ceremony.

Sexual inequality is the biggest challenge in America today. How can it be constitutionally right that a person can be fired from their job because of a sexual preference? To date gays can lose their jobs and homes—legally. One of the biggest struggles they face is marriage. To date 26 states have passed laws defining marriage. The law states, “Marriage is between one man and one woman.” This, “Defense of Marriage Act” passed in 1997. Those same 26 states have passed laws banning same sex marriages. It also says that other states do not have to legally recognize the marriage. Our constitution states, “Laws made in one state shall be applicable in any other state.” Less than a hundred years ago it was illegal for African Americans to marry, less than a hundred years ago women couldn’t vote, less than 40 years ago Blacks couldn’t eat at the same lunch counters as Whites. So here the government goes again trying to circumvent the constitution. (Halsall)

Today someone s can be sued for racial inequality but, a gay man or women can lose their jobs and even homes. They are accused of undermining society and values when all they are doing is seeking happiness. Gays and lesbians seeking marriage are simply asking for equal rights in a civil ceremony.

In America, one out of every ten men is gay and one out of every eight women. If they were allowed to marry a large part of society would benefit. The benefits of marriage have been proven. Productivity in the work place goes up, relationships are more stable and better health (just to name a few.) It would be draconian to think these affect only “traditional” marriage.

We value individuality in every form except sexually. The biggest cultural hang-up a hundred years ago was slavery, fifty years ago it was women’s rights, in the twenty-first century it is homosexuality and marriage. Ironic how we look back and say how wrong and unconstitutional those issues were. I wonder in a hundred years what people will say about our time and how homosexuals were treated, hopefully things will have changed by then.

In the U.S the Judeo—Christian idea of marriage permeates our psyche. Perhaps the biggest argument against same-sex marriage comes from this line of thinking,“According to the bible it is a sin.” Yet you must look at the time it was written. When Paul talks about it in Corinthians it was from a cultural context. Paul was writing against the practice of an older man or woman taking a young child as a partner for sex. In fact the word homosexual is a 16th century word. It is the closest equivalent of the Greek term Paul used. The word was Parakletos, translated means child predation.

Yet, today many main-line churches are pushing for equal rights for gays. Even though not all of them agree with it they understand the greater evil of inequality. Methodist, Reformed Presbyterian, Disciple of Christ, Untied Churches of Christ, Lutheran and Free Baptist churches have all issued similar statements as follows. “We recognize the great social injustice of the treatment of homosexual receive in this country and will continue to push for equal rights and reconciliation.”(Halsall)

Ironically enough, the government uses this line of thinking to justify it’s actions. Politicians claim the reason is to protect the morality and sanctity of marriage—what is so immoral about love? Real sanctity of marriage lies in the love between two individuals. If so, why not have mandatory marriage classes for all couples? The gay Reverend Mel White put it best when he said, “All we want is have the same rights as every other human being created God.” Bottom line, who is the government to legislate happiness? Who are we as individuals to condemn another because of sexual orientation? Really, what is immoral, love between two people or hate, intolerance and injustice?