Equal Rights and Religious Freedom

The United States of America is NOT, repeat, NOT a Christian Country. Period. End of discussion.

Further, please correct me if I am mistaken, but didn’t Jesus preach equality? From the low to the high, all are children of God and should be respected as such? Who do you think you are claiming your hatred, your bigotry, your discrimination, or your misogyny is in the name of God?

Let’s discuss another absolute fact. There is no war against Christianity in the USA. Period. End of discussion.

America is a great big melting pot. EVERY SINGLE RELIGION you can imagine is found here, and allowed to be practiced. No one religion dominates. Nor should it. That is the definition right there of freedom of religion – go ahead and practice it, no matter what it is.

Besides, do you realize how many forms of Christianity exist? Beyond Catholicism, Lutheranism, Protestantism, Methodist, Baptist…how many more forms are there? How many divides even amongst these? And do they all agree? No. So you are completely off base if you believe that anyone is waging a war against Christianity as a whole.

Look, I have nothing against anyone practicing their religion. Go for it. What I DO have a problem with is when you try to push your beliefs on anyone else. In especial if you work a mundane, private-sector job.

If you do not work for a church or other religious organization, you have NO RIGHT to use your beliefs to deny someone goods or services. Are you a pharmacist? Ok, you prescribe birth control and morning after pills and all other drugs, PERIOD. No debate, that’s what you do. Are you a butcher? Unless you are specifically a Kosher butcher I would bet you sell pork. Justice of the Peace? You marry couples, gay or straight. That’s how it works.

It is extremely disconcerting to see so much outright hatred, bigotry and misogyny happening in this day and age. The so-called leaders who unapologetically spout it somehow stir-up the old animosities, and we’re tossed backwards in time. Suddenly it is acceptable to openly express your bias against anyone who is not like you.

What happened? I grew up when we were talking about inclusion. Equal rights for EVERYONE. Color of your skin, religion, gender, economic standing – they didn’t matter. Equality was the word. Now – suddenly its ok to proudly be discriminatory in the name of…take your pick. God. Money. Race. Creed. Whatever group you want to tag yourself onto.

You know what? It’s NOT ok. Equality IS everyone’s right. There is only so much I can do as an everyman to express this, but here it is: WE ALL deserve equal treatment. If you are male, female, transgendered, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Christian, Atheist, Muslim, Jew, young, old, rich, poor, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, fat, thin, hot, cold…whatever – you deserve equal treatment!

There are people in positions of leadership RIGHT NOW that do not stand for equality, and make no bones about that. There are people attempting to gain positions of leadership who are unabashed bigots, haters and misogynists. PAY ATTENTION, and let’s kick them to the curb. Don’t allow them and their disparate followers to turn back the clock to the inequalities of the past.

Stand up and make your position known.

Join me in shouting more loudly than the haters – EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE!!!!!