This line, along with many other lines that will be mentioned further on into the essay, is from the famous Declaration of Independence, a document that made the Unites States of America walk on its own two legs instead of relying on England as a cane. However, this line doesn’t just mean that all men are created equal. As a student studying in courses of American History, I believe that this lines states that all men, no matter the race, the philosophy the man produces in one’s mind, the sexual orientation, or skills and abilities that the specific man has should not matter to another man in America, because all of the men have been created by God himself as equal, despite the matters that were listed above. But, at the time of the written document, which happens to be in 1776, black men, women, and children were slaves working on plantations and most were being beaten by their owners. This excerpt has also stated that men are created equal, not women, therefore saying that not all people living on the new land have the same freedom as white men who have land (according to later on in the DOI, an abbreviation for the Declaration of Independence).

Freedom, as defined in Merriam dictionary, is liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another (definition 1b). We apply this word in our everyday vocabulary for both angelic and demonic purposes, but this definition of freedom has not been applied fully in the U.S. until the mid 20th century.  How is this so?

….Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

According to the document of America’s based freedom, we have the right to the pursuit of happiness. Now, this term can be seen in many different angles, just as your everyday shooter game, but in the general fixture of the term, this means that we have the right to be happy and to be ourselves. In the past, we have gone to wars, actual real-life wars, for prejudice thoughts, beliefs, and blamings. Take World War 2 for an example. Who was the almighty leader of such an act that aghasted billions of people, and exterminated many of them? Adolf Hitler. He was an icon of evil and demonic traits, and some may even call him the devil who walked on Earth, but he was prejudice upon the Jewish culture, which, to this day, has set up stereotypes for Germans globally. This is an example of what has been known as a violation of the Declaration of Independence, since the war overseas and on land...and the recession of the 1940s shook the nation and startled many American citizens out of their own happiness and comfort. With that being said, the nation has changed because we now have entitled ourselves into being less prejudice and discriminating and following the actual legally-binded document (that is protected by the U.S. authorities) that states the factors that us Americans should, as a matter of fact, have.

For an example, if an Dominic Republican black male decided to spend his time with a German white male, then there would be no harm done to either males, because the issue of racial segregation has been erased off the board of disputes. Also, the issue of gender differentuality has come to an end in the late 1970s, because women finally had more abilities to produce the same quality of work in a specific occupation that required “masculine” abilities, which most men thought was blatant that women could not work as hard.

To conclude, even though some of society’s finest is quite prejudice, the discrimination levels have shrunk a bit.

Religion plays a huge role in the context and acceptance of homosexuality. I am a Catholic and I was raised to learn and live Christian teachings until now. Though the conservative views of the Catholic Church do not accept different sexual orientations such as gay, bisexual and lesbians, still, Catholics who still belong to these groups hear mass and attend religious activities despite the constant bullying among other fellow Catholics and Christians. If having such sexual orientation is a sin, then might as well stone them to death together with the prostitutes and tax collectors.

They are also human beings with thoughts and feelings. Homosexuals live in constant fear, especially those who are afraid to get out of the closet. Most bullying and prejudice starts at home, wherein parents and siblings probably could not accept a homosexual among the family. Teenagers suffer also outside of the home where teasing, taunting and bullying may come from their peers. Although society has open up to these people, and possibly got used to it, some still shut the idea of homosexuality. Though compared to previous years, more people are open to homosexuality.

The issue of marriage among homosexuals still raises a lot of questions. But as for me, I wouldn’t mind giving these people the equal opportunity to do things like a normal couple can do. There is no harm in giving these people a chance to express themselves and not live in fear. It may not be conventional but what is left to deny when we can clearly see that our society is indeed changing. There is no harm done in accepting such deposition.

I personally have friends who are gay and lesbians, who are really good friends. They are funny, very sociable and talented people. I know most of their life stories and their struggles. If you have friends like mine, you will definitely understand their personality.  For me, as long as they are not a threat to society and actually give back to it, there is no problem. In a religious point of view, I think religion taught us to respect our fellowmen, no matter the race, color, stature in life and gender.

With this moral argument created by the homosexuals, there has been a shift in the sympathy of the observing society. Some people support the same-sex marriage because they have gay/lesbian families and friends. Even some of the religious groups are being harnessed to switch sides on the debate and campaign for the same-sex marriage for the sake of their members. They expose the homosexuals as the aggrieved party and say it’s about time we recognize their rights, and so they modify the meaning of “justice” and “morality” to benefit what majority of the people want. They ask, where is justice if we would not give them their happiness? Is it moral to deprive them of equality?

It’s surprising that the tables had been turned drastically, with those, opposing same-sex marriage labeled as “discriminatory,” “intolerant,” and “prejudiced” to not accept their lifestyles. The opposing group was viewed as “evil,” “judgemental,” and “ignorant.” Homosexuals claimed that they accept the normal lifestyle of opposite sex-marriage, it’s just right that they be accepted too. But the truth is, acceptance is not imposed by the opposing group. There is an undeniable “Law of Nature” existing which binds every living human to its unwritten decrees. Man was designed for woman. That is acceptable. We did not choose the design of our physical forms. It’s nature, we can’t do anything about it, just as we understand that some homosexual condition is natural and we don’t condemn it. Homosexuals deserve all the human rights and basic needs, by all means. But we can not support the same-sex marriage because this lifestyle is unacceptable. After all, marriage is not a basic need. People can survive without it. In this sense, they are not really being deprived. It’s just a matter of “limiting” our happiness and desires because nature won’t permit it.

