Thou Shalt NOT!!!!

I heard that beginner phrase alot when I was growing up in southeast Texas.  I mean ALOT. 

Yes, I grew up in the stereotypical Bible-thumping south frought with sinners, humid weather and tele-evangelist personalities.  As a result, I learned some lessons very early in life while others who grew up in a more urban existence most likely struggle with determining who is a geniune spirit and those who are not. 

I was one of those teenagers who for the most part, really didn't rebel against being grounded, my parents, not being able to do things at a certain age etc.  My big resentment was growing up in a small town with seemingly judgemental neighbors.  As a rebel with a cause, my appearance became associated with the look of someone who was just a bit rough around the edges.  And, this town hadn't seen much of that since Janis Joplin left.  Make no mistake, I'm not comparing myself to Janis, however, the chip we had on our shoulders were amazingly similar.

As I watched tv the other evening, it caused me to think about my self-inflicted war with my old neighborhood.  The harsh judgements and assuming guilt instead of innocense.  The conversation that sparked this reflection jolted me into the past some 30 years ago.

 "In Leviticus it says: 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.'

Dear God, if I heard that once I heard it a million times.  On school trips which included overnight stays, extracirricular activities and so on.  After spouting the "truth" my visible response is pretty much the same today as it was then.  Pure puzzlement. 

I offer scripture to prove MY point:

 Some religious liberals believe that David and Jonathan had a consensual homosexual relationship - in many ways, a prototype of many of today's gay partnerships. 7 Some important verses which describe their relationship are: 1 Samuel 18:1


"...Jonathan became one in spirit with David and he loved him as himself." (NIV)

"...the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul" (KJV)

Most translations use the term "soul" rather than "spirit" to describe the bond. They speak of an "immediate bond of love", their souls being "in unison," their souls being "knit" etc. Genesis 2:7, as written in the original Hebrew, describes how God blew the spirit into the body of Adam that God had formed from earth, so that Adam became a living soul. This means that "soul", in the ancient Israelite times, represents a combination of body and spirit. Thus the two men appear to have loved each other both physically and emotionally." http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bmar.htm

When you love someone completely and commit to be their spouse in good times and bad; that sounds like a union blessed, not a sin.  But, that's just me.  Oh, got one more scripture for you:

For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?"


--- 1 Corinthians 10:29

More Musings Later-

I've Held My Tongue as Long as I Can!

Not to be literal, but you get the idea. Now, I never watch pagents or beauty queen shows but of course, Miss California's comments regarding Gay Marriage made their way via CNN and ABC news.

I watched as Perez Hilton asked if she was "for" or "against" gay marriage. Her response? She believes marriage is between a man and a woman. Sorry if I offended anyone here, you guys!

Offended? OFFENDED? I was speechless (which is rare). The fact that she is stating that roughly half the people in this world shouldn't have the same rights as others floored me. And, she wants to know if she has offended me. That's not even the tip of the iceberg, baby.

I feel that gay couples everywhere have been done an injustice and I can't believe in this day and age that we are STILL fighting for human rights. You will see all kinds of people going abroad to help other countries with human rights. Guess what? WE NEED HELP HERE IN AMERICA.

We have come so far since I've been alive. And, when I become an old woman, I will remember watching Barack Obama winning the presidential election and seeing the world witnessing it along with me via the internet and television feeds. I will remember that innocent people were sprayed with hoses and had the police dogs attack them for no other reason except their skin was a different color.

There are good, decent people that happen to be gay. Why should some people have the right to marry and not others? So many have made a downright mockery of marriage and yet, people applaud the on-going marriages as "the right thing to do in life." What about us?

"No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only queer people are those who don't love anybody. "

~Rita Mae Brown, speech, 28 August 1982