There was an old "Bloom County" carton where Milo and Binkley were trying to decide who the Meadow Party candidate for President would be. The first suggestion was Jesse Helms. The response was, "We will alienate half the population". The next suggestion was Jesse Jackson. The response then was. "We will alienate the other half!" Then they decided, "Why not alienate everyone! Jesse and Jesse in '84!"

I run the risk of doing that now. I could very possibly alienating everyone. So here is my "Jesse and Jesse in '84!" post.

I was watching CNN tonight and they were interviewing people about the Prop. 8 controversy that has arisen since the election. The argument most often stated by the "Yes on 8" crowd was, "The Bible defines marriage as between one man and one woman." So, they want to deny a group of citizens rights afforded everyone else. Apparently something happened to the separation of Church and State. Are we in a Theocracy now? Ok, if we are lets pass a few more laws. A woman cannot divorce a man. A man can only give his wife a certificate of divorce if she is caught in adultery. Btw, she can be stoned too. The Bible also says, "Thou Shall Not Kill". So we need to abolish the death peanalty and the military. Since, as good Christians, we are supposed to turn the other cheek. Oh yes, we are supposed to close down all businesses on Saturday, since we a re to, "Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy." Because, Christians, the Sabbath is Saturday. Going to church on Sunday was begun after Pentecost when the believers gathered on the first day of the week to break bread together. I know, everyone has seen all of the things the Bible says and it's contradictions to today's society. However, if you, as Christians, believe the Bible to be the literal "Word of God", you can't pick and choose what you want to follow.

And then there are the gay arguments. "You can't discriminate against me, I was born this way" Are you inferring that being gay is some sort of birth defect which should be covered under the "Americans with Disabilities Act". Actually, that may be an interesting legal challenge. Anyway, besides that obscure legal point, I do not look at myself as having a "birth defect".A defect of character, ok, maybe. Birth defect, not so much.

I will also say something here that may upset others. I don't think gay bashing should be considered a hate crime. Actually, I don't believe in any "hate Crime" laws. It is already illegal to assault, attack, stalk, molest, drag behind a truck or tie to a fence. Prosecute the offenders to the full effect of the law and don't let "black fear", "gay fear" or whatever fear be a defense like it has been in the past. If anyone, and I mean anyone, violates the rights of another, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Believe me, I weep for people like Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Jr. However, I see too many special interests being involved in creating so many of these after the fact, knee jerk laws, which are not applied equally.

I think, as a gay man, I should be proud of who I am as a person, not proud because I am gay. I am not ashamed of being gay. However, it does not define me. It is only who I am sexually attracted to, who I fall in love with. If you allow discrimination based on a sexual attraction, you open Pandora'S Box. One day, you may be subject to discrimination because you like big tits, or guys with swarthy complexion, or only have sex with the lights on, or out, or have a foot fetish, or a transexual midget wrestling in jello pudding fetish. I know, outlandish but still, what is really the difference?

I want my life to be defined by who I am and what I accomplish, not who arouses me. or who I love. I detest the cookie cutter mentality. We are not all the same. We are all different. Why not revel in who we are as a people, not differentiate on who we are as individuals. Lets go back to loving our brother as ourselves. After all, isn't that Biblical too?

If hate were eliminated wouldn't it be a batter world to live in?

Peace