It is also noticeable that God was being put out of the picture in this discussion because this is definitely abhorrent in nature per the Bible. But then again, most supporters of same-sex marriage, as in with abortion, do not believe in God. What’s confusing is the active involvement of some churches in support of the same-sex marriage, did they just contradicted their original beliefs? So what’s next? It will not be surprising if one day, people will use their so called civil rights to support polygamy.

Pacquiao was adamant after Obama vocalised his support for same sex marriage this week saying the president got it all wrong. It is reported that in an interview with the National Conservative Examiner while training in Los Angeles said there was a need for society to put God first.

The boxer referring to President Obama’s decision quoted Leviticus 20:13 which say “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

The president however in justification of his stand on the issue of same-sex marriage stated the Golden Rule was the base of his decision. “Love your neighbour as yourself”.

The 33-year-old boxer said he respected Obama and that he thinks the president needs to read the Bible to better society.

“God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other,” Pacquiao said. “It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.” He added.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao  is a Roman Catholic and recently hit international news when he declared his intention of ending his boxing career to focus on religious beliefs.

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao

Rev. Jackson, speaking to the City Times said the move was a bold step in the right direction for an equal protection of all citizens under the law.

The Reverend further went calling on all black preachers especially to address the issue of same-sex marriage with their congregations on Sunday mentioning that lesbians and gays are indeed fighting for the country and doing their best to teach America’s children. He added in justification of his support for same-sex marriage that it opens the door for every individual to have the same opportunity as another.

“You may choose your mate, but you cannot deny someone else the right to choose their mate,” Jackson said.

Rev. Al Sharpton’s similarly supported Obama’s stand on the issue of same-sex marriage wit hthe following words “I salute President Obama’s statement today supporting same-sex marriage,” Rev. Sharpton said the issue was not of his or anyone’s personal or religious views but was for the equity of everyone before the law.

I am not homophobic, though I am sure there will be some who think I am, homosexual behavior is a sin, and Obama’s acceptance of homosexual marriage will not change that. Regardless of what some people may say, I choose to accept God’s Word on the subject.

Homosexual behavior is not the only sin forbidden in scripture, so I am not “singling out” homosexuals,homosexual marriage just happens to be the topic of this current article.

I Love people and would plead that ANYONE who is active in behavior they know is sin repent!

Jesus came to seek and save sinners, He shed His very own blood for ALL of us, so the question really is, which do you Love more….the Lord, or the lusts of your flesh?

  I think everyone has the right to love whoever they wish to. “All men are created equal.” Written by the people, but why can’t the people follow it? I want you to think about your wife/husband. Do you love them unconditionally? Of course you do. So, would you still love them if they were the same sex as you? Would you be angry if you were not allowed the right to marry your lover?

  Some states have already passed same sex marriages, why would they do so if it wasn’t just as important? If we want to make this world a better place, a happier place, why can’t we take the first step together? We need to accept people for who they are. If your going to drag god into this, you should realized that god loves all of his children as well.

  Obama. I saw somewhere, that he supports gay marriages. He is not afraid to admit that out loud, because he knows all of gods children deserve the same rights.

  A marriage license can help with a lot of things. I want you to imagine if your lover was the same sex as you. If they were hospitalized, in most places you could not see them, because you are no legal or blood relation. Or, say you have children together, or you are the only other parent his/her children have known, if your lover passes away for any reason, some places wont allow you to gain custody, unlike if you were married.

  Someone I love very dearly, is homosexual. I won’t say who. They have children, what happens when one of them passes away? She couldn’t keep her lovers children and/or it would be hard for her to get them. Although, if they were married, she would be gaunted custody if she had a stable home and etc.

  I am not every caught up on how custody works, but the point still stands. The wold won’t be a better place unless we make it one.

“I’ve always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally,” Obama told Roberts, in an interview that will air in full on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday.

“I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” he said.

To express plainly the disturbance is to divide the problem into two, a disgust to express about the nature of an office which prioritises demagoguery so as to override even basic function. Alongside, a feeling of disappointment in a president and a people for delaying a conclusion so well expressed and so old, how it hasn’t burned a hole of shame through American politics is beyond and below comprehension.

There is clearly a sense of a loss of a perceptible moral footing. And while to an extent we should exercise understanding of human frailty and the importance this feeling may have to some individuals, just how much compassion for individual cloying justifies broad ignorance? While the topic inflames both sides to an extent perhaps only comparable to any religious debate, it’s becoming less useful to be morally outraged by outrageous moral ineptitude. There clearly has to be a change in motive and a change in style.

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The article discusses how Gay Activism needs to realign to take on board political pragmatism & how Obama was never against the idea of homosexuality to begin with.

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The author talks about “berdache” (Lee 198-199) in particular. The berdache are a group of men who dress like women or men who dress like women. They are not necessarily gay but may engage in what some would call homosexual activity. They tend to take on the roles of the opposite gender and are therefore seen as weaker because of this difference. I have done a lot of research on the berdache and from what I’ve read it is not true that “berdache” refers to only homosexuals. It is a romanticized version that homosexuals have decided to put towards the topic. They have tried to re-use this word to take on a new meaning but actual “berdache” people do not like the term berdache because of its negative connotations, its meaning being ‘male prostitute’ which was not the case. It is a generalization that was put upon them, a demeaning word that was brought about during the time of colonialism, and has been continued in use even by social scientists who should know better.

The longing for people to belong to a group or to discriminate against a group should not force them into these extreme situations of changing the actual contextual meaning of another cultures practices or beliefs to fit their social agenda. You cannot place your own world view on something and not even fully understand the significance of those rituals and practices. To quote the author, “Queer and diasporic, wherever we are and whoever we fuck, the truth is that we always completely belong” (Lee 204). No judgment, no societal rules, no social pressures, just complete acceptance of individualism.