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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>Not the CCC.</FONT></DIV>
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<H1>Religion has no place in government legislation</H1>
<H2></H2>
<P class=author><SPAN class=by>By</SPAN> <A
href="http://www.smudailycampus.com/search?q=%22Spencer%20J%20Eggers%22">Spencer
J Eggers</A></P>
<P class=author>Email: seggers@smu.edu </P>
<DIV class=date>
<P class=published><STRONG>Published: </STRONG>Thursday, September 8,
2011</P>
<P class=updated><STRONG>Updated: </STRONG>Thursday, September 8, 2011
23:09</P></DIV>
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<P>While the subject of marriage between same-sex couples makes the rounds on
Capitol Hill, conservative, anti-gay organizations in the media have increased
their efforts to convince the public that same-sex marriage is morally
contemptible. Groups such as the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) have
saturated media outlets with their condemnation of same-sex marriage and gay
rights, advocating for the legislative enforcement of traditional, Christian
values in America.</P>
<P>One television advertisement created by NOM went so far as to claim that
homosexuals want to take away our freedoms and interfere in our lives. The
self-entitled "Coming Storm" commercial describes marriage between same-sex
couples as a dark force that, unless stopped, will destroy everything we once
held dear. This commercial, and others like it, are prime examples of the
idiotic, fear mongering rhetoric used to distort the true intentions of American
citizens who want nothing more than to have the same basic human rights that
everyone else in this country is afforded.</P>
<P>I am astounded when I hear someone support a bill or a law because "the Bible
says so," and I am perplexed when I hear someone respond to an equal-rights
advocate with the words, "That's not what God would <SPAN
data-scayt_word="want.”" data-scaytid="1">want."</SPAN> I myself am a devout
Christian, but I also recognize that we live in a country in which the
separation of church and state is a fundamental part of our government. Bringing
your theology into our legislative system isn't just wrong, it's
un-American.</P>
<P>The beliefs of one religion should not be forced upon the rest of society.
Just because your church does not allow same-sex marriage does not mean that our
government can't allow it.</P>
<P>Each of these groups makes no attempt to hide the fact that their primary
objective is to enforce Christian faith, ideals, and the Bible upon all
Americans (be they Christian or not).</P>
<P>Those against same-sex marriage often claim that gay-rights advocates would
like to force us all to accept their views.</P>
<P>They say that gays and lesbians don't have a right to redefine marriage for
the rest of us; they don't have a right to force us to accept their beliefs. And
yet, these same individuals want to alter our constitution to specify that
marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman, in accordance with Christian
theology. Their intention is to legally force all Americans—regardless of their
beliefs—to accept their religiously-based view of marriage. The word "hypocrite"
is too kind to describe what they're doing.</P>
<P>Let's be honest: gays and lesbians don't need you to accept their lifestyle.
However, they do need you to accept their inalienable right as American
citizens, under the United States Constitution, to get married just like anybody
else, to have full access to their hospitalized loved ones just like anybody
else, and—dare I say it—to be able to file a joint tax return just like anybody
else. It's not a question of theology;</P>
<P>it's a question of basic civil rights.</P>
<P>If you have a problem with homosexuality, that's fine. If you don't agree
that homosexuals should be allowed to get married, good for you. You are
entitled to your opinion, but remember that our government does not exist to
enforce your religious ideals.</P>
<P>That is why I ask, from one human being to another, please stop using the
Bible, religious doctrine, and theology to support anti-gay legislation. It
doesn't belong there. Your religion does not belong on Capitol Hill, so please
stop acting like it does.</P>
<P><EM>Spencer J <SPAN data-scayt_word="Eggers" data-scaytid="3">Eggers</SPAN>
is a senior majoring in Accounting and Spanish with a minor in Photography. He
can be reached for comment at <A
href="mailto:seggers@smu.edu?subject=RE%3A%20Religion%20has%20no%20place%20in%20government%20legislation%20"><U><SPAN
data-scayt_word="seggers@smu.edu"
data-scaytid="4">seggers@smu.edu</SPAN></U></A></EM></P>
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<H2><STRONG></STRONG></H2></DIV></DIV></DIV></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2
face=Verdana>_________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>Wayne A. Fox<BR><A
href="mailto:wayne.a.fox@gmail.com">wayne.a.fox@gmail.com</A><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>