Yea, I've seen the special commentary on gay marriage by Keith Olbermann that is now posted on YouTube. If you haven't seen it you should. My question is why do we need Keith Olbermann to tell us about love? What is it about all of us human beings that we are so unable to love and be loved, to love and let love? I can't figure it out. It seems as though we keep finding someone to make the scapegoat for our inability to want the best, and see the best in each other. Even though we speak of a God who loves us and wants us to love in return, it seems as though we need someone to be the unlovable.
I am especially disappointed that in the vote for "Proposition 8" in California it is African Americans who may have cast the deciding votes. I think how could we? How could we when we know how it feels to be the unlovable, to be those denied rights? How could we use the same instruments, the same words, the same rational, that was once used against us? The language used, the fact that the bible is trotted out to fuel the fervor of those who believe the world should be just one way, their way is oh, so familiar. Perhaps African Americans have forgotten that we were once thought to be less than human, the color of our skin, our lifestyles, our behavior was thought to be bestial and unnatural. We have forgotten that the bible was often quoted to show that there was some basis for treating us so poorly. And yet here we are allowing it to happen again.
We human beings have such short memories. I enjoyed Olbermann's sarcastic recount of the history of the institution of marriage. How he points out that this institution is fraught with problems. He reminds us that in the recent history of this country that it was illegal to marry across race lines, that even the marriage of two African Americans was illegal. Blacks were property, bought and sold by others so they weren't allowed to marry. We have such a short historical memory. Olbermann points out, that people who once promoted and thought it proper to have multiple wives, now want to define marriage. Does anyone see irony in that?
It is ironic that Olbermann has to tell us that this is about the human heart. Yes, it is as Keith Olbermann so aptly points out. But, this is not just about the hearts of those who have found love in a committed same sex relationship and want all the legal benefits that those in opposite sex committed relationships have, it is also about all of our hearts. Are our hearts big enough? Are our hearts big enough (because our minds don't seem able) to make room for those who have found love in what some would consider an exceptional and previously unacceptable form? Our hearts have been proven big enough to overcome race and many other sorts of prejudice. I believe our hearts can be big enough now.
We who talk about a God of love cannot, let prejudice, ignorance, intolerance, misuse of scripture, lack of historic memory again harden our hearts. We must speak up so that all may without fear, love and be loved and have the legal rights to do so.
Will you?
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