Just Thinking Out Loud...

Man, I love to watch idiots argue. So news broke around lunchtime that the California Supreme Court overturned a ban on gay marriage. I knew this would provide for some interesting fireworks as the day progressed.

So as I was waiting for some stuff to finish in the lab, I decided to peruse the MSNBC message board linked to the story, and hilarity ensued. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at what some of these people were saying. Mostly it was just ALL CAPS RAGING AT YOU CUZ UR A DUMB **** AND I TIHINK UR A MORON!!!!!11!!!

Yea, just like that. Now you know why I was so entertained.

So here's the thing that I don't get. No one had a legitimate reason against gay marriage, everything was one of the following:

1. God forbids it.
2. It's immoral.
3. It creeps me out.
4. I'm an idiot and feel like screaming (see above)

There were a few entertaining posts in response to #1 above, especially the following:

"I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?"

"Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?"

There were more, but those are my favorites.

I'm of the "live and let live" opinion. Gay marriage doesn't affect me, so why piss and moan about it? One astute individual said he had a problem with gay men because as soon as one hits on his son, he's going to KICK SOME ***.

Hmmm...let's think for a moment. I guess you think that your son must be attractive so as to arouse the feelings of a random gay man who happens to pass by. Wait. You think your son is attractive? You must be gay and that creeps me out. Great, now I'm no better than you...and that's not saying much.

Here's the bottom line, the way it comes down to it, for me. The courts have a responsibility to ensure that laws passed by the legislature don't infringe upon people's rights, conflict other existing laws that are constitutional, or establish any unfair or discriminatory practices. People were whining that the judge overturned the will of the people, who voted for the legislators that created and passed the bill. Well, as I recall, the Nazis took control of Germany about 60 or so years ago, did a whole bunch of stuff, and well, I guess that was alright, because they were the majority.

And now we arrive at the essence of what I'm getting at: majority rules, minority rights. That's what the Founders intended. Someone said that the Founding Fathers didn't create this country for gays to take it over. Excuse me? What? This country was founded by people who were persecuted for what they believed in and practiced, and now we turn the tides on the minority again, those who are being persecuted? Does it not say in the preamble to the Constitution that we have the right to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness"? I'm pretty sure marriage generally falls under the last category.

As I'm sure everyone can appreciate, the majority is obviously always right. I guess slavery and segregation never happened either? The Bible tells us that we can own slaves, as long as they come from a neighboring country. I guess we should all go out and buy some Mexicans (or maybe Canadians) that we can whip and mistreat. The Bible says it's OK, so we must use that as the prevailing law of the land. I think I just heard Thomas Jefferson roll over in his grave.

As a final point (and I know I've been on the verge of rambling this whole time), let's just take one more look at the practical side of this issue. People are complaining that gay marriage will affect the tax structure, causing straight people to have to pay higher taxes. Now, I don't know how all that works, but let's say I give you the benefit of the doubt there. Here are a few counter-examples:

1. Smokers. They cause health insurance premiums to go up. I'm sorry, I choose not to give myself cancer, but yet when I get strep throat, I have to pay more to go to the doctor. I guess we should shoot anyone that smokes. That sounds fair.

2. Obese people. PUT THE CHEESEBURGER DOWN. Same as #1, health care costs will go up. But the reason I make this one a separate point is that it's obviously McDonald's fault. So let's burn down Mickey D's and stone the CEO's. Biblical justice!

3. Bad drivers. Auto insurance goes up when people act stupid while driving, again analogous to the health care issue I've raised. Well, that guy up there just cut someone off, so he must be a moron. Where's my rocket launcher? Burning, righteous vengeance!

Live, and let live, and stop screaming. Profanity and the inability to type make you look like a moron, and well, you probably are